John’s Space Age Donuts

Call it what you like, old school, classic, throw back, whatever. This place has nostalgia all over it. The Apple fritters are as good as they get, and they remind me of a time where flavor was King, and ingredient police didn’t exist. Cash only folks, so bring the Benjamin’s if you want these sugar bombs!

Best donuts ever, and OUTSTANDING customer service! I went to John’s to pick up donuts for a business team meeting, not realizing John’s only accepts cash or check. I only had a credit card and was about to leave to look for an ATM, when I was told to take the donuts, enjoy, and we look forward to seeing you again next time. I was amazed! I don’t find that level of customer service anywhere! I have told everyone I can to visit this shop, and I look forward to being a long time customer! Thank you John’s Space-​Age Donuts shop for making my morning, I will definitely be back!

I took my toddler here for a mommy/​son date and after we ordered, I saw the sign that said cash only! I apologized and told him that we wouldn’t be able to stay as I only had a card. The nice man rang us up anyway and told me to pay him back next time we came in. He saved our date plans, and we had such a nice time sitting at the counter eating our delicious donuts! I can’t wait to go back for more donuts and pay him back for the first ones.

I stopped in here on a Friday morning around 7:30. They still had quite a selection of donuts to choose from. I’m not sure what the location used to be, but it closely resembles a dumpy diner set up.
So it didn’t look like the cleanest or most welcoming place, but I still bought a couple of donuts.
I got the chocolate twist and the apple fritter. I feel like QT makes better donuts. My apple fritter was very greasy and slightly over cooked with little to no apples in it… isn’t that the point of an apple fritter? To have apples! The chocolate twist was basically chocolate flavored glazed donut. I feel like it wasn’t still slightly doughy and not cooked all the through unlike its apple fritter counterpart.
If I want a donut and I’m in the area this wouldn’t be my first choice. I’m not sure why this place is rated so highly.

They are the best glazed donuts in the Kansas city area. They are the best donuts period. So much better than the others.

Truly the best doughnuts I’ve ever had. The twists are out of this world! Yum yum yum yum yum!!!

I have been enjoying John’s Space Age Donuts for 30 years and now bring my daughter in to pick out her favorite sprinkled donut. My favorite? Chocolate twist and anything Bavarian cream filled! I love doughy texture of the twist and the flavor of the cream. Make sure to bring cash! Credit cards are not accepted.

Only way they could be better. Is warm

My family has been enjoying John’s Space Age Donuts for well over 2 decades. I personally had not been in about 15 years upon my most recent visit. Since that time, I have lived in a number of big cities, one of them taking special pride in its donut culture. I can now say, after all of this time, nothing beats the sugar glaze that is most clearly expressed in their twist donuts. The same guys were working there that worked there when I was a kid! What can I say? It’s amazing to see how much this place hasn’t changed over the years, and how some of their donuts are still just as good as the best of the best.

Best doughnuts in town, hands down! Don’t go to a chain doughnut shop, these are made fresh every morning there in the shop. Get there early, when they are gone they close. Our favorites are the fritters, and the chocolate and regular glazed twists. I hate to even tell people about them because I’m afraid I will have to start going even earlier to make sure they don’t sell out! The place hasn’t changed in years and that’s part of its charm.

having been to most of the donut shops in town, I just can’t get behind John’s Space Age Donuts. It reminds me of Lamar’s and I just don’t like Lamar’s. nothing special about the variety, the service or the location. Compared to Fluffy Fresh and Mr. D’s, just not even in the same league. For those from the area, I guess this is the old stand-​by, and I support local businesses every chance I get. I’ve now been here 3 times and just ain’t feeling it.

The only place worth going if you like a true doughnut. Forget Krispy Kreme or dunkin’ who? This place is a classic, open for 48 years and kept it’s original charm. Open 6 – 12 and if you want them hot get there before 8!!! Totally worth waking up for!!!

Best doughnuts around. Go for the fritter, get there early! Owner makes a limited amount every day and the place is usually closed by 10am at the latest.
Walking in it feels like the place hasn’t changed in 50 years, which it probably has not. Someone is always behind the crescent shaped counter to help you. Grab a coffee with your doughnut and enjoy the time warp.

You have tried chocolate glazed donuts. But have you tried them with chocolate DOUGH?!? No? Then go! The best donuts I’ve had, even compared to fancy san francisco frankenpastries.

This is the shortest review ever from me…
PROs
— apple fritters
— anything else in the case
— the service; if I had the time, I would totally be bellied up to the counter chatting!
CONs
— Mondays when they are closed
— anytime they are out of apple fritters

Awesome warm and fresh glazed donuts. The apple fritters were good and plump, but a little smaller than my preference. Nice employees too.

It really is as good as they say.
The donuts are fresh and light. I had my first ever apple fritter here, and it was amazing. They do run out quick so the get there early thing is true. The old feel, old style, and diner counter just charm the pants off of me. I dig this place.
Now if only I could convince them to start making some crazy or interesting flavors…

Not much as far as atmosphere but their pastries are to die for.
Get there early, they will run out of product by noon.

Who says everything has to change? That’s definitely not the case with John’s Space Age Donuts; it’s as classic a donut shop as you’re going to find.
The inside counter is like a 50’s diner, and you can see the hazy donut making process in the back as you hangout. The donut box is unchanged, the building is unchanged, and I’m pretty sure the staff is unchanged over the last handful of decades. One other thing that doesn’t change? You need to get their EARLY to get the best selection as they go pretty quickly. They go especially quickly during Farmers’ Market season as the OP Market is just down the road.
They’re known for their apple fritters, and they are, quite frankly the best in town. They have a strong apple flavor and crisped edges, with just a hint of frosting throughout the whole thing. ⁵⁄₅.
The glazed donuts are also choice. The cake ones I’ve had in the past are just okay, but I’m not the biggest cake donut connoisseur anyhow.
If you want coffee with it, it’s going to be classic diner coffee, not a strong cup you may be accustomed to.
This little gem is worth the visit, so if it’s been a while or you’ve never tried it, be sure to pop in some weekend and check it out.

True story: The hubby and I were watching a not-​so-​great movie called Rudderless where they had a donut shop called Chuck’s Space Age Donuts, a clear rip off of John’s Space Age Donuts. I happened to mention this to the hubby who said he’d never heard of John’s Space Age Donuts. What? How is that possible? It’s right in our neighborhood! So that’s how we ended up checking out John’s Space Age Donuts.
We went a bit too late on a Saturday morning, so the donuts weren’t exactly fresh and piping hot and I’m taking that into consideration in my rating. The donuts were fine, which is not what you want in a donut. When you eat a donut, you want to think that it’s one of the best you’ve ever had, right? The hubby ordered a few of them and a big bag was only a bit over $ 5, so the price is reasonable. If you go, bring cash… it’s their policy. This is definitely an old school mom and pop operation that has been around for a really long time. That, I like. For that reason, I may go back every now and then even though the donuts are nothing to write home about.
The hubby selected several varieties and each was missing a bit of what would have made it really good. Apple fritters didn’t have enough apple and cinnamon, cinnamon rolls didn’t have any cinnamon flavor at all, chocolate twist only had a faint chocolate flavor.
We hardly ever eat donuts in our house, but I have to say that I was a bit disappointed nonetheless. Maybe I was secretly pining for a really tasty fritter, but sadly, this is one of the few places in our neighborhood that we don’t love.