I knew when I got to Portland, I had to check out Voodoo doughnuts. It was on every friend’s recommendation list, pointed out on every tourist map, featured on No Reservations, and involved soft cakey doughnuts topped with things like Butterfinger bars, strawberry Quick powder (um, yum) and Cocoa Puffs. Not to mention just slightly more age-appropriate varieties like the Arnold Palmer (cake doughnut with lemon and tea powder), apple fritter, and a maple-glazed doughnut with two strips of bacon. With this Technicolor array of late-night munchie material, I wasn’t surprised to learn that Voodoo is open 24 hours, and as my Portland-based friend Jay described it: “kind of a human zoo at night.” I had to plan my visit accordingly. Walking down there close to bar time wasn’t the best idea, as the rather rowdy line stretched around the block. I returned on a rainy Sunday, to, well, another line, that was shorter and less rowdy, but still did include a 45 minute wait as I got closer and closer to the sign.
Voodoo Doughnuts, Portland
The wait was long and rainy, but moved fast. Voodoo visitors poured out bearing pink boxes of doughnuts they were already busting into as they brushed smugly back past the line, while some locals walked by in packs telling the line to go to the doughnut shop down the street (but failed to specify which one). But we weren’t going to give up now.. we pressed on and waited and finally got inside to make our decision while we took in the decor.
Doughnut wall fun
Creepy doughnut-eating skeleton
More kitsch
The choice was difficult, but anything with peanut butter and the added attraction of Rice Krispies was good enough for me. I eyed the Triple Chocolate Penetration (chocolate doughnut, chocolate glaze and Cocoa Puffs) and considered the Memphis Mafia (chocolate chips, banana and peanut butter glaze), but the Rice Krispes (called—or not called?—the No Name), was doughy, crunchy and fantastic, and took me about 30 seconds to scarf down.
Vanilla doughnut with chocolate sauce, rice krispies and peanut butter
More varieties of Voodoo
A fine use of sugared cereal like Fruit Loops and Cap'n Crunch
Anyone else been under the spell of Voodoo? Leave your doughnut tales in the comments below. Voodoo Doughnut, 22 S.W. Third Ave., 503.241.4704
More doughnut-y goodness
ELIZABITES 
Peanut butter is like bacon: anything with it just tastes better. I have become addicted to doughnuts. I learnt to appreciate them through Homer Simpsons (mmm, forbidden donuts…mmm), but I had failed to try them when I used to come to the States on business. Now that I live here, doughnuts have become one of my favorite pastries. They overtook blueberry muffins by far.
Anyway, voodo doughnuts is an awesome name. I have a problem with the 45 minutes wait (I am VERY impatient when it comes to wait for food), but I guess that’s a price to pay.
Yes, the wait was annoying, but just came with the territory of such a well-known spot. And I agree, I think I actually love peanut butter more than bacon, although that’s also an awesome combo…
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