Doughnut or donut? Spell it however you want, the sugary snack with a hole in the middle is one of America’s go-to breakfast bites. Jacksonville, like most cities, is dotted with places where you can grab a chocolate-frosted and a cup of coffee, often without even leaving your car.
Visit Jacksonville has set up a which includes more than 40 spots around the city where you can check in to win prizes.
Here’s our baker’s dozen of favorites, steering clear of the big national chains you already knew about and stopping by a few new places.
The Donut Shoppe
1535 University Blvd. N., Jacksonville, (904) 743-1844
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When you’ve been making donuts for 60-plus years, you can get pretty good at it. Jacksonville’s Donut Shoppe has been around since 1962 and has been the city’s favorite for pretty much the whole time. It’s a tiny place, about 850 square feet, but can produce hundreds of dozens of donuts every morning. They offer about 20 varieties of yeast-raised and cake donuts and fritters (called “uglies”) and close the doors when the day’s inventory is gone. Oh, and leave the debit card at home, it’s a cash-only place.
Lukumades
504 1st St. N., Jacksonville Beach, lukumades.co/usa
The shop that shares a building with O-Ku is the first Lukumades outlet in the U.S. They make Greek donuts, which have no hole in the middle. The fried dough balls are served with the traditional honey and cinnamon,with crushed Oreos, white chocolate, melted hazelnut sauce on top or filled with custard or strawberry jam.
Greek donuts:Not your typical donut shop: Lukumades opens first U.S. location in Jacksonville Beach
Mochinut
11757 Beach Blvd., 415 Durbin Pavilion Drive in St. Johns, mochinut.com
Mochinut is a California chain, but new to Florida. They specialize in mochi doughnuts, which trace their roots to Hawaii and are lighter than what most people are used to. They’re made with eight small balls of sweet rice flour dough formed into a ring, then covered in frosting ranging from blueberry to black sesame.
Hawaiian donuts:New cafe brings new tastes to Jacksonville
Good Dough
1636 Hendricks Ave., (904) 527-1875, gooddoughjax.com
They make their doughnuts throughout the day using a brioche-style yeast dough that gives them a different bite. They rotate varieties in and out, so if you don’t find your favorite one day, come back the next. They also offer vegan doughnuts on Fridays, but they typically sell out quickly.
Old Soul Donut Company
11230 New Berlin Road, (904) 647-9112
Oceanway’s favorite doughnut shop can be a busy place in the morning, with customers stopping by for apple fritters, cinnamon twists, bear claws and Texas-style kolaches.
Old Soul:Donuts, apple fritters and a Texas twist: Meet Jacksonville's newest old-fashioned donut shop
Mini Bar Donuts + Coffee
10618 Deerwood Park Blvd., (904) 580-5795, minibardonuts.com
They’ve downsized from three locations to one but still serve made-to-order mini doughnuts in 18 flavors, ranging from chocolate and peanut butter to vanilla glaze and Fruity Pebbles. They also serve 14 varieties of wheat-free doughnuts on weekends.
Island Donuts
363 Atlantic Blvd. in Atlantic Beach, (904) 372-0577, islanddonut.com
The St. Augustine Beach favorite opened a new spot in 2023, bringing its pineapple Island Fritters and glazed Old Fashioneds to the Jacksonville area. They have about 30 flavors in the rotation, plus a handful of seasonal specialties, but typically have 12 to 15 available on any given day.
Island Donuts:Gourmet 'good old donut shop' rides a wave of popularity to Atlantic Beach
Cheer Donuts
5065 St. Augustine Road, cheerdonuts.com
Cheer mostly sticks to the classics — vanilla-, chocolate- and marble-glazed, twists, turnovers and vanilla-filled Bismarcks. They keep selling them until they’re all gone; anything leftover is donated to the Clara White Mission.
Cinotti’s Bakery
1523 Penman Road in Jacksonville Beach, (904) 246-1728, cinottisbakery.com
Cinotti’s is more of a full-service bakery than a doughnut shop, but they can still turn out a mean raspberry jelly-filled, Heath double-chocolate or red velvet cake ring. The key lime is a summertime favorite.
Fall favorites:Pumpkin doughnuts a family tradition at Cinotti's Bakery in Jacksonville Beach
Doughfee Donuts & Coffee
3928 Baymeadows Road, (904) 962-2241, doughfee.com
You’ll find everything from a plain glazed to a decadent ube cream-filled treat topped with cream cheese, but don’t miss the Kingston Donut Pops, which come on a stick studded with Oreos and Fruity Pebbles.
Doughfee:Gourmet donuts and eggrolls: New restaurant isn't your typical Jacksonville donut shop
Parlor Doughnuts
528 Beach Blvd. in Jacksonville Beach, 1524 CR 220 in Fleming Island, 585 SR 13 in Fruit Cove, 630 E. Twincourt Trail at World Golf Village, 3920 A1A in St. Augustine Beach, parlordoughnuts.com
We said we were going to steer clear of the national chains, and Parlor definitely qualifies as a national chain with more than 50 locations open and dozens more in the works, but they’re new to the Jacksonville market, opening their first location in 2022. They make layered doughnuts, which are crisp on the outside but fluffy inside. Try the French toast, churro or strawberry shortcake varieties.
Parlor Doughnuts:Popular doughnut shop opens fourth Northeast Florida location in a year
Daily Donuts
1513 Park Ave. in Orange Park, (904) 579-4248
“Homecrafted happiness” is the motto at Daily Donuts, which sits in front of Moosehaven in Orange Park. Most mornings, there’s a line as people wait for their apple fritter, cinnamon twist or classic glazed.
Duck Donuts
13820 Old St. Augustine Road, (904) 438-5665, duckdonuts.com/jacksonville
Duck had the misfortune of opening its first Northeast Florida location a week before COVID shut down everything. Doughnuts are made to order at Duck, and each one takes 5-7 minutes to make. You can order from a dozen or so “fan favorites” or go wild and create your own lemon/chopped bacon/marshmallow masterpiece.
Customize it:Duck Donuts opens first Jacksonville shop Saturday
