Print edition: 
For those who have a doughnut self-control problem, Wichita is a dangerous place to live.
As quickly as a doughnut shop closes here, another one (or two) takes its place. During the past nine months, at least three new shops have opened across the city.
Perhaps the popular Donut Whole, which opened in early 2009, got Wichita into a doughnut frame of mind with its whimsical, colorful and delicious concoctions. (Maple bacon, anyone?) On a recent morning, we sampled doughnuts from three of Wichita’s newest purveyors. Here’s what we found:
FLYING DONUTS
4618 E. Central, 316-260-4600
Open 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, 6 a.m. to noon Saturdays and Sundays. Closed Mondays.
Tricia Davis opened her Flying Donuts next to Bella Luna Cafe around Thanksgiving last year. Since then, she’s been earning fans in the College Hill neighborhood and beyond with super fluffy, very pretty doughnuts.
The doughnuts: Our doughnut samplers raved about Flying Donuts raised doughnuts, which are eye catchingly attractive. They’re light, airy and bready, in the vein of LaMar’s, and they’re not at all greasy. The glazed was great, but we also were wowed by a chocolate-frosted and a powdered, which the staff thoughtfully packaged in a separate bag. The rest of the doughnuts were lined up on their sides in a rectangular, hand-decorated white box, adding to the visual appeal.
Also on the menu: Bear claws, apple fritters, long johns and the like, adorable little mini-cake donuts, muffins, croissants and kolaches filled with jalapenos, sausage and cheese. There are also coffee drinks such as lattes and cappuccinos.
The shop: It’s small, with just a table or two, but it’s bright and colorful, and the staff is friendly.
Price range: A dozen glazed doughnuts are $7.59. Iced or filled doughnuts are $9.90 a dozen. Fancy doughnuts are $1.29 to $1.59 apiece. Stuffed kolaches and croissants are $1.99.
PARADISE DONUTS
3107 W. Central, 316-945-2933
Open 5:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. daily
Steve Trask owns this shop, which opened in February and now is attracting a steady stream of doughnut fans who stop in while driving downtown from the west side.
The doughnuts: Paradise is part of an Oklahoma-based franchise, and its doughnuts also were good, especially the cake variety. A blueberry cake doughnut was divine, as was a chocolate glazed and a very pretty cruller. The doughnuts were packaged nicely in a traditional flat white doughnut box.
Also on the menu: Interesting fancy donuts such as twists and pinecones and a super huge apple fritter that Trask said was one of his best sellers. We could see why. It had a nice apple flavor, which wasn’t overwhelmed by greasy breading.
Paradise also offers cinnamon rolls, muffins, biscuits and gravy and a variety of fancy coffee drinks.
The shop: The seating area is larger than some with several tables, and the room is clean and bright.
Price range: A dozen glazed or cake doughnuts are $7.99. Fancy doughnuts range from $1.19 to $1.99 apiece. Biscuits and gravy and sausage rolls are $1.79-$1.99.
PRAIRIE DONUTS
1652 S. Rock Road, 316-651-5553
Open 4:30 a.m. to noonish daily.
Samie and Matthew San are relatives of the Squeek’s Daylight Donuts that closed on south Rock Road, and when it closed, they opened a new shop down the street, conveniently located next door to the Starbucks at Harry and Rock.
The doughnuts: Their doughnuts are more old-school Daylight-ish, with basic cake, glazed and fancy varieties such as frosted longjohns. The doughnuts were fine though were sloppily piled into a big square brown box, making them seem less appealing next to the more nicely presented doughnuts.
Also on the menu: The owners are sticking to doughnuts and coffee drinks for now until road construction on Rock Road in front of their shop is complete and they can see how regular business is. Then, they may add more pastries and other options.
The shop: The dining room is small but clean with about four tables and, on the day we visited, amplified background music.
Price range: Our big ‘ole box of doughnut goodness cost $7.19. A dozen fancy doughnuts are $11.85. Fancies are $1.15 apiece, and regular doughnuts are 75 cents apiece.
Other popular Wichita doughnut purveyors
Chicago Donuts, 3233 E. Harry Dillon’s, several Wichita locations
The Donut Whole, 1720 E. Douglas
LaMar’s, several Wichita locations
Krispy Kreme, 7777 E. Central
QuikTrip, several Wichita locations
Squeek’s, 734 N. Waco
Winchell’s, 1205 W. Pawnee
