The Donut King

Alice Gu made the The Donut King to tell the astonishing story of Ted Ngoy, a Cambodian refugee who escaped the Khmer Rouge and built a donut empire in California in the 1970s.

Ted’s success helped hundreds of fellow refugees start their own shops, transforming the West Coast’s donut industry. Wondering why Dunkin’ Donuts never conquered the West Coast, or why so many L.A. donut shops have pink boxes? The answer is Ted Ngoy, the Donut King.

But as Ted enjoyed the American Dream, personal struggles with gambling and infidelity led to a dramatic fall from grace. In a conversation for Actual Facts, Alice Gu reflects on the rise and fall (and rise again) of Ted’s fortune, and the immigrant experience at the heart of his story.

The Donut King was released in 2020, during the pandemic lockdown, an odd time for documentaries – but continues to find new audiences through Hulu. You can hear our interview with Alice Gu here.