This is one of my favorite donut shops. I have yet to visit on a weekend but I've heard of the craze so I would continue to only stop by during the week. I have tried the chocolate Bavarian cream, chocolate old-fashioned, and buttermilk old-fashioned. I have not tried a variety because I keep going back to my favorite which is the buttermilk old-fashioned. It has the perfect density and cakey interior with a crisp, craggy, and cracked exterior. Street parking during the week is relatively easy. Or what I would do to offset the guilty pleasure is to power walk to and from the shop so I can burn off some of the calories before and after consumption. read more

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Every time I come to Chicago I have to grab a donut from Doughnut Vault and luckily when we came around 10am on a Sunday, we were able to avoid a line and grab a donut after our run along the lakeshore and riverwalk. I got an almond old fashioned as a post-run treat and this 100% was worth the trip I love the texture of their old fashioned donut, it's cakey with crusty edges that have a bit of crunch. The almond flavor really comes through and while the icing is always a tad sweet for me, it's a great treat or dessert post-dinner! read more

Doughnut Vault - Donuts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I'm a huge fan of donuts and Doughnut Vault was on the way to my destination, so I had to stop by and give it a try! Doughnut Vault is known for their old fashioned donuts. Everything is made fresh daily and they tend to sell out quickly. My husband and I got there right around the time they opened and were able to snag the pistachio and original old fashioned donuts. After having them, I can understand why this place is popular--the donuts were both delicious! The store itself is small but charming, and service here is very friendly. Overall, I really liked this place and would highly recommend it! read more

Doughnut Vault - Pistachio old fashioned - Donuts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Holy molyyyy the hype is real! I think I can safely say these are the best doughnuts I've ever had. I'd never been a huge cake or old fashioned doughnut person, but DV has def converted me! I got their birthday cake and almond old fashioned doughnuts - both were crisp on the outside & perfectly soft on the inside. The sweetness level is just right as well. The almond old fashioned has salted almonds on top which adds a nice contrast and texture. Their special filled doughnut of the day, banana cream pie, BLEW my mind though. This doughnut is MASSIVE! The filling was absolutely divine. It tasted like a crossover of banana pudding & vanilla custard. There was 0 artificial banana taste and real chunks of banana. I will be dreaming of this doughnut for the rest of my life. This place is a million times better than Stan's and Firecakes (and Dunkin + Krispy Kreme, but this goes without saying). read more

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I've had sooo many donuts this last month. When I visited Chicago, Doughnut Vault came highly recommended and I stopped in at least three times and sampled a variety of classic and seasonal offerings. I like the ever-changing weekly menu. I like Doughnut Vault's origin story. I like the quirky "am I sure I'm in the right place" ordering window. Some of the donuts (I'm looking at you, pumpkin cake) reallyyyy hit, and some of them I couldn't make past the first bite. Maple cake (special): Uniformly fluffy but still with a bit of chew I expect from a donut, this had really great texture and was the first cake donut I can remember enjoying. It teetered my conviction that cake donuts are just not donuts; they're cake! Pumpkin cake (special): Oooof, this donut made me a cake donut believer. I could have used half the overly sweet icing on top, but the pumpkin flavor came through amazingly with that cozy scent of fall. Not too sweet, still fluffy with the perfect amount of chew. Definitely the best pumpkin donut I've ever sampled. Chocolate old fashioned (classic): Very dense, very dry in some areas, very thick coating of chocolate on top. It's possible I just chanced upon a dud, but I was really disappointed in this overbaked and overglazed donut. Chocolate glazed (classic): This yeast risen donut was a touch too risen for me. I liked the height and look of the donut, but the dough ended up being on the dryer side that wasn't remedied by the chocolate glaze. Strawberry glazed (classic): Similarly to the chocolate glazed, this strawberry glazed was also a touch too risen, which leads me to think that's just the standard proofing for these donuts. I'm somewhat impressed by the fact they maintain their structure and height, but the slight dryness and less tender crumble makes me prefer an alternative recipe. Cake donuts -- yes please! I'll pass on the yeast variety. read more

Doughnut Vault - Pumpkin cake donut. - Donuts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

DEELISH DONUT OPTION IN CHICAGO! So what kind donut scene does Chicago have? Seems like Dunkin' Donuts is at almost every corner we turn, which is a HARD PASS for me, but there are local vendors here, worth hitting, based on yelp reviews. Donut Vault seemed like a good option to explore, so off I went, footin' it with an assist from The "EL". From Brown Line, exit at the Merchandise Mart stop, then find a way to get to ground level (I wandered a bit because there is no obvious "DOWN" option here, until I found a stairwell to ground level lol). WiFi function was a bit slow 'round this area, so Go to Wells Street, then head to Kinzie St and turn left, right on Franklin St, and it's right next to Bavette's Gilt Bar. Found it! Their location totally gives off the "Harry Potter under the staircase room vibe," which I dig! Small line to get in. Interestingly, the people ahead of me are getting boxes of donuts, that's a good sign I'm in for a treat! Ok, let's eat! CLASSIC OLD FASHIONED: This has gotta be their specialty because this option had the most variety. I got PISTACHIO, PEANUT BUTTER, and TRIPLE CHOCOLATE. WOW! Solid donuts! Perfect old fashioned donut consistency. Crisp outer shell, yet soft and oh so flavorful inside. Flavors are exceptionally spot on! I was not expecting Pistachio to have an actual nutty taste to it, BUT IT DID! Peanut Butter did this PB Snob proud... YUM! Triple Chocolate was chocolate heaven! BOSTON CRÈME: I had the Halloween Special and it was huge! BIG dollop of "creme" inside was colored orange and actually a custard. Every bite allowed for a sample of the custard, too, so nice ratio of donut to filling. Custard wasn't too sweet and the creaminess was delightful! Nom! APPLE FRITTER: Uniquely crafted, not the typical style seen in most California shops, but the components were still there! Crisp shell, iced yet not too sweet a shell, lots of apple bits, soft & fluffy inner core... Tasty! PUMPKIN CAKE DONUT: It's Halloween, HAD to pick up a Pumpkin one! Glad I did because it was the best pumpkin donut version I've tasted. And that cream cheese glaze?!?! Badass! VERY EASY RECOMMENDATION! Nom Nom on full alert! I see why peeps be walkin' out with boxes! Definitely worth a visit! read more

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This donut shop was just around the corner from the hotel. I was staying at in downtown Chicago. I read reviews talking about how they run out early so I made sure to be there around 8 AM. I think they open at 7:30. I was excited to try the pistachio donut, but also chose the almond based on all the good reviews. I have to agree; the almond old-fashioned donut was superior. The old-fashioned donuts are all plain, but then have a glaze and/or toppings for the different flavors. Two donuts was just over eight dollars after tax. Pretty reasonable for the size of the donut and the location in downtown. They only sell donuts and drip coffee. Tip: order ahead through their website. There's a walk up window to pick up preorders so you don't have to stand in line. read more

Doughnut Vault - pistachio and almond old-fashioned donuts. - Donuts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Best old fashioned donuts ever!!! Visiting Chicago and I'm truly upset to leave this place. This place converted me to an old fashioned donut lover. The place is very small but that's their charm. Service was great and friendly. Their buttermilk (5/5) and triple chocolate (5/5) old fashioned donuts are amazing. You HAVE to get them. I personally didn't care for the almond old fashioned (3.5/5) and prefer the buttermilk instead. Their regular donuts are HUGE but still very very good. Those seem to sell out quickly so I recommend placing an order online to guarantee that you get them. The regular glazed donut (5/5) was amazing, the chocolate glazed (4/5) was good but I prefer the chocolate old fashioned more. Everyone has to try this place!! read more

Doughnut Vault - Buttermilk Old Fashioned, Triple Chocolate Old Fashioned, Daily Special- Raspberry Old Fashioned, Doughnut Holes - Donuts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Me and my gal were celebrating our 15 year anniversary in the great city of Chicago. We were scheduled for an underground donut tour. We were taken to five or six different donut shops in the downtown area. Our tour guide, Jackson, was great. He was extremely knowledgeable about the history of the city and the architecture that we saw as we were walking around. He was professional and really seemed to enjoy his job. He also had a very lively and enjoyable personality that made the tour more fun. We would definitely recommend taking this tour! read more

Went on a doughnut tour downtown Chicago on a lovely Friday. We started at the doughnut vault and here are my thoughts: 1. This place is very small on the outside, but makes huge donuts. 2. People seem to love their chocolate donuts even though I'm partial to the chocolate treats. 3. Donuts are pricey between $3.75-$4.45 read more

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Fun space on the side of The Guilt bar and restaurant. They have what they have. And it's good. Old fashioned donuts are fluffy and full of flavor. I loved the almond donut. Raspberry Jelly was a jelly sandwich on a fluffy base that stayed clean for the whole donut. Kudos to the vault. Coffee was good but nothing special and only regular-no large. Worth a visit even though there are no tables. It's one street behind the merchandise mart. read more

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As a tourist who frequently vacations in Chicago, I have tried a lot of the popular donut places except for Doughnut Vault so I was stoked to have been able to finally try it out on a Sunday morning. We went at around 7:30 because like most, we heard that they run out of donuts quickly. There was no line when we arrived but they definitely had a steady stream of customers from 7:30 to 8 am. Staff were really accommodating. The guy at the counter was kind enough to tell us their specials. We got 4 donuts which you will see in the photos (as I've forgotten their flavors already). They were all good but I cannot say that they are especially better than other donut places. I also got the cold brew with oat milk with the milk available for free. They have al fresco dining which contributed to an overall pleasant experience. The place does look like a vault which was amazing. We would definitely go back to try other flavors. read more

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This was our first stop on our donut tour. It felt like a Harry Potter building - apparently it shares a kitchen with the restaurant around the corner. So they have to make as many donuts as they can before the restaurant staff show up. So you have to get there early because when they sell out- they close. The chocolate croissant donut and I think the other was a chocolate chip cake donut- I could be wrong- but both were delicious. Get there early- my only complaint is that they do not have decaffeinated coffee. read more

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Excellent donuts but question some of the flavors! The old fashioned donut is a must try. We pre ordered and it was so nice. Service was quick and our order was very fresh. There's no place to eat since the space is so small. Overall the best was the chocolate and glazed old fashion. The strawberry jelly with chocolate was a little too much and the combo didn't work. The pistachio was very artificial. read more

Doughnut Vault - Pistachio Old Fashioned Doughnut Glazed old fashioned Triple Chocolate Old FashionedChocolate Strawberry and chocolate - Donuts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Donut Series, Part 16 I typically don't need much motivation to explore a new doughnut destination, so when you place one within a former bank vault you definitely have my attention! We sampled everything on the Doughnut Vault menu and the "Classic Old Fashioned Almond" emerged as our favorite. However, we'd also recommend the "Glazed Strawberry" which was pillowy soft and tasted like a jelly donut (without the jelly). Although I was disappointed in the taste of their Apple Fritter, it does deserve commendation for its visual appeal. Everything here is prepared in small daily batches, so when the vault has been emptied you'll need to "steel" yourself until the next deposit arrives "safely." And that's...Henry's Take. #vaultdoughnuts read more

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Updated review: Came back here for the St. Patrick's Day special. Very impressed! Loved them. Their doughnuts were delicious, intricate. One was a baileys cream filled, another was a birthday cake, and there were a few others. read more

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Can't go wrong with a sweet treat from Doughnut Vault!!! We ordered a variety to the office and my favorites were the old fashioned and glazed. Fun speciality flavors that change daily. Super fresh and sweet! read more

Doughnut Vault - Donuts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My boyfriend and I are trying to eat at all the hogsalt establishments and we love donuts. So that is how we found ourselves at the donut vault. Now I'll be honest this place had been really hyped up and I've learned that I need to lower my expectations a little bit. The donuts were good. Specifically, the yeast donuts are huge and have a wonderful vanilla glaze flavor. However, the double chocolate cake donut left a lot to be desired. It tasted pretty bland and almost dry. The inside of the vault is quite literally a vault. There is no seating and you just have to take your donuts to go unless you eat at the small counter. Would I go back here? Probably not but it's a solid donut if you stick to the yeast ones. read more

Doughnut Vault - Double chocolate - Donuts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Finally got around to trying Doughnut Vault after walking past it countless times, and it did not disappoint! I went on a Friday morning around 10 am to avoid the early morning and weekend rush, and I was thrilled to find no line and a good selection still in stock. I picked up three donuts to get a good variety: honey glazed, old-fashioned glazed, and birthday cake, along with a cold brew. The cold brew was surprisingly good! I didn't expect much beyond average coffee at a doughnut shop, but I'd definitely order it again. As for the donuts, the birthday cake and old-fashioned glazed were the highlights for me--both were fresh, perfectly sweet, and delicious. The service was also excellent; the guy behind the counter was super friendly, told us what was left in stock, and helped us pick our options. Overall, a fantastic experience--Doughnut Vault just became my go-to spot for donuts! Highly recommend! read more

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A friendly man popped out of a small window as we were looking at the cute menu painted on a wall to invite us in and we're so glad he did! Best donuts we've ever had! They're huge but so airy and delicious! It's such a cute little spot and if you're a fan of donuts you must try this place. So glad we happened upon this! read more

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Really great small batch donuts in a cool location. Quick and friendly service, and everything is beautiful and delicious.

Tiny little hole in the wall that serves a limited number of doughnut types. Cake, jelly and fritters were all good. Staff is nice.

They have unique specials everyday with tasty always have in hand donuts. The flavors are balanced and not too sweet. The space is small, but they get to you fast. The donuts are all right there and there is even the convenience to order ahead to pick up even a day ahead. read more

One of my favorite donut spots in Chicago. They are known for their old fashioned donuts but all are good. Be sure to get there early as they sometimes sell out. It's a small space with room for only 3-4 people to comfortably fit inside. Service is always friendly and fast. If I lived closer to downtown, I'd be there every week! read more

Doughnut Vault - Donuts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

9 years later and still my favorite doughnuts! I was visiting Chicago and decided I would have a fat girl moment by ordering the lemon pistachio, almond and lemon poppyseed old fashioned doughnuts along with a strawberry glazed doughnut. The strawberry was ridiculously large and was not as flavorful as the old fashioned selections. Although I am a huge fan of pistachio, the lemon poppyseed and almond stole my heart! I recently ordered Stan's and while they still rank high on my list, they do not come close to doughnut vault. I was also very happy to see that you can place your order on-line via Tock, instead of tempting fate and hoping they are not sold out or waiting in a crazy long line which is what I used to do. Amazing to see that the Hogsalt group still has a firm grip on Chicago! read more

My only regret is that I didn't get here earlier in the day. Got here about 11 (BIG MISTAKE) and there were unfortunately only 3 doughnuts left. Luckily, they were DELICIOUS. We got the lemon poppyseed and almond old fashioned and it did NOT disappoint. I will definitely be returning the try more flavors! read more

Doughnut Vault - Donuts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I know doughnut vault is famous for their old fashioned donuts, but my favorite was their chocolate covered yeast donut. I usually stay away from them because I find chocolate glazes to be artificially tasting and a weird waxy texture, but theirs completely changed my perception. They clearly use a high quality chocolate and coat the yeast donut with just the right amount. So good! The old fashioned donuts had the signature slightly crunchy outside with tender inside. I found the glazes to be too sweet for my palate (for both lemon poppyseed and pistachio) but the donut itself was very well fried. There was one gentleman doing everything behind a tiny counter. He was super pleasant and made the whole experience great! read more

Doughnut Vault - Pistachio and lemon poppyseed old fashioned, Bavarian, and chocolate and vanilla yeast donuts. - Donuts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The best cake donuts anywhere in Chicago. Service is straightforward and it's probably the least convenient donut shop in Chicago lol. There's absolutely no indoor space/seating so you'll have to enjoy your donut outside or on the go; don't try to find parking here, it'll drive you mad; they run out of flavors early on so go early; and double check their hours before you go as it's very limited. But if you want a delicious cake donut, it's worth the hassle. read more

This used to be my go to doughnut shop. 5 stars for the doughnuts. I like their chocolate old fashioned and sugar stack. Their strawberry glaze is pretty good too. 3 stars for the space. The place is small so it's difficult to get in and out when others are there. And lines are common. Difficult but doable when it's just me. However, the space is not accessible! 1 star for the staff who refused to take my order through the window. I had a stroller and couldn't get inside, but the staff insisted that I do. No understanding or consideration of the situation. I left without any doughnuts and will not be back. read more

Great donuts in River North! Walk up window with donuts and coffee. They have a couple tables outside if you want to sit there. read more

Doughnut Vault - Donuts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I was not expecting the store to be so small, but the donut was great! The inside only has standing room for a few people and it's basically just a counter to order. They have coffee, but do not have espresso drinks. The service was friendly and fast and we asked for recommendations. We got the old fashioned and the strawberry glazed. The strawberry glazed donut was light and fluffy and not too sweet. read more

While Tony Bourdain and I share a New Yorker's ear for bullshit, a cynic's skepticism, and a gourmand's indifference for doughnuts, we both decided to visit the Doughnut Vault. When I checked the place out online, I saw that it had over a thousand versions of the same interior photo. When I showed up, I realized why, the place was the size of a medium-sized closet. The only person ahead of me on line mentioned that normally there is a line out the door, which could have been an issue on this 5° degree morning. However, in this case, it separated "the wheat from the chaff." Since there is no place in this shoebox to sit and enjoy, I bought a Chocolate Christmas and took it across the street to the austere but beautiful Merchandise Mart lobby, where I enjoyed it with a Dunkin' (hot) coffee. read more

Doughnut Vault - Yeah! That's the photo of the entire vault. - Donuts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This is our favorite yeast donut in the city. They're HUGE, fluffy, and balanced with a perfectly sweet glaze. One caveat, they run out super early! Its nice that they added the ability to order ahead and reserve a donut though, which eliminated the disappointment of trying to show up early enough only to be told that they're out of your favorite. Their old fashioneds aren't gamechanging relative to their yeast donut but they meet what you expect these days from a niche donut shop. Honestly worth the stop by. Oh and also, no ambience haha - its a tiny little entrance/closet with a couple tables outside. Grab your donut and swing by the Riverwalk for a complete experience! read more

Definitely my favorite doughnut place in the city! Used to be even better when they did a happy hour an hour before closing (half off all remaining doughnuts), but alas, seems like that's gone for good. The doughnuts are delicious, hefty (especially the yeasted ones), and freshly made. I love checking the specials on their website to see what flavors there are for the day. My favorites are the Boston creme pie, pistachio lemon, and chocolate yeasted. The staff are always very friendly, too. Highly recommend checking their site for the specials and to check if the flavors you want are still available! They sell out fast sometimes. You can also place an order in advance! One thing to note is that they unfortunately do not have espresso drinks, but you can get a pretty tasty non-espresso coffee. This place is also teeny and very easy to miss- just look for the blue wall on the other side of Gilt Bar. read more

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While visiting for work, my coworker who had lived in Chicago for years told me this is the best donut place in town. I went and got each of every flavors for my coworkers to try. The shop is very small and cute. Don't be discouraged if you see a line - it's probably because there's barely space for people to stand inside. I went early because I heard they run out of donuts fast and I was there at 7:30am and they were already out of the donuts holes. However I was still able to get one of each for all the regular donuts. Their old fashioned donuts are definitely delicious but it's a bit overly sweet for me. I'd highly recommend everyone to come try it for yourself especially for the donuts lovers. read more

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The best donuts in the city. Love the tiny hidden location. Will always support this business.

Doughnut Vault is still top tier, but Do-Rite makes better doughnuts. No shame in being #2. Both are worth trying out for yourself.

A really tasty treat that everyone living in or visiting Chicago should try. Great ambiance and solid donuts.

I honestly feel this place is overrated for the cult-following it has. If this was a corner-store donut shop without all the acclaim, I may have rated it three stars as an average place. But I've had better donuts at small mom and pop shops in Norman, Oklahoma and at chain stores like Lamar's in Kansas City, Missouri. I wouldn't go back. read more

Amazing donuts!! Few things to note: no seating inside but in the summer there is patio seating. Donuts have sold out early.