Places: Stan’s Donuts and Coffee
I don’t make it a secret that I LOVE donuts/doughnuts. I don’t care how you spell ‘em, just put them in front of me and I will consume them. And a holiday trip to Chicago means I got to stop by one of my favorite spots in the city: Stan’s Donuts & Coffee.
Highlights
Glazed Old-Fashioned Donut, Peppermint Hot Chocolate
What’s Stan’s Donuts All About?
The original Stan’s Donuts debuted in Los Angeles in 1963 and has served all kinds of celebrities, like Steve McQueen and Elizabeth Taylor. It came to the Windy City after Rich Labriola, president of Chicago’s Labriola Baking Company, saw Stan Berman on a TV travel show passionately talking about his donut business. The two partnered to bring a taste of deliciousness to the Chi.
Luckily, they’ve succeeded. Stan’s has a lot of variety – from seasonal Gingerbread Stan donuts to vegan-friendly options – but it’s really hard to beat the glazed old-fashioned. The firmness/flakiness balance is perfect, and the donut is super flavorful. Sometimes they’re classics for a reason, you know?
All of Stan’s old-fashioned options are tasty (Halestorm is a big fan of the lemon pistachio), so you really can’t go wrong. They’re also solid options a day or two after the fact, which is a nice bonus. If I can supplement my morning coffee with a donut? That’s living the good life. Though you have plenty of other choices besides the variety of old-fashioned donuts.
Other yummy options include the bulbous peanut butter pocket, cherry cheese danish, or any kind of fritter. The seasonal peppermint dark chocolate donut was also pretty delish, though it tasted more like a brownie with candy canes sprinkled on top.
Drink Up!
Stan’s also has very solid hot chocolate. I get it with a peppermint twist when I’m in Chicago during winter, but just regular is quite good. There are also frozen hot chocolate options, and during my visit, I saw a woman get an ice cream shake that comes with a donut around the straw. Really the best of both worlds, huh?
One warning: there are three styles of donuts. Standards, Specialties, and Dough Boy’s Bests are all on the menu. They’re differentiated by a small colored circle. I always forget this every time I go and just look at the price of the standard options. It’s easy to overdo your order and get a half dozen or full dozen thinking you’re getting a steal. Just be aware of what you’re getting so you don’t experience a bit of sticker shock at the counter.
If you’re a fan of donuts at all, you can’t go wrong with the glazed old-fashioned. Pick it up and dip it in some hot chocolate and you’ll be satisfied all morning long.
