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    The Donut Theory

    4.6 (12 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

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    The Chicken Tender, Mac & Cheese, Cole Slaw and Theory Sauce
    Atlee M.

    The Donut Theory, previously in a food hall, is now an independant food bus! You will find them all over Knoxville, but likely most often near their sister donut shops Richey Cream in Knox and Maryville. The new bus is bright pink and filled with all the favorites. The Donut Theory is an exclusively gluten free establishment. They stick to that and are amazing at it. If you have any other allergens or dietary restrictions, just kindly ask them first. You may be suprised to hear, but they have more than donuts! I always enjoy their chicken tenders and mac & cheese. The tenders are the best ones I have ever had and the mac has this sublte bacon flavor that just catches me in all the feels. Don't forget to try some of their dipping sauces. My favorite is the Theory Sauce. I did make it home with 3 donuts, barely. All three will DELICIOUS. I had "The Parent Trap" which was oreo peanut butter, Birthday Cake, and my all time favorite salted butter. For gluten free it honestly doesn't get much better than this adorable pink bus! I can't wait to follow them around town!

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    7 months ago

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    1 year ago

    The owners are so sweet! Love their chicken and Gouda Mac and cheese!!! Can't wait for them to open in kerns food hall!

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    3 years ago

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    1 year ago

    So good hands down the best gluten free food I've ever had. And the doughnuts are insanely good

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    2 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Tried their donuts while visiting Knoxville. They're so delicious that I am going to call to see if they are willing to ship!

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    Review Highlights - The Donut Theory

    The Donut Theory, previously in a food hall, is now an independant food bus!

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    4.6
    (69 reviews)
    0.4 mi

    Had an amazing polish doughnut called Paczek which is a yeast doughnut, often filled with a fruit…read morepreservative or cream and mine happen to have strawberry preserves in it. Great downtown location and the cashier was super nice and when she heard us speaking Spanish, she also helped us picked out our doughnut and that was very welcoming.

    This was maybe more of a 3.5 star experience. I stopped in…read moreon a Sunday afternoon and picked out 4 donuts. The place had 2 customers silently sitting and maybe working on their computers but the whole place felt sterile and lifeless. I wasn't greeted and stood at the counter for a few minutes while the lone employee arranged items until I finally asked if I could order. I wanted to sample a variety- so I got an apple fritter, a snickerdoodle donut, a buttermilk old fashioned, and a blueberry Pączki. The apple fritter was the best of those 4. The snickerdoodle was just a traditional cinnamon sugar donut. The base was a bit dry yet also tasted oily. The buttermilk old fashioned had a similar greasy flavor and not the tang I'd expect from this type of donut. The Pączki was just a minimally filled jelly donut...and the dough was very greasy. Normally, the dough is more bready and has a more rich flavor. The ones I've always eaten in the past are heavily filled. This place seems like it has potential but it just lacks the quality or personality I'm looking for in a local gem. Nothing was awful but nothing was great either.

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    The Donut Theory - donuts - Updated August 2026

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