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Pao's Donut & Coffee Shop
Categories: Food Donuts Food Coffee & Tea Donuts, Coffee & Tea [Edit]
6919 6th AveTacoma, WA 98406
(253) 565-4692
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
24 reviews for Pao's Donut & Coffee Shop
Review Highlights
"Donut holes, crullers, sprinkles, muffins and maple bars."
(in 3 reviews)
"Excellent old fashioned donuts."
(in 4 reviews)
"...family owned and run, cash only, and a mellow crowd."
(in 8 reviews)
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24 reviews in English
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Review from Al A.
Tacoma, WA
12/28/2011
Excellent doughnuts, fritters, and crullers.
Cash only. -
Review from Daniel Z.
Tacoma, WA
8/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
A long time ago, in a bakery far far away... in California... I found what I remember to be the best apple fritter I have ever tasted. I was young at the time, and I sadly do not remember the name or location of this magical house of dough.
Ever since that euphoric experience, I've been on a seemingly never ending hunt for the best apple fritter. So far I've come up empty. Pao's certainly does bake up a great tasting apple fritter (and the original is one of the best I've had!), but it's just not... it's not quite there. Perhaps my memory is deceiving me, and this enchanted apple fritter is only in my imagination. Perhaps my quest will never reach its end... perhaps I'll never find that perfect apple fritter... Until the day when I have found it, or can no longer continue my search, I will remember Pao's as having one of the top apple fritters in my search.
Now we are back in reality. I've driven by Pao's countless times and always thought about going in. Today, I finally made that thought a reality. Not only is the price to portion ratio seemingly in favor of the consumer, the flavor to price to portion ratio is one of the best I've had. Forget Krispy Kreme, that chain shop has overpriced, over sugared blobs of dough that will, in a pinch, satisfy the donut craving. With Pao's limited hours during the day, it may not be accessible to everyone. To those who can, you should. I was nearly overwhelmed with the abundant variety. I had to hold myself back and only try two kinds. I know I will be returning in the coming months to try the other delicious looking donuts.
Clearly this isn't a place to visit on a daily basis. I'm sure the sugar count is off the charts, but a special treat every once in a while is well deserved, and what better place to get that special treat than at Pao's.
Oh yeah, if you didn't get the other 16 messages, cash only. :-) -
Review from jay s.
If I was in the market for an older boyfriend - a much older boyfriend - I would hang out at Pao's, where savvy older people in the know go for the best cruellers, glazed, old fashioned...ok, any variety of donut, in the Puget Sound area.
I'm telling you all - Olympia to Seattle (I don't know about Marysville and beyond) - Pao's is the one to beat. Tacoma has little to brag about in the food world, but this is one we've got! 85 cents for a deep fried bite of heaven. About $8/dozen. Fritters and scones are very good also - only $1.25. Better (and way bigger) than Crispy Cremes, the donut ho I am even likes these better than Voodoo Donut, Nickel Diner or Hot Pot. (Did I just say that?) I LOVE them all, but I'd eat Pao's first....first among equals.
Get here early...many things are gone by mid afternoon and they close at around 4. CASH ONLY. The owners seem to have no interest in growing the business - so if you miss them...tough cookies (no donuts). -
Review from Jess H.
Chicago, IL
2/3/2011
Even though I no longer live in Tacoma, it has many places that remain true to my heart, places that scream, "I am Tacoma!" and fight against the corporate, bland taste that is Dunkin Donuts.
So every once in a while and definitely on National Donut Day - we would swing by Pao's and grab a donut.
Here is what remains so cool about this place.
1. You can tell it's been around for awhile, it has that old diner feel to it.
2. Along with that old diner feel, comes a large, constant, returning elderly customer population that return each day for their cup of coffee and old-fashioned.
3. Excellent old fashioned donuts.
4. And a drive thru!
5. Plus it is right next to a public library, you always get props for that.
**Note that I believe it is cash only.
I always wanted to go on a bike ride when it's sunny out in Tacoma, and make a stop here, maybe head out to the Narrows Bridge and back - sounds like a fun adventure! -
Review from M M.
Port Orchard, WA
6/17/2011
Who the hell leaves a 5-star review on a donut shop? Donuts are hardly gourmet. Unless you go to Pao's. I don't know what is in those, but they turn me into Homer Simpson every single time I walk out of there. "Mmm... donuts."
Great sized donuts, and a really great flavor. They do something different, I don't know what it is. Cinnamon? Honey? Heroine? I wish I knew. I'd sprinkle it in everything I bake.
Please note: this is a CASH ONLY joint. You remember cash, it's that filthy green stuff we used to use in the old days, before the pretty plastic money. (Mmm...credit cards.) Plan ahead, rob an ATM, get yourself some greenbacks.
Our first time there, we got a half-dozen donuts, and split each one to try 6 different varieties. They were all great. Not greasy, thick icing, excellent flavor. The old-fashioned donut made my eyes roll back in my head.
As for service, she was efficient and friendly, and the whole place is really kind of mellow and homey. It's got an 80's "time to make the donuts" commercial (remember that guy?) kind of feel, which is kind of awesome. Almost every time we are in Tacoma, we make a trip over there for some sweet round treats.
Mmm...Pao's donuts. -
Review from Jackson R.
Seattle, WA
4/22/2010
After frequenting Mighty-O, Top Pot, Voodoo in Portland, and numerous other dingy joints up and down the Cascade Corridor, this erstwhile Dunkin Donuts takes my vote for best cheap pastry shop. If you live in Seattle, come down to the run-down end of 6th Ave...oh wait, to 6th Ave, to try these donuts. Pao's is my shining beacon of sugary goodness on Tacoma's North End.
Maybe it's the sentimental fact that my family would use the promise of Dunkin's back in the day to lure me to church on foggy Sunday mornings. Maybe it's that me and my buddies would come and plunge ourselves into 3-donut Pao's comas on high school mornings, or the fact that for three bucks I can get a cafe mocha and all the delicacies my eyes desire. In any case, I love Pao's with all my heart, and I never want it to change.
Observe the hospitable family working together with prompt service. Sit at the goofy formica tabletops and weird window bar. Look at the picture of their baby on the wall posing next to a gimungous donut; this is Yuen Lui artistry for a bakery family. Get a cruller, get some holes, get a glazed, get a double chocolate, get a dirty dozen. These people make an olykoek bestiary better than Krispy Kreme could ever hope to (although it's hard to beat KK's regular glazed). Pao's has all the charm, quirkiness and taste you could ever hope for from a neighborhood donut shop. -
Review from Kenya C.
Vancouver, WA
1/11/2010
I LOVE Pao's! Classic family run donut shop with nice people, and value prices. 4 donuts are about $3!
My favorite donuts are the apple cake donut and the Bavarian cream. Their French cruller is interesting-it's light as air and delicious. Their donuts are the perfect size (not too big like those Top Pot behemoths) and have the perfect amount of frosting (not too much.) Their lattes are also cheap and surprisingly good.
The other bonus is you can drive through! Great for a lazy Saturday morning when you don't want to get dressed to go for breakfast. I'm a lazy bastard, what can I say. -
Review from Mandi M.
Tacoma, WA
9/12/2009
Awesome Donuts! Amazing apple fritters. Be sure to grab a bag of warm donut holes for $1 ... melt in your mouth goodness.
Cash only! whatever you do, don't brandish a debit card ... "WE NO TAKE CARD, CASH ONLY" -
Review from Teraisa J. G.
Tacoma, WA
1/31/2010
Donuts are great tasting and fresh, five stars for taste. However, they don't open until 6AM and it's not until about 7:30AM you are able to buy more than the cake donuts.
There is no military discount at all, even though we generally purchase about twelve dozen donuts for our soldiers once a month. In fact, we were told, "If you purchase the donuts separately, they'd be about $9, but we give them to you for $7.50 a dozen."
Being so close to both the Army and Air Force base, you'd think they'd give these underpaid soldiers a break. But then again, a break won't help much since the donuts need to be picked up between 4AM and 6AM.
For the opening without most donuts available, they get only three stars. I took nothing off for military, because it's not the donut shop's fault the city is bustling with customers due to the military installations.
Church families are in for a disappointment. You cannot get the donuts - or at least a big variety - before church. After church, donuts don't generally fit your hunger bill any longer. Besides, by noon, they may be out of what you wanted in the first place. That gives me only two stars.
The majority of bakers are friendly and take time to smile. That makes this review go up to a 3.9.
How do they get four stars you ask? Because their chocolate donuts taste like real chocolate!
You can't go wrong here if you want a dozen donuts, aren't picky and can pick them up after 8AM. -
Review from Jessica B.
Tacoma, WA
1/9/2011 1 photo
The perfect cake with toasted coconut donut. it makes me emotional. The bavarian is just right and not too sweet, sweet yes, but not sickening like some bad chocolate glaze sweet. My sons love the chocolate cream filled, a nice choco cream in a powdered donut and the chocolate glazed . Donut holes, crullers, sprinkles, muffins and maple bars.... I say they have a great variety, but I stick to the one that makes me weak in the knees...coconut topped cake!!!
They are so nicely priced , family owned and run, cash only, and a mellow crowd.. at least it's what i see ( over 60'ers hang out in the far right corner )
Recently I had an out of town friend here to Tacoma and we were on a donut mission, but we were in Seattle, we google mapped to Mighty-O's. There was a variety of about 4 because we had gotten there after a Groupon rush. meh.. sure it was nice and lots or merchandise to grab up, but I will pick driving back home to Pao's from now on.
Now, I have to go get some. -
Review from Sean W.
Tacoma, WA
4/18/2011
Amazing fresh made donuts! Huge in size and huge in selection! The flakiest best donuts ever made. Generous on frosting on donuts.
QUICK SERVICE AND AMAZING DONUTS! -
Review from Veronica S.
Tacoma, WA
1/3/2011
The best donuts! I love this place. They have friendly service and great donuts! Absolutely 5 stars!!
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Review from Lyss W.
Port Orchard, WA
7/20/2008
So good that I've been known to beg my husband to make the drive across the bridge for a box of them on occasion. ;c)
Nice, plump donuts with just the right amount of glazing/frosting/jelly/whatever. Unlike certain trendy donut chains. *innocent blink* -
Review from Nick L.
Tacoma, WA
2/7/2011
Cash only. Get there at 0600 for the sugar-raised, maple bars, old fashioned and raspberry filled donuts. Some of the best around. They have drive-thru.
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Review from Roxanne H.
Tacoma, WA
8/4/2011
Best donuts so far in Tacoma area. It beats the chain donut stores hands down. Good scones too. The donuts are not too sweet and are always soft. The raised donuts have the soft chewy texture and the cake donuts are light and crumbly. Their scones are pretty good too. They remind me of the Puyallup fair scones. Cash only but decent prices. Weekends are usually packed!
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Review from jane l.
San Diego, CA
6/17/2011
After seeing the reviews I wanted to try some! The donut holes are nothing special and neither is the cream filled. But the apple fritter and the almond ones are pretty darn good! I would go back for those!
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Review from Ian C.
11/24/2009
In order to rate this establishment, I must revise a former comment about LA, wherein I said, they only thing worth a damn in LA was my mechanic. L.A. also seems to have as may donut stores as we have coffee shops, and I will say that this is a world class donut joint, A+, do it, you know you want it.
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Review from Judy F.
Tacoma, WA
3/7/2010
The best donuts in the word! I would go out in a snow blizzard to get these.
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Review from Diane B.
Tacoma, WA
4/28/2010
Freshest, best doughnuts i've had in T-Town and great service too! love the cocunut topped doughnuts. a bit crowded Sunday morning with the after church crowd...sometimes the line is out the door.
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Review from Chuck L.
5/10/2008
One of my coworkers brought donuts to the office and said she got them here. It was good. All classic donuts in a brown cardboard box. I will have to check this place out myself.
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Review from tiara a.
Tacoma, WA
9/10/2011
this donuts are soft, fluffy, big and delightful!!! the best and biggest maple bars ive ever had and what a great variety of tasty donuts! super cheap so the fact that they only take cash shouldnt hurt anyone!! im sad i dont live around 6th ave anymore and pass by here on the way to work. the girls are always nice and casual and they even have a drive thru, ive always just walked in though. they have a couple booths if u wanna sit and have a coffee too.
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Review from Heather S.
Pierce, WA
11/23/2009
I have been hearing great things about this place from a friend for a long time now. So we went this morning for the first time and aparently my daughter had already been to Pao. Anyway, the Donuts rocked. The cake one my daughter got had a hint of nutmeg of cinnimon, whatever it was made it so yummy. The donuts had the right amount of glaze so that they were not overwhelmingly sweet. We will go back for sure!!
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Review from Guy I.
Silverdale, WA
9/16/2010
Best donuts around...not that there are many in this area but still, these are great. Service is usually good unless you end up w/ the one guy working there as you can tell he'd rather be elsewhere.
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Review from David F.
Shelton, WA
Updated - 1/24/2011
Pao's is by far the best I've ever had.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/25/2010
By far the best donuts I've ever had. The coffee is a different story; I'm not a fan of that. The… Read more »
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