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The Best Donuts in America List is Out: See Who Made it From Portland

Thursday, February 25, 2016
GoLocalPDX Lifestyle Team

Blue Star Donuts, PHOTO: Facebook
The list of best donut shops in the country is out and two Portland shops have made it.

Donut Byte Labs and Blue Star Donuts have been named as two of the 33 best donut shops in the country, according to a list put together by Thrillist.

The methodology of the development of this list is unquestionable as Thrillist says they came up with the rankings by eating the donuts, arguing over them and then putting them in a list of 33.

About Blue Star Donuts, Thrillist writes:

A few years back, I knew Blue Star was going to be making a big impression on Portland... a tough nut to crack considering the city has been on the forefront of the donut revolution for as long as people have been standing in line for Voodoo Doughnut's dong-shaped cream concoctions (a long time). Well, now Blue Star has multiple locations throughout Portland, one in LA, and one in Japan, where Portland has become the new Hello Kitty. The expansion, however, hasn't changed anything. The crème brulee donuts are still perfect in their burnt-sugar crunch, with a pipe of Cointreau syrup jammed in the top. The brioche-based dough is a fantastic counter to the traditional cake in everything from the buttermilk old-fashioneds to dulce de leche, Mexican chocolate, and almond granache. Soon, Portland might have to share Blue Star with the world. If that means more donuts of this caliber for everybody, well, we’ll take it.

Blue Star Donuts

Blue Star Donuts was founded in 2012 and has four locations in Portland, their main location being at 1237 SW Washington St.

Their donuts are made from a brioche recipe that originated in the south of France and their dough is made from scratch on a daily basis, taking about 18 hours.

Click here for more information.

About Donut Byte Labs, Thrillist writes:

Donut Byte Lab, Photo: Facebook
If I learned anything from T2, it’s that I'm oddly attracted to women who can do endless pull-ups, but also that robots can't cry. But they can bring tears to our eyes, as proven by both Arnold’s touching goodbye and the next-level desserts made by a semi-automated robot at Portland food cart Donut Byte Labs. The place specializes in miniature rings, pumped out fresh all day by a specialized android of sorts, then gussied up by an actual human who custom-makes every single 'nut in the box to order (plan to spend some time on the sidewalk). They're  hit with everything from bacon and real maple to salted caramel, Reese’s peanut butter, and a blowtorch, which caramelizes the cinnamon sugar on the insane French toast bite. Ive seen the future. And in it, John Connor is very, very fat. But he's cool with it.

Donut Byte Labs

Donut Byte Labs is a food cart that specializes in freshly made mini donuts and trying new flavors each week.

Donut Byte Labs is located on 12 SW 4th Ave in Portland.

Click here for more information.

  • Pip’s Original

    Locally owned and operated by Nate and Jamie Snell, this shop has only been around for a year and a half but already has die-hard fans high-tailing it up North Fremont for some destination donuts. Pip’s serves made-to-order batches of miniature donuts in groups of 4, 6, 8 and 12. Flavors include the award-winning raw honey and sea salt, nutella and sea salt, cinnamon and sugar and the Dirty Wu. The Wu, or everything donut, is named for actor Reggie Lee’s character on the Portland-based TV show Grimm, Detective Drew Wu. Lee is a regular customer. 

    Wash it down with one of the five house chai blends like the Heart of Gold - coconut, turmeric and cardamom - or a King and I Chai - cardamom, anise, clove - for the full experience. 

    https://www.facebook.com/PipsOriginal

    Address: 4759 NE Fremont St, Portland, OR 97213

    Phone: (503) 206-8692

    Hours: Mon - Sun: 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

    [email protected]

     

  • Annie’s Donut Shop

    Butterfly donuts made of peanut butter and chocolate, buttermilk bars, raspberry-filled fritters and French cruller and applesauce donut are just a few of the items that get people salivating. This Cambodian-owned business in East Portland has been called one of Portland’s best-kept secrets. 

    www.facebook.com/pages/Annies-Donut-Shop

    Address: 3449 Northeast 72nd Avenue, Portland, OR 97213-5817

    Phone: (503) 284-2752

    Hours: 5:00 am – 10:00 pm Monday- Friday, Sat Sun, 5 a.m. – 1 p.m.

     

  • Tonalli's Donuts & Cream

    This little mom and pop ice cream and donut shop is a funky hold out from Northeast Alberta Street’s homelier past. There may not be lines out the door like those found at neighboring Salt & Straw, but this simple shop is more about comfort food than exotic experiences. The banana buttermilk bar, blueberry fritter, the Apple Supreme fritter and Bavarian cream donuts are what put customers on a sugar high. As an added incentive, you can pair your donut with one of the 50 different ice cream flavors, or combine the two for ice cream on a donut. And if you’ve been out at night taking in some of the Alberta Street nightlife, rest assured, Tonalli’s is open until midnight.

    Address: 2805 NE Alberta St, Portland, OR 97211

    Phone: (503) 284-4510

    Hours: 5:30am until Midnight everyday  

    [email protected]

     

  • Blue Star

    Blue Star’s motto is “quality over quantity” and that seems to be the case for a shop where it’s common to sell out of donuts by 2 p.m.  Store hours are listed as “7 a.m. until out [of donuts].” So get there early. 

    Donuts here are made from a “classic brioche recipe that originated in the south of France” using locally sources materials like sustainable flour, cage free eggs and whole milk. 

    Perhaps the most artisanal of all Portland donut shops, Blue Star features gourmet-style confections like blueberry bourbon glazed donuts, hard apple cider fritters, passion fruit coco nibs and a crème brulle donut with Cointreau liqueur on top. The Hawthorne Street shop has a fried chicken donut that can’t be good for your arteries, but hey, donut-devourers don’t believe in overthinking these things.  Of all the Portland donuts shops, this one is the Portlandiest. 

    www.bluestardonuts.com

    Address: 3549 Southeast Hawthorne,1237 Southwest Washington Street, 3753 North Mississippi Avenue

    Phone: 503-477-9635 (phone numbers and hours vary from shop to shop, check website)

    Hours: Monday - Friday; Mississippi -- 9 am on weekend; Hawthorne- 8am until out of donuts; Downtown -- 7 a.m. until out of donuts; Saturday - Sunday: 8am – until out donuts

    [email protected]

     

  • Sesame’s Donuts

    With seven locations around the metro area, this family-owned operation is a mini empire by local standards.  The Tigard locations also sells Mediterranean food for those who want a donut desert with their shawarma. Sesame’s most popular donut for the last dozen years is the Portland Cream, filled with custard and topped with caramel and maple frosting. Most importantly, the Hillsdale location is open 24/7 for those who get the late night munchies while trundling through the Southwest hills.

    www.sesamedonuts.com

    Address: 6990 SW Beaverton-Hillsdale Hwy., Portland, OR 97225

    Phone: (503) 297-8175

    Hours: 24 hours, 7 days week, check online for other locations and hours

     
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