Best places to get donuts in The Triangle
Donuts are not just a classic breakfast item in the Triangle, they are an art form and a way of life for many local residents.
Looking for the best donuts in the Triangle? Our guide can help you find the ultimate places to go when your morning — or afternoon — calls for a sweet treat.
Krispy Kreme
If you’re a donut fan, it should no surprise that this beloved national chain tops the list of best donuts in the area. Their menu includes simple glazed donuts, iced donuts, filled donuts, cake donuts and even featured donuts. With their handy online ordering, pickup and delivery, you can get your fix even if you’re not able to make it to a store while the Hot Now light is on.
Voters’ Choice Awards: This donut was named First Place in the 2022 awards.
Hours vary by location.
Address: Various locations throughout The Triangle
Duck Donuts
Warm, delicious, and made to order, Duck Donuts will customize your donut in front of you, so there’s no way to go wrong with this Outer Banks favorite. The first location arrived in 2007 and has been wowing customers ever since. Duck also offers coffee and ice cream. Check out their website for the full menu, including seasonal options. Hint: the maple bacon flavor seems to be a local favorite.
Hours vary by location.
Voters’ Choice Awards: This donut was named Second Place in the 2022 awards.
Address: Various locations throughout The Triangle
Baker’s Dozen Donuts
With both your traditional donuts and also donuts that will blow your mind, Baker’s Dozen Donuts is not your traditional donut shop. They also make custom creations where you can bring your donut dreams for them to turn into reality for any occasion.
Voters’ Choice Awards: This donut was named Third Place in the 2022 awards.
Hours: Open daily from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Address: 325 S. Main St., Suite A, Corona
Tepuy Donuts
Tepuy donuts are served at multiple locations in the Triangle. Find them at various coffee shops, including Idle Hour Coffee Shop and Iris Coffee Lab, in Raleigh. These hand-crafted sourdough donuts have quite a following. They come in an array of delicious flavors including vanilla bean, hibiscus glazed, Nutella, banana pudding, salted caramel, and lemon pistachio. They can also be ordered one day in advance and picked up at their home location.
Voters’ Choice Awards: This donut was named as a Finalist in the 2022 awards.
Hours: Closed Monday and Wednesday; open Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Address: 2519 Fairview Road, Raleigh
Early Bird Donuts
Early Bird is quite literally for early birds, so please plan accordingly. This shop is known for running out of donuts early in the day, especially their freshly made croissants (so get there at opening, which is 6 a.m. but don’t go on Mondays because they will be closed). Their sour cream donuts are a must-try.
Voters’ Choice Awards: This donut was named as a Finalist in the 2022 awards.
Hours: Monday through Saturday 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.; and Sunday 7 a.m. to noon
Address: 2816 Erwin Road, Suite 101, Durham
Acme
Acme’s Sunday brunch doughnuts have people talking. Sunday brunch is from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. This well-known restaurant is home to the increasingly popular hot Acme doughnuts, which includes chocolate, raspberry, and maple donuts. Order one at the table, and thank us later.
Hours: Closed Monday and Tuesday; open Wednesday and Thursday from 5:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 5:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; and Sunday 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for brunch and 5:30- 9 p.m. for dinner.
Address: 110 E. Main St., Carrboro
Carolina Glazed Donuts
This hole-in-the-wall donut shop is a hidden gem. Don’t let its unassuming, strip mall location fool you. This no-frills donut shop makes some of the most fluffy, light donuts around. They also fill up their jelly donuts to order, and online reviews suggest these donuts maintain their freshness well for the next day.
Hours: Open Monday through Friday 6 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; Saturday 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., and Sunday 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Address: 5400 S. Miami Blvd., Durham
Heirloom Brewshop
This well-known coffee and tea shop is home to some of the best donuts in Raleigh. It's also the first place in the area with made-to-order mochi donuts - a trending Asian dessert making its way around the U.S. These are fried-to-order and you can choose from unique flavors like coconut lime with candied lime zest, five spice sugar, and lavender honey with lavender buds.
Hours: Open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Address: 219 S. West Street, Raleigh
Monuts
Looking for a shop that gives back? Monuts cooks from scratch, sources from local farmers, and is living-wage certified. This restaurant offers rotating seasonal donut flavors, such as their popular orange pistachio donut. They always have a selection of three to four cake and three to four yeast donuts. Grab one of their specialty lattes and enjoy the goodness.
Hours: Closed Sunday and Monday; Open Tuesday through Friday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Saturday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Address: 1002 9th St., Durham
Sola
This all-day-cafe serves breakfast, lunch and delicious drinks. Heirloom is not the only fried-to-order donut place. Sola, is another well-loved Raleigh coffee shop offering their popular Hot Minis. These fried-to-order mini donuts have a rotating list of flavors. A guest favorite is a strawberry and habanero. Hot Minis come in bags of six, you may want to grab more than one.
Hours: Closed Sunday; open Monday through Saturday 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Address: 7705 Lead Mine Road, Raleigh
This list was put together with the help of WRAL Voters' Choice Awards and online reviews.
