The best donuts in Chicago: 6 places worth trying

Last Updated on August 19, 2026 by Ioana

Chicago has no shortage of great food, and that includes donuts. From classic old fashioned doughnuts to wildly creative seasonal flavors, the Chicago donut scene has something for pretty much every sweet tooth.

I personally tried Stan’s Donuts during my time in the Windy City, and it was one of those places that immediately made sense to me. The donuts were large, generously filled with cream, and there were so many options that choosing just one was difficult.

I went for the Biscoff banana donut, and it was really good. The combination of banana, Biscoff and that creamy filling made it one of my favorite sweet treats from the trip.

But Stan’s is far from the only place worth trying. If you’re looking for the best donuts in Chicago, these are the shops I’d put on your list. This blog post contains affiliate links. When you make a purchase I may get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Find out more here.

Stan’s Donuts: Best for Creative, Generously Filled Donuts

If you only have time for one of the Chicago donut shops on this list, I’d make Stan’s one of your top picks.

I stopped at Stan’s during my visit and was immediately impressed by the selection. The donuts are large, and many of them have a generous amount of filling, so you’re definitely getting a substantial sweet treat rather than a tiny pastry.

There were so many flavors to choose from, including classic options and more creative combinations.

I went with the Biscoff banana donut, and it was delicious. The banana flavor worked surprisingly well with the Biscoff, and the creamy filling made every bite even better.

What I particularly liked about Stan’s is that you can find something for almost every mood. If you want a traditional donut, they have those.

If you want something loaded with filling and signature toppings, they have plenty of those too.

They also have multiple locations around Chicago, including in popular areas such as River North and Lincoln Park, which makes it easy to fit a donut stop into the rest of your day.

My verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Best for: Creative flavors, big donuts and lots of filling.

Doughnut Vault: Best for Small-Batch Donuts

Doughnut Vault is one of the names you’ll see repeatedly when researching the best donuts in Chicago.

This small shop built its reputation around making donuts in small batches rather than producing an enormous selection all day long.

The result is a more focused menu of fresh donuts, with classics alongside more creative options.

One of the things people particularly love about Doughnut Vault is its old-school approach. The donuts are substantial, handmade and focused on good dough rather than simply piling on as many toppings as possible.

Because it’s a small operation, some flavors can sell out. That’s part of the experience, but it’s also a good reason to go earlier rather than later.

Best for: Small-batch donuts and classic Chicago donut-shop vibes.

Do-Rite Donuts: Best for Classic Favorites

Do-Rite Donuts is another Chicago institution and a great option if you want a combination of traditional donuts and more indulgent creations.

The menu includes old fashioned donuts, glazed varieties, filled donuts and seasonal specialties.

And if you’re hungry enough for something savory after your donut, Do-Rite is also known for its fried chicken sandwiches.

I like this kind of combination because you can stop in for breakfast, get your coffee and donut, and then continue exploring Chicago without turning the entire morning into a dessert crawl.

The donuts are made fresh throughout the day, and there are several locations, making this one of the easier options to squeeze into a sightseeing itinerary.

Best for: Classic donuts, seasonal flavors and a quick downtown stop.

Beacon Doughnuts: Best for a Neighborhood Donut Stop

Beacon Doughnuts is worth checking out if you want to explore beyond the most famous names in Chicago’s donut scene.

This is more of a neighborhood-style donut shop, with a selection that changes depending on what’s available.

It’s the kind of place I would seek out if I’d already tried the major Chicago donut shops and wanted to find something a little less obvious.

Look for seasonal flavors and different types of fillings rather than expecting only traditional glazed donuts.

Best for: Neighborhood vibes and trying something different.

Dat Donut: Best for Giant Donuts

If you’re looking for giant donuts, Dat Donut is the place to investigate.

The portions are part of the appeal, with oversized donuts that are made for people who don’t believe a normal donut is enough.

It’s particularly fun if you’re traveling with someone and want to split one. Chicago has plenty of serious food experiences, but sometimes getting an absurdly large donut is exactly what you need.

The menu includes traditional flavors alongside more decadent options, so there should be something for everyone.

Best for: Giant donuts and an over-the-top sweet treat.

A Few More Chicago Donut Shops Worth Knowing

If you’re building your own list of the best donut shops in Chicago, there are a few other names worth looking into.

The Chicago donut scene extends well beyond downtown, particularly into neighborhoods like West Town, West Loop and the South Side.

You can find everything from classic buttermilk-style donuts to Filipino-inspired flavors and bakeries that blur the line between a donut and a pastry.

Some shops also specialize in seasonal flavors, so what you find on the menu can change considerably depending on when you visit.

That’s one of my favorite things about exploring independent doughnut shops. You don’t always know exactly what you’ll find.

Firecakes Donuts

Firecakes is one of the classic names in Chicago’s donut scene and a particularly convenient option if you’re staying around River North. 

It’s known for handmade donuts with both classic and more indulgent flavors, including old fashioned styles, chocolate, and seasonal options. 

It’s a good choice if you want a more traditional donut-shop experience without going far out of the city center. Firecakes also consistently appears on lists of Chicago’s top doughnut shops.

Old Fashioned Donuts

If you want to venture to the South Side, Old Fashioned Donuts is worth the trip. This is a much more old-school Chicago experience than some of the trendier shops downtown. 

The shop is famous for enormous donuts and apple fritters, including Texas-sized creations that are big enough to share. 

The bakery has been around since 1972, and its old-fashioned style is a nice contrast to the newer artisan donut shops.

Mindy’s Bakery

If you’re already exploring Wicker Park, add Mindy’s Bakery to your list. The bakery is known for a rotating selection of pastries, and its donuts are typically available Friday through Sunday mornings. 

The square-shaped donuts come in flavors such as salted caramel, hot fudge and powdered sugar, so this is a particularly good stop if you want something that feels a little different from a traditional donut.

Downstate Donuts

For something a little more under-the-radar, check out Downstate Donuts. The shop has built a following for creative flavors, including options like miso honey and blueberry, as well as gluten-free choices.

It’s a good pick if you’ve already hit the famous Chicago donut shops and want to discover a smaller neighborhood spot.

What Kind of Donut Should You Try?

If you’re overwhelmed by the number of choices, here’s what I’d look for.

• Classic: Try an old fashioned doughnut or cinnamon sugar donut.
• Filled: Look for Boston creme, coconut cream, creamy vanilla or anything with a generous filling.
• Chocolate: A chocolate glaze top or hot fudge donut is always a safe bet.
• Seasonal: Go for the daily specials or seasonal flavors. These are often where donut shops get particularly creative.
• Something different: Look for Biscoff pockets, dulce de leche, cookie dough or other signature toppings.

And if you see a donut with a combination you’ve never tried before, I’d say go for it. Half the fun of visiting Chicago’s donut shops is discovering something unexpected.

The Best Donuts in Chicago: My Top Picks

If you don’t want to visit a dozen different doughnut shops, here’s the short version:

• Best overall: Stan’s Donuts
• Best for small batches: Doughnut Vault
• Best for classics: Do-Rite Donuts
• Best for giant donuts: Dat Donut
• Best for neighborhood vibes: Beacon Doughnuts

For me, Stan’s was the winner because of the combination of size, filling, variety and creative flavors.

That Biscoff banana donut was exactly the kind of donut I want when I’m traveling: familiar enough to be comforting but different enough to be memorable.

And honestly, if you’re visiting Chicago, there’s a good reason to make donuts part of your food itinerary.

The city has an incredible restaurant scene, but sometimes the best way to start a day of exploring the Windy City is with a great donut and a cup of coffee.

If you also want my recommendations on the best restaurants and foods beyond donuts in Chicago, check out my guide on where to eat in Chicago.