Pharaohs Donuts

Wow. I was skeptical when I walked in because to be honest the place is a bit run down and behind the counter was quite a mess, and there was a bit of smoke in air from something having been burnt... Anyways! Selection was pretty low, even at 930am on a Tuesday. I got the cinnamon roll and hot damn, it went right into my top 3 favorite donuts list! So light and fluffy and the best part was it wasn't overwhelmingly sweet. Perfect amounts of cinnamon and a nice thin glaze... The price was very reasonable, only $2 and change for something so delicious! I'll absolutely be back! Highly recommend trying!

Good for a fast snack! Enjoy self-made fresh donuts and more! Coffee was OK. No hot chocolate available, but cold one. Not expensive! So recommended! The inside look although could be better. Positive is, that you can watch the bakers make donuts! ✨️

We walked down to try these donuts before heading to the arch for the day. We got there early, and they still had a good selection of donuts. I had a lemon donut, which was really good, and the glaze didn't leave that weird film on your teeth like some other chain restaurant donuts. The cake donuts were also good and soft. Atmosphere was basically just kinda run down inside, bathroom was out of order and they didn't have any almond milk options. So I would suggest going and grabbing some donuts as they are delicious and walk to a different cafe to grab a coffee and enjoy in one of the parks around the city.

This little hidden gem in St. Louis is everything you’d want from a local mom-and-pop donut shop. The donuts were incredibly fresh and delicious, paired perfectly with a simple cup of black coffee. The shop has a slightly run-down vibe, and the area might feel a little sketchy, but that’s part of the charm – it’s authentic, unpretentious, and clearly loved by locals. The service was friendly and the staff are funny. For what you’d expect from a local mom and pop shop, they’re doing awesome, and I love supporting small businesses like this! Definitely worth a visit.

One of the best donuts I've had in a long time the original glazed melts in your mouth like butter(year after update) they have done a lot of remodeling to the store and still more to come but the doughnuts haven't changed still amazing we spent 35.29 for a dozen of bakers mixed 2 23oz waters(2.09 a piece) and a iced vanilla macchiato(4.50) if you are in the st.louis area I highly recommend you stop in and see them the stuff is supper nice

It’s the only place I’ll trust when it comes to donuts and fritters. It ain't a big claim! Don’t be fooled by the interiors. The place looks messy, I’ve seen smoke around the kitchen area, the staff is busy, but the donuts are every cent worth. We’ve been to several donut locations and always come back to Pharaohs. You just cannot beat their donuts. We’ve had their apple fritters, glazed, cream cheese, cinnamon, and everything in between and each one has been better than the one we previously had. They do give a free donut on the purchase of a dozen and we do that every time. We’ve been gypped twice, but that never stopped us from coming back. We believe it to be an honest mistake because the place is packed since they open their doors. Visit them and I swear you won’t go anywhere else.

Fantastic HUGE donuts. Came pretty late in the morning as donut shops go but they were making and pulling out fresh donuts. Super cheap, friendly staff. Probably my favorite cinnamon rolls ever now

The staff was very friendly and the donuts are excellent. The cinnamon roll is the best I've ever had. It could use some renovations but the taste and friendly staff make up for that.

We stumbled upon this donut shop by chance, and I'm so glad we did! The website listed them as closed, but we walked by and saw they were open. I mentioned this to the person at the counter, who confirmed it was just an error on the website - so if you're ever in doubt, give them a visit anyway! I tried a turtle cake donut, and it was pure bliss - soft, flavorful, everything you could want in a donut. I also grabbed a cinnamon roll donut for my dad, and he was so impressed that he started asking if they had a Pharaoh's out in Illinois! The staff was also incredibly friendly and welcoming, making the experience even better. Overall, a fantastic find, and I hope they get the website sorted soon so more people don't miss out on this hidden gem!

The first thing we were excited about was the fact they were open on Sundays. As soon as we walked in, we were greeted and felt very welcomed. We were overwhelmed. So many different choices, from plain donuts to fancy donuts with toppings stacked. We decided on a strawberries and creme, an Oreo, and we shared a maple long John. We were on our way to the racetrack and none of the donuts made it outside of St. Louis. Absolutely incredible, so light, and fresh. Very pleased with our choice! Will absolutely be back again!

The donuts were amazing! The best my girlfriend and I have ever had. We were in the area for the eclipse and stopped by St. Louis for a day. We have been talking about making the 4-5 hour drive back again to St. Louis just for this donut shop. The donuts were perfectly fluffy and sweet. The workers were warm and welcoming. They even helped us find things to do in the city!

Yum! I'm really not a donut person and these were great. Given the choice I would almost always choose a savory bagel over a sugary donut, but these donuts were brought to my work and I heard great things so I wanted to try one. We all loved them. Everyone in the office was ranting about how good they were. I tried a cream filled donut and it was fresh and delicious. It was sweet, but not sickly sweet like I sometimes find donuts. Very good, would try again.

Great Staff, Best Doughnuts In The CITY. Black Owned Too. It's Really No More To Say. Don't Walk RUNNN

Such a small but cozy place! We came here for breakfast and got an order of 4 donuts to share. We got the glazed twist, long John caramel, apple fritter and strawberry jelly! Our favorite was the fritter. The chocolate milk was super yummy and very creamy! 10/10 recommend. The guy helping us was really nice

I absolutely love donuts - and Pharaoh's is at the top of my list. The ladies working were pleasant although we didn't spend a lot of time in the shop. The glazed twist gave me just a little more glaze than a traditional donut and it was awesome. The apple fritter my date got was still warm! He devoured it. The blueberry cake was delicious- and a perfect midnight snack.

Downtown St Louis staple that's sort of off the beaten path but, centrally located near by the arch. You can tell this is a LOCAL business that's had roots here for years; this isn't a tourist trap. It's the "real deal" as Guy would proclaim if this doughnut shop was on triple D. Pharaoh's Bakery is an old school doughnut paradise located inside an old refurbished drug store. If you are looking for sweet treats early in the A.M. then venture to Pharoah's and leave happy. I was meandering a 1 mile radius around my hotel, directly under the arch, and came across a nondescript bakery while searching for a coffee shop, it'll have to do, I thought to myself. Then once I walked inside all my doubts fleeted from me and I instantly felt at home. The way a classic diner greets you and pulls at your heartstrings Pharaoh's provided me a sense of security- I knew I was in for a treat (quite literally) Waiting patiently for my turn, my nose was delighted with the smells of sweet dough and sugar. Once I was up to the counter I went with two cake doughnuts (my favorite) and two filled doughnuts of the yeast variety. My pick by far is the red velevet cake doughnut which melted in my mouth, the rich dollop of cream cheese icing was super sweet and authentic. If you're a cheesecake fanatic I would suggest the filled cheesecake doughnut that had a glazed base and was filled (not stuffed, there's a difference) with a piping of thick cream cheese filling. I'm not a fruit doughnut lover but my friend really enjoyed the sweet cherry filled glazed doughnut which resembled a Danish. There's no fru fru flavors here, the tried and true classics that's had stood the test of time reign supreme and if a old-fashioned doughnut is what you are after then an old-fashioned doughnut is what you're going to get. And sometimes a fried pastry for breakfast just hits the spot especially when it's served up with a smile.

Yes!!! Go...just go! We enjoyed all the cake donuts and fritters but the glazed donuts are the best I have ever had! They are similar to Krispy Kreme's as they melt in your mouth. So worth the wait in line!! Try them!!

The inside is built for a grab and go/takeout sort of situation. Despite the cashier was rushing me through my order since it was my second time there (I was perusing the case of options), the donuts I settled on were good. My friend spoke highly of the apple fritters and I understand why! It's the perfect balance of apples and diabetes. I red velvet cake donut was my second favorite from what I ordered. The custard filled one was meh.

Great quick service, good location! Easy parking. Fillings were all delicious and full. Donuts were soft and fluffy.

I just wanted to say thank you to Pharoh's Donuts for amazing donuts and service. I ordered today through Grub Hub and they were out of stock of the red velvet and chocolate cake donuts. Instead of cancelling my order all together, they sent me a dozen mixed donuts that were free of charge. Life has been very difficult and has come with many challenges lately. I cannot tell you how much this act of kindness brightened my day. Thank you so much. I will forever be a lifelong customer now

Got a classic glazed and chocolate long John and they were seriously the fluffiest best donuts I think I've ever had.

I failed to snap some pics before diving in to goods. This is a no-frills donut place. The standard varieties. I got there around 745am and got the apple fritter and a cinnamon roll. Both were really soft and tasted good. A little disappointment was that I didnt taste any apples in the fritter. Just seemed like another cinnamon roll. BUT.....i liked it. I will definitely be back.

I found this place because the truck was sticking out into the crosswalk and I had to peak around it to see if there were cars coming...there were, so back onto the sidewalk I went where I noticed that this was a place I had wanted to try out anyway! Apparently they've moved locations because I located a sign on another building, not far away. The storefront itself is a little dirty. I wanted to take a shelfie of the donuts, but the glass was way too smudged for that. I was there are noon and there were plenty of donuts to pick from. I got the cheesecake donut and it was so pillowy fresh. It's a simple glazed donut, with a dollop of cheesecake cream on top. It was delicious! The gentleman behind the counter was so friendly and helpful when I asked questions. Can definitely see why this place has been around since 1994!

Delicious donut place and friendly staff. Grab some breakfast sweets and then head over to the nearby gorgeous City Garden to burn a few of those decadent calories.

Amazing donuts, all of them, great flavor and texture! Helpful staff and on point pricing! Will be back multiple times

I'll echo what someone else already said...the glazed donuts were the best we ever had. They've got the freshness, the right amount of glaze, and the airiness they should. Really really wonderful.

Delicious donuts. Love the variety. Friendly staff, street parking but plenty of spaces on the weekend.

The Donut deities steered my morning walk through downtown STL into to this wonderful donut shop. I was just out to stretch the legs, and when I saw this spot, inconspicuous as it seems, I knew I had to pop in. I'm not even from St. Louis and I've heard of this, so I knew it had to be good. A quick vetting from their Yelp page and I waited through a quick-moving line and picked at random. It would be kinda nice to have some signage to tell me what's what, but at the end of the day, anything that's sugar-coated and fried is bound to taste good. I ended up picking out a few for me, a few for my friend: - Apple Fritters were the standout. We each raved about those, and they are MASSIVE. I couldn't finish it, but not for a lack of wanting to. It's a crispy-edged, soft-in-the-middle, gooey, cinnamony mess of deliciousness. - Blueberry Old Fashioned; always one of my favorites and this was no different. It's so perfectly fried that like the fritters, the edges are crisp and the inside is butter soft. The staff was efficient and friendly, and the prices amazing for how good they are. I'm raving about this and full disclosure, I'm not even really a "donut guy." I could take or leave most of them, but I'm certainly taking them anytime I'm near Pharaoh's.

THE donut shop downtown. Solid, no-frills donuts. Nothing crazy or artsy, just good/fresh donuts. Great staff, expeditious trip, yummy donuts. Thank you

I went there for the first time Saturday July 23, 2022. And I must admit, it was a WONDERFUL surprise. The smell of freshly made doughnuts was in the air. . I ordered a dozen of veriety doughnuts and every single kind become my FAVORITE. This may have been my 1st visit, but definitely not my last. I only wish I had of taken pictures of the doughnuts.

The donuts are a little on the heavy side, but very tasty and they're definitely made from scratch. I'm very happy they're located in the downtown area because eating places and dessert places are very scarce downtown now.

Absolutely Heavenly! Their seasonal donut with the strawberries and cream was divine and their glazed is so soft we tried the blueberry cake and a cinnamon cheesecake type one that were also very good, I imagine you can't make any wrong choices here!

We love to visit a new bakery or donut shop in each city or town we visit. I read the reviews and was excited to explore a new small business. We hate the big chains and love to support smaller, local shops. Unfortunately, Pharoahs did not live up to our expectations. We arrived at 6:38 AM to half empty cases and a "customer service representative" who was, putting it kindly, unfriendly. We picked out 12 donuts and headed for the door in hopes that the donuts would be better than the service or the ambiance (there was none). The draw to us was the old school donuts and the fact that they seem to do things the right way. Perhaps it was just a bad day but these donuts were disappointing across the board. Our biggest complaint is that the donuts are under fried and somewhat raw. The taste was average but unfortunately Pharoahs did not win a customer on this day. When we are back in town we will go back to Tony's. Until proven otherwise, their donuts are the best around.

My favorite donuts. The dough is incredible regardless the flavor. I almost always get a fritter but the cinnamon rolls are unlike any donut I've ever had. I pick them up for church every week and most weeks go by with son. I've tried about everything I've seen to buy and it's all good.

We decided to give this place a try while traveling. So we didn't plan to stay and eat there. However, my wife ran in while I looped around the one way blocks. She said, the place was small but people were very friendly. We ended up getting there right before they were closing too. Anyway, we usually try to check out doughnut, shops by their regular glazed but they were out. However, they had regular glazed twists which seemed a reasonable choice. We also had some blueberry cakes and strawberry & cream topped. Let me just say, these doughnuts, quickly got put on the top of our "some of the best" list!

The best donuts I've had in St. Louis. So light and delicious. I picked up a dozen for work and when I finally got to my office 15 minutes later, they were still hot and fresh. Definitely recommend!

I absolutely LOVE Pharoahs Donuts! If you have been here once you know why this black owned business has been a St. Louis staple for years! Definitely love their glazed donuts topped with whipped cream or other delicious toppings. Also love their red velvet cake donut! Can't go wrong with their yeast raised glaze which is yummy! People are always nice even when it is crazy busy! Check them out if you are in the Lou!

The Apple fritter here is the best donut I have ever had in my life. Truly amazing. Service is great and fast. Love coming here.

These were given to us by a friend who certainly wasted his money. The cake donuts were dry & had no taste & we don't care for filled donuts, no one ventured to try one. They were pretty but I'd rather have gone to Krispy Kreme. Ended up throwing them out to the raccoons that live under my porch. Think that says it all.

Located right in downtown St Louis. The unassuming Donut stand was open on a Sunday morning. I bought 2 each of the cake donuts- blueberry, chocolate and red velvet. I also bougth a dozen donut holes. They were so cute. They were in a box and outside it said "You deserve a donut." I bought it for my board meeting and not a crumb was left.

The donuts were so good. I definitely recommend stopping in and grabbing a dozen if you want a solid mouth watering donut!

Tried Pharaoh's to celebrate National Donut Day. Was not disappointed!!! The shop was simple, looks like they're still getting things together there as they recently moved. Hope they can move the cool Pharaoh's sign to the new location. Looks like there's a space for tables being worked on too. Staff was friendly and everyone wore masks and gloves. Some great options but not option-overload like a lot of donut places nowadays. Donuts were so good. I am not a cake donut fan but I really liked their cake donuts - actually more than the yeast donuts. My only critique is that the donuts were all similar in taste and a bit underbaked - very doughy inside. I would def go back!

My 6 guests posting with me this week say this place gets 5 out of 5 stars before they even take a bite. Two twist donuts- there so soft and just seem to almost melt in your mouth for it. The atmosphere is so positive with the staff openly welcoming you by dancing and singing with the songs in the background, along with the service being great. The prices are also good , definitely would recommend. Oreo cake donut- not your typical cake donut. It was doughy but not too doughy, it was perfect. The whipped cream and the crushed Oreos made it over the top delicious! Would recommend the oreo donut, the price isn't bad either. The atmosphere is right up there with the donut, wasn't mean or rude. It was welcoming, and if you are lucky they will sing and dance with you. Boston cream- very squishy dough and that filling tasted average but the good type of average, it reminded me of home. Definitely a safe option but still a good treat. White Chocolate- the atmosphere here is very nice and welcoming. Service was amazing thanks to the staff who welcomes you and vibes along to the music in the background. Donut was very good.

My husband and I have been looking for a new donut place since World Fair has been closed for months. We decided to give this place a try on a Monday morning at 6:30am. Like many other have commented, this place is a hole in the wall. There's a sign indicating the entrance though. There were 8 varieties when I went. 3 were variations of their glazed donut, twist donut (which is the same dough as glazed donut), cake with chocolate icing, cake with cinnamon crunch, old fashioned glazed, and apple fritter. We got one glazed, one old fashioned glazed, one cake with chocolate icing, and one cinnamon crunch icing. Price was $4.72 or so. I have to admit, we did not expect much out of the donuts. However, when we bit into the donuts, they were pretty solid! Cake donuts: the donuts melt in your mouth. Both were on point. Glazed: Husband hates glazed, especially Krispy Kreme's due to the fluffy airy bread-like texture. However, he loved this one so much he ate half of it. The texture is a cross between a typical glazed chewy donut and Krispy Kreme's. It sort of melts in your mouth and it was addictive. Cinnamon crunch: melts in your mouth and the cinnamon is not overpowering. Old fashion: again, melts in your mouth. I'm just very confused at how good the donuts are despite how shady the exterior of the place looks. I took off one star for the lack of variety, but may change if I go again and there's more variety to try. This may have been due to the fact that it was a Monday morning. Overall, worth the try!

The doughnuts are totally delicious and the best I've tasted. I usually pick them up myself, I took away 1 star because whenever I order through door dash they never get my order correctly. If I order a bakers dozen (13) I never get a bakers dozen. If I list my substitutions, they never get those correctly. Better communication is needed. But doughnuts are still warm when they arrive at my door

I love donuts, but I do not love these or the set up inside the store. I have had much better glazed, not terrible but the consistency of the dough was not to my liking. I would return to retry and the staff was nice.

Heck yes, Pharaoh's Donuts! We followed the rosy red Yelp reviews from our downtown hotel to Pharaoh's to see what all the fuss was about. We often are looking for donut shops that rival our own cities longs donuts, specifically the fresh and fluffy yeast doughnut. We tend to always order a plain yeast doughnut as the benchmark of a good donut shop. Essentially, have they got the basics covered before adding fancy toppings? Based on the reviews, it looked like folks also equally enjoy the cake donuts here so we ordered the cake doughnut topped with cheesecake topping and strawberries. It was a little too sweet for my liking but goodness that yeast doughnut was dynamite. It was extremely light, not too sweet and still hot from the oven. I will definitely be back for more the next time I'm in town. The staff was friendly enough and hustling to keep the line moving. It's an old school bake shop with no frills and very reasonable prices. Go have a fresh yeast doughnut on my behalf!!

If I were a songwriter, specifically the type who writes love songs, Pharaoh's Donuts would be the subject of basically all my music. Pharaoh's, you are my delightfully doughy muse. But seriously. Eating a donut from Pharaoh's is like having a dance party of flavor in your mouth. Your little taste buds are boogieing like they're in a 1970's discotech jammin' to some sweet sweet grooves. I remember the first time I hesitantly went to Pharaoh's to grab a dozen to take into work. It used to be in the corner, ground level of an dilapidated parking structure with custom window cling graphics that made it impossible to see if they were actually open. But one thing that still to this day lets you know they're open... the smell. OMG they kick out the kind of carbon emissions our world needs more of, donut exhaust. The entire block smells like you're walking through a King Kong® sized donut, and the enticing aroma begs you inside for a treat. (BTW their new location inside an old Pita Pit is MUCH more welcoming.) While Pharaoh's is consistently the best donuts on earth ever period, they do lack inventory consistency. You never know what they're going to have for you to scarf down until you get inside, but that's part of the charm of the experience. And honestly it doesn't matter because EVERY donut they make is near perfection. I've never had a donut from Pharaoh's and thought "Oh this is yucky." (Side Note: I've actually never met a donut I've never liked... hence my life-long battle with my bulging belly.) From long john's to Boston cream, each donut is like listening to another track on the BeeGee's greatest hits album. But like all great artists there are the crown jewels that built the empire. Donna Summer had "Last Dance." Rick James had "Super Freak." And Pharaoh's has the apple fritter. Read this as if I'm yelling it at you: IT. IS. THE. BEST. THING. EVER. Warm, gooey, flakey, sweet. UGH. I want one right now. Get there early enough in the morning and you get get them while they're still warm. That makes them even better!!

Came to St. Louis for business and got donuts for my staff and encountered the absolute worst experience ever she slammed my donuts. She was huffing and puffing I would never be back here nor my company ever use this place again- it is amazing to me that local businesses want your business but when you're there they don't want you there.

It was one of those days when i wanted something sweet before i go to work, and what could be better than having a . I went to Pharaoh's donut in downtown after a fail attempt to get the donuts from CWE due to delayed delivery. I gave it shot and it was worth it . The donuts were crispy from the outside and fluffy from the inside. The sugar/glaze/chocolate was right amount to make you come wanting for more. It is not oily yet not bland. What makes donut more special is sharing it with your coworkers and friends, and every one at work really enjoyed them. I thought i found my number one donut shop in saint louis but if you want an authentic taste of donuts, pharaoh donut is the way to go. Here's a Five

Stopped by here last weekend, but I showed up a bit late. They open at 6 am, so you can expect some of the more popular donuts to be sold out by 11. Nonetheless, there is no "losing" when you come to eat here. I was still able to try some cake donuts: chocolate, blueberry, and cinnamon. WOW. Once again, you can't lose when you come here; try anything and I guarantee it's good. Donuts this good should be illegal, but they're not, so let's party.

Unassuming Donut shop. Incredible donuts that were extremely fresh. The signature glazed donut was simply the best one I have had. The specialty donuts were great. I asked a TRUE expert if it had good donut's. The St. Louis Police Officer replied 'best in St. Louis'. A cop ALWAYS knows his donuts. I asked the person working there if that was accurate. She corrected him: the best in the STATE, she said emphatically. I am inclined to agree.

My favorite donut shop in St. Louis! At my work we take turns brining in breakfast on Fridays so over the years I have had the opportunity to try donuts from many different shops. Every time I walk past while walking to work, its hard to resist when you get a whiff of those scrumptious donuts baking. Come early for the best selection. The selection is pretty standard with your classic flavors. None of those crazy, over-the-top flavors here. My favorite is definitely the apple fritter. Crispy outside + gooey inside = yum!

Hole in the wall, very bare bones decor downtown. The service is personal, so it can be brusque, bright, cheery or grumpy depending on who you are talking to. The donuts are masterpieces, and exactly suited my taste. They are on the larger side, not little sugar bombs, but not flavorless puff balls either. They had a lovely texture, good glaze and the filling was not overly sweet, so I could actually distinguish the flavor components.

Stopped by to get donuts for my kids but ended up eating 2 glazed donuts. They have the best ever... hands down!!!

Just because there is a long line does not mean it's good. The donuts were not cooked all the way and were raw in the middle. The donuts that were cooked all the tasted like fryer oil. Very disappointed.

I had a high expectation about this place, looking at the yelp reviews. It turns out their donuts are okay. Nothing really special (they are actually bit dry) and too sweet (well it is in Mid west). They are reasonable and the topper donuts do look pretty tho.