The 20 best donut shops in Chicago

Hogsalt's donut dispensary is notorious for selling out fast, so you may need to act quickly if you want to secure you favorite fried dough delicacies. Follow Doughnut Vault's Facebook account for updates on new flavors plus daily closing times. Once inside, you'll find classics like the buttermilk old-fashioned alongside wacky specials including honey bun cake, birthday cake and whiskey caramel old-fashioned with pecans. These pastries aren't cheap, but trust us when we say they're worth every penny.

Usually open from early in the morning until 9pm, this Chatham institution specializes in pillowy pastries that are as sweet as they look. If it's your first time, go for a box of the original glazed yeast donuts, which practically melt in your mouth. The best part? Unlike costly downtown shops, Dat Donut keeps its prices low; one donut will run you a buck and change. If you are feeling especially hungry or have a big sweet tooth, Dat also has you covered with their tasty “Big Dat Donut” that's larger than your head.

We could take a cue from the cops, who stalk this bare-bones donut shop and go for a couple of the poofy glazed beauties in the case. Or we could make like the locals and snatch up chocolate-slathered cake donuts as if there were an apocalypse coming. Any time we make it to this South Side institution, we’re too busy homing in on the apple fritters—unparalleled rounds, as big as your head, with cinnamon-spiked peaks and valleys dotted with gooey apple hunks.

Stan's is one of Chicago's most prolific dough purveyors—we're talking over a dozen locations and counting, including outposts in the suburbs. Though the company was originally founded in Los Angeles, Chicago-based Labriola Baking Company brought the brand to the Midwest, and we're thankful they did. No matter what store you frequent, the massive pastry case is sure to be filled with Biscoff pockets, buttercream Bismarks, dozens of old-fashioneds and sprinkled cake donuts galore. Unlike others on this list, Stan's keeps its shops open late-ish into the evening (until 8pm at most locations), so you can get your donut fix any time of day. 

If yeast-raised donuts are your jam, Do-Rite is the place to go. The vanilla bean glazed is a crowd favorite—it's pillowy and flaky, sweet but not cloying and quite large. On the creative front, you can't go wrong with the cinnamon crunch raised, Michigan apple fritter, pistachio-Meyer lemon or Valrhona chocolate cake. Do-Rite doesn't discriminate against vegans or the gluten intolerant; there are daily specials for each, including a delightful orange-olive oil pastry that's 100 percent vegan. Get there early or order ahead to avoid missing out.

Jonathan Fox's offering to the donut-crazed masses is adorably vintage, with rows of donuts both classic (buttermilk old fashioned, apple fritter and jelly-filled) and wildly imaginative (churro, orange-poppyseed and maple-bacon). Make note: The epic, sprinkle-coated Birthday Cake donut will make you the hero of every office party. With locations in River North, Lincoln Park, the suburbs and a mobile truck, Firecakes is one of Chicago's most beloved donut makers.

After being taught the art of dough by the one and only Burritt Bullock—owner of Old Fashioned Donuts—Devell Brittman opened D&D's Place with his wife, Lolita. The shop has won the hearts of donut-loving folks across the city ever since, most recently scooping the both Judge's Choice and Crowd Favorite awards at the 2020 Chicago Donut Fest. Stop by for a perfectly fluffy glazed donut, a Texas apple fritter the size of your head and heaps of similarly tantalizing flavors, like lemonade and fresh strawberry. 

This shop is easy to miss but hard to leave. Located in an alley in Lincoln Park, Beacon became a doughnut destination after it went viral on TikTok. The shop’s 24-hour batches of brioche dough are so rich (yet equally light) that it is almost hard to believe that they’re vegan. Whether you’d like a seasonal flavor like the pumpkin cinnamon bun or the classics, like Oreo old fashioned or double chocolate and sea salt, there is a flavor for everyone. Snap a pic and wash your sweet treat down with locally-roasted Halfwit coffee. Beacon only boasts a walk-up window and closes once it runs out of doughnuts, so be sure to get there early or order ahead online.

Mother-daughter team Dobra Bielinski and Stasia Hawyrszczuk opened this Jefferson Park bakery in 1998 and have established it as the preferred stop for those seeking Polish pastries. Case in point: You can buy deliciously filled paczki—a delicacy normally available only around Fat Tuesday—year-round. "Regular" donuts (i.e. plain, glazed and chocolate fudge) are also standbys.

They don’t call this place Somethin' Sweet for nothing. This family owned business in Albany Park combine “the best of midwestern hospitality and Californa-style donuts.” Cake-style doughnuts are the hearty staple and it’s difficult to decide between flavors like vanilla, chocolate, cherry, blueberry, lemon, red velvet and devil’s food. If your sweet tooth still isn’t satisfied, Somethin' Sweet also offers delectable Long Johns, mouth-watering apple fritters and sticky cinnamon rolls.

Let your imagination run wild at this retro-themed donut shop in Roscoe Village. The menu features 10 signature flavors, from Mexican hot chocolate to coffee cake crumble, but you can also customize your own treats with a variety of sauces and toppings. Sure, a powdered donut topped with Nutella and candied bacon may not seem traditional, but we won’t judge. Gluten-free options and bespoke donut cakes can be had, too.

Transport yourself to a world unlike any other at this cute Lakeview cafe. 2d Restaurant is an immersive, made-for-social-media attraction sporting a comic book-inspired aesthetic. The 1,600 square-foot space features hand-drawn black and white artwork, inspired by Paris, on its walls and furnishings. You’ll probably have to brave crowds before getting inside (or make a reservation to avoid the line) but tough it out because the rewards are airy, fluffy mochi donuts. They come in a variety of fun flavors, including strawberry cheesecake and s’mores, and go well with a cup of the Vietnamese-style coffee brewed using a special phin filter.

Liberation Kitchen is a restaurant that’s at the forefront of the vegan revolution. You don’t have to feel guilty about indulging when the donuts bear names like Kindness, a classic cake donut, or Sanctuary, topped with bruleed sugar and pineapples. If you’re looking for something photo-worthy, For Greta is easily the most picturesque, topped with whipped cream and a strawberry. Plus, 50 percent of sales of the Total Liberation doughnut benefit animal and human rights nonprofits.

If you're searching for the city's most wildly indulgent (and Instagrammable) dough, look no further than BomboBar, a walk-up window on the side of Bar Siena in the West Loop. The counter specializes in bombolini, hole-less Italian donuts that are tossed in sugar. The cloud-like pastry comes in a multitude of flavors; pick from maple candied bacon, cookies and cream, PB&J, cherry cheesecake and more.

If you grew up in the Midwest, there’s a good chance your archetype of a bakery looks a lot like Southwest Side institution Weber’s. After all, the focus at this perpetually-packed spot is on hearty, comforting fare that’s descended from German, Polish and Scandinavian roots, yet over time has evolved its own regional character. The cake donut, surprisingly light beneath an icing of chocolate ganache, is a customer favorite. 

Most Chicagoans know this South Side stalwart as a beacon on Paczki Day, but Bridgeport Bakery slings donuts year-round, starting bright and early at 5am. Drop in to secure a box filled with the classics—from sprinkle-topped cake donuts and Long Johns to warm, jam-filled pockets of fried dough.

We’d be remiss to not mention the donut’s equally scrumptious cousin–the churro. This Pilsen shop claims to offer the best version in Chicago and we’re inclined to agree. You can try them filled with flavors like chocolate, strawberry, caramel and Bavarian cream, or grab a box to keep in the freezer for that next fried dough craving. There are even vegan-friendly churros as well.

You don’t have to take a trip down to the Big Easy to enjoy addictive fried pastries covered in powdered sugar. This New Orleans-inspired cafe, with locations in Portage Park and West Town, serves fresh beignets that make for the perfect breakfast bites. Especially when they’re dipped in caramel and bacon jam sauce. You’ll also want a strong cup of café au lait to provide a morning spark.

Cam Waron and his wife Becca Grothe opened this tiny spot in Avondale earlier this year. Though most of the focus is on TriBecca’s lineup of sandwiches, save some stomach space for Waron’s Tuber’s Donuts. These unique sweet treats are potato-based and fried in clarified butter, yet eat much lighter than they sound. We’re partial to the Fries in Your Frostie donut, an ode to the classic Wendy’s combo, but there’s really no going wrong here.

With three different varieties to choose from—basic, fancy and rotating—DB3 Donuts has something that will appeal to even the pickiest of eaters. Try one of the Evanston shop’s three chocolate options or reach for the maple cinnamon cake donut, topped with bacon strips. And if you’re trying to impress someone, why not send them custom donut letters? That’s right, you can send a message in words formed from doughnuts—a delectable gift that is customizable all the way down to the sprinkle colors.