World’s Fair Donuts

If you want delicious donuts, come here. All traditional types, glazed, jellies, non glazed, fritters, pies, and many more. Our family favorite are the fritters, the insides are filled with this amazing jammy filling with a semi crunchy glaze. They only take cash, and they work incredibly fast so a long line shouldn’t deter anyone.
We are all about mom and pops and this here stays true to the game. I know there are fancier joints for donuts like bacon and maple flavors, but if you want old fashion and if you want to fast and cheap: this place is the joint!
Lets be honest mightve gotten one oilier than thou donut in the dozens ive eaten so far, but every other time has been golden. And the only bummer thing about this place is that it isnt ²⁴⁄₇ for all those college students with munchies studying up for finals, or late night food runs.

It’s not like World’s Fair needs another review, but I figured I would put my two cents in.
Personally, I still like the classic glazed donut from Krispy Kreme, especially when it’s hot and fresh. Nothing can replace that for me, so I try to avoid glazed donuts at other places because I’m almost always let down.
What I do like about World’s Fair is how delicious their apple fritter donuts are. They’re quite large and just so yummy. I’ve had a few other kinds of their donuts and they’re pretty good, too.
The parking is terrible (they have about 3 parking spaces), but it doesn’t stop my husband, who loves to pick up their donuts to bring to work sometimes. Also, make sure you have cash!

Possibly the best donuts in the city (which is saying a lot, because St. Louis is a great city for donut lovers). Definitely the best bang for your buck (a dozen is $ 7.22!) Highly recommend getting the apple fritters, glazed blueberry cake, or custard-​filled chocolate-​glazed.
Just remember to bring cash, and be careful because you’re probably going to eat way too many donuts and get fat like I did.

Someone told Majordomo that the donuts were good here so of course we had to go here. Announcement — I HAVE FOUND THE BEST GLAZED DONUT IN THE WORLD!!!
They are a good size and practically melt in your mouth. I got two, one for then and one for breakfast the next morning. I had a hard time not getting up at 3:00 a.m. to go eat my donut. Majordomo got an apple fritter and one other that I did not pay attention to because I was eating my donut.
Would I go here again? Are you kidding me? I’m getting in the car right now to go there.
P. S. I did not ask but I think the reason for the name is because their address is 1904.

I’ll start off by saying I will go anywhere for good food, no matter how the conditions look. This place really gave me a gross feeling. Was it the employees hygiene that turned me off? The dirty kitchen area behind the counter? Honestly, the combination of everything made me a little less excited to eat the donuts. And I love donuts.
I ordered a custard and a whipping cream donut. Honestly… I think I have had some really amazing donuts from places like Seattle and Chicago and these just did not live up to those standards. Nothing special except the ridiculously cheap prices. I can see living nearby and picking up a dozen for work, but when you’re looking for extra special donuts — this just wasn’t the place for me.

I’ve drove past this donut shop for many years but never went in due to it looking so sketchy! So whenever I discovered Unilocal last year… I saw all the awesome reviews and had to stop by and try! OMG! The owners are so friendly! I love how the wife just smiles and greets everyone! She’s a very happy lady! I must say I am not a donut person at all! I don’t care for them since what I’ve had in the past at other locations have been old, disgusting, or just nasty. We decided to stop by here today for a snack bite since it was going to be awhile for us to have lunch. I’m so happy we stopped by here. The glaze donuts here are phenomenal! I’ve never had a donut that was so awesome. mazing before!!! This is absolutely the best ever! I wanted to go back to get more considering we only ordered one glaze donut. LOL! We also got the blueberry chip cake donut. For some reason I thought it would have actual blueberries in it. Everyone they tried it said they were able to taste the blueberry but all I could taste was pure sugar. I definitely was not a fan at all! We also got a Boston crème and long john which everyone else devoured. I can’t wait until I’m back in the area to get more glaze donuts!

I was having a crazy sugar day and happened to drive by this place, which I’ve been meaning to check out for quite awhile. It was around noon on a Thursday and they weren’t picked over, their shelves are still quite full! But I have to say that the only thing I was really drawn to was the apple fritter. And it was only 70 cents?!? How crazy! I completely enjoyed my treat and totally inhaled it! This was a fun little pit stop on my cheat day!

Cash Only!
We didn’t know at the time so my husband ran 3 blocks on a cold February morning to an atm while I waited with an impatient 3 year old a sleeping 4 month old.
Totally worth it.
Every donut was deliciously perfect and fresh.

I have been coming here since I could walk. Any time I’m in town I have to stop here! Best donuts ever. Crispy Cream had nothing on these sweet old folks. 25 year customer and counting. I will stop here every chance I get! On our way back to GA we get a dozen donuts and a box of chocolate milk.

To compare World’s Fair donuts to the other donut offerings in St Louis would be an insult to World’s Fair. A stark contrast to places like Strange Donuts, which mistakes needless innovation for quality and taste, World’s Fair instead focuses consistently producing solid donuts without any flair. The closest comparison I can think of is Long’s Donuts in Indianapolis, which is, admittedly, a useless comparison when writing about a St Louis restaurant.
In my multiple trips here, I have not strayed beyond a plain glazed donut, & I don’t see myself trying anything else any time soon. It is bakery perfection. Warm, light but substantial, lightly glazed without being overwhelmed by sugar, it is everything that is desired in a donut.

This place is a Sunday morning tradition for us! Yes, it is dated but the employees are extremely friendly!

Wonderful glazed donuts. Like a huge more substantial Krispy Kreme. Very nice people, no frills. Good prices.

You are now entering the Twilight Zone.
The cash register looks like they bought it in the 1930’s. And no, they weren’t going for that vintage look. It’s actually old and dated. With that said, bring cash. No electronic payment is taken whatsoever. Yes, it sucks because who has cash but you’ll understand once you see the owners/​employees.
Don’t worry though, cause errrrything here be cheap. We made out with 3 donuts for $ 1.99. Most of the donuts are around 60 cents with the specialty ones being a bit more. That’s a whole lot cheaper than Strange!
The donuts themselves were delicious. One of the cake donuts we got was overly sweet but hey, it’s a donut? Next time I’ll come back prepared with more cash in hand to rob this place blind of a cool dozen.

This place offers a limited selection of traditional donuts for $ 0.61 each! I sampled the glazed buttermilk and the vanilla butternut cake donut. The former I found a little too sweet, but the latter was nice and crunchy on the outside, if a little too crumbly on the inside. The donuts were pretty small, too, but I’m not going to argue with that price. I’d like to go back again earlier in the day, when, I’m guessing, the offerings will taste somewhat fresher.

2:40pm on a Sunday and it closes at 3pm. Was there anything left? There was 1 lemon glazed donut left and it was my lucky day. This is just an old fashion donut shop with nothing fancy, no seats, no nothing — but donuts. Donuts like cupcakes are the trendy thing to do, but this place stays true at around 70 cent a donut w/​o any lack in flavor. This is a must just before or after your visit to the Botanical Gardens.

I’ve driven by World’s Fair Donuts a number of times and always wanted to try them. Someone brought an assorted dozen to an event this morning. These donuts are delicious. I only had one glazed and it’s one of the best donuts I’ve ever had. Melts in your mouth. Much better than grocery store donuts.

Cash or Check only, but worth any minor inconvenience that may cause! Affordable traditional donuts. The staff is super sweet and all must be 70+ years old. I’d love to know how long the three of the staff had been working there together.
It was a little busy when I went around 9am on a Sunday, but I was in an out quickly.
Conveniently located right off interstate 44. Located in a great neighborhood as well — it would be a great way to start an day trip/​outing in the city.

A 3 for doughnuts but a 5 for staff. A real treasure place to go but hurry. It looks like the average age of the staff is 70 years old. Sweet people but it will be shame when this business disappears since no one under the age of 65 is there to take over.
Great neighborhood for out of towners to explore.

I won’t be one of these DB Unilocalers that gives one star because something irks them or does not go their way. I am prompted to Unilocal to help anyone reading
Here goes… Posted hours say open at 4:00 am. Jumped in the car, ran down, closed @ 4:10. Bummer when you get all mouth ready for a treat. Along the way back home, after settling for meh QT offerings, they had lights on. Decided to call and inquire about the hours for a future trip. Nice gentleman stated open by 4:30 and fully set up by 5:00. All good!
Donuts here are CHEAP
Donuts here are TASTY
Family run business
Cash only
If you go in the wee hours it may be worth a call

5 stars for the setting and experience
3 stars for the donuts
Love the prices. Nice looking selection. (Though, why so many long johns?) Ridiculously friendly service.
But, the doughnuts were not the best I’ve ever had. Too heavy. And my simple glazed donut had a thick pool of dried, clumpy glaze on the bottom.

I have not been to World’s Fair Donuts since I was a kid. It looks the same. The people working there are just as ancient as the place. If I go into work on a Saturday morning then I bring donuts. The only donut I tried was the blueberry cake donut and it was very good. The consensus at work was that the donuts are very good but St. Louis Hills Donut Shop Donuts are better.

Ever since moving here, I’ve noticed there are A LOT of local donut shops around St. Louis. I’ve never understood the draw. The donuts I’ve always had were either from Dunkin Donuts or Krispy Kreme. I never really knew anything else… how sheltered a life did I live…
I drive by this place place quite a bit and always noticed a steady line of customers. Surely, these donuts can’t be better than a fresh hot KK glazed donut!
I was skeptical, so I had to try it out for myself. On my first visit, I bought a buttermilk cake donut because I had read so much about them on Unilocal.Cake donuts aren’t my thing, but I could definitely tell that this was not an ordinary chain donut shop’s cake donut. The donut was moist and super dense. I enjoyed it but what I was really after was a plain ol’ glazed donut.
I made another trip, where I ordered a dozen assorted donuts for less than $ 8! That’s just crazy to me. A dozen assorted at KK is about basically the same price! Anyways, I bit into my first glazed donut and my eye immediately lit up. Just the right sweetness, this donut actually had substance to it. It didn’t feel like I was eating 50% air when I biting into it. And again for under a dollar?! That’s a steal! I instantly became a fan of this place.
I have been to this place multiple times now and when I buy a dozen donuts for others, I’ve never been able to resist not eating at least one. When I open that box and that smell hits me, all intentions of eating healthy goes down the drain.
Definitely check this place out for some amazing donuts!

Imagine a donut shop in the 1950s. Now change nothing. Boom, you got Worlds Fair Donuts.
The donuts are all handmade from the old dude in the back in full view of the customers. The sweet old lady takes orders and takes care of any donut-​related needs. In fact, I’m pretty sure the couple has been running this joint since the St. Louis World’s Fair.
The donuts are solid, nothing too fancy, but always tasty in a traditional sense. And they’re cheap as heck. 2 donuts + coffee for only $ 2.25? Dang!!!
Be wary that they don’t take credit cards and I’m not aware of ATMs nearby. And parking can be problematic. Still totally worth it.

This place is a gem in the Shaw neighborhood. The antique cash register, the tried and true machinery, and the couple that have been making these delectably delicious donuts for decades… it’s like stepping into an absolutely wonderful time warp!
These aren’t the fancy donuts you may find at other specialty shops in town. Rather, as many Unilocalers before me have previously noted, these are old school donuts done right. My personal favorite is their chocolate long john. The dough is light and fluffy without being too sweet, while there is just enough frosting to conquer a chocolate craving. However, I have friends and family that swear by their buttermilk cake donut!
Stop on in sometime during a weekend for the full bustling bakery experience with some great customer service to boot!

Donuts can just make people smile! I was able to FINALLY try these donuts when a colleague agreed, somewhat reluctantly, to participate in my donut adventure. The donuts are excellent. Definitely on my top 5 list.
First when the box opened they smelled delicious, definitely a good sign. I had their speciality buttermilk cake and really enjoyed it. The texture was nice. Not too hard and not dry. It was tasty but not too sweet. I had a bite of the standard glazed and it was good. Light. Tasty. I would definitely eat more. I had a lemon filling one where the lemon was on top. The lemon pudding was delicious and it was on a glazed donut. It had bonus vanilla glazed on top which was not my favorite part, but the donut was tasty and probably my favorite overall. The cake with chocolate frosting and peanuts was solid. It was good, but not necessarily my favorite. I tried the blueberry cake and it had an odd almost fake blueberry type flavor that I didn’t enjoy.
I also had the apple pie. I wasn’t too excited about it but it was soooo good. It had the right amount of filling. The filing was tasty. The crust was not too sweet. The crust was like the favorite part of an apple pie that we enjoy. It was soft but held the filling well. I was expecting the hard overly sweet crust and it was nothing like that. I went from trying ¹⁄₈^th to eating the entire thing!!!
If it sounds like I had a lot of donuts… I did!!!
The cost was about $ 20 for two dozen so the value is there. I will go for more donuts and apple pies. They have several pie flavors to include cherry, apple and many others!!!