When you think of delicious fried dough
in New Orleans, your first thought is likely of beignets, the white pillowy
treats beloved by visitors to the French Quarter, City Park, and numerous other
locations around the area. But they're not the only form of donut (or doughnut,
if you're feeling fancy, rather than phonetic) around. Here are some of the
local donut shops throughout greater New Orleans offering their own delicious
blends of sugar, flour, and fat. Whether you prefer a Homer Simpson-style neon
glazed offering or something a bit more subdued, you're likely to find it at
one of these spots. And if you don't feel like trekking out to get your donuts,
remember that many of these restaurants are available on food delivery apps.
Buttermilk Drop Bakery
Stop by this homey Treme spot, near where St. Bernard Avenue and Broad Street meet, to grab their namesake type of donut. Though it's shaped like the donut holes you might get from the big chains and eat by the fistful, just one of these is likely to be (more than) enough to satisfy. It's a big, delicious fried lump of sweet buttermilk dough with a gentle glaze on top. The bakery also offers other types of donuts, including classic jelly and cream-filled donuts, as well as coffee. 1781 N. Dorgenois St., (504)252-4538, buttermilkdrop.com
District Donuts
District Donuts, with a handful of
locations, including one on Magazine Street in the Garden District and one on
Harrison Avenue in Lakeview, is a great place to stop in for classic donuts,
including basic glazed and cinnamon options, as well as rotating, usually
intriguing flavors of the day. It also offers a variety of classic and fancy
coffee options, such as nitro cold brew coffee and Vietnamese iced coffee. If
you're more in the mood for something savory, you can also grab a sack of
cheeseburger, fried chicken, or even tofu sliders. District is also known for
the donut croutons found in its salads, but call ahead or check the online menu
to see if and when those are available during the coronavirus pandemic. Various
Locations, districtdonuts.com
Blue Dot Donuts
You can't miss this bright blue
building on Canal Street in Mid-City near the Carrollton Avenue shopping
district. Its early hours—typically open only from 6 a.m. to noon—have made it
a favorite of both ultra-late-night revelers and early-morning workers and
joggers on their way to City Park. Blue Dot offers a good assortment of classic
round donuts, as well as other options, such as its log-shaped maple bar, which
tastes like deliciously sweet syrup. 4301 Canal St., (504)
218-4866, facebook.com/bluedotdonuts
Gerald's Donuts
As much of a diner as it is a donut shop, Gerald's was known before the coronavirus pandemic as a 24-hour hangout in St. Bernard Parish, just across the border from New Orleans. Feel free to grab a classic plate of eggs, bacon, and toast or a juicy hamburger with fries or onion rings. But if you're looking for something sweet instead or in addition, you can't go wrong with Gerald's blueberry donut, a big, heavy, sweet dose of what tastes like muffin dough, coated in a sweet but unobtrusive glaze. Various Locations, geraldsdonuts.com
Tastee Donuts
Tastee Donuts, a local chain with
locations around the New Orleans area (a handy one can be found at the corner
of Esplanade Avenue and Broad Street), is a perfectly good spot to drop in for
a donut or several. Many enjoy the simple old-fashioned donuts, but there are
cream-filled and glazed offerings as well, if that's more your speed. And if
you'd rather have your grease in a salty form, give their
Kastleburgers—hamburger or cheeseburger sliders laden with sautéed onions on
miniature buns, of the kind that you would find at Krystal or, yes, White
Castle—a try. Various Locations, facebook.com/TasteeRestaurant
Chris's Cakes and Donuts
Grab a jelly-filled, glazed, or old-fashioned
donut at this bustling shop in New Orleans East, located just down the street
from the area's location of the Office of Motor Vehicles. And keep in mind that
Chris's is also a full-service bakery, offering customized cakes made to order
for birthdays and other occasions. Not only that, but it's also a restaurant
offering an assortment of breakfast food, including greasy Southern staples such
as eggs, sausage, and grits. 7030 Bullard Ave., (504) 218-5814, facebook.com/pages/category/Bakery/Chriss-Cakes-and-Donuts
City Donuts
Located amid the strip malls of
Claiborne Avenue, this all-night spot offers a variety of sugary creations,
from king cake donuts available all year long to almost comically enormous bear
claws and glazed apple fritters. There are also breakfast, lunch, and dinner
options available, also including many items of the fried persuasion. Day-old
donuts, not yet stale, are often available by the sack at a steep discount. 3301
S. Claiborne Ave., (504) 619-9954, facebook.com/Citydonutscafe2019
Terrytown Cafe & Donuts
If your donut craving strikes you on the Westbank, don't despair: Terrytown Cafe & Donuts is open long hours with a mix of standard donuts and some specialty items, including a super-sweet "apple crumbler." The shop can get busy, but staff know how to keep the line moving. On a recent weekend visit, the parking lot was completely full, but savvy donut-lovers getting their sugary fix could briefly leave their cars at a less popular spot: the lot for a nearby exercise track. 2018 Carol Sue Ave., Terrytown, (504) 393-1323, terrytowncafe.net
