Independent donut shops. Local favorites. Small, sweet, delicious.
Craig (your Donut Scout) calls it research. Doughie calls it visiting relatives. Search by the thing a shop is actually famous for making.
We list independent donut shops: no franchises, no corporate parent, and every location in one city or one state. There's no cap on how many shops a family runs.
2067 shops · 2609 locations · know one we're missing?
A few of Craig's picks
Donut Run
Takoma — Washington, DC
Known for: DC's first all-vegan doughnut shop: yeast and cake doughnuts in daily-changing flavors such as french toast, matcha, mango coconut and a strawberry-sprinkle 'Homer', sold from a pink storefront in Takoma.
Donut Scout rating
Last verified 9/24/2026
John's Son's Donut Depot
Bryan — Bryan, OH
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Known for: Cream-filled, maple-frosted long johns, cream-filled sticks, apple fritters and blueberry cake donuts from a drive-thru shop that also delivers nightly to stores across Williams, Henry, Fulton and Defiance counties.
Donut Scout rating
Visitor rating
Last verified 9/25/2026
King Bakery Donut Cart
Donut cart at the King family home — Cambridge, NY
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Known for: A Sunday-morning family donut cart run from an antique Freihofer's bread wagon, once horse-drawn through the streets of Troy, parked at the King family home on West Main Street in Cambridge. You can't go wrong with their classic glazed donuts plus a weekly rotation that has included chocolate Bismarcks, maple bacon, Italian cream, Death Wish coffee cream, bear claws and Easter-nest donuts.
Donut Scout rating
Last verified 9/26/2026
Rose Ave Bakery
Woodley Park — Washington, DC
Known for: Asian American brioche doughnuts, including black sesame cream-filled, ube and pandan-coconut, alongside ube cake and ensaymada; they often sell out by afternoon.
Donut Scout rating
Last verified 9/24/2026
Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken
Downtown / Penn Quarter — Washington, DC · +1 more location
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Known for: Oversized yeast doughnuts (creme brulee, vanilla glazed, maple bacon) served alongside fried chicken sandwiches from a downtown counter.
Donut Scout rating
Last verified 9/24/2026