It is 2 a.m. and you are a poor, starving college student up to your ears in lecture notes and chapters to be read. You are no where near finished with homework for the night. In vain you search through your meager pantry, but the contents are the same as they were 20 minutes ago… nothing but graham crackers and canned vegetables. It's too late to order out from your regular fast food fixes, so where can your weary body and delirious mind turn?
You grab your keys and not even five minutes later, you park outside of a humble little building indistinguishable from others in the lot except for the neon open sign. Stumbling through the door, you're enveloped in the smell of fresh donuts and brewing coffee, and greeted by a kind, cheery face.
“Hello, what would you like to order now?”
You alternately scan the encased cornucopia of donuts and pastries and the board on the wall listing the drinks and iced treats.
“Um, one chocolate raised donut and one Boston cream donut… And a large coffee.”
“You want cream and sugar with that?”
“Yes, please.”
With a sigh, you melt into one of the booths dispersed throughout the shop and await your salvation, in the form of dough fried to perfection, dripping with sugar and coffee to relieve your incoherent thoughts. In less than three minutes, the employee, who you now regard as a saint, hands you your spoils. She smiles and says, “Have a good morning!”
This oasis-like donut and coffee shop may sound like a fable spun for your amusement, but it really does exist. Even better, five of them are scattered throughout Arizona, all open 24/7. Family-owned and operated, Bosa Donuts has satisfied customers for 20 years.
“The donuts are all really good here but the most popular are the raised donuts," Bosa employee Siphat says. "People’s favorites are the Boston cream and chocolate sprinkle… Also the fritters.”
While the restaurant's name leads you to expect a limited donuts-and-coffee menu, Bosa also offers sandwiches on bagels or croissants, breakfast tacos, ice cream, shaved ice with more than 20 flavor options, Thai bubble ice tea and smoothies.
“The iced and hot coffees seem to be the most popular drinks," Siphat says.
Another perk of the establishment is that the vast majority of the menu is under three dollars. Whether you want to start off your morning with a hearty bagel sandwich, or you need a few donuts and a cup of coffee to jump start an all-nighter, Bosa is ready and willing to serve.
If you go:
1016 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler 480-899-7134
1835 E. Southern Ave., Tempe 480-897-8080
1146 E. Main St., Mesa 480-890-1008 ?
7444 E. McDowell Rd., Scottsdale 480-990-1398 ?
3519 W. Glendale Ave., Phoenix 602-795-0763 ?
Online at bosadonuts.com.
Reach the reporter at dkmcinty@asu.edu
