mmm-yoso!!!, a food blog. Kirk is funny; he thought that after working overtime on both weekend days, that His Monday would be easy..and short. He was wrong. Cathy is writing another post.
I grew up with three bakeries within five blocks of my home in Detroit. The Mister remembers three local bakeries he passed while walking to school in the Boston suburb where he grew up. There were local owned bakeries we found in Ann Arbor, Pensacola and Norfolk...and on our visits overseas. But donut-centric shops are a Southern California phenomenon. Go ahead, type in "donut" in the search bar on the upper left of this page. Over 1000 hits on this blog alone.
So, we are back at Mary's. The original location (photo at the bottom of this post) has closed (after 50 years there) and the new location in Santee is in the middle of a strip mall. That location is within walking distance of home and I've been known to drop in at odd hours of the day for a quick snack. However the 'new' (since October 2016) second location has a bit of an expanded menu.
The donut cases are kept filled. Along the top of the back wall, you'll see prices- the one on the right, a sort of menu, is most interesting. There's a non-carb choice.
Bowls are $5.99. Scrambled eggs, choice of meat (bacon, sausage or ham) and choice of cheese (Swiss, Cheddar, Provolone). This was with Cheddar and breakfast sausage and was great- tasty, large portion (three eggs) and so very fresh.
Sandwiches here are $6.99. They come with a choice of bread (bagel, croissant and as of two weeks ago, fresh baked bread), meat (ham, turkey, bacon, sausage, egg), cheese(Swiss, Cheddar, Provolone) and toppings (lettuce, tomato, mayo, mustard). Avocado is an additional 85¢. This Mary's location has just begun baking breads but not daily and I am eager to come back to try a sandwich on the rye.
The donuts. Look at the top shelf. Why, that's a lot of fritters. Some of those are apple, but...
Looks like a slice of peach on those on the right (next to the bacon maple bars)
Lemon and blueberry.
Raspberry!
The fritters here are one of the the most expensive donuts in the case...$1.90. (Those bacon covered maple bars are also $1.90).
You can see the layers of raspberry intertwined in this beautiful, crisp edged, perfectly fried and glazed fritter. 
Of course we've tried the peach; it's excellent.
If you are out this way, it's worth the stop.
Mary's Donuts 10101 Maine Street Lakeside, CA 92040 (619)334-5272 ALWAYS OPEN
Yay for the fritters! I'm excited that it's just not apple too! $1.90 is still cheaper than any donut at a hipster joint which tend to go for $3 or more, ouch. If this were in CV, I'd be there every day, ha ha.
Posted by: caninecologne | Tuesday, 11 December 2018 at 07:07 AM
Wow! I've never had a peach fritter or the other exotic flavors. Thanks for the heads up on the 2nd location. I've only visited their Santee locations.
Posted by: Soo | Tuesday, 11 December 2018 at 09:57 AM
I am glad this shop is not nearby, I would be here often:)
Posted by: kat | Tuesday, 11 December 2018 at 03:27 PM
The fritters here are good for snacking because you can just pull off a segment at a time (I still crave those French crullers, you know),cc. The prices here are extremely reasonable. They offer a giant (12 inch or maybe larger diameter) personalized donut for special occasions, $10.
Oh, you need to make the bit of an extra drive, Soo. This location of Mary's supplies Barona Casino's 24 hour coffee shop with snacks. It's the best, Kat...the Santee location is 'on the way home' after I fill up the tank with fuel in the early morning. No sandwich for breakfast from that location, just a couple of donuts. Yeah, it's kind of perfect.
Posted by: Cathy | Wednesday, 12 December 2018 at 02:12 AM
You're killing me! I haven't been to Mary's since they were at their original shop but now i will be making a visit this week...gee thanks ;)
Posted by: jack | Wednesday, 12 December 2018 at 07:52 AM
The Santee Mary's is close to the original location: East to the next signal light (Carlton Hills) and turn left and it's in that first block, on the right...but no sandwiches there, Jan...not that you're looking for sandwiches ;)
Posted by: Cathy | Wednesday, 12 December 2018 at 10:27 AM
These donuts run circles around the designer ones from Donut Bar, Sidecar, Nomad and all of the other "artisanal" joints out there!
Posted by: James | Wednesday, 12 December 2018 at 09:59 PM
So true, James. We've been to Sidecar one time and it was nice, but it wouldn't be a regular stop, even if close to home; no 'comfort food' factor. We're simple folk...
Posted by: Cathy | Thursday, 13 December 2018 at 06:14 AM
Just my opinion - Sidecar's brioche based donuts are too heavy and also one dimensional in flavor (toppings are sparse). Nomad has creative flavors that are executed throughout the donut (not just the frosting or toppings); I feel they are the best of the hipster/artisanal bunch. Not impressed by Donut Bar either.
Posted by: caninecologne | Thursday, 13 December 2018 at 03:51 PM
I agree, cc. Overall, simple, basic donuts are my favorite; it's more difficult to make anything simple than to complicate it. Fry some dough and put some sugary glaze on it; happy.
Posted by: Cathy | Friday, 14 December 2018 at 05:14 AM
When I first entered this donut shop in the original location, I knew right away this was THE donut shop. They even got the good milk.
Posted by: TFD | Tuesday, 18 December 2018 at 10:29 PM