Chicago may be known for its famous deep dish pizza and Chicago style hot dogs – but now it is time for the donut world to receive its praise. From the traditional buttermilk, to maple bacon, and banana Nutella infused creations – your taste buds will dance with every bite into the best donuts in Chicago.

 

Best Donuts in Chicago:

Do-Rite Donuts – $ [vegan / gluten free options]
Do-Rite Donuts is a small bakery that is loaded with flavor. Sometimes the best things are hidden in plain view – but incase you still miss it look for the small red awning sandwiched between a large cafe and a large steak house (also look for the donut statue by the door).
They make their donuts in small batches, no more than thirty-six at a time, to assure that customers receive the freshest of pastries. The maple bacon and the cinnamon crunch donuts are essentials. They offer vegan and gluten free options as well.

50 W Randolph St
Chicago, IL 60601
(312) 488-2483

Somethin s Sweet Donuts – $
Somethin’s Sweet Donuts has been opened for less than a year (September 2013), but they are taking the donut scene by storm.. or by glaze maybe. Their donuts are everything that you would crave. On top of that, they have long hours that are very convenient for the hard working city of Chicago. Their red velvet donuts are amazing, and somehow the plain glazed seem to be just as satisfying. The apple fritters are superb, and the blueberry cake doughnut is worth every single ounce of energy to consume it.

5112 W Fullerton Ave
Chicago, IL 60639
(773) 237-7588

The Doughnut Vault – $
The Doughnut Vault is home-base for many pastry connoisseurs. In the early morning hours the line tends to be a little on the long side. People want to feast on chestnut glazed, birthday cake, blueberry, buttermilk, or one of their exquisite jelly filled donuts. They have daily specials, so you may have to come back regularly to catch your favorites. Everything is worth taking a bite into. Oh, yeah – these donuts are huge!

401 1/2 N Franklin St
Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 464-9544

Firecakes – $$
Firecakes is a gourmet donut shop that serves up satisfaction in over fifteen flavors. To cool thing down, they offer an ice cream sandwich. It is a combination of gelato with chocolate sauce in a fluffy, lightly glazed donut.. aka heaven. Their old-fashion donuts are truly hard to beat, but they offer so many unique flavors that you will be hard-pressed not to order multiple. If you are a jelly donut lover – they use real jam here. For me, jam beats out jelly any day!

68 W Hubbard St
Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 329-6500

Old Fashion Donuts – $
After forty-years of serving donuts in Chicago, Old Fashion Donuts still remains one of the best around. No matter what you choose here, it will be melt in your mouth, smile on your face delicious. Their apple fritters, and anything with glaze covered pop out the most. The Texas Glazed Donut is named appropriately. If a normal donut was Rhode Island, this is definitely the size of Texas. For some fo the softest, fluffiest donuts around, look no further.

11248 S Michigan Ave
Chicago, IL 60628
(773) 995-7420

Glazed and Infused Doughnuts – $$
Glazed and Infused is the creation of Chef Scott Harris – a native Chicago food leader of both Italian cuisine, and scrumptious donuts. Fresh ingredients and creative combinations work together to create some of the best donuts in Chicago. The blueberry donut with lemon glaze hits a sweet spot, while the maple bacon long john takes care of the sweet AND salty portion. Although, the vanilla cr me br l e filled donut is on a whole other world. Plus, they have five locations spread throughout the city.
Find them all here : Glazed and Infused Locations

939 W Armitage Ave
Chicago, IL 60614
(312) 226-5556

Dat Donut – $
Dat Donut has been serving some of the best donuts in Chicago since December of 1994. Over the years they have perfected their craft to create some of the softest, most delicious donuts around. Their apple fritter is large, with plenty of apple chunks and cinnamon to make every bite better than the last. The Big Dat donut is a monster of a pastry. Order that if you are looking to indulge in a donut as entire meal – or you want to enjoy and share with some friends.

8249 S Cottage Grove Ave
Chicago, IL 60619
(773) 723-1002

Dinkel s Bakery – $
Dinkel’s Bakery is an all around bakery that offers all of the standards – from cake, to cookies and bread. It is hard to walk into Dinkel’s without wanting to stock up on everything, which is highly encouraged, but be sure to give their donuts a shot. They may not have the wild variety that the specialty shops possess, but they do in fact serve up some of the best donuts in Chicago – old-fashion style. Every Wednesday is donut day, which means six donuts for just $5.99! Get over there now!

3329 N Lincoln Ave
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 281-7300

Stan s Donuts & Coffee – $$
Stan’s Donuts & Coffee is your all around stop for breakfast and a caffeine kick, or an anytime sweet-tooth satisfier. They cover all the basics with their glazed donuts – they go even further with their signature ‘pocket’ donuts. They are filled with goodies such as nutella and banana, biscoff cream, blueberry, and so much more. The yeast in their donuts give them an unique texture, which only adds to the entire experience. Intelligentsia coffee is always a nice way to compliment some of the best donuts in Chicago.

1560 N Damen Ave
Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 360-7386

Huck Finn Restaurant – $
Huck Finn Restaurant is an all around dinner, but this is going to put an emphasis on their donuts. None of the fancy, eyebrow raising flavors here – they attack traditional donuts head on.. with great success. The ‘donut delight’ is a handful – and a mouthful- of a dessert. It consists of their massive sized Texas Style Donut paired with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, and sprinkles to top it off! The Texas Style Donut is large enough to share as it is. Fear not though, they have normal sized donuts that will hit the spot equally.

3414 S Archer Ave
Chicago, IL 60608
(773) 247-5515

Original Country Donuts – $
Once you visit the Original Country Donuts you will realize precisely why people travel miles to bite into these particular donuts. They serve up traditional donuts, as well as some delicious gourmet options. It is hard to narrow down the best that they have to offer, but the blueberry cake, red velvet cake, honey dip, and long johns never disappoint. Do not be afraid to try anything and everything. Over the past thirty years of being in business, I am not sure if they have ever made a bad donut.
In addition to their original Elgin location, they have another Country Donuts location in Crystal Lake.

3091 US Rt 20
Elgin, IL 60124
(847) 488-1900

Endgrain – $$ (Donut Fest 2014 Winner!)
Endgrain is an all around culinary experience. Their full food menu boasts options that are hard to pass up, but keep in mind.. we are here for the donuts right now. Their donuts are made daily, and the variety revolves as the days do. The Charlie Brown, which is chocolate glazed with peanuts and caramel drizzle, and the butterscotch bacon are two essentials to indulge in. They will make you see donuts in a whole new way. If you clear out all of their donuts, and you still find yourself hungry – then I encourage you to dive into their magnificent food menu.

1851 W Addison St
Chicago, IL 60613
(773) 687-8191