Category Archives: Donuts

2d Restaurant

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Interior
Interior
Interior
Interior
Exterior
Exterior
Winnie the Pooh & Friends... Four donuts combo
Winnie the Pooh & Friends… Four donuts combo
Tokyo Rooster Sandwich
Tokyo Rooster Sandwich
Hot Rooster Sandwich with wasabi fries
Hot Rooster Sandwich with wasabi fries

***** (5 stars)

The concept of flat 2D illustrations on all the walls makes for a fun place to eat, but the food is also excellent. The chicken is super moist on the inside and very, very crispy on the outside. I recommend the Hot version of the sandwich. It's much less spicy than, say, Nashville hot chicken. I think it's just right.

I also really liked the wasabi fries, which are nicely crisped fries with a drizzle of creamy wasabi sauce.

The menu and ordering are all done through the QR code on each table, and food just magically shows up. Pretty cool.

2d Restaurant
3155 N Halsted St
Chicago, IL 60657

https://www.yelp.com/biz/2d-restaurant-chicago

Heaven on Seven Wabash

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BBQ Shrimp po’boy

Gumbo and jalapeno corn muffin

Entry

Interior

Hot sauce wall (only half of it!)

Interior

One table’s hot sauce

***** (5 stars)

This is a very good Cajun restaurant. No, it’s not as good as many in New Orleans, but it’s good. And what makes it special is the vibe, with its thousands of different hot sauces lining the walls (no, there are no repeats) and its perpetual Christmas-garlanded ceilings.

I started with a cup of the gumbo, which was excellent, with its generous helping of tender, flavorful Andouille sausage.

A jalapeno corn muffin wasn’t all that impressive compared to others I’ve had.

My main was a Cajun barbecued shrimp po’boy. The shrimp was very hot, with a slight saffron flavor, and the bread was nicely grilled. The whole mess (and I use the term intentionally) was covered in a flavorful Cajun gravy with just the right amount of spice. At first, as I picked at it with my fork, I thought it was just okay, but once I’d eaten enough shrimp to be able to pick the whole thing up and get a bite of everything, I really liked it.

Service was friendly and efficient. A lot of regulars came in and sat at the small, U-shaped lunch counter while I was there. I could tell it’s a place many people have been coming to for decades, and I can see why.

Heaven on Seven Wabash
111 N Wabash Ave
Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 263-6443
https://www.yelp.com/biz/heaven-on-seven-wabash-chicago

Café Du Monde

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***** (5 stars)

This place serves basically two things, coffee and beignets, and you want both of them. The cafe au lait is excellent, and the famous beignets are crisp outside, fluffy inside, and buried in powdered sugar. There is always a long line here for both seating and take out, so allow time, or plan to come at an off time (if there is one).

Café Du Monde
French Market
800 Decatur St
New Orleans, LA 70116
(504) 525-4544
http://www.yelp.com/biz/caf%C3%A9-du-monde-new-orleans-12

Glazed & Infused

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**** (4 stars)

This is among the top doughnut places in town, and has the advantage of more locations than some of the others. (Note that the entrance to the River North location is through the restaurant around the corner and past the hostess stand.) There is a limited selection of types, and they run out, so it’s best to arrive early and beat the lines.

Their old fashioned is a very good doughnut, although I would prefer it without the fronting, and with more of a crust, like they do it at Do-Rite’s.

White chocolate seems a bit boring, and Chocolate 4 is simply all about chocolate, not really my thing.

The apple fritter is a nice take on this old favorite; this version is all about cinnamon and a light cake interior, without the cloying apple glop that is so often used. I would have liked a crisper top crust, though.

The fried ice cream doughnut was interesting, with its toasted coconut topping, although I’m not sure where it gets its name.

But clearly the standout doughnut here is the Maple Bacon Long John. The creamy center gives it a smooth consistency, the maple flavor is rich, and the salty bite of the smokey peppered bacon really raises the complexity level. This is the doughnut you’ve been looking for.

While they have bagels and other non-sweet items, they don’t have any doughnuts that aren’t extremely sweet, so if your taste runs to a plain old fashioned, this isn’t the place. Otherwise it’s definitely a great choice for some morning sugar overload.

Glazed & Infused
30 E Hubbard St
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 226-5556
http://www.yelp.com/biz/glazed-and-infused-chicago-6

The Doughnut Vault

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**** (4 stars)

I’m not sure this place is actually as big as the average vault!

But clearly they’re doing something right, when there’s a half hour line outside on a cold Sunday morning.

I’m a big fan of old fashioned buttermilk donuts, and although we tried a sampling of everything those were certainly my favorites. I felt they were comparable to Stan’s, my long time benchmark from Westwood Village California, and now at two spots in Chicago. However they don’t have the nice crust you find at Do-Rite’s, which I’d have to dub the winner in that category.

Still, a very fine donut.

The Doughnut Vault
401 1/2 N Franklin St
Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 285-2830
http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-doughnut-vault-chicago

Do-Rite Donuts

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***** (5 stars)

This is what a donut shop in heaven must be like.

As a long-time fan of Stan’s Corner Donut Shop in Westwood Village California, I was delighted to learn that Stan’s had opened locations in Chicago. And indeed, their blueberry buttermilk donut is hard to beat.

But my favorite donut is an old fashioned buttermilk, and the one at Do-Rite has bested all others. The delicate crusty outside and moist center is the perfect combination. Do-Rite’s has a lot of other good choices, but this one is the new benchmark of excellence.

It’s one heavenly donut.

Do-Rite Donuts
50 West Randolph Street
Chicago, IL 60601
(312) 488-2483
http://www.yelp.com/biz/do-rite-donuts-chicago

Stan’s Doughnuts

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***** (5 stars)

I can attest to the fact that Stan’s has been making the best donuts on the planet for forty years. My favorite is the glazed buttermilk bar, but anything with buttermilk or maple in the title is a winner. I don’t really understand why anyone would eat a donut from anywhere else. I’ve even ordered them shipped to Florida!

Stan’s Doughnuts
10948 Weyburn Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90024
(310) 208-8660
http://www.yelp.com/biz/stans-doughnuts-los-angeles