Helen&#x27;s Donuts &amp; Ice Cream

75

93

186

3 months ago

Hunt for the best blueberry donut continued. Helen's has got a decent fan base so I went in search of the best blueberry donut. I tried them in the past apparently because I have photos associated to that visit (even bought a dozen). I obviously didn't remember until I started writing this review. First the location is pretty easy to reach. Small strip mall store front off Portland Ave. I walked in and there were two people ahead of me but no seating and hardly room to view the selection. There is a plastic COVID screen still up and pictures of people who have stolen from them. The selection of donuts is decent and apparently on the weekends there are speciality fritters. The owner operators are kind and so helpful (high praises!). I ordered one blueberry donut and one banana fritter. Both appeared to be well cooked and scrumptious. However, each of the donuts were over fried and tasted like old grease. The blueberry cake was full of blueberries but no real blueberry taste. The fritter was soaked in grease and no banana flavor. Sadly this is not on my list to try again. read more

Helen's Donuts & Ice Cream - Blueberry cake - Donuts Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

Helen's Donuts & Ice Cream - Banana fritter - Donuts Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

See all

Helpful 1

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Andrea M.

405

896

3389

2 months ago

Absolutely the best donut place in the state. I drive all the way down from Edmonds. Everyone that works behind the counter is super friendly kind and nice. I love the banana. Fritters I come all the way down here for the banana. Fritters it's always a nice treat they have a good family ambience vibe great food great service. I love this place. Five stars hands-down I went to the dentist this morning right up the street and told them they need to start coming here and getting their donuts stop going to high large corporate chains when they buy donuts for their staff. read more

Helpful 2

Thanks 0

Love this 1

Oh no 1

Smaly K.

327

1533

9460

8 months ago

My mom wanted to pick up donuts for a gathering, and she didn't know where to go, and neither did I, since I don't get donuts too often near her house. My sister suggested this place. I stopped by here on a Sunday morning. I ordered two regular dozens, and had the man choose the donuts for me. The man, I'm assuming is the owner, was very welcoming and friendly. He threw in some extra donut holes, which were yummy. Everyone enjoyed the donuts. The regular dozens did not include the fritters, which I'd like to try next time. read more

Helpful 1

Thanks 0

Love this 1

Oh no 0

Adam R.

441

523

1220

9 months ago

We are not in this area very often, but I am glad I got to try the donuts. It's a little mom-and-pop kind of place with a great selection of donuts. I stopped in here to get a dozen to take to where my husband was and everyone loved them. If you are in the area, I highly recommend checking them out. They are friendly and provide a great product for a reasonable price. read more

Helpful 1

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Benjamin H.

2

6

0

10 months ago

I'm a "fritter guy". Helen's makes the best fritters in town. Too may places make "cakey" fritters. Helen's makes them dense, thick, crisp on the outside, soft on the inside. Apple, of course, and rotating menu of other fruit fritters.... blueberry, cherry, banana, peach, etc. Friendly "mom and pop" shop. You can even grab your morning java (basic espresso classics) in one stop! Traditional donut shop... not an overpriced "cafe style" place. read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Mike G.

4

90

7

6 months ago

Back in picking up maple bars for my family. They LOVE these ones. I'm a weekly customer now. I did try one donut, an apple fritter, it was top notch! Great people and awesome quality. read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Jefe L.

0

10

0

3 months ago

Small mom and pop shop that is amazing. i enjoy a cup of caramel macchiato that tastes the same everytime unlike some other coffee spots. Fresh donuts daily with deals. I like to try new things here they don't disappoint. it's always busy and a line out the door. they work so hard to keep up with the demand of the community. Thank you for all the years of greatness and more to come. Also they have smoothies and ice cream I will be trying this summer. read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Ray I.

Elite 25

17

182

44

2 years ago

A delightful find, after coming down for bike riding in Swan Creek. Totally like dog for a bone, me and french krullers have a long relationship and as soon as I see one in the display case my decision is made. Friendly fella at the counter filled my box and quickly I was on my way! It is an easy decision to come back here. Yes! read more

Helen's Donuts & Ice Cream - $11 box of delights. - Donuts Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

Helpful 0

Thanks 1

Love this 1

Oh no 0

Erick H.

0

27

0

9 months ago

My visit here was a while ago....Nothing fancy here. Apple fritter was a bit 'caky'! (Is that a word?)

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Nycole R.

1052

3238

9248

5 years ago

Not to be judged from the outside, Helen's Donuts and Ice Cream is a diamond in the rough. My wife and I stopped in late in the afternoon on a Friday, not expecting a big variety due to the time of day. However, there was plenty to choose from-in fact, more than I have seen in other donut shops first thing in the morning. The signs to "make it quick and short" at first made me think we would be rushed or unwelcome. But that, also couldn't be further from the truth. The nice man that helped us was gregarious and tried to get us to buy more than just a donut apiece. We learned that there are drinks (smoothies, juice) and ice cream that would have paired nicely with our treat. But we only had an appetite for a donut, so that's what we left with. Well, a donut and a few donut holes that he threw in the bags for each of us. There's nowhere to stay and eat (when they say make it quick and short, they mean it)! So we ate our donuts in the car. They were so SO good! I'm already wishing for another one. read more

Helen's Donuts & Ice Cream - Donut case - Donuts Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

Helpful 5

Thanks 0

Love this 4

Oh no 0

Tornadoroo K.

0

211

537

2 years ago

We love these donuts and the icecream is heavenly. Always a large selection of both and a friendly sales staff to boot. Always the same person so they may be the owner. They have lots of other goodies and drinks making for a one stop slice of happiness. We have to travel for this shop but try and visit at least once a month. The donuts here are fresh and have a good crumb as well as flavor. Worth a trip or if you're near be sure and drop in. Private lot shared with other businesses. No bathroom. read more

Helpful 2

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Perla A.

0

6

1

2 years ago

Amazing fresh donuts. Been going there since I was 9 I'm now 21. Owners are really nice read more

Helpful 1

Thanks 1

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Kristopher Z.

0

1

0

6 months ago

donuts cheap thats why we love them been skipping class just to get donuts lol Owners are very lovely and welcoming never doubt this place is always a hit and always good on their prices! the place is a good size for a donut shop its super chill! read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 1

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Vy P.

426

291

897

6 years ago

Listen up, I've been looking for an authentic and cozy donut shop and this is it. LOCATION & PARKING // It's located in a super small corner and you may miss the entrance if you're driving too fast. You can't miss the store sign though since it's so colorful. There isn't a ton of parking but I don't see that to be a problem since it doesn't seem to be a busy area. I was able to park quite easily. FOOD // I grabbed a dozen donuts plus some donut holes, ranging from apple fritters, glazed donuts, chocolate donuts, cream donuts, blueberry jelly, etc. They were all amazing! I shared these donuts with everyone and they all loved them and commented on how fresh they were. SERVICE // This is what really makes this place for me. The staff here are all super kind and friendly. They threw in some extra donut holes for me for no reason except just general kindness. I never felt rushed the entire time since I had so many questions about which were which. OVERALL // 5 stars This is a no-frills donut stop that I recommend if you're in the area and want to pick up a small little treat! read more

Helpful 5

Thanks 1

Love this 3

Oh no 0

Jason B.

0

39

14

2 years ago

Fantastic sweets. I enjoy the different types of fritters. Apple, peach, blueberry, but the apple is sensational. I'm also a fan of the ice cream. Courteous people too. read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Mackenzie B.

0

9

2

2 years ago

Only complaint is wish they had longer hours. Really great donuts and the best service. Always hooks it up with the free donut holes.

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

TeresaFuture M.

29

100

106

3 years ago

I had heard Helen's had the best donuts in Tacoma. Donuts and ice cream are my jam. I am always on the hunt for a good donut. We tried this place yesterday, and I was super disappointed. The cabinets were full at 11 am, which was impressive--I ordered a half dozen to try different ones. I bit into the first donut, and it felt doughy. I tried another donut, thinking maybe it was just this one, nope. We ended up throwing the donuts away. read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Jordan T.

1

68

21

3 years ago

Sooo good! Stopped by at 5:30pm and the donuts were still soft, fresh, and available in a full selection. Got a dozen + 2 for $18 and some free donut holes too. Donuts are light, fluffy, and soft. Used to go to Legendary Donuts in Federal Way and this place has them beat by a mile. read more

Helen's Donuts & Ice Cream - Delicious assorted donuts - Donuts Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

Helpful 1

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Julee I.

Elite 23

31

302

1014

2 years ago

Nice and friendly doughnut place. I love the lady that working there the donuts taste fresh and delicious.

Helpful 1

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Aisha H.

457

620

3264

6 years ago

I am a sucker for a good donut and Helens is probably one of my top picks to go for fresh, delicious donuts. My husband and I always argue on who has the best donuts, I lean more towards OHOD but he swears Helens is better and honestly as time has gone by I hate to admit it but I might need to agree with my husband. At least on a few donuts. Their donut holes here are melt in your mouth good and they always give you a generous handful for free with your purchase though you can purchase even more and they're soooo cheap. Honestly prices in generally are awesome here. Service is friendly here and I love supporting local businesses where I can. Parking sometimes sucks since Helens is in a smaller plaza but when it fills up people get creative and make their own spots so don't get discouraged because the donuts are worth it. read more

Helen's Donuts & Ice Cream - 12 donut holes for $1 - Donuts Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

See all

Helpful 10

Thanks 0

Love this 8

Oh no 0

Shai-Ann G.

27

12

8

3 years ago

They were so nice! The donuts are AMAZING! My favorite is the maple bacon bar super great deals for some soft well made donuts! read more

Helen's Donuts & Ice Cream - maple bacon bar and regular maple bar - Donuts Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Bryan M.

0

4

0

1 year ago

Been coming here since I was in 5th grade now I'm 19 the owners are very nice and the donuts are the softest and best donuts in Tacoma by far fairly cheap too read more

Helpful 1

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Veronica P.

146

91

82

3 years ago

Helen is very kind, and I feel like a valued customer whenever I come here. We usually get half a dozen donuts for $9. Love their blueberry ones! I appreciate when she throws in some donut holes too! Snack for the car ride home haha. read more

Helpful 2

Thanks 0

Love this 1

Oh no 0

Fran S.

0

6

0

2 years ago

Absolutely the best donuts ever. They are always fresh and delicious. I used to stop at Helen's every time I was in Tacoma. Now that I've moved here I'll need to be careful! read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Vitoria D.

0

15

10

3 years ago

My new favorite local Donut shop, with several options to choose from people line up choosing what donuts to get, the service is fast and friendly, and the shop has everything you need to start your morning, Donuts, coffee and ice cream?! Haha nice ambiance and nice people, 5/5 read more

Helen's Donuts & Ice Cream - Donut box - Donuts Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

Helen's Donuts & Ice Cream - Half dozen - Donuts Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

See all

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 1

Oh no 0

Guy B.

Elite 22

242

540

1970

5 years ago

Donuts are delicious, the guy behind the counter is friendly and puts your order together quickly. I've lived in the area for a bit and finally found myself the time to stop by one early Saturday. Nothing is better then a box of warm fresh donuts that taste great and this is it. I'll be back! read more

Helen's Donuts & Ice Cream - you're be a donut - Donuts Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

Helen's Donuts & Ice Cream - Mixed dozen, he throws in holes on top! - Donuts Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

See all

Helpful 1

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Vanessa C.

5

84

111

5 years ago

Recently I stopped by here to grab some donuts on my way home. They had a large selection of donuts left despite it being an hour prior to closing. This was great for me since I was able to grab a variety of different flavors. The prices were really great as well for a dozen I believe it was around $15. Additionally they also serve ice cream there so of course I couldn't resist getting some rocky road! The employee which I'm guessing may have been the owner was so kind to us while we were there. The donuts were not too soggy or dry and tasted good. I will definitely be returning again to grab more! read more

Helen's Donuts & Ice Cream - Donuts of many kinds - Donuts Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

Helen's Donuts & Ice Cream - Rocky road ice cream - Donuts Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

See all

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Chip W.

0

8

1

1 year ago

Idk what these are, but they sure ain't donuts. No donut taste whatsoever. The scammers are smiling and friendly though. I guess that's something. read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Tommie-Sis O.

20

109

10

3 years ago

Delicious donuts! Friendly person working. Tiny little shop but big enough on flavor to make it okay.

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Maia M.

22

27

4

3 years ago

Best doughnuts in Tacoma! There is always something delicious here and the service is fast and friendly. Highly recommend

Helpful 1

Thanks 1

Love this 2

Oh no 0

Leslie A.

0

2

10

4 years ago

Helen was a very great person to talk to you. Very quick and efficient with taking my order. She gave me a free donut holes that were amazing. I will 100% recommend. read more

Helen's Donuts & Ice Cream - taste testing donuts - Donuts Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

Helen's Donuts & Ice Cream - latte vanilla - Donuts Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

Helen's Donuts & Ice Cream - ordered a fill donut and helen gave me donut holes without even asking! - Donuts Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

Helen's Donuts & Ice Cream - very hot and good - Donuts Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

See all

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Mara C.

1

233

23

4 years ago

I got a glazed cruller donut, non-glazed buttermilk bar and the lovely lady at the counter threw in some donut holes which was very kind of her. Pros: Very friendly service Large selection Cruller was decent. Cons: The buttermilk bar was quite stale, hard and didn't taste good Buttermilk holes were not enjoyable either. Just didn't taste good to me. It's unfortunate. I was really looking forward to trying these donuts. I won't be coming back. read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Cross S.

15

504

421

3 years ago

This is THEE place for donuts in Tacoma! Much better than Dockside. Everything is soooooo fresh and delicious! The sizes of the bear claws, fritters, and rolls are the size they should be or what Dockdide use to be. This will be my go to place for donuts! read more

Helpful 1

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Laura H.

227

646

3048

7 years ago

YUM! We were looking for a little ice cream shop to stop into, as we promised our daughter a treat after dinner. So glad we chose to give Helen's a try! They have so many different flavors of ice cream and donuts! Our daughter got the cotton candy ice cream and a maple bar. The total was only $4! In addition, they gave us a few donut holes to try, which was very nice. Everything was delicious! Even though we don't live nearby, unfortunately, we will definitely be back. read more

Helen's Donuts & Ice Cream - Delicious cotton candy ice cream! - Donuts Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

See all

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

James S.

0

129

748

5 years ago

Owner is so nice to everyone that walks into his store. The donuts are so fresh and so good. This is my favorite donut place.

Helpful 0

Thanks 1

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Mika M.

0

6

5

3 years ago

Been going here for 5+ years and they still provide great service and delicious donuts! read more

Helen's Donuts & Ice Cream - I got the half dozen special with cream filled donuts, bacon maple bars, sugar coated, and more. They also gave me extra donut holes - Donuts Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Austin O.

0

3

0

2 years ago

Some of the best donuts I've ever had, and growing up having donut shops all around. Nothing compares to Helen's Donuts no matter what time you go in the service is always amazing, the donuts come out soft and fresh. And the gentleman that's always serving (I forget to get his name every time) is truly just a gem of a person. Can never have a bad day if you stop by Helen's! read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Dennis L.

0

2

0

2 years ago

Great variety of ice creams, and donuts, will be going again good service nice people.

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Celtic S.

0

22

1

4 years ago

YOU gotta stop by this one!! Great donuts and the owner is very friendly. He threw a little extra in there for us, and I left him a nice tip. It may seem like its out of place or in a weird area but it's rather safe. Just a lit of hard working people around..... read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 1

Oh no 0

Danielle S.

8

173

189

7 years ago

My daughter and I tried this place out today. The area may be sketchy, but the donuts are tasty! We got a dozen, different kinds and each were very yummy! read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Page 1 of 4

See more reviews

More info about Helen's Donuts & Ice Cream

5601 E Portland Ave
Ste 4
Tacoma, WA 98404
Directions
(253) 472-6491
Call Now

Full menu

Hours

What time does Helen's Donuts & Ice Cream open?

Helen's Donuts & Ice Cream opens at 5:00 AM on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.Helen's Donuts & Ice Cream opens at 7:00 AM on Sunday.

What time does Helen's Donuts & Ice Cream close?

Helen's Donuts & Ice Cream closes at 5:00 PM on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.Helen's Donuts & Ice Cream is closed on Tuesday.

Mon, Wed-Sat 5:00 AM - 5:00 PMTue ClosedSun 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Payment methods

Does Helen's Donuts & Ice Cream take credit cards?

Yes, Helen's Donuts & Ice Cream takes credit cards.

Food & Alcohol

Does Helen's Donuts & Ice Cream have catering options?

No, Helen's Donuts & Ice Cream does not have catering options.

Indoor Amenities

Does Helen's Donuts & Ice Cream allow dogs?

Yes, Helen's Donuts & Ice Cream allows dogs.

Outdoor Amenities

Does Helen's Donuts & Ice Cream have bike parking?

Yes, Helen's Donuts & Ice Cream has bike parking.

Does Helen's Donuts & Ice Cream have parking?

Yes, Helen's Donuts & Ice Cream has parking options. Private Lot Parking

Other Amenities

Does Helen's Donuts & Ice Cream have free WiFi?

Yes, Helen's Donuts & Ice Cream has free WiFi.

From the Business

Specialties

Family run local donut shop bringing you the best donuts, with the best service at the best price for almost a decade.

More Info

Health Score

You might also consider

Verify this business for free

People searched for Donuts 2,266 times last month within 10 miles of this business.

Verify this business

Explore benefits

Erica’s World’s Best Mexican Desserts

THIS PLACE!!! (Now called Erica's worlds best Mexican desserts)…read more Calling all Latino/as and lovers of sweet treats!!! This place has an amazing menu that will scratch all your itches. Fruits, raspados, biónicos, duros, candies, American ice cream, ice cream truck ice creams. As a Mexican who grew up in California I miss this stuff!! I got a vanilla raspado with condensed milk ("lame" I know but it's soooo good!) and it HIT THE SPOT!!! So flavorful so sweet Exactly what I've missed! This staff is also incredibly friendly. There is some seating inside as well :) Bring the whole family, there's something for EVERYONE!

We were heading home after eating near by and when we drove past this place we immediately took an…read moreillegal U-turn! The menu and the shelves are FULL of options! Tienen todo! Also, it's clean and neat, from the floors to the bathrooms to the tables. They were all super friendly and helpful! We ordered a mangonada and mango locos which were 10/10 we will be back!!

Mangonada & Mango lokos

See all

Mudslide milkshake

Intentions Juice and Smoothie Bar

4.7

(38 reviews)

3.6 mi

the customer service here was so good and the vibes were so uplifting and sweet. the shop smelled…read morelike fresh produce and ginger and that immediately made me feel excited. John helped me and recommended an amazing smoothie bowl. I watched them juice fresh fruits and veggies to make the smoothie base for my bowl, which I honestly didn't expect and really appreciated. I was craving a bowl so bad and this did what it needed to do. Super solid. Would definitely go again. :)

I want to support Black-owned businesses, especially the ones charging premium prices...but the…read morecustomer service has to match. I came in ready to spend money, but was met with poor attitudes and staff who clearly didn't want to be there. How are you a smoothie spot out of bananas at 11am? And worse, why am I only finding that out after I place my order? Given I called ahead of time asking about the smoothie bowls being in stock, given their website said everything was out. There's too much potential in our community to let businesses fall short on the basics. If you're going to charge high prices, train your team, keep your inventory stocked, and lead with hospitality. Because right now, it feels like we're paying extra just to be disappointed. Nonetheless, the smoothie bowls were fresh, tasted good, but I won't be returning given the poor customer service. You would have to pay those girls to smile. Smh

Menu / front

My bowl

See all

Gather Juice

The best vegan spot for lunch and breakfast in Tacoma! Some…read morehighlights include their smoothie bowls, my favorite dragon bowl. Love the granola. They also have coffee, espresso, salad, smoothies, all vegan friendly. Plenty of indoor seating. Big window with natural light. Staff is friendly. Also sign up for their awards!

Gather juice has re-opened on 6th ave! They have the same great products and flavors as always. The…read moreservice is counter order and it's quick so it can meet your needs for grab and go, but the interior is also very welcoming and trendy if you want to dine in. The thing I like most about it is that this is the only spot for a quick breakfast that is also healthy and relatively low calorie, perfect spot to start your day with summer around the corner. Vegetarian/ vegan friendly. Kid friendly.

See all

Happy Belly

I love Happy Belly!! I am so glad that it's still around after all these years too! It's hard for…read moresmall businesses these days to stay open! It's so delicious I love how many vegetarian/vegan options it has! And the vibe when you walk in is definitely stellar! Everybody needs to go!! Love it there so much and it's right near the YMCA so get a quick workout in and then jump to the Happy Belly for a treat!! If you are on a tight budget though because I know sometimes they can be a bit pricey, they do have stuff on sale, or just get something small! You won't regret it!

I like this place. It's cute, there is a variety of food, and they sell stuff from local artists…read more It's a really neat place to sit and have a meal or take a break. It feels like you've gone out of town once you walk inside. I'm a fan of that! The food was good.

Vegan Egg & Roasted Kale Breakfast Sandwich

See all

Body Floss Juice

Driphouse Coffee

A very friendly and efficient coffee kiosk! The barista was super helpful and she was so quick and…read moresuper efficient making espresso and other drinks! I got iced decaf latte with almond milk. The balance of milk to espresso was perfect, not too milky and light nor too espresso heavy. Truly enjoyed my drink.

Amazing! Amazing! Delicious!! Great service. Staff are always polite. Even if I'm not in the area I…read moredrive here.

Add Caramel Drizzle to your Iced Coffee

Caramel Macchiato

See all

Peach Green Tea Lemonade

Raspados La Pasadita

This place is so goood!! Their paletas are the super yummy. Its hard not to order everything on the…read moremenu.

Yummy raspados! Definitely the best raspados I've had in the Tacoma area…read more Staff was friendly. They also sell fruit cups, various raspado flavors, strawberries/cream, cucumbers, etc.

See all

Emerald City Smoothie

3.7

(24 reviews)

3.3 mi

Regular customer here. I came into the Tacoma 38th location to purchase my usual protein shakes for…read moremyself and husband and Ostrim, protein sticks I buy often. The display box clearly showed a price sticker of $19.99, but at checkout I was told the price was now $25 because the system was updated. Price changes happen, but the dismissive attitude and rude response when I politely questioned the discrepancy was disappointing and unnecessary. Customer service and professionalism still matter. Unfortunately, after this interaction, I won't be returning to this location or any of them if it's owned by the same owner. The date of this interaction was Friday, May 22nd around 7:30 PM.

OH MY GOSH! In the words of the great philosopher, David Cassidy, "I think I love you...! This…read moremorning, I decided to "help the economy" and ordered a Mango, Berry Smoothie with the additions of ginger and caffeine via Door Dash to my hotel room at the Hotel Murano. OH HAPPY DAY! Now, truth be told, I don't usually drink smoothies. I should. I just don't. Forgive me. I almost didn't order this one, but I did. YAY! THIS WAS FANTASTIC! Add the ginger, you will thank me. The caffeine is up to you but after helping with a rather large (and delightful) event the night before I really, really, really needed the caffeine, just saying... This gorgeous drink was perfectly blended. It was perfectly yummy. It was...well, just pretty dang perfect! Big fan! Big fan!

See all

Sip + Spoon

Ordered an acai bowl, was informed their bananas were not ripe. I proceeded to get a bowl, no…read morediscount gif the missing ingredient, I'm not sure if banana is in the acai base, but the acai base itself lacked flavor. The topping were minimal. I would not get this bowl again, there are much better options available.

Sip + Spoon is located inside the food court in Tacoma Mall. The employee working was very friendly…read moreand helpful in helping me decide what type of drink to get. I came here wanting to try the Strawberry Matcha Latter but found out they can't make it into a ice smoothie, so I decided to try a Ice Blended Pick 2 - which I got Strawberry and Mango with lychee jellies. The texture of the ice blended drink was smooth and creamy, there were not chunks of ice like other places tend to have. The flavors were spot on! The drink was the perfect combination of both flavors merges together and the lychee jellies were flavorful as well. My fiancé got the Strawberry Tea with lychee jellies and he enjoyed his drink as well. I'll definitely be back to try different drinks!

Weird brown rubbery particles in a sea salt crema oolong drink.... No toppings

Acai bowl, bland flavorless base, minimal toppings, do not recommend

See all

Cookie butter slush

Blendful

4.5

(75 reviews)

4.9 mi

Best Açaí bowl in Lakewood and Tacoma ! I go once a week to satisfy my cravings! Keep up the great…read morework!

We drove 30 minutes to get an açaí bowl, but when we arrived, we were told they didn't have any…read moretoday. It was very disappointing, especially after making the drive. A store that specializes in açaí bowls should let customers know when they're unavailable. Another issue was that they were only accepting Venmo or cash because their card system had been down for few weeks. We weren't informed until it was time to pay, which was inconvenient. Overall, it was a frustrating experience.

Acai bowl. The best I have had.

What the establishment looks like. Nice, bright and clean

See all

Miss Spirulina

Garden's Gourmet Salads

4.75 stars Cute local salad, smoothie and more shop. I got…read morethe Washington salad and it was so fresh and light. The half size was perfect for lunch. The menu also shows sandwiches, soups and warm bowls. I don't know the area well but surprised they didn't have more people in during the lunch hour. My only negative is they don't seem to realize when customers enter as they are not greeted and can take several minutes before someone comes up front and realizes a customer or food delivery pick up is waiting. Would definitely go back when in the area.

My boyfriend and I needed some time to kill and we saw that Garden's Gourmet was participating in…read morethe Equity in Action for Women's History month so we decided to stop by. They share parking a few other businesses and it was pretty busy when we got there but we snagged a spot. As we entered, we greeted by the owners who welcomed us and gave us menus to look through. They have a decent sized menu but not too overwhelming and if you don't like the options offered then you can do a create your own which is sweet! My boyfriend got their garden wrap with a garlic and herb tortilla while I got their Washington Apple wrap with a garlic and herb tortilla. There was an order ahead of us but the employees got the orders made in a good amount of time and presentation was a nice touch too. The wraps had a great ratio of all the listed ingredients and you can yaste everything in each bite. The ingredients tasted and looked fresh! The interior is very cozy with plenty of seating that accommodates solo, couples or small groups. They have great lighting in there, both natural and inside. They had some old school RnB playing which was nostalgic for me as I heard a lot of these as a pre-teen. Definitely a fantastic spot, especially if you are trying to eat or be more healthy conscious but still have a flavorful meal!

Eden bowl & Seafood sandwich

Inside and bathrooms

See all

VK Viet Kitchen

Locally owned & operated

Large group friendly

Everything was amazing !!!!! Very friendly and very good customer service!! Very clean !read more

YESSS!! This is THE place for Vietnamese food! They are indeed authentic!…read more I have been missing the smell and taste of staple Vietnamese dishes ever since I moved out of California a few months ago. I used to receive Mom's vietnamese home cooking frequently and I lived near the Asian hubbubs with easy access to all the cuisine, but now I have to discover new places here in Washington to satiate my taste buds. Everything I've tried so far has been good. I've been content. But here!! I ordered takeout through Doordash, and as soon as I picked up my food, an aroma of so many flavors filled up my car. Parking is kinda annoying since it's on the street but I arrived within 30 mins of opening hours so it wasn't terrible yet. The restaurant already had at least a table or so, with customers, so I wouldn't be surprised if it got busier later. There's a fair amount of space and tables for hungry stomachs! The food was about ready by the time I arrived, and the 30 min drive home left me feeling famished and ready to dig in. Thankfully, I was not disappointed. Everything was packaged well so that nothing spilled during the car ride, and everything was so yummy! I ordered more than I originally intended... I was craving com tam (broken rice) and couldn't find a satisfactory place near my residence, so I drove all the way here to Tacoma.. and then I figured, I might as well order their Banh Xeo too! The photos online made it look so good, and it ended up tasting amazing! Slightly crispy and stuffed just enough with bean sprouts, meat, and other goodies. Perfect after drizzling some of the sauce over it. The Com Tam was also made well, and definitely hit my cravings with its classic ingredients. I ordered a Large Pho Bo Vien (meatball) for my son, and was sooo tempted to eat some myself. The broth smelled fresh and the noodles were cooked nicely. Decent portions for everything, too. I definitely need to return to try out more of their food. So far, it has made me one happy Viet gal :)

See all

Ebony and Ivory Coffee

This coffee shop is located in a great space. There were so many people lounging and working late…read morein the evening when I visited. The coffee is also very good. Please come and create your own adventure.

With monthly coffee flights, this is such a fun place to meet the girls and try new drinks. It is…read morekinda spendy though at $18 per flight. The Tacoma location is so pretty! With high vaulted ceilings and floor to ceiling windows with offerings of wine too as well as a view of the mountain. The Federal Way location is pretty small with minimal seating. The Lacey location has a tight knit barista fam with a great sense of community and used to host markets in the HUB.

The expansive bar and coffee bar!

Interior

See all

Coffee Flight x2

Three Hearts

Wonderful place. Warm, genuinely friendly and welcoming. Cute. Creative. Fantastic, fresh twist…read moremenu- really love the huevos rancheros. It's the best I've ever had. On my second visit, I tried the gluten free banana loaf with coconut glaze. Perfect! They make all their own in house syrups and sauces. You can tell all the staff love where they work. So kind. All invested, caring and happy to be here. It's been

Hit this spot passing through Tacoma on our way to PA and so glad we found it. Parking was a…read morechallenge at 8:30am on a Tuesday but service was friendly and helpful and atmosphere bright and airy with some cozy wood tables- just need some bench cushions lol. We got a dirty chai and hot chocolate for drinks- hot chocolate was pretty but nothing special about it (spoiled by our hot chocolate at cadoon which had a hint of caramel and licorice which was crazy good and we are not even licorice fans!). I digress. The dirty chai was unique though and tasty. The stars for us was the food! We got the huevos rancheros and the savory egg sandwich. Both were delicious! Best HR we've ever had probably due to the crema and red sauce. Egg sandwich had unique flavors with the onion jam and the toasted roll was so perfect with the egg and arugula. Very well balanced. I usually never eat all the bread bc not worth the carbs but couldn't resist finishing this masterpiece. All the pastries were very good too! Just needed an option to warm up the orange cardamom morning bun to make it warm and crispy but the flavors were amazing. Also loved the brown butter blueberry muffin. Only disappointment was the ube ginger muffin wasnt fully cooked - tasted great for the parts that were. Wish we had one near us on east coast!

Iced latte, quiche, salad

Major YUM's

See all

Side Piece Kitchen

Im a simple man. I see biscuits, i spend monies. I'm also a repeat customer, because the biscuits…read moreare consistently nom noms. P.S. the crew running this restaurant are rock stars.

4.5 The service was stellar. I love when places are patient…read moreand give suggestions. I liked that you could customize if you want. Biscuit was delicious and the raspberry jam was fire. The place is a super fun atmosphere when we went. Coffee was small but you could get refills. Just a little inconvenient to keep going up for it. The only thing I would like to see is a traditional breakfast sandwich if you aren't feeling the extra stuff. Solid solid breakfast!!!!

Eggs Benedict with Crab Cake & Avocado

Interior

See all

Browned Butter Cheesecake

Why does Yelp recommend reviews?

Hundreds of millions of reviews are posted on Yelp, and our automated recommendation software works in the background to showcase the reviews that it …

9 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Ryan N.

0

1

0

6 years ago

My Friend came over to my place this evening, and went over to Helen's Donut and got us some donuts. The baggies that the donuts came in were never opened until we were about to eat them. I bit into my Filled Donut and as I took a bite I happened to notice Thank God a spider!!! Yeah you read that correctly a dang spider was inside my donut. I took the donut back to the shop and ran into the owner of the place the guy that's there. When he seen us walking toward the entrance he became hostile with us grabbing the spider with his hands and getting in our faces saying look it's still alive it came from our house. I told him No Sir I took a bite and it was in there how it got in there IDK but I'm disgusted. He told us that the spider came our residents because we're dirty and said it maybe it was just on your face already and fell in the donut.. FOR REALS I couldn't believe it. The health department really needs to hammer down on this philthy bug infested food establishment. The last thing we need to worry about with all this Colvid19 going on is a Donut Shop with a insect Issue spiders bugs whatever else there may be. HELENS DONUTS NEEDS TO BE SHUT DOWN UNTIL DEEMED OKAY BY THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. HUGE HEALTH RISK After seeing what I seen today and being treated the way I was where he almost got physical so that no one else could see the spider. He literally snatched the donut away from us. EAT HERE AT YOUR OWN RISK ITS A JOKE TO THE OWNER read more

Kenzie C.

0

2

0

9 years ago

I order from them every week for my Coffee shop and they always have amazing product! My orders are always correct and tasty!

Jennifer C.

0

7

0

1 year ago

Some of the best donuts I've had since moving to the area. A great selection and the donuts were fresh, fresh, fresh!

Steven P.

0

1

62

2 years ago

Recognized as on of the Best Donuts & Ice Cream in town. Affordable and great customer service too.

Francheska F.

275

7

5

9 years ago

Amazing donuts, ice cream and smoothies and not expensive at all. Definitely going back!

Mini S.

0

1

0

5 years ago

This places donuts are so fire and the icecream is to

Myracle M.

1

5

1

12 years ago

I love this place so much

Jaymar S.

0

1

0

12 years ago

Good donuts!!

Anthony K.

4

1

14 years ago

Cool donuts

Helen's Donuts & Ice Cream - donuts - Updated August 2026

People who viewed Helen's Donuts & Ice Cream also viewed

Original House of Donuts

4.3

(777 reviews)

Just doing an update for House of Donuts! I'm still giving it five stars as it remains one of my…read morefavorite donut shops in the Lakewood and Tacoma vicinity. March is when they usually have a Guiness Porter donut which is just amazing. But alas when we came here this past weekend they did not have it. I'm not sure if it's something they don't do anymore or if it was just unavailable that day. But we got a three different (or variations) of donuts with coconut on them as well as a cherry drizzle, cookies and cream and a cinnamon sugar donut. All very, very good. House of Donuts is a place I don't often make it to for the simple reason it's fairly off the beaten path from my usual routes but I will certainly will seek it out when March rolls around and perhaps on those infrequent occasions when I'm close by it.

Nice pickup-only donut shop with a big sign out front. They have a drive thru and walk-in. The girl…read moreworking was friendly and efficient. - Excellent apple fritter. One of the best I've had! Definitely recommend this. - Donut holes were ok and she threw in a few extra. - Cinnamon twist was a bit dry but good flavor. - Red velvet cake donut was also ok but nothing to write home about. I'll need to come back to try other flavors!

Happy Donuts

4.7

(505 reviews)

•$$

The BEST, Great fluffy light donuts. Charming and clean little place. Nice staff…read more New ownership??? But still tasty and light fluffy donuts. The donuts appear smaller this year. The only bad thing I can say because this place is truly charming. Our family and exchange students love this bakery.

There is nothing I do not like about their Happy Donuts and staff…read more I rate Happy Donuts second only to Little Richard's in Westport, Washington. Give Happy Donuts a go. You will not be disappointed.

Pao's Donut & Coffee Shop

4.5

(367 reviews)

Best donuts and scones in town!!! My office mates are now…read moredonut snobs due to the standard of excellence set by Paos. Life is short to eat mediocre donuts,

Get there early if you want scones. The best scones in…read morewashington state. Weekends? They are gone by 8-9 am. Weekdays? Gone by noon'ish.

Dockside Donuts

3.8

(215 reviews)

This place is Semi-24/7!!! Ignore The Online Hours!!!…read more Just buying some donuts for my favorite dialysis center. Love this place. Glad they have a drive thru.

My FAVORITE raised donuts for the last decade. Super fluffy, always fresh, and reasonably priced…read more Service is always fast too. Love this place!

Milkvue Handcrafted Donuts + Coffee

4.3

(202 reviews)

•$$

Very sad news to hear that the location for Milkvue will be closing in the near future according to…read moretheir social media activity. I will miss their mochi donuts. But I shouldn't write them off the list just yet. They are going wholesale with their donuts and you will be able to get them at Metropolitan Market, Olympia Coffee Roasters and other places. More details on that on their Facebook page.

The donuts all look great, I am basic with the plain donuts, trying the plain cake (old fashion)…read moreand the mochi (Japanese fusion pastry) were both tasty. Never had a mochi but it is a soft chewy donut. Plenty of donuts at 1p, which is hard to find. The space is small, no internal seating, so take and go or potential outdoor seating for better weather days. The servers were busy but very nice and quick to get the donuts and coffee. The coffee is local (Olympic Coffee) and they also sell boba teas. Highly recommend to stop by and support the small business while shopping or on your walk. I did not know of this spot, just happen to be next store shopping and wanted a coffee and donut. Understand these are gourmet donuts and not a typical shop or grocery store. They are higher on the costs but worth it for this type of store.

Bon Bon Bakery

4.6

(75 reviews)

Absolutely blown away by Bon Bon Bakery. Their cakes are next-level -- not only stunning to look…read moreat, but genuinely some of the best-tasting desserts I've ever had. Every detail is thoughtfully done, from the clean, elegant design to the perfectly balanced flavors (not overly sweet, just right). You can tell they care about quality and service -- the texture, the freshness, the flavor combinations... everything hits. It's rare to find a bakery that nails both aesthetics and taste this well. If you're looking for a cake that feels special, elevated, and actually delivers on flavor, this is the place. Family owned and operated! I'll be coming back every time I need something beautiful and delicious.

I visited this bakery and bought four pastries today. Some popular items were already sold out…read morebecause I went around 1:00 p.m., so if you want the best selection, I recommend going in the morning. The pastries were fresh and delicious. However, I was disappointed with the service. I chose not to buy a plastic bag, but I expected the cashier to place my individually wrapped pastries into one paper bag, as they have done during my previous visits. Instead, I had to carry each one separately to my car. I don't know if it was because I didn't leave a tip, but it made me feel that way. It left me with a disappointing impression of the customer service.

Scoop There It Is

5.0

(11 reviews)

We had been up in Bonney Lake at the Costco and wanted ice cream on our way back to Puyallup. We…read moredid a quick search and loved the name so we're down to try it. It's a little walk up window and they have several flavors. The gal working there was super friendly and chatted us up for a bit. The service was super fast and there's a park located right across the street to go enjoy your ice cream in on a nice day.

SCOOP THERE IT IS!!! SCOOP THERE IT IS!!!…read more SCOOP THERE IT IS!!! Tiny ice cream place located in downtown Orting. Family owned business. They offer homemade waffle cones and homemade ice cream with 12 daily rotating flavors. Street parking only. Window order only. No seating inside. A single bench is available outside. Yesterday 6/25/25, we were craving ice cream prior to dinner. I know, we shouldn't have but we did. LOL! I ordered the regular scoop of Huckleberry Heaven ice cream on cake cone $4.99. It was perfect, yummy and not too sweet. My husband got the orange float which was a Sunkist soda with vanilla ice cream in a regular size cup $5.95. I feel that the cost was a little bit high for the size you get. My husband enjoyed it. We ate while walking around the area. The worker was great and quick. I'd like to try other flavors in the future.

Donut & Muffin Factory

4.5

(234 reviews)