There’s nothing quite like learning that not only can you have a doughnut for dessert, but that you can have that same doughnut with delicious ice cream in the form of a doughnut ice cream sandwich. This is the delicacy that now awaits diners on the dessert menu at Umami Burger.

Our location of choice was the Santa Monica Umami. For the uninitiated to Umami Santa Monica, you’re in the right place when you see a door with a big red burger bun on the front door. Yes, it says “Fred Segal” below it — and no, there is no “Umami Burger” sign outside — but you’re in the right place. Head on inside and grab a seat and prepare for a tasty treat.

The four of us decided to try every kind of doughnut ice cream sandwich combination we could! That evening they had two sugary delights for us; a maple donut with vanilla bacon ice cream and an apple fritter doughnut with vanilla ice cream. In order for each of us each to sample the doughnuts, we had them cut into quarters (and what tempting little quarters they were!).

The maple doughnut with vanilla bacon ice cream was extremely flavorful. The doughnut wasn’t quite as light and fluffy as we had anticipated, but the slightly firmer pastry paired well with the firm ice cream. The apple fritter variation turned out simple and just as scrumptious. I don’t see any reason why either doughnut ice cream sandwich couldn’t be had for breakfast in place of a regular doughnut…it’s basically a donut and ‘milk’, right?

Wanting more, we rounded out our dessert discovery adventure by going back to the basics: ice cream sandwiches. Specifically, The Chocolate: chocolate chip cookie with chocolate ice cream. Compared to the doughnut bites, the cookie ice cream sandwich was plain — unoriginal next to its doughnut cousin.

So next time you find yourself looking for a sweet treat in Santa Monica, why not swing by Umami and grab a doughnut ice cream sandwich? You won’t be disappointed.

For Chasing Doughnuts, this has been a special guest post by Rachel Corell, Veronica Fuog, Michael Kirkpatrick, and Emily Teitelbaum.

Special thanks to my ‘nut lovers for their scouting and contribution to Chasing Doughnuts!

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