Top 16 Best Donut Shops in Chicago

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Top 16 Best Donut Shops in Chicago

If you’re in the Windy City, chances are you want to sample a Chicago-style pizza. But if you’re in the mood for something sweet, a donut might just hit the spot. And there are some great donut shops to choose from!

If you’re on the hunt for the perfect donut, you’ve come to the right place. We’re going to take you on a tour of where to buy the best donuts in Chicago. And we’ll give you the low-down on what’s available, plus those all-important opening hours.

So if you’re ready, step this way!

Best Donuts in Chicago

1. Firecakes Donuts

Firecakes Donuts

Firecakes Donuts are the perfect choice for donut lovers looking for something a little different. Their unique recipe is based on a donut first crafted by Billy Hobbs. Billy was a baker working in the logging camps of North Wisconsin in the 1930s.

His donuts were made in a cast iron pot over an open fire, sprinkled with just a little sugar. It was this baking method that gave them the name “firecakes”.

The range includes classics as well as seasonal specials. The former include delicious Valrhona chocolate topped donuts, wildflower honey glazed donuts and Tahitian vanilla iced donuts.

Depending on the time of year, you may also be able to indulge in a chocolate or strawberry cake donut, a peanut butter cup or a lemon poppyseed Old-Fashioned. There are gluten-free and vegan options too – it’s best to pre-order those, as there’s limited availability.

The store is open for takeout and delivery from 7am to midnight, seven days a week.

 

2. Doughnut Vault

Doughnut Vault

The line outside the door of the North Franklin Street shop testifies to the popularity of the Doughnut Vault. And when you take a look at the menu, it’s easy to see why it’s such a hit.

It specializes in Old-Fashioned donuts in classic flavors. There’s lemon poppyseed, triple chocolate, toasted almond, coconut cream and pistachio. But the crème de la crème as far as many customers are concerned is the buttermilk donut. There are also two different specials which change every day.

The store is open seven days a week, from 7.30am to 1pm. If you don’t mind taking a chance about which flavors are left, there’s a half-price happy hour from midday.

 

3. Dip and Sip Donuts

Dip and Sip Donuts

Dip and Sip is the home of what some customers have called “life-changing” donuts. And it was named number 8 in a Yelp list of the top 100 donut shops across the whole of the USA.

It offers both pre-made and custom options, with flavors including the John Lemon Pistachio, Chocolate Dreamin’, and Elvis’ Last Donut. (In case you’re wondering, that last one features peanut butter and Nutella drizzles, homemade banana cream and tricolored pearls.)

There’s also a great range of simple classics like various flavors of glaze, powdered sugar and cinnamon.

The store is open from 8am to 1pm, Wednesday to Sunday, for takeout and delivery. You can order online too, but note that orders for custom donuts need to be placed a week in advance.

 

4. Old Fashioned Donuts

Old Fashioned Donuts

Old Fashioned Donuts’ legions of devoted fans swear they make the best donuts in the world. Head to South Michigan Avenue to check out the claim!

The shop has been serving satisfied customers for over 45 years, so they know a thing or two about donuts. And they offer a great range of all the classics, made fresh daily on the premises. Options include the classic glazed, the Texas Donut and a delicious apple fritter.

And if you’re in the mood for something more substantial, they also serve up hot dogs and burgers. And there’s a good range of beverages to quench your thirst.

It’s closed on Sundays, open from 6am to 4pm on Wednesdays, and from 6am to 6pm the rest of the week.

 

5. Beacon Doughnuts

Beacon Doughnuts

At Beacon Doughnuts the selection varies across the week.

Between Monday and Wednesday, they do a smaller menu, with walk-up orders only. The rest of the week, there’s an extended offering, with ordering online and by phone for collection or delivery. Pre-orders are strongly recommended to guarantee your chosen flavor.

Those flavors include lavender vanilla, double chocolate and sea salt, blueberry pancake and blackberry bismark. The donuts are handmade daily, in small batches for maximum freshness. Delicious!

 

6. Do-Rite Donuts and Chicken

Do-Rite Donuts and Chicken

Do-Rite is a chef-owned establishment serving a combination of artisanal donuts, delicious fried chicken sandwiches and excellent coffee.

Both the donuts and the chicken get rave reviews from customers. The menu can change depending on the whims of the chefs on the day! But the usual offerings include options like vanilla bean glazed, chocolate Old Fashioned, blueberry crumb and pistachio-Meyer lemon.

There’s also a candied maple bacon yeast-raised donut as a savory option. And there are three vegan choices every day too.

Do-Rite is open seven days a week. From Monday to Friday, the hours are 6.30am to 7pm, and it’s 7am to 7pm on the weekend.

 

7. D&D’s Place

D&D’s Place

If you love a soft, fluffy donut – and who doesn’t? – D&D’s Place is well worth checking out. It’s received rave reviews from the likes of NBC, the Chicago Sun Times and Chicago’s Best. And it won multiple awards at Donut Fest from 2018 to 2020.

Their fruit glazes are made with real fruit, so they’re sweet and delicious without being sickly. Other scratch-made flavors include Peach Cobbler, Banana Pudding, Zebra (vanilla and chocolate) and Sweet Homemade Caramel.

There are plenty of seasonal specials too. And you can choose from yeast-raised, Old Fashioned, Texas-sized donuts and donut holes.

The store is open from 7am to 3pm five days a week, closed on Sundays and Mondays.

 

8. Stan’s Donuts & Coffee

Stan’s Donuts & Coffee

Stan’s offers a menu of all-day dining options plus great coffee alongside its extensive range of donuts.

Donut flavors include standard options like the maple Long John, glazed, cake and Old Fashioned. Then there are specialties like Toffee Cake, Buttercream Bismark, Red Velvet and Carrot Cake. And there are chocolate and blueberry options for those avoiding gluten.

You can dine-in, go to the drive-through, or order online for local delivery and pick-up. And there’s nationwide delivery too. Opening hours are from 7am to 8pm every day.

 

9. Dat Donut

Dat Donut

Dat Donut serves breakfast sandwiches, teas and coffees, milk and juice. But as you’d expect from the name, it’s their donuts that take center stage!

They’re cut by hand every day. And as well as standard donuts, there are fritters, bow ties, cinnamon rolls and the extra-large Big Dat Donut. Don’t worry if you can’t choose between the multitude of different flavors: the more you buy, the lower the price per donut!

It’s open from 5.30am to 10pm six days a week, and from 6.30am to 5pm on Sunday.

 

10. Somethin’ Sweet Donuts

Somethin’ Sweet Donuts

Located inside Sana Food Mart, Somethin’ Sweet Donuts is heaven for donut lovers. It features everything from classic cake donuts to customized birthday treats.

The cake donuts include flavors like vanilla, red velvet, devil’s food and apple crisp. And amongst the specialties you’ll find chocolate, glazed and strawberry rings, bear’s claws, bismarks and buttermilk bars.

It’s open from 7am to 5pm during the week, and from 8am to 4pm on weekends.

 

11. BomboBar

BomboBar

BomboBar specializes in bombolini, sweet Italian donuts without a hole. The range of delicious flavors include white chocolate malt, cherry cheesecake, lemon pistachio, and cookies and cream. There’s also a maple candied bacon donut with caramel custard, a brown sugar glaze and pecans.

They’re favorites with locals, so there’s usually a queue – but fast service keeps the line moving quickly.

Opening hours are from 11.30am to 10pm Monday through Thursday, with late opening until 11pm on Fridays. On Saturdays, it’s open from 10am to 11pm, and on Sundays, from 10am to 10pm.

 

12. Liberation Donuts

Liberation Donuts

Liberation Donuts wins the prize for the most bizarre choice of logo with its menacing emblem of a man wearing a balaclava. But don’t let that put you off. The donuts here are top notch.

It was the first vegan donut shop to open in Chicago and it offers a great range of rotating flavors. There are also seasonal specials and limited-edition donuts. The names don’t give a lot of clues – choose from options like Kindness (plain or chocolate), Total Liberation, Cousin Frida and Sanctuary.

You can pick up your donuts curbside, or get boxes of six or twelve delivered to your door. Opening hours are from 11am to 7.30pm Monday to Thursday, and 9am to 7.30pm on Friday and Saturday.

 

13. Bridgeport Bakery 2.0

Bridgeport Bakery 2.0

Bridgeport Bakery 2.0 has a menu with an extensive range of delicious paczki donuts.

There are fruity options like strawberry, apple, apricot, blueberry and cherry. Creamy ones like strawberries and cream, cannoli, and custard with powdered sugar. And chocolatey ones like Oreos and chocolate buttercream.

There are also twists, sugar donuts, donut holes, cake donuts, fry cakes and zepole – a custard-filled donut with glazed cherry and powdered sugar on top. In short, if you can imagine a donut, you can probably find it here!

You can dine in, or order online for delivery and takeout. The only downside is the limited opening hours. The shop is open from 5am to 10am Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday only.

 

14. Poppin Dough

Poppin Dough

Poppin Dough sells a mouth-watering combination of gourmet popcorn and amazing donuts. The range here is impressive – everything from cake donuts to Long Johns, bizmarks to glazed, bow ties to fritters. And there are loads of specialties too.

Service is highly rated by their legions of loyal customers.

And they’re open five days a week, closed on Sundays and Monday. Opening hours are 6am to 6pm Tuesday through Friday, and 8am to 5pm on Saturday.

 

15. Ipsento Coffee Co.

Ipsento Coffee Co.

Ipsento is known for its amazing selection of gourmet coffees, as well as its delectable donuts.

The donuts come in flavors including cinnamon sugar, maple bourbon, chocolate glaze and the house special, the coffee-flavored Ipsento. They’re available individually, as well as in boxes of six or twelve.

There’s also a wide range of pastries and savory snacks. And there’s tea, steamed milk and hot chocolate for anyone who doesn’t like coffee.

But it would be a shame to miss out on coffee offerings like the Cardamom Rose Latte and the Ipsento, an espresso combined with milk or coconut cream, honey and cayenne pepper.

The shop is open from 7am to 6pm Sunday to Thursday, and from 7am to 7pm Friday and Saturday. Dine in, takeout and delivery options are available.

 

16. Weber’s Bakery

Weber’s Bakery

Fans of Weber’s proclaim it as the home of the best donuts in the world. And it’s been providing locals with its wares for over 90 years.

Their donuts are made by hand using top quality ingredients. There’s a choice of only two chocolate cake donut options, but there’s a huge range of other cakes, strudels, cookies and pastries.

You can order online or in person, and collect your food or have it delivered. Note, though, that you can’t order online for same day pick-up. And the cut-off point for next day collection or delivery is midday.

The store is open from 4.30am to 5pm Tuesday through Saturday, and from 5.30am to 3pm on Sunday.

 

Time to Choose!

We hope you’ve enjoyed our tour of some of the best donuts in Chicago! Whatever time of day or night your donut craving hits, we’ve got you covered!

And wherever you are in the Windy City, you won’t be too far from excellent donuts. Why not sample one soon?

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