A Sweet Journey Through the City’s Finest
Portland is one of my favorite places to visit. It's just a few hours by train from my home in Seattle, so it makes for a great weekend trip whenever I need to get out of the house.
For this trip, I knew I wanted to find the best donut in a city that is often regarded as a great place for foodies. But, I knew I couldn't do it alone – so I consulted my friend Bruce (@Kametzer36) for his help.
Together, we took a short trip around Portland so he could show me some of his favorites!
No donut exploration in Portland would be complete without a visit to Voodoo Doughnuts. Established in 2003, this iconic shop is famous for its unique donut selection. They're also known for their line outside the door - and let me tell you, that line was LONG. Totally worth the wait though!
Once we got inside, I realized there were SO many more flavors to choose from than I originally thought! After a lot of deliberation, I settled on a hot cocoa donut (called Chuckles), with Bruce choosing his favorite there – the Mango Tango.
Bruce had no complaints about the Mango Tango (but he likes fruity flavors more than I do) so he gave his an 8 out of 10. For me, on the other hand, I felt that the hot cocoa donut just had one too many elements. I enjoyed the hot cocoa flavor, the chocolate drizzles, the caramel, and the nuts. But I think it would have been a lot more successful with mini marshmallows instead of peanuts. 6 out of 10.
2. Krispy Kreme
Okay, okay... I know that Krispy Kreme isn't exactly a Portland staple...
But I really wanted to go, haha. Thankfully, Bruce is a big fan of Krispy Kreme, too.
There are a few new flavors available right now because of the Olympics in Paris, including Crème Brûlée, Chocolate Éclair, and Raspberry & Vanilla Crème. So we Bruce and I grabbed a few. I got the Raspberry & Vanilla Crème, he got Chocolate Custard-Filled.
The raspberry donut was so much more tart than I was expecting (as opposed to the sweet and sugary flavor of a Strawberry-frosted donut), but the flavor was delicious! The vanilla crème was also pretty light but tasty. And the raspberry crumb added an interesting texture to the donut. However, I don't like things that are tart, so I didn't actually enjoy this donut. So I'm only giving it a 5 out of 10. Bruce loved his chocolate custard one though, so he rated it 9 our of 10!
If you’re in the mood for artisanal donuts that blend traditional techniques with modern flavors, Blue Star Donuts is your destination. Founded in 2012, this shop is known for its gourmet approach, using high-quality ingredients and inventive flavor combinations. And Blue Star comes highly recommended from nearly everyone I talked to!
I tend to have a very simple palette – I love vanilla, chocolate, and... that's about it. So some of the Blue Star flavors were a bit out of the box for me. But if there's one thing I can't get enough of, it's a plain Old Fashioned Donut. And Blue Star does them phenomenally well. I'm not sure exactly how they're made, but at Blue Star they have a unique square shape in the center – plus they're huge!
Bruce got a whole dozen donuts though, in a variety of flavors. Lemon Poppyseed, Strawberry Sakura, Blueberry Bourbon Basil, and Passion Fruit Cocoa Nib.
Based on the fact that he ordered a whole dozen, I think it's safe to say that he enjoys Blue Star! As I said, he likes the fruity flavors (as reflected in what he ordered) so he liked them all – but overall, the Blueberry Bourbon Basil donut was his favorite! Bruce gives them a 10 out of 10!
Tips for Your Donut Adventure
Go With an Open Mind: Don’t be afraid to try something new! Portland’s donut shops are known for their inventive flavors and unique creations.
Share the Love: Donuts are best enjoyed with friends. Grab a box and make a day of it, sampling a variety of flavors and discovering your own favorites.
And of course, I had to stuff him with some donuts back in my hotel room. If you want to see that video, head over to Patreon – don't worry, this video is completely free to watch without subscribing! It'll also be on Onlyfans if you'd like to see even more content that I have to offer.
ngl makes me wish I was from the states 😩
Cool
Not gonna lie, really jealous of your piggy friend being stuffed full of doughnuts.
I like simple flavors too, but im with yiur piggy friend at Krispy Kreme, custard filling and chocolate icing is my thing! I got fed those once by a particularly talented feeder and to this day, the sight, smell, and taste, equates to sex in my piggy brain lol. Thank you for sharing!
I also admire the very pale white saggy flesh of yiur piggy. Looks just like creamy and lumpy buttermilk. I'm quite jealous! Bravo, Sir!