Best Apple Fritter Of My Life @ BB Donuts - 92/100

Nice, one day after my vow to not taint my palette with non-donut items, I had a croissant breakfast sandwich at BB Donuts, my Houston stop.  I couldn't help it, I eat tacos all the time in San Diego but I can't actually remember the last time I ate a croissant.  BB's won awards for its croissants so it seemed the way to go.  The croissant was good.  Flaky and buttery I could imagine it would be great for a hamburger (which they serve, also fried rice) but for the breakfast sandwhich the ham, egg, and cheese were only lukewarm and pretty forgettable.

But when it came to donuts they made an amazing apple fritter.  This thing was fried crispy on the outside, slightly greasy on the inside, super portions of apple inside the soft and doughy center.  I mix in apple fritters into my donut rotation pretty often and I truly believe this was the greatest apple fritter I've ever had.  It was still warm inside but even when I ate the other half in the car ride to New Orleans and it wasn't hot anymore, it was still just as delicious.  Only in a different way since the grease had merged back into the dough making it great on another level.

I had the glazed too since everyone's donut shop has been recommending that and it was too sweet.  I am beginning to wonder if my hypothesis is true that donuts are sweeter in the East than the West and I'm starting to see the transformation as I travel East.   They didn't have the hugest selection of donuts but there would be plenty other options for me if I ever found myself in Houston again.  

BB Donuts
515 Westheimer Road
Houston, TX

Quick Score - 8 - This is a really cool and fun place.

Donut Quality - 9 - The apple fritter was unbelievable but the glazed donut didn't do it for me.
Donut Selection - 8 - Not a huge selection but the standards covered and a little of everything.
Donut Freshness - 10 - Good surety of fresh donuts
Service - 10 - Excellent service!
Extras - 10 - 10 with the award winning croissants, sandwiches, burgers, fried rice, etc.
Appeal - 8 - In a strip shopping center but still great seating, people, etc.
Emotion - 10 - Big emotional boost from the amazing apple fritter.
Other's Rating - 9 - 4.5/5 average rating on Yelp 
Price - 5 - Very low prices that make everything really affordable.
Donut Dunkability - 5 - Glazed donut holes available.
Total - 92

Tacos & Donuts! @ The Original Donut Shop - 91/100

Yeah, you heard me, Taqueria/Donut Shop was the San Antonio stop on the donut journey.  Look at this awesome double drive thru!  Each lane had its own callbox, one lane for tacos, one for donuts.  Then the two lanes merge into one pickup window.  It is the most unique setup I've ever witnessed.

I appreciated the "No Guns" sign on the front door!  

Inside, the donuts and Mexican food are also separated on two sides with two lines.  And listen to this, I didn't even try a taco!  Couldn't have it tamper with the palette, oh how I miss the days when I could order whatever I want free and easy.  Now I am involved in serious business in which I can't even veer off course!   The donut side has a really cool semi-circle counter for sitting and eating at, there's a huge dining room, and a huge dining patio.  

I got the glazed as the counter server recommended and a couple powdered donut holes.  I topped off the feast with a vanilla iced cake donut.  The glazed was almost as good as Round Rock yesterday.  Definitely sweeter and this felt a little overboard for my taste.  Also, the vanilla iced was very sweet, to the point of hard to handle.  It's rare, I can be taken down by oversweetness.

The Original Donut Shop
3307 Fredericksburg Road
San Antonio, TX

Quick Score - 8 - This is a really cool and fun place.

Donut Quality - 7 - A little too sweet in my opinion.
Donut Selection - 8 - Not a huge selection but very sufficient.
Donut Freshness - 10 - Everything felt super fresh. 
Service - 10 - Good service all around
Extras - 10 - That's a big 10 b/c of the Mexican food.  
Appeal - 10 - Such a big place, cool layout, sweet coffee machine.
Emotion - 9 - Slight disappointment in the donuts but overall very happy.
Other's Rating - 9 - 4.5/5 average rating on Yelp 
Price - 5 - Affordable donuts and tacos!
Donut Dunkability - 5 - Powdered donut holes in addition to regular glazed ones.
Total - 91

More Richmond Donuts @ Country Style Donuts - 66/100

Country Style Donuts is a Richmond donut shop that does all your traditional donuts.  This is a good combo to do with Dixie Donuts because you can get good variation between the two and you can buy a giant cinnamon roll here if you so desire.  

24 hours too!  Nice touch for the RVA.  

I had a raised maple donut and I was shocked by the sweetness.  You are hearing from a guy who can down sugar with the best of them.  It was actually too sweet. Me, done in by sweetness!  Even with a black coffee alongside, I couldn't handle it.  It was a rare defeat.

I enjoyed the donut holes but was a little bummed out they must be purchased in a certain denomination.  I forget what it was, something like 10 or 12 at a time.  Prices were fine but I'll pay a dime or whatever per hole just as someone on a donut journey, sometimes I don't want to have leftovers.  

In fact, service wasn't so hot. Between the donut hole explanation, the displeasure on his part that I didn't have anything smaller than a $20 bill, and the delivery that came in through the front door, pallets being loaded through the place while we're trying to get out of the way, it definitely ranks as the lowest customer service experience I've had in my donut journey.  

I will definitely go back to Country Style again to see if it works better for me next time.

Country Style Donuts
4300 Williamsburg Road
Richmond, VA. 23231


Quick Score - 5 - Eh
Donut Quality - 6 - Too sweet!
Donut Selection - 10 - Lost of choices
Donut Freshness - 6 - Donut holes did not taste so fresh
Service - 4 - Eh
Extras - 9 - Open 24 hours, good for the RVA
Appeal - 5 - Eh
Emotion - 3 - Eh
Other's Rating - 8 - 4.5/5 stars average rating on Yelp! but my Dad didn't enjoy too much either
Price - 5 - fair pricing
Donut Dunkability - 5 .
Total - 66