Tempe's Best Donut Shops: An Epic Local Taste Test Showdown
Photo credit @readysetjetset
Discover Tempe's Top Donut Shops – We Take Our Donuts Seriously
National Donut Day falls on the first Friday in June – mark your calendar!
The Donut Competition
As local experts on Tempe's food scene, we pitted some of the city's most popular donut shops against each other in a sprinkle-to-sprinkle showdown – one of the year's most delicious competitions.
Our team eagerly volunteered for this tasty challenge, no persuasion needed.
Round 1
In the first round, we dove into creative favorites like Donut Parlor and Hurts Donuts. While fun designs catch the eye, flavor is king. We evaluated categories like Most Instagrammable, For the Brave, and Most Creative & Colorful.
Standouts included Strawberry Special K Cereal, S'mores, and Maple Bacon donuts. Donut Parlor, located in the strip mall on Elliot near Priest Drive, delivers exceptional taste despite its unassuming spot. Bring a variety pack to the office and watch your popularity soar.
Donuts make group projects and collaborations more enjoyable, right? Hurts Donuts, near ASU Tempe Campus, is perfect for grabbing treats on your commute – just consume responsibly and avoid eating while scootering.
Round 2
For a more structured test, we compared nearly identical donuts from two shops head-to-head. Our team went 'glazy-eyed' analyzing batter, size, and sugar levels – yes, size matters here.
We blind-tested Arizona Donut Company (on Broadway west of Hardy) against Boba & Donuts (off Baseline and 48th St. in Fry's Food Plaza). A sneaky switch in placements revealed consistent preferences, proving quality shines through.
Tempe's Donut Scene Delivers Every Time
From sugar highs to satisfied smiles, every shop impressed. Here's what our team loved most:
- Rachel’s Favorite: Chocolate donut with chocolate chips from Donut Parlor
- Toni’s Favorite: Sugar twist from Boba & Donuts
- Amy’s Favorite: Glazed donut from Arizona Donut Co.
- Alicia’s Favorite: Maple bacon from Hurts Donuts
Share your favorites in the comments! Tag us @tempetourism or #ourtempe in your photos.
Arizona Donut Company *Open 24 hours, delivers with GrubHub
1030 W. Broadway Rd., Tempe, AZ 85282 | (480) 968-1321
Order online for catering. Call for curbside pickup or GrubHub delivery.
Boba & Donuts
2700 W. Baseline Rd. #129, Tempe, AZ 85283 | (480) 773-6888
Call ahead for curbside or counter service to-go.
Donut Parlor *Delivers with GrubHub
1245 W. Elliot Rd. #103, Tempe, AZ 85284 | (480) 570-1900
Call for curbside or counter service. GrubHub delivery available.
Hurts Donuts *Open 24 hours, delivers with Postmates and DoorDash
2161 E. University Dr., Tempe, AZ 85281 | (480) 765-2101
Call for curbside or counter service. Delivery via Postmates/DoorDash.
