What's the deal with Dunkin Donuts?

[wilkeliza]

We have a Shipley's here! Been here forever. I kinda thought they were the only one.

DD close here but we do have our beloved Krispy K and Shipley's. Everyone is either team KK or team Shipley's. LOl

Oh just saw they are now into a couple of eastern states but still staying mostly south. The Shipley's I grew up on cooked everything in house (and that shop still does as I go to it every morning I am home) and I think that is what makes it special. The Starbucks Donuts and DD's never hit the spot because they are made somewhere else then shipped in every morning (or in SB case frozen and then thawed overnight before they are sold) and so it just isn't the same as fresh donuts.

 

[smadath]

I like my local Giant Eagle grocery store's donuts better than Dunkin or Krispy Kreme. They taste fresher, there's just as much variety, and they're cheaper!

 

[lovin'fl]

We have local place called Fractured Prune where you select a custom donut and they make it while you watch from behind a glass wall. They come out hot and are pretty good but found that, no matter which glazes and toppings you chose, they would all taste the same. And they are pricey and the lines get backed up since it takes a while to do just one. Some folks go in and order a dozen for home, which is what DD or KK is for... not this custom place. This is for a treat to eat right away. Been twice and likely won't ever go again.

 

[bcla]

I found Dunkin Donuts to be like Krispy Kreme, just donuts with a too high price. A few Krispy Kremes have come back in my area, but most got run out of town about 7 years ago. They were all built next to those mom and pop donut shops, and mom and pop kicked their donut holes out of town, better donuts, almost half the price. Now, I do like Dunkin donuts coffee.

The cheapest donuts I can find around here are at Safeway. 50 cents each, including glazed. The odd thing is that (at least the ones I've seen) they're hexagonally shaped. Looks like they cut them that way to save on time, and didn't round them out.

One of the mom and pop donut shops around here doesn't even try to pretend that it isn't a generic donut. They even put up a calendar from their donut mix/frosting supplier.

 

[luvsJack]

Oh just saw they are now into a couple of eastern states but still staying mostly south. The Shipley's I grew up on cooked everything in house (and that shop still does as I go to it every morning I am home) and I think that is what makes it special. The Starbucks Donuts and DD's never hit the spot because they are made somewhere else then shipped in every morning (or in SB case frozen and then thawed overnight before they are sold) and so it just isn't the same as fresh donuts.

I live in Mississippi. I honestly thought Shipley's was locally owned! No idea it is a chain. They still cook everything in house. So very good first thing in the morning. DS's best friend worked there in hs and had to be there a some horrid time of the morning to start the doughnuts. They open at like 6:30 am. Used to love going there before heading out to Christmas shop with Mom. Hot, fresh doughnuts and hot chocolate.

KK cooks everything in the store too. Nothing better than going in and them giving you a doughnut straight off the little conveyor belt. Yuummmmmmm. Melts in your mouth.

 

[wilkeliza]

I live in Mississippi. I honestly thought Shipley's was locally owned! No idea it is a chain. They still cook everything in house. So very good first thing in the morning. DS's best friend worked there in hs and had to be there a some horrid time of the morning to start the doughnuts. They open at like 6:30 am. Used to love going there before heading out to Christmas shop with Mom. Hot, fresh doughnuts and hot chocolate.

KK cooks everything in the store too. Nothing better than going in and them giving you a doughnut straight off the little conveyor belt. Yuummmmmmm. Melts in your mouth.

Yep totally a chain that started in Houston where I grew up. It is good to know it must be apart of the franchise deals that it all has to be made in house. The KK here in NYC doesn't make things in house any more because they are only in the Amtrak station so no room. I just don't eat donuts very often any more unless I know they are made on site because it isn't worth the calories if they aren't fresh.

 

[sonnyjane]

I think west coasters going crazy for Dunkin Donuts is similar to east coasters going crazy for In-n-Out. DD was something mostly on the east coast (my husband and I grew up with them), so when we moved to the west coast, it's one of the things we missed (they have opened a *few* west coast locations but not many).

The east coast doesn't have In-n-Out, so when people come for a west coast visit (or go back home), it's one of the things they go for. I personally don't care for In-n-Out at all, but it has a strong following just like DD does.

 

[mjkacmom]

There are at least 6 DD less than 2 miles from my house. They are always busy. I'll drive the mile to save $ vs the Starbucks 4 blocks away. I like the iced coffee (cream, no sugar, dark).

 

[Squirlz]

Some people like them. You could just as easily say What's the deal with McDonalds? Or What's the deal with Starbucks? That last one I don't understand at ALL!

 

[usnuzuloose]

I found Dunkin Donuts to be like Krispy Kreme, just donuts with a too high price. A few Krispy Kremes have come back in my area, but most got run out of town about 7 years ago. They were all built next to those mom and pop donut shops, and mom and pop kicked their donut holes out of town, better donuts, almost half the price. Now, I do like Dunkin donuts coffee.

They have come back, they hit the low when everyone was on the low carb kick. But about 3 years now they have been making a come back.

 

[usnuzuloose]

My kid was asking about it, so we went out to one of the ones that recently opened in our area. It's not that close to home, but we could mix it in with shopping. It was in an otherwise nondescript strip mall with mostly independent businesses. My kid got a candy cane sprinkled donut, I got a frosted one, and my wife (who hadn't eaten) got a breakfast sandwich. I had the coffee too. The donut was a donut. The coffee seemed like a pretty standard fast food coffee - a little bit bland bland compared to specialty coffee, but easy enough to drink black. My kid was also asking about the lip balm that looks like small coffee cups (I think my kid saw something about it on YouTube). The lip balm was $4, but all I can find online are third party sellers asking at least $10.

In California, donuts are dominated by mom and pop donut shops, which are mostly operated by Asian (especially Cambodian) immigrants. Our biggest regional chain (Winchell's) mostly went away locally. Krispy Kreme has a few locations, although the closest one is small, with little seating. There used to be a bigger one nearby, but I guess the demand couldn't justify the rent.

It was a decent enough donut. I heard when it first opened, there was a long wait to get in. It was a bit expensive, but each donut was pretty good sized, and they had lots of unique options like the candy cane one. I guess the last one around here closed in the 80s, but they're hoping to get back starting with a few shops. Is there really anything that special about them other than being ubiquitous in certain parts of the country?

I loved Winchell's. They had really good donuts from the 70's. I haven't been to a DD in years.

 

[xlsm]

Nothing special about a Dunkin Donuts especially if there are other donut places around. Now Shipley's on the other hand if they were ever to leave Texas, I would be a happy camper. Also if a Krispy Kream was to open back up not in the train station I would be happy to.

We have Shipley's here in NW AR, and they really and truly are the best donuts I've ever had. Nothing better than a fresh, warm, plain glazed from them. They're perfect!

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As for Dunkin', they've started opening up shops here, and the donuts aren't very good, but the specialty coffee drinks are ok if you can figure out how to order it to your tastes. It takes some trial and error.

 

[Vijoge]

We have a Dunkin near us. It's generally known as the worst place to get a donut in town. Most people that go there go for the coffee.

 

[clori]

I live near tons of Dunkin Donuts. It has been years since I actually ordered a donut there and it wouldn't surprise me if donuts were low on their total sales. I personally don't drink coffee. It is a convenient stop for a cup of tea and bagel with cream cheese if you need that kind of stop. My husband and dd16 drink the coffee there. Starbucks is the closest coffee chain competitor here and my husband hates their coffee. I tried krispy crème donuts once and thought it was disgusting. When it first opened the lines were very long but it went out of business within 2.5 years.

 

[Hikergirl]

I like DD's coffee, I think it has a distinct flavor that I could pick out in a blind taste test. Starbucks, Peets, and any other place just taste like regular old coffee to me.
The donuts aren't great, and their sandwiches aren't very good either. I think they are all on par with eachother as far as food goes. If I want a great donut I go to a local bakery that has THE BEST donuts.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I prefer Krispy Kreme to DD.

There is a local donut shop that is scrumptious. They cost a little more money. But worth it.

We hit DD when we just need a donut.

 

[DisneyOma]

Dunks (that's what the cool kids call it) has better donuts around here than Krispy Kreme. Not sure what's the big deal about Krispy Kreme? Too sweet, undercooked, ugh. The coffee at Dunks is better than the burnt-flavor stuff at our local Starbucks too. But we have a local bakery we go to when we can, then Dunks as a backup. Dunks pumpkin muffins are great though!

 

[AppleDumpling]

I'm not a big fan of donuts and don't drink coffee. There's a DD just down the road from my house and I rarely go there. Years ago, we used to pick up boxes of munchkins for school events; the young kids always loved them.

 

[Vicki926]

Love DD, there's one or two in every town around here. I have 4 within 5 minutes.
I don't drink coffee, but love the iced tea, Boston cream donuts and coffee rolls.
My 15 year old would get a strawberry frosted and vanilla frosted doughnut every day if he could. Lol

I hate their breakfast sandwiches.
My husband loves their coffee(he hates Starbucks, says it's too bitter)
My 17 year old loves the iced coffee and frozen drinks.
Munchkins are great.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

My kid was asking about it, so we went out to one of the ones that recently opened in our area. It's not that close to home, but we could mix it in with shopping. It was in an otherwise nondescript strip mall with mostly independent businesses. My kid got a candy cane sprinkled donut, I got a frosted one, and my wife (who hadn't eaten) got a breakfast sandwich. I had the coffee too. The donut was a donut. The coffee seemed like a pretty standard fast food coffee - a little bit bland bland compared to specialty coffee, but easy enough to drink black. My kid was also asking about the lip balm that looks like small coffee cups (I think my kid saw something about it on YouTube). The lip balm was $4, but all I can find online are third party sellers asking at least $10.

In California, donuts are dominated by mom and pop donut shops, which are mostly operated by Asian (especially Cambodian) immigrants. Our biggest regional chain (Winchell's) mostly went away locally. Krispy Kreme has a few locations, although the closest one is small, with little seating. There used to be a bigger one nearby, but I guess the demand couldn't justify the rent.

It was a decent enough donut. I heard when it first opened, there was a long wait to get in. It was a bit expensive, but each donut was pretty good sized, and they had lots of unique options like the candy cane one. I guess the last one around here closed in the 80s, but they're hoping to get back starting with a few shops. Is there really anything that special about them other than being ubiquitous in certain parts of the country?

A novelty imo from the old days that used to be yummy and now they are "meh".

They used to have many kinds of unique donuts which they do not carry much anymore, they used to be bigger, and homemade onsite IIRC. Plus they used to be famous for the "handmade crullers".

I get my donuts at the grocery store.