North Carolina is home to two of the South’s best doughnut shops, lifestyle magazine says

The Salty Donut is located at 1515 S. Tryon St. in South End.Photo byTHE SALTY DONUT

If you’ve got a sweet tooth for a classic doughnut, two North Carolina bakeries have been named among the best in the region by Southern Living.

Among the top doughnut shops in the South, Hole Doughnuts and The Salty Donut stand out.

HOLE DOUGHNUTS

Photo bynatalie wollam

• Location: 168 Haywood Rd, Asheville, NC 28806

Description: Southern Living praises Hole Doughnuts for its unique texture created by a higher protein ratio in the flour.

Customers can watch their order transform from a pile of dough to a crisp, rustic doughnut at this cozy cabin in West Asheville.

The bakery’s classic flavors include vanilla glazed, toasted almond sesame cinnamon, and cinnamon sugar, with seasonal flavors rotating weekly.

THE SALTY DONUT

Photo byChris K

• Location: 1515 S Tryon St #105, Charlotte, NC 28203

Description: The Salty Donut, founded by Amanda Pizarro, her husband, and her brother, started as a pop-up in a vintage camper and has expanded to over 15 locations.

The bakery is known for prioritizing community, organizing events like running clubs and yoga classes.

Their menu features a wide variety of flavors, including brown butter and salt, strawberry shortcake, mini key lime pie doughnuts, cherry pie pop tarts, and cinnamon crunch cookies. They plan to open new locations in Plaza Midwood and Ballantyne soon.

Both bakeries offer a delightful experience for doughnut lovers, making them must-visit spots in North Carolina.