clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile
Rows of doughnuts with different toppings pictured behind a glass case. A plant is to the right.
Dough Joy’s Capitol Hill location features a rotating lineup of all-vegan selections.
Dough Joy

Doughnuts You Should Know in the Seattle Area

Candy crumble toppings, mochi-doughnut hybrids, traditional old fashioneds, and more

View as Map
Dough Joy’s Capitol Hill location features a rotating lineup of all-vegan selections.
| Dough Joy

The humble doughnut is baking’s version of the three-chord power pop song: Perfected long ago, deceptively simple, always satisfying, and providing about three minutes of pure saccharine pleasure. Seattle is blessed with more than its fair share of doughnut varietals: creme brulee-filled wonders, candy-topped treats, ever-expanding vegan options, and everything in between. The joy of doughnuts is that even a “bad” doughnut is still a doughnut, but here are some of our favorites from across the Seattle metro area.

As usual, this list is not ranked; it’s organized geographically. Know of a spot that should be on our radar? Send us a tip by emailing seattle@eater.com.

For all the latest Seattle dining intel, subscribe to Eater Seattle’s newsletter.

Read More

There’s innovative stuff going on up in Mill Creek. Frost does all the standards — even a picture-perfect rendition of Homer Simpson’s famous pink frosted doughnut — but what makes this bakery stand out is the flavors it achieves without having to resort to gimmicks like bacon toppings. The salted caramel version of the old fashioned has an impressive caramel-like chew to it, and the Aztec Chocolate will expand your mind: It’s got real cayenne-style heat that perfectly cuts the richness of the chocolate cake doughnut. 

An old-fashioned doughnut
Frost’s Salted Caramel Old Fashioned
Harry Cheadle

Zuri's Donutz

Copy Link

There’s no shortage of playfulness at this Black- and veteran-owned Lynnwood “dezzert bar,” which likes to experiment with different flavors and toppings, such as Lucky Charms on maple bars. There are dalliances with savory items — garlic chili chicken doughnuts — and an infinite number of flavor selections (mango chili, ube, horchata, and more) in the “Zuriverse” of sweets. There are plenty of gluten-free and vegan options as well.

Aurora Donuts

Copy Link

This combination doughnut/ice cream shop has seen better days, and doesn’t look like much as you whizz by on Aurora. But don’t worry, the doughnuts lining the trays are reliable as they come — classic glazed and cake treats, wonderfully soft with just the right amount of resistance as you bite into them. This is the place to come when you’re fed up paying $5 for a fancy brioche doughnut, and there’s even an after 5 p.m. special offering six doughnuts for $7, or as we call it the Only God Can Judge Me Special.

Larsen's Bakery

Copy Link

It’s easy to be overwhelmed by the pastry case at this Ballard bakery, and we won’t shame you if you end up trying one of the shop’s many traditional Scandinavian treats. But our advice is to head over to the doughnut section and check out their cake variations in particular. The red velvet doughnut in particular is an amazing example of the form, glazed on the outside and moist on the inside, with that red velvet kiss of tartness.  

Donut Factory

Copy Link

Known for its over-the-top cookie doughnut sandwiches that have graced plenty of Instagram accounts, this U District bakery (with a Lynnwood offshoot) offer doughnuts topped with candy like Ferrero Rocher, Butterfinger, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, and more. Those celebrating a special occasion can pre-order treats in the shapes of letters and numbers.

Mochinut South Lake Union

Copy Link

Mochi doughnut chain Mochinut offers plenty of inventive flavors. Made with rice flour, mochinuts have a chewy texture, setting them apart from traditional cake or yeast-raised doughnuts. The South Lake Union location has plenty of seasonal selections (recently mango puree, sesame balls, and churro with caramel), as well as boba tea and fried Korean rice hot dogs.

Dough Joy

Copy Link

Dough Joy started as a Ballard-based food truck specializing in creative yeast-raised vegan doughnuts and has now expanded to Capitol Hill and West Seattle brick-and-mortars. Some of the more whimsical offerings include strawberry lemonade (a sticky tart treat), mango con chili, the glitter-coated Over the Rainbow, and an addictive everything bagel variety.

A doughnut with
Dough Joy’s Everything Bagel doughnut
Harry Cheadle

Raised Doughnuts and Cakes

Copy Link

Fans of the popular former pop-up can now find creations such as plain glazed, apple fritters, crullers, and chocolate bars — as well as seasonal and weekend specials — at this Central District outpost. They even have dougnuts for your dog!

Daily Dozen

Copy Link

Right in the center of Pike Place Market is the iconic Daily Dozen Doughnut Company, slinger of mini doughnuts fresh out of the fryer. Market shoppers lured by the ubiquitous smells of fried, sugary dough form long lines to wait for a bag of these doughnuts. Grab a half or full dozen of powdered, plain or rotating seasonal specials while they’re hot.

Dona Queen Donut & Deli

Copy Link

It may not be the flashiest shop in the city, but this bakery tucked into a SoDo mini mall has a reliable array of glazed, filled doughnuts, fritters, and cinnamon twists. They work perfectly as a sweet complement to the spicy bulgogi and other savory items from the deli side of the operation, and hold up well, even later in the afternoon.

Racks of doughnuts, from cruellers to glazed to colorful sprinkled versions, at Dona Queen in Seattle
Dona Queen is a hidden gem in SoDo.
Dona Queen Donut & Deli

The Flour Box

Copy Link

Built from a pop-up favorite, owner Pamela Vuong’s Hillman City shop continually draws lines for its creme brulee doughnuts, everything bagel doughnuts filled with whipped chive cream cheese, decadent cinnamon rolls, and other rotating doughnut flavors. The popularity is well-deserved: Vuong was a James Beard Award semifinalist for outstanding baker in 2022.

9th and Hennepin Donuts

Copy Link

Named after a lyric from a Tom Waits song, 9th and Hennepin is based out of a kitchen in West Seattle, serving doughnuts hot, as they were meant to be served. Eschewing the candy crumble genre of doughnuts, this operation serves an ever-rotating selection of flavors based on what’s in season at local farmers markets. Past standouts include a Yukon potato brioche long john, and honeycrisp apple and dried cherry fritter.

King Donuts

Copy Link

This Rainier Beach destination used to be a hybrid bakery, laundromat, and teriyaki restaurant, but recently dropped the latter two services due to limited resources and move a few blocks down Rainier. Luckily, the doughnuts are still here. Styles range from chocolate- and sprinkle-coated cake doughnuts to glazed or cinnamon sugar-coated rounds, available fresh daily.

A stack of frosted and sprinkled doughnuts.
Neighborhood favorite King Donuts offers a reliable selection of doughnuts daily.
King Donuts

Good Day Donuts

Copy Link

This wonderfully welcoming White Center shop is versatile. In addition to a selection of sweet classics, such as cinnamon twists, glazed cake doughnuts, and apple fritters (at inexpensive prices), it hosts pop-ups and features savory dishes as well, such as breakfast sandwiches and Italian subs.

Loading comments...

FROST

There’s innovative stuff going on up in Mill Creek. Frost does all the standards — even a picture-perfect rendition of Homer Simpson’s famous pink frosted doughnut — but what makes this bakery stand out is the flavors it achieves without having to resort to gimmicks like bacon toppings. The salted caramel version of the old fashioned has an impressive caramel-like chew to it, and the Aztec Chocolate will expand your mind: It’s got real cayenne-style heat that perfectly cuts the richness of the chocolate cake doughnut. 

An old-fashioned doughnut
Frost’s Salted Caramel Old Fashioned
Harry Cheadle

Zuri's Donutz

There’s no shortage of playfulness at this Black- and veteran-owned Lynnwood “dezzert bar,” which likes to experiment with different flavors and toppings, such as Lucky Charms on maple bars. There are dalliances with savory items — garlic chili chicken doughnuts — and an infinite number of flavor selections (mango chili, ube, horchata, and more) in the “Zuriverse” of sweets. There are plenty of gluten-free and vegan options as well.

Aurora Donuts

This combination doughnut/ice cream shop has seen better days, and doesn’t look like much as you whizz by on Aurora. But don’t worry, the doughnuts lining the trays are reliable as they come — classic glazed and cake treats, wonderfully soft with just the right amount of resistance as you bite into them. This is the place to come when you’re fed up paying $5 for a fancy brioche doughnut, and there’s even an after 5 p.m. special offering six doughnuts for $7, or as we call it the Only God Can Judge Me Special.

Larsen's Bakery

It’s easy to be overwhelmed by the pastry case at this Ballard bakery, and we won’t shame you if you end up trying one of the shop’s many traditional Scandinavian treats. But our advice is to head over to the doughnut section and check out their cake variations in particular. The red velvet doughnut in particular is an amazing example of the form, glazed on the outside and moist on the inside, with that red velvet kiss of tartness.  

Donut Factory

Known for its over-the-top cookie doughnut sandwiches that have graced plenty of Instagram accounts, this U District bakery (with a Lynnwood offshoot) offer doughnuts topped with candy like Ferrero Rocher, Butterfinger, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, and more. Those celebrating a special occasion can pre-order treats in the shapes of letters and numbers.

Mochinut South Lake Union

Mochi doughnut chain Mochinut offers plenty of inventive flavors. Made with rice flour, mochinuts have a chewy texture, setting them apart from traditional cake or yeast-raised doughnuts. The South Lake Union location has plenty of seasonal selections (recently mango puree, sesame balls, and churro with caramel), as well as boba tea and fried Korean rice hot dogs.

Dough Joy

Dough Joy started as a Ballard-based food truck specializing in creative yeast-raised vegan doughnuts and has now expanded to Capitol Hill and West Seattle brick-and-mortars. Some of the more whimsical offerings include strawberry lemonade (a sticky tart treat), mango con chili, the glitter-coated Over the Rainbow, and an addictive everything bagel variety.

A doughnut with
Dough Joy’s Everything Bagel doughnut
Harry Cheadle

Raised Doughnuts and Cakes

Fans of the popular former pop-up can now find creations such as plain glazed, apple fritters, crullers, and chocolate bars — as well as seasonal and weekend specials — at this Central District outpost. They even have dougnuts for your dog!

Daily Dozen

Right in the center of Pike Place Market is the iconic Daily Dozen Doughnut Company, slinger of mini doughnuts fresh out of the fryer. Market shoppers lured by the ubiquitous smells of fried, sugary dough form long lines to wait for a bag of these doughnuts. Grab a half or full dozen of powdered, plain or rotating seasonal specials while they’re hot.

Dona Queen Donut & Deli

It may not be the flashiest shop in the city, but this bakery tucked into a SoDo mini mall has a reliable array of glazed, filled doughnuts, fritters, and cinnamon twists. They work perfectly as a sweet complement to the spicy bulgogi and other savory items from the deli side of the operation, and hold up well, even later in the afternoon.

Racks of doughnuts, from cruellers to glazed to colorful sprinkled versions, at Dona Queen in Seattle
Dona Queen is a hidden gem in SoDo.
Dona Queen Donut & Deli

The Flour Box

Built from a pop-up favorite, owner Pamela Vuong’s Hillman City shop continually draws lines for its creme brulee doughnuts, everything bagel doughnuts filled with whipped chive cream cheese, decadent cinnamon rolls, and other rotating doughnut flavors. The popularity is well-deserved: Vuong was a James Beard Award semifinalist for outstanding baker in 2022.

9th and Hennepin Donuts

Named after a lyric from a Tom Waits song, 9th and Hennepin is based out of a kitchen in West Seattle, serving doughnuts hot, as they were meant to be served. Eschewing the candy crumble genre of doughnuts, this operation serves an ever-rotating selection of flavors based on what’s in season at local farmers markets. Past standouts include a Yukon potato brioche long john, and honeycrisp apple and dried cherry fritter.

King Donuts

This Rainier Beach destination used to be a hybrid bakery, laundromat, and teriyaki restaurant, but recently dropped the latter two services due to limited resources and move a few blocks down Rainier. Luckily, the doughnuts are still here. Styles range from chocolate- and sprinkle-coated cake doughnuts to glazed or cinnamon sugar-coated rounds, available fresh daily.

A stack of frosted and sprinkled doughnuts.
Neighborhood favorite King Donuts offers a reliable selection of doughnuts daily.
King Donuts

Good Day Donuts

This wonderfully welcoming White Center shop is versatile. In addition to a selection of sweet classics, such as cinnamon twists, glazed cake doughnuts, and apple fritters (at inexpensive prices), it hosts pop-ups and features savory dishes as well, such as breakfast sandwiches and Italian subs.

Related Maps