A pink and beige sign with a dancing baker adorns the storefront of Stan’s Donuts. The smells of freshly made pastries fill my nose as I walk in and am greeted by rows of colorfully displayed treats. The line is small, considering it’s late afternoon on a recent Thursday.  When I begin to scan the menu, I can see why Stan’s-– and the donut industry in general–has become increasingly popular in urban areas in recent years.  

In an area filled with numerous doughnut shops and a variety of other confectionary eateries gleams L.A.-based Stan’s Donuts. These fried treats have become a staple for people looking for a quick bite or an after-meal guilty pleasure. The brand has three other Chicago locations in Wicker Park, Streeterville, and Lincoln Park, which is expected to open this fall.

Rich Labriola, the owner of Chicago’s stores, partnered with founder Stan Berman to bring the California based shop to the midwest. Stan’s originated in 1950 and featured several types of donuts.

I first made a pit stop at the Streeterville location, and was not disappointed.

People are seated at small white tables inside the glass-paneled store.  I can hear the commotion of several hands preparing and putting final touches on the treats in the back, and workers placing donuts into paper bags or on plates. There are plenty of tables, making it a great spot to grab a treat with friends.

Stan’s old-fashioned donuts range from fritters and fruity twists to their signature-flavored pockets. Classic flavors, or the ‘standards’ on the menu, will satisfy anyone’s craving for typical chocolate or vanilla donuts, but with a twist. Each specialty donut is $2.55, and pockets are $3.30 a piece. Their menu lists choices such as Coconut Cake, Lemon Pistachio, Toffee Cake, Nutella Banana Pockets, and Blueberry Fritter donuts. To add on to your order, the new location, which is set to open this fall, will be serving soft-serve gelato along with Intelligentsia coffee.

Behind the counter four employees smile while serving their specialty treats, and cups of steaming hot coffee to accompany many orders. With the brightly lit atmosphere, you may feel uplifted just by walking in and seeing heaps of donuts right in front. The wait in line to order is usually not too long, and I was given time to decide among the abundance of choices.

My indecisiveness enabled me to order a Chocolate Old-Fashioned, a Cinnamon Roll Donut, and a Peanut Butter Banana Pocket. The cashier enthusiastically tells me that their multi-flavored pockets are a specialty and run out extremely quickly. I wait at the other end of the counter for just a few minutes, and when an employee hands me my order, I find a lot to admire about the donuts already.

As I take a bite of the  pocket donut, peanut butter oozes from its center and is the perfect combination of sweet and salty. The Chocolate Old-Fashioned is not as tasty and fresh as the others, which will be a slight letdown if you’re looking to satisfy a chocolate tooth. I would recommend their specialty pockets because the medley of flavors set them apart from competing donut stores. For a total of $6, these high quality donuts were definitely worth every bite.

Stan’s competes with popular donut stores such as Glazed and Infused, which also has locations in Wicker Park, Streeterville and Lincoln Park, among others, and Firecakes Donuts, with one location in River North. While all of these stores have donut trucks around the city and unique twists on baked goods, many don’t have the creations that I experienced at Stan’s. For cheaper donuts than other gourmet bakeries, but still creative and substance- filled, Stan’s will provide.

Several Parker students have raved about the quality of this donut shop. Intelligentsia iced coffee, cappuccinos, and tea are the perfect drinks with which to wash them down. Stan’s also offers delivery of donuts, which is an immediate plus for me. I have returned to Stan’s one more time, and plan to go back again. Flavors like the Beignet Donut or Dreamsicle bar might be worth a taste.  

When visiting Chicago, indulging in donuts is a must-–especially when they’re made at Stan’s.