Best Donut chains

[NoTine42]

In before the "all store donuts suck. I make my own and they are the best in the Ultraverse!"

Followed by the Beignets > Donuts And then the all store beignets suck, I make my own.

 

[JujuFish]

Chains all taste the same to me. They get the job done, but there are better options out there.

 

[Mai72]

Make your own donuts!

 

[cabri]

Mom and pop shops (as stated above) are best. They survive on their quality and loyalty.

Winchells was the best chain that I have found; but that was 10 years ago in Vegas.
DD used to be good many moons back; but a couple of years ago I was on the East coast and the couple of different types and different outlets tasted like lard.

Stuff from the convenience or grocery stores are hit/miss; convenience purchases from some commercial grade location.

 

[nageov3t]

Mom and pop shops (as stated above) are best. They survive on their quality and loyalty.

Winchells was the best chain that I have found; but that was 10 years ago in Vegas.
DD used to be good many moons back; but a couple of years ago I was on the East coast and the couple of different types and different outlets tasted like lard.

Stuff from the convenience or grocery stores are hit/miss; convenience purchases from some commercial grade location.

Dunkins really over-expanded, I think... 80% of the stores you go to don't actually bake their own donuts, they just get them shipped in from a central location in the morning, so they're stale by the time anyone gets around to eating them.

if you stumble upon one of the ones that bakes the donuts on premises and manage to hit them at the right time when something is coming fresh, the donuts are perfectly decent (imo).

 

[surfsatwerk]

Lamar's makes a fine donut.

 

[Chapbass]

In chicago, heres a decent list:

http://chicagoist.com/2013/11/06/the_best_doughnuts_and_doughnut_sho.php

Theres a TON of places in Chicago (and burbs) that have solid donuts. Yes, they make them at more times than just the morning (some places, like Spunky Dunkers, are open 24hrs).

Not on that list but a new place that just opened is Stans Donuts, which is across the street from Glazed and Infused in Wicker Park (North Avenue and Damen)

 

[Xstatic1]

I pretty much have to be craving a donut to stop and get one (...or two), but I like Krispy Kreme and Dunkin' Donuts. :biggrin:

 

[who?]

Ricks Bakery has great donuts but if you're not in Fayetteville Arkansas just buy some at Wal-Mart.

 

[maziwanka]

shipley's

 

[gorcorps]

I guess since we have a bunch of coffee snobs, it makes sense that we have donut snobs too

 

[waggy]

dunking doughnuts sucks ass. they are expensive adn not that great.

we don't have anywhere that makes fresh doughnuts around me. so i get whatever the store has.

 

[mrjminer]

There's a Dunkin' Donuts near me, and I have to say they make some of the shittiest donuts on the planet. They also tend to sell almost no donuts with filling, and when they have ones with filling they skimp a lot. Nothing like walking into a donut shop and having your choice of 20 varieties, almost all of them just regular donuts with icing just in different shapes with the occasional one with nuts. That or your choice between a powdered jelly donut with little to no filling, a vanilla long john with cream, or a chocolate éclair with little to no filling.

Honestly, the best donuts are from Wal-Mart; good variety, and they don't screw you on filling.

 

[MarkXIX]

http://www.varsitydonuts.*********/

Not a chain but check out that bacon maple bar they make.

 

[KeithTalent]

http://www.varsitydonuts.*********/

Not a chain but check out that bacon maple bar they make.

My doughnut place does an awesome whiskey bacon doughnut:

KT

 

[BUTCH1]

Dunkins really over-expanded, I think... 80% of the stores you go to don't actually bake their own donuts, they just get them shipped in from a central location in the morning, so they're stale by the time anyone gets around to eating them.

if you stumble upon one of the ones that bakes the donuts on premises and manage to hit them at the right time when something is coming fresh, the donuts are perfectly decent (imo).

Yup, I went to a local Dunkin's about a year ago for some coffee and a coffee roll, "sorry, we're all out of those", I asked if anyone was making any more of them figuring maybe I'd score a fresh hot one, "no we don't make them here anymore"...Turns out they are all made in Orlando (70 miles away) and distributed every day, problem with that scenario is that if you run out of stuff there is nothing left to sell to your customers. Nice work bean-counters, I'm sure it's cheaper that way but since they never taste as fresh as they used to AND I never know if you will have what I want in stock I took my business to a local mom and pop store that has lower prices and much better product..

 

[natto fire]

Yeah, there is a reason that a pastry that is best enjoyed fresh is not popular in the chain market scene. I'll give you a few seconds to catch up, but suffice it to say, a "fresh" donut is not going to be found in a chain environment.

I prefer rich starches in hash browns and proper proteins in a huevos rancheros dish. I will not disagree with people who prefer donuts over this, but hey are definitely "fatties" in my book.

 

[BUTCH1]

Yeah, there is a reason that a pastry that is best enjoyed fresh is not popular in the chain market scene. I'll give you a few seconds to catch up, but suffice it to say, a "fresh" donut is not going to be found in a chain environment.

I prefer rich starches in hash browns and proper proteins in a huevos rancheros dish. I will not disagree with people who prefer donuts over this, but hey are definitely "fatties" in my book.

Sounds good to me!, actually I rarely eat donuts anymore, at my age they stick to me like velcro..

 

[natto fire]

Sounds good to me!, actually I rarely eat donuts anymore, at my age they stick to me like velcro..

Do you remember Jolly Pirate? They are the place that turned into a predatory loan joint after it became apparent that chain donut shops were a failed business model.

 

[ponyo]

I like dunkin donuts and krispy kreme. Good coffee too.

 

[Exterous]

All donut chains are terrible. The best ones are run by Vietnamese families and close at 11AM.

We had one within walking distance open 24\7 while I was in college. Amazing doughnuts but a bit tough on my waistline. I'll still stop by at times when I am in the area

After finding this place and a couple of others I don't like the doughnuts from other places like Dunkin, Timmy Hoe's etc. Not worth the calories

 

[HomerSapien]

Here in Vegas:

#1 Glaziers grocery store...Good old traditional donuts
#2 Pink Box Donuts...Specialty donuts.
#3 not sure...I don't go beyond those except to #99, which is near my house.
#99 Dunkin. Utter crap. Stale at 11am, but their Berry Dream filled donut is amazing.

 

[RossMAN]

I pretty much have to be craving a donut to stop and get one (...or two), but I like Krispy Kreme and Dunkin' Donuts. :biggrin:

Hmmmn no love for this place?

 

[mrjminer]

Hmmmn no love for this place?

Those look pretty damn good

 

[Sho'Nuff]

Congdon's Doughnuts if you are in Southern Maine

http://congdons.com/