Last updated on February 27th, 2020 at 05:09 pm

As far as we’re concerned, donuts are life. Though, to be fair, that may just be because we have some of the world’s best donuts in Richmond VA. It’s a miracle we don’t have to roll around the world!

If you want to follow the crumbs we’ve left behind, we’ve listed the River City’s best donut shops and our favorite offerings from each below. Let us know if you give them a try!!

“New mysteries. New day. Fresh doughnuts.”
― David Lynch

Best donuts in Richmond VA: The locals

Sugar Shack Donuts

Sugar Shack interior, Huguenot Road, Richmond VA — Our local Sugar Shack interior

Type of donuts: Yeast and cake (downtown location offers gluten-friendly & vegan varieties)

Richmond neighborhoods: Southside, Henrico, and just north of the Fan District

Level of flavor crazy: Willy Wonka

Our favorite flavors: Samoa or white icing with Oreo pieces (Meagan) ;; Glazed or chocolate icing with sprinkles (Luke)

Sugar Shack and Richmond have become almost synonymous in the past few years. At every office gathering? Sugar Shack. At James River Cellars’ wine pairing event? Sugar Shack. We usually stop there whenever we’re about to head out on a road trip, and I used to stop by on summer mornings on my way home from the pool. And for good reason. Their comprehensive and ever-changing menu of flavors ranges from the safe (sprinkles, glazed, etc.) to the “oooo” (red velvet anyone?) to the zany (e.g. chocolate with Butterfinger pieces, gummy worms, or Oreos on top!). Wash those down with one of their tasty coffees, and you’re well on your way to the perfect morning. Or afternoon. Or evening. You get it.

Boyfriend Perspective: Their flavors change throughout the day and from day to day, with the exception of their most basic house donuts. So, your breakfast donut may be different from your dinner donut. Because we’re all adults here, and we can eat what we want… right?

Find out more about Sugar Shack, their house donuts, and their locations.

Mrs. Yoder’s Kitchen

Mrs Yoders donut size comparison — Donut-to-hand size comparison

Mrs Yoders donuts line at South of the James farmers market — Donut line at SotJ farmers market

Type of donuts: Sourdough

Richmond neighborhood: Food truck/mobile

Level of flavor crazy: Classic

Our favorite flavors: the only one they have! Whether it’s glazed or unglazed 🙂

Have you ever gone out on a rainy, disgusting, sticky morning to an outdoor farmer’s market JUST to get donuts? We have, because that’s how good Mrs. Yoder’s donuts are. This Mennonite food truck parks at the South of the James Farmer’s Market every Saturday morning, and the queue that forms in front of it can get a bit shocking. You’ll see why!

Boyfriend Perspective: Ever had an experience that SHOULD be bad, but it’s really, really good? One morning, everyone and their mom showed up to the Farmer’s Market for donuts and the cart ran out of glaze. So, they sold unglazed donuts to the rest of us at half price and gave us pieces that had broken off in the glaze bin. Sounds meh, but that was such. a. good. day.

Once you get to the window, you’ll be blessed with one (or 12?) hot, sourdough donut, fresh from the fryer, dunked in glaze, and hung on a wooden rack to drip. Let’s just go ahead and say “you’re welcome” for this recommendation 😉

Boyfriend Perspective: If you’ve ever had a fresh Krispy Kreme donut and think it’s mana from heaven, you’re about to have new religious experience. Unless you’re just holding on to Krispy Kreme for the nostalgia of it… and then I really can’t help you.

Find out about Mrs. Yoder’s Kitchen’s locations and hours.

Hot Diggity Donuts

Type of donuts: Sourdough

Richmond neighborhood: Manchester

Level of flavor crazy: Gourmet

Our favorite flavors: Rhubarb Agave (Meagan) ;; Chocolate and peanut (Luke)

Hot Diggity Donuts has only recently joined the Richmond donut scene, but we already can’t imagine life without them. While Sugar Shack may cater to the child within all of us, Hot Diggity is here to give mature tastebuds some gourmet donut joy. With seasonal sourdough varieties like Rhubarb Agave, Blackberry Cobbler, Nectarine and Caramel, and Maple Bourbon, you WILL leave happy.

Add to that, their ambiance is out of this world. Most donut shops in the area feel like cute neighborhood spots. Hot Diggity, all pink and aqua, looks like a seriously 50s-inspired diner – but with a boozy soda counter and all the diversity that era SHOULD have had. And yes, you heard that right – a boozy soda counter! Because, as if this spot wasn’t cool enough, Hot Diggity serves delicious cocktails with their donuts (for the 21+ crowd, of course). Bellini and a donut? SIGN ME UP. We’re so excited to see what flavors they’ll come up with next, and are already planning our next visit.

Boyfriend Perspective: If you ever don’t want a donut at a donut shop (because THAT happens), this is also the place to be. For savory tastebuds, they do offer bagel sandwiches and other snacks.

Find out more about Hot Diggity Donuts hours, location, and menu.

Best donuts in Richmond VA: The out-of-towners

Country Style Donuts

Type of donuts: Sourdough, cake, and yeast

Richmond neighborhood: Henrico/West Broad

Level of flavor crazy: Very normal

Our favorite flavors: Chocolate cake donut (Meagan) ;; Cream-filled donut (Luke)

Though you may end up a bit spoiled if you’ve visited the shops above, know that Country Style donuts are definitely tasty. We particularly enjoy their chocolate cake donuts, and both of us have been known to filch them out of a box at work before anyone else can get to them. Their apple fritters and sourdough offerings are also quite tasty. Basically, if you’ve got a donut craving that just won’t stop, this spot will definitely set you right.

Boyfriend Perspective: Flavor-wise, Country Style is pretty much standard. They’re not always our go-to, but we definitely won’t say no, either. Mmm… fritter.

Find out more about Country Style’s hours, menu, and other locations.

Duck Donuts

Type of donuts: Cake

Richmond neighborhood: Willow Lawn (based out of North Carolina, but a Virginia fixture, too)

Level of flavor crazy: Build your own

Our favorite flavors: whatever we feel like building that day!

If donuts were movies, Sugar Shack would be “Cinderella” (sweet and fun for everyone) and Duck Donuts would probably be “The Princess Bride” (absolute CULT following). While Duck is associated with North Carolina, it’s become a staple all around Virginia as a way to reach back to tasty, fun time spent in NC’s Outer Banks, a popular summer vacation spot for Virginians of all stripes. Its perky shops offer yummy donuts with all the fixins, and the counter staff will actually walk you through the process of customizing your own cake donut that gets fried right before your eyes. It’s basically Sweet Frog for donuts. How can you go wrong?!