In Search of the Perfect Doughnut: Voodoo Doughnuts vs. Doughnut Plant

[Bucky_Sinister]

In the past few weeks, I've been fortunate enough to visit:

http://voodoodoughnut.com/

and

http://www.doughnutplant.com/

While I love DP's Tres Leches doughnut, I still have to give the edge to VD's Memphis Mafia (their banana fritter). However, it's kind of like comparing an awesome motorcycle to an awesome car. Which is better? Well, I'd love to have one of each in the driveway (my arteries).

Curious to others' opinions on these two places, and if you know of any other really good spots to hit across the country, especially if you know someplace in Chicago, Minneapolis, or Los Angeles, as I will likely be visiting in the next 12 months.

b

[Liezl]

YES.

If you're in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia, or Charlotte, NC, go to Fractured Prune Donuts.

Each donut is fried on the spot and made to order with custom toppings.
These are seriously the most fucking amazing donuts I've ever had.



Rolo - Caramel Glaze with milk chocolate chips slightly melted from the warm donut.
Banana Nut Bread - Banana Glaze topped with peanuts and granulated sugar
Strawberry Shortcake - Strawberry glaze topped with crumbled graham crackers and powdered sugar.

Behold, their Menu...

[matt in the east]

i want to go back to a time when i wasn't aware that these places existed. i'm sorry i clicked on this thread.

[CaptainBreakfast]

Voodoo donuts is the best donut shop on earth. I literally pay for donuts by doing bits from my act.

[Liezl]

Voodoo has a Bacon Maple Bar?

I don't know what to think about that.

[ChrisCubasATX]

Voodoo has a Bacon Maple Bar?

I don't know what to think about that.

I've had one of these and it is beyond delicious.

[Bucky_Sinister]

I've had one of these and it is beyond delicious.

Agreed. Damn fine doughnut. The one I had, the bacon was super crispy, so it would actually break into bites. The maple and bacon flavors really compliment each other. I'm really surprised it hasn't been copied.

[Meen Bellpeppers]

Bucky, what is your favorite Bay Area doughnut?

[ragu sauce]

reposting an old photo. from voodoo's menu:

tasty or AST? you decide.
PS:

no name/old dirty bastard is my favorite there, it kind of rocks.

PS PT 2

Are Voodoo Doughnut weddings legal?
Absolutely, 100% legal, unless you don't want them to be. The service is performed by ordained ministers beneath the holy doughnut and a velvet painting of Isaac Hayes.
It doesn't get more legal than that!

[Bucky_Sinister]

Bucky, what is your favorite Bay Area doughnut?

I used to love Hunt's Donuts at 20th and Mission. It was shut down a few years ago, prompting my doughnut quest

http://vimeo.com/1329259

Here's Erick Lyle, formerly Iggy Scam, who wrote a book called On the Lower Frequencies. He wrote a history of the place.

I'm currently liking The Jelly Donut on 24th and South Van Ness. The buttermilk bars have the crunchy on the outside soft on the inside texture like they're supposed to. It's cheap and a little down and out, like I like em. They tend to give you an extra donut as well.

There's a gourmet place up on 24th somewhere between Bryant and Portrero, but they make small batches and are always out by the time I wander up there. it's a $2 donut place.

Avoid any of the Chinese Food & Donut places. The donuts all have a chow-meiny type tinge to them.

Erick really likes All Star right now, down on 5th Street and Harrison? Right where the 27 bus turns.

They're not donuts, but Arizmendi makes the best scones and baked goods, which will do until a better donut comes along.

[Lauren]

I miss Scam Zine!

[P-Dub]

Any suggestions in LA?

So far the best i've had is Yum Yum's on La Cienega, which is good, but I'm sure in a city this size there has to be a crazy hipster donut place like the ones listed above.

[Liezl]

I'm going to guess Fritelli's in beverly hills.

I've never been there and reviews are mixed... but they tout themselves as a gourmet donut shop.

yelp reviews
their menu...

Mocha on Mocha donut

[Having Fun!]

I like the one that makes the meatball shape donuts, which shop was that?

[priceyeah]

This thread makes me realize that everyone else really isn't trying at all.

Any extraordinary doughnuts in NYC?

[Bucky_Sinister]

This thread makes me realize that everyone else really isn't trying at all.

Any extraordinary doughnuts in NYC?

The Doughnut Plant I linked above is in NYC. Check out the Tres Leches and the Blackout doughnuts. Their cake doughnuts much better than the others IMO.

b

[Bucky_Sinister]

I miss Scam Zine!

Check out his book, On the Lower Frequencies. I think it's a brilliant book, and I don't throw that word around."book." No, really, Erick wrote the definitive book about that weird time in SF's history during the upside of the Dotcom years.

He did extensive research on Hunt's Donuts.

[theodoric]

Stan's Donuts in Santa Clara is great in an old school, non-gourmet donuts served with a heaping of attitude kind of way.

But seriously, their glazed old-fashioneds might be the best ever.

Having said that, I love walking out of Dante's after a show and getting me some Voodoo.

[Liezl]

Donut Man in Glendora has a crazy cult following... mainly for their seasonal offerings:



They also have a great donut called the Tiger Tail, it's a foot long donut twist with a ribbon of chocolate dough twisted into it. Fantastic when freshly made.

[Jawa]

I'm just a yokel from the hinterlands, and don't have access to the sophisticated "doughnuts" you west coast types seem to have, but I was always fond of a donut shop when I was a kid, in Springfield, IL.

http://www.mel-o-cream.com/rise.html

Mel-O-Cream is still one of my favorite business names.

I have yet to find any really fabulous donut shops in Chicago (okay, I haven't really been looking).

I will say that Dunkin Donuts, found on almost every block here, sucks pretty hard. Terrible aftertaste, and pretty awful initial taste.