Randy's Donuts has added La Jolla to its official list of forthcoming locations, although the company has not yet disclosed an exact address, anticipated opening date or additional details about the planned storefront.
The expansion follows the company's initial push into the San Diego market under a franchise development agreement with local entrepreneur Emilio Tamez, who signed a deal to bring 10 Randy's Donuts locations to the county.
Tamez, a San Diego native, is also known for his involvement in the local restaurant industry through Taqueria Revolución and Sadie's Hand-Crafted Ice Cream, a Mexican-inspired ice cream business that previously operated in the Bonita area.
Randy's first San Diego location opened in May 2023 at Stonecrest Plaza, located at 3737 Murphy Canyon Road in the Kearny Mesa area. The opening introduced local customers to a brand whose towering rooftop doughnut has been a fixture of the Los Angeles landscape for generations.
The company subsequently expanded its South Bay presence with a location in the Chula Vista area. Its newest planned La Jolla shop would extend the brand's reach into San Diego's northern coastal communities.
Founded in 1952, Randy's Donuts traces its origins to the former Big Donut Drive-In chain, which became known for its oversized rooftop doughnut sculptures. The original Inglewood location, situated near Los Angeles International Airport, features a massive concrete doughnut measuring approximately 32 feet across, one of the most recognizable roadside landmarks in California.
The Inglewood shop was renamed Randy's Donuts in the 1970s and eventually became an international symbol of Los Angeles pop culture, appearing in movies, television shows, music videos and countless photographs.
Among its most recognizable appearances are the films Iron Man 2 and Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles, the HBO series Entourage and the Red Hot Chili Peppers' music video for "Californication."
In 2015, Los Angeles-area businessman and former attorney Mark Kelegian purchased Randy's Donuts with his family, eventually launching a franchise expansion program that began in 2019. The strategy has taken the once largely Los Angeles-centric brand into additional markets throughout California and beyond, including international locations.
Despite the expansion, Randy's continues to emphasize the handmade doughnuts that established its reputation. The company's menu features an extensive assortment of traditional and specialty varieties, ranging from classic glazed and sugar-raised doughnuts to chocolate old-fashioneds, maple bars, apple fritters, cinnamon rolls and colorful creations topped with frosting, sprinkles and other sweets.
The chain also offers Randy's Rounds, its oversized take on doughnut holes, alongside coffee and other beverages.
When Randy's first entered the San Diego market, the local franchise introduced an unusual crossover item called Sadie's Sandwich, featuring a Randy's doughnut filled with Sadie's Hand-Crafted Mexican Ice Cream. Whether that specialty or other locally developed offerings will be available at the planned La Jolla location has not been announced.
The move into La Jolla places Randy's in one of San Diego's most recognizable coastal communities, an area with a mix of longtime neighborhood businesses, independent restaurants, destination shopping and year-round visitor traffic.
It also signals that the chain's original San Diego expansion plans remain active more than three years after the opening of its first local shop.
For now, Randy's Donuts has identified La Jolla as a future location with an anticipated 2027 debut. The company has not announced whether the shop will feature a drive-through, outdoor seating or any version of its famous oversized doughnut sculpture.
Additional details about the La Jolla location are expected as development progresses. For more information about Randy's Donuts and its existing locations, visit randysdonuts.com.
Originally published on November 12, 2026.