Kansas City: Doughnuts

Yep, doughnuts gets its own category. There aren’t a lot of places where I think KC gets the nod over Chicago. And I haven’t yet found an apple fritter or blueberry cake donut like Old-Fashioned’s, but high quality doughnuts are certainly more accessible to me now, namely because of Fluffy Fresh Donuts a few blocks away on Johnson Drive.

Fluffy Fresh is a time-warp space (heck, this whole stretch of Johnson Drive feels like a 1950s small town, with a full-service gas station and a couple hardware stores with Radio Flyers prominently displayed in the windows). It’s a two-person shop, and the guy making the doughnuts has been at it for who knows how long. It’s takeout only, and it’s only open until the doughnuts run out, which is by 9:00 am most days. I started this post shortly after we moved here, last fall, and reading it today, I stand by it:

Wow, really terrific doughnuts. So far, everything has been good, though by 8:30 even, selection is limited to cinnamon twists, glazed, and longjohns.

The regular glazed is just an exemplary doughnut—not pillowy Krispy Kremes—these babies are greasy in the most delightful sense of the word--hot, fluffy, greasy, and delicious. The cake doughnuts don’t disappoint either. Even the toppings…the glazes are all made in-house and the maple is especially delicious. Had a chocolate with peanuts, and even the peanut topping was at such a perfect texture to bring out the peanut flavor…it almost tasted like a doughnut with a Reese’s top.

And the service is top-notch. The longjohns come unfilled…you want filling and they’ll do if for you. Same with sprinkles if the glaze is fresh enough. And the best thing…something’s always fresh.

Fluffy Fresh is truly a gem that I sure hope is preserved as Mission, KS strives to re-invent itself.

Fluffy Fresh Donuts
5729 Johnson Drive
Mission, KS 66202
913-831-1609

Finally made it to John's Space Age Donuts after the farmer's market yesterday. Got to say, I was not impressed. They weren't bad donuts, by any means, but I really think the stuff at Fluffy Fresh is way better. We got there about 9:00 am, so freshness may have been a factor, but they just seemed denser and dryer than I expected.

Got an apple fritter, which I would pass on again. The boys got iced cake donuts. I'd never thought much about icing before, but the icing at Fluffy Fresh is significantly better. Quite a bit drier here.

The guy said he's the only one he knows (and only one I know) who makes a chocolate yeast donut (instead of cake donut), which was interesting and enjoyable. I'd get it again.

Best were the simple glazed donut holes.

I love the counter and the vibe and the old school charm, but the donuts left me wanting. I think it's great that there are two cool old donut places so near me (though Fluffy Fresh is takeout only). I'd like to go back to John's and sit at the counter with a doughnut and a cup of coffee.

I also noticed in the paper last Sunday that I've sampled John's a number of times previously staying or visiting guests at the White Haven across the street. Talk about a time warp...I love that place.

John’s Space Age Donuts
8124 Floyd St
Overland Park, KS 66204
(913) 381-0980

Aaron,

What's the current status of Lamar's? I'm crestfallen that the original location closed several years ago. That location's blueberry doughnut is in my pantheon.

That's a great question.

I've only been here a year, so I'm still trying to grasp the place of Lamar's in local lore. I've seen a few in different places but not nearby, and I haven't stop.

I have heard the blueberry cake is legendary, and I've heard (from sources of unknown merit) that the current incarnation holds up.

There's a storefront with a Lamar's Coming Soon! banner in the window a few blocks from our house, but it's been there for months. I look forward to trying their wares.

It will be quite a trick to stack up to the blueberry cake at Old Fashioned in Chicago.

There are a couple of good threads on KC doughnuts on other boards as well:

http://forum.kcrag.com/index.php/topic,2761.0.html
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/406293

Please do let me know if you have more current intelligence on the matter.

I love Lamars, when the doughnuts are fresh. Their cake doughnuts are awesome. The glazed doughnuts are very special. They have some real personality and flavor, and aren't dissolving clouds like Krispy Kremes. I know there is a fairly new store downtown near main and 33rd, right by Costco and Home depot.

There used to be one north of the river, on Vivion, off of North Oak Trafficway, but it closed. I've also been to one in Kansas, but I can't remember where it was. I'm not sure how the newest store measures up to the other ones, which were very good, because I've only had the doughnuts later in the morning when they were less then fresh.

bnowell724 wrote:I love Lamars, when the doughnuts are fresh. Their cake doughnuts are awesome. The glazed doughnuts are very special. They have some real personality and flavor, and aren't dissolving clouds like Krispy Kremes. I know there is a fairly new store downtown near main and 33rd, right by Costco and Home depot.

There used to be one north of the river, on Vivion, off of North Oak Trafficway, but it closed. I've also been to one in Kansas, but I can't remember where it was. I'm not sure how the newest store measures up to the other ones, which were very good, because I've only had the doughnuts later in the morning when they were less then fresh.

Here's a list of their locations on their website. I've been to 3 of the KC area ones. Quality doughnuts to say the least (one of the reasons it would be nice to live in KC). http://www.lamars.com/xlocations/locations.html

Have no clue of the Alabama, Tennessee, and Colorado locations are any good or not. All I know is that a Lamar's doughnut isn't a snack, it is a full blown meal.

Later,
Sam S.

Well, Lamar's by me is now open, and much to my relief, it's much inferior to Fluffy Fresh.

A much bigger variety, though, plenty of customers, and I'm sure they'll be open long after Fluffy Fresh has closed.

The straight-up glazed was more cardboard-y than it should be. The white-fluff filled longjohn...ugh, the white fluff tasted like grocery store cake frosting. Overly reliant on the sugar, all around. The apple fritter was decent. Also tried a couple sprinkly-versions (one with m&m like candies), sour cream, and blueberry cake. Okay, but it won't replace Fluffy Fresh.

According to the Kansas City Star

"Doughnuts are made at the midtown store and then taken to Mission.

The franchisees, Alan and Kimberly Foster, own the Lamar’s at 3395 Main St., as well as locations in Lee’s Summit and Greenwood, Mo."

LaMar's Donuts & Coffee
5901 Johnson Drive
Mission, KS 66202
http://www.lamars.com/

I used to go to the one in Overland Park. Not fantastic, but serviceable. I think a place like that would do gangbusters business in Chicagoland. I remember they could never keep the damn case full, so you got the least desireable kinds...white frosted long johns or the apple filled powdered.

I John's Space Aged Donuts still around?