If you’re anything like me, you’re always on the hunt for the best doughnuts in Portland. I’ve lived in Portland my entire life and find myself spoiled for choice when it comes to sweets.
I’ve found a few gems over the past few years and thought it would be fun to roundup the best donuts in Portland for anyone nursing a craving. Without further ado, let’s cover some great Portland donuts!
Best Donuts in Portland, Oregon
(Click here for the table of contents)
Pip’s Original Doughnuts & Chai
A city staple since 2013, Pip’s is arguably the most popular donut shop in Portland. These mini made-to-order doughnuts are served hot, fresh from the oven. But not before being dressed with tantalizing toppings like nutella and sea salt (my favorite) and raw honey (my husband’s favorite).
You can’t go wrong any flavor on the menu, thankfully you can mix-and-match to your heart’s content. Save room for the seasonal flavors (they always hit the spot). Also, don’t sleep on the house-made chai while visiting Pip’s.
Due to the store’s popularity, long lines are all but guaranteed most days of the week. However, the lines move quickly. To ensure everyone gets their hands on these doughnuts, there’s a max order of four dozen per customer.
Local’s Tip: Swing by on your birthday for a dozen free donuts (make sure to bring ID).
Doe Donuts (Best Vegan Donuts in Portland)
Doe Donuts sells vegan donuts exclusively, but you wouldn’t know it without being told. Made from scratch daily, these artisanal delights are considered some of the best doughnuts in Portland, known to sell out during weekends.
In terms of the menu, I’m partial to the Portland Fog (organic earl grey glaze, fresh whip, fair trade vanilla bean) and Doe (housemade strawberry milk with sprinkles).
But the innovative seasonal flavors are nothing short of impressive, especially the summer lineup (the strawberry rhubarb fritter is a winner).
If you’re visiting in the fall, order the savory curried butternut squash fritter (shredded butternut squash, curry oil, cilantro, sea salt) on my behalf.
Blue Star Donuts
If you’re looking for the fanciest donuts in Portland Blue Star get my vote. The holy grail of experimental toppings and sumptuous fillings, this place doesn’t do anything half way.
The menu boasts long-loved classics (shout-out to the passion fruit cocoa nib) alongside creative seasonal delights. Blue Star Donuts has slowly amassed a reputation for being too popular, but the hype is worth it. These are some of the best doughnuts in Portland and you have to give credit where credit is due.
Coco Donuts
One of my favorite things about Coco Donuts is their ability to seamlessly blend two essential earthly commodities: good coffee and great donuts. How could you not love a place that takes coffee as seriously as donuts? It’s no wonder Coco Donuts is the most frequently-seen doughnut box in most offices.
Serving locals for more than 10 years, Coco Donuts has several locations in Portland. Made fresh daily, this is the spot to visit when you want to stock up on classics by the dozen.
Sesame Donuts
Serving some of the best donuts in Portland, visiting Sesame Donuts is an experience. Obnoxious colors, cheesy logo, catchy holiday promotions and a never-ending list of flavors, you can’t help but love it.
Opened in 1999, the shop is co-owned by two brothers (Haidar and Saaid Fakih) who have since spread to 8 locations throughout Portland. The shop has amassed quite a fan base over the past 25 years, but it’s not hard to see why.
These delicious donuts are some of the most affordable in the city. The menu includes the usual suspects — maple bars and French curler sitting alongside seasonal delights you’d be foolish to skip. The apple crumble is worth a detour but it’s the traditional sesame donut that keeps me coming back.
Delicious Donuts
Started by a husband-and-wife in 2005, Delicious Donuts is the talk of the town. Typically sold out before closing, this is where locals go for the best donuts in Portland whenever cravings strike. Don’t let the bare-bones shop deceive you, the focus is on the yeasty perfections behind the glass case (and rightfully so).
I’ve had several of their donuts over the years, my favorite is the apple fritter. Crispy on the outside and full of moist apple pieces inside, I’ve yet to find a better fritter in Portland.
Annie’s Donut Shop
A testament to the charm of “old” Portland, Annie’s Donut Shop is a classic no-fills shop serving pillow-soft classics. Unlike the newcomers, Annie’s doesn’t market itself as weird or unusual by any stretch of the imagination.
Rather, they focus on serving super high quality traditional donuts in Portland in an unfussy atmosphere. Many locals claim that Annie’s serves the best maple bar in Portland, and you’d be hard-pressed to find an argument from me.
But it’s not the drool-worthy maple bar that keeps me coming back. No, it’s the perfected old fashioned and glazed applesauce cakes. But word to the wise — Annie’s is known for selling out. Swing by early to get first picks. If not, be prepared to gamble on leftover flavors by day’s end.
Best Portland Doughnuts (Post Summary)
In sum, here’s a quick roundup of the best doughnuts in Portland.
- Pip’s Original Doughnuts & Chai
- Blue Star Donuts
- Coco Donuts
- Sesame Donuts
- Doe Donuts
- Annie’s
- Delicious Donuts
Map of the Best Donuts in Portland
Cheers!
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