Los Angeles is famous for doughnuts because of its unusually saturated and competitive doughnut market, which is rich in small, local chains and independent shops, including many owned by first- and second-generation Cambodian immigrants. The city has a long history of unique doughnut culture, which was profiled in the 2020 documentary "The Donut King."

The film tells the story of Southern California’s distinctive doughnut industry through Ted Ngoy, a Cambodian refugee who arrived here in 1975 and went on to build an empire. His legacy isn’t just in the abundance of independent doughnut shops that define the region, but also in their use of pink boxes. Despite the concentration of the market, new shops still find cult followings, which keeps the competition high and the doughnut offerings diverse.