Updated as of January 30, 2023; 5:36 p.m.
(SPOT.ph) Doughnuts have a special place in the Filipino heart (and stomach)—they’ve been around for a long time, mostly associated as mid-day snacks or as pasalubong you’d bring home to your friends and family. As is the case with many nostalgic classics, however, there would soon be a wave of new bakers (er, fryers) who sought to turn the treat on its head and—as with their cupcake cousins—come out with their own leveled-up takes on the deep-fried treat. Who are we to complain? Here are 10 spots worth hitting up anytime a hankering for doughnuts hits.
Also read:
10 Best Places for Ready-Made Cakes in Manila
10 New Places for Great Desserts in Manila
Here are places to hit up for great doughnuts in Manila:
Poison Coffee & Doughnuts
More than employing futuristic, cyberpunk-esque interiors, Poison rolls out doughnuts using a sourdough brioche base (by chefs Miko Aspiras and Kristine Lotilla of Scout’s Honor, Le Petit Souffle, and Workshop fame) that makes for a dense, hefty bite with a slightly tangy flavor. From their simple Vanilla Glaze (P60) and Salted Dark Chocolate (P60) to the more eccentric Garam Masala (P60) and over-the-top Egg Custard Brulee (P80) filled with a thick custard and torched on top to finish, there’s something for everyone at this hip spot.
Poison Doughnuts is at The Alley, Karrivin Plaza, 2316 Chino Roces Extension, Makati City.
Bungalow Cafe
From the brains behind Flour Jar comes Bungalow Cafe, where you can enjoy freshly made doughnuts (P60) made with zero preservatives, seven days a week. Rolled, proofed, and fried fresh every day, their doughnuts carry a fluffy, airy texture that works wonders with their equally light, billowy fillings. Bungalow Cafe employs fresh cream and custard, nut butters, and jams that are made in-house with local ingredients. Plus, there’s always a reason to come back, as the flavors change regularly—among those on their previous roster include Passion Fruit, Spiced Chocolate, and Ube Halaya.
Bungalow Cafe is at Molito Commercial Complex, Alabang, Muntinlupa City.
Jersey Bakery
By no means your average doughut shop, Jersey Bakery crafts up versions of the pastry in flavors you'd be hard-pressed to find elsewhere. Think Puto Bumbong; Castañas; and the pleasingly purple Ube, Ube, Ube with ube chips, ube halaya, and an ube mirror glaze.
For orders, visit Jersey Bakery's website. You can also check out their Facebook page.
Wildflour
Wildflour’s got a couple of options for lovers of deep-fried dough, starting with the classic doughnuts in flavors like the Old-Fashioned (P60) and Strawberry (P90). Another crowd favorite are their Bombolonis—the doughnuts’ smaller, rounder Italian cousins, which Wildflour serves with fillings like Creme Brulee (P100) and Hazelnut (P70). Wildflour was also among the first locally to offer their take on the formerly trendy hybrid dessert Cronuts, coming in flavors like Tiramisu (P155) and Dulce de Leche (P155).
See a list of Wildflour branches.
Rogue Doughnuts
Doughnuts with malunggay and patis? Yup, those exist. Get your fix from Rogue Doughnuts, a local shop created in collaboration with renowned pastry chef Miko Aspiras. Their doughnuts have a sourdough base that lends every bite a subtle tang—perfect for countering the richness of the other components. Must-tries include the Patis Honey-Glazed (P105), White Chocolate Malunggay (P105), Spicy Dilis (P105), and 64% Mindanao Dark Chocolate with Cacao Nibs (P105).
Rogue Doughnuts is at The Podium, 12 ADB Avenue, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City and Bonifacio High Street, Bonifacio Global City.
Green Bar
Those avoiding animal products need not miss out on any of the doughnut fun with Green Bar’s vegan doughnuts (P75/regular, P80/premium). Offering both ring-shaped and filled variants, the flavors change up daily, but you can expect decadent-AF flavors like Strawberry Oreo, Banana Peanut Brittle, and Coco Guava.
Green Bar is at 106 Aguirre Street, Legazpi Village, Makati City.
Bad Café
Nothing goes with a good cup of coffee like doughnuts, and you can enjoy the classic pairing over at this Legazpi Village hangout. Their doughnuts (P80) are made in-house every day, employing a brioche base for a light but rich bite. Coming in three flavors (Sugar Cinnamon, Dark Mocha, and Lemon Glaze), Bad Café only makes a limited amount daily—call ahead if you really want to secure your stash.
Bad Café is at G/F Windsor Tower, Legazpi Street, Legazpi Village, Makati City.
Baker Brothers
Looking to feed a crowd, or did the cravings just hit you really hard? This SM Aura spot’s got doughnuts that come in two sizes—a medium-sized 80-gram version (P120) and a larger 140-gram version (P160)—and the latter is as big as a plate. Meant to be ordered in advance for a minimum of 12, these doughnuts are made with whole wheat, which probably helps them score a few #health points (just kidding, they’re still fried)—but more importantly, gives them a slightly nutty flavor that goes with whichever flavor you choose: Strawberry, Mango, Calamansi, or Nutella. Bring a knife and fork for this one, and definitely don’t forget your appetite.
Baker Brothers is at LG/F SM Aura Premier, Bonifacio Global City.
Pâtisserie Bebe Rouge
Yep, they’ve also got their own distinctive take on doughnuts in the Land of the Rising Sun, and you can try them out at this Japanese-owned pâtisserie. Try the Chocolate or Strawberry-iced variants (P49) if you’re after a more classic bite, or try the red bean-filled An-Doughnut (P49) if you’re after something more distinctly Japanese. They sell out fast, so you’ll want to call in advance. (If they do run out, you can always find consolation in their soft-serve.)
Pâtisserie Bebe Rouge is at 7602 Sacred Heart Street corner Metropolitan Avenue, San Antonio, Makati City.
1120 House
Best known for their continental fare with Filipino influences, this chic enclave recently added what they call Doughnettes to their menu. These drool-inducing treats are rolled, cut, and dipped in-house—you can't beat that handcrafted charm after all—and come in flavors like Golden Bacon, Strawberry Shortcake, and Manuka Honey.
1120 House is at The Metropolitan Club compound, Estrella Street corner Amapola Street, Makati City.
Honorable mentions:
Baker on East
Led by brothers Chino and Gio Cruz, this home-based venture churns out handmade doughnuts (P550/box of eight) made with a slightly enriched milk bread base. Most notable are their range of flavors—some of which are on the suave side, some on the playful side. We’re talking classics given twists that are unorthodox but totally work—think Pineapple + Lime Leaf, Cold Brew Custard, Gala Apple + Miso Caramel, and Mandarin Cointreau Creme Brûlée, among others.
As of January 2023, they're not selling doughnuts, but you’ll want to keep tabs on their social media accounts for updates.
For more information, check out Baker on East’s Instagram page.
Buns & Bros
This Makati burger shop makes more than just great burgers—their Donut Bites (P18/piece for classic flavors, P24/piece for premium flavors) also make them worth a visit. Made from scratch every day (they’re freshly fried in the morning!), they come in the form of small “bites” that are just light enough to end a heavyweight burger meal with, and make it way too easy to pop in the mouth one after the other. Their flavors change every day—some previous variants include Peanut Butter & Jelly, S’Mores, and French Toast Crunch.
As of January 2023, the restaurant has closed.
Cupcakes by Sonja
They may be more known for their cupcakes, but Sonja Ocampo also makes great doughnuts on weekends (and only on weekends—if anything, that at least keeps us from scarfing them down every day). Light, fluffy, and filled with a billowy, not-too-sweet cream before being rolled in sugar, these doughnuts come in flavors like Banoffee (P65), Gianduja (P75), and Creme Caramel (P65), which is one of our favorite caramel desserts in Manila.
As of January 2023, Cupcakes by Sonja no longer sells doughnuts.
See a list of Cupcakes by Sonja branches.
