Think about this – have you ever heard anyone say they don’t like donuts? Even the pickiest eaters (read: toddlers) find a donut they like. Perfect for road trips, classroom celebrations (remember those?), lazy Sunday mornings at home, or an afternoon treat. Here’s a guide to donut shops around the DMV that can satisfy your sweet tooth. June 4th is National Donut Day, but we love eating donuts year round!
Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken
Where: Falls Church, Metro Center, Shaw, Food Truck
How to Get Them: In Store, Delivery
Made from scratch, this DC-based restaurant serves Maple Bacon, PB & J, and Vanilla Glazed along with a constantly rotating menu of daily specials. You may have to wait because your yeast donut is being made in the back – and when mine came out, the Nutella was dripping down the side. Heavenly. Can’t decide between donuts and lunch? Replace the bread on your chicken sandwich with donut slices.
Breads Unlimited
Where: Bethesda
How to Get Them: In Store
This Bethesda institution – celebrating 40 years in business – has more than just donuts, but they’re a standout on the menu. If you missed the cronut craze a few years ago (hybrid of a croissant and a donut and even more delicious than it sounds), you can sample a Chocolate or Honey Cronut. If you’re feeling more traditional, you have your choice of yeast or cake donuts in a variety of flavors.
Call Your Mother Deli
Where: Bethesda, Capitol Hill, Georgetown, Park View
How to Get Them: In Store
I was lucky enough to get a bagel on a Thursday morning and was able to get a donut as well – dare I say it may have even been better than the bagel? On Thursdays through Sundays, this popular bagel shop serves a rotating cast of flavors, including Black and White Cookie, Strawberry Shortcake, Peanut Butter Pretzel Chocolate, and Cinnamon Sugar Holes. Just like their bagels, the size of the donut is very generous.
District Doughnut
Where: Arlington, Barracks Row, Eastern Market, Georgetown, Union Market
How to Get Them: In Store, Delivery
Their founder is a pastry chef whose mission is to use the freshest and highest quality ingredients, from their vanilla bean yeast made from scratch to Valhrona chocolate. A recent stop felt like an elevated brunch experience with a Dulce de Leche Creme Brulee donut paired with a coffee. Their menu changes seasonally (run and get their Funfetti Bites on weekends!) and #glutenfreefridays present a new gluten-free option weekly.
Donut Run
Where: Takoma
How to Get Them: In Store
Hurry over to this newcomer in the donut scene because they’re bound to sell out! This vegan bakery has only been open since January 2021, but their reputation has brought them crowds and rave reviews. If you’d like to see a menu, head to their Instagram because it changes daily. Recent flavors included Boston Kreme, Mango Coconut, and French Toast – and the owners are up to any flavor that they can think of so be prepared for creative items. Many rave reviews of their yeast donuts come from customers who had no idea they were in a vegan establishment, so it can serve every palate in the family.
Duck Donuts
Where: multiple locations in MD & VA
How to Get Them: In Store, Delivery
Thankfully, you don’t have to wait for your summer trip to the Outer Banks to get your fix of Duck Donuts. The ultimate in customized donuts, you can choose from their creations or make your own – an excellent activity for creative kids. Their cake donuts come out of the fryer just before the toppings go on, resulting in a steaming hot box of donuts to take home. A customer favorite is the Bacon in the Sun – a donut topped with maple icing, chopped bacon, and salted caramel drizzle.
Dunkin’ Donuts
Where: multiple locations in DC, MD, & VA
How to Get Them: In Store, Delivery
Arguably the most famous on the list, Dunkin’ is a reliable stop, especially for Northeast transplants. With a constant stream of donut classics (Boston Kreme, Chocolate Glazed) and a huge variety of coffee flavors (Thin Mint, anyone?) it’s impossible not to find something everyone likes. Don’t forget about the Munchkins – bite size donuts in Glazed, Chocolate Glazed, Jelly, and Powdered – that make the perfect snack for the kiddos (and the adults, too.)
Elizabeth’s Counter
Where: Alexandria
How to Get Them: In Store, Delivery
This new counter service spot in Alexandria’s has a mission to “serve great, plant-based food that vegans, vegetarians, and non-vegans can enjoy”. Their donuts – all plant based – rotate every month and are crafted in house. They also serve plant based donut holes for healthy snacking on the go.
Founding Farmers
Where: multiple locations in DC, MD, & VA
How to Get Them: In Store, Delivery
Most people come here for brunch, lunch, and dinner, but you can also take out (or dine in!) to enjoy the famous Jefferson Donut – square, flaky (due to its cross with a croissant), and filled with fresh creme. It’s generous size can probably feed two, but you might not want to share. If you’re at their Reston location, you can visit the First Bake cafe and sample their glazed donuts. Smaller, but still delicious, and paired with locally roasted coffee.
Good Company Doughnuts & Cafe
Where: Arlington
How to Get Them: In Store
All day gourmet donuts? Sign us up! This independent, locally owned shop has a huge menu of flavors including Red Raspberry, Apple Cinnamon, Nutella toffee, and Lemon Pucker. Want to do something special for a birthday? A giant raised donut, complete with creme filling, is an alternative to a traditional cake. Good Company is the perfect spot for a little family happy hour – donuts and milk for the kiddos but they also offer cocktails for the big kids. With a donut, of course.
Krispy Kreme Donuts
Where: multiple locations in DC, MD, & VA
How to Get Them: In Store, Delivery, Grocery Stores
Founded in 1937, Krispy Kreme is a household name. Though famous for their soft glazed donut, they also carry iced, filled, and cake donuts along with specialty flavors (Reese’s Classic and Cinnamon Apple are favorites). If you’re driving down Route 1 south of Old Town Alexandria, keep an eye out for the red Krispy Kreme sign. If it’s lit up, you’re in luck. Head into the drive thru to get a freshly made, hot donut.
Mama’s Donut Bites
Where: Farmers Markets in Arlington, Falls Church, and Vienna
How to Get Them: Food Truck
All you need to hear is year-round cider donuts to chase this truck around town. At an event in the pre-Covid days, this pink truck was beckoning everyone with the sweet smell of donuts. We were rewarded with hot, bite sized donuts full of yeasty, apple flavor. I spied many guests making a return trip for good reason. Track the truck via their website, and they are also available for special events.
Sticky Fingers
Where: Columbia Heights
How to Get Them: In Store
Sticky Fingers is the place to go if you need to accommodate dietary restrictions, but you’ll want to eat them even without restrictions. Donuts are vegan and free of dairy, egg, and cholesterol, and can be made nut free. You’ll have to hit them on Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday to enjoy their “Not-So-Daily” Donuts, but they’re worth the wait.
Texas Donuts
Where: Centreville, Lorton, and Manassas
How to Get Them: In Store
This Texas chain has made it to Northern Virginia and it’s worth the drive from any spot in the DMV. They feature cake donuts of all flavors (jalapeno, anyone?), but you’ll probably want to challenge yourself to the Texas Donut – a 14 inch donut that is perfect for sharing. Looking for a character cupcake? This is the place to go. But arrive early on weekends before they sell out.
Wawa
Where: multiple locations in DC, MD, and VA
How to Get Them: In Store, Delivery
Whenever I need a reminder of summers at the Jersey shore, I pick up a Glazed Twist at Wawa. Philly and South Jersey transplants love the dense, heavy donuts. With basic flavors, but enough to please everyone – Boston Creme, Chocolate Glazed, Cinnamon, and Vanilla Cream – this is a reliable stop for generously sized donuts. And with their frequent sales of 6 donuts for $3, you will probably eat more than one.
Woodmoor Pastry Shop
Where: Silver Spring
How to Get Them: In Store
There are very few old-fashioned bakeries in the area, but Woodmoor Pastry Shop is a classic. Family operated since 1954, this is the place to go for traditional glazed, frosted, and cake donuts that are just as good as when you were a kid and even more delicious now. Open the door and you can smell the sweetness of the trays of donuts behind glass. I was offered a cup of fresh Folgers coffee with my donut which just upped the nostalgia factor.
Do you have a favorite donut shop? Share it below!
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