Is there parking at Nomad Donuts?

Street parking only in North Park, which can be tight on weekends and mornings. If you hit a Saturday around 10:30am, expect to circle a bit. Go early on weekdays or plan for a walk if you're visiting during peak brunch hours.

What should I order first?

Start with a bagel sandwich—the Chopped Cheese on Black Sesame and Carnitas on Za'atar are serious, with bagels that actually hold up to their fillings. If you want a donut, the maple and the Day at the Fair (strawberry funnel cake) are crowd favorites. Their house lemonade is worth ordering too.

Is Nomad Donuts good for groups?

Yeah, it's a solid group spot. Staff are genuinely nice and will work with you if you're indecisive—they've been known to comp samples so you can decide. The casual vibe and dine-in option make it easy to linger with friends without pressure.

We don't have confirmation on dog policy, so call ahead before bringing your pup. North Park has decent pet-friendly patios, so it's worth asking when you visit.

Are there vegan and vegetarian options?

Yes. They're tagged as both a vegan and vegetarian restaurant, so they've got dedicated options beyond just the donuts. Ask staff about which bagel sandwiches and pastries fit your diet—they seem knowledgeable and accommodating.

What's the best time to go?

Weekday mornings or early afternoons will be quieter than Saturday mornings, which get chaotic with parking and crowds. It's work-friendly with dine-in seating, so it's decent for a solo coffee session or working for a few hours if you don't mind the casual cafe energy.

Do I need a reservation?

No reservations needed—it's walk-in and takeout only. Just show up, order at the counter, and grab a seat or take it to go. Service is usually quick, even when it's busy.

Nomad Donuts — Restaurants in North Park, San Diego

“Nomad Donuts runs the bagel-and-donut game with wood-fired bagels and globally riffed donuts that work harder than the usual morning suspects.”

Where most North Park breakfast spots either lean heavy on the craft-coffee theater or serve standard-issue pastry-case donuts, Nomad built something different: wood-fired bagels dense enough to hold carnitas or chopped cheese without collapsing, and donuts that pull from global pastry traditions instead of just glazing and sprinkling the same base. The Day at the Fair tastes like strawberry funnel cake because that's the actual concept, not some Instagram stunt—this is a kitchen that treats donuts like a culinary playground.

The bagel program deserves more attention than it gets. These aren't New York imports or half-baked attempts—they're legitimately wood-fired, with a chew and char that holds up to smoked salmon or the za'atar everything treatment. The chopped cheese bagel and carnitas bagel both show up in reviews because they're built right: proper weight, proper structure, sauces that don't turn the whole thing into a soggy mess by the third bite.

The space runs bright and casual, the kind of setup that works for solo laptop sessions as much as weekend groups trying to decide between blueberry and maple. Staff actually help—reviews mention free donut add-ons and orders brought to tables, the small moves that separate a neighborhood spot from a pastry-dispensary. Parking on University is the usual 30th Street circus, especially on weekends, so either walk or plan to circle.

Skip the standard glazed and go for whatever sounds weird—strawberry funnel cake, black sesame bagels, blueberry with actual fruit instead of factory filling. The house lemonade works if you're eating in. Weekend mornings get busy, so either arrive early or accept the wait as part of the North Park brunch tax.

Nomad Donuts

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