The Holy Donut

Reviews

• Albert H.

  star star star star star 2 November 2026

  What a unique donut experience here! I came on a quick day trip and heard so many good things, over if which was The Holy Donut. With their variety and seasonal flavors, it's definitely a place to visit.
  
  DONUTS: There were two donuts: the apple and dark chocolate. I really liked both and they're actually kind of dense donuts, but in a good way. It has more of a bite than a regular donut and also, it's got a crunchy exterior with the glaze. The contrast of the two actually makes for a unique donut experience that pairs well with a cup of coffee.
  
  SERVICE: There's definitely going to be a wait in line, but actually, it's not too bad. It moves quickly.
  
  Overall, it's a nice stroll in this part of Portland that is worth visiting. Come by for a morning bite or a late morning snack -- you won't be disappointed.

• Adam B.

  star star star star star_border 26 October 2026

  Are these the best donuts I've ever had. No. Are they unique ... hmmm. I think looks wise and texture wise they are. However because potato flour is used to make them, they are denser and more starchy than your average flour-based cake donut. They also tend to soak in a bit more of the oil making them a bit greasier and heavier. One of these bad boys in the morning and you won't need lunch until around 3 p.m.
  
  Luckily, we avoided the fuckery of the tourist line up out the door because it was rainy. There were about 4 people in front of me in line which moved fast. The later you go in the day, the better the chance they will run out of various flavors. They do replenish their stock from baking trays so if a space is empty, it may be a good idea to ask if they expect more to be brought out.
  
  The glaze is what really makes these stand out. Deep-fried anything made of some sort of dough would be great but cover it in a sexy sugary glaze and that is the stuff donut legends are made of. The flavor I thought would be best ... maple bacon ... was actually my least favorite. It was bland and very unmaple-y and the bacon was surprisingly flat and not salty or crunchy. The best flavor ... apple or dark chocolate sea salt. The berry glazed flavors with their bright pink icing were too sour for my taste, even as a steadfast supporter of Umami flavors.
  
  The staggering thing for me was the price. They are $13 per hslf dozen, $24 per dozen and $2.50 per donut! And add 75 cents for specialty donuts, which by the way are not marked. I got a half dozen and was charged this specialty upcharge (an extra $1.50) for 2 of the ones I chose. Fully understanding this wasn't exactly Dunkin Donuts, I was a bit surprised at how high the price was.
  
  One further word of advice for those planning on hoarding donuts to get you through the winter ... or delivering to family members outside of Portland is these donuts don't keep long. Instead of getting dried out and stale, these donuts get soggy and limp the longer you keep them. A few hours is acceptable but I ate 1 and brought home 5 and by the next morning, they were soggy and limp vs. cake-like and chewable.
  
  Overall, these are damn good donuts and if you don't mind waiting in line with a bunch of yappy tourists straight out of a Vinyard Vines photoshoot holding screaming children ... or paying about the equivalent to a month's worth of groceries in an underdeveloped country for a half dozen of these donuts ... it's worth it to get the dark chocolate sea salt or Maine apple donut. They serve coffee as well.

• Marial L.

  star star star star star 21 October 2026

  Potato Donut
  One of the must stops while in Portland, ME.
  
  The line was long, our time in town was short, so I asked my new tourist friends from Texas and who were waiting in-line to grab two donuts and I gave her $5.00 and told her I will pay the difference since I didn't know what was the price for donut.
  
  On our tour bus, she gave me two Old Fashioned Donuts, and insisted that I didn't owe her anything; but now I found out it actually costed $5.60 for the two donuts.
  
  I gobbled it down, it was so tasty and delicious. It just melted in my mouth. My new friend, who sitting next to me was from Ohio, whom I shared the other donut also liked it. We both felt lucky that we didn't miss the famous Holy Donut so said by our tour director.
  
  I am now back home for more than a month now, and I still miss that potato donut!
  
  Note: The ingredient of the donuts is potato flour.

• Franklin Z.

  star star star star star 15 October 2026

  If you're in the Old Port part of Portland, The Holy Donut is a must. The potato donuts are a specialty here and fried to crisp perfection. Out of both the dark chocolate one and the seasonal apple one, I think the seasonal one was my favorite so if that's still available, I suggest this one! However, the dark chocolate one added a sweeter taste to the mix which made for a good combination. I aso highly recommend the fresh grapefruit juice I got, which will help with digesting the doughnuts!

• Lana K.

  star star star star star 13 October 2026

  After waiting probably 20 minutes in line, I only got 1 donut at this place so this is not a completely accurate review. Though I can say on a Sunday late morning, the line moved at a relatively reasonable (almost quick) pace and it wasn't too long before my friend and I wedged our way through the front door and got to look at the extensive donut flavors.
  
  Funny thing was, one of the ladies announced how they just got out "FRESH CINNAMON SUGAR DONUTS" which sounds enticing. But we're in Maine after all, so I figure a little more Maine Blueberry isn't complete overkill and I decide on that one. I think it was less than $3 for one, depending on whether it's a specialty flavor or not (which isn't horribly bad compared to most "high-end" bakeries/pastry shops that would charge more or less the same). I waited until I got home to gently warm the donut and WOW was it good. People talk about how it's made with potatoes, and I will say the texture is different. Hard to describe even. It's cakey but really soft and almost melts in your mouth. Only regret was not getting more donuts (do yourself a flavor and get at least a half dozen).