The Salty Donut

First time trying this place and my stomach is tore up from having this in the morning but that’s how I know the quality, dairy wise, is good. I’m lactose intolerant💀 I’m not too much of a fan of the donuts and the brown sugar donut was dry. REAL DRY. Poor thang fell apart when I tried to cut off a piece to share and water didn’t help as quickly as I needed it to. The cookies and milk donut (I think that’s what it’s called) was not my favorite taste wise but the chocolate glaze was good and the texture was thick and rich which was different from what I’ve had in a typical doughnut and it was honestly pleasant. I think I like that But taste wise, not a fan. Now that pistachio cannoli… hell yeah. It was my first time having a cannoli and it did not disappoint. Had me feeling like a Michelin food reviewer as I was talking about it to my friends. 100% recommend and I pray that this will be forever a selection at this place. But overall, I’m not really a sweets person, so often times I would ignore this place as I walk by and see some of the pastries they have on display, but I will definitely be visiting this place again at some point.

Cute donut shop with good coffee and good donuts. I came on a Saturday afternoon and they had about half of their donut varieties left. I ended up trying the cinnamon honey bun donut and a lemon ricotta donut, alongside an iced latte drink. The coffee came first and took about 5 minutes to prepare, and then the donuts were brought out a couple minutes afterward. There is plenty of indoor seating and the interior is aesthetically modern and fun. The staff is friendly as well. I really liked the honey cinnamon donut, it was soft and fresh. I wish the cinnamon flavor was a little stronger but overall a good donut. 8/10. The coffee was good, not too sweet but the espresso was recognizable. It balanced well with the very sweet donuts. 8/10. Overall would definitely visit again and try more of their offerings :)

The Salty’s story is cool, born from a 2014 Miami passion project that grew from pop-up to multi-city brand with a donuts-and-coffee vibe at its core. Charlotte’s South End shop opened in January 2023, and the company’s since leaned into a fuller café program here. My take? I know I’m in the minority, but I just don’t get it. Like some fast-growing brands, it can feel like coffee and lifestyle are the main product now, with donuts along for the ride. I’ve visited multiple times trying to find the hook that gets me excited to come back, and it hasn’t clicked. I’d rather see small local spots like OMG Donuts or Yummm Donuts get that same attention and “donut budget.” All that said, I get the appeal.. if The Salty was your spot elsewhere, having it in South End is nostalgic and convenient. For me, though, it’s a nice café with okay donuts, not a destination doughnut shop.

Like this place. Donuts are solid, unique flavors. Got the butterscotch crunch and the brown butter cake donut. Nice flavor on the donuts and not too sweet. Cake one was better than the yeast one. Got a drip coffee that was not great, watered down. Also got a croissant. All in it was like 19 bucks which is not an amazing value. Atmosphere is cute and donuts were better than expected. Overall I would go back.

Best donut I’ve had in years. Dough is the perfect texture, it’s rich and dense but soft and pillowy. Matcha and hibiscus lemonade were also really good. Staff are all really cute and helpful. It’s clean and has a chill atmosphere. Morning/noon sun makes for beautiful lighting. Amazing experience.

Classy little Vegan Doughnut Shop with a delicious selection of fresh doughnuts. The flavors are unique. The service is great. If you have a vegan sweet tooth definitely check this place out.

went here today with a group of coworkers for a behind-the-scenes donut decorating collaboration with dickel whiskey. we had such a blast, and the manager Antonio was so kind and generous, sending us home with extra donuts all around! the donuts are fresh and delicious, the look of the place is really aesthetically satisfying, and all the staff seemed really happy to work there too which is suuuuuch a green flag. I've worked in food and bev for over fourteen years and I don't know if I've *ever* seen such a clean kitchen. the "all-gender restroom" signs were the cherry on top of such a wonderful experience! my first time here and I'm sooo excited to say I'll definitely be back.

I had an amazing experience at The Salty Donut! I tried the Vegan PB&J, the gluten-free donut, and the Tiramisu donut—and each one was a standout in its own way. The Vegan PB&J was nostalgic and rich, with the perfect balance of nutty and fruity flavors. The gluten-free option was impressively moist and flavorful—not something you always get with gluten-free treats. And the Tiramisu donut? Pure indulgence, with layers of creamy coffee flavor that truly hit the spot. Whether you’re vegan, gluten-free, or just a donut lover, there’s something here for everyone. Highly recommend stopping by!

4.5 stars 5 star service! I called the morning of 11/26 to see if they had vegan apple crumble donuts available and they did! The staff member on the phone was so kind as I was trying to place a pick up order for my MIL to celebrate her discharge from the hospital post surgery but didn't know what time I would be able to come. She told me to place the order so that the donuts wouldn't sell out but that we could get them when we were free. I ordered 2 and they were so kind to give us a surprise 3rd on the house. That said, the donuts were soft and had a great flavor, albeit just a tad bit dry. Nothing a good cup of coffee or milk wouldn't fix lol. I also saw that they had lattes on their website. So I asked husband to pick me up the apple butter & Teddy graham latte. The latte tasted just like apple butter. So.. maybe I'm not a big apple butter fan? lol but if u are, go for it! I would come here again because you just can't beat great service, thoughtful staff and good eats!

The Salty's story is cool, born from a 2014 Miami passion project that grew from pop-up to multi-city brand with a donuts-and-coffee vibe at its core. Charlotte's South End shop opened in January 2023, and the company's since leaned into a fuller café program here. My take? I know I'm in the minority, but I just don't get it. Like some fast-growing brands, it can feel like coffee and lifestyle are the main product now, with donuts along for the ride. I've visited multiple times trying to find the hook that gets me excited to come back, and it hasn't clicked. I'd rather see small local spots like OMG Donuts or Yummm Donuts get that same attention and "donut budget." All that said, I get the appeal.. if The Salty was your spot elsewhere, having it in South End is nostalgic and convenient. For me, though, it's a nice café with okay donuts, not a destination doughnut shop.

Heard so much about this Doughnut shop in Charlotte. With all these unique shops in the area [mostly restaurants] I heard so much about their mini Keylime donuts and decided to check it out. But got there to late and most of their donuts were sold out. So I end up ordering Toasted banana milk donut [Gluten free], Milk & Cookies, Whipped lemon ricotta bomboloni.i My fiance loves his Toasted banana milk donut super moist, flavorful, very filling his donut has a good weight to it. Same as for my donuts I got for myself. The Whipped lemon ricotta was good after a few bites but it's a bit too much lemonly. But their milk & Cookies donut was freaky AMAZING!!!! The donut was springy and definitely flavorful on every bite. By far this is the BEST donut i ever had.

Let's face it, donuts are like pizza. It's hard to have a bad donut, because it's a donut. However, there are better ones out there, as this one just doesn't satisfy. The Salty charges a high amount and the product doesn't warrant that. They have a very aesthetic place in a very popular area, so they'll get foot traffic every day (free 2 hour parking validated in the parking garage too) but it's not a place I'd go back to. I'd rather have a grocery store bakery section donut or Dunkin for the better taste at a cheaper price. The service was good, indoor/outdoor seating is available, and there's a water filler station with glasses inside, however, I filled my glass with it and the water was cloudy so I dumped that out and ate my meal with no water. I also tried some sandwiches and French toast sticks. Sandwiches were very good, French toast sticks were way too sugary (I know it's a donut shop so things will be sweet but it was overpowering). Most people go for the donuts anyway.

Super cute spot right on the corner of Camden and Park. I stopped in after an early morning run and it's the perfect breakfast, coffee, and/or sweet treat spot. I got a salted caramel latte and some oreo cake donut holes. The coffee was really good and I definitely would come back to try the cold brew and the teas. They have a nice menu with breakfast, vegan, and gluten free options. The donut holes were delicious, especially with the coffee. It was pretty busy between people stopping in post exercise and people heading to work, but service was pleasant and quick. Comfortable seating area inside, and tables outside as well. I highly recommend stopping in!

I was craving a donut and decided to try this spot out. The restaurant is in south end and parking was a little difficult to find, luckily I found on the street parking across the street! Before entering, I could tell I would be waiting. There was a line to the door. There is an option to order ahead, but for the sake of the experience, I decided to wait. There is only one cashier, who was ever helpful and friendly. After ordering at the counter, you wait on the other side of the restaurant for your order. The restaurant was full of natural light from the ceiling to floor windows and clean. The staff was friendly as well. I ordered the half dozen donuts for $26 and two banana crème matcha lattes. The donuts and drinks have separate pick up locations right beside each other and separate people preparing the orders. My donuts were ready shortly after ordering. I had to wait an additional 5 mins for my drinks. I wasn't aware of this earlier, but no sugar is added to the drinks. This would have been nice to know up front. However there are sugar packets available. I already left the restaurant before I came to this realization. In my half dozen order, I ordered the milk and cookies, brown butter and salt, mixed berry cheesecake, lemon ricotta, traditional, and tiramisu donuts. They were all delicious with brown butter and salt and lemon ricotta being my FAVORITES! I probably wouldn't order the milk and cookies donut again; however, if you're a fudge/chocolate lover...you'll love it! I will be back!

I was visiting Charlotte with my husband and we're always on the hunt for a good coffee shop. This place was one of the top options on Yelp and it was only a few minutes away from our hotel. We ordered the Cinnamon Cereal Milk latte and the Vanilla Bean latte. Both drinks were good, but I loved the Cereal Milk latte a lot more! We also got donuts, a cragel, and a croissant. My faves were the cragel and the seasonal Brown sugar peach cobbler donut! The staff were super friendly and efficient! There weren't a lot of people so there were several tables available. If I lived in Charlotte close to this location, I'd be here a lot!

The salty donut traditional glaze donut it is really big almost bigger than every donut that y'all have and it is really glazed and it has all the texture. It's not crunchy or hard and it's tasty. The service was really good as soon as we ordered it, we got it like 2-3 minutes later it was really quick and you made it that good and only that much of time.Also l liked how careful you was getting the donuts.I'll give this a five star rating.

Stopped by one afternoon for a sweet treat at The Salty Donut and holy cow was I blown away! During the week in mid afternoon and there was no one inside, but they still had a good amount of options to choose from. We got 4 donuts total 1) the Samoa Cookie which was just like the Girl Scout cookie, it had coconut caramel glaze with toasted coconut and a chocolate drizzle and then a layer of chocolate on the bottom. It was absolutely delicious! 2) the Milk and Cookies which was a sweat cream glaze with chocolate drizzle and cookie crunch. Another amazing choice!! 3) The Mixed Berry Cheesecake was quite possibly my favorite. A cheesecake filling and then a mixed berry glaze with graham cracker crumbs. To die for!! 4) last but certainly not least we got the Cookie Monster. Filled with edible cookie dough mixture, and topped with blue vanilla glaze and homemade cookie chunks and Oreo cookie crumbles, this donut was stellar. I honestly don't think you could go wrong with any of the options so do yourself a favor and go and get some!!

Donuts are common but The Salty Donut is rare. These are not the inexpensive mass produced ones you get at the Krispy people or the Dunkies people. These are small batch made and they're awesome. After my Candied Pistachio, I suddenly realized that I couldn't return home empty handed. So on the way out, I perused the display and decided that Mrs. K. would be enjoying the Whipped Lemon Ricotta Bombolini. Not cheap at $4.30 but wow, amazing. Yes, I was warned when offered a bite that it had to be a small one so I did so. Strong lemon flavor and just like my Candied Pistachio, perfection. The Salty Donut also offers traditional glazed, Samoa Cookie, Cookie Monster and Cragels. They have Vegan and Gluten Free donuts too! Note that the address is correct but they are on the Camden side of the building. There is two hour street parking in front and they validate up to two hours in the building's parking deck. [Review 65 of 2025 - 4040 in North Carolina - 23633 overall]

I had a Samosa donut here that made me see God. The moment I took my first bite, time slowed. Flaky, golden pastry crumbled in perfect harmony with the coconuty, chocolatey goodness, a symphony of flavors so transcendent that for a brief, shining moment, I felt the universe align. I ate it alongside my perfect coffee in the sunroom, where the light poured in like a benediction, illuminating the sheer brilliance of what I held in my hands. If I never taste anything this divine again, at least I will know that, once, I did.

As a Florida native, I'm so glad Charlotte has a Salty location, but this location is not up to par. The service staff are friendly enough, but some of the donuts don't seem to follow the same recipe or taste guidelines from the brand. The ambiance is on par with other locations and this location is super conveniently located.

BROWN BUTTER SALT CAKE! That's the review. It lives up to every word, letter and syllable in its name! I came for both Cragels and when they were out of the jalapeño cheddar my life was changed. Seriously don't walk, RUN and get a few! I ate both and barely gave my husband a bite of our treats.

What a true spot of indulgence! If you love a true artisan cake donut this is your spot! I was downtown and picked up some donuts to surprise my husband He loved the different flavors and said they are very delicious. I got the apple , cinnamon and chocolate ones for me. Great service. Also a good spot for a coffee break

First and foremost, kudos to the bravery of The Salty Donut for the display of donuts at the front. I barely resisted plastering my face against the protective glass almost drooling at the gorgeous display. I had the chance to stop by and get not one, not two but three donuts/ pastries (I couldn't choose one) and an iced coffee. I chose the cheese and jalapeño cragel, the honey butter cinnamon roll and a croissant. They were all fan-freakin-tastic! The softness of the croissant and the cragel were unbelievable and both were buttery and full of flavor. They May seem expensive but if you've ever made these at home with real ingredients then you'll understand why they are pricey. I can tell these are top shelf pastries and no short cuts are taken. I did a disservice by no heating up the cinnamon roll but regardless, still amazing. The iced coffee was really good too and had its own strong and distinctive flavor but was very smooth. I opted to drink it after eating the pastries to not have a conflict of interest on my taste buds.

Love it, it's one of my favorite donut shops in all of Charlotte. The service is always great. And the donuts are delicious . I must admit parking is a challenge but the donuts are worth it.

The Salty as a chain is a 5, but I don't like this particular location for a few reasons... One being that 2 of the 3 times I've been the staff has been sort of rude. No greetings, lackluster energy and looked as though they didn't want to be there and we were bothering them by walking in. Today the service took incredibly long, we just ordered 4 donuts which should have been a quick grab. Also, the Salty in Atlanta seem to change up their donut selection quite frequently, but every time we come here they tend to have the same donut selection. The ambiance is pretty cute and swanky, one of the prettier buildings that Ive seen in the franchise. This is located in South End near downtown and has a parking deck attached to the building. The Salty validates parking or you can park on the street and pay .87 cents through the Park Mobile app. Definitely check out The Salty, I see a Ballantyne location is coming soon, and I hope they open a few more in the burbs. I hope that the future locations have more seasonal donut options and a friendlier staff - we are in the South people, get it together!

The Salty Donut absolutely lives up to the hype! The glazed donut (5/5) was a standout, and not your typical glaze. It had subtle vanilla notes that made it feel elevated, and the donut itself was super soft and flavorful. Simple but done so right. The donut holes (4/5) had that same delicious texture and flavor as the glazed perfect little bites. Tried the Milk & Cookies (4/5) as well, and it had a really unique flavor profile. Sweet, creamy, with just the right amount of richness, and definitely something different and fun to try.

These donuts are so delicious! My favorite was the chocolate whoopie pie one, but the key lime was also delicious. Highly recommend stopping in to try a few if you are in the area!

They never disappoint . All of their donuts are delicious. Service is always helpful and it's perfect for a cute coffee shop vibe.

Their chocolate gluten free donut was absolutely amazing!! Delicious. Cannot wait to go back against their device is very friendly and quick. The ambience is very cute and cozy a nice cafe for a code date or sit and study or read. Prices are good there is no parking however just like most businesses around it so street parking is available.

The donuts are delicious with Great service and very nice employees looking out for the community.

Stopped by for a sweet treat recently and really enjoyed these donuts! My favorite was the mixed berry cheesecake. It had a great balance of berry and cheesecake flavor. All of the donuts were very rich and super sweet. The staff were nice and friendly and the shop was cute!

Never disappoints! I love to take our out of town guests here for a sweet treat and some amazing coffee while they are in town. I also love how the flavors change periodically.

My experience at the salty donut was great!! I was looking for a place to get good doughnuts for a while with unique flavors so I decided to check this place out. I didn't stay too long-it was a quick walk in and out-but the ambiance is nice! They have outlets in case you want to go in and do work. I went at 2ish and there was no one sitting inside and working though, but you could if you wanted to! The server was very kind and friendly! I got the brown butter and sea salt doughnut. I love brown butter so I really enjoyed it! It wasn't too sweet or anything as well. Only thing I would note is the actual dough tasted a little stale? It wasn't bad at all though so I don't want to mislead! I still really enjoyed the doughnut, it was just a little dryer than I expected. I really want to come back next and try the seasonal flavors though!

My absolute favorite donut spot!! Order the salted caramel latte too, you won't regret it. The cutest little cafe with tons of seating and wifi. They also validate parking for 2 hours if you use the garage.

Nice "get you going" bakery & coffee spot to get your workday moving in the right direction. Modern aesthetic when you walk in & the storefront is welcoming along with friendly staff. I got the Strawberry Shortcake donut which was absolutely delicious but if you don't enjoy sugary breakfast then it's probably not for you. It's filled with strawberry jam, lemon cake & vanilla mousse, topped with a strawberry glaze & whipped cream. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The coffee was equally as delicious but fairly sugary as well (expected given my order). I got the Salted Caramel Latte & would absolutely get it again. Can't wait to try more of their menu!

This is a small coffee/donut shop. Normally I avoid this area because parking is so difficult but today I decided to stop by after church. I'm SO glad I did. It's dimly lit inside but there are lots of windows that light up the shop. There is a small area of just seating to the left as you enter. There are a couple of seats in the lobby area then a second small area of wooden seats outside of the gender neutral restrooms. Music is playing that gives a comforting feeling. They have street parking you can pay using Park Mobile. There are only a small handful of spaces available that are shared with other businesses unless you use the parking deck. In my opinion, Parking deck prices are a little pricey. That's the drawback unless you are within walking distance and don't need parking. Now for the food. The selection of donuts is plentiful. The size of the donuts is humongous! I took 2 bites and I'm done. But I'll save it for another day. They're fresh, tasty, soft and melt in your mouth. It seems that patrons come for the coffee as well as the donuts. They have varieties of sweets for the mild to the sugar crazed. If you're in the area and can get a park please drop by. The staff are very friendly and I'm sure can accommodate your craving!

Quick and friendly service. Freshly made donuts daily. Are more of a cake base but they have wonderful flavors to choose from. Coffee choices are great as well. Self service for water and putting your dirty dishes away. Paid street parking is available

It's fine? Cute shop. I found the donuts to be very over priced while the taste and texture was underwhelming. We did a pick 6 1/2 dozen. The stand out was the key like by far- such a delight. The banana foam latte was also yummy. The duds for us were a dry cookies and cream cake donut, brown sugar and salt donut that was also dry. The whoopie pie was good as was the cragel. I don't feel the need to come back but happy we tried it

The key to eating these donuts is to focus on sharing. A single donut is a task, but more than 1 is reckless. Better to share with 3 other friends that way you get to try 4 different versions. Service is warm and friendly. And the space is large enough to spend a few hours in. Parking isn't going to be good. Walking is healthier. Or the light rail...

First came to The Salty Donut in the spring with some new friends. The front door is really heavy lol BUT when you get inside, the interior is modern and chic - a nice place for a quick meetup! I went with the strawberry shortcake and the honey cinnamon donuts which were huge hits with me and my boyfriend that we went back later in the week to get the same ones again! Staff was nice as well :)

I (still) don't understand the hype of this place. The donuts are just average........& expensive ($4-5 each) The chocolate covered cherry cold foam latte is really good though! Donuts are meh. The milk & cookies is underwhelming and the white chocolate pistachio has no flavor and was dry :( Street parking & parking garage options. I did see a sign that they validate for 2 hour parking. So there's that.

"Been driving by this spot for a while, never realizing it was a donut shop. Finally stopped in for a treat over the holiday, and I'm so glad I did! As soon as I walked in, the mouthwatering scent of fresh donuts hit me--YUM. The guy behind the counter was super friendly and knew his stuff, even giving me a great recommendation. The Samoa donut was hands down my favorite! I grabbed a few to go, but ended up calling a friend to share because I don't need all those calories. . While I was waiting, I noticed it would be a perfect spot to work remotely--with plenty of light and cozy tables tucked away from the hustle and bustle. I'll limit my visits cause this place could be dangerous.

This place is really cute for a quick coffee and sweet treat. They get amazing light in the afternoons and the staff are kind! Parking is street or garage and they do validate the nearby garage. I got the chai iced latte and the cinnamon bun. They are reasonably priced in my opinion and it came out super quick. I would be back for sure!

Stopped to buy a dog donut and was disappointed that they no longer sell them. Not enough dogs came in. However they had a few in the back that they gave us for free. The help was very friendly. The donut displays look good, but I cannot tell how they taste. I just took some photos of the displays.

First of many visits! This place is a vibe - chill, quiet and friendly!! Will be back for sure to try additional donuts and beverages!

This place is all the things even when they didn't have what I wanted and with the amazing customer service I got with Asia and something new to try definitely a 10/10 recommend the salty still continues to owe me nothing

Picked up donuts on Sunday morning. The staff was very friendly and loved the display showing each kind of donut. The donuts had yummy bites but there were parts of them that were a little dry.

Cute location and decor. Came with a walking club and got to try some donuts with a discount. I've walked by a few times since it's conveniently located next to the rail trail. I really love their branding and display of yummy donuts. Also appreciate that there are options for vegan and GF. Not a ton, but they're offered. It's a pretty intimate space so it can get crowded pretty quickly, especially on a weekend morning. Our group ended up standing outside and waiting til the morning rush slowed down. There's a few seats inside and a couple of cafe tables outside. And you can always take it to go on the rail trail.

everything was amazing and they were very quick!! also the quality of their items is great!!!

like tasty donuts? fresh coffee? friendly service? got all that here AND some lovely croissant that have been made complete, as in round, like all the way round... but like a circle not a sphere and with cheesy shreds baked on top and flavor bits inside to make it even funner which is unusual as I mostly prefer croissant in the standard "narrow on both ends, plump in the middle, and just a tiny bit bendy" configuration to the exclusion of all others and yet here I am thoroughly enjoying this marvelous bit of baker-ing :-) stopped by on the way back from the airport to figure out where it is and how to get here and is it parkable and all the boring stuff like that in case I ever had reason to come down here for coffee and another donut or something... the case was about half empty when I arrived which was fine because, well, you know... recon. only wanted to sample the wares and I got a milk and cookies donut (which got me thinking about donuts-and-coffee flavored cookies) plus a small drip coffee black (which tasted a little off but wasn't actually off-putting. betting they use fancier coffee than I do and the overall 'betterness' probably confused my taste buds) not quite the best of times but still really good! so yeah, go ahead a get yer coffee and donuts and things that go with coffee or donuts here!

These are the best donuts in Charlotte to me! Every flavor I've had is good but the Samoa Donut is hands down my fav!

The pistachio cream chocolate eclair donut was UNBELIEVABLE!!! Delicious. Big enough to split but I wish I'd brought home 2.

The donuts are extraordinary! If you love yourself, you'll buy you some! If you love your friends, you'll buy them some! If you want to make friends of enemies, yep! You'll buy them some too!!

Very cool little joint. For my taste the doughnuts are a little much but very creative . Everyone was super nice and explained the different doughnuts to me (as well as telling me that the doggy doughnut was not for human consumption lol!). I left with a doggy doughnut for my pup and he LOVED it! Def recommend if you are out with the pooch for a treat and want something sweet for yourself as well.

Donuts were okay, I was a bit underwhelmed. The donuts with filling were tasty compared to the ones with just icing on top. Matcha wasn't great either.. paid about $30 for 4 donuts & a drink. Wouldn't do that again.. but I would get a donut every now and then. Staff was nice & they had cute little tables to enjoy your food.

Add vanilla to the cinnamon cereal latte. It was good but tasted a little funny. I really can't describe it but it did not taste like cereal whatsoever, I was expecting something else. Don't get your hopes up. Once I added the vanilla it balanced out the flavor perfectly though. The Brown Butter donut was amazing and the customer service was exceptional. All around 8/10

First timer here and boy oh boy did I enjoy my donuts and hot chocolate! The shop was clean and staff greeted me as I walked in. They had a great selection of donuts available in which I bought the milk & cookies and honey butter cinnabun donuts. Both were delicious! My hot chocolate was definitely hot and chocolate-y lol. It was perfect being that it was snowing outside. This was my first time patronizing this business and I'm impressed. I will definitely go back for more!