Best Donut Shops In San Antonio (2025)

By Sara Branstetter | January 22, 2025

It’s no secret here, I have a major affinity for fried dough that’s been covered in sugar. And I love it all - beignets, churros, funnel cakes, and of course, the queen mother over all the fried doughs, the donut. Very few things in life are more satisfying than sinking my teeth into a warm, fluffy donut that’s been covered in the perfect glaze. If this perfect comfort food is what you’re after, keep reading, because I have compiled a list of San Antonio’s best donut shops.

Full disclosure: For the purposes of this list, I am not including any of the major donut chains – no Shipleys, no Dunkin’, no Krispy Kreme. Now don’t get me wrong, I like the chains. They sell donuts and I like donuts.

Krispy Kreme, in particular, is marvelous. I'm a fan, a BIG fan. The “HOT NOW” sign is enough to elicit in me a full-on Pavlovian mouth-watering response when I see it.

So I'm not anti-Krispy Kreme or even anti-chain, for that matter. I am simply pro-variety and pro-“what’s unique to San Antonio.” Sometimes it just feels right to step out of the chain box and see what options are available in the wide world of donuts. And San Antonio has some stellar local options, as well as a few not-as-major chain options which are great as well.

My list, which is in no particular order, has a bit of everything that can be found in San Antonio. Whether you want a basic glazed, an apple fritter, or an artisan white chocolate peppermint (that’s an actual donut flavor!), this list of San Antonio’s best donut shops has something for you.

ABOUT US

We’re Kelsey and Sara, two local foodies with a combined 29 years of eating in San Antonio, two travel books, and millions of blog readers. We adore local spots, rarely visit chain restaurants, and we aren't afraid to tell you the truth. After spending thousands of our own $$$ at hundreds of local hot spots, we're sharing the best with you.

San Antonio’s 10 Best Donut Shops

1. The Art of Donut

The Art of Donut has most definitely cornered the elevated donut market (is that even a thing?) by seeking to do exactly what its name implies – turn the everyday donut into an art form. And by all accounts, their vast selection of extraordinary flavors gets the job done.

The Art of Donut’s menu offers standard, rotating, and seasonal flavor options and is positively HUGE. On the day that I visited, they had 25+ different artisan donut flavors to choose from. A few of my favorites were the sweet pig with maple icing and caramelized bacon, the blackberry lime, and the chipmunk with Nutella icing and crushed-up Ferrero Rocher chocolate.

While certainly unique, the Art of Donut isn’t for everyone for two main reasons. First, the donuts tend to be on the denser side. If you happen to prefer an airy, melt-in-your-mouth, “eat 6 and still have room for more” kind of donut, AOD may not be for you.

Second…the price. Art in general doesn’t come cheap and that goes for artistry in donuts as well. Each donut is priced individually or you can buy a baker's choice assorted dozen for $32 - ouch! But if you are looking for hand-crafted, crazy delicious, totally unique, and high quality, the Art of Donut won’t disappoint.

Protip: To save yourself time and maximize your options, place a pickup order online 24-48 hours ahead of time. In doing so, you’re less likely to see that dreaded “out of stock” notice by your desired donut.

WEBSITE | 3428 N St Mary's St, San Antonio, TX 78212

2. Duck Donuts

Another flavor monster on the San Antonio donut scene is Duck Donuts. Duck Donuts landed in Texas in 2018 and with 2 locations in the Alamo city and more than 30+ options of made-to-order donuts at the ready, Duck Donuts is most definitely one of San Antonio's best donut shops.

Upon ordering, guests can watch as their donuts are coated, topped, or drizzled by hand with any countless combinations of toppings. I personally liked the Oreo cookie, the chocolate-covered strawberry, the pumpkin roll, the chocolate caramel crunch, and the blueberry pancake – which couldn’t have tasted more like a blueberry pancake than if I had been eating actual blueberry pancakes.

WEBSITE | Multiple locations

3. The Original Donut Shop

You may have seen me carry on about the Original Donut Shop before as they happen to be the home of some of San Antonio’s best breakfast tacos (toasted bean and cheese with bacon, be still my heart), but their namesake donuts are also JUST. PLAIN. PERFECT.

You can’t go wrong with a standard glazed or old fashion donut, but if you are feeling fancy, try their cream-filled, long johns, or apple fritters, which are arguably the best in the city.

There is limited parking off of Fredericksburg Rd. in front of the Original Donut Shop, but ample parking is located behind the restaurant. If you’re hitting up the drive-thru, be aware that the line often stretches down the road quite a ways, but you can avoid this by ordering ahead and picking up inside.

WEBSITE | 3307 Fredericksburg Rd, San Antonio, TX 78201

4. Snowflake Donuts

Snowflake Donuts is what most people think of when they think of a neighborhood donut shop – it’s quick, inexpensive, delicious, and super friendly. Their traditional donut choices as well as their kolaches are all pretty solid and pair nicely with a freshly brewed cup of coffee.

Bonus: Snowflake Donuts will whip you up a batch of super fun decorated donuts for holidays or birthdays. Check out their website for pics of their Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Easter, and St. Patrick’s Day donuts.

WEBSITE | Multiple locations

5. M&M Donuts

Folks in Converse, drop what you are doing, and head directly to M&M Donuts. Everything (and I do mean everything), is delicious. Glazed donuts here are on the lighter side while cake donuts offer a near-perfect texture. Don’t miss their signature cinnamon glazed donut with a perfectly balanced hit of cinnamon sugar running right through the middle of the donut.

WEBSITE | 9081 FM 78, Converse, TX, United States, Texas

6. Instant Donuts

Donuts, kolaches, and croissants – the trio of yumminess – are the primary offerings at Instant Donuts. As one San Antonio's best donut shops, Instant is beloved for its attentive and thoughtful service.

They offer an excellent selection of glazed and cake donuts with icings and flavors that change daily. I highly recommend their filled donuts as that is where they shine. I loved (loved, loved, loved!) the fluffy, glazed donut that had been sliced like a bagel and was filled with cream and strawberries. Yummers.

WEBSITE | Multiple locations

7. Grand Donuts

Grand Donuts is another “mom and pop” type donut shop with a loyal clientele and excellent donuts. And with prices that are exceptionally affordable, Grand is a great place to drop in for your morning coffee/donut hit.

Grand has a respectable variety of donuts to choose from, but I recommend the old-fashioned maple cake donuts which are shaped like a gear and taste divine.

WEBSITE | Multiple locations

8. Chacha Bedoy Donuts and Bakery

Chacha Bedoy is an unassuming gem of a donut shop. Located off of Babcock Rd, the bakery is a “blink and you’ll miss it” kind of place, so don’t blink, because Chacha Bedoy is something special with scrumptious donuts, low prices, and wonderful people.

While there, I sampled an apple fritters, chocolate with a raspberry-filled glazed donut, and a cinnamon apple and cajeta with a cream donut – and they were stunning, all stunning.

Bonus: Chacha Bedoy’s donuts are certainly must-haves, but be sure not to miss their pan dulces, pastries, and substantial variety of scratch-made macarons.

WEBSITE | 1723 Babcock Rd, San Antonio, TX 78229

9. Cake Thieves Bakery and Eatery - GF/Vegan!

Who'd have thought that one of San Antonio's best donut shops would happen to be a charming gluten-free and vegan bakery specializing in superfood ingredients? Not me!

Guests to Cake Thieves Bakery will have their choice of a few different donuts, muffins, cookies, cakes, and hot drinks. And while the selection isn’t exactly enormous, any options in this niche market are very much needed.

WEBSITE | 1602 E. Houston St., San Antonio, TX 78202

10. ST Donuts

Family-owned, ST Donuts, has hooked people with their friendly service and fresh donuts. ST offers a balanced selection of both traditional and unconventional flavors, as well as kolaches and breakfast sandwiches.

Their mini-kolaches, in particular, are a great savory addition to any donut order. Sweet and savory, donuts and kolaches, the perfect balanced breakfast.

WEBSITE | 9793 Culebra Rd #104, San Antonio, TX 78251

11. Parlor Doughnuts

Parlor Doughnuts recently expanded into the Alamo city with a location just near the Dominion. Parlor's take on donuts make them wholly unique among the best donut shops in San Antonio. They are all about the layered donut which involves layering dough and then frying it until it is crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. The product is something akin to a half donut, half croissant hybrid.

If this doesn't already sound amazing, Parlor takes it a step further with delicious flavors like Dreamsicle, Churro, Bourbon Caramel, and more. What you get is less a donut and more a whole dessert. Donuts here are dense and huge and make a great after dinner (or really anytime!) treat.

WEBSITE | 23535 I-10, Ste. #2102, San Antonio, TX 78257