mmm-yoso!!! is a food blog. Today, Cathy is writing; Kirk is busy (again) at work and Ed (from Yuma) is enjoying a beautiful spring day (in Yuma).
Its been a busy year so far. Since I tend to not plan ahead much, finding meals is an adventure and quite interesting. When leaving a quick breakfast stop at Winchell's in National City last month, I passed Dunkin' Donuts, two blocks West. Dunkin' began in 1950 in Quincy, Massachusetts and I remember a few locations in the Detroit area when growing up. Nothing stood out in those memories, though.
A mental note was made, research occurred, this location (2139 East Plaza Blvd, National City 91950) is open 24 hours and I had no excuse to not drop in.
Once I noticed one of the many door signs, indicating that "Dunkin' Donuts of San Diego are proudly owned and operated by local disabled military veterans", I felt good that the 'chain' concept was still local. 
As an aside, the location in Ramona (1410 Main Street, Ramona 92065, phone (760)789-0210, open daily 5 a.m.-10p.m.) is a combined Dunkin'/Baskin Robbins store. Anytime you stop in, a craving can be fulfilled.
So, there's a nice menu board with the third section a good choice of various sandwiches- the breads are Texas toast, croissant, flatbread and ciabatta.
The donut selection comes into full view once you get to the front of the line to order. 
There's quite a bit of seating in both of the locations I've been to.
The coffee here is very good. I've seen the ads, heard the raves, read about cravings for their coffee, but now know this for myself. 
For this visit, two basics. The "Big n' Toasted" ($4.29) Two eggs, bacon and cheese on Texas Toast. Wow. Unexpectedly overfilled with bacon, very good.
Only ordering a simple grilled cheese ($1.99) and seeing there were two types of cheese on it (Swiss and a mild Cheddar), I 'borrowed' one of the eggs and made that grilled cheese sandwich special. It was really tasty. 
A side of hash browns (99¢) was a great choice (there were six in the bag; very flavorful with parsley mixed in the potato).
The ham, egg and cheese english muffin ($4.09) was another unexpectedly great choice. The ham, as you can see, is a better quality with thick slices and the sandwich was quite filling. 
Then there was this. It's right in the center of that third menu board. The 'Pretzel Croissant Breakfast Sandwich' ($3.79). The first two times I was here, the pretzel croissants were sold out. My lucky day, my wonderful breakfast. Crispy exterior; pretzel- topped with large grains of salt- fluffy flaky interior of an excellent croissant, filled with bacon, egg and Swiss. Oh wow, now I have another craving.
The donut choices, overwhelming and although fresh, not overly interesting. Chocolate Butternut and a French Cruller; both pretty basic. Good cake donut topped with 'butternut morsels'-not peanuts- and fresh cruller with egginess of the pastry. Small, just enough to go with coffee. 
There was a whiteboard of specials inside the Ramona location and a 'peanut butter delight croissant donut' ($2.49) sounded good and tasted better. The peanut butter was mixed with the regular Bavarian Cream filling (so not too sweet) and injected into the 'croissant donut'…which is a delightful conveyor of a crispy, light dessert.
So glad I rediscovered this childhood favorite.
Dunkin' Donuts, multiple locations nationwide Website
Hopefully the lines have died down at the National City DD…I may just have to make a trip to try that pretzel croissant sandwich. I went to the DD downtown a few years ago when it first opened and I was not a fan of their donut texture (too soft). The croissant donut you had looks good though (very flaky).
I think it’s about the time of day, cc-We’ve missed the crowds for the most part, but there are times when I just keep on driving or don’t get out of the car. I agree about the regular donuts; The Mister only ever wants a bavarian cream and a jelly; nothing else. The croissant donut was really good, fresh, unique and without the hipster price, as was the pretzel croissant sandwich.
You know I lived on the east coast for 3 years and I never figured out the love for Dunkin Donuts coffee. If Starbucks coffee is always burnt, I felt like DD coffee was always very weak and watery. Maybe I’m just weird but the only advantage over Starbucks was price.
Ditto with the Donuts, never liked them. Maybe I should get my East Coast Card pulled?
I do agree the watery taste was all I knew of that Dunkin’ coffee, but a choice of original blend or dark roast is available for both the hot and iced coffees now-it turns out that a fresh pot was brewed when I was there the first time and it was really good. As far as the donuts go, none that I’ve tried has been that good; I’m spoiled by our local places. You are still allowed to be an East Coaster, especially if you have a bit of an accent that shows up intermittently, Seth.
I tried some donuts around dinner time. They tasted like they had been sitting around all day. 🙁 I like the looks of the bacon you ordered though.
Having lived about 30 years in a town where directions are sometimes given based on where the Dunkins are, I am bemused to see you post a review of DD. Are they new to California?
I will admit to indulging in the occasion donut on the way home via the T. But they don’t measure up to my memory of the raised glazed I used to get at a Winchell’s in Pasadena. And I don’t get coffee there except as a desperate last resort. Thank goodness they can pour a drinkable French roast!
Oh that’s bad, Soo. Really bad. The sandwiches are great and available all day.
Dunkin’ left California in 2002 and returned with 100 stores in 2015, Pam. There are six San Diego locations ( the two I mentioned and one inside the Embassy Suites downtown as well as three military base locations ( Naval Hospital, Miramar MCAS and Camp Pendleton)). I know I didn’t like the coffee before at all, but dark roast, no sweetener and fresh brewed was good. Oh, the T…such a good memory.
I lived in RI for 4 years, and one thing i noticed was the dearth of mom and pop donut places. All because of DD. I think both their donuts and coffee are horrible and don’t understand the new england love of DD.