Dad’s Donut & Bakery Shop

family favorite since I was a kid… enough said.

A trip to the beach is not complete without a balboa bar from Dad’s. I love getting either the bar or banana topped with butterbrickle and Oreo. ¹⁰⁄₁₀ would recommend

Based on the donuts we chewed on. Terrible. They definitely need to step up their donut game. Didn’t try anything else.

What a let down. Donuts were nothing special. The woman working seemed annoyed we were there and wasn’t helpful or friendly. We heard about this place and were very excited about trying it. Oops won’t do that again.

Love Dad’s! I love grabbing the frozen bananas on a hot day – Oreo and toffee toppings are the best! I usually get both.
The hippo cookies are super cute and literally just sugar. They’ll make you pretty happy but you might crash later on!

A fun spot to try the famed chocolate covered frozen banana or the chocolate dipped ice cream bar. I think this place is probably comparable to the other two on the same street but this just happens to be the one we stopped at. It was fun to choose our own chocolate toppings. The prices are extremely affordable. We came back two times in one weekend to satisfy our sweet toothes

We ordered the small frozen bananas! I got it dipped in chocolate with almonds and my friend dipped in chocolate with oreos. It was your usual frozen banana.

I had no idea frozen bananas were so amazing! Went here exclusively because we are obsessed with arrested development — unfortunately there is no banana stand on the island, but the frozen banana we got from Dad’s was absolutely wonderful. I have no idea why they aren’t more popular other places! Definitely a can’t miss if you’re in the area.

I can see why this place is popular. It’s a mom and pop shop, that seems to have been around the area for a long time.
You have your options of frozen bananas or a frozen vanilla ice cream square. It’s dipped in chocolate and topped with your choice of nuts, sprinkles and oreos. I went for the oreos and toffee! It’s $ 3.75 for one.
It can get pretty mess so grab some napkins. Take a seat on one of the benches right in front or walk down the block for some shopping.

Such a delicious treat on a hot day! Balboa bar + frozen banana you can’t go wrong with whichever you choose. About a handful of options for toppings, but I got the mixed with all the toppings and it was probably the best choice to get a little of everything!
Workers seem to be impatient when you don’t know what to get so I would wait slightly on the side before approaching the window haha ******
Couldn’t leave without trying the hippo sugar cookies got myself a box (6) and they were a bite of my childhood. Not too sweet for sugar cookies they were good.

CASH ONLY Dad’s is famous for their frozen ice cream bars and frozen bananas hand dipped in melted chocolate and covered with sprinkles or nuts. The ice cream bars are a rectangular shape and are called «Balboa Bars». I’ve only had the frozen bananas here but others I’ve brought here were pretty happy with the Balboa Bars.
This is a great stop for a cool sweet treat if you are near Fashion Island or Newport Beach. Marine Ave has a few blocks of restaurants and shops, its a small quaint area, definitely a fun stop, especially if you are in the area.
Located on Balboa Island there are two ways to get here. You can drive onto Balboa Island from the Fashion Island side of Newport Beach or take the car/​pedestrian ferry onto Balboa Island from the Newport Beach side.
There is another «original» frozen banana spot a few business away but Dad’s is the one with the constant line.

When I saw this place, It attracted me to walk in and try something on a bright sunny day. So as I work myself in the mini standing area, there was so much to choose from.
Their ice cream section looked very appealing, I went for chocolate. The ice cream was soft and creamy, and I struggled a bit to keep up with finishing the melting chocolate as it was quite hot and sunny. Good thing that I got the ice cream in a cup.

Dad’s is THEE place to go on Balboa Island if you have a serious sweet tooth and a craving for something sweet (^_​^) I’m a sucker for chocolate anything. and they have plenty of that. Can’t even believe there are bad reviews for this place, I’ve been coming here for years on and off, and it’s still good. Soo maybe that’s just me haha.
Anyhow, after spending a few hours in a Duffy rental, we decided to pop over to Balboa Island the other day. I had been whining (ladies understand this part lol) about NEEDING something sweet or the dear boyfriend would find himself swimming back to shore (jk, I love him I wouldn’t make him swim that far okay? Maybe like half way…). Ironically, he suggested I use Unilocal.I jumped on his suggestion haha and found Dad’s. Like Homer said «doh!» Super excited that they were still in open, we hurried down to pick up some treats for the rest of our adventure. I laugh because while the name is «Dad’s Donuts & Bakery» the donut is in no way the most popular item in the menu. Dad’s is home to the best chocolate dipped bananas around the OC (my opinion!), and THE ORIGINAL Balboa Bar! Oh, and chocolate dipped cheesecake, something I’ve only ever found at Ren Faire! They have cookies and other things. but why come here for those when I can get a banana dipped in chocolate and covered in all kinds of goodies? Ya, exactly. Bonus, they accept plastic woot woot! And customer service is always awesome-​tatsic here (^_​^) parking is curbside, so good luck haha. But you know, you’ll eventually find a spot. Or park elsewhere and walk here while exploring. When you get here, you’ll quickly find there is no seating inside, just a little counter and all the baked goodies and ice creams. Seating is available outside, or eat and walk.
I love the frozen bananas dipped in chocolate. they come with a variety of different toppings. Personally I like the «Everything» (nuts, toffee, oreo bits, sprinkles etc) or you can do the Original (just a basic banana dipped in chocolate and rolled in nuts). The largest is all of like $ 4, so it’s a good deal considering how pricey most other places like to be nowadays. The Balboa Bars are hand dipped vanilla ice cream bars that come with up to 2 toppings from a choice of like 7 – 8. Oreos and rainbow sprinkles is always a win if you can’t decide. The ice cream is thick, and creamy, and oh so dreamy. I love the Balboa Bars. Chocolate covered cheesecake is well freaking bomb. I get mine just dipped in chocolate because the cheesecake and chocolate combo makes it pretty sweet off the bat! Plus, I don’t have to wait for Ren Faire to come around haha. You can get toppings on your cheesecake too, if you want to be adventurous (^_​~) and the cheesecake doesn’t taste frozen! That’s a horrid taste.bleh. They also sell all kinds of Dreyer’s ice cream, yummy coffee, pastries, ice cream sundaes, milkshakes. gosh the list goes on.
Dad’s is a cute, iconic, and old-​fashioned mom and pop town. It’s one of the last of the best in the OC, as overly tanned, money hungry desperate Newport Housewives attempt to take over along side the minds of franchises like Starbucks. So sad to see how the times have changed. Dad’s takes you back, and let’s you revel in the good times, as you enjoy your tasty treats on a bench outside. If you’re in the mood for something different and sweet, seek out Dad’s. You won’t regret it (^_​^)

I don’t know if they are the «original» banana stand but they are the «Best»
Loved it will be back

I took my first trip to Balboa Island recently, and what a cute, quaint place it is! On a sunny Sunday afternoon, it provided the perfect place for a friend and me to just chill, relax and catch up. The main street of Balboa Island is lined with shops, but the side streets are really peaceful; plus, you get great views of the harbor.
One of the main attractions – in terms of food – on Balboa Island are those famous «Balboa Bars,» when my friend and I walked down that main road, we noticed that there were several stands that featured the iconic bars, as well as several other refreshing ice cream treats. After checking out some of them – the products seemed the same from the different kiosks – we decided to stand in line at Dad’s Donut & Bakery Shop (Dad’s) because it seemed to be the most iconic of the shops on the street (it definitely had the longest line).
My friend had enjoyed these famous bars before, but this was my first time ordering it. We decided to get different treats so we could share … which was a bit hard in the sun (that was rapidly melting our frozen treats), but we managed to find a close bench to sit on, enjoy our ice cream and sample each other’s snacks without getting too messy. I’m glad I finally got to taste this famous bar and actually walk around on Balboa Island. I did like the snacks from Dad’s, but I’m curious to see if the treats featured at the other kiosks are different in any way.
Here’s what we got:
«Balboa Bar»: I’m pretty sure the iconic bar has vanilla ice cream – or I saw the majority being made with vanilla ice cream – but given the option, of course, I went for chocolate. I was given the choice of two toppings, so I opted for OREOs and rainbow sprinkles. I thought that the «Balboa Bars» came in different sizes, but they only come in one size – that iconic square on a stick (sort of reminded me of a Klondike bar). The ice cream was luscious and creamy, and I struggled a bit to keep up with the melting chocolate exterior, but I liked the distinctive crunch of the delicate chocolate shell and was pleased to note that they didn’t skimp on my toppings.
«Chocolate-​Covered Cheesecake»: Since my friend had ordered a «Balboa Bar» before, she went for this treat, which turned out to be a winner. In fact, if I ever return to Dad’s, I’m totally getting this dessert next time. She chose peanuts to top off her cheesecake, which make it look healthier (I would have gone for one of the candy or sprinkles options). I had a bite of her cheesecake and loved its taste. The cheesecake was cold and solid but didn’t taste weird or frozen, and the chocolate exterior gave it added sweetness. Definitely a great mix that I can’t wait to order for myself next time.
Ice Cream Sundaes: If I wanted to order a more basic ice cream treat from Dad’s, I probably would have gone with one of the classic sundaes and topped it off with hot fudge and candies, but no whipped cream. A lot of the kids that were hanging around had ordered sundaes, and some of those double-​scoop options looked mighty tasty.
Milkshakes: I didn’t see many people ordering milkshakes from Dad’s – the majority had Balboa Bars in their hands – but if I was craving something sweet to drink (or didn’t want to put up with a dripping mess), a milkshake provides the perfect solution. I’m not sure if only chocolate or vanilla flavors are available when it comes to the shakes, but I’m hoping for more variety … especially in some of my favorite flavors like «Cookies ‘n Cream.»

How can anybody hate on Dads!!! After spending a good part of my last 7 years on Balboa Island, trust me when I say Dads is a local legend. Serving up THE ORIGINAL balboa bar, choco bananas and even chocolate dipped cheesecake, Dads satisfies anyone’s sweet tooth. When you walk inside the small shop they offer fresh donuts, cookies (including the legendary hippo cookie), coffee, soft serve, and a plethora of Dryers’ ice cream. My personal favorite is their hot fudge sundae. Not super advertised but you will not regret ordering it.
Take it from a local, visiting Balboa Island and not visiting Dads is a lost opportunity.

There are two places to get your chocolate covered bananas on Balboa Island and i prefer the Original a few doors down.
Dad’s is more of a donut, coffee and everything else shop, which takes away from the novelty of it all.
While my banana dipped in the everything topping was good and the same price as next door, it lacks the charm of the original, still the same idea if the other line is down the street.

There’s always money in the banana stand! Yeah, I know, I’m about 5 years too late on the Arrested Development references, but moving out of state has instilled me with some Orange County pride.
Anyway, after taking the ferry to Balboa Island, my group and I decided we had to have a frozen banana. This frozen banana shop is almost next door to another one and I’m not sure if there’s a huge difference between the two. Regardless, I ordered a frozen banana with sprinkles for $ 3.25 and it was yummy as expected. No complaints!

I’m a little biased about this place since I’ve been coming here since I was a kid. Regardless it is still a top notch donut and coffee shop with the ultimate local feel. If you come here early in the morning you will encounter a few locals who have been doing their same coffee and donut routine since before you were born.
They serve fresh donuts, coffee, frozen bananas, balboa bars and much more. My favorite are the donut holes, their infamous hippo cookies, the balboa bar, or frozen banana.
It IS the home of the original balboa bar and frozen banana unlike the place a few stores down (which I shall not name).
Also, you must try the hippo cookies. They are simply the best!