Vijay N.

I am grading Salty Donut harshly because of the hype and expectation around a premium donut shop. When I visited on a Tuesday midday, there was no line and the service was very friendly. The inside of the shop is brightly lit and I observed many people enjoying a donut and beverage by the main window. The air conditioning was running well so it felt cool inside compared to the scorching heat outside. I tried the salt and brown butter donut, which is billed to be a cake donut. I actually enjoyed the taste quite a bit - the salt came through nicely to balance out some sweetness, and the brown butter notes were the main undertone that added some complexity. But the texture of the donut was a complete miss. Note the cross section - part of the dough was dense, almost like a bready texture, and the entire underside of the donut was soaked through. Usually this happens when the oil Used to cook the donut is not hot enough to seal the donut before frying and glazing, but I wonder if it may be the brown butter sinking to the bottom. Either way, the texture of the donut was among the bottom tier of cake donuts I've tried, and doesn't compare favorably to brioche or old fashioned donuts, either. I've had many donuts that cost about a quarter of this price and far exceed on quality. I really wanted to like this place as I love many types of donuts, but given the plethora of excellent desserts in Georgetown, I'd give this a pass unless Salty does better at managing their cooking process and doing better quality control on their product.

Kruti M.

My favorite Miami doughnut spot has landed in DC and it definitely makes me less *salty.* I decided to trek here on opening weekend hoping that they wouldn't sell out, but of course they did and the hours on Google were incorrect because they were actually closed by the time we arrived. We decided to try our luck again, but a month after opening weekend and definitely a couple hours before they closed, but this time we ordered online so we could just pick up and go! The online ordering process was easy, but picking up was difficult. It took them a while to find my order (even though we were there around pickup time.) They also weren't able to add my reward, which is no big deal because I'll probably visit again anyways. Onto the doughnuts (ranking by liking) - Cherry blossom cheesecake 5/5 - if there's anything you know about me is that I'm a cherry blossom fanatic! I love ALL things cherry blossom and I was shocked this doughnut will still in season. Of course I had to get it and I'm so glad I did because it was honestly the best cherry blossom doughnut I've had. The cream cheese filling wasn't too heavy and it tasted just right. The top cherry blossom icing also wasn't too sweet. I hope they keep this doughnut on the menu forever! Strawberry & Vanilla crumble 4.5/5 - it was good, but that's really all I got to say about it. I did like the outer crumble part of the doughnut and thought that's what made it unique. Brown butter & salt 4/5 - I had high expectations for this one! I know it's a basic flavor, but usually the basic flavors are the best ones. But it was just that, basic. Nothing exciting and my date and I both agreed that it was just okay. We also got the banana bread latte - it tasted a little too banana-y to me. I probably would've gotten another drink or the matcha banana bread latte instead! The location is right across Georgetown Cupcakes, so it does get pretty packed and parking can also be difficult.

Nicholas C.

Needed in Georgetown but not the best in the area. I had gotten the Fathers Day special donut and donut holes. They both were alright. Not necessarily hard/dry but not soft/moist. The banana bread matcha was decent. It just tasted like a regular matcha latte. I didn't get real banana bread out of it. The ambiance and decor inside is spectacular. Whoever they used to design the place did a fantastic job. Staff is nice. I couldn't hear a word from the cashier as he was wearing one of those N95 masks which is fine but I wish I could hear. I'm unsure if that led to my donut holes order being wrong. I asked for all traditional glazed and I got half cookies & cream and half traditional glazed. The girl handling the donuts quickly fixed it when I pointed it out. There isn't much structure for line management. It was mostly customers doing that for them. Some customers had an attitude when telling you were the line was. Not the best experience when you first walk into a spot you never been. I'd only recommend this place to people only if they want to say they had it. It's nothing to rave home about like other donut shops in the area. Nor is it nothing to want to go all the way to Georgetown for. Definitely gives overhyped influencer spot. My friend who joined me hated the place. He was not a fan of the matcha nor did he enjoy the croissant cinnamon roll. If anything he was more irritated at the price for mid-food or so he called it. He's more of a cafe/bakery connoisseur and he gave this place a a 2/5.

Shan S.

I ordered an assorted dozen donuts, bacon egg and cheese croissant, lemonade cold brew, tater tots, and a banana bread latte. I have no a bad things to say about a single item! Everything was so good! The lemonade cold brew sounds gross but I'm telling you it's a must! I do not like Arnold Palmer's/half and half so I assumed I would not like the lemonade cold brew but it was FANTASTIC! I wish I could go everyday for one. As you can see the office went crazy and ate nearly all the donuts before I could get a picture. Everyone loved them!

The Salty Donut is one of those places I make a point to visit whenever I'm nearby. They have some of the best donuts I've ever had. The Vanilla Bean Brioche is my favorite. It's rich, dense, and full of flavor without being overly sweet. The Brown Butter & Salt donut is another one I always order. It has the perfect balance of sweet and salty and is just as good every time. I've been here more than once, and those two donuts are always my go-to order. If you're visiting for the first time, I'd highly recommend starting with them. They're the kind of donuts that make you want to come back again.

Nadine L.

Heard a lot about this spot so I was able to finally try! The interior of the shop was very nice and the staff were also very friendly! For the donuts, we tried the ube & coconut, cherry blossom cheesecake and cafe con leche. All of them were okay. The cherry blossom cheesecake was probably my favorite - it had a cream cheese filling inside that tasted really good but I didn't really taste the "cherry blossom" flavor if there was any. Cafe con leche I could definitely taste the coffee flavor. The ube & coconut... I didn't really taste any ube, maybe some coconut but overall it just tasted like a regular donut. I think the flavoring for the donuts could definitely be improved.

Ijeoma O.

I really like the Salty Donut. I'm glad we're starting to get great donut spots in DC. I tried the mango glazed and Honey & Sea Salt Cragel. Both are great. I've already been back multiple times since it's grand opening. The donuts run out early, so get there earlier in the day if you want your pick of the full menu. There's limited seating on the main floor and more seating upstairs so it's a great workspace area if you're looking for a change in scenery (that is if you can beat the Georgetown students there for seating).

Kailee B.

Best opening experience! I was able to go to their Opening to Georgetown and it was lovely. The donuts and the drinks I tried including the potatoe tots was very good. The service was great as we tried drink samples and was able to see the menu before the doors opened. Ambiance was great and love the space. So much seating down and upstairs.

Nathan D.

Cookies n cream | Line | Vibes Cookies n cream -- Probably the best gourmet donut I've had in the past five years. Fluffy, flavorful, and filling without being overly heavy. The Cinnamon Toast Crunch topping added the perfect crunch, and the creamy middle was an awesome surprise. Highly recommend -- this will probably be my go-to order here moving forward. Line -- The line was 25-30 people deep outside, but don't let that scare you off. The ordering station is right inside the entrance, so only 3-4 people can actually fit indoors before the line spills outside. It looks much busier than it really is. Vibes -- Great overall atmosphere. You can easily grab your coffee and donut to go, but if you want to stay awhile, the upstairs lounge area is perfect for chatting, relaxing, or getting some work done. Pro tip: Don't let the outside line fool you. Just add about five people to however many you see outside, and that's the real size of the line. Pro tip: There's a small parking lot across the street that makes parking easy. It's also a great area to walk around and explore on a Saturday or Sunday.

Caitlin R.

Finally got to try the new Salty Donut here in Georgetown! It was in the heart of Georgetown and was pretty busy. Luckily, the line went by fast. I ordered a half dozen: - Traditional glazed (my fav!) - boston cream - mango glazed - vegan coconut & ube - cafe con leche - strawberry milk cake Unfortunately, the one I was most excited to try (brown butter & salt), was sold out. Overall, the donuts are soft, pillowy, and GIANT! However, I don't think any of them wow'd me. I would come back for the traditional glazed and to try the brown butter!

Becca S.

I drove about 45 minutes into the city to try these donuts. My husband had heard about them in Miami and was excited to try them. The flavor selection was exciting and it frequently changes. The one we liked the best this time was the peach cobbler. The flavor was unique and nothing like at any other donut shop. The Boston cream was probably the most filled donut I ever had and it was fantastic filling. I could have swam in that filling. The one that really shocked me though was the gluten free cookies and cream. I expected a lesser gross texture donut as gluten free/vegan usually is, but I tried it when my son didn't eat all of it. That donut was like a flourless chocolate cake. It was like a goo donut. It was mind boggling good. I would definitely go back, but will wait for new flavors to try.

Michael S.

I couldn't wait to try this donut shop and I will say, I don't care for donuts haha. The store is very clean and the staff are helpful. I like how they have all the donuts in the front to show you what they look like when ordering. That shows a lot of care. All of the donuts were delicious and nailed the flavor of the particular donut. Give this place a try and you will be happy

Christina B.

DC's donut game just leveled up. I went to the soft opening as I've been following along with their adventure on Instagram and the newsletter. The staff was so kind and I met what I believe to be the managers and maybe the owners. It's surprisingly spacious for a Georgetown spot with really tall ceilings and a lot of seating upstairs with great light. We ordered the Cragel with honey butter, Oreo donut holes, Boston cream donut, cherry blossom cheesecake donut, brown butter cake donut, cafe con leche donut, a chai, and flat white. Truly everything was delicious, but the two unique standouts were the Cragel and cherry blossom cheesecake donut. You have to get the honey butter with the Cragel, it's a delicate blend of flaky croissant and crispy bagel with the saltiness of good butter. I normally think cherry blossom themed items are overrated, but not this one. It has a delicious graham cracker crust on the bottom, flavorful icing, and is filled with cream. I'm also a huge cake donut fan, and was delighted with the complex flavors of the brown butter cake doughnut. I highly recommend the chai latte as a drink, it has a great spice. I can't wait to try more of their rotating donut flavors and the hot breakfast sandwiches!