Flour, sugar, and hot oil are a magical trifecta that can produce an absurdly wide variety of sweet and savory culinary delights. Churros, zeppole, langos, beaver tails, Tibetan fried bread, and, of course, the humble doughnut.
I’ve been in a doughnut phase, and I just so happened to be working on a cruise ship that docked in Vancouver once every two weeks. Each visit, I’d scout out a new doughnut as a quick, relatively cheap treat to reward myself for making it another two cruises. And of course I’m going to share my findings with you…
Let’s dive into my ranking of doughnuts in Vancouver!
Curious as to why doughnuts have holes? Check out my deep dive HERE!
4. Lucky’s Doughnuts by 49th Parallel Cafe
Lucky’s Doughnuts serves up massive mounds of dough with a wide range of innovative, yet not intimidating, flavors. We’re talking options like mango passionfruit, not lavender sea salt. There are 4 locales in the Vancouver area, all located within 49th Parallel Cafe. Coffee is a doughnut’s best friend, after all.
I caught whiff that they serve up a peanut butter and jelly doughnut, and simply couldn’t continue on without trying one.
This sucker had a unique square shape with a generous coating of peanut butter frosting. One bite is all it took to reveal a vibrant jelly center that they somehow managed to get throughout the doughnut despite the atypical shape. The thick, not-too-sweet, peanut butter frosting paired perfectly with the slightly tart jelly, which is a surprise to no one. PB&J is a tried and true combo that always tastes good.
The doughnut itself was fluffy without being too bready. But to be honest, it mostly served as conduit for the the icing and filling.
I’m obsessed with this creation, and I understand why it’s hailed as one of the best doughnuts in Vancouver. However, the doughnut itself was more or less unmemorable, which is why Lucky’s is #4 on this list
3. Mello
Mello is a bright, light, and totally #instagrammable specialty donut shop nestled on the Eastern edge of Chinatown. They specialize in brioche donuts with an extensive selection of flavors ranging from matcha to salted caramel. We opted for a lemon curd and tiramisu.
The donuts themselves were what dreams are made of with a soft, pillowy texture that reminded me of Polish paczki. As for the fillings, the lemon curd was perfection. The lemon flavor was bold and zesty with the perfect pop of acid to compliment the rich donut. I wasn’t as wild about the tiramisu. I never thought I’d see the day where a doughnut wasn’t sweet enough, but alas, the coffee flavored filling was a touch too bitter.
Note: (Be warned… DO NOT stroll along East Hastings street to get there. We were absolutely shocked to see the entire street lined with homeless people who weren’t too shy about their habits.)
2. Their There
Their There is a trendy brunch spot located on West 4th in Kitslano. They have a delectable brunch menu with various breakfast sandwiches and eggs benedicts on offer. On my visit, I got the beef brisket hash which boasted poached eggs, brisket, and sauerkraut loaded onto piping hot tots.
I also got a cereal milk mochi donut, and it might just be the best mochi donut I’ve ever had. It was more mochi-y than bready with a epic chew factor. There was delightful vanilla icing on top and a generous sprinkle of cereal bits added a solid crunch. A top-tier mochi donut that I only hope my taste buds can enjoy again, and certainly one of the best doughnuts in Vancouver.
(Learn about the history of mochi donuts HERE!)
1. Lee’s Donuts
Lee’s Donuts has been dishing out fresh, decadent donuts since 1979. Alan and Betty-Ann Lee, the brains behind the brand, opened up the shop with a commitment to fast service with a smile as well as darn good donuts made with fresh, high-quality ingredients. Lee’s Donuts has developed a cult following over the decades, and now there are 10 different locales across the greater Vancouver region.
We’ve popped into the Gas Town shop a handful of times, and I’m yet to have a bad experience.
The shop has an overwhelming number of choices. There are over 30 different types of yeast and cake donuts with flavors ranging from honey dip (their most popular) to iced Maple (because when in Canada, eat maple!) Luckily, they have a 3 for $10CAD deal, so really you can’t afford NOT to get three different options to try.
Quantity doesn’t impact quality. The donuts taste unbelievably fresh and have a subtle melt in your mouth quality that’s as far from “too bready” as you can get.
On our latest visit was tried the dulce de leche, cinnamon bun, and maple, and each gets a *chef’s kiss*. My favorite was the cinnamon bun, which had a delightfully thick cream cheese icing. Jeremy was ga ga for the dulce de leche, which had a thick dulce de leche filing.
