Bakery

Local donut shop with a section of vegan doughnuts, yeast and cake donuts. Reported closed December 2024. May open under new ownership in 2025.


Venue map for Vortex Doughnuts
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69 Reviews

First Review by Raesock

KrisSkye

Points +74

Vegan
18 May 2022

Vegan is default for donuts!

Plenty of space to sit and enjoy a coffee and donut.

Pros: Vegan is default, Choice between fluffy or cake donut

klstuart

Points +1375

Vegan
20 Mar 2022

Worth every decadent calorie

Spacious inside with maybe 10 small tables. Friendly, helpful counter service. Amazing doughnuts and coffee. I had the espresso glazed cake doughnut and a La Luchador (mild). Admittedly two more await me in a to go box…

Pros: Vegan is the default, Coffee drinks are fantastic

MicahSpeakman

Points +40

Vegan
23 Feb 2022

Default is vegan!

So good! The default is vegan. Non-vegan is clearly labeled. Several types of donuts in cake and yeast. Delicious coffee drinks with oat milk to keep it nondairy. Reasonable prices.

Pros: Vegan options, Good food, Good drinks

Cons: Still offers non-vegan options

SamBarr

Points +26

Vegan
08 Feb 2022

Great overall experience

The donuts are amazing. Some of the best coffee in town. If you’re looking for a doughnut experience while downtown this is your spot. I personally love the “vortex” doughnut with cinnamon sugar and chocolate swirl glaze and their chai latte with oat milk.

TheFreeto

Points +122

Vegan
06 Dec 2021

I dream of these donuts

Although they do serve non vegan donuts, the default recipe is vegan. The non vegan donuts are marked as such and the rest are vegan. Let's make vegan the default everywhere. The Vortex is a great starting point and you will want to try them all.

Pros: Sweety goodness, Plenty of options , Plus there's coffee

PixieMel

Points +740

Vegan
26 Jul 2021

Yes!

I'm so happy to finally have vegan donuts in Asheville. And not just cake donuts (no, thanks). Vortex has plenty of flavor options to satisfy almost anyone. They even make a vegan apple fritter. The salted caramel is my go-to. It's not an overwhelming flavor that masks the donut taste but it's just right.

Updated from previous review on 2021-07-26

Pros: Delicious options, Plenty of parking , Great atmosphere

yup

02 Dec 2016

what is this "masking the donut taste" you speak of? heresy!

JackieP

Points +379

Vegan
04 Jul 2021

They were okay

I'm glad they had multiple vegan options, but I wasn't a huge fan overall. Tht being said, if I'm given a Vortex vegan doughnut, I'm gonna eat it.

Just had one yesterday. Same review. It was good, but a bit dense. I sure ate it though, because donuts. 😁

Updated from previous review on 2019-08-21

Pros: Vegan options

Cons: I felt like they all tasted the same

Ksis

Points +1204

Vegan
14 Jun 2021

You gotta go!

Just wow. Donuts were delicious. We got the chai pecan apple, vanilla, and cinnamon sugar apple fritter (all yeast). They were all so incredibly good, though the classic vanilla and cinnamon sugar apple fritter probably tie as my top. (I’ve never had an apple fritter before and I can’t wait to have one again!!)

We went around 9:30/10 on a Sunday and the line was only a few people in front of us! Not nearly as crowded as I thought it could be! Lots of outdoor seating.

sasspirilla

Points +96

Vegan
30 May 2021

BEST doughnuts EVER. Period

The doughnuts (vegan) from Vortex are the best doughnuts I've ever tasted in my life. Not just vegan (of all doughnuts). They're that good. I promise you won't be disappointed. Light, fluffy, yeast doughnuts available in many interesting flavors. Not chewy or greasy. Just the right amount of sweetness. Big in size, easily sharable.
Really tasty coffee drinks here, too.
Kind of glad I don't live close by, as I might eat them every day if I did!

Pros: Many vegan flavors, Tasty & big doughnuts & drinks

Cons: Gets busy so sell out early & may be a line

JerrodSkywalker

Points +233

Vegan
03 May 2021

Not right operating times

Not open like listed. Went out of our way to drive here and try. Very disappointed in Asheville overall

Pros: None

Scholemillers

Points +868

Vegan
11 Apr 2021

Yummmm

These donuts are seriously good and I love that you can try the same flavor in cake vs leavened. The leavened donuts are definitely best consumed morning-of.

veganpatch

Points +5252

Vegan
06 Apr 2021

Good stop near Biltmore

We stopped here on a Tuesday morning on our way to Biltmore, it was about 5min away. It was quite busy and parking was difficult to find. Customer service was good and the staff were quick.

There was a large variety of vegan options for doughnuts. There were about 5 vegan and gluten free options.

We got a chai latte and regular coffee with oat milk originally. The chai latte was much too spicy, we probably wouldn't get again and the coffee was terrible and sour.

Parking: we parked on the side of the road.

Doughnuts: all were good
Favorite: vanilla apple fritter and vortex

Pros: Good selection including some vegan gluten free , Vanilla latte extra sugar was good

Cons: Regular coffee was sour, Chai latte was way too spicy

ChrisAmodeo

Points +145

Vegan
25 Mar 2021

Yummy!!! 😋

I had the strawberry vortex, which was probably the best donut I’ve had in years.

Pros: Great selection, Friendly staff, Clean location

acb345

Points +118

Vegan
22 Feb 2021

Just, Wow

I just finished two doughnuts and an oat milk latte from Vortex and all I can say is, wow. I’ve always thought that I preferred yeasty doughnuts to cakey ones, but the lavender cake doughnut is the best doughnut I’ve ever had. So deliciously soft inside and crispy on the outside. I can’t wait to try more while I’m in town.

kefox1995

Points +1100

Vegan
11 Oct 2020

Absolutely delicious!!!

A very nice atmosphere with outdoor seating to enjoy your donuts on site. Got a half dozen mix of cake and yeast donuts. Both to die for!! Vegan and non vegan options. Non vegan options are marked NV on the display case. Fresh and warm, would definitely return if near the area.

Pros: Ton of vegan options , Fresh & warm , Also serving coffee

amychristina

Points +77

Vegan
17 Aug 2020

YES!

SO many vegan donut options that they have the ones that AREN’T vegan labeled instead of labeling the vegan ones! staff very friendly & kind. latte super delicious as well. If I wasn’t just visiting Asheville, I’d be back every day. Outdoor seating great in times of covid.

Pros: Lots of vegan options , clearly labeled, great environment+staff

artnveg

Points +120

Vegan
24 Feb 2020

Fun space with amazing donuts

This is such a cool spot in an amazing area of town surrounded by art. When you pull up and see a giant mural of Wonder Woman you know this place is going to be awesome. There were so many options both for donuts and coffees/teas. You can't go wrong here. They have both cake and yeast donuts plus the best apple fritters ever! Flavors are wide ranging too from plain to maple peanut butter banana. I also liked that only the non-vegan things were marked, of which there were just a few, so that vegan is the norm not the exception.

Pros: delicious donuts!, great location, awesome service

Cons: none!

CaseyAndryushchenko

Points +74

Vegan
19 Jan 2020

Goooood Vegan Doughnuts!!

Went the first time today and they did not disappoint!! These were the BEST vegan doughnuts I have ever tasted! Most vegan doughnuts are dry and crumbly, these were quite the opposite!

Pros: VEGAN DOUGHNUTS 🍩

Cons: Expensive, Out of Apple Fritters

AlecWatts

Points +71

Vegan
24 Dec 2019

Many vegan donuts

Some of the best donuts I’ve ever had! Love that they have raised vegan donuts! Hard to come by.

Pros: A lot of Raised vegan donuts , Tasty coffee, Oat milk

hannahdare

Points +304

Vegan
06 Nov 2019

AMAZING

I love to visit vegan donut shops wherever I travel! I have been to shops on the west and east coast and in my opinion this place is the best. Fried, glazed yeast donuts and apple fritters. Great flavor combos. We went every morning of our trip!

I will say- I much prefer yeast donuts over cake donuts so this was perfect for me. Unfortunately when I visited the cake donuts were not vegan, but almost all of the yeast donut selection is (8+ flavors). Get there early as it’s really popular and the vegan flavors will sell out!

My favorites are the vanilla glazed apple fritter, vanilla glazed donut, espresso donut and the cinnamon sugar donut. I also got a delicious iced chai latte with oat milk.

JenniferKellogg

Points +413

Vegan
28 Oct 2019

So many choices

I wanted to try it all. Super friendly staff. Apple fritter and raspberry sprinke were top notch although the dough was a bit chewier than expected.

Pros: So many choices

Cons: Expensive

StephenEamonn

Points +616

Vegan
29 Sep 2019

They converted me!

I'm not a big doughnut fan, but a local friend told me I had to visit.
I liked the cool decor and I'd say half their doughnut options were vegan.
They were so good! I went again the next morning.
You have got to try the Vortex doughnut and the apple fritter, both vegan. They also make great coffee and it's a cool place to just hang out for a while.
Service was great overall, except for one guy who seemed to self-important to bother making eye contact or conversation.

Pros: Many vegan options, Great coffee, Friendly service

Cons: One unfriendly staff member

RamaniSharana

Points +50

Vegan
07 Aug 2019

Vegan donuts how can you go wrong!!

We love finding vegan donuts when we travel. This place didnt dissapoint. Try the espresso one! It was the best! Great coffee as well!

Pros: They use different tongs when picking up the vegan

AmandaDomian

Points +34

Vegan
31 Jul 2019

Good doughnuts/okay coffee

Great variety of vegan doughnuts. They were delicious! I got an iced chai latte with oat milk that was great. My husband got a nitro cold brew and he said it tastes acidic, almost like instant chilled coffee.

Pros: Great doughnuts, Nice atmosphere

therayofsunshinee

Points +30

Vegan
05 Jun 2019

Favorite Doughnut Shop!

Everytime my fiancé and I make a trip to Asheville, we always stop by Vortex to grab a few of their vegan yeast doughnuts 🍩! They also have great coffee!

Pros: Unique flavors, Vegan options, Reasonable prices

SamAnthony

Points +1701

Vegan
26 Apr 2019

Amazing vegan donuts

Amazing donut place with awesome vegan donuts!! The base for their yeast dough is vegan so almost all the yeast donuts are vegan except for a few that have non vegan toppings. There were like 10 vegan flavors when we went! So amazing and fluffy.

They've also got great coffee, nice shop, and very friendly people. Highly recommend! They've also got daily deals which is a nice touch. Love this place!

Pros: Tons of vegan options, Fluffy donuts

Lomky

Points +621

Vegan
14 Apr 2019

Amazing!!

Went here twice on my trip. Declious doughnuts, I tried the Vortex, apple fritter, espresso, and chocolate and loved them all. A nice mug of coffee to accompany them, as well. Easily walkable from downtown.




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