There’s not much more of a Portland original than Voo Doo Doughnuts. The mural across the street said it all: Keep Portland Weird. I stood in line for a half hour with every walk of Portland life: teens texting on their cell phones, Leave it to Beaver-type families talking about the Doughnut Nazi, and a couple of homeless people trying to earn money by selling their cardboard sign (well, they weren’t actually in line for doughnuts, but they were hanging out in the doorway of the night club next door) waiting for my turn to try a Bacon Maple Bar, Voo Doo’s famous doughnut.



When I finally made it inside the door, I was surprised at how small the counter and waiting area was. Walking into the bakery, the huge doughnut with pink frosting and sprinkles worthy of Homer Simpson nearly overwhelms the voo doo decorations. Luckily (?) there is a wall of obituaries of famous people to take your mind off the number of carbs that are probably in said doughnut. It wasn’t clear if the people died from eating so many doughnuts though…

Chalk-written signs above the counter list the donuts Voo Doo is famous for: Grape Ape, Mango Tango, Dirt Doughnut, doughnuts made with Devil’s Food Cake with various frostings (like Neopolitan, Butterfinger, and Dirty Snowball), and a few others not appropriate for this family-friendly blog. Another sign lists their Vegan Doughnuts, right next to the display of Voo Doo Doughnuts Underwear you can buy.

When I reached the counter, I was told the glass case displayed the doughnuts they actually had available. I was pretty bummed to learn they were out of the Bacon Maple Bars – the doughnut that made them famous. But I quickly got over it and had the girl behind the counter start a box for me. I had strict instructions from hubby to order a lot. After all, I was waiting all this time, right? With the pressure of the 30 some-odd people in line behind me and my growling stomach, I started pointing my finger and ordering doughnuts like a drug addict at a free tasting party: that one with the Fruit Loops on top, that one with the Butterfinger on top, what’s that one that looks like a foot with red sprinkles? I’ll take it, and that one over there with the chocolate and peanut butter and Rice Krispies on top. What else should I not miss? The Blueberry Muffin one? ‘k. And I’ll take the one with the Oreo Cookies and peanut butter on top. Phew! In the end, I’m not even sure how many I brought home, but it was definitely enough to satisfy everyone’s curiosity, and then some.





And the verdict? Wow. While I don’t think I could say these are the best quality doughnuts I’ve ever had (although, I’m not sure that I am such a doughnut connoisseur that I would know what that was?), I can say they didn’t leave the top of my mouth with that tell-tale greasy feeling (which I despise). And I can say those were some of the most unique combinations I’ve ever had. I was surprised at how much I liked the Tangfantastic – plain cake doughnut with Tang-flavored frosting (yup, the stuff the astronauts drank) and the Blueberry Muffin Doughnut (recommended by the girl behind the counter) did not disappoint.


A few of the doughnuts we brought home. What you see really is what it is: Oreo cookies, peanut butter, Rice Krispies, and marshmallows.

Was it worth the half hour wait? Yes, I would say so. It was fun to try all the different flavors and my curiosity has been piqued to try the others I didn’t get to try, especially the Bacon Maple Bar. I do think Voo Doo Doughnuts is a taste of Portland that is truly unique (no pun intended) and an interesting place to bring friends and family. Because really, where else can you find a Marshall Mathews doughnut? Good thing they’re open 24 hours so I can go find out what it is.