Curated Guide to the Best Chicago Donuts

There's nothing quite like waking up on a Saturday morning and enjoying a freshly brewed cup of coffee paired perfectly with your favorite warm donut, especially as the Fall temps in Chicago start to dip down into the 40s. So this past weekend, we sought out to taste test some of the top rated donut shops in the city against our serious (well sort of) set of standards.  So, without further adieu, here's our take on the city's best warm, fried goodness (in no particular order):

Stan's Donuts: We started off the morning here with a Chocolate Sprinkled Glazed donut - read lots of gooey, warm frosting if that's your poison. If you're looking for a light, fluffy textured treat this place is just the ticket. Stan's has become a staple in the Chicago donut scene (oddly enough with it's roots starting in LA), opening multiple locations across the city, and feels like you're being transported into a 50's diner. Make sure to try some of their specialities, i.e. the Peanut Butter Pocket, that are sure to leave a lasting impression on your tastebuds. Check out the full menu here.

Do-Rite Donuts: Our next stop on the list, Do-Rite boasts the freshest of donuts downtown has to offer - these delights are made to please in small batches. We went for the Valrhona Chocolate Cake donut, obviously more cakey and dense than our previous choice - this was Marco's front-runner. Looking for a place that offers more than just donuts, well Do-Rite also serves up some serious fried chicken and had Marco contemplating a fried chicken sandwich at 10am. Check out the full menu here.

Glazed & Infused: Ok, I'll admit it at the scrutiny of all the Chicago donut fans out there - I never really understood the hype surrounding Glazed. Maybe I was ordering wrong or maybe it was the fact that they seemed to always appear at a morning work function in the past and we ate them out of their proximity. But alas, we went in with an open mind and empty stomach and I can definitely understand why they are a staple. Re-inventing the American donut is their mantra and with flavors ranging from the Nutella S'more to the Classic Sprinkle (what we snagged) - they are sure to please all parties. Check out the full menu here.

Firecakes: Looking for a frosted, glazed donut the size of your face? Well Firecakes definitely has those and no, you don't have to share. They also serve up mini sized versions if you're not feeling quite that ambitious. Their icing is my weakness, the perfect combination of sugary and creamy - this has always been a staple in Marco and I's donut arsenal. Naturally I went for the Vanilla Iced Glazed donut and savored it to the last bite. Check out the full menu here.

The Donut Vault: My absolute favorite - maybe it's the combination of their perfectly, charming decor or the fact that their buttermilk old-fashioned is out of this world. In my opinion, it definitely lives up to it's hype and I love that you can always count on their staple, go-to crowd pleasers (with new specials published a week in advance). Be sure to get there early because they sell out fast and add on the $1 coffee for extra kicks. Check out all the details here.