Welcome to our first official donut shop review! We’re kicking things off at The Donut Kitchen in McKinney, Texas. Why? Well, they’re one of the few shops open past noon, which gave us time to traverse the DFW metroplex, and the name got us wondering if this really is the place where good donuts are made. It also didn’t hurt that the gourmet donut menu triggered immediate salivation. Check out the finger-lickin’ details below:
CONTACT INFO
Hours:
Mon – Sun: 6:30 am – 2:30 pm | Lunch served 10:30 am – 2:30 pm
Location:
Web & Social:
HIGHLIGHTS
- Cake Donuts:
- Yeast Donuts:
- Gluten-Free Donuts:
- Vegan Donuts:
- Non-Donut Food Options:
- Coffee:
- Credit Card Accepted:
- Wifi:
- Indoor Seating:
- Outdoor Seating:
- Merchandise:
- Order Ahead:
- Walkable Attraction(s):
THE REVIEW
We commuted to The Donut Kitchen from Fort Worth in about an hour and ten minutes. McKinney is part of the growing North Dallas region, with plenty of new strip malls and modern living communities like Craig Ranch. According to co-owner Leslie Davis, McKinney doesn’t have an abundance of independently-owned restaurants. The Davis family found their niche after sampling the local donut scene, a “tasteless and boring” snacking experience. They began experimenting with recipes and flavors and soon The Donut Kitchen found a home.
PROS:
These designer donuts certainly are not lacking in creativity or taste. You can tell that the Davis family prides themselves in their homemade recipes, despite having no prior experience in the food industry. The cake dough is moist with just enough air pockets, and the made-from-scratch icings really spoke to our taste buds. The blueberry cream cheese is the perfect amount of richness, the peanut butter tastes like real peanut butter (go figure!), and the key lime pie has a well-balanced tanginess. You can spot the difference between this kind of dough and the pre-made mixes fried in cheap oil.
The Donut Kitchen also sells soups, sandwiches, and salads, so why not stay for breakfast and lunch? We ordered the fried chicken sandwich at 7:30 am with zero regrets. This little slice of heaven was made-to-order with pickles and cheese and wrapped in a buttery croissant:
Excuse the rainbow sprinkle contamination…
Looking around as we stuffed our faces, the ambiance was pleasant with soft rock playing in the background and a few TVs hung on the wall. There were a handful of regular customers in no rush to leave. We also had the chance to chat with Leslie and her son Riley, who works the register and manages The Donut Kitchen’s social media presence. Much like us, the Davis’s are passionate about donuts and the local community.
CONS:
Yeast donut lovers will be hard pressed to find any flaky dough here. Coffee is nothing fancy, just drip-style with a do-it-yourself creamer and sweetener station. The distance from Dallas or Fort Worth proper may be enough of a deterrent for some. And while the city is clean with open spaces, there aren’t as many landmarks compared to major Texas cities.
Oh, and a personal regret of ours is that we didn’t order the whole. damn. menu. We’ll be back…
FINAL THOUGHTS
We had a very pleasant (and delicious) experience at The Donut Kitchen. From the intimate café vibe to the homemade donuts to the lovely owners, this place is truly worth a trip. Traditional sightseeing may be sparse around McKinney, but the town was named the #1 place to live by Money Magazine in 2014:
Why not grab some donuts, take a stroll in Chestnut Square Historic Village and make it a Saturday adventure? If you’re still feeling lazy about the trek, you’re in luck! We heard that The Donut Kitchen is expanding to 1 or 2 additional locations this year. Hint: Stay on top of the Frisco Rail Yard developments. You’re welcome.
