A great doughnut is worth its weight in gold. A bad one tastes like regret and sadness.
To help steer you toward the best doughnuts out there, we did the legwork and here are
popular chains, ranked in order from worst to best.
Back in early 2019, Dunkin' Donuts officially changed its name to just Dunkin'. While they
still sell doughnuts, it's obviously no longer their focus. If you want to see for yourself,
take a bite of one of their boring doughnuts and you'll see why they decided to drop the
"Donuts" from their name. Compared to other doughnut chains around the country, Dunkin'
simply can't compete. Their offerings are yawn-inducing.
Not everything about the restaurant's offerings is underwhelming. Dunkin' boasts some really
delicious drinks, and their affordable muffins are so yummy you should try them while you're
still in the land of the living.
Doughnuts not being high on the priority list for Dunkin' isn't new. As it turns out, CSP
Daily News says that doughnuts only account for about eight percent of their sales. As
time goes on, expect that number to drop even further because there's really no good reason
to order their doughnuts. They are utterly forgettable.
"The best part of my day is when I'm at Dunkin'. Think that's sad?"
"Yes, very."
"Real customers know, the holidays run on Dunkin'."
Once upon a time, disparaging Tim Hortons out loud was enough to start a fistfight with
any Canadian within earshot. Back in those good old days, the only thing better than
the coffee at Tim Hortons were their scrumptious doughnuts. Tragically, those days are now
gone. Even Canadians agree that the quality of the coffee chain is going downhill at a
rapid rate, contributing to the overall decline of Tim Hortons.
Many believe that things started getting worse in 2014, when the company that owns Burger
King purchased Tim Hortons and began cutting corners. Whatever the truth may be, it's plain
as day that this legendary chain no longer is what it used to be.
These days, your best bet is to avoid this chain entirely. Although their doughnuts are
a little bit better than those you can find at Dunkin', they have a limited variety and
there's no longer anything special about the taste. Don't let nostalgia fool you into thinking
Tim Hortons is worthy of a visit. Times have changed.
Yum Yum Donuts has been around for nearly 50 years and has more than 50 locations. Despite
all of their experience, it's not difficult to stumble upon negative reviews for this
West Coast doughnut chain. Multiple customers claim this place sells old doughnuts, which
is definitely a problem for anyone with working taste buds.
To make matters worse, doughnuts from Yum Yum Donuts aren't all that good, even if you
get your hands on a fresh one. The flavors are limited and the texture is often too mushy.
With the possibility that you'll receive old doughnuts, there's a good chance that you'll
be saying "yuck yuck" after your first bite of a Yum Yum purchase.
The only good thing about this doughnut chain is that most locations are open 24 hours a
day. Then again, perhaps you'd be better off waiting for a superior doughnut place to open,
rather than settling for what very likely would be a substandard experience.
The doughnuts at Legendary Doughnuts look, well, legendary. These beautiful treats might
be more aesthetically pleasing than any other doughnuts in the industry. Just take a look
next time you're in a Legendary Doughnuts restaurant and you'll surely agree that they're
jaw-droppingly gorgeous.
Sadly, the beauty of their doughnuts is only skin deep. Once you shove one of these deep-fried
treats into your mouth, you'll soon realize that lamentable fact. The doughnuts on the
Legendary Doughnuts menu are often dry and tend to fall apart in your hands. What you
think will be a beautiful moment will soon turn into a crummy, crumby situation. In fact,
some of their offerings are so powdery that they are difficult to eat.
If you spend any time in New England, there's a good chance that you know all about Honey
Dew Donuts. This chain has 145 locations in New England that each sells an impressive
variety of doughnuts.
While it's possible for you to be happy after visiting Honey Dew Donuts, you should know
that you're taking a bit of a risk. The doughnuts at this place are frequently very hit or miss.
Sometimes, you'll believe that you've found a fantastic doughnut dispensary. Other times,
you'll be convinced that you were robbed of your cash by an overrated doughnut shop.
To give yourself a better chance of getting a good doughnut from Honey Dew Donuts, show
up early. It appears that the quality of their treats takes a nosedive not long after they
open their doors in the morning. Though this isn't strategy isn't guaranteed to work, it
will give you better odds of your gamble paying off with a glorious sweet dessert.
Unlike Honey Dew Donuts, you know what you're getting at Daylight Donuts. No matter which
of their more than 400 locations that you travel to, you can rest assured that your
next doughnut from this chain will taste just like the last doughnut you bought from them.
Daylight Donuts definitely deserves a round of applause for their consistency.
Unfortunately, that consistency from doughnut to doughnut is both a blessing and a curse.
While your taste buds will know what to expect, the truth is that their doughnuts just aren't
that notable. The quality you can expect at this doughnut chain is basically the same
as what you'd find at any supermarket or corner store in the country that sells similar treats.
It's highly questionable whether it's worth going out of your way to visit this chain
when so many others shine. You won't be too disappointed, but neither will you be wowed.
If you want a well-dressed doughnut that will undoubtedly please your eyeballs, The Dapper
Doughnut is definitely up for the job. The doughnuts on the Dapper Doughnut menu all
look stunning and are popping with flavor. However, there's one caveat that you need
to know before you visit: Dapper Doughnut treats are really small. Even if you're prepared
to be underwhelmed, the size of these doughnuts will still be a shock to your senses.
Sure, size isn't everything when it comes to doughnuts, but it is rather annoying that
you need about a dozen of these bad boys to fill up. If you make the mistake of ordering
one or two, you'll likely be even hungrier than when you arrived at The Dapper Doughnut.
That said, if your order is large enough, you'll be more than satisfied by their doughnuts.
"There's only one word for that, magister: Scrum-diddly-umptious."
The doughnuts at LaMar's Donuts & Coffee are the first doughnuts on this list that are
safely above average and won't let you down, so it's no wonder they've also got a long
history that can be traced all the way back to 1933.
Today, they have more than two dozen locations. There's no catch with their doughnuts. They
have a wide array of goodies that you can order with confidence. If you don't know what
to pick, go with the Ray's Original Glazed or, if you're a chocolate lover, the Ray's
Chocolate Iced Original. Both of these are sure to thrill your taste buds.
Two things hold LaMar's Donuts & Coffee back from being even higher on this list. First
of all, though the flavor is sublime, the texture of their doughnuts could use improvement.
Secondly, the coffee at this doughnut chain is, frankly, gross. If you pair your morning
doughnut with a cup of coffee, you might want to go somewhere else.
If you want big, filling doughnuts, Winchell's Donut House could be your home away from home.
Not only are their doughnuts large in stature, but ordering a dozen doughnuts at this chain
will result in you getting two extra goodies. When a dozen or a baker's dozen of 13 won't
satiate your hunger, opt for the Winchell's Donut House dozen of 14 hefty doughnuts.
Size-wise, not only are Winchell's girthy doughnuts impressive but so is their menu
of many options. If you can dream it, you can probably find that exact doughnut on their
lengthy menu.
The only downside to the doughnuts at this place is that some people find Winchell's
offerings are too sweet… but on the other hand, if your sweet tooth rules your life,
Winchell's Donut House is sure to satisfy your palate.
"My favorite person is the donut lord. Protector of this town, and defender of all creatures,
big and small."
Five Daughters Bakery is an up-and-coming doughnut chain that has a really bright future.
As time passes, expect this chain to only climb higher on this list. Right now, they
only have six locations, with four in Tennessee and two in Georgia. However, that relatively
small footprint hasn't stopped celebrities like Reese Witherspoon from taking note of
their spectacular doughnuts.
While all the doughnuts at Five Daughters Bakery are worthy of their price tag, it's
their Hundred Layer Doughnuts that steal the show. These majestic desserts are like the
lovechild of a doughnut and a croissant. They taste even better than what you're probably
imagining. While all the flavors are great, if you demand the best of the best, then try
The Purist, glazed with vanilla bean icing.
As long as you avoid the gimmicky flavors, the doughnuts you can get at Voodoo Doughnuts
are top-notch. For example, you likely don't want to order the Voodoo Bubble doughnut that
comes with a piece of bubble gum on top or the Oh Captain, My Captain that's covered
with Cap'n Crunch. Those doughnuts are just weird. That said, a majority of their goodies
are really, really good.
Though you want to avoid the gimmicks, that doesn't mean you can't have fun when ordering
at Voodoo Doughnut. They make a menu item called the Maple Blazer Blunt doughnut (don't
worry, it's legal in all 50 states) that has maple frosting, cinnamon sugar, and red sprinkles
that will surely give your taste buds a sugar high.
Don't fret, animal lovers, as Duck Donuts promises that it is actually named after a
city in North Carolina, not the waterfowl. Thankfully, this means you don't have to worry
about any feathers appearing in your doughnuts. The only thing you'll find in their doughnuts
is a whole lot of yumminess.
When you go to Duck Donuts, you could pick one of their featured doughnuts or opt for
one of their ever-popular fan favorites. However, unless you want to take the easy way out,
what you actually should do is customize your own made-to-order doughnut, a unique feature
of this chain. You first pick a coating such as powdered sugar, cinnamon sugar, or strawberry
icing. Next, you select a topping like shredded coconut, graham cracker, or rainbow sprinkles.
Finally, you add a drizzle on top of your creation, such as marshmallow or hot fudge.
If you don't absolutely adore the resulting doughnut, you only have yourself to blame.
If you prefer your doughnuts to be extra thick and hearty enough to fill you to the brim
for half a day, go to Shipley Do-Nuts . This doughnut chain, which is based in Texas but
can now be found in seven states, launched shortly after the Great Depression and, according
to Shipley Do-Nuts itself, initially sold a dozen doughnuts for only five cents. While
their prices have increased, their bevy of satisfied customers isn't complaining.
If you have a Texas-sized hunger, you can't go wrong with the chain's apple fritter. This
thing is huge and oh-so scrumptious. After you finish swallowing every last morsel, you'll
be licking your fingers until every last drop of icing is gone.
While you might have to travel a far distance to visit a Top Pot Doughnuts, their goodies
are so phenomenal that it's definitely worth going the extra mile. At their locations,
which can be found in the Pacific Northwest and in Texas, you'll encounter magnificently
beautiful doughnuts overflowing with an incalculable amount of flavor. You will be convinced that
Top Pot Doughnuts has mastered the art of the doughnut after your first bite.
The options at this doughnut chain are always changing, which is actually a good thing.
Each time you go to this chain, there will be more than 40 varieties available on the
Top Pot Doughnuts menu. Seasonal favorites include the Egg nog Cake Doughnut, the Peppermint
Snowdrift, and the Pumpkin Old Fashioned, which is so good that President Barack Obama
himself deemed it "addictive", according to the Top Pot blog.
Sure, Krispy Kreme isn't the hippest doughnut shop in the country. It seems like every man,
woman, and child has eaten and enjoyed at least one Krispy Kreme doughnut in their lifetime.
While you won't get any hipster cred by proclaiming that Krispy Kreme is the cream of the doughnut
crop, you'll be telling the truth. They're the best doughnut chain out there. It's not
even that close.
Walk into a Krispy Kreme and the first thing you'll notice is the fantastic smell of their
doughnuts. That is just a hint of what's to come. If you're one of the few souls who hasn't
tried one of their doughnuts, begin with their simple but legendary Original Glazed. Though
it may look unassuming, it's part of the reason why Krispy Kreme is one of the most delicious
doughnut chains you can find anywhere in the world. Its melt-in-your-mouth goodness is
euphoric.
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