The Best Doughnut Chains In America, Ranked

Fact: Everybody loves doughnuts. And if they tell you they don't, they're lying. These are the best chain doughnut shops in America.

The Best Doughnut Chains in America, Ranked Gallery

There are few foods that are more ingrained in the culinary consciousness than doughnuts.These simple rounds of fried dough have staked their claim as one of the most beloved snack foods out there. 

One of the main reasons for the popularity of doughnuts is the fact that the variations are infinite, and there's plenty of room for both tradition and innovation. Old-school doughnut shops might specialize in a blueberry cake doughnut that sells out every morning, while New York's Doughnut Plant has built a reputation for itself around delicious inventions like crème brûlée and peanut butter-and-jelly-filled ones. And just like all of the most revered American foods, there's no shortage of chains that have sprouted up to spread the doughnut gospel far and wide.

In order to assemble our ranking of the best doughnut chains in America, we started by tracking down doughnut shops with more than 15 locations across the nation — our definition of a chain. We then ranked each one according to a set of criteria: Are the doughnuts baked fresh throughout the day? Is there a good variety, with seasonal options and a rotating menu? Is the chain beloved by its loyal customers, having earned somewhat of a cult following? And for the top of the list, is a visit (and that first bite) a quasi-religious experience? Also note that we're not talking about coffee or sandwiches here; for today's purposes, it's all about the doughnuts.

In the end, our list included beloved local chains as well as the behemoths, all united by their passion for doughnuts, one of the most delicious and deceptively simple foods in existence. Read on for our ranking.