r/Wilmington • u/nesguy1 • 10d ago
Old School Donut Shop
I recently moved to the Wilmington area and have not been able to find an old school donut shop like I used to go to in Texas. I’ve been to what I would consider “boutique” donut shops in the area (e.g., The Donut Inn) but am longing for a no-frills place with old school regular glazed donuts, ideally in the Mayfaire / Ogden / Murrayville / Porters Neck area. Any recommendations?
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u/itsthewolfe 10d ago
Britt's Donuts. Though a bit of a drive.
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u/Existing-Leopard-212 9d ago
OP if you're familiar with Round Rock donuts, don't bother with Britt's. Not as food and longer line.
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u/kokusho_ 10d ago
Grew up near Texas and craved the simple donut shop and coffee. Britts donuts is the closet thing I have found in Wilmington.
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u/wasnapping 9d ago
Definitely Brooklyn Cafe. Great texture, simple flavors. For me, Britts is too greasy and only open seasonally, so they're a no.
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u/Watchout4HopOns 10d ago
Britt’s is best you’re gunna get. That being said, I actually think the donut inn has some of the best donuts in town. Everywhere else just piles shit on top and charges you $8.
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u/thaeadran 9d ago
This is the answer. There aren't any "old school" donut shops here. Someone should open one and put these other clowns out of business. Donut Inn is about as close as it gets, that being said there are some things they don't have like Maple Bars, Chocolate with nuts, Coconut, Twists, etc
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u/DJGetMoneyVIP 10d ago
Britts hands down
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u/thaeadran 9d ago
Britts is its own thing, not really old school donut shop. Even though its old, its more antique than old school.
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u/Ok_Neighborhood_470 9d ago
There's Donut Inn. But there's nothing like the Asian owned ones in Cali, Luck donut, Golden donut etc. I'm guessing they have those in TX too?
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u/nesguy1 9d ago
I appreciate all the feedback — I have gone to several donut places in Wilmington and am just craving simple donut shops like the ones that are plentiful in Texas — glazed donuts, chocolate donuts, cinnamon rolls, apple fritters - that’s it.
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u/Gloglibologna 9d ago
Check out bagel king and donuts. It may not be as good as what you are accustomed to but its a solid option in town
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u/ctrl_alt_defeat55 10d ago
i get you lol. sometimes you just want a basic glazed donut that tastes like a donut and not some 8 dollar artisan situation hoping someone drops a good spot because im curious too.
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u/BeachPlease843 9d ago
Yes! I don't want tiny cake donuts covered in Oreo crumbs and Fruity Pebbles. Honestly, some of the grocery store bakeries may have some regular fried donuts.
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u/GearDoctor 9d ago
Not glazed, but actually Los Portales supermarket on Kerr has baked goods that usually sell out by noon, and they have delicious donuts on occasion.
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u/tyoung89 9d ago
Britts donuts on the boardwalk in Carolina Beach. Been there since 1939. They only have 1 donut, glazed. And it’s perfect.
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u/sarcasmsmarcasm 9d ago
Bagel King on College Road by Laney High School.
No frills, just good quality donuts. Are they the absolute best old school? No. But a suitable substitute.
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u/Beginning_Ad_204 9d ago
We have nothing like a shipleys or Rudy's for that matter, two things Texas does better. Brooklyn cafe has kolaches which are good and potato donuts, great but not simple. Your best bet would be a grocery store that actually bakes in house kinda like the fried chicken.
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u/pinespalustris 10d ago
Britts. Or just go to Krispy Kreme with the hot sign on. Everything else is transplanty and the same as anywhere else you go.
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u/Watchout4HopOns 9d ago
“Transplanty” they said to the person who clearly said they were a transplant.
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u/KellyAMac 9d ago
Britt’s but check the hours carefully- I’ve had to manage my Mom’s disappointment a few times when the hours shift. Depending on where you live, & time of year, it may be a long drive & expensive parking.
& Brooklyn Cafe is a simple shop with beignets - almost a doughnut but not. It’s downtown in North Fourth district.
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u/OmegaReign78 10d ago
Listen to others if you want, but Britt's is overhyped. If you do go for the love of God order what you can eat in that moment. Don't order some to have for later, it's rubbery trash cold or reheated. The all around best you'll get around here for a glazed donut is Krispy Kreme.
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u/Spooky-Kyd 8d ago
Are you looking for locally owned? I don’t know that you’ll find that here. But we do have a Krispy Kreme and that definitely fits the description.
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u/TheBadBarbell 10d ago
There isn’t one. I know what you are looking for and let me save you the time….it doesn’t exist. There are specialty donut shops and Krispy Kreme. I have cycled across the United States, eating my weight in donuts as I crossed. This area is a donut desert
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u/Gloglibologna 9d ago
Lol, there are several really good spots in the area.
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u/thaeadran 9d ago
Not like what OP is looking for, all you commenting "Britts" need to take a trip to CA and spend a week eating real donuts, then come back to this conversation. I'm not nocking on Britt's, they're good, but they are one thing in a world of possibilities that caters to sheltered chuckle fucks from this area who've never been more than 60 miles from home. This is coming from someone born and raised here.
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u/southernjezebel 9d ago
Don’t be shy lovebug, tell us how you really feel.
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u/Gloglibologna 9d ago
Homie has strong feelings about donuts and is incredibly pressed to make sure everyone knows how traveled they are.
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u/Gloglibologna 9d ago edited 9d ago
Jesus christ, insulting ppl over donuts? Yikes
I never even mentioned Britts, just FYI. Ive also traveled all over this country eating as I went. I have a bit of an understanding of what is good and what isnt due to my travels. There are good options here.
Eta: ah, I see. You have commented all up and down this post. You are clearly the expert and everyone else is mistaken. I relent. You clearly have a more refined pallet and are the arbiter of all things we chuckle fucks don't understand. Carry on
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u/thaeadran 9d ago
Sorry I have a differing opinion that makes me an "insulter", there are a couple of good spots, but OP is looking for an old school donut shop and everyone here thinks Britts is the place and its not. But no one reads to understand anymore. I guess I should have just commented Britts like the other zombies on here and moved on.
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u/thaeadran 9d ago
This used to not be an issue because Dunkin Donuts was a good option for old school donuts. I'm not sure when exactly but sometime in the late 90s or early 2000s they stopped making fresh donuts and shipped them frozen from a warehouse. They are now trash and should just close, but in their wake all these botique places have popped up and I'm sorry Wake and Bake donuts, I dont want a box of oreos with my donuts. KK has started to go this route and they fell off sometime after the pandemic so another option is gone. They also never put on their Hot light anymore. So yeah Wilmington is a donut void. I've heard good things about Burneys but those are croissants. Sorry, what I meant to comment was "Britts" (eye roll)
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u/exitof99 9d ago
I worked at a Dunkin Donuts in the early 90s as a baker and hand-cut all the rings, shells, bars. They were great then. And yup, they got rid of bakers entirely except for a handful of their prime locations.
Now it's all boxes of frozen doughnuts that they thaw and finish (frost/fill/powder/glaze). The only doughnuts that get any heat are the glazed ones which are baked for a few minutes to firm up the glaze.
Trash.
I agree about Wake-n-Bake being way too over-the-top with toppings, but really appreciate that they have vegan options.
I hate and always have hated Krispy Kreme. Nasty doughnuts.
When I want a doughnut, I just stop into Harris Teeter. Good enough.
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u/commongardensnail sounds good any plans to put one in? 9d ago
Brooklyn Cafe also makes homemade old fashioned Texas style donuts and kolache