Voodoo Doughnuts, Portland: America’s Best Doughnut?

There are a lot of good doughnuts out there, trust me, I’ve eaten my fair share of them.  When it comes to “everyday donuts”, you have your classics like Dunkin’, Entenmann’s, and the quintessential purveyor of hot and fresh melty delights, Krispy Kreme. Occasionally though you want something more, something special. You go out looking for the doughnut that leaves you wondering whether you just ate a doughnut at all or something entirely different.  You have to seek out that special shop that comes along and decides to push the envelope. I’ve found that shop. Heck in this case they’ve taken the old envelope, shredded it, burned it, and then scattered the ashes. If you haven’t tried a Voodoo Doughnut yet, you need to skiddaddle over to Portland, find the original location, and eat one of America’s Best Doughnuts RIGHT NOW!

So what makes me an authority on doughnuts? Officially? Nothing. Unless you count eating a LOT of them from all over the country, in that case, I’m your resident donutologist.

So what makes Voodoo Doughnuts special? Well, it’s the same thing that makes Grandma’s Special Thanksgiving Stuffing, or Mom’s home baked apple pie, so good. One word: Love! Dont just take my word for it though. Ask , Anthony Bourdain or Adam Richman and they’ll tell ya the same.  Not enough street cred for you? How about, Food and Wine mag or Bon Appetit? So what can you expect when you visit Voodoo Doughnuts? Well for starters bring cash and plan on waiting in line. This place is always busy. Once you get inside you’ll be greeted by lots of funky decor (typical of Portland) and a plethora of fresh made choices on their menu.

If the menu doesn’t help you (many of the doughnuts featured at Voodoo have pretty cryptic names) there’s also a large display case to help, or hurt, you to make a decision.

If you’re not sure what to order, the staff is super friendly and happy to make a recommendation. We decided to try two totally different doughnuts, and see what Voodoo was all about. Lauren started with their namesake, the Voodoo Doughnut. What’s a Voodoo Doughnut you ask? Well, take a jelly doughnut shaped like a little guy, pump it full of fresh raspberry jelly, decorate him in a fun and freaky way, then stab him with a salty pretzel, and viola, you have a Voodoo Doughnut!

So how does it taste?  We’ll ask Lauren after she takes her fist bite.

Do the words Voodoo Masterpiece convince you? How about bloody delicious! I believe her exact words went something like this “His sweet and sugary deliciousness made me want to seek out and consume his entire Voodoo clan! “. The Voodoo Doughnut had everything you are looking for in a doughnut kicked up a notch. It was excellent. Soft, fresh, and satisfying. When it was my turn to order,  I decided to try something exotic and mysterious. I took a look in the case found exactly what I was looking for staring right back at me, the “No Name Doughnut” had my name written all over it.

The “No Name” doughnut is a raised yeast doughnut, dipped in chocolate, coated in rice krispies, then drizzled with peanut butter.  I took one bite and I was hooked. First of all, the marriage of chocolate and peanut butter is a classic that’s hard to beat, but that’s not what made this doughnut so amazing.  It was the the texture combination of the soft and yielding yeast against the crispy rice that elevated the “No Name” into the doughnut pantheon.  I actually found myself contemplating whether this was a doughnut at all, or some new exotic kind of candy bar.