America’s Top Donut Shops

Americans love to eat donuts. According to a 2018 survey conducted by bakery ingredients supplier, Dawn Foods, the average American eats 31 donuts annually, and over one-third of consumers eat donuts at least once a month.

While America’s love for donuts is nothing new, there has been a surge in the number of independent and small chain donut shops opening in recent decades. Ten billion donuts are made in the U.S. every year, but the two most dominant chains account for only half of that number. Dunkin’ Donuts sells 2.9 billion donuts per year (including munchkins), and Krispy Kreme sells approximately 1.6 billion.

 To create a list of the best donut shops in America, 24/7 Tempo referred to articles and rankings from a variety of sources, including Eater, Food & Wine, Thrillist, Time Out, and Tasting Table, along with various local and regional sources. The final selection was based on editorial discretion. Some of these shops specialize solely in donuts, while others operate as full-service bakeries or cafés known for the excellence of their donuts as well as other foods. The majority of the shops on the list are independent, single-location businesses, with exceptions duly noted.

Dawn Foods found that around 82% of Gen Z and Millenial customers are willing to try donuts with innovative and unconventional flavor combinations. Conveniently, many of the top-rated donut shops in the country feature adventurous flavors that go beyond the traditional glazed and creme-filled options.With flavors ranging from strawberry matcha to broccoli cream. and olive oil with black pepper, there’s something for everyone.

Southern California has established itself as a paradise for donut lovers, with five of the top donut shops listed being in that area. Los Angeles has a remarkable ratio of one donut shop for every 7,000 residents, in contrast to the national average of around one per 30,000 residents. Texas is also known for its donuts and is home to four of the donut shops on the list. (Click here to find out what the best donut shop in your state is.)

Here are America’s top donut shops:

Mojo Donuts & Fried Chicken

• Location: Miami, Florida
• Sample donut: Guava and cheese

Demet’s Donuts

• Location: Medford, Massachusetts
• Sample donut: Blueberry nugget

Do-Rite Donuts

• Location: Chicago, Illinois (seven locations)`
• Sample donut: Pistachio old-fashioned

Donut Bar

• Location: San Diego, California
• Sample donut: Real vanilla bean glazed

Funkytown Donuts

• Location: Fort Worth, Texas
• Sample donut: Orange dark chocolate

Round Rock Donuts

• Location: Round Rock and Cedar Park, Texas
• Sample donut: Chocolate-dipped chocolate

Purvé Donut Stop

• Location: Honolulu, Hawaii (two locations)
• Sample donut: Alohamac (chocolate glazed dusted with macadamia nuts and caramel

DK’s Donuts

• Location: Santa Monica, California
• Sample donut: Caramel Snickers

The Doughnut Plant

• Location: New York City (two locations), Brooklyn (two locations), Queens, New York
• Sample donut: Peanut butter & banana cream

The Heavenly Donut Company

• Location: Birmingham, Alabama
• Sample donut: Sour cream old-fashioned

Dino’s Donuts

• Location: Anchorage, Alaska
• Sample donut: German chocolate frosted

Revolution Doughnuts

• Location: Decatur and Atlanta, Georgia
• Sample donut: Toasted almond cake

Guru Donuts

• Location: Boise and Eagle, Idaho (two locations)
• Sample donut: Cinnamon sugar potato

Krumpe’s Do-nuts

• Location: Hagerstown, Maryland
• Sample donut: Lemon drop

Cardigan Donuts

• Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
• Sample donut: Turtle cheesecake

Granny’s Gourmet Donuts

• Location: Bozeman, Montana
• Sample donut: Broccoli cream

Uncle Dood’s Donuts

• Location: Toms River, New Jersey
• Sample donut: Werewolf Fuzz (maple icing and toasted coconut

Whoo’s Donuts

• Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico
• Sample donut: Strawberry matcha

Buckeye Donuts

• Location: Columbus, Ohio
• Sample donut: Red velvet with cream cheese

Polar Donuts

• Location: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
• Sample donut: Blueberry frosted

Gibson’s Donuts

• Location: Memphis, Tennessee
• Sample donut: Maple bacon

Colorado Donuts

• Location: Eagle Rock, California
• Sample donut: Banana Nilla Wafer

North Country Donuts

• Location: Morrisville, Vermont
• Sample donut: Ricotta cream

Cowboy Donuts

• Location: Rock Springs, Wyoming, and American Fork, Utah
• Sample donut: Pumpkin spice

Pinkbox Donuts

• Location: Las Vegas (seven locations), Henderson, and Laughlin, NV, and St. George, UT
• Sample donut: Coco Loco (chocolate-frosted glazed chocolate cake with Cocoa Pebbles

Neil’s Donuts

• Location: Wallingford and Middletown, Connecticut
• Sample donut: Reese’s peanut butter crumb

Combo Donuts

• Location: Austin, Texas
• Sample donut: Plain glazed

Sugar Shack Donuts

• Location: Richmond, North Chesterfield, and Charter Colony, Virginia
• Sample donut: Strawberry shortcake

The Holy Donut

• Location: Portland (two locations), Scarborough, Arundel, Maine
• Sample donut: Holy Cannoli ginger glazed

Donnie’s Donuts

• Location: Ormond Beach and Daytona Beach, Florida
• Sample donut: Death by Chocolate (chocolate cake with chocolate chips, sprinkles, and drizzle)

California Donuts

• Location: Los Angeles, California
• Sample donut: Thin Mint (Girl Scout cookie)

Peter Pan Donut & Pastry Shop

• Location: Brooklyn, New York
• Sample donut: White cream coconut

Donut Run

• Location: Washington, D.C.
• Sample donut: Peppermint mocha (vegan)

The Donut Whole

• Location: Wichita, Kansas
• Sample donut: Cherry berry

Dottie’s Donuts

• Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (three locations)
• Sample donut: Pumpkin-miso goji berry

The Doughnut Project

• Location: New York City, New York
• Sample donut: The Bronx (olive oil and black pepper glaze)

The Jelly Donut

• Location: San Francisco, California
• Sample donut: Pineapple jelly

River Oaks Donut Shop

• Location: Houston, Texas
• Sample donut: Cherry iced

Doughnut Vault

• Location: Chicago, Illinois
• Sample donut: Pina colada old-fashioned

The Tatonut Shop

• Location: Ocean Springs, Mississippi
• Sample donut: Cookie butter