The Donut Stop

These doughnuts are made the old fashioned way-no shortcuts, no skimping. They were all really really delicious, but the cherry cheese tart doughnut was next level chef's kiss.

We are so lucky to live close to the Donut Stop. The donuts are so fresh and delicious and they have so many unique flavors. They also make donut cakes that are HUGE! As you can see, my little girl was absolutely overjoyed to have her own donut cake for breakfast 🥰

I gave The Donut Stop a try based on a video from the STL Donut & Coffee Tour YouTube channel. Oh my, I'm glad I did! I showed up on a Saturday bright and early at 4:30 am when they opened and was greeted by Tim. I picked out a dozen donuts to try and mentioned it was my first time in. He was super friendly and hooked me up with tasty looking selections. The apple fritter was simply the best I've ever had. It was the perfect combination of a soft interior with crispy edges and covered with the best tasting glaze around. The fried croissant was delectable as well. They also have a specialty called the cinnamon glob, which is also amongst one of the most delicious bakery items I've ever had. I started a fitness journey 9 months ago, and treat myself to occasional cheat days. Now my biggest worry is gaining all my weight back eating these delicious donuts. I tried 6 my first visit, and they were so good I drove 40 minutes round trip a second morning in a row to get 7 more when they opened the next day. This is one of the best donut shops in St. Louis! They're well worth the drive, I'm just lucky I'm an early riser and there's no traffic at 4 in the morning.

I drove in from North Carolina and made this my first stop. I had grown up in the area and getting donuts from here is one of my fondest memories. They never disappoint!! Great people and phenomenal donuts!! Can’t get donuts this good in NC, so I always make sure to stop in several times when I come home for a visit. Highly recommend!!

We love the Donut Stop! We have been ordering our kids birthday donuts from them for years. It’s a tradition in our house to wake up to a number donut on your birthday. Whenever someone on the phone takes my order, they are always helpful and thorough and I never feel rushed. Donuts are always ready on time and delicious. This year I was late to order my son’s birthday donut, I needed it for Wednesday morning and I didn’t realize they are closed on Monday and Tuesday. I started to panic and I sent a Facebook message asking about a number donut. They told me to just call their number and leave a message and they would have it ready when they open. They are truly the best!

Best fritters in town! Check out their additional varieties beyond the classic (and excellent) apple. Everything we've tried has been fresh and delicious, and the prices are good.

First time customer here!! Today is National donut day & I wanted to get donuts for my employees at B & M Fixers. A nice lady of 14 years working there greeted us and Jerry took care of us. It was the best customer service I could have prayed for!!!! Jerry was so kind in helping me get a dozen ready (they were almost sold out by 10AM!!!) he gave me a discount for being a first time customer and I liked their FB and found they had a secret phrase for a discount!!! This service was amazing, I will only get my donut in St. Louis from now on! 10/10 :) thanks Jerry for showing kindness!

Stopped in this morning before an appointment. Great service and fabulous donuts for an incredible price. Plenty of parking. Get there early, some will run out.

BEST DONUTS ANYWHERE PERIOD There is nothing comparable to their Apple Fritters, anywhere in the STL Metro. Plus, it seems to be a family operation. Every Saturday morning you have grandma and a couple kids running the counter, Dad and another kid baking, plus one more kid doing dishes way in the back. We drive 20 miles to get our donuts here. It is an inspiring place.

Donut galore! The place is so small, that is but a little detail! It is nothing to complain about because the donuts and staff here are fantasique!! I always get original flavors, I never want to try anything new which is too bad for me, but in my opinion the donuts were real tasty anyways! Not too sweet and has a delicious, tart softness to it. A real gem, all right!

Haven't been here in 30 years. Why? Because I am dumb? Everything is so tasty. Just like going back to being a kid again.

Great donuts, maybe it was an off day. They weren't as soft as I remember before. Not sure if I would get the glazed donut again, but the blueberry I will for sure.

Touted as some of the best donuts in STL - and awarded number one in Missouri - I had to make the trip! Greeted by staff upon arrival and helped swiftly. Huge variety - even the fritter choice was about 5 different kinds! I ordered a mixed dozen which could include any of their items! I was even given a small curtosy discount as a first timer. Very reasonably priced. Friendly establishment with great donuts - would love to come back and support them in the near future!

This place is a MUST try! We were so sad that we got there late in the day but they still had an amazing selection! The wonderful woman in charge felt like visiting family, she was so kind and made an effort to make sure our first visit was memorable! She went over all the donuts, told us about the shop itself and was just so genuinely kind. Also, we had all these between just 2 of us so we kinda spent the rest of the day eating them - can confirm they never once got stale. We ate the last one at midnight & it tasted just as fresh as the ones we had when we first got home!

Apple Fritters are the best ever !!! Service quick and easy with walk-ins A hidden gem !

To small the help suck and the donuts are not that good and the price is to high and you have stand in line forever

The Doughnut Stop is an absolute gem, and there's nothing negative to say about it. The fritters, whether apple, blueberry, or pineapple, are simply mouthwateringly delightful. Each bite of the deep-fried croissants is a true treat that I thoroughly savor. Surprisingly, the glazed doughnuts surpass those from Krispy Kreme by a significant margin. This place has won my heart over the older doughnut shops in the area; there's just something about their offerings that stands out. They even have those nostalgic old-fashioned buttermilk doughnuts, a personal favorite. While I used to be a frequent visitor, these days, I have to limit myself per doctor's orders. So, whenever I indulge, it's a special treat that brings immense joy.

Try the cherry fritter - I've heard they also have blueberry if you get there early! Bonus points for being right next to Aldi's- pick up some milk and get home quick to devour these! They also sell milk inside here.

I placed a large order (3 dozen) by phone and it was ready for pickup when I arrived (within the hour). The customer service was phenomenal. The donuts smelled amazing. The price for a dozen donuts was extremely reasonable. I highly recommend. This was worth the drive.

Delicious donuts! Old fashioned and cinnamon globs are a family favorite! Sprinkles change with the season and they do giant numbers for birthdays!

Best donut shop in St. Louis. The fritters are unbelievable. This is not low cholesterol and low sugar just 5+ taste.

It's been a year, so decided to give the Donut Stop another try. In the past, my favorites things to get there have always been their fritters and fried pies, and they had neither at 8:30am. No jelly donuts either. :( Was gonna give a 2 star rating due to selection but the cinnamon raisin glob I opted to try was good so bumping to 3 star. Guess I can't go there looking forward to buying something specific, and will just have to take the "Forrest Gump - life's like a box of chocolates and you never know what you will get" approach.

This place is a legit institution. All of thier pastries are executed in a manner that just soothes the soul. Each decadent bite of fried dough lifts your spirits in a manner equal to very few other legal activities to be sure. You e tried the rest now stop playing and get the best! Bsmith.

I'm afraid to share my favorite thing about The Donut Stop in fear that y'all will sell them out. The cinnamon glob is where it's at! It's basically a cinnamon roll that forgot what it was doing. It's a ball on cinnamon dough, fried, and then glazed. Get one for yourself for today and tomorrow, and then another to share with a friend. My last visit, they were sold out of cinnamon globs (probably because the secret got out when they were just voted best donut shop in Missouri by Food and Wine magazine) so the next best thing is an apple fritter. This day, they had a blueberry fritter complete with actual blueberries! Cinnamon roll was a bit dry, so not the best substitute for the glob.

Best donuts in the world. Try the blueberry fritter. My second trip to St Louis and this time I was sad because we weren't staying anywhere near it. But ordered Uber Eats and they were still as good as the first time

We were looking for a great home style donut place. THIS IS IT!!! I highly recommend this little place. We were headed to the hospital to see my grandson at Cardinal Glennon and we left here with 3 dozen donuts and everyone absolutely loved them!!! Service was awesome. Please spread the word of this amazing little donut shop. Thank you so much for making our trip a little better. Love and blessings to your business!!

Been going to Donut Stop since I was a kid and they have always had the best donuts in town. I have had donuts from almost every shop in St. Louis and some come close, but not a single one tops Donut Stop.

Social distancing enforced at this donut shop recently touted as the best donuts in St. Louis by Food & Wine. Definitely glad I tried it and they were delicious although the MOST delicious, that's always relative. I was hoping to try their talked about CINNAMON GLOB but they were out...hence the ding of a star...that and the fact that a manager giving directions to the staff had his mask down the whole time I was there. Give them a try and see if you think the are the best in the state. Taste testing your way around town for donuts is always a worthy cause.

STOP. HERE. We're making our way across country stopping at well-reviewed donut shops and THIS is a must stop. We unfortunately visited at the end of their hours which usually means leftover donuts. not in this case. fresh, incredible well fried dough with just the right amount of sugary filings. our favorites: whipped cream chocolate iced long john and the chocolate iced peanut butter filled! well done, Donut Stop!

Maybe it was bad choices but 3 donuts for $5 69 is ridiculous. Apple fritter was ok as was the chocolate cake donut. The third was a filled long john when I asked for a regular non filled. It was like biting into a huge sugar cube one bite and in the trash. On top of that there was a sliver of metal in the fritter, probably from the mixer. Needless to say I won't be back.

Another top notch classic donut shop in STL. Ask what's fresh and get that. I haven't had anything bad yet.

Rating: 4.2 Stars This was my first experience The Donut Stop. A coworker brought in donuts, and she invited me to try some. I had the Vanilla Long John and the Apple Fritter. The Vanilla Long John has solid flavor, and it was a bit denser than other Long Johns that I have had. The vanilla icing had a great sweetness. The Apple Fritter was pretty solid. I am not a big Apple Fritter fan, but there weren't too many options left for me to choose from. This Apple Fritter had generous apple slices. Ultimately, I would get it again. Frankly, given my love for Pharaoh's Donuts, I never would have thought to come here. I'd like to go here to get fresh donuts in my favorite flavors to compare this to other donut shops. Pharaoh's Donuts is definitely superior to The Donut Stop, but this is a solid option for sure in St. Louis if you need donuts.

The best cake donuts hands down. I've never had a place keep their donuts so moist and delicious. The real star: a blueberry fritter!! I didn't even know these existed...now I can't live without it. People in line had been going to this spot for 20-40 years and I can definitely see why. Yum

2021 update!!!! Shoot, I can't think of a better way to support a local business!!! Sunday morning donut run! Best donuts in St Louis still!!

Best donut shop in the entire world literally!!! They've been in business long before I was born and Im in my 40s. We've always had dozens of their donuts on the weekends and stopped in nearly every day for breakfast before work and everyone else at our Machine Shop does too!!! Hope their in business until long after I'm gone! No one makes donuts like this anymore. Really, there's nothing else like them!!!!

GOT MILK? Yes they do! The Donut Stop, on Lemay, is AWESOME! Hands down, the best donuts in the greater St Louis area. Warm fulfilling glazed donuts creamy custard fried pies cinnamon globs apple fritters ____ "Offering a dozen donut flavors is fine, but 103 -- the amount you'll find on this landmark menu is incomparable" We love this place. Nicest people working there, kind and welcoming. "For its pick for the best donut in Missouri, @thrillist went decidedly old-school, choosing The Donut Stop" - @riverfronttimes

Don't get it. Seriously, I do not understand all these 5 Star reviews for these donuts. I was not impressed. I stopped by when my favorite radio station was broadcasting live, expecting to be blown away. It didn't happen. I always judge a donut shop by their Chocolate Long Johns and the one I had here was dry and rather flavorless. It was chewy and a bottle of milk didn't even help. I think my second one was a Buttermilk type donut. This one, I took only a single bite and threw it back in the bag. Yeah, it was that good. It had to be an off day, they were slammed with a popular radio station in their parking lot. Next time I'm headed south to shop at Costco, I'll detour and give them a second chance. As of now, I think the donuts at TDS are just average. A Long John at QT is fresher and better. The staff was friendly and I liked that the young lady asked if I wanted my Long John plain or creme filled. Customer Service was good and they kept up with the busy crowd. I'll be back? - Everyone deserves a second chance. When: August 9, 2019 Why: 1st Experience - Radio Broadcast

Great donuts and great service! Very efficient. Large selection of donuts and donut holes. Not a place to stay and eat. No tables but nevertheless I'd go back again and again!

This is the BEST donut place in the world!!! I love the fritters and the nutmeg old fashioned donuts especially! Family owned and operated makes this even better!

I came to St. Louis to visit family. At the airport my wallet was lost or stolen, not sure. One morining a week into our trip I woke up earlya nd wanted to surprise the kids with donuts from a real donut shop. I borrowed a family members car and drove out to the Donut Shop. On arrival I realized, oh yeah, my wallet is gone. I gasped as soon as I walked in the door, even before picking out donuts. I said "im so sorry, I cant believe I forgot I have no way to pay. I lost my wallet." I had not picked out a single donut yet! I had only been in the shop 20 seconds. But still the owner said, "pick out whatever you want, its on me. Its my shop." I couldnt believe their kindness. I got a dozen donuts and the kids and family LOVED them. I was so appreciative of their kindness. Thank you.

There is no better donut shop in America. These are old fashioned, high quality donuts. The service is always friendly, the prices are reasonable. Donut Stop is an essential place to check off on a visit to St Louis.

I LOVE their donuts. Best donuts in town and I'm very picky. I haven't had a bad one yet.

OH. MY. GOD. If you want to try the best donuts in the world (at least in my eyes) you HAVE to go here!!! Literally melt in your mouth. As I type this review, my mouth is watering and now I want donuts. I love this place. My dad has been taking me here since I was old enough to eat donuts. I love telling everybody about this place and hearing what they think. And they all agree. My personal favorite is the glazed cinnamon twist. YUUUUMMMMMYYYYY!!!! THE BEST DONUTS EVER!!!!!

Wow!!! These donuts are amazing! Lots of options. I came around 9am and a lot had sold out but still many options. These donuts are so fresh, not super doughy. The donuts aren't slimy are stale. Prefect donuts!! Customer service is great too, everyone is very friendly! Definitely a must try!

Whenever we come from Milwaukee we make sure and stop for our donut fix! Always worth it

The best little donut shop you can go to. Always friendly. Great donuts. Good price.

Great doughnuts at a reasonable price! Quick service even when busy. Great place for Saturday morning doughnut pickup.!!

Good with friendly staff. Crullers were just OK. Apple fritter was a winner and other donuts were average but fine.

Simply an excellent place to get donuts. They do a great job on dense cake donuts that are moist with a glaze that is just about soaked into he donut too. And their krullers are so airy light. The cinnamon blob certainly lives up to its name. A softball size, dense blob of cinnamon dough deep fried and glazed. For me, it's actually a bit dry in the middle, but that's only because the deep frying can't get that deep to add the beloved grease - it's not actually dry, but just more like cinnamon bread at that point. Oh, and their cherry custard donuts are an entire dessert in themselves. Beautiful, heavily laden in both cherries and custard, tasty, and a work of art too!

One of the best mom and pop shops in the area! Been coming here since I was a little kid and I have never been disappointed. Donuts are made fresh every morning and staff their is super friendly! Would highly recommend for all!

Great donuts!!!! Wish they were opened 24 hrs. Fresh variety and owner is nice. I recommend everything. Not once has it not been fresh donuts!! And very well priced.

One of the best donuts places in the area. They have a great selection. The cherry cheese tarts and the apple fritters are a must try.

I hit the Donut Stop rather late on a Sunday morning. Their cases were cleaned out but they still had lots of donuts on the racks behind the counter. I ended up with an apple cinnamon fritter and a banana nut cake donut. The apple cinnamon fritter was very good but I didn't really taste any moist apple like I wanted to. It had a very nice consistency and glaze though. The banana nut donut had cream cheese icing on it. Cream cheese icing could never be bad. The donut, however, didn't have a lot of flavor and was a little dry. These donuts were good just not as good as St. Louis Hills Donuts or The Donut Drive-In. It's tough to beat those fiendish donut experts though. Happy donut eating!

The Donuts!!! I have been eating them my whole life. Custard filled donuts with chocolate icing my favorite.

Tasty but pricy! I think it was about $16 for a dozen donuts, which seemed pretty high.

Great little donut shop. Friendly folks, amazing donuts, and reasonable prices. On par with or better than John's and Pharaoh.

We had a lovely experience at the donut stop. The older lady was so sweet to us and told us a bit about the store. The donuts were soft and not dry at all. Very nice place. Will hope to be back!