While they may not help your summer beach bod goal, doughnuts will always put a smile on your face. In honor of National Doughnut Day, we decided to round up some of the best doughnut spots in the city. Did we miss your fave? Let us know below.
The Doughnut Vault: We know you are tired of hearing everyone swoon over this River North spot, but there is truth to the hype. Bakers at The Doughnut Vault create homemade doughnuts using only high-quality ingredients every morning, so the results are always fresh and tasty. They stick to some classic flavors, like gingerbread, old-fashioned buttermilk and vanilla glazed, except for the occasional "featured" doughnut, like the crunchy pistachio glazed variety sold on a recent weekend. Brendan Sodikoff, the man behind the Vault, recommends getting in line between 10 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. to score the sweet treats. 401 ½ N. Franklin St.Old Fashioned Donuts: This Roseland establishment's specialty are gigantic apple fritter doughnuts that literally melt in your mouth. The combination of cinnamon, apple, dough and frosting makes this economy-sized baked good something you should share, but won't want to.11248 S. Michigan Ave.; 773-995-7420 Dat Donut: More enormous doughnuts, only these are halo-shaped (very apropos since they are heavenly) and delicately glazed. Also try their lauded Boston cream doughnuts which are heavily doused with chocolate and filled with smooth and sweet cream. 8249 S. Cottage Grove Ave.; 773-723-1002 Artopolis: This Greektown cafe serves up loukoumades, a Greek spin on doughnuts holes. The warm and fluffy puffs are drowned in thick honey, sprinkled with cinnamon and topped with chopped nuts and sesame. 306 S. Halsted St.; 312-559-9000 Hot Chocolate: Chef/owner Mindy Segal has done it again with this dessert at her Bucktown restaurant. These small brioche rings (pictured) are coated with cinnamon sugar and elegantly presented with a small ramekin of hot fudge. 1747 N. Damen Ave.; 773-489-1747Dinkel's Bakery: This 88-year-old Lakeview bakery has everything you need to satiate your doughnut craving: chocolate doughnuts, glazed doughnuts, chocolate and glazed long johns, sour cream doughnuts, cinnamon sugar doughnuts and powdered sugar doughnuts. The cake doughnuts are golden and crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. Wash it down with a cup of their delicious coffee. 3329 N. Lincoln Ave.; 773-281-7300