Three doughnut shops in North Carolina rank among best in US. Why fans love them
Whether you’re a fan of doughnuts covered in glaze or sprinkles, you might just find your new favorite place to indulge in North Carolina.
That’s because the state is home to three of the nation’s best places to eat the sweet treats, new rankings show. Here’s where the shops landed on the list from the review website Yelp:
- Hole Doughnuts in Asheville at No. 2
- Dough Joe’s in Winston-Salem at No. 35
- OMG Donuts & Bakery in Concord at No. 44
To determine the top 50 U.S. doughnut shops, Yelp said it studied ratings, reviews and photos that customers posted on its website over time. The feedback came from Elite users, who are active on the platform.
The rankings were published in mid-May, before the beloved treat will be recognized on National Doughnut Day. The celebration falls on June 6 this year, and fans have raved about the North Carolina doughnut shops month after month.
Why fans love the NC doughnut shops
Of the North Carolina shops that earned spots on the national list, Hole Doughnuts ranked the highest at No. 2. The business in the mountain town of Asheville said customers can see treats being made by hand before tasting them.
“Hole Doughnuts crafts each doughnut to order, sizzling fresh in the fryer and handed over still warm,” Yelp wrote in its report. “Their airy, crispy doughnuts are a revelation — especially the toasted almond sesame cinnamon, a Yelp Elite favorite.”
The honor might not come as a surprise, given Yelp also named Hole Doughnuts No. 2 in the country in 2023, McClatchy News reported. Fans have continued to praise the bakery for offering fresh treats and quality service, helping it earn 4.8 out of 5 stars.
Also landing on the list was Dough Joe’s, with Yelp describing the nation’s No. 35 spot as “a warm, woodsy cafe where doughnuts are made fresh to order and served hot.”
On the business’ Yelp page, popular desserts range from cinnamon sugar to chocolate glazed doughnuts. Some customers also shared their love for the coffee served at the Winston-Salem shop.
Rounding out the list of top-notch North Carolina places was OMG Donuts & Bakery at No. 44. Though the business has a location in Charlotte, the recognition went to the shop in Concord, a roughly 25-mile drive to the northeast, CharlotteFive reported.
Online, several Yelp users were fans of the traditional doughnuts, and some also couldn’t get enough of the apple fritters.
“With a name like OMG, expectations are high — and this hidden gem delivers with bold flavors and over-the-top toppings,” the review website wrote in its report. “From red velvet to Oreo crumble, their donuts are as fun as they are flavorful.”
Overall, the nation’s top-ranked place to eat doughnuts was Novel Ice Cream in Phoenix.
This story was originally published June 3, 2025 at 11:03 AM with the headline "Three doughnut shops in North Carolina rank among best in US. Why fans love them."
