Top Pot Doughnuts

I love you, Seattle, but are people really getting on Top Pot about not offering more vegan and gluten-​free options? This is an old-​school bakery with old-​fashioned doughnuts. Flour is king. Could they offer some type of vegan doughnut? Yeah, most likely, but I’m guessing they figure that they’ll let a local competitor handle that market.
This particular Top Pot is clean and friendly, although I think they could use some curtains to warm up the place because seeing the cloudy day all the time is honestly a little dreary. I like that the downtown store is a little more cozy and this one would do well to follow suit if they want to bring in more of the up-​and-​coming Ballard crowd.
Knocking off two stars because HOLY JESUS why are they so expensive (pretty much at least $ 2 a pop after tax for the simplest of doughnuts) and why could I always expect to pay less for these guys at local cafés (RIP Bauhaus) than at the Top Pot locations themselves? Shouldn’t it be the other way around?
Adding back a star for the best maple frosting this side of the Mississippi and for apple fritters as big as your ten-year-old’s face. Or your face, just not mine because I think my cheeks are really big compared to a normal person’s.

Underwhelming at 2 in the afternoon with a small selection of (old-​looking) donuts, only one vegan and gluten-​free option that I could see, and the shop smelled like burnt coffee. The GF jam biscuit is the same pastry that several coffeeshops around town serve. I would love to see more creativity, especially from a top-​of-​the-​line donut business (please?)! I really wanted to be happy with my visit, but was left wanting. Guess it pays to be an early bird here.

2.5 stars rounding up. Oman I used to love top pot but it’s steadily declined over the years. Their prices are unnecessarily high for subpar to average tasting donuts. I recently got a maple bar and I felt like i was ploughing through some dense bread. Guys, a donut should be light and airy even if it is a thousand calories– that’s what makes it so great!
This location has nice high ceilings and big open space. It’s right across from Quest so we stop by pretty much every Sunday before service. The cleanliness of this place is questionable as the tables (which are always lopsided btw and requires us to jam a wad of tissue under one leg of the table) are always filthy with crumbs and hardened frosting. This is ok, given the higher than average amount of kids that come in and out, but the one thing that absolutely gives me the heebiejeebies is those little flies that like to fly around the donuts in the case!!! I don’t even mind the jumbo flies, but those little ones — Eeks I feel like they are master reproducers and regenerate every minute. Anyway I noticed for the first time last time I went that those little flies have set up housing in the case. I don’t get why places don’t have CLOSED cases (Starbucks does this too and some locations have serious little fly problems) especially when you are selling sweet stuff!?! The worst is when an employee reaches in to grab your donut and it sets off a flurry of flies. Anyway. There also always seems to be an unnecessarily large number of employees behind the counter, so perhaps a way of fixing the cleanliness issue is to simply have someone cleaning up and not standing around? I appreciate the attentiveness of the three employees that take my order, but one seems sufficient.
I hope you improve Top Pot! Would be a shame to see quality decline even if quantity increases.

Fastest wifi, best service and pretty yummy coffee out of all the dozen or so coffee shops I’ve been to in the last few months. I’m celiac, so had the jam biscuit-​part scone, part cookie, with plenty of jam in the center. Hit the spot. Also kudos to the very nice guy working the café today who was not only fast and friendly (with a smile), *plus* helped a homeless man and his bulky cart safely exit without spilling his beverage in hand.

Its pretty tempting when you go to Trader Joes next door and you walk by this place and see the doughnuts waving at you. So you stop and think, ok… Ill go in and see what they got, then you end up with half dozen.
I’ve been here a few times during the weekend mornings and it’s a nice place to grab a coffee & doughnut. A lot of space, good amount of tables, family friendly and a good amount of selections available. A few hit & misses on the apple fritter as one would have plenty of apples and super delicious and another time it would be a bit doughy with no apples. I’ve changed it up a bit and been sticking with the glazed old fashioned. Classic doughnut and perfect on a weekend morning to take home and drink your coffee while watching Dog the Bounty Hunter re-​runs.
I dont have any issues with the staff, pricing is a bit higher, nice location, good amount of parking and convienient for me.

I’ve never been to Top Pot doughnuts, after living in Seattle almost 4 years now. Some would have me hanged for such an offense. I moved here, went to Mighty-​O doughnuts and never looked back. Omg, those are fantastic.
I stumbled into this location since my car was in the shop, they were nice enough to let me use a credit card for a single doughnut (a maple bar). The staff were all very nice… The doughnut however was just awful. I think it’s on par with Safeway, was sickeningly sweet, I had to throw it away after a couple bites. Why are these diabetes inducing doughnuts so popular? I’m confused. Eeek.

I think Top Pot is okay.
Their coffee is good but I think the donuts are just okay. The donuts are expensive for their offerings and they are served at room temperature.
Lots of street parking close by and there’s also a garage.
$ 6+ for a latte and a donut. Seems kind of high to me.

Really good. I went here the other day and got a raspberry bismarck and a chocolate custard one. Both super fresh and rich and delicious. I also got a mocha and that was good as well. Great customer service.

Fast free wifi in a big space with lots of seating (albeit they are hard wooden seats and not terribly comfortable). I recommend the salted caramel old fashioned doughnut.
This location has easy-​to-​find street parking.
I prefer Top Pot doughnuts to Mighty-​O by far!

Great donuts and coffee but semi-​douche hipster staff with mediocre customer service skills.

There is not much to say about each Top Pot location.
Having one just up the street from my house, I purposely avoid it unless a member of my family wants to go just to annoy me.
The $ 3 cup of coffee is closer to something you would get on a Naval ship after being out to sea for a few weeks vs other places in town you pay $ 3 for a cup of coffee.
The pastries are way too expensive.
And honestly the reason I avoid them the most is the horrible attitude of the people who work there – which being consistent across all locations, I have to blame this on management.

The doughnuts are so yummy, but honestly, some of the folks who work here need to turn the ol’ frown upside down. I can’t even say the word «doughnut» without smiling, but the Ballard Top Pot has a few grumpy pusses at it! Come on now, folks…
I’m glad they haven’t taken the hipster tack of making all of their doughnuts have over-​hyped junk all over them, like Froot Loops or bacon or whatever… I can come here and get a raspberry old fashioned, or better still a lemon-​filled and end up with powdered sugar all over my face, heck yeah.

Pretty much like the other reviews stated; they are ok donuts. They are about the same quality I can get from a grocery store. And for the price of $ 2 it’s over priced.

All the things that Top Pot does well have already been nitpicked over already, so I’ll keep this short. The Ballard Top Pot, situated next to the Trader Joe’s, is pretty good at pushing people out when there’s no line or one or two people ahead of you. When it’s busier, it can take awhile to get in and out of here. The coffee is always well done, though, and the people working generally on top of their game. Parking is available, some may complain there isn’t something right in front, but seriously, theres always something within a half-​to-​a-​one-​block radius. Plus, there’s the huge parking lot for the building itself.
So, yeah. Decent coffee, plenty of parking, and doughnuts.

I stumbled in here after another trip at TJ’s.
I got a wonderful doughnut and was greeted wiht a smile by 3 people!
As always the doughnuts are divine– someone brings them to a yog a studio I frequent. Lovely to have friendly folks.

I have been working in Ballard for years now, and we were all very excited when this Top Pot opened just up the street! Who doesn’t appreciate fresh daily temptations of sweet, sweet greasy goodness in a variety of flavors.
The shop is located in a relatively easy to find street corner in Ballard Blocks. There is plenty of free street parking just outside, and also the Ballard Blocks parking lot for those who prefer lots. When you get inside, it is brightly lit with lots of windows and a spacious area with plenty of places to sit.
There is a generous doughnut display with lots of different choices to pick from. Some of my faves are the glazed, frosted with sprinkles, apple fritter, maple bar, chocolate bar, pumpkin, cake doughnut. They also usually have some option of bread of you prefer that instead of doughnuts. Doughnut prices are a little high, about $ 2 per doughnut. But the size of the doughnut is quite large in my opinion, so it is worth the money. I sometimes pick up a dozen to share with coworkers, and it always brightens up everyone’s day.
Personally I prefer my doughnuts lighter and fluffier, and I love Krispy Kreme glazed doughnuts. Although Top Pot doughnuts have a great size and variety, the consistency of the doughnuts are a little more dense than I prefer.
I also have had one negative experience here with my drink order. This was within the first month when they opened. I had come first thing in the morning and ordered a doughnut and chai tea from the coffee menu. They gave me my food, I paid for my doughnut and drink, and proceeded to wait for my drink. After about 10 minutes standing there, the barista realized she completely forgot about my drink (even though I was the only customer in the shop at that time). She made my drink in a large size (even though I ordered a small size), and gave me a card for a free drink for next time, which I thought was fair to make up for her forgetfulness. Unfortunately my chai tea tasted watered down and not as creamy and sweet as I like, so I will likely never order chai from here again. I will stick to Java Jahn drinks across the street or a Starbucks run for that.
Overall, great variety of doughnut options that are great for a little sweet treat or a box of a dozen to share with a group.

The donuts were all good, I like the chocolate custard filled. The chocolate glazed was really yummy yum yum.
The glazed twist and apple fritter was okay but I think the raise donuts were better than the cake ones.
I didn’t try all of them but most of them. I’ll have the pumpkins old fashion tonight.

I don’t mind Top Pot Doughnuts. It’s a bit average compared to others I have been to and tasted. It’s a step above Dunkin’ Doughnuts and below Frost Doughnuts in Mill Creek, WA. When I went with a friend, the doughnut selection was a bit poor. I expected a bit more.
I ordered the raspberry chocolate doughnut. I tasted the fruity raspberry glaze and the chocolate doughnut. It was divine and I did want another one.

My husband is lucky enough to work for an awesome company that orders Top Pot doughnuts for the entire office once in awhile. After hearing him rave about the doughnuts, I knew I had to walk over on my lunch break to try them out.
To put it simply — this is a nice looking doughnut shop, which has prime real estate, which translates to pricy product. Okay, hand-​forged doughnuts makes them kinda special. BUt to be honest, I didn’t think these doughnuts were «out of this world» like I was told they would be. And at $ 2.00 a doughnut (I bought ½ dozen which set me back a whopping $ 12), I would expect these to be out of this world.
I don’t think I’d fork over $ 2 a doughnut again — they just weren’t that amazing. I would rather go to Henry’s Doughnuts (only to be found in Everett/​Mukilteo) any day of the week!

One thing Midwesterners don’t know is that Dunkin’ Donuts, the coffee-​and-​donut chain that you can find on every block in the city of Chicago, and pretty much the metropolitan area, has essentially no presence in the Pacific time zone.
I was reminded of this after I got six donuts here.
I got a variety of donuts, including double chocolate and some sort of a blueberry cake. I’m pretty sure I got a few old fashioned, too.
The service was fine, but I found the donuts pretty dense. I recall the chocolate cake one being kind of soft and rubbery, too. The regular, non-​old fashioned donuts reminded me exactly of Dunkin’ Donuts. I don’t have any issues with the chain, I just think they don’t taste as good as they ought to. :-D
It might be that the coffee, much like DD, is the star of the show here, and not the donuts. But since we stopped in for the donuts, I’d call ‘em good donuts, but nothing special.