I’m about to give out a secret. Or rather several. Everyones “knows” that one of Portland’s Best Donuts is at Voodoo Donuts. It seems to be on every single guide to Portland, Portland Travel Guide, and “Best Of Portland” list that comes out. As such, it’s gotten very popular. The original store, despite it’s remodel with the larger front end, has huge lines that encompass the entire block pretty much all the time.

The line at Voodoo Donuts

So what do locals and especially savvy tourists do? We go to either Voodoo Too across the river. Or we hit up the Voodoo Doughnut truck in the Cartlandia Food Pod. Or… we go to one of the other great Donut Shops in PDX.

In alphabetical order, because trying to decide the best otherwise is impossible.

*Edit* The best has been found. I encountered them at the Beaverton Farmers Market. They are NOLA Doughnuts out of Lake Oswego. From their webpage: “Our dough is handcrafted over a three-day process using a layering technique commonly found in French pastry making. The result is our signature La’ssant Doughnuts with a great complexity of flavor, a deep richness and a crisp outer texture.

All of our doughnuts are made with the La’ssant dough except our authentic New Orleans style beignets that are made-to-order. Our doughnuts are available for online ordering but beignets are only available in-store.”

They were spotlighting a new one, based on a baklava recipe, a cinnamon walnut donut that is quite literally, out of this world. They also had samples of their apple fritter. Either of these donuts were the best I have ever eaten and blow anything else away.

Annie’s Donuts – 3449 NE 72nd Ave. The best if you’re wanting something early in the morning on your way to the airport.

Blue Star Donuts – Three locations, 1237 SW Washington St, 3549 SE Hawthorne, and 3753 N Mississippi. Described as “Voodoo for adults,” because of the Blueberry Bourbon Basil, Chocolate Ganache, Buttermilk Old Fashioned, and vegan options like the Pistachio Cake with Raspberry Hibiscus.

Coco Donuts – 814 SW 6th Ave. Donuts tend towards the old fashioned, but are light and fresh.

The Chocolate Ganache Donut from Blue Star Donuts

Delicious Donuts – 12 SE Grand Ave. Spotty corner at best, but home to solid fried dough.

Donut Queen – 5842 E Burnside St. Do you want a dozen donuts for under $5? Then come here.

Pip’s Original Doughnuts – 4759 NE Fremont St. Best for your late afternoon donut cravings.

Sesame Donuts – Five locations; 11945 Pacific Hwy, 2850 NE Brookwood Ave., 13500 SW Hall Blvd, 6990 SW Beaverton-Hillsdale Hwy, 22560 SW Pine Street, Suite A . Sesame started in an old Dunkin Donuts shop taking over a sorely lacking niche at the time. They still serve some of the best donuts in town though.

Tonalli’s Donuts & Cream – 2805 NE Alberta St. Basic donut options, with a few twists. Blueberry fritter?

And of course, Voodoo Donuts – Three locations; 22 SW 3rd Avenue, 1501 N.E. Davis St., 8145 SE 82nd Ave. – The original and most Portland of donut shops.

Honorable Mention (because it’s not in Portland,) for years, decades even, Joe’s Donut Shop in Sandy was the end all in donut shops. You stopped here before a day on the slopes of Mt. Hood.

So there it is folks, no need to stand in line at Voodoo for hours on end! Just visit one of the other great donut shops in Portland.