5 Donut Joints where Calories Don’t Count

“Mmmm…… donuts”
– Homer Simpson

Breakfast is my favorite meal. I could eat “breakfast food” any time of the day.  It’s just not right to hold these fine foods back and only to be enjoyed in the morning.

Here are our top 5 donut shops we’ve experienced so far (in no particular order):

1. District: Donuts. Sliders. Brew – New Orleans, Louisiana

Walk in the doors of District Donuts and be greeted with the scent of roasted coffee and the donut display case. Choose from a variety of options of donuts, kolaches, breakfast tacos and biscuits. District also has a coffee bar with all of the choices you would expect. District works with small artisan production vendors which provide small batch roasted coffee. So be sure to try out something new while getting your caffeine fix.

We opted for the Miso praline bacon biscuit:

Also these donuts… so it looks like we were so hungry we forgot to take a picture.  We did eat the Cereal + Milk, Strawberry Basil and the 5 Spice donuts.  You can check them out in the display case picture above.  My suggestion to District is about the Cereal + Milk donut. This one looked awesome, but it could have been better.  When we picked it up to take a bite, all of the cereal fell off!  Why not put the cereal on while the glaze is still warm so it sticks?  Seemed like an afterthought to add the cereal to some pre-glazed donuts laying around the kitchen. Step your game up District!

District offers a large seating area with tables for groups and a bar area for singles and/or couples. I recommend sitting at the bar and watching everyone work their magic in the kitchen. Everyone seemed so efficient and knew exactly what they should be doing to make everything run smoothly.
We are hoping to get back to District for their lunch menu which offers “Sliders and Savories”. Check out their menu online. The Croquenuts (grilled donut sandwiches) will have you drooling.

2. Firecakes Donuts – Chicago, IL

In my mind, Chicago can do no wrong when it comes to food. Maybe it’s the setting, but everything tastes better in Chicago.

No seating inside. Just a small place to stand and order your coffee and donuts to go. Firecakes does offer a small seating area outside of the shop on the sidewalk. I recommend eating them on the go or if you are ashamed of your donut habit, eat them in the alley and say your “getting out of the wind” between buildings!

If it’s your fist time, indulge in the the ice cream donut sandwich. Don’t worry, with all the walking around Chicago you will be doing, it will be like you never ate it.

Cut a warm, square glazed donut down the middle and add a block of vanilla ice cream!  You can also add hot fudge however due to our disdain for chocolate, we ordered ours plain.
They have a variety of donuts to choose from if your not up for a donut ice cream sandwich.

One of my favorites, the Cherry Kool-Aid glazed

This one will have you reminiscing about your childhood on a hot summer day. What makes this donut better than your memories? No red Kool-Aid mustache!

3. The Grove Do-Nutz & Deli – Richmond, TX

Viet-American fusion donuts!? This donut shop is unique in many ways. The Grove Do-Nutz is located in the middle of nowhere suburbia, nestled snugly in a strip mall next to a prison farm. Don’t be afraid of it’s location, it is worth the pilgrimage to Richmond.

This place has a large variety of donut options. How do they have such a variety? Everything is made to order. A little annoying if you are in a rush, but it is worth the short wait to get exactly what you want.  The other downside is no window shopping but we have never ordered a “bad one.”

We had the Elvis (Peanut Butter, Bacon & Banana), Reese’s Pieces & French Toast donuts.  The Reese’s Pieces was a little misleading.  We were expecting crushed candies on the donut rather than peanut butter and chocolate sauce.  Still good, but could be better in my mind.  Step your game up!

Seating is available inside and outside of the building. We went on a Saturday and the place was pretty busy. You can also call ahead to have the donuts ready for pick up.
If you are not in the mood for donuts, there is no shortage of other options such as: Vietnamese coffee, Cha-mango, banh-mi, cronuts, breakfast tacos and kolaches (boudin on the weekends).  We    ordered an iced Vietnamese coffee to accompany our donuts.

4.  Do or Dine – Brooklyn, New York

Have a trip planned to New York this summer?  Well don’t be the usual tourist and waste your time in the lights of Times Square.  The naked cowboy will survive without seeing you.  Get over your fears, throw on your best “hipster” outfit and jump on the subway to Brooklyn.  Do or Dine is your best bet to experience some of what the BK’s food scene has to offer.

Can you guess what this donut is filled with?

This is Do or Dine’s famous Foie Gras Doughnut!  A freshly baked doughnut filled with foie gras & raspberry jam topped with powdered sugar.  This is what dreams are made of… If I could, I would brush my teeth with this doughnut every night!  My suggestion is to order one as an appetizer and one for dessert.

Do or Dine is a restaurant with an extensive menu, indoor seating & an outdoor patio.  It is well worth the trip for a great meal with many items you won’t be eating in your hometown.

5.  Foreign Policy Food Truck – Houston, TX

Want to have a heart attack on your lunch hour?  Well if you do, follow Foreign Policy on your social media of choice to find out where they will be and then stalk them so you can order the Glazed Donut Bacon Cheeseburger.  The name says it all… you will need one of two things after eating this awesomeness:  a defibrillator or a nap.  Obviously the latter would be great, but can you imagine explaining to the doctor what made your heart stop?!  Definitely worth trying out if you are in Houston.

When we travel, we are suckers for donut shops any time of the day.  Hopefully we can get to some new places soon.

Our current bucket list donut shops:
Gourdough’s – Austin, TX
Voodoo Donuts – Portland, Oregon

Do you have a favorite donut shop or place you recommend we try?
Let us know in the comments.