What we list — and what we can't

A shop can be listed when

• It doesn't franchise, license its name, or belong to a co-op brand.
• It isn't owned by a corporate parent — a holding company, a private-equity firm, a grocery or convenience chain, or a restaurant group with other brands. A founder or family running a few concepts of their own is just fine.
• Every permanent location is in one metro area or one state. A metro that straddles a state line, like Cincinnati or Evansville, counts as one.

A location can be a storefront, a counter, a stand, or a donut truck, cart, or market stall. Trucks and stalls count when donuts are the main thing they sell, they've been at it for at least a year, they work regularly around one home town, and they post where to find them. Some of our favorites are exactly that. One-off pop-ups and fair-only vendors don't count.

That's the whole test. A family with a dozen busy storefronts across town is still a local favorite; a shop selling franchises in three states is something else, however good the donut is.

The rule sits with the shop as a whole, so every one of its locations shares the same answer. If a shop starts franchising or gets bought by a bigger company, it leaves the list — and if that ever changes back, it comes straight back, ratings and story intact. We keep every record forever.

A donut shop always counts. A bakery, cafe or diner counts too when newspapers, food writers or a donut award say its doughnuts are why people go. If donuts are just one thing on the counter, it may show up below as a mention instead.

Shops that close stay in our records, because they were part of the story.

Shop details change all the time online. We do our best to verify them, but we can't promise every listing is complete or current, and we aren't responsible for errors or omissions. Check with the shop before a special trip. See our Terms of Use.