Buffalo’s own Paula’s Donuts has been named the best doughnuts in New York State, according to the monthly recipe and cooking magazine Food & Wine.
With three Western New York locations — Tonawanda, Clarence and West Seneca — the shop has been family-owned and operated since 1966.
The story’s author, David Landsel, says the best doughnut in New York State is Paula’s cannoli cream-filled donut, which was created in 2019 for a Buffalo charity and has now been fully incorporated into the shop’s regular menu.
Paula’s Tonawanda branch is the chain’s closest to North Campus, at about a 10 minutes drive. Paula’s accepts online orders for pick-up or delivery. The store is also open daily from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Paula’s Donuts was the only Western New York joint to make the list, but some other doughnut shops in Western New York also deserve a nod, like Fry Baby Donut Co. and Donut Kraze.
Fry Baby Donut Co. specializes in plant-based donuts. Here, patrons can expect awesome vegan doughnuts as well as pizza and pastries. Fry Baby is located in downtown Buffalo and is open Wednesday through Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m, but does not accept delivery orders.
Donut Kraze is another superb option for classic donuts. The joint is usually open late for students’ late-night cravings, but with COVID-19 restrictions, Kraze is forced to close early. The store has two locations, in Tonawanda and in downtown Buffalo. Kraze is open daily from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. for walk-in and Grubhub orders.
With 15 consecutive weeks of classes, students need something to distress; Paula’s, Fry Baby and Kraze can satisfy their doughnut cravings.
Dan Eastman is the assistant managing editor and can be reached at danielson.eastman@ubspectrum.com
Photo: Courtesy of the Mid-American Conference
