Wondering how you can finally try those famous The Flour Box donuts?
We, too, have stood in line for upwards of an hour just to try the brioche donuts from The Flour Box. Located in South Seattle’s Hillman City, this bakery is equally well-known for its rotating menu of inventive donut fillings and its long lines. Owner Pamela Vuong was even a James Beard semi-finalist. Vuong and her small team make 1,000 fresh donuts a day, on top of providing coffee drinks and other baked goods, and typically sell out of donuts around noon.
We found that their donuts were light, fluffy, and airy with just the right amount of filling. We tried all of that week’s flavors and not one of the fillings was too sweet.
If you like brioche donuts and don’t mind waiting in line for an hour or longer, we do think The Flour Box is worth the wait to try it at least once! All of their baked goods and beverages—not just the donuts—are very well-made, and the bakery itself is in a very charming space. Check out our tips below, and then grab a friend and make a morning of it.
Read on for our tips for getting The Flour Box donuts!
Do: Go on a day that works for you
The Flour Box is only open Thursdays through Sundays so that their small team can prep on other days (and take a break!). Although many have suggested going on a weekday rather than a weekend, owner Pamela Vuong has noted on Instagram that they haven’t seen a noticeable difference in the line on different days of the week. It may be a case of everyone having the same thought of, “I’ll go on a Thursday because it will be less crowded than a Saturday…”
Vuong also said that the weather doesn’t seem to affect the line, either. So just go on a day that works for you, and bring an umbrella if it’s raining!
Do: Go during the second week of new flavors
You may have more luck with this strategy. The Flour Box announces new flavors every two weeks. Try waiting for the excitement over the new flavors to die down and go during the second week.
Do: Go for the less popular flavors
Some of the donut flavors produced by The Flour Box are incredibly popular, such as tiramisu and honeycrisp apple. They also have more adventurous flavors such as durian, kimchi, and smoked salmon, so you may have better luck with a shorter line during weeks with polarizing flavors.
Do: Check Instagram
The Flour Box often posts updates on their Instagram Story when they still have donuts left and a minimal wait time. If you live nearby, definitely make it a habit to check their Instagram Story on days that they’re open.
Do: Swing by if you’re in the area
This tip doesn’t apply to everyone, but if you live in the Hillman City area or happen to be nearby when they’re open, just swing by! You’ll be able to scope out the line situation with just a glance and if it seems short, then that’s your cue.
Don’t: Show up at the break of dawn
One main contributor to the long line at The Flour Box is that everyone shows up hours before the bakery opens at 10:00 a.m. If you’re really anxious about getting a specific donut flavor, you may want to go wait in the line before opening. Otherwise, you’ll most likely be able to get donuts before they sell out as long as you arrive at least an hour before noon—and your wait may even be shortened!
Don’t: Buy more donuts than you can eat
The Flour Box has a limit of 24 donuts per customer (although their average order size is six to eight donuts). However, they recommend eating them as soon as possible for the best experience. Their donuts are made fresh the day-of without preservatives and stabilizers, so you should only buy as many as you (and your friends and family) can reasonably eat that day.
Don’t: Forget to try their other products!
The Flour Box is known for their donuts but we’ve tried their other products as well, and they’re all equally deserving of the limelight. We love their fudge brownies and chocolate chip cookies, and we’re crossing our fingers that their cinnamon rolls return one day. Their coffee drinks and seasonal beverages are also delicious. So if you show up after the donuts are sold out, you may still be able to treat yourself to something equally delectable.
For more information visit their website, and you can also follow them on Instagram for updates.
The Flour Box
Location: 5520 Rainier Ave S, Seattle, WA 98118
Hours: 10:00 a.m. until sellout (typically around noon) Thursday through Sunday
Featured image via The Flour Box