All the Doughnuts You Need to Eat in Philadelphia Right Now
Our favorite places in Philly for these golden-fried goodies, whether stopping for breakfast on your morning commute or picking up sweet treats for a crowd.
Doughnuts in Philly: The new FedNuts in South Philly / Photograph courtesy of Federal Donuts & Chicken
Few breakfast foods are as craveable as the doughnut. Yeasted, cake or filled, dipped in glaze, frosted or sprinkled with jimmies, dunked in a hot cup of coffee or eaten out of hand in the moment — nothing beats a hot, fresh one when the mood strikes.
Whether you’re popping in for a quick breakfast on your commute, enjoying a leisurely brunch, or grabbing a dozen to share on a Sunday morning, these Philadelphia-area doughnut shops, restaurants and wholesale-only makers have that tender, sweet, golden-fried goodness you’re looking for. Here are some of the best places to get doughnuts in and around Philadelphia (and even a few down the Shore).
Federal Donuts & Chicken, multiple locations
The ubiquitous fried-chicken and fried-dough purveyor has done more than any other in recent history to make Philly a doughnut destination. Hit them up for Instagram-ready fancies in unique flavors like basil lemonade and fresh-from-the-fryer, sugar-dusted hot doughnuts.
Suraya, Fishtown
Even if you’ve never been to the Levantine market, cafe, or top restaurant in Philadelphia, there’s a good chance you’ve seen the lone donut on its daytime menu — a rose-pistachio cruller — all over your social media. It tastes just as good as it looks.
Curiosity Donuts, Furlong
Arguably the region’s most sought-after doughnuts, Alex Talbot and Aki Kamozawa’s meticulously crafted fried-dough experiments have to be tasted to be believed. They make a ton of base batters (sourdough, laminated brioche, potato, cake or cruller) and glaze them thickly with crumbly bits on top. Get a dozen and share these beauties. Find them at their dedicated store in Bucks County or a pop-up location.
Okie Dokie Donuts / Photograph by Kae Lani Palmisano
Okie Dokie Donuts, South Philly
Pastry chef Carol Ha’s wholesale outfit, specializes in an I-can’t-believe-it’s-gluten-free version made with a blend of rice flour, tapioca starch, and potato starch. Try flavors like cardamom, rose chai, and Boston cream.
Frangelli’s Bakery, South Philly
This old-school Italian bakery has been doing wonderful things with fried dough for decades. The Best of Philly-winning Frannoli, made with cannoli cream sandwiched within a hole-less doughnut, is a must-try. Pro tip: You can swap out the cannoli cream in favor of a scoop of ice cream.
Suzy-Jo Donuts, Bridgeport, East Norriton and Limerick
This second-generation Montco doughnut shop boasts a long list of flavors, from peanut butter fluff to maple-bacon to classic plain. Be sure to get there early for the best selection, as varieties tend to sell out.
Dottie’s Donuts, Queen Village, Fishtown, Spruce Hill and Manayunk
It shouldn’t surprise anyone that West Philly’s best-known doughnut spot is completely vegan. What will surprise you, however, is how good their dairy- and egg-free treats really are.
Beiler’s Doughnuts / Photograph by J. Varney for Visit Philadelphia
Beiler’s Doughnuts, Market East
This straight-from-Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Dutch-owned company scored a Best of Philly when they added yeasted doughnuts to the menu at their Reading Terminal Market stand a few years ago. They make a ton of flavors, from banana-cream to peanut-butter-jelly, but it’s the apple fritter that keeps us coming back.
Hello Donuts, Kensington
Run by a crew of musicians, this new doughnut outfit has partnered up with the ReAnimator Coffee folks to open their own shop at Frankford and Amber streets. Each new week brings six new flavors, like Black & White Cookie and Key Lime Pie, plus fritters on Fridays.
Haegele’s Bakery, Mayfair
This Best of Philly-winning German bakery has been turning out sweet treats for three generations. While folks flock there for traditional fastnachts on Fat Tuesday, Haegele’s makes a full slate of filled, frosted, and powdered doughnuts for us to enjoy the rest of the year.
McMillan’s Bakery, Haddon Township
Open since 1939 this iconic South Jersey bakery sells classic doughnuts from cakey chocolate glazed to apple cider doughnuts sold year-round. But the local favorite from this shop is the cream doughnut, a powdered pastry cut in half like a hot-dog bun and over-stuffed with a light and airy vanilla filling.
Photograph courtesy of Mochinut
Mochinut, Chinatown, Center City, Elkins Park and Langhorne
Mochi doughnut chains have moved in on Philly in the last few years, and now we’re seeing them pop up all over town and in the ‘burbs. Mochinut is a good option to find these ultra-chewy, rice-flour-based rings of eight connected dough balls. Each is coated thoroughly in a glaze that could be anything from cheesecake to black sesame.
Sleeping Bird Coffee, North Wilmington
Find your way down to Delaware to snag these weekday-only, cream-filled brioche doughnuts. They’re cheffy, creative and filling. Good news: A dedicated shop is coming to Concord Pike soon.
Britton’s Gourmet Bakery, Wildwood Crest
Among a few Shore options for fried dough, Wildwood Crest is home to Britton’s famous apple fritters, plus a slew of traditional doughnuts.
Yum Yum’s Big Kahuna / Photograph by Jon Palmisano
Yum Yum Bakeshop, Colmar, Warminster and Quakertown
A Bucks County standby for half a century, this Best of Philly winner is the perfect spot to pop in for coffee and a cruller or stock up on breakfast for a crowd. But for a special occasion, you’ll want to order a Big Kahuna, their monster-size doughnut that’s big enough to ice with a celebratory inscription, and feed a dozen of your doughnut-loving friends.
Kohler’s Bakery, Avalon
It can be tough to find a time when this Avalon staple is actually open, but if you’re in town on a summer weekend, it’s the place for fresh cream or jam-filled doughnuts. Down the street, High Dune Baking Co. also sells delicious filled doughnuts (with chocolate cream as an option!) and is open a bit more often.
Brown’s Restaurant, Ocean City
The lines are long at this diner and doughnut purveyor on the Ocean City Boardwalk, but it’s tradition. Queue up and take home a dozen of these hot, crispy, and cakey treats.
