These North Carolina doughnut shops rank among the best in the nation. Here’s why
Whether you’re a fan of glaze or sprinkles, you might not have to go far for a tasty doughnut.
That’s because North Carolina is home to eight of the nation’s best spots for getting the sugary treats, new rankings show.
The restaurant review website Yelp said it came up with the list of “Top 100 US Donut Shops” after it studied dessert places across the country. It considered “a number of factors including the total volume and ratings of reviews.”
Of the North Carolina shops that earned recognition, Hole Doughnuts in Asheville came out on top with the No. 3 spot on the list. Also in the rankings:
- Superior Bakery in Fayetteville at No. 26
- Britts Donut Shop in Carolina Beach at No. 29
- Daily Donuts in Graham at No. 47
- NC Jelly Donuts in Burlington at No. 53
- OMG Donuts & Bakery in Concord at No. 58
- Baker’s Dozen in Raleigh at No. 79
- Wake N Bake Donuts in Carolina Beach at No. 91
The list was released ahead of National Doughnut Day, which falls on Friday, June 3. To celebrate, North Carolina-based Krispy Kreme is among the chains offering free sweets to customers.
On Yelp’s list, Hole Doughnuts reigned supreme in the state. Customers turned to the website to rave about treats they said were made to order and served hot, helping the business earn five out of five stars.
“Dough is hand-rolled on demand, then deep-fried in rice bran oil, yielding beautifully misshapen donuts with crispy exteriors and light, chewy insides,” Yelp said on its website. “Flavors include vanilla glazed, toasted almond sesame cinnamon, cinnamon sugar, and a rotating seasonal special (such as bourbon-sorghum or saffron, rose, and pistachio).”
The shop in the mountain tourist town of Asheville is no stranger to receiving top honors. In 2016, Bon Appétit named its molasses-bourbon doughnut the “dessert of the year.”
This time around, some of the other Yelp favorites were in the Raleigh, Charlotte and Greensboro areas. Others were along the southeastern coast and near Fayetteville.
Overall, the nation’s top-ranking place for doughnuts was Round Rock Donuts, outside of Austin, Texas. Also making the top five were shops in California, Florida and Arizona.
This story was originally published June 1, 2022 at 9:33 AM with the headline "These North Carolina doughnut shops rank among the best in the nation. Here’s why."
