Granny Donuts

I think some of you guys need to find yourselves some thicker skin. The owners of this place are absolutely hilarious, and their donuts are just as classic. Try the blueberry donut and the apple fritter, you won’t be disappointed.

Best doughnuts around. Homemade and fresh, sold to you by the owner with a quirky sense of humor. He is like a Seinfeld character in real life. Go here, get the goods, enjoy the humor.

Cash Only! You will not be disappointed with this shop, it has very standard donuts, no crazy hipster shit here. Very reasonable prices and a little old lady behind the counter.

Well, I do love donuts and I’ve been a traveling man most of my life. Donut shops are usually same old same old… but…these guys do get it right. The blueberry cake donuts are lovely. I’ll be sure to go again! Thanks guys.

The best donuts in Minnesota!
I live in Eagan, but drive to West St Paul to bring these (and only these) doughnuts to work (downtown Minneapolis) for special occasions. The glazed are the lightest, fluffiest, most perfect donuts anywhere; all of their donuts and treats are heaven. The doughnuts are also inexpensive at $ 10/​dozen! We have donuts in downtown Minneapolis, but they’re not nearly as good as Granny and crazy-​overpriced.
CASH ONLY at Granny; bring cash. :)
Granny is a mom and pop shop that’s been in business for 30 years. The owner, Xuan To (70), and his wife, Que Banh, are hilarious and so friendly. Granny is worth the drive, no matter where you are. I brought 5 dozen to work this morning and I’ve gotten nearly 30 emails asking where I got them. I hope they’re in business another 30+ years!

Based on the reviews, I had high hopes for this place. I’m not going to say it wasn’t good, it was… but I’ve had better.
It’s your average donut shop. One plus is that every donut was inexpensive — easy on the wallet! Also, I went there later in the day and there was still a decent selection, so that was nice.

ACCEPTS CASH ONLY: Have cash on you!!!
On the corner of Robert St & Wentworth.
I just love the regular glazed donut. It’s soft and fluffy… and if I still ate meat, I could make a burger with two donuts as the buns. The donut holes are even better. Why? I don’t know why! They just are, but you can’t purchase them! You can ask for them and if they have some you can purchase it, but they aren’t on the menu for purchasing. The blueberry one is the next best. It’s like a cake, but a donut. The cherry one is also very good. I think I tried the applecritter type one too. It was better than any others I’ve tried. I definitely recommend these donuts, but be careful. You can eat way too many in one sitting.
I forgot about the pricing. Sorry, so I can’t really post that here. BUT I know that’s its cheap! Maybe $ 0.85 per donut? half a dozen for $ 5? Don’t quote me. Just have your cash and stop in!
My favorite donut ratings:
#1 Donut holes, if/​when available
#2 Regular glazed donuts
#3 Blueberry donut
#4 Cherry donut
#5 Apple Fritter
I’m sure all donuts are good, but I always get the same ones.

Oh my gosh, these are probably the best donuts I have ever had. I would normally post pictures, but the donuts were gone so fast. My boyfriend and I didn’t even get out the door without him finishing one. You can’t go wrong here, no matter what you pick. I took a chance and selected a Devil’s Food Cake donut and to my delight, it had a delicious chocolatey filling! I was expecting a standard dry cake donut that was overly chocolatey. Nope. Delicious moist goodness. Oh I can’t recommend this place enough. If you are ever in the area stop in and try a few. I promise, you will want more than one. Oh also, bring cash! It’s cash only. Seriously, this place is the bomb! You are missing out if you pass up on it.

Wow heard about this place from a friend, went in and saw there was a special price for a dozen donuts, asked the man behind the counter. He declared no everything 85 cents I said well your sign says he cuts me off screams I’ve a been here for thirty years I know a the prices .
I proceeded to order then saw at register they only accept cash, I said sorry I don’t have cash and he screams no donut for you !!! Instead of soup nazi he is the donut nazi !!! My parents owned a bakery for 20 plus years they would NEVER treated a customer like that !!! Save some time don’t bother !!! Wanted to put no stars it wouldn’t let me.

To me, these are the best donuts available in Minnesota. Having been to more «trendy» places, they cannot touch the quality, taste, or service at Granny Donuts.
I really love it when the owner is there. He’s kind of like the soup nazi in that you’d better know what you want when it’s your turn to choose. If you’re still unsure, let the person behind you go and hope that they don’t take what you may have had your eye on.
The prices here are ridiculously cheap, again not a reflection of the quality. I’ve never had anything that I didn’t like, so your safe bet is to let your stomach guide you and don’t overthink it.
Because business has picked up, thankfully, it’s best to get there as early as possible. Otherwise, you may walk into the shop full of empty trays.

My fiancé used to come here almost every morning on his way to work, probably 10 years ago. He hadn’t been back until he took me here about a week ago when we were waiting for his tires to be rotated across the street. The second we walked in, the owner goes, «I know you! I know him! How are you my friend?!» That was pretty cool. I wasn’t expecting the quality of donuts that these are, that’s for sure! Blueberry was probably my favorite, who knew? I’m not even a big donut person but dang these are good! They’re not too gut wrenching sweet, until, well, you inhale 4 of them like I did. $ 10 for a dozen is a great price when many places charge $ 2-​$ 3 for A donut that doesn’t taste nearly as good. We’ll be back for sure. Also, make sure to bring cash and that’s all he accepts.

Best donuts ever. Sometimes donuts can be too sweet and overwhelming. People pile amazing stuff on the to make them pretty to look at but hard to eat. Granny donuts are just simple donuts that are light and melt in your mouth. I’m not one to get too excited by donuts, but these are worth the short drive to West St. Paul for a real treat. If you engage Granny in conversation, she will tell you about being there for 37 years and give you a handful of donut holes. Don’t try to put them in a bag and walk out. She wants you to eat them right there and hear you melt. Make the trip. You’ll be glad you did.

I’ve been to a lot of donut shops. Some are classic-​style places, and others are trendy «weird donut» places where you can get things like glazed maple bacon donuts (or whatever hipsters seem to be into these days). I’ve had some good donuts, but visiting Granny’s Donuts made my previous donut experiences look like a mere warmup for what real donuts are all about. In fact, my girlfriend remarked, «isn’t it like you’ve never really had a donut before»?
Yeah, this review sounds incredibly hyperbolic. I can’t help it. I ordered the devil’s food donut and the blueberry donut, and they were simply out of this world. I’ve come to expect cake donuts to be somewhat dense and dry, but these were moist and airy. The proprietor included a handful of donut holes (for reasons that remain unclear to me other than she was awesome). These were simple glazed donut holes. Wow. I’ve never had anything this light and sweet. They just melt in your mouth.
The entire reason that I visited Granny’s is that I found their apple fritter listed as one of the top ten (specific) donuts in the Twin Cities. I did order the fritter, and while it was very good, it wasn’t the greatest fritter I’ve ever had. Stan’s in Chicago still takes the prize in that category. However, I’m holding it to a crazy standard. It’s the second best apple fritter I’ve ever eaten.
Do yourself a favor and check it out for yourself. The shop doesn’t look like much. It’s not fancy or anything. It’s just a wonderful place that makes some of the best donuts I’ve ever eaten.

I have been visiting more than I would like to admit lately and decided that they are a solid 5 stars. Those freakin donuts are scrumpdillyicious… The boston cream is my favorite. A dollar well spent!

Ive stopped in here a couple times. I love it! The donuts melt in your mouth. They are awesome. Ive shared them. with anyone that visits me and they all love them.
The bakers are so nice and generous. I will come back here time and again. :-)

I decided to stop here last minute, and I am so glad I did! Their donuts are, of course, delicious. But they are also very kind and sweet, generous, and I will definitely be back.
Their chocolate devils food donuts were the best I ever had.
One warning: they are cash only! There is a US bank a few buildings down with an ATM if, like me, you never seen to have cash when you need it.
It was probably my guardian angel trying to tell me I really didn’t need donuts today. NPR was also doing a talk on how Americans are addicted to sugar.
Clearly, my angel’s recommendations fell on deaf ears today :). #sorrynotsorry

Good enough for West St. Paul. Sadly that’s not saying much.
Unilocal says this review isn’t long enough, so I’ll elaborate:
1. This place is pretty rundown. So it fits in the area nicely.
2. Friendly staff will gladly steer you to the $ 2 donut if you appear unsure of yourself.
3. Remember what donuts were like in the 1970’s? Welcome to the unremarkable past, but greasier.
It’s not fully their fault. It’s hard to look good in this most unremarkable of suburban hells.
Turn on to route 62 and keep driving. You can do better.

Just SKIP this place if you’re looking for delicious doughnuts. Really disappointed about this place. Ask yourself would you like grease with your doughnuts? If yes then I guess this is the place for you. Came to granny’s doughnuts on a whim since I was in the area. Firstly its in a great location, but the customer service is totally non existent and AWFUL here.
I asked several questions and the owner that was working was super rude, dismissive and insulting not to mention very condescending! I bluntly asked him does he have to be rude towards customers that are purchasing his products? Of course no apology or explanation he became even more offensive.
Glad I only bought 2 doughnuts because these were nasty. I could tell they were very greasy in the case but holes they weren’t overwhelmingly oily. I cut into it and it was damp and soggy. Took a bite of it and all I could taste was grease. I didn’t even want to finish the doughnut after that one bite. Just cold and greasy doughnut in your mouth. I have a very strong stomach but after 10 mins my belly didn’t like all that oily business! The size and appearances of the doughnuts were depressing but the selections were large. Pricing was cheap thank god because these doughnuts tasted awful.
Another Unilocal about this place is it does not take credit cards only cash — seriously, get with the program!
Don’t waste your time here with these greaseball doughnuts drive 5 more mins to puffy cream where service is pleasant and the doughnuts are large and not at all greasy.

My abs — where are they?
Oh, that’s rightttt… As of now, they’re mainly covered in sweet awesomeness thanks to Granny Donuts. –OK, this ain’t true. I’ve eaten other tasty baked confections and other delicious treats in my lifetime, but none like the donuts I had at Granny’s. Sure, I’ve only visited once, but that’s all it takes to become a believer of this West Saint Paul institution. Will you on day see me on A&E’s Intervention showing me on my couch scarfing down a box of their stuff? Possibly. #imrambling
*****
Patrons definitely do not visit Granny Donuts for their décor or ambience. I mean, damn, the walls, floors, and seats date back to the Vietnam War era. Instead, they attract regulars by 1) pumping out delectable donuts daily and 2) keeping them at a reasonable price. The awesome smell of the place doesn’t hurt, too. ;)
For fewer than five dollars, I purchased three memorable and tasty pieces of heaven:
*Vanilla Glazed Donut: I inhaled this thing, mainly because I’ve never tasted a glaze oh-​so amazing. I love the classics, and they do this one well.
*Chocolate Long John: Did you know that John/​Jon means God’s gift? (Jon, how do you know that? ;0) After my first bite, I can certainly say that this treat certainly lived up to its name. Not to mention, I spilled some of the frosting on my shirt and almost got into a car accident on Robert Street. I was trying to find out where the dollop of chocolate landed on my shirt, and how I would get it in my mouf. #chubbypeopleproblems
*Apple Fritter: Due to the flat and pancake-​like shape, apple fritters remind me of land minds I’ve read in books and seen in movies. And like a land mind, this one went boom in my mouth. SWEET-​TART EXPLOSION, YA’LL.
Aside from these noms, the elderly Chinese woman that served me (owner? Co-​owner?) gave me several donut holes to also make it more difficult for me to lose weight and look sexy this summer.
You won’t find a donut with bacon, candied pecans, infused mint, and natural sourced honey covered there. You will, however, discover a mom and pop shop serving classic donut joints that appeal to errbody.
VERDICT: I would be more than willing to run around Lake of the Isles every day, if it meant I could eat one of their apple fritters once a week. Why are they so far from my house? :(That’s probably a good thing.

Granny’s Donut Shop looks like the product of a bygone era, but you won’t find any faster — fresher — or friendlier — donuts in West St Paul. Granny’s has become my go-​to for saturday morning donuts. A staple in the neighborhood for more than 25 years, Granny’s has plenty of old-​school charm, backed up by the friendliest service I’ve encountered in the Twin Cities.
The Vietnamese couple that own Granny’s is iconic. Xuan, the owner, can often be seen making the donuts. His wife, Que Banh, typically runs the register. For my (donut) money, she’s the star attraction of Granny’s. She brings the shop to life with her smile, demeanor, and enthusiasm. On a recent visit for a dozen donuts, she «topped off» each bag with free donut holes. After I left a tip, she beaconed me over and handed me another donut as a sign of gratitude.
Occasionally, Xuan runs the register. When this occurs, service isn’t nearly as good, but the venue’s charm remains. The blueberry cake donuts, cinnamon rolls, and glazed donuts sold here are ‘culinary crack.’ That’s probably why the owners are so generous about providing free samples.
Granny’s is open 365 days. Donuts are inexpensive, but cash only. No credit cards accepted. (There’s a convenient US Bank drive-​thru ATM machine nearby.)