Why So Many Cambodians Own Donut Shops | AJ+

Southern California is known for its abundance of doughnut shops, and many of those businesses are owned by Cambodian-Americans. But why? The story of their success is about thriving after surviving a brutal war that left them with nearly nothing.
Watch more AJ+ Because Facts: ajplus.co/becau...
There's a reason so many doughnut shops use pink boxes, and it basically traces back to one man who used his business acumen to help Cambodian refugees find their versions of the American Dream.
Learn more here:
Pew Research Center. “U.S. Public Seldom Has Welcomed Refugees Into Country.” www.pewresearch...
Slate. “A Khmerican Tale.” www.slate.com/a...
Wall Street Journal. “Even Jimmy Carter Was Cautious About Admitting Refugees.” www.wsj.com/ar...
Encyclopedia Britannica. “Khmer Rouge.” www.britannica...
*Presenter & Senior Producer*: Imaeyen Ibanga
*Shot by: *Michael Nguyen
*Edited by: *Michael Nguyen and Brian Joseph
Animations by: Chia Liu
Executive Producer: Sarah Nasr
Music tracks courtesy of APM.
Footage and images courtesy of Getty Images and Reuters.
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[@ericadyoutuification]

This was very enlightening! I too am a donut shop owner from Louisville KY. Interesting story I brought my shop from a beautiful Vietnamese/Cambodian family once my friend (the owner) passed away. We are now the first and only black owned donut shop in Louisville. I’ve learned so much about the Asian culture and how to make donuts. I stumbled across this video because I’m in research of the donut origin. Thank you so much for sharing this ☝🏾💜🍩

[@dfranks6214]

is it hard to make a profit running a donut shop?

[@ericahector3415]

@@dfranks6214 in my opinion from my own experience, it comes down to your marketing and your flavor. Since I’ve taken over, the least amount I saw was about 6,000 in one month. The most I saw was $15,000 in one month,

[@dfranks6214]

@@ericahector3415 are they hard to make? we moved to the east coast from california where there are great donuts EVERYWHERE. i want to replicate it out here, i think it'd do well bc there are so many west coast transplants here.

[@jabberwolf7348]

Go watch the documentary, "The Donut King" and not this tripe that blames the USA for Vietnam and Cambodia. Better to learn from the people that escaped Cambodia and not the communist propaganda that is pushed here in the USA.

[@asherouk7308]

Donuts are an ancient Cambodian dessert called ‘nom kong’ (នំកង់), which means “wheel pastry” as it is named after it’s shape. It is made of rice flour so has a crumbly cookie texture and would have a palm sugar toffee drizzled on top and then sprinkled with sesame seeds.

[@redbenada798]

Asher Ouk interesting

[@DankDave211]

I just ate that yesterday.!

[@TheLittledikkins]

I wish one of our donut shops would make those, sounds good to me.

[@ackackack7763]

i have eat them it so sweet

[@mush2938]

Nom kong are different from donuts. They both come from different places. I used to get nom kong at a Khmer store every now and then, and the only relationship I see between them is the shape. Nom kong are kind of like those fried balls that have potato in them, or those flatbread thingies that were sweet.

[@LG-lb7sf]

I absolutely love this story. Yes, us Cambodians love using donut shops to lift ourselves out of poverty. I just wanted to give you an update, now we have surpassed that, have further assimilated and are now working at your universities, pharmacies, banks, some of us even work for high fashion labels and tech companies hehe I myself am finishing up my undergrad in French, and am working towards being a teacher at a community college. I speak several languages and am hoping to master my Khmer to be able to teach other Cambodian Americans our writing system. I'm saying this not to brag, I'm saying it to give hope to other Khmers out there who are worried about infiltrating other professions other than the donut industry (which I think is so honorable and profitable, even more than teaching lol). I'm very happy the Khmer rouge's oppressive agenda is dying with every step that we take towards reconstruction. :) Thank you so much AJ for this segment!!!!

[@blinksstayfresh2524]

I still work at the shop!

[@lynksis12]

I'm Cambodian American. My parents worked at a Cambodian-owned donut shop for 20 years until my mom retired and my dad became a mechanic 😊

[@njonkoaclement6841]

lynksis12 ! It is because Chinese throws their seedlings wherever they go.

[@mel...s]

Were they paid a living wage?

[@yinchhayim4683]

europa man if a white man have a son that have cambodia blood or he was born in cambodia yes he a cambodian

[@dragonfly1414]

FryPlay Khmer people wouldn't see a white person born in Cambodia as he or she is Cambodian.

[@mtraa.942]

@Europa Man the united states not only white!

[@scottgoodwin1073]

I had a Cambodian Baker awesome guy Cambodian and Vietnamese people are amazing hard workers and driven to survive victims of the US government war mongers I wish them success

[@perrybonney9090]

"... driven to survive victims of the US government war mongers". The refugees were fleeing a CIVIL WAR, which lasted from January 1979 - 1998. The US was long gone by then.

[@ToiYeuYAHWEH]

I am Vietnamese and I regard Cambodians (Khmers) plus Laotians as my brothers and sisters. I LOVE how the Khmer language sounds.

[@narararamammily5386]

I know that this was two years but I agree. I love all my ASEAN brothers and sisters. ✌️

[@ratanakuddamchea1365]

ToiYeuYAHWEH love your county too! From Cambodia ❤️

[@porothashawarma2339]

Farther cousin here from India ! We should be more open with each other’s cultures , there’s much more we have in common that we are aware of .

[@famousamos]

I noticed this! A lot of donut shops are owned by Chinese, Vietnamese, and Cambodians. Interesting.

[@tychen6156]

Because it is hard work and others can't compete with the new immigrants. Not to mention the crazy long hours.

[@666.xoxo33]

True,my dad wants to own a donut shop and my dads friend owns one

[@sunbutma4285]

@@tychen6156 true, my good friend family owned a donut shop. It was hard work for his dad. Baking donut from 1am in the morning till the store opens up at 6am.

[@xbl155ful]

They know how to make everything taste good!!

[@juliabrooks6556]

they always have the best donuts for sure, love them

[@it_Nexus562]

as a cambodian living in long beach, when you saw the pink box, you knew there was good stuff.

[@mc-ge2bt]

My mom lives in New England where there is also a large Cambodian and Laotian population. I haven't tried the donuts but I have had many traditional Cambodian meals as there are many family own restaurants in the area. So good!!! Please try when you get a chance.

[@SadethCheng]

In New Zealand and Australia, many Cambodians are bakers.

[@JMLCountdown]

um... I know more than 20 bakeries own by cambodians in New Zealand

[@vannasim1427]

We left out great careers like scientist biologist chemist researcher entrepreneur engineer technology politics biotechnology.

[@Dubconnectgang]

Wtf there’s Cambodian in New Zealand? Never knew that..

[@topshot_ted6798]

@@Dubconnectgang I’m in America. I have family in New Zealand. Also , I have family in France. It’s funny talking to them. I barely speak the language. So, one has a strong accent and the other speaks French with a little English lol

[@Dubconnectgang]

@@topshot_ted6798 that’s what’s up tho 💪🏼

[@bushrabonera]

when she broke into tears when she was talking bout poverty :(( made me so sad because it brought out many memories for me

[@jokker03]

There's also a lot of Vietnam soldiers who escaped the country and came over to the US and started doughnut shops. The place I used to go to in nor cal was run by a former Vietnamese colonel.

[@DriftingPancake]

I’m proud of her for being the few lucky ones who made it out of Cambodia and took this privilege to spread awareness of the struggles of those who weren’t so fortunate

[@siv1749]

Thanks for covering this story. I'm Cambodian and grew up with the donut shop business. My parents owned a few. I went to college and later became a sociology professor. I'm shocked at how unaware my students were about the Cambodian genocide. When I educate them on the history of Cambodian Americans and the donut shop business, I love bringing donuts from locally owned Cambodian shops. We're a culture so rich in history and our donut shop stories are beautiful.

[@jerrypie]

Would you consider doing one on vietnamese nail salons? :O

[@marissateresa_]

Tippi Hedren. She's the main character in the movie The Birds. On a visit to I believe a refugee camp, the women loved her nails. She figured if they're going to be in America they should learn a skill to support themselves. She brought her personal manicurist to show the women how to do nails and more Vietnamese women would also learn. That's why so many viet women do nails

[@kthngo.ngan03]

:V

[@proumry3325]

And Chinese Food!

[@C-MO520]

Nope only donut. Do-not nail salon. Only donut. Lmao jk sorry shit just pops in my head

[@tommychen6102]

Funny! My friend is a Cambodian and his family owns a donut shop called Donut Factory in hayward ca !

[@clar331]

Tommy Chen yeee

[@animationlover2944]

I looked it up and now I'm gonna buy some donuts

[@thatissodawn]

Richard Kim! I was his student at Davis. Great Professor.

[@KhmerL0VEKhmer]

Inspiring story. Some of my family members also survived the genocide in Cambodia and got sponsored to the U.S. Where I'm from, I don't see many Cambodian owned donut shops. I love that mural in Cambodian Town with the Apsara in Long Beach, CA. It's sad that Cambodians are being deported many, many years later after they already served their time and changed their ways.

[@alyaklexerd]

Marady Mon yes it’s so sad! Many of the men deported are born in Thailand not even Cambodia.

[@zolarrayz5528]

Any of my Khmer people watching ?🇰🇭🇰🇭🇰🇭🇰🇭🇰🇭🇰🇭🇰🇭

[@LeaksmyBou]

Zolar Rayz me xD

[@seihaknou988]

Zolar Rayz still shook that I have never known these

[@usagimoon.x.o6256]

Here!

[@emicals.]

Zolar Rayz Here!

[@audreymcneal]

Partially here!

[@danielham2906]

Cambodians and Laotians make THE best donuts hands down! Dang...now I want a donut lol

[@NangDeeSan]

Never known Lao people opening donut shops, more like Thai-Lao restaurants.

[@imperialkhmer6146]

Laotians open thai restaurants not donut shops.

[@murdelabop]

It isn't just California. I'm in Florida, and my neighborhood doughnut shop is owned by a Cambodian family.

[@lotto5742]

How many cambodians live in Florida though?

[@cgmason7568]

Texas too

[@perrybonney9090]

@@cgmason7568 Yeah. A LARGE population of Cambodians. Here in Houston, for sure.

[@Kangvrs]

What part of Florida?

[@gezzx1058]

In my opinion, i think Cambodia would’ve been as aspiring as japan if the khmer rouge never happened because of its amount of educated individuals and they’re business, for instance, my grandpa was majored in 2 degrees in Cambodia, masters in art and music as he was a conductor and writer for Cambodia’s king, yet sadly they killed him of course along with my whole other 3/4 of my educated family.

[@joyjoyoo]

GEZZ X10 I'm sorry

[@jahangirmehta3997]

Sad to hear that bro, extremely sorry for your loss

[@lotto5742]

Yep. If it wasn't for the Khmer Rouge, Cambodia would be an economic powerhouse like Japan, South Korea, and Singapore and a top tourist destination like Paris, London, and Italy.

[@LogosTheos]

@@lotto5742 Vietnam played a role in Cambodia's demise too.

[@kawskelvin7884]

lotto well if the Khmer Rouge didn’t happen, Cambodia’s gdp would be close to at least south Korea’s gdp

[@21whichiswhich]

That human bones are disturbing. Bless their souls

[@Shadowbannddiscourse]

I'm from Long Beach and yes I've grown up over and what they call Cambodia town and I have worked a few different jobs over there. I've worked with Cambodian descent Cambodian people and some have told me there stories and yes pretty unsettling stuff to go through really brutal stuff. I feel for anyone that didn't survive and for the ones that did survive. Because of the things that they probably remember from that.

[@alanalin129425]

Please do a story on the Jamaican patty shops in queens new York

[@eios76]

those are tasty and many people from the Caribbean live in Jamaica Queens and the surrounding areas like Richmond Hill and Queens Village, end of story

[@liizzset]

Yes. They have to do this. That would be amazing. Also really they are!? So many that is . Heard that they had some but that it is good to know that they are so many.

[@GustavoRodriguez-qr5po]

cassy_1 also Puerto rican bodegas Miami cuban coffee shops

[@j_thom]

careful. . . didnt that guy that founded that patty business get himself into all kinds of trouble a few years back and killed hisself? That might overshadow the intent of the glory of the patty shop.

[@kyla738]

the golden krust ceo

[@Moscato_Moscato]

As a Texan, I always feel at home every time I walk inside a donut shop owned and operated by Asian folk, i love y’all’s at snowflake donuts

[@fizzySAADE]

Loved this!

[@ajplus]

Thanks for watching.

[@bobl2163]

Like most Americans, I do not know much about Cambodian history. This is a very aspiring and emotional story. Thanks for producing the video. The donuts shop owners truly deserve their American success story.

[@TransitAndTeslas]

Very cool story. I have always wondered this myself. My parents started off in a donut shop, and then sold it and my dad ended up going to school. He now is part of the 9-5 workforce at an electronics company making pretty good money. My uncle turned to the Air Force and so did many of my cousins. I went to the national guard. So now we are a military family proudly serving a country that took us in. We now have many veterans in our family.

[@bookish.calirican]

Oh wow, I had just listened to a podcast about this topic! Pretty cool to see a video about it as well. Perfect timing.

[@sontagfamily5611]

I always wonder how one ethnic group manages to takeover a business (not in a bad way). I live in the northwest corner of Arkansas and all of our donut shops are owned by Southeast Asians. Great donuts and great people.

[@mathewsmith8031]

Man I miss living in LA for doughnuts. I did not know there was history behind those shops in my area makes me wish I had talked to them more as a kid.

[@kaze987]

I had the pleasure of visiting LA last year on my honeymoon and I made a point to stop and patronize every single donut shop that I could!

[@ahn00bus510]

This is such a beautiful story!!

[@Reastein2024]

Heartwarming story..always happy to see the success story of our fellow Cambodians. Here in Bronx, NY there is not that many Cambodians, at least not anymore, so no donut shops are owned by any Cambodians here from what I know...would love to visit Southern Cali someday and go to the Cambodian town to try the donuts :)

[@misterchrissy]

The best donut shop in San Francisco is run by this sweet little Cambodian lady. I call her “Tevta Daunut (donut angel).” Always gives freebies.

[@misterchrissy]

Ha! Even more appropriate because those donuts are the best.

[@neozeon2567]

Preah is the khmer word for god

[@misterchrissy]

last time i went and bought some donuts she remembered me and laughed and said that yes, tevta is something more like god (she pointed up to the sky and mimed hands in prayer). it was really sweet (and angelic). such a sweet lady. the jelly donut on 24th and south van ness in san francisco is where she's at usually in the evenings.

[@neozeon2567]

+Kush Kunte preahpout is Buddha

[@jihcodd1131]

Nice video ! A LOT of my SE Asian friends family own nail salons & donut shops 😂

[@adamnan9437]

No need b.a b.s degree...just busy hands.

[@BK-qx6pl]

Cambodian flees a country under a scourge of a communist democide. Flees to the US, and becomes a badass capitalist business woman. That is empowerment!

[@100newkid]

Amazing story. Thank you for covering it!

[@ajplus]

Thank you for taking the time to watch it.

[@rawhamburgerjoe]

Great story. These people are what ACTUALLY make America great! Thanks for the positive message in a time of chaos.

[@failogy]

1:46 "Definitely the American dream to have a business." And it's the Asian dream to move to US, and have a business.

[@romanianmoto]

Im proud to have thme here!!!

[@thorphoeung6057]

True story. My family first own a donut shop back in 1983 in Valencia, California. We then move north to Fresno, Ca and owned 3 donut shops in 1990 and 1 in Tulare. I used to work there along my family. Even becoming a baker and managing the shop in High School. It was a very tiresome occupation with long hours and very labor extensive. However I am still proud of those years because it instill in me a good work ethnic and taught me the value of hard work.

[@BlessedtheMostHigh3338]

Thanks for doing this video ❤️

[@haruruben]

I personally known exactly one person from Cambodia in my life. At that time I didn’t know anything about Cambodia and it was kind of devastating to me when I heard about his time as a refugee from the Khmer Rouge.

[@oki1985]

l went to Cambodia a few years back. beautiful place with beautiful people...

[@gomimaninoakland]

I think that it is amazing how immigrants come to this country and the pioneers that find a niche that allows a community especially refugees who can not go back at least at first and must survive and succeed in a new strange country. cambodians have the donut shops, the vietnamese have the nail shops and mechanics shops. yes i do know that these beach heads have become a bit of a stereotype and not all cambodians or Vietnamese just do these things but the success in these fields have paid for a lot of education and the ability to give there children other oppertunities to many other things.

[@susanwahid9092]

This Rose Donuts and Cafe is in San Clemente, California. They have been there since 1984... same family run and operated for 3 generation.

[@MetroLee]

Can AJ+ make a story about how Germany is so helpful and accepting of refugees in contrast to their preceding history and the current feel of many other European nations?

[@SimonBishop779]

Jael That’s a really good idea

[@crazylawnmower1677]

Jael Majority of Europe is supportive of refugees. Sorry Russian bots and neck-beards

[@Miquelalalaa]

Jael They only go to Germany because they are welfare leeches. Obviously they are causing so many problems it has led to the rise of the AfD

[@MetroLee]

Jara They actually aren't causing many problems at all more than the German citizen in who did the shooting in München, the one who murdered the child near Bielefeld, or the German citizen who killed many people with his vehicle in Münster. So possibly you speak of Köln and the stabbing, but I'm confused as to what other instances you speak of.

[@bellaevans4488]

oh thats a load of COMPLETE SHIT.

[@farahlamrini5819]

Just can't understand the people who dislike. A person sharing a profoundly sad story ,not just her 's but a piece of America's history, both the good and the bad. So why to dislike ???

[@kimjulyofficial]

Loved this! Very insightful ❤️🍩

[@KhmerKandal]

Way better than Krispy Kreme or Dunkin Donuts. I'm rooting for the mom and pop donut shop. All franchises donuts can go😋

[@jsh1344]

0:59 they’re from the future, photo on the top left is dated 08/12/2024 lol

[@seanyan288]

Thanks for sharing a positive side of Cambodian Americans.

[@jennifersimonsmeier5882]

Truly an amazing story.

[@liizzset]

Whoa. This was an amazing watch. Great show. Cannot wait for more.

[@meassoreach104]

It's great to see Cambodia's darkest history spread across the world, which make me as a Cambodian proud of our country, culture and people that survived through these brutal regime and show the world how strong our people are

[@mikewhocheeseharry5292]

A city in Cambodia was once the largest, most populous in the world with immerse wealth (gold) in the ancient times. It will rise again.

[@convivialkid]

Awesome story!! Stories of immigrants are truly amazing and inspiring!

[@chocolatechipslime]

Last month was at a local donut shop in New Mexico and Cambodians owned it, today went to a donut shop in Mississippi and Cambodians or Vietnamese own it

[@kittenatplay371]

What a great story 😀

[@lordcolby5010]

What an incredible story. Very heart wrenching.

[@islandbee]

Wow. I always thought it was an anomaly that Cambodians own the donut shop near where I grew up in Bellingham, WA. Shout out to Lafeen's near Whatcom Falls Park. Best donuts in town. 🍩

[@mlecarre2057]

Culture of hard work and innovation.....many other cultures can learn from....

[@tikosaha3272]

the history of Armenians in LA

[@GustavoRodriguez-qr5po]

TIKOSAHA ana kasparian A famous armenian

[@tikosaha3272]

plus like 100,000+ more Armenians

[@proverbsministry6076]

TIKOSAHA bru-rooo

[@maxarevalovideos9787]

Love the story. Very inspiring

[@iiwrites]

I'm so glad you enjoyed it.

[@allgoo1964]

I knew many of them were run by Asians and Cambodians in particular but I didn't know it was a trend. Good for them. I'll visit more often. Also, you'll see many Cambodians working at Fry's electronic store. They are very friendly.

[@reoungsocheata1311]

Thank you so much for sharing

[@cassandrar5127]

This was a beautiful story. I love immigrant stories, it's what makes America...America. Thank you for sharing this! I agree with a previous commentor that you should do a video about the Armenian diaspora to the US especially to California.

[@ajplus]

We're glad you loved it. Check out more in our playlist.

[@zhubajie6940]

Not just Southen Cali... Florida too. Great vid.

[@TransitAndTeslas]

Zhu Bajie and New York! But NY is the land of immigrants from everywhere. Truly a beautiful all American city as it encompasses the true meaning that America is a melting pot.

[@ilikepiratesroar]

What an incredible man, Ngoy.

[@myriamkay]

I am so thankful for people who make great donuts.

[@ek3602]

I’m so thankful to Ted a got for providing us yummy donuts. Honestly, I have never encountered bad Cambodian donut shop. All of them are really amazing.

[@alexandracscott5400]

This was a beautiful piece. Thank you.

[@oldschool1928]

They should've used a photo of an apple fritter for clickbait. It would attract millions! :)

[@ajplus]

Thanks for the idea. LOL.

[@Alessandra25ish]

definitely relevant in the donut shops in the bay area as well

[@Ronin-go1xn]

Thanks for this doc.

[@ajplus]

Thank you for watching.

[@OttawaHomeInspector]

thank you for making this story.

[@khmerfeature8423]

Thanks for this video

[@JohnOfAllTrade]

A lot of these donut bakers work 7 days, multiple donuts shops. Most of them are underpaid. A lot of them work hard since they didn't have anything after fleeing the war. I honestly, wouldn't open a donut shop like these. Prob more Americanize and give the employees benefits and vacation days. I think after you work so hard, making donuts all you want to do is open a donut shop. A lot of my family and friends I know open a donut shop. Its hard business, but it gets you through.

[@westcoastkhmer]

Cambodians are awesome!

[@gio132050]

Great story!

[@ajplus]

We're glad you enjoyed it. Feel free to share the link.

[@LaBucci]

I live in Long Beach where we have a huge Cambodian population, we even have a section of our city named Cambodia town and I admire them a lot! From the struggles they faced! So glad we have many Cambodians here

[@jzizzles7799]

I love to go to Cambodia town to eat Chinese food made by Cambodians!

[@AJlion]

0:58 soo no one gonna talk about one of these pictures be in the future like bruh right there in one of the pictures 08/12/2024

[@mohamedsokhna8521]

lead by my love for donuts.. to discover that love for strong and surviving souls.. Got love and respect for you guys out there !!!

[@rageguy311]

How about a story on the Eurovision Song Contest? Geography Now has a great explainer video!

[@niciusX]

What an amazing life lesson. 💙 Thanks for sharing.

[@Tan92lfc]

Her uncle really created a legacy

[@susanlim5313]

Yes he did :-)

[@sr.3056]

We have lots of Cambodian donut shops in Seattle too! Love this. Thanks for the informative video.

[@ksteve9807]

Good topic, AJ has good talent in choosing its topic

[@ivysn13]

its like vietnamese and their nail salons

[@yapgimkwee8842]

very touching story. great video

[@smartguy2095]

Too many donut shop isn't good because of many competition,we need to learn other business like fashion,haircut salon, convenience or gas station store,auto mechanic, auto body, electronics shop, make toys and exercise products ,many other more choices

[@claudiowicaksono3602]

So Inspiring, thank you for the positive news

[@markcoolio1231]

The Sporkful Podcast did a really nice 2 part podcast series and actually interviewed the Doughnut King!

[@clarasantiso8246]

Great information on these brothers and sisters!

[@Andrea-qx9vg]

Beautiful story 💕👏

[@llew777]

The next time I see anyone putting down an Asian person I will point out this Vid. unbelievable hard working people, I welcome all of you and thank you for your past sacrifice and your contribution to todays economy.

[@susanlim5313]

Thank you Rob

[@llew777]

@@susanlim5313 What you have been through........ The least I could Do. Once again I Thank you

[@sandralim4700]

my parents own one and we are Cambodian

[@chrisbano9216]

I remember my uncle from L.A will visit us he would hand carry a box of donuts take a flight spend the holidays with us, we lived in queens NY, those donuts were mighty delicious and tasty! I was so excited waiting for those donuts, LOL