I Explored Small-Town New Jersey To Taste 10 Donut Shops (And Just 2 Deserved The Hype)
Last summer, I drove over 300 miles across New Jersey with one mission: finding the best donuts in small towns everyone claims are worth the trip.
Armed with napkins and a stretchy waistband, I visited ten shops that locals swore by on social media.
Spoiler alert: most were just okay, but two absolutely blew my mind and earned every bit of praise they get.
1. Ob-Co’s Donuts — Toms River
Walking into this Toms River institution feels like stepping back to 1985, which makes sense since they have been around forever. The glazed donuts look picture-perfect behind the glass, shiny and golden brown.
But here is the truth: they taste like every other basic chain donut you have had. Nothing terrible, nothing memorable. The texture was fine, the sweetness was there, but zero personality came through in the flavor.
2. Shore Good Donuts — Ship Bottom ⭐ Worth the Hype
Finally, a shop that actually gets it right! Shore Good Donuts combines creativity with quality, offering flavors like blueberry crumble and salted caramel that taste homemade.
Each bite has layers of flavor and texture that make you slow down and savor it.
The dough itself is fluffy yet sturdy, never greasy or heavy. They clearly use premium ingredients, and you can taste the difference immediately. This place absolutely deserves every five-star review it gets online.
3. Brown’s Restaurant (donuts) — Ocean City
Brown’s is famous for breakfast, not donuts, and honestly, it shows. Their donuts feel like an afterthought on a menu packed with pancakes and omelets that people actually come for.
The cake donuts were dense and dry, lacking the moisture that makes a donut truly enjoyable.
Even dunking them in coffee could not save the experience. Stick to their eggs and skip the pastry case entirely if you visit this Ocean City spot.
4. Purple Glaze Donuts — Asbury Park
Everything about Purple Glaze screams Instagram bait, from the neon signs to the over-the-top toppings piled high on each donut. They look absolutely stunning in photos, no question about that.
Taste-wise, though? The donuts are way too sweet, and the toppings overpower any actual donut flavor underneath.
It feels like eating pure sugar with a side of more sugar. Great for photos, disappointing for your taste buds and your stomach afterward.
5. Broad Street Dough Co. — Oakhurst
Broad Street tries really hard to be artisan and fancy, but the execution just misses the mark completely. The donuts are oddly shaped, which could be charming, except the texture is inconsistent throughout.
Some bites are perfectly fluffy while others feel undercooked and doughy in the center. The flavors are interesting on paper but taste muddled in reality.
You want to love this place because the vibe is cool, but the product needs serious work before it lives up to expectations.
6. Top That Donuts — Point Pleasant Beach
The concept here is simple: pick your donut base, then choose from dozens of toppings to create your own masterpiece. Sounds fun, right?
Unfortunately, the base donuts taste stale and flavorless, like they sat out overnight before opening. Piling on toppings cannot hide mediocre dough underneath.
The staff was friendly and the location near the beach is convenient, but the actual donuts need major improvement to justify the hype locals give them.
7. Glaze Donuts — New Milford
Glaze Donuts is perfectly average in every possible way, which is not necessarily a compliment when you are hunting for the best. The donuts are fine, the service is quick, and the prices are reasonable.
But nothing stands out or makes you want to drive back for more. The glaze tastes generic, the cake donuts are forgettable, and the whole experience feels like checking a box.
If you live nearby, sure, but definitely not worth a special trip across town.
8. Beignets — Denville
Calling this place Beignets sets expectations sky-high, especially if you have ever had the real deal in New Orleans. These do not come close to matching that standard.
The dough lacks the pillowy lightness that makes beignets special, tasting more like fried bread than delicate pastry. The powdered sugar cannot mask the disappointing texture underneath.
They are edible, sure, but calling them beignets feels misleading when they barely resemble the authentic French Quarter version everyone loves.
9. Village Donut Shop — Jackson
Village Donut Shop has that old-school charm where regulars know each other by name and everyone has their usual order. The atmosphere is genuinely warm and welcoming.
Sadly, the donuts themselves are just okay, nothing special or memorable about the flavors. They taste like standard grocery store bakery donuts, which is fine for a quick breakfast but not destination-worthy.
The coffee is decent, though, and the prices are cheap, so locals probably keep coming back more for community than quality.
10. Uncle Dood’s Donuts — Toms River ⭐ Worth the Hype
Uncle Dood’s earned its reputation the hard way: by making consistently delicious donuts that keep people coming back daily. The line wraps around the building most mornings, and for good reason.
Their donuts are perfectly fried, never greasy, with a tender crumb that melts in your mouth. The fillings are generous, the glazes are balanced, and every flavor tastes intentional and well-executed.
This is exactly what a great neighborhood donut shop should be, and the hype is completely justified here.