The Beignet Spot

Southern Californians are well known for our love of donuts. 24-hour shops and small mom & pop operations pepper every corner and strip mall throughout Los Angeles, Riverside, and Orange Counties. Be it decadent maple bars, ginormous apple fritters, or light and fluffy beignets, the donut has cemented its place as a breakfast and snack staple.

Wait, beignets? In Southern California? It came as an incredible surprise to stumble across this tasty treat that’s far more well known across the country in Louisiana. But as far as it may be be its home roots, the people at The Beignet Spot showcase the airy dessert as the star , but its versatility through a variety of different beignet dishes, along with incredible takes on creole classics.

An offshoot of the Redlands restaurant Dhat Island, a location that specializes in Caribbean & Creole cuisine, the flavors and recipes from the Alce family (who own both locations) stand out just as strongly as their flagship restaurant. Their most popular item, the beignets naturally, stood so well on their own that they could have sold nothing else and been successful. But they expanded on the menu to offer an eclectic menu that shines brightly on its own.

What to eat at The Beignet Spot in Riverside, CA

Eggs N ‘Ghetti

A tasty, creole spin on Pasta Mama. Spaghetti is cooked with scrambled eggs, onions, peppers, and andouille sausage. The pasta was cooked perfectly and combined with the vegetables and sausage for a hearty breakfast item. The real standout of this dish – a dollop of tomato jam served alongside. The acidicness of the jam cut through the fatness of the eggs and sausage. Served with tater tots that were crispy and oh so good dipped in that tomato jam, those together could be a side on their own.

Jerk Fried Chicken Sandwich

Fried chicken tenders are coated in a perfectly balanced jerk seasoning on an incredibly fluffy and decadent brioche bun. Served with slaw, pickles, a spicy house sauce, and a Jerk aioli, the sandwich is a fantastic option for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Chicory Coffee

Very similar taste to regular coffee, chicory coffee is usually brewed from the chicory root. A lightly acidic but mild brew, you can get this hot, iced, in a float, or in milkshake form. The hot chicory coffee was an excellent counterpoint to the sweetness of the beignets.

Peach Cobbler Beignets

6 fluffy beignets are topped with a delicious peach cobbler filling, and served with whipped cream, caramel drizzle, and vanilla wafer crumble. The whipped cream was stiffy and not too sweet, which paired delightfully with the richness of the peach filling. But the real stars of the entire meal were….

Beignets

Get them with caramel dip, try them on their own in an 8, or better yet 12 pack. Add 4 and a chicory coffee for $3 to any breakfast meal. Anyway you can get them, do it. At risk of blasphemy, these were the best dang beignets outside of New Orleans… and maybe even better than the ones found within the city itself. They practically melted in your mouth and had just the right amount of chew. These were worth the trip alone.

Whether you live locally or are passing by on your way to Los Angeles or the beaches in Orange County, a place like The Beignet Spot is exactly what we’re all about: an out of the way, unique restaurant that you simply cannot miss. Even on its own, downtown Riverside is a marvel to behold, but add in the absolutely amazing food from the fine people at The Beignet Spot, and you’ve got a place worthy of a detour, no matter your destination.