5 Favorite Donut Spots Around The Country
There are few food items more American than the donut. When you add hefty amounts of sugar to some soft dough and then deep fry it, the combination is irresistible. While just about every American town has a donut shop, it can be quite difficult to narrow down to the very best. I've eaten plenty of donuts along my travels and the 5 shops below are simply on top for quality and uniqueness. These locations will not let you down and I promise you that the confectioner delights from each shop will attempt to add some meat on your bones. Eating in moderation is strongly advised! I'm sure there are many more sprinkled throughout the country, however, I just haven't discovered those...yet. Forget Dunkin and Krispy Kreme, here is a list of my 5 favorite donut spots around the country.
1. The Donut Spot - Fairfield, OH
The Donut Spot might just be my all time favorite and I've easily eaten here more than anywhere else on the list because I used to live not too far away. This place is so tiny, you can not eat inside. Be prepared to wait in line most of the open hours, but believe me when I say it's worth the wait. Still not convinced? I used to work nightshift and whenever someone wanted to make a middle of the night donut run, it was to this location. The Donut Spot opens at 3am and it's not uncommon for a couple dozen people to be waiting in line at that hour. Between the hours of 7 - 9a, the crowds really pick up so be prepared for some sort of line most days of the week.
Are you a donut fanatic? The Donut Spot is part of the Butler County Donut Trail. Pickup a passport and tag all 13 donut shops along the trail for a t-shirt and bragging rights.
How to Get There
The Donut Spot is conveniently located along US-127, which is known as Pleasant Avenue, just north of "downtown" Fairfield. There is ample parking as it resides within a strip mall. The address is 5130 Pleasant Ave. Fairfield, OH 45014 or you find the pin here https://maps.app.goo.gl/kYczH1PcMZfS5Ane8
They are open 3a to 12p, 7 days a week. Please note that they sell out of a lot of their signature items before 9a and don't always have anything left after 11. Come early or place an order over the phone and pickup when it's convenient for you.
Top Picks
Fresh is the name of the game here and I've never had so much as a dry or stale tasting donut at any time. The dough is incredibly fluffy. While you can't go wrong with any choice, I can't recommend enough both the cheesecake donut and what is essentially a deep fried triangular croissant draped in heavy glaze. These 2 items, above all else, are what push the Donut Spot up to a whole new level.
2. Fountain Acre Foods
Continuing with high quality donuts, the next stop is at a small, Amish market known as Fountain Acre Foods. While I'm talking about donuts here, this hidden gem is more than just that. The baked goods, ice cream, and cheeses are phenomenal and very fairly priced! It's a grocery and furniture store as well so something for everyone. Alright, let's get back to the donuts.
How to Get There
Fountain Acre Foods is located just north of Richmond, Indiana in the town of Fountain City. It's right along US Highway 27. Be mindful that this is Amish country so buggies are very common. Their 1 horse power vs your 200 is no match so slow down and use caution.
The address is 1140 Whitewater Rd. Fountain City, Indiana 47341 or you can find the pin here https://maps.app.goo.gl/YmMk4K6Vha2UTMG16
They are open Monday through Friday, 8a to 5p, Saturday 7:30a to 4:00p, and closed Sunday. I will spare you the grief and disappointment to let you know that donuts are only made Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
They accept cash and check only!
Top Picks
The Amish are very good at their baked goods so anything is a safe bet. They have several exceptional options, but one of my true favorites is their black raspberry donut. If jelly filled isn't your thing, some other taste bud satisfying picks are the peanut butter cream donut and coconut.
3. Donut Friar
Deep within the hustle and bustle of Gatlinburg, Tennessee is where you'll find the Donut Friar. It's not visible from the road, but if you know, you know. I woke up very early during a camping trip to make the trek over to, "the best donuts in Gatlinburg" and was pleasantly surprised with the quality and it immediately went on my list of must come back to spots. The family enjoyed the goods thoroughly as well so it became a no-brainer stop anytime we're in the area.
How to Get There
As already mentioned, you can not see or even get to the Donut Friar directly from the street. It is located within "The Village" which has sort of an old European village feel to it. There are many shops back here for you to peruse as well and you can get here via sidewalk from the main road. The most difficult part to getting there might be the parking if you sleep in and allow the tourists to flood the streets. I've had great success with an early arrival time (ie 6am) when street parking is allowed and practically no one is up then. If you choose to go later, you'll have to find parking in any of the public lots and walk. These lots also cost money so keep that in mind.
The address is 634 Parkway #15 Gatlinburg, Tennessee 37738 or you can find a pin here https://maps.app.goo.gl/Z6qTNGHa7U1USinr9
It is open 5a to 5p, 7 days a week and is cash only.
My Picks
Anything glazed and their cinnamon rolls are what we like there. Fresh and delicious!
4. Voodoo Doughnut
Our next stop enters into more of the bizarre. Being that it originated in Portland, Oregon, anything goes more or less, but one thing is for sure, they have variety and plenty of it. Boasting more than 40 different varieties, there is certainly something for everyone. I believe they used to have over 50 varieties back when we went here many years ago, but then again, it was only 3 locations around Portland then and now they have around 2 dozen locations mostly in the western US so a lot has changed. Voodoo Doughnut is worth the visit if you happen to be nearby.
How to Get There
Now that there are a couple dozen locations, your best bet is looking on their website https://www.voodoodoughnut.com/findus/
We went to their Portland location in the Old Town area. The address is 22 SW 3rd Ave, Portland, OR 97204 or you can find a pin here https://maps.app.goo.gl/xtB2S6H9r8PDU4X2A
Being that this is their original location, expect long lines, even in the middle of the day.
Hours vary for each location. As for the Old Town shop, 5a to 3a Fri to Sun, 5a to 11p Mon, 6a to 11p Tue/Wed, and 6a to 3a Thur.
My Picks
I've only been here once and the variety is huge. Be creative and go with something different or stick with a classic. I don't think you'll be disappointed!
5. Jim's Bagel and Bake Shoppe
From the west coast to the east coast, this next shop is located in the quaint fishing town of Gloucester, Massachusetts (pronounced like gla-ster). In a region smothered with Dunkin Donuts (seriously, they're on about every other block up here) it's nice to know there is somewhere to go to enjoy a real, quality donut. Whether you're looking for a quick treat before embarking on a whale watching tour or just passing through, it's a safe assumption this is the best place around as the locals congregate here.
How to Get There
Jim's Bagel and Bake Shoppe is nestled within the heart of this New England town and is a breeze to find. Meter parking is available directly across the street.
The address is 34 Railroad Ave, Gloucester, MA 01930 or you can find a pin here https://maps.app.goo.gl/1QQ2Yfjj3VJYyHE39
The hours are 5a to 6p Mon to Sat, and 5a to 3p on Sun.
My Picks
The standout for me is their butternut donut which was unlike most donuts I've ever had as it features a hard outer coating making it crunchy. A close second for me would be their blueberry donut.
Honorable Mention: Long's Bakery
I decided to add one bonus shop to the list as it proves it has many of the qualities of being top tier, however, I've only eaten a single glazed donut from here and I can't accurately or fairly give it a true rating at this time. Downtown Indianapolis has a treasure which, at the time of this writing, just hit 70 years of being in business. Long's Bakery is the name and putting smiles on people's faces through fried dough topped with sugar has been their game for decades.
How to Get There
There are 2 locations. I went to their original location which is essentially in the Indy suburb of Raceway. The address is 1453 N Tremont St, Indianapolis, IN 46222 or you can find a pin here https://maps.app.goo.gl/TfoAdh26xox7p7ZZA
The hours for the above location are 5:30a to 10p, 7 days a week. Their other location is 5:30a to 8p, 7 days a week.
This is cash only and prices are very reasonable.
Top Picks
It was a coworker who treated me to a donut here and he always gets a classic glaze and told me there isn't anything better at Long's. A couple in front of us were celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary and they too stuck with the tried and true glazed donut which they said they had been eating there for several decades. While I wouldn't typically recommend a simple type as this, maybe everyone is right, you really can't go wrong with a Long's glaze. I look forward to trying other varieties in the future and will update this post when that happens.
Conclusion
On my never ending quest to find the best donuts in the country, I've managed to discover several worthy of recognition from coast to coast and everywhere in between. It’s easy for anyone to stick with the main chains, but if you really want to treat yourself, go explore off the beaten path a bit and you might just hit the jackpot. The donut shops above are only a handful of the likely dozens of superior quality destinations hidden in a local town near you. Which one will your try first?
As always, B.E. Adventurous!