Chicago home to two top-ranked donut shops, Yelp finds: Here’s where

by: Addy Bink

(NEXSTAR) – There are few breakfast food options that are as sweet and sought after as donuts (or doughnuts, however you prefer to spell it). Glazed or frosted, sprinkled or filled, round or twisted, it can be hard to resist the fried, dense offerings.

And while there are chains entirely dedicated to donuts, you may sometimes seek out a donut that’s more crispy and dunkable than what they offer. To help you find the perfect donut, Yelp reviewed ratings given by its Elite Squad members to rank the 50 best donut shops in the U.S.

Chicagoans don’t need to go far to enjoy some of those.

Coming in at No. 13 was Beacon Doughnuts, which was named Illinois’ best by Yelp last year. Ordering ahead is “strongly suggested” as some of its flavors, handmade in small batches, “sell out quickly!” Once Beacon Doughnuts has sold out, which reportedly happens often on the weekends, the shop says it will close for the day.

The shop’s top-reviewed donuts on Yelp include the Blueberry Pancake Cake, Apple Fritter, and Chocolate Glazed Brioche.

A South Side staple, Old Fashioned Donuts on Michigan Avenue, ranked No. 49 overall on Yelp’s list. Elite Squad members highlighted the shop’s “no shortcuts and no gimmicks” approach to the “massive, hand-cut doughnuts” they’ve been selling for decades. Reviewers warned Old Fashioned Donuts has been known to sell out fast. If you don’t mind waiting, Yelp users suggest the apple fritters and glazed donuts.

Illinois is home to one more top-rated donut shop: Country Donuts in Crystal Lake. Securing the No. 25 spot on Yelp’s list, the 49-year-old shop has a unique edge — they’re open all day long. Sticking with the trend, Country Donuts often attracts a long line on the weekends, Yelpers noted, but the apple fritters and long johns are worth it.

To get the best donuts in the country, at least according to Yelp’s Elite Squad, you’ll need to travel to Novel Ice Cream in Phoenix.

Yelp’s full list can be seen below. You can find additional details about each shop on Yelp’s website.

1. Novel Ice Cream – Phoenix, Arizona
2. HOLE – Hot Doughnuts and Fresh Coffee – Asheville, North Carolina
3. Munchkins Donuts Shop – Covina, California
4. Kin Bakeshop – Santa Barbara, California
5. BJ Cinnamon – Folsom, California
6. Pip’s Original Doughnuts & Chai – Portland, Oregon
7. Nord’s Bakery – Louisville, Kentucky
8. Donna’s Delicious Dozen – Columbus, Ohio
9. Beiler’s Bakery – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
10. Purvé Donut Stop – Honolulu, Hawaii
11. Ani’s Bake Shop – Aiea, Hawaii
12. Round Rock Donuts – Round Rock, Texas
13. Beacon Doughnuts – Chicago, Illinois
14. Peaceful Provisions – Beacon, New York
15. Golden Crown Cookies & Mochi Donuts – North Richland Hills, Texas
16. DG Doughnuts – Ocoee, Florida
17. Glazed Over Donuts – Beacon, New York
18. Donut Run – Washington, D.C.
19. Sweet Coloradough – Glenwood Springs, Colorado
20. Leonard’s Bakery – Honolulu, Hawaii
21. Oakmont Bakery – Oakmont, Pennsylvania
22. Oram’s Donut Shop – Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania
23. Detour Doughnuts And Coffee – Frisco, Texas
24. Greenbush Bakery – Madison, Wisconsin
25. Country Donuts – Crystal Lake, Illinois
26. Carl’s Donuts – Las Vegas, Nevada
27. Glaze Doughnuts – Las Vegas, Nevada
28. Fresh Donut & Deli – Salt Lake City, Utah
29. Long’s Bakery – Indianapolis, Indiana
30. Gibson’s Donuts – Memphis, Tennessee
31. Sedonuts And Coffee – Sedona, Arizona
32. La Estrella Bakery – Tucson, Arizona
33. Bill’s Donut Shop – Centerville, Ohio
34. Donut King – Minneola, Florida
35. Mah-Ze-Dahr Bakery – New York, New York
36. Dough Joe’s – Winston-Salem, North Carolina
37. Hell Yeah Gluten Free – Atlanta, Georgia
38. Rise + Roast – Albuquerque, New Mexico
39. The Vegan Doughnut Company – Lakewood, Ohio
40. Mr D’s Donuts – Shawnee, Kansas
41. The Local Donut – Scottsdale, Arizona
42. Hole In One Donut – Tampa, Florida
43. Friendly Donut House – Henderson, Nevada
44. Spalding’s Bakery – Lexington, Kentucky
45. OMG Donuts & Bakery – Concord, North Carolina
46. Avon Donuts Inc – Pontiac, Michigan
47. Sluys Poulsbo Bakery – Poulsbo, Washington
48. Cranky Al’s – Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
49. Old Fashioned Donuts – Chicago, Illinois
50. Doe Donuts – Portland, Oregon

If you’re looking for an excuse to get a donut, you won’t have long to wait: The first of two National Doughnut Days is just weeks away.

The holiday is typically celebrated on the first Friday of June, a nod to 1938 when the Salvation Army commemorated a group of volunteers who traveled overseas during WWI to support troops. The group would fry up doughnuts on the front line, helping to popularize the treat among returning GIs. The first-ever National Doughnut Day was celebrated in Chicago.

Then, in early November, you’ll have the chance to celebrate the fried treat again. The origins of this day are less understood, though some again point to servicemen as being the center of it all.

Nexstar’s Michael Bartiromo contributed to this report.

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