Donuts for lunch? Well, I say yes! Or at least an after-lunch snack?

If I had to pick 5 places I love to go in Wichita, The Donut Whole would definitely make that list. The Donut Whole isn’t all about donuts, either; it’s more of an experience. Whether you come for donuts, coffee, art, or live music, they’ve got you covered.

So what makes the Donut Whole different from all the other donut shops around? Each day the donuts are crafted from scratch from locally-sourced ingredients. And the variety! Dan, a donut lover behind me in line, said, “The variety of donuts is what I love about Donut Whole – it’s always changing.” I tried to count all the different varieties that were in the donut case on my latest visit and came up with around 15. According to their website, there are more than 25 different varieties of their old-fashioned cake donut.

The basic ingredients are Kansas buttermilk, eggs, butter, and flour milled near Stafford County. Each donut is then fried in a shortening made from 100% soybean oil. Once the actual donut is created, the toppings can get quite creative. The donut varieties are categorized into three different kinds: basics, fancies, and supremes. King Midas (vanilla, salted peanuts & Lyle’s golden syrup), Maple Bacon (maple glazed topped with crispy bacon), Thick Mint (chocolate donut topped with actual Girl Scout Thin Mints cookies) are just a few of the specialty donuts you can enjoy. On Wednesdays, vegan donuts are cranked out.

The possiblities are endless when choosing your favorite donut. Just when you think you’ve found the “it” one, you bite into another that tickles your fancy. Upon looking at Tanya Tandoc’s criteria, she states that the cherry cordial is what does it for her. I’m not that big of a cherry flavoring fan, so I tend to go with the Rice Krispies or Cinnamon Whole donut. Patrick, another donut eater in line behind me, said, “I have so many favorites, it’s hard to pick just one.”

You can also get some great brewed coffee, espresso drinks, tea, or bottled beverages to accompany the tasty donut treat. I’m a fan of their bottled Coca-Cola, the extra special kind that has cane sugar. You many end up with a nice sugar buzz after pairing that with a donut (or three), but it’s definitely worth it.

If you’re a music lover, be sure to stop by their front room, the Bantam Lounge. It is the host to live music weekly, usually on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. There is also a link on their website for a current music and events calendar. They also offer free wireless Internet, which can help when pitching the idea to your boss that you work the afternoon away while munching on donuts and coffee.

If you haven’t been yet, I suggest you take a drive down Douglas and turn in where you see the big chicken on the top of the building. You’ve made it to the right place! What are your favorite donuts?

Related posts:

1. [eat] Lunch with Liz: The Beacon
2. [eat] Lunch with Liz: Sabor
3. [eat] Lunch with Liz: DK Kitchen
4. [eat] Lunch with Liz: Watermark Books & Cafe
5. [eat] We All Scream for Ice Cream