Asheville shop receives 2nd-highest rating in the U.S. on Yelp's 'Top 100 Donuts' list
ASHEVILLE - A West Asheville doughnut shop celebrated National Donut Day, June 3, in grand style, as the eatery earned second place on Yelp's "Top 100 U.S. Donut Shops 2023" list.
Hole Doughnuts co-owners Hallee Hirsh and Ryan Martin became owners in 2016, and the doughnut shop opened in 2014. The couple live in the East Fork community of Marshall and have recently started frying donuts in a pop-up tent at Third Thursdays in Marshall.
Operating out of the same 800-square-foot West Asheville shop they opened in, Hirsh said the national recognition is something she's still trying to process.
"The scale of that recognition, being on that level for the whole of the U.S. is hard to even comprehend," Hirsh said. "But the fact that this recognition is based solely on the quality of reviews fills us with so much joy, because that customer and community experience is what fuels us."
More: West Asheville Krispy Kreme for sale? Company responds to rumors of its closing
More: A sweet deal: Downtown doughnut shop sold, new owner rolls out upgrades
According to Hirsh, Hole offers four flavors, including three stock flavors - vanilla, toasted almond sesame and cinnamon sugar - and a seasonal fourth that changes every week.
The Yelp list said "Outrageous toppings are more popular than ever," and Hole never lacks for interesting topping choices.
Hirsh said her favorite flavor is Hole's hazelnut miso donut.
Other past toppings have included wisteria blossom, sumac and birch, as well as honeysuckle, strawberry-peppercorn and juneberry-basil.
According to Hirsh, Martin has been perfecting the recipe for years.
"Ryan has never stopped fine-tuning the recipe," Hirsh said. "He's got the sourdough recipe down, as well as a sourdough gluten free (though it's not celiac safe due to there being one fryer). We keep it super simple with just four toppings to choose from."
Hirsh said vanilla is always the bestseller, but all four varieties are popular.
"People love our doughnuts because they are fried to order right in front of you," she said. "You get to eat a piping hot, crispy-on-the-outside, fluffy-on-the-inside fried goodness. Fried food is always best when it's enjoyed immediately."
More: 2023 food trends, where to find them at Asheville restaurants
Hirsh said co-owner Laurie Crosswell and the staff's smiling faces keeps customers coming back, too.
According to Hirsh, the national recognition from Yelp is due in no small part to Crosswell's customer service.
"To top it all off, folks get to chat with our sweet staff and Laurie, our co-owner, who loves people immensely and is often the reason folks take the time to write a review."
Hirsh said she and Martin are currently aiming to purchase a new building, as they currently lease at the West Asheville location.
At the end of the day, Hirsh and the team's main focus is on continuing to offer customers some of the best doughnuts and best service around.
"We just want everyone to treat themselves and have a good time," Hirsh said.
Hole Doughnuts is located at 168 Haywood Road, and is open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.
Visit Hole Doughnuts' website here.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Hole receives 2nd-highest rating on Yelp's 'Top 100 U.S. Donuts' list
