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    Reigning Doughnuts

    4.5 (266 reviews)
    ModerateDonuts, Coffee & Tea

    Reigning Doughnuts Photos

    REIGNING DOUGHNUTS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Quiet
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Reigning Doughnuts

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    Half dozen. Chocolate glazed with sprinkles, vanilla glazed with sprinkles, cinnamon sugar, honey glazed, apple cider buttercream, powdered
    Laura B.

    Cute little window donut shop in Noda right off the main strip. Ordering was quick and easy, it's a limited menu so makes it simple. The donuts are made fresh and come out hot. I love the flavor and texture. They're difficult to eat bc the glazes kinda of just come off (but this is similar at other shops that top them fresh to order). I also think the prices are a bit high for the small size of the donuts, but I like the fact that they're fresh and hot. It's nice for a fun treat every once in a while!

    2 Honey Glazed Donuts, 1 Iced & 2 hot coffees
    Rosa O.

    We ordered two Honey Glazed Donuts and one Doggie Donut for our pup. Service was immediate and the donuts were sweet, crispy, and had a denseness and color that reminded me a bit of cornbread...I loved it. The coffee however, wasn't anything to ride home about. But if you're looking for something fast in NoDa, it does the trick.

    Rick T.

    Great lemon poppy seed donut !!! Was absolutely delicious I will be back when visiting Charlotte.

    Bruce J.

    Made fresh to order, and very good happy service. How have I not been here sooner!? Parking was a little challenging, but otherwise so glad I stopped by. EXCELLENT!

    Plain glazed Doughnut
    Caroline F.

    This place rocks! I was hesitant to try them since I prefer yeast donuts. However, this was probably the best cake donut I've ever had. Almost like the consistency of Duck Donuts yet WAY better. I went with plain glazed since I'm not a huge fan of frosting. It was served warm and made to order. I might have to try the flavors now!

    Deborah P.

    Absolutely love the area that this donut shop is in. We walked right up to the door was greeted by friendly service and we ordered two donuts, one chocolate, one cinnamon and a cup of coffee. The two donuts came out piping hot and we're so delicious. The coffee was OK but went perfect with the donuts. The vibe of the place is great and it's nice to sit on the street and people watch. Glad we found this place.

    Rachel P.

    Not the best donuts I've had by any means, but we still enjoyed them. We were recommended the lox donut, which was super interesting and I'm glad we got it. Also ordered the cinnamon apple and the churro donuts. Both decent. I will say that the donuts were greasy for my taste. I know, I know, it's a donut, but some aren't as greasy as others. Service here was good though and I'm glad I went to support a local business!

    Chocolate icing donut
    John O.

    This is definitely a place you should stop for dessert. I don't hear a lot of people talk about this place after a year and half of Charlotte living and I don't understand why, this place was fantastic. I usually take a pass when it comes to donuts, but these ones are worth the calories. This place is a LITERAL hole in the wall, the donuts are fresh, warm, soft on the inside, and slightly crisp on the outside. Added bonus: the staff was so nice and bubbly, plus the prices are modest (more modest 2 years ago when the price of a donut was $1.49, as of Oct 2023 it's $2.59/donut).

    Order window and info
    Amanda M.

    The last time I was in Charlotte I had Reigning Doughnuts and I have been thinking about them ever since. I remember the location was hard for me to find at first bc I was not expecting it to be on the side of the wall. Love the way they utilize this small space and even incorporate the light box and meters with their design. I ordered a 6 pack. I remember the cinnamon sugar being out of this world so I got 3. I love that they cook them hot and fresh to order! I wasn't expecting the plain to be completely plain so I wish I got something else. The seasonal doughnut was a rhubarb jam sandwich. The jam was so tasty and I loved the icing. It was definitely on the sweeter side but I love sweets! I also loved the edible flower on top! Be prepared to wait because as mentioned before, they are made to order. If you have time to kill, these are must stop for the Noda area!

    Dark Chocolate Glazed, Vanilla Glazed with sprinkles, Maple Glazed and Honey Glazed donuts.
    Melanee D.

    We opened the box once we got to the car and immediately knew, because of how gooey they appeared, we would have to wait until we got home to eat them instead of attacking them right away. Surprisingly, they were still warm once we got home. The box was so heavy though that I was a little worried. Heavy donuts usually indicate undercooked dough. Well, on occasion, I can be wrong and I'm grown enough to admit it. Here is literally how my first try went... 1st bite: soft and chewy, immediately thought, "Nope! I knew I wasn't going to like it!" 2nd bite: "Ok, not as bad as the first. It's decent I guess." 3rd bite: "You know what, this is pretty durn good!" Last bite: "Why didn't I get two?!?!? Should I go back to get a dozen?" My son, who isn't impressed easily, said "these are goood!" So I'm thinking this probably won't be the last time we're at the window.

    Cinnamon Sugar

    I recently tried the cinnamon sugar and plain donuts, and while they had potential, it felt like they were auditioning for Great Batter Bake-Off instead of The Great British Bake-Off. The flavor was nice--sweet with a good balance of cinnamon on one and simplicity on the other--but the texture? Let's just say I wasn't expecting a surprise lava cake filling in my donuts. The batter in the middle made it clear these donuts needed a bit more time in the oven--or fryer, in this case. It's like they spent all their time perfecting the packaging instead of the recipe. Sure, the box was fancy, but I'd trade that premium wrapping for a fully cooked donut any day. If they give their donuts the same love and attention they gave the design budget, they could have something great here. Until then, maybe rename them "Half-Baked Bites"?

    Walk up window
    Cheryl M.

    Good location. Fast service. Good food. Service with a smile! Located in the heart of NoDa!

    Honey glaze and cinnamon sugar
    Krystal J.

    Had to make a visit to this spot and I'm so happy we did. If I could give more than 5 stars I truly would! The doughnuts are made to order and I seriously could eat a box by myself The doughnuts were so fresh they practically melt in your mouth! They also have daily flavors so be sure to check their menu as well. We ordered the maple bacon, powdered and honey glazed doughnuts. Definitely a must try you won't regret it because these will be the best doughnuts you've ever had !!

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    2 years ago

    Came back, and I stand by my review. Amazing! This time there was a bourbon maple frosted donut. It was as delicious as it sounds!

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    2 years ago

    Some of the best donuts in town. Have to always stop when I'm in the area. Customer service is great!

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    Ask the Community - Reigning Doughnuts

    I can't find any allergen info. Anybody know if they have dairy free doughnuts?

    They don't advertise any of their donuts being dairy free. You may want to call them to make sure.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Smelly Cat Coffee - Smelly Cat Coffeehouse & NODA Coffee Roasters

    Smelly Cat Coffee

    4.3(667 reviews)
    0.1 miNoDa
    $

    My fiancé and I decided to go on a long walk today so we could finally try Smelly Cat Coffee! We…read moreordered the following items using the outdoor tablet: sausage and egg breakfast burrito, bacon and egg breakfast burrito, iced ceremonial matcha latte unsweet (with cinnamon topping, toasted coconut syrup, and oat milk), and Vietnamese cold brew (with whole milk). I was pleasantly surprised by the items we ordered! We grabbed our food and drinks from the pick-up window and enjoyed the outdoor seating. Also, the iced matcha latte was the perfect shade of green. We didn't take pictures of the burritos, but they were a little smaller than I expected for the price, which cost between $8.25-$8.45. I can't really speak to the service because we ordered through the tablet and had minimal interactions with the baristas. However, I'm looking forward to coming back here to check out the indoor area, which we didn't really explore this time around. Smelly Cat Coffee is also conveniently located near a light rail station, if you ever decide to check this place out!

    Stopped by Smelly Cat Coffee while in NC and lucked out with finding parking, which was a nice…read morestart. I was just popping in to grab a coffee to go. The name immediately made me think of Friends, so I was expecting a bit more of that quirky, cozy vibe. Still really cute inside. The space itself is pretty small and felt a bit packed when I went in. I wasn't totally sure where to order at first and had to walk further in to find the register, which was slightly confusing. The staff interaction was fine, not bad, just neutral. I tried making a little conversation while deciding what to order, and while nothing stood out, the barista was helpful when I asked for recommendations. They do have some cool drink options, and when I asked what people usually order that isn't too sweet and similar to one I was thinking of, I was pointed toward the special espresso cortadito with almond milk. It came in a small cup, but was perfect for being on the go. The flavor was good, smooth, and gave me a nice little pick-me-up. Overall, it was a solid coffee stop but didn't quite blow me away. If you're nearby and need a quick caffeine fix, it does the job.

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    Salud Cerveceria

    Salud Cerveceria

    4.6(164 reviews)
    0.1 miNoDa
    $$

    As a foodie transplant from the Bay Area, I'm always on the hunt for dishes that remind me of…read morememorable meals from past travels. One that has stuck with me for years was a rosemary roasted potato pizza I discovered in a little hole-in-the-wall spot in Winnemucca, Nevada. When I saw a similar option on the menu here, I had to give it a try. I ordered the Liberation pizza and added Italian sausage, along with a side of wings and blue cheese. I was also curious about the Mexican street corn but requested it on the side so it wouldn't get soggy during the ride home. The timing was accurate--they quoted about 20 minutes--but parking in this area of North Davidson can be a bit challenging, especially during busy hours. It's a lively, high-traffic intersection, so plan accordingly if you're picking up. Here's where things got a little bumpy. When I got home, I realized the pizzas in the box were not mine. I called the restaurant, and to their credit, they immediately apologized and offered to remake the order right away. That kind of responsiveness goes a long way, and I appreciated their willingness to make it right without hesitation. I drove back to pick up the corrected order, and the staff again apologized and had everything ready. Unfortunately, when I got home the second time, the wings were there--but the blue cheese was missing. At that point, it was late, and I decided to just call it a night. Lesson learned on my end: always take a moment to check the order before leaving. Rookie mistake. Now for the food itself: * Pizza: Delicious overall, with great flavor and quality ingredients. I personally prefer a thinner crust, but the taste was solid. The truffle oil was a bit heavy for my palate and slightly overpowered the other flavors. I also would have preferred the sausage to be crumbled rather than in larger chunks for more even distribution. * Wings: Very good--crispy, well-seasoned, and satisfying. They just really needed that blue cheese to complete the experience. Despite the hiccups, the team handled the situation professionally, and the food quality is clearly there. This is a popular neighborhood spot with creative menu options, and I'd absolutely give them another try. Helpful tip for future customers: Parking can be tight, and takeout orders can get busy--so double-check your order before you leave. It'll save you a second trip. Overall, a lively local place with strong flavors, good recovery on service, and a menu that's worth exploring.

    Great spot overall. They've even been recognized by the James Beard Foundation for their pizzas,…read morewhich makes sense once you try them. We each got a drink (strong--in a good way) and ordered pizzas to go: the elote chicken and the liberation potato. Both were super unique and honestly really good. Definitely not your typical pizza lineup, but that's what makes it worth it.

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    Waterbean Coffee - Interior

    Waterbean Coffee

    2.7(3 reviews)
    0.1 miNoDa

    Came here to catch up with a friend on Sunday at 11:30am. It was totally empty. Parked across the…read morestreet and was able to keep my eye on car the entire time which was nice. I asked to try a couple ice cream flavors- salted caramel and banana. The barista must have been waking up still because I watched him spoon coffee instead of banana and asked him as he handed it to me "That's banana". He confirmed and when I tasted it I said "that tastes like coffee, not banana" then he just kind of apologized and gave me the actual banana sample. I noticed the ice cream did not look fresh and was freezer burned so I passed altogether anyway and just got some macarons which was another ordeal because this first 3 flavors I picked from the list they said they were out of, so the sign was outdated. Overall it's not a bad spot and has nice decor and ambience but the service and menu could use some fine tuning... @azfitfoodfub

    Grabbed an iced vanilla latte from here midday on a Friday and it wasn't busy at all, just a few…read morepeople working in the coffee shop or meeting up with people. I was in desperate need of some caffeine and the latte was super tasty and definitely did the job. It was maybe a couple bucks more than I'd normally like to pay but beyond that it was very decent. They even had some food items available which would be nice to try in the future. The place itself was very modern and sleek with plenty of seats available to park at. And it's located in a great part of NoDa too which is helpful. Definitely a new favorite spot when I'm in Charlotte.

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    Reigning Doughnuts - donuts - Updated May 2026

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