Donut Friar — Restaurant in Gatlinburg

I tend to avoid phrases like "best I ever had" or "must-see" because so much of food and taste is subjective, but I'm quite certain these donuts really were the best I ever had.

If you go early in the morning, The Donut Friar almost seems to advertise itself with the long line of patient people snaking its way down the cobblestone walkway. And that's the line to just get IN. My husband is not one to wait for food, but I begged him to stick to the plan for the sake of these well-hyped doughnuts. He grumbled a bit, but once we actually good inside, the warm smells of freshly fried baked goods quieted both of us as we just turned our noses up happily.

A nice lady in front of us heard me gabbing excitedly about which ones I'd like to eat and recommended I get the cinnamon and twisted sugar donut. She also gave me a wink-wink-nudge-nudge tip that the Donut Friar also sells loaves of cinnamon bread. These are in short supply and not even mentioned on the menu, but they only make twentyish a day. I knew I'd met my eating match when she walked up to the counter and asked for her order of twenty loaves.

As for our own order, we decided to listen to our local expert and order both of her recommendations. I couldn't even wait a few steps before I pulled one out of the bag and sank my teeth into one of them. They're...incredible. Both of them had a delicate and almost crunchy exterior, with the most fluffy and slightly sweet bready interior.

The donuts are so cheap that after we gobbled both of our doughnuts, we looked longingly at the line and wondered whether it'd be worth it to wait for another. A few things to note: they're cash only, so remember to come prepared (unless you want to pay the fee at the ATM), and there's nowhere to sit inside. Thankfully, there are a few benches around this little complex so you can enjoy your sweet breakfast in peace.

...That is, if you can even wait long enough to grab a seat. Because I...

I usually browse through the reviews and see how people are getting along but, reading these made me sad.

I've been going to this establishment for what I believe is over 25 years now. I've bought donuts some years, checked in others. Never have I had a bad experience. Never have I been upset with the quality. Never have I been treated poorly. Some people have a bad day, sure, but as long as they do what I ask, within reason for an employee taking requests from a customer, then it's positive marks.

Apparently, after reading reviews, people have the insane expectation a store in the strip of Gatlinburg, TN should have private parking. That's ridiculous. One reviewer stated they had been customers for 20 years, visiting 1-3 times a year and specifically mentioned their norm is a 5-star experience. This reviewer actually gave the Donut Friar a 1-star review based on a single subjectively poor experience they had. 20 years of great service, one bad experience. 1-star. INSANITY.

The people in this store are amazing. The donuts are top notch. The glazed cake donut is my personal favorite and, if you don't personally like the lemon undertone when the donut itself has no objective faults, that's a you problem.

It is cash-only but they have an ATM (5) feet from the register and the price of a regular donut is $1.15. the average visitor buys one, maybe two, donuts. It is impossible to expect a single-transaction business to cover processing fees for such a small price point.

As far as a donut store goes, this is quintessential Gatlinburg and I hope and pray they never change. I love you guys and continue being the best donuts...

We’re big coffee drinkers and have lattes almost every day, whether homemade or purchased. On a cold late night while traveling from Texas (and definitely feeling the chill!), we needed a warm coffee fix and decided to stop by this donut shop.

The long line was promising, and to their credit, the service was quick despite the crowd. However, the lattes didn’t quite meet my personal standards. They tasted too much like milk and lacked the bold coffee flavor I prefer. An extra shot of espresso would have gone a long way in balancing the flavor and giving it that kick I was looking for.

That said, the donuts were fantastic! We grabbed a few sugar donuts, and they were soft, fresh, and perfectly sweet. They were easily the highlight of our visit. The only downside was that they couldn’t warm them up for us, which was a bit disappointing on such a cold night. I’m not sure why warming them wasn’t an option, but even without that, they were delicious.

Another drawback was that they only accept cash. While they do have an ATM on-site, it feels a little sketchy, almost like they’re profiting off the ATM fees. It’s an inconvenience that left a bit of a sour note on the experience.

Overall, I’d definitely come back for the donuts—they were absolutely worth it! However, I wouldn’t return for the coffee, as it didn’t quite hit the mark for me. If you’re in the mood for some fresh, tasty donuts, this is a great spot, but if coffee is your priority, you might want to...