Donut enthusiasts have a particular place in their hearts for Portland, Oregon, a city renowned for its diverse culinary culture. Here, local bakers create a variety of sweets that span from traditional to cutting-edge, elevating the ordinary donut to an art form.
Portland’s doughnut cafes offer with style and grace, whether you’re craving the nuanced flavors of a gourmet creation or the sugary rush of a basic glazed.
This guide will take you on a tour of Portland’s top 5 donut shops, where every mouthful demonstrates the city’s obsession with these delectable delicacies.
These places offer more than simply sweet treats; they allow you to immerse yourself in the passion and inventiveness that characterize Portland’s food scene.
Let’s explore the locations that make Portland a donut destination worth experiencing as we plunge into the doughy delight.
Delicious Donuts
Though donut enthusiasts can visit between 5 am and 2 pm to make direct purchases, this vintage doughnut bakery serves as a wholesale supplier for cafes and restaurants.
Along with some additional pastries like cinnamon rolls and cakes, you’ll find a usual range of original favorites including old fashioneds, creme-filled, and maple bars baked fresh every day.
Are you looking for something a bit heartier? Along with omelets, breakfast burritos, smoothies, sandwiches, and espresso drinks, it also serves a full breakfast menu.
Blue Star Donuts
As Blue Star was founded by the same guys who brought us Boxer Ramen, Little Big Burger, and Yakuza, it’s hardly unexpected that it became popular right away.
With eight shops in the Portland region and outposts in Los Angeles, the brand has emerged as the reigning donut king since its opening.
Their brioche-based donuts come in a variety of tastes, from old fashioneds to creme brulee with a dash of Cointreau syrup, and are topped and stuffed with components more commonly seen in the kitchen of a high-end pastry chef.
Donuts are more expensive, but they’re worth it for special varieties like Valrhona chocolate, passionfruit and cacao nib, and blueberry bourbon.
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NOLA Doughnuts
It’s obvious from one glance at these square-shaped pastries that this isn’t your typical doughnut business. The dough used to manufacture NOLA’s donuts is laminated, a technique more frequently employed in croissants and puff pastries.
This results in fried doughnuts that are incredibly flaky and have a crunchy, crusty outside. Making the dough takes more than three days, but the effort is well worth it.
In addition to having a menu full of beignets, king cakes, and po’boys, the Pearl location is decorated to resemble New Orleans’ French neighborhood.
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Sesame Donuts
Sesame provides a typical chain experience, like to a Dunkin’ or Winchell’s, complete with glass-doored racks of vibrant Os. These donuts, on the other hand, are far superior because to their lighter, fresher dough and careful attention to detail, especially in the glazes and toppings.
Anticipate all the classic tastes along with some unique selections like lemon poppy seed; don’t forget to sample their trademark donut!
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Coco Donuts
When combined to create a deep-fried delicacy, butter and buttermilk are a winning combination. The traditional flavors of glazed, jelly, and twists are highlighted in this recipe, which is derived from an ancient family recipe.
Coco’s specialty donut is a glazed, raised chocolate covered in chocolate and topped with coffee beans that are roasted in-house and dusted with cacao. Don’t miss it.
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Final Words
The donut scene in Portland offers something for every palette, from traditional sweet tooths to more daring ones. There’s a shop waiting to fulfill your doughnut cravings, whether you prefer the creative flavors of Blue Star or the fresh simplicity of Delicious Donuts.
With its flaky, laminated dough, NOLA Doughnuts gives a distinctive twist, and Sesame Donuts delivers a comforting yet sophisticated experience.
And lastly, Coco Donuts offers a flavor of history with its unique chocolate-covered donut and family recipe.
Therefore, the next time you’re in Portland, don’t pass up the opportunity to visit these havens for lovers of donuts and discover the city’s passion for this delicious treat.
