I don’t know if Jacksonville is known for their donuts, but there are over 20 donut stores within a ten mile radius of Bolles. Each store promises unique treats that you won’t get anywhere else. But which store really keeps that promise? I tried five different donut shops to determine which one is the best.
Each store was ranked in four categories: vibes of the store, donut variety, presentation, and finally taste.
Mochinut
Hours: 12:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Address: 415 Durbin Pavilion Dr
Vibes: 6/10
Donut variety: 8/10
Presentation: 8.5/10
Taste: 8/10
Overall: 7.9/10
Flavors tried: Nutella Almond, Cinnamon Carmel, S’mores, Raspberry Drizzle, Taro Marshmallow, Reese’s Chip
Mochinut offers a unique kind of donut. They are still the normal donut shape but are formed into little balls that make pulling the donut apart to share very easy. Mochinut offers a large variety of flavors and definitely has the most unique ones out of all the stores I tried. The donuts were light, fluffy, and didn’t feel too dense like some donuts do. The store also offers Asian snack foods and boba. I gave Mochinut an overall 7.9/10. I think that the donuts were good and the store was cute, but I feel like the employees were the least nice out of all the stores which made it hard to rank Mochinut higher.
Shipley Do-Nuts
Hours: 5:00 am to 5:00 pm
Address: 12667 Beach Blvd
Vibes: 10/10
Donut Variety: 6/10
Presentation: 7/10
Taste: 9.5/10
Overall: 9.5/10
Flavors tried: Maple, Chocolate Nut, Stuffed Apple, Cinnamon Sugar
The vibes at Shipley Do-Nuts were immaculate. I don’t know if it was because it was the end of the day or because the guy working was super nice, but Shipley’s environment was amazing. The worker offered free food and donut recommendations. If you are looking for a more classic-style donut, Shipley’s the way to go. They have all the classics like glazed, maple, and powdered sugar along with several stuffed donut options. When I got there, a lot of the options had sold out but all the donuts I tried were fantastic. They tasted classic and were super light, fluffy, and airy. The Cinnamon Sugar donut was my favorite out of all the donuts I tried, and I definitely recommend it. Other than donuts, the store offers a wide variety of drinks and other breakfast foods. If you’re looking for a more simple classic donut head to Shipley’s.
Duck Donuts
Hours: 5:00 am to 5:00 pm
Address: 13820 Old Saint Augustine Rd Unit 141
Vibes: 9/10
Donut Variety: 8/10
Presentation: 8/10
Taste: 7.5/10
Overall: 8/10
Flavors tried: Churro, Chocolate Covered Strawberry, S’mores
The store was dressed to the nines with holiday festivities and had several different donut options. After putting in your order, the staff put on all of the toppings and decorations right in front of you so you know the donuts are fresh. All of the donuts I had were packed with flavor, especially the Churro one. In my opinion there is a point when it becomes too much cinnamon, and this donut dances the line. Each donut was soft and warm, and had frosting that complimented the donuts well. They weren’t the best on the list but they tasted good and the environment was festive.
Parlor Doughnuts
Hours: 6:30am to 5:00 pm
Address: 585 SR-13 N
Vibes: 6.5/10
Donut Variety: 9/10
Presentation: 10/10
Taste: 8.5/10
Overall: 8/10
Flavors tried: Campfire, Strawberry Shortcake, Turtle Cheesecake, French Toast
Parlor Doughnuts was highly recommended to me by several people. They not only had donuts but also sandwiches and several beverage options. Their flavors range from classic Honey Glazed to Strawberry Shortcake. The donuts are big and almost croissant-like, super flakey and topped with lots of garnishes. Overall I liked the donuts I tried. Each was unique and had a nice flavor profile. They were a bit big and hard to eat but the taste was good. I don’t know if Parlor would be my go-to place, but their donuts are good for a special occasion.
Dunkin
Hours: 5:00 am to 8:00 pm
Address: Several locations
Vibes: 6/10
Donut Variety: 4/10
Presentation: 5/10
Taste: 7/10
Overall: 6/10
Flavors tried: Boston Creme, Vanilla Frosted, Chocolate Glazed, Blueberry Glazed
Don’t get me wrong, I like Dunkin. Their donuts used to be one of my favorites, but after trying some of the other places on the list they fell short. I don’t know if it was the location or the time of day I came but the donuts were lackluster. The selection was limited and the presentation left something to be desired. The donuts taste good overall but they aren’t anything special. If you don’t have time to make the trek to a small owned donut shop, Dunkin is fine. But if you are looking for quality donuts I might not stop at Dunkin and find a local donut shop instead.
Overall, all the donuts are good. I think it is pretty hard to make a bad donut. But depending on what you are looking for there are different places to try. So next time you are craving a donut, I challenge you to pass up Dunkin and Krispy Kreme to go find a small donut shop. You might just find your new favorite.
