I love donuts. Like, so much. I tried to go to Underwest Donuts about a year ago, when they first opened. However, I made the mistake of arriving a little tardy for the party, and they were all sold out of donuts. Saddest day. And while it’s taken me an eternity to get back there, I finally made it (cue the noise makers and confetti).
So, one of the things that makes them unique and noteworthy is their location. They’re right inside a carwash, so, you know, get your car washed and snag an artisanal cake donut while you’re at it.
I tried four of their flavors (clockwise from upper left), Halva, Maple Waffle, Carwash Donut, Brown Butter.
First up, we’ve got the Carwash Donut, paying homage to it’s location. It has a light flavor, the simplest of the bunch, and a nice texture, a balance of airiness and density from the cake consistency.
Up next is the Maple Waffle. You immediately smell the warm maple scent. The maple flavor itself is subtle, and I enjoyed the addition of texture from the crumble on top, along with the Stroopwafel, topping it off like a little angel on a Christmas tree.
Then, I had the Brown Butter. I really liked this one, you get the brown butter flavors, and the shaved almonds on top add a nice contrast of texture and added flavor.
Finally, I had the Halva, which was my favorite of the bunch. Topped with halva itself, the sweet sesame flavor is on point, delivering one delicious cake donut.
The Shorts:
Name: Underwest Donuts
Location: 638 West 47th Street, NYC
The Long and Short: Would I go back? Even though I don’t have a car, I’d come back for the donuts. Grab a little bag of them and head across the street to the Intrepid to snack with a view.
Would I recommend it? While the location isn’t the easiest to get to (if you’re not driving), it’s definitely worth the trip.