Bangkok’s 12 best doughnut shops

Donut Disturb draws its DNA from the team behind Drop by Dough, but recalibrates the mood towards something more relaxed and everyday – a place you could realistically come back to without it feeling like an occasion. The focus is on bomboloni-style filled doughnuts, with more than ten flavours on offer. The highlights lean classic – Thai tea, rendered with just the right depth of flavour; sweet corn, gently sweet and finished with a scatter of flame-kissed kernels; and tiramisu, which genuinely tastes like eating the cake itself. A lovely place to start a morning, sugar-rushes notwithstanding.

Donut Disturb. GUMP’s Ari Community Space, Phaya Thai, Bangkok (delivery also available).10am-6pm

Originally a viral hit in Singapore, Pralet has landed in Ekkamai and wasted no time making itself at home. The format here is unusual – square sourdough doughnuts, made using a natural starter that's been kept alive for over 14 years and bubbles up through a 72-hour fermentation process that yields dough that's genuinely light and notably not greasy. The burnt butter honey glaze is the shop’s signature: glossy, fragrant, sweet against a faintly bitter note. For the more adventurous, the catfish nam prik doughnut – crispy fish, prawn floss, kaffir lime and dried kombu – is worth the leap. If that’s a step too far, pistachio raspberry crunch rounds things out for the more gourmet-leaning crowd.

Pralet BKK. Ekkamai Corner. 9am-8pm

Chubby Dough plays into the fun angle unapologetically with cartoon-perfect doughnuts that taste just like childhood. Best known for seasonal collaborations and festive-themed designs that verge on too good to eat, the shop leans into its American-style identity with a red and pink aesthetic. The menu spans the full range – classic flavours, fresh fruit, rich chocolate – and the whole operation is geared towards being the city’s easiest, most uncomplicated stop for a sugar fix. And with several branches and pop-ups across the city, you’re never too far from a Chubby Dough hole.

Chubby Dough. 7/F, Central World, Pathum Wan. 10am-10pm

What started as a Singaporean-style fried chicken shop in Nang Linchi back in 2014 took a memorable (and honestly surprising) turn when the doughnuts stole the show. Brassica led into the popularity and is now best  known for its distinctively chewy, cream-filled, doughnuts. The crème brûlée, filled with vanilla custard and finished with a properly torched sugar crust is the menu's undisputed star. There's a savoury side too (remember, they started as a chicken shop), with really good fried chicken mentaiko, a kaya butter brûlée inspired by kaya toast and a donut flan – a sandwich-style doughnut filled with silky French-style egg custard. Savoury and sweet all in one box. 

Brassica Doughnuts. Ekkamai Soi 12. 9am-6pm,  Closed Monday

At Drop by Dough, doughnuts feel (and taste) as if genuine thought goes into every doughy ring. The menu moves between sweet and savoury with equal confidence, using carefully sourced ingredients throughout. Signatures include raspberry rose, caramel crème brûlée and the unexpected but incredibly moreish bacon and cream cheese. The gourmet sandwiches – that swap bread for squashed doughnuts, stacked with meat and vegetables – are a particular point of difference. Best enjoyed with a second helping of sweet layered doughnuts that add texture and complexity to every bite. 

Drop by Dough. Sukhumvit Soi 101/2, Bang Na Nuea. 10am-9pm

Imported from Japan and now settled comfortably into Sukhumvit, Uni Donuts brings the precision of its home market to the middle of the city. The range covers the essentials – original, matcha, raspberry, lemon – with flavours that are balanced rather than showy. The space is as you’d expect from those who champion Japanese precision with minimal decor and an unhurried vibe, which makes it a genuinely good place to sit and eat slowly rather than just grab and go. If you're drawn to the Japanese cafe aesthetic, this one ticks every box.

Uni Donuts. Sukhumvit Soi 23, Khlong Toei Nuea, Watthana. 10.30am-6.30pm

This American chain's Bangkok outpost brings a concept worth knowing about, with every doughnut fried to order, glazed and topped right in front of you. The dough itself is classic American cake-style – denser and more substantial than a yeasted doughnut – and it works particularly well with toppings of maple bacon and other savoury-sweet combinations where icing plays off salty, crispy additions with a flavourful logic. However, the chocolate explosion, layered with Oreos and sauce, is for the dedicated sweet tooth. Duck Donuts also do milkshakes and doughnut sundaes with ice cream, rounding out the menu for those who want to all out Americana. 

Duck Donuts Thailand. M/F, Siam Discovery, Pathum Wan. 9am-10pm

The name and the look – clean white interiors, a vaguely futuristic feel – might suggest novelty over substance, but UFO earns its place through solid doughy execution. Classics are done well: cinnamon sugar that smells exactly as it should, a properly constructed banoffee pie and cream filled pockets with caramelised sugar on top that help lock in the soft insides. It's decor also makes it one of the better spots for a selfie in Sathorn, for those who care about such things.

UFO Doughnuts. Sathorn Soi 12, Si Lom, Bang Rak. 8am-6.30pm. Closed on Tuesday

With over 30 branches across Thailand and abroad, Kyoto Shi is a known quantity – and the Banthat Thong branch, which recreates the atmosphere of the Japanese city with considerable commitment, is the one to visit for content creators and casual cafe-goers alike. The doughnuts are homemade, Japanese in style and priced from just B15, which is remarkable by any measure. The dough is soft and pleasantly chewy, with more than 20 fillings available. Our favourites being the Kyoto choco cream and the crispy milk doughnuts. 

Kyoto Shi Cafe. Banthat Thong, Pathum Wan. 10am-8.30pm

Originally a queue-forming phenomenon in Hat Yai, Charlotte Doughnut now has two Bangkok branches – and the Sukhumvit 33 location makes a strong case for being even better than the original with an interior that channels all the vibes of a Parisian side street, complete with all green, white and gold lettering. The doughnuts are made fresh daily and the range is generous.  You simply can’t go wrong with a clean classic glaze or fluffy puff cream that delivers filling in every bite, while fruit-forward options are a hit among those who prefer something brighter. The space is elegant and doughy-soft, making it an easy choice for a proper sit-down binge.

Charlotte Doughnut. Sukhumvit Soi 33, Watthana. 9am-9pm

If cloud-soft texture is the only doughnut style you're after, Kinu is the answer. What began as a small shop down a soi in Ari grew a famously long queue and eventually expanded across the city. Despite its popular and rapid expansion, the doughnuts have stayed consistent throughout. Made with fresh butter and finished with a proprietary icing, the range runs from original and cinnamon through to salted egg. And while easier to find in a neighbourhood near you, the original Ari branch retains a true neighbourhood warmth, dressed in bright blue wallpaper against a minimal backdrop. 

Kinu Donut. Ari Soi 5. 8.30am-5pm. Closed on Sunday

For those who like their doughnuts with more structure (something closer to butter cake than a pillowy yeasted ring), then Doughnuts Library at Samyan Mitrtown is the pin to add to your map app. The red storefront is hard to miss and the menu of beautifully glazed rings are worth the detour. Heroes of the day include earl grey lavender and rose pistachio, while oozy classics that mix Nutella with Oreo and sprinkle-covered birthday cake help you throw restraint out the window. It is also a regular on the city’s pop-up circuit, so you might just stumble across the Doughnuts Library at a market when you least expect it.

Doughnuts Library. G/F, Samyan Mitrtown, Pathum Wan. 10am-8.30pm