The top 25 donut shops in the U.S.
Published 4:45 am Friday, April 29, 2022
We asked, you answered. We surveyed Feast and Field readers for their favorite donut (err, doughnut?) shops, big and small. Here are some of your top picks across the U.S. — from coast to coast.
With two locations in Atlanta (and one in Thailand!), Sublime Doughnuts is loved by locals and has been seen everywhere from the Food Network to Food & Wine. Want to make their swoon-worthy donuts at home? Check out how, here.
Read more: Sublime offers a true taste of heaven.
Voted Best Donuts in St. Louis six years running, Strange Donuts has four locations throughout Missouri, and makes their beloved donuts from scratch daily. They also have a philanthropy arm, Strange Cares, a nonprofit meant to empower kids’ lives with help from partners Big Brothers Big Sisters, The Children’s Heart Foundation and Girls on the Run.
Hole Doughnuts, North Carolina
You can watch as these yeasted, imperfect (yet somehow still perfect) donuts are hand-rolled and glazed right before your eyes. Touted by Bon Apétit and National Geographic as a can’t-miss shop, we couldn’t agree more.
Branding themselves as the “World’s Freshest Doughnuts,” we think that’s likely true since they hand-make donuts fresh, every hour, using the finest, freshest ingredients around.
Blooming Buns Bakehouse, Nevada
An artisan bakery located in Las Vegas, Blooming Buns Bakehouse specializes in brioche-style donuts that are made daily, and ferment overnight. Their donuts come in the form of Beignets and CookieBuns, their signature thick and gooey cookie-like muffin tops.
In an attempt to limit waste, Death by Donutz hand-make a limited batch of their delicious donuts each morning. Arrive early for best pick of their wide selection of flavors, including their Gluten Friendly/Vegan cake donutz and Raised Vegan donutz.
With nine locations in Colorado, The Donut House is a favorite among its patrons. Handmade fresh daily, they bring a variety of donuts to the table, including original cake, sour cream-based old-fashioned cake and yeast donuts (or what they call, “raised”).
Five Daughters Bakery, Tennessee
A family bakery run by a couple and — you guessed it — their five daughters, Five Daughters Bakery’s interior is as cute as their donuts are delicious. Their products contain no chemical preservatives, GMOs, hydrogenated oils, or artificial colors or flavors.
With three locations throughout Fargo, Sandy’s Donuts is an impressive establishment that makes over 10,000 homemade donuts — daily. All are made fresh every night, and leftovers are boxed up and sent to shelters.
Derived from the word “iconic,” Icon Donuts honors places and moments in history by way of delicious donuts and artistic designs. With a recent 2018 opening, they’ve already expanded to two locations, and are an instant area favorite.
Headed by two up-and-coming culinary stars, Megan and Jonathan Pidgeon, Glazed Donuts is the southernmost donut shop in the continental United States, located in Key West, Florida. Though, we’d travel even further to taste their fritter-style, cake and signature glazed donuts.
Widely considered a dynamic duo, Cops & Doughnuts stays true to its name. When this century-old coffee shop was in preparation to close, the local police department came to their rescue. Together, the officers saved the business, and today, it boasts multiple locations across the state — and is still owned and operated by police officers.
Hand-cut, family-owned and operated, Paula’s Donuts are baked the old-fashioned way at each of their four different locations. You’ll never find unnecessary grease on one of their donuts. That is, on one of their 30+ varieties.
Waco not only gave us Chip and Joanna Gaines, but the seriously good donuts from Nightlight, too. Don’t miss their signature Croissant Donut, and while you’re there, be sure to grab some of their ridiculously large donut holes.
Known for “its affordable comfort classics in unexpected flavors,” Federal comes from five hospitality pros. Stop in for customer favorites, including their signature “Hot” or “Fancy Donuts,” served with their twice-fried, super-crispy chicken coated in dry seasonings, savory glazes or naked.
When Sugar Shack identified a need “for a new type of donut spot that offered more vibrant and funky flavors,” they came up with an almost entirely vegan shop. Don’t worry, however: According to Sugar Shack, most customers can’t even tell they’re Vegan First. Impressive!
As Madison’s only certified kosher bakery, Greenbush also strives to exceed the mandated zero trans-fat FDA requirements with products fried in a 100% soybean-based oil. At Greenbush, you can find their mantra, “Kosher means quality,” not only in their marketing, but in their donuts, too.
With roots in Evansville as well as locations throughout the country, Parlor’s unique “layered doughnuts” have exploded in popularity since its first shop opened in 2019. Our creative director’s personal favorite is the French Toast flavor, but with 20+ varieties like Maple Bacon and Churro, any will satisfy your sweet tooth.
The 100% plant-based donut shop, Veera Donuts, is as pure as they come. With fresh, unique and colorful donuts daily, all products are made with beet or cane sugar that has not been processed with bone char.
Dubbed as a hotspot for donut lovers, Ocean City houses this local gem. Drip N Scoop not only specializes in donuts, but scoops ice cream year-round, too. Or, dive into an iced coffee served with a donut on your straw.
LaMar’s Donuts & Coffee, Nebraska & more
After perfecting his original donut recipe in 1933, Ray Lamar opened the first LaMar’s Donuts in 1960 in Missouri. Today, you can enjoy one of Lamar’s donuts in five different states.
With $7 in a bank account, a donut-making YouTube tutorial and equipment purchased from Craigslist to get them started, Hurts has grown from its humble beginnings to a nationwide success with over 20 locations serving up their popular products.
The staff at Cowboy Donuts wake up at 1 am every day to make their fresh, handmade, kneaded and proofed donuts. From there, each donut is perfectly fried and glazed into what they call “portable happiness devices.” If that’s not dedication to their craft, we don’t know what is.
We all know Kentucky is known for its bourbon, what about its donuts? At Hi Five, customers can choose their own adventure, with a countless number of glaze and toppings to choose from. Or, try one of their famous Kentucky Fried Buttermilk Chicken, Bourbon Caramel with Bacon or Sugah Doughnuts. No matter your choice, it doesn’t seem like you can go wrong.
Revival City Doughnuts, Illinois
With their quest to bring the word back to its original spelling — doughnut! —Revival City Doughnuts serves up classics like sprinkles, the original glazed and chocolate rings. We’re not sure, but they may just have us convinced.
