The BEST donuts in Milwaukee! This is a quick service restaurant. They offer donuts and other breakfast items. I have had one of their breakfast pizzas in the past and loved it. Their coffee is really good too! I feel like that is not often the case with a quick service donut shop. You can place pick up orders online with a 24 hour notice. Otherwise, I recommend getting here early bc donuts sell out quickly! They have seasonal donuts available, so check them out online to see what they are offering. The ambiance is that of a quick service restaurant. Nothing fancy. read more

We were visiting our daughter for the weekend and stopped by Cranky Al's on our way out of town. It was clean and the employees were very patient while we made our choices. We grabbed a few donuts and hit the road. We had two long johns, a maple thingy and a glazed chocolate. When we arrived home an hour and a half later, we decided it was the perfect time for a sweet treat. All four donuts were delicious. It took me three days to eat my donut; it was still good on day three. read more

See all

I have been going here since I was 5 years old. Their donuts never get old. I got their crosonut and it was outstanding. It is a croissant and donut texture and it was the perfect mixture and light and fluffy and being able to taste the donut and the glaze. I could eat 10 of these. Best place in MKE area! read more

Cranky Al's - Donuts - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Wauwatosa, Wisconsin

It's been about a year since I was last here. In the past I was impressed with the quality of their donuts, but I have to say that this time I was underwhelmed. Could it be that my standards have gone up, or maybe it's the fact that I picked different donuts this time, or maybe their standards have gone down? I'm not entirely sure. What I noticed was that a few of the donuts I got this time were just not very good. They lacked flavor, character, and filling. Here are the specifics: Cruller: In Milwaukee the Grebe's cruller is king, so it's a hard act to follow. This cruller had very little icing. Apple Fritter: Where is the apple? There was no evidence (little bits) of apple anywhere that I could find. Filled Long John: There was only a small hole with a small amount of cream. The best part of the batch was the Bacon Maple Long John. Truly something to brag about. The others, meh. I don't mind paying a premium for a premium product, but unfortunately half of what I got was not a good value. read more

See all

Pretty good donuts. Was in and out quick. A little more doughy than I'm used to but the place was packed so folks in the area obviously love it. Didn't hang out much inside and was early in the morning before coffee so didn't pay much attention to the interior or decor read more

I don't eat doughnuts, because I cannot afford to be a big back, but sometimes, just sometimes, I cave in, and eat me a high quality doughnut. Key word is "high quality." Cranky's fit the bill for that high quality, sweet tooth tamer, doughnut. I had me a banana split doughnut, and I got the wife a Cranky Cheese Pocket. Fist bite tastes like heaven, the next dozen may take you there, but what a way to go! Yes, this doughnut is decadent, just look at it!! If you want to cheat on a healthy diet, this is the way to go. If you're going to cheat, you cheat with a 10, not a 3. LOL. Go check out Cranky Al's. The service is not cranky by any means! Very friendly and helpful in your choice of demise. The atmosphere is busy and full of people enjoying their delicious breakfast. Great place to check out, and when I'm feeling the urge again, I will be back to try other options. Until then, the beast is tamed, and the back is staying svelte. read more

Cranky Al's - The Banana Split Doughnut. Just look at her!! No more to be said. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Wauwatosa, Wisconsin

See all

It somehow escaped my attention that Cranky Al's has savory breakfast items and espresso beverages until recently. Cranky Al's is most known for the donuts, which are wonderful. They're a standard pick up for most birthday breakfasts in my house. But recently we stopped by for a little coffee and breakfast. They have a fun menu of coffee specialties and we arrived in the early afternoon, skipping the morning donut crowds completely. I got a specialty mocha and a breakfast sandwich. The sandwich was solid and the coffee delish! My dining companion got a breakfast burrito that looked pretty phenomenal. The prices were reasonable and we were even able to snag a table and enjoy some cribbage while we sipped. A warning that the lines are long on weekend mornings in particular. But, the coffee and donuts are worth it! Get to it! read more

Donuts are pretty big and they're really good! I like the lemon filled one. Nice mix of sweet and tart. Not too busy during early saturday morning. Servers work pretty quickly too. read more

Great local donut spot! If you're having a cranky morning, a box of donuts from Cranky Al's Donuts will absolutely cheer you up. I stopped by to pick up donuts for clinic and stumbled across this place--so glad I did. They offer a wide variety of donuts (as you can probably tell from all the photos), and everything looked fresh and tempting. Parking is street parking only, and mornings can get busy, so plan accordingly--or just park a little farther down the street. You can also save time by ordering online. Bonus: the breakfast burrito is pretty good too. They also offer gluten-free donuts, which is a nice touch. Overall, I highly recommend Cranky Al's for the fun ambiance and quick, delicious donuts. There isn't much seating, but it's a great spot to grab a treat for yourself or for the whole team. read more

OMG Great Cruellers and Samoas donuts. Cherry fritters are outstanding. Walk up counter service. Staff brings any breakfast sandwich order to you. There are tables for eating in with a nice specialty coffee or tea if you like. Simple, nothing fancy. People call in large orders for pick up. If you are not early, you may miss out on some delicious donuts. read more

The best donuts in the area - we love stopping in for a treat when we're in Tosa. Love that they offer tasty gluten-friendly donuts as well. The staff are always friendly and patient as we decide which ones to bring home! There is plenty of seating for those who want to dine in and enjoy some coffee or breakfast, though we typically take ours to go. read more

See all

I didn't actually get to go into Cranky's, ( I wasn't mad about it with the cold weather lately), but I got to-go doughnuts for decorating the tree with my family. We got two boxes, one with more plain and basic items and another with fun holiday doughnuts that are full of sugar! We also got a bag of gluten free for my brother. The doughnuts themselves are ginormous! The holiday ones were super cute with a santa, snowman, reindeer and more that the kids loved! They also had really good crawlers and long johns that are usually my go to style. The doughnut dough is out of this world! It is so fresh and light, and is perfect with a sugary icing that goes on top. The cake doughnuts are also delicious and perfectly moist, not too dry which is always something that I don't like in my doughnuts. read more

The best local donuts around! You can order online (ahead of time, not the day of) or in person. They have a large selection of donut types and always have new seasonal flavors or cute decorated donuts for certain holidays. They also have breakfast pizza, burritos, and breakfast sandwiches, as well as coffee. The breakfast burritos are my favorite, especially the chorizo! read more

Has been around for some time now. That should speak for it's self. You have to be doing things right to have staying power. They are a experience that should be tried when in the mood for donuts. read more

Some of the best donuts/doughnuts in the city. Very friendly staff. *whispers* but get there early in the morning because they sell out by 10:30am lol read more

Cranky Al's - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Wauwatosa, Wisconsin

Awesome breakfast pizza!! WOW!! Ready in 5 minutes!! Yummy donuts too!! Only downside, not A/C... unless it was broke that day?? read more

There are so many varieties of donuts to choose from and they all are delicious ! we got almost 2 dozen to share and everyone enjoyed them . the staff was wonderful and didn't rush and answered all our questions since this was our first time. Very clean place, i saw staff cleaning floor after a customer left to make sure no crumbs on floor. read more

I just want to say besides having amazing donuts, the service was above and beyond. My SIL slipped and fell and the an amazing staff member, with gorgeous red locs, helped her up and insisted on walking her to the car. We were in the car for a bit and the owner also came to check on us. I will also note it was all really genuine and not the "please don't sue us" attitude you might get from some businesses. I live out of state but if we are near there on a future visit, we will be back. read more

Cranky Al's - Cute box - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Wauwatosa, Wisconsin

Fast and excellent customer service. I went there on a Sunday afternoon and it was super pack. The line moves fast. The small sign above the donut counter was hilarious. Tasty coffee and donuts. read more

See all

Yum - these were some of the best donuts I've had. Stopped in on out way out of town and picked up some treats for the road: apple fritter, chocolate glazed, and double chocolate cake. I went with a veggie burrito and my husband did the meat lovers. While we waited for our food we decided we also needed to try the cheese pocket lol. The burritos were giant and amazing. Must have like 5 eggs in there and cooked to order. Easily customized to our taste. The woman helping us could not have been nicer. There are some tables but it is pretty no frills, mainly a to go spot. Will definitely be back! read more

Cranky's has the best donuts in town. I've stopped in many times over the years and recommend this place to all newcomers and out of town friends. It's to the point where if it's not a Cranky's donut, it probably isn't worth having (with a few exceptions). There's always a line snaking around to the door, but it moves quickly and the staff are friendly. They helped me with a box of specialty donuts (you can order letter shaped donuts a day in advance) and they were delicious. Cool ambience inside, painted black. read more

Cranky Al's - Donuts - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Wauwatosa, Wisconsin

Come here for the CRONUT experience. You will not be sorry you did! What is a cronut you ask? It's the best of a croissant (moist, luscious layers) crossed with a sky-high raised donut. Cronuts. Are. EPIC. Is it draped with heavy frosting? NO. Is it rolled in candy or cereal? NO. Is is stuffed with anything? NO. It is just layers and layers of delicious, delicate pastry enrobed in a light icing. Not too sweet, and just the perfect donut! read more

See all

Cranky's has consistent staff and consistent high quality donuts. There are places to sit with loved ones but most come and go. They sell out on the weekends so go early if you want your donuts. read more

Cranky Al's is hands down the best donut spot around. I get their donuts for work functions, personal occasions, and for a weekend treat. They never disappoint. read more

Love everything cranky Al's has! I highly recommend you go before 10AM to get the best selection of donuts. Also do not pass on their bacon egg bagel sandwich, it is one of the best in the area! read more

This is going to be my go to donut place! I was surprised there weren't that many options in MKE. So far these have been the best! I went 10am on a Sunday and there was at least 20 people in line! The donuts looked so good and they were the best I've had so far in the city. Their cake donuts are really good and I hope they have blueberry at some point. Raspberry filled was amazing and actually huge! The bagel sandwich I had was lacking though. Wouldn't get again, but would definitely come back for the donuts:) read more

Cranky Al's - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Wauwatosa, Wisconsin

See all

Line moved fast. The place was busy. The best donuts around. It's not like the chain donuts these are original recipes. I was able to get gluten free donuts which were a place. It's quaint inside but perfect for the place it is read more

First time here. Easy to find location off 76th street in Wauwatosa. We were able to park right in front so that was a bonus. The light up board was easy to read, but didn't have the choices of doughnuts listed, so you can't choose while waiting on line if you can't see the front case. The front is wide open with a roped line for busy times. The eat- in area was small, but you could grab a doughnut and sit in the window & watch the street and sidewalk traffic. It did echo in there so it was a bit loud when we went with all the people. The service was great, speedy read more

Cranky Al's - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Wauwatosa, Wisconsin

The best donuts!!! Unique flavors but also good classics as well! Obsessed with them. Also, great drip coffee!

Cranky Al's is a Milwaukee gem! I'm so grateful we live so close. This iconic spot will have people lined up for the best donuts in town sometimes well before they open - at SIX am!! And I can confirm it is worth it. Absolutely the best donuts I've ever had. Also, I'm obsessed with their breakfast burritos- specifically the chorizo burrito. I'm an addict! They also have lots of coffee drink options, so really there is something for everyone here. Very family-friendly. And just friendly in general! I have to give a special shout-out for the next level customer service from my last visit. First of all I was "that person" with lots of substitutions and add ons to my order and I kept apologizing to the cashier and she genuinely was unbothered and very kind (and got my order 100% right in spite of all the changes I asked for!). PLUS, I was a complete spaz and left my purse there and didn't realize it for at least a full hour. I called in a panic to see if it was still there and the girls working there said they were so worried and not sure how to get ahold of me! They had it set aside for me safe and sound, and everything was in tact. Its hard to feel safe in many public places in this world unfortunately, but I love that this is the culture that cranky Al's is creating in our neighborhood and proud to be their neighbors (and biggest fan :) read more

It was a coworker's birthday and I wanted to grab a sweet treat for the office! Cranky Al's was right around the corner, so I placed an order the morning before and thank goodness I did! They sell out very quickly, so I highly recommend ordering the day before (I believe you have to order by noon the day before!). The donuts were super tasty and definitely a hit! They have a bunch of fun flavors (there's one with gummy bears on top that I sadly didn't order). They also offer a variety of food options and drinks as well and can also do custom orders (I've been eyeing the giant donut cake haha)! I'll definitely be back for more donuts & coffee next time! read more

Cranky Al's - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Wauwatosa, Wisconsin

See all

Customer Service 5/5 - Friendly and helpful staff. Food 4.5/5 - Breakfast sandwiches and donuts both freshly made daily. The donuts (I've had the Bavarian, cheese triangle, and peanut butter cream filled) are fantastic! Value 4/5 - Prices are pretty average for the area. Ambiance 5/5 - Nice little corner spot with large windows, simple decorations, and natural lighting. read more

Highlights 1. Gluten-Friendly Options 2. Fast Service 3. Delicious Food I had always been curious about Cranky Al's so finally made the trip to Wauwatosa late on a Sunday morning for breakfast. I had been craving a gluten-friendly (gluten-free but made in the same kitchen!!) doughnut for a long time and was so excited to see they had multiple varieties of GF. I got one of each which was chocolate frosted, a vanilla frosted and a cinnamon. These were worth the wait!! Perfectly soft and doughy. I grabbed a bacon, sausage and cheese bagel sandwich first by husband which he said was excellent. I arrived around 11am so I was able to walk up and order right away but I did see they had stanchions up so I assume at peak hours this gets pretty busy. 10/10 would highly recommend for dining in (very casual, pick a number and seat yourself vibe) or carrying out! read more

Cranky Al's - All of these are gluten-friendly!!!! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Wauwatosa, Wisconsin

See all

coffee was decent, but otherwise had a terrible experience at what was my first (and will be my only) visit

Some of the most noteworthy donuts you'll find yourself picking up in the morning hours- they're a huge Tosa staple and the drift of fresh donuts that you might catch on a morning run only pull you right into the donut shop. If you're from Madison, this is pretty similar to Greenbush Donuts and people get just as excited about Cranky's donuts in Tosa! I've had a wide selection of flavors here and I would have to say all of them are phenomenal- cakey, moist, fresh donuts made daily. It hits the sweet craving you're having and what's super nice is you can pick up a coffee to go with it! Parking: around the corner and into the neighborhood Seating: limited, but there's a cute open sitting area across the street next to Rocket Baby which is perfect for the summers or fall nights! read more

YUM! Although my husband and I arrived late in the morning to have a wide selection of donuts we were still able to get a cruller and a breakfast sandwich. I was very pleased with the breakfast sandwich, fresh bagel and ingredients used. We will be back to enjoy some different flavors of donuts in the future :) read more

Cranky Al's - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Wauwatosa, Wisconsin

Been going here for a year now and I had nothing but positive experiences!it is quiet and chill and they have the best doughnuts in the Milwaukee area! The burritos are massive.employees are very nice and welcoming to read more

Cranky Al's - Cranky Al's burrito - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Wauwatosa, Wisconsin

I had remembered that Cranky Al's does custom doughnuts, so when my 30 birthday came up I decided I wanted to order number doughnuts. It was super easy to call in and order and they were ready for me when I came to pick it up. They were really good and just what I needed. While picking up the doughnut I also tried a breakfast sandwich which was yummy. I enjoyed the bagel it was on and will definitely be back when I'm in the area to try more doughnuts. read more

Cranky Al's - Breakfast sandwich - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Wauwatosa, Wisconsin

See all

How have I never left a review for Cranky Al's?!?! I've been here more times than I can count over the last few years as they're my absolute #1 go to for picking up breakfast on the way to work. I love the breakfast burritos from Cranky Al's. I mean LOVE. Usually I get the chorizo burrito and substitute the chorizo for bacon cause I'm more of a bacon, egg, and cheese guy, but leaving the burrito as it is with chorizo is a solid choice as well. When I'm feeling in the "healthy" mood, getting a breakfast bowl with eggs, bacon, chorizo, spinach, and cheddar cheese hits the spot too. Both the burrito and bowl are VERY well portioned. All of Cranky Al's donuts are fabulous, but my two favorites are the cheese pocket (a large glazed donut with mascarpone cheese inside) and the apple fritter. Given the opportunity, I would eat those every day. The staff is super friendly and does a good job keeping up with the morning rush. I look forward to seeing them as much as they look forward to the repeat business. read more

See all

Pumpkin OREO Buttercream Doughnut: Cranky Al's is a coffee/doughnut/pizza shop (sounds too good to be true), located in East Tosa (Wauwatosa for you nonlocals). One of their seasonal offerings this year is an agglomeration of three of my favorite things: doughnuts, OREOs, and pumpkin. The Pumpkin OREO Buttercream Doughnut (POBD) is a raised/yeast doughnut with jack o lantern orange icing littered with OREO cookie crumbles. If that's not enough, the POBD is supposed to be stuffed with more cookies and cream filling than candy in a fat kids trick or treat bag. Sawing my Long John in half like a slasher film victim, I was horrified to see not an ounce of filling in the center! This ultimately ended up not being too big a deal, as what I failed to realize was that the filling was not inserted on a single end, but on both ends. Long story short, the doughnut had plenty of filling, it was just disproportionately placed on both ends. This was a delicious tasting doughnut from the sweet filling to the buttery and pleasantly chewy dough. My only real complaint is they should either change the name or give a description of the doughnut on their website. Cranky's calls it a Pumpkin OREO Buttercream Doughnut, but there's no pumpkin flavor, making the name misleading (calling it pumpkin just because of orange icing is a stretch). As an OREO "Cookies and Scream" doughnut this is doughboy approved (5 stars), but as a pumpkin doughnut it's just okay (2 stars). My favorites from Cranky Al's: 1. Peanut Butter Buttercream 2. Nutella 3. Pumpkin OREO Buttercream 4. Cinnamon Roll 5. S'more 6. Hoytie Toytie Doughboy_Food_Reviews read more

See all