Overview

• Novel Ice Cream in Phoenix, Arizona, secured the No. 1 spot on Yelp's 2025 list of the 50 best donut shops in the U.S., based on Elite Squad reviews.
• Illinois is represented by three standout shops: Beacon Doughnuts in Chicago (No. 13), Old Fashioned Donuts in Chicago (No. 49), and Country Donuts in Crystal Lake (No. 25).
• Beacon Doughnuts is known for its small-batch handmade treats, while Old Fashioned Donuts is celebrated for its massive, hand-cut donuts made with a traditional approach.
• Country Donuts, open all day in Crystal Lake, is a 49-year-old shop praised for its apple fritters and long johns, often attracting long lines on weekends.
• National Doughnut Day, rooted in a 1938 Salvation Army tradition, will be celebrated on the first Friday of June, honoring volunteers who fried donuts for WWI troops.