Let’s face it, a doughnut is undeniably delicious. The round-shaped pastry combines the best qualities of cakes and cookies; it’s got the fluffiness and glazing of a cake and the comforting satisfaction and people-pleasing quality of a cookie. And although the pastry is quite far-famed in the dessert category, it is nearly impossible to find a legit, crave-worthy doughnut in Bangkok – if you were to look over the franchised Dunkin’, Mister Donut and Krispy Kreme.
So to keep you in the know for the best places to get the best eats in town, we’ve curated a roundup of eateries we editors always go back to for our favourite doughnuts. Scroll down to see which one on the list would match up to your standards.
Featured image credit: Instagram; hero image credit: Unsplash/Elisheva Gohar
Brassica – Kankanit Wichiantanon’s pick
Dunkin’ Donuts is good but if a hand-crafted, small-batch doughnut is what I am after, I’ll head right over to Brassica. Famed for their fried chicken and doughnut pairing, the Nanglinchee haunt brings together two of the world’s most satisfying dishes to the city. Brassica serves up a spectacular 17 spice-speckled fried chicken with ultra-fluffy, yeasted doughnuts. But as for the cream-filled ones, I particularly adore the palm sugar filling since it’s got these well-rounded flavours without the jaw-aching sweetness.
Brassica, 76/10 Nanglinchee Road, Bangkok, +6693 596 2465
Open: Wed-Mon, 11:30 am-2:30 pm for lunch and 6-11 pm for dinner.
Holey Artisan Bread – Karn Chatikavanij’s pick
Holey Artisan Bakery’s sourdough loaves are ideal examples of what bread should be and taste like. But not only does Holey Bread know how to make a mean baguette, brioche, croissant, white and whole-grain bread, the bread-focused haunt also makes a great selection of drool-inducing desserts. The carrot cake here is to die for but what really steals the show is the Berlin-born pastries, the Berliner. Our style editor, Karn, whose nickname is Jam, particularly likes the Jam Berliner, where the fried dough is halved and stuffed with a dollop of jam and a cloud of whipped cream. It is about as pretty as a princess dress.
Holey Artisan Bakery, 245/12 Sukhumvit Soi 31, Bangkok, +66 2 101 1427
Open: Mon-Sun, 6:30 am-7 pm.
The Clucking Donut – Lisa’s Gries’ pick
Although many stop at The Clucking Donut for their umami-packed chicken wings and the gigantic Clucking Fried Chicken Sandwich (THB 220), our drinks writer, Lisa, only stops there to swoon over the glorious fried-to-order Butter & Salt Cake Donut (THB 75). Beautifully brown and showered in a brown butter glaze, the cake doughnut packs ooey gooeyness that will only warm your heart – and tummy – right up. Those who love a standard doughnut, the venue also offers up classic flavours like vanilla and chocolate.
The Clucking Donut, 11/33 Petchburi 47, 1 New Petchaburi Road, +6664 871 9002
Open: Mon-Tue, 11:45 am-3 pm; Wed-Sun, 11:45 am-7:30 pm.
KINU – Kankanit Wichiantanon’s pick
When looking for the best fuss-free, no glaze doughnut, KINU should be your move. The Ari’s staple doughnut shop is a guru when it comes to the French butter-enriched doughnuts spudded with crystals of granulated sugar. And thanks to the glaze-less situation, the melt-in-your-mouth dough truly gets to shine in its fluffiness. Those who love to check KINU out, be sure to get in line or call to order early since they only limit to selling 200 boxes of doughnuts (THB 100 for one box/ 8 pieces) a day.
KINU, 36 18 Phahonyothin Alley, Samsen Nai, Phaya Thai, Bangkok, +6687 462 6666
Open: Mon-Sat, 9:30 am-4 pm.
Daddy Dough –Alisha Pawa’s pick
If you ask a Thai person where to get the best doughnut, many would enunciate the name “Daddy Dough.” Noted for its uber-soft texture and the array of palate-pleasing glazes and toppings like Cappuccino, Tiramisu, Black Forest and Green Tea Twister, there’s enough reason to crown it as one of the best. Our newest writer, Alisha, likes her fried dough with a contemporary twist, so for her the Daddy Dough’s ChocChip CashewNut (THB 28), where the dough is bejewelled with crushed cashew and bits of chocolate chips, totally gives Daddy Dough’s top-notch dough the limelight it deserves.
Daddy Dough, 909 Si Lom, +662 635 0793
Open: Mon-Sun, 7:30 am-9 pm.