Restaurant in Portland, United States
Blue Star Donuts
150ptsOAD-ranked craft donuts, no reservation needed.
About Blue Star Donuts
Blue Star Donuts is Portland's strongest case for a late-night sweet stop, with evening hours until 22:00 most days and OAD Cheap Eats recognition (#129 in North America, 2025). No reservation required, accessible pricing, and a 4.4 Google rating across 3,500+ reviews. Best used as a post-dinner detour rather than a standalone destination.
The Verdict
Blue Star Donuts earns its spot on Opinionated About Dining's Cheap Eats in North America list — ranked #129 in 2025, up from #169 in 2024 — which tells you this place is moving in the right direction and has credible outside endorsement. If you are in Portland and want a late-night sweet stop, the evening hours (open until 22:00 most days) make it a practical choice when nearly every other notable Portland doughnut shop has closed. For a special occasion that does not require a reservation or a dress code, this works well as a dessert detour or a low-key celebration treat.
Portrait
Blue Star Donuts operates out of 1701 SW Jefferson St in Portland, Oregon. The kitchen is led by chef Katie Popp. The concept sits firmly in the craft doughnut category: this is not a quick-service chain, but a focused operation with enough critical recognition to suggest real kitchen discipline behind the product.
What separates Blue Star from Portland's other doughnut options is availability after dark. The shop runs evening service (18:00–22:00) Tuesday through Sunday, and adds a lunch window (12:00–14:00) on Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. That evening window is rare in this category. Most craft doughnut shops in the Pacific Northwest run morning-only hours and sell out before noon. If you are planning a late dinner elsewhere and want to finish the night on something sweet, Blue Star is one of very few operations in Portland that can serve that role without requiring you to plan your entire day around a 7 AM doughnut run.
The Google rating of 4.4 across 3,586 reviews reflects a consistent performer with a large enough sample to be meaningful. That volume of reviews also suggests strong foot traffic, which for a specialty food concept is a positive signal about sustained demand rather than novelty hype.
For a special occasion framing: this is not a white-tablecloth experience, but a well-regarded craft food stop that translates well to a date or a low-pressure celebration. Think of it as a considered ending to an evening in Portland rather than the main event. Pair it with dinner at Kann or a cocktail at one of Portland's bars, then walk over to Blue Star before 22:00.
Price range data is not available in the record, but OAD Cheap Eats inclusion signals this is accessible pricing by definition. You are not dropping serious money here. That makes it a low-risk add to any Portland evening itinerary.
Among Portland doughnut options, Pip's Original Doughnuts & Chai and Holy Donut are the most direct peers to consider. Neither matches Blue Star's evening hours, which is the practical differentiator if you are planning around a dinner-first itinerary. If you are a doughnut-specific traveller comparing West Coast stops, Dynamo Donut & Coffee in San Francisco and The Doughnut Project in New York City operate in the same craft category but different markets.
Awards & Recognition
- Opinionated About Dining Cheap Eats in North America , Ranked #129 (2025)
- Opinionated About Dining Cheap Eats in North America , Ranked #169 (2024)
- Opinionated About Dining Cheap Eats in North America , Recommended (2023)
Booking & Access
No reservation is required. Walk-in only, which makes this one of the easiest operations to access in Portland's food scene. Booking difficulty: easy. If you are planning a Portland evening that includes dinner at a reservation-required spot like Ken's Artisan Pizza or Berlu, Blue Star works as a no-friction follow-up with no advance planning required.
Practical Details
| Detail | Blue Star Donuts | Pip's Original Doughnuts | Holy Donut |
|---|---|---|---|
| Category | Craft Doughnuts | Craft Doughnuts | Craft Doughnuts |
| Evening Hours | Yes (until 22:00) | No (morning-focused) | No (morning-focused) |
| Reservation Required | No | No | No |
| OAD Cheap Eats Listed | Yes (#129, 2025) | Not listed | Not listed |
| Google Rating | 4.4 (3,586 reviews) | Not available | Not available |
| Booking Difficulty | Easy | Easy | Easy |
Address: 1701 SW Jefferson St, Portland, OR 97201. Phone number not publicly listed in our data. Check directly for current availability.
Hours
- Monday: 12:00–14:00, 18:00–22:00
- Tuesday: 18:00–22:00
- Wednesday: 18:00–22:00
- Thursday: 12:00–14:00, 18:00–22:00
- Friday: 12:00–14:00, 18:00–22:00
- Saturday: 12:00–14:00, 18:00–22:00
- Sunday: 12:00–14:00, 18:00–22:00
Explore More in Portland
Compare Blue Star Donuts
| Venue | Awards | Price | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Star Donuts | Opinionated About Dining Cheap Eats in North America Ranked #129 (2025); Opinionated About Dining Cheap Eats in North America Ranked #169 (2024); Opinionated About Dining Cheap Eats in North America in Recommended (2023) | — | |
| Kann | — | ||
| Nostrana | — | ||
| Ken’s Artisan Pizza | — | ||
| Coquine | — | ||
| Multnomah Whiskey Library | — |
Comparing your options in Portland for this tier.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Blue Star Donuts handle dietary restrictions?
Specific dietary accommodation details are not confirmed in available venue data. That said, craft donut operations of this type typically offer a rotating selection, so options vary by day. If dietary restrictions are a hard requirement, call ahead or check current stock in person at 1701 SW Jefferson St before making a special trip.
Is Blue Star Donuts good for solo dining?
Yes — this is one of the better solo stops in Portland. Walk-in only, no reservation pressure, and a grab-and-go format means zero friction. OAD's Cheap Eats ranking confirms it delivers quality without requiring a commitment of time or spend.
Can Blue Star Donuts accommodate groups?
Groups are fine in terms of access — no reservation is needed and the format is walk-in. For larger parties, the practical consideration is whether the day's selection will have enough variety to go around, especially during peak lunch windows. Arrive early in a service window to give the group the widest choice.
Is lunch or dinner better at Blue Star Donuts?
Lunch is the more reliable window. The shop opens for lunch service most days (12:00–14:00), and donuts are typically freshest at the start of a service. Evening hours (18:00–22:00) exist but Tuesday and Wednesday are dinner-only with no lunch, so plan around the hours listed for SW Jefferson St.
What should a first-timer know about Blue Star Donuts?
No reservation, no booking app — just show up at 1701 SW Jefferson St during service hours. Blue Star has ranked on Opinionated About Dining's Cheap Eats in North America list three years running, most recently at #129 in 2025, which gives you a calibrated sense of what to expect: serious craft at a casual price point, not a tourist gimmick.
Can I eat at the bar at Blue Star Donuts?
Blue Star Donuts is a donut-focused operation, not a seated bar concept. Seating and counter details are not confirmed in the venue record. Treat this as a counter-service stop rather than a sit-down experience, and plan accordingly.
What should I order at Blue Star Donuts?
Specific menu items are not confirmed in the venue data, so no individual dishes can be recommended here. As a craft donut operation that has held OAD Cheap Eats recognition since 2023, the rotating selection is the draw — ask the counter staff what is fresh that service.
Hours
- Monday
- 12:00-14:00 18:00-22:00
- Tuesday
- 18:00-22:00
- Wednesday
- 18:00-22:00
- Thursday
- 12:00-14:00 18:00-22:00
- Friday
- 12:00-14:00 18:00-22:00
- Saturday
- 12:00-14:00 18:00-22:00
- Sunday
- 12:00-14:00 18:00-22:00
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