What’s wrong with “Spudnuts”? They’re doughnuts made from “spud” flour. Spud, -nuts. Spudnuts!
And they’re a lot better than KK.
Personally I find Krispy Kremes to be delightful. I’ve never had a warm one – they must be awesome. There is going to be an obvious split between people who prefer cake doghnuts to raised doughnuts. KK represents the Platonic Form of the raised doughnut. If you don’t like raised doughnuts, you won’t like KK. Simple as that.
They used to be located exclusively in the south until very recently. Before I went to college in Virginia (1993) I had never heard of them.
It’s simply a story of marketing. From the store layout allowing you to see the donuts in production to the hype they drum up for every new opening. Aside from a fairly unique glazed donut, the rest of their offerings pale in comparison to that of a good bakery in reality.
There are few things in the world that can beat a nice hot KK doughnut. Mmmmm. Love 'em. Cake doughnuts are not even in the ballpark.
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They used to be located exclusively in the south until very recently. Before I went to college in Virginia (1993) I had never heard of them.
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IIRC, KK originated in North Carolina. I live in South Carolina, and we have had them all my life, but the franchises were limited mainly to the south. They only went public a couple of years ago; since then, there has been a frenzy of expansion. It’s all for the good of the nation, I think.
RR
It’s just that it doesn’t sound all that appetizing, that’s all. As a matter of fact, it kind of sounds disturbing.
“ITSPUDNUTS! IT’S SPUD, IT’S NUTS. IT’S PUD NUTS. PUD-NUTS. I’M GOING TO GET ME SOME PUD NUTS!”
See, it’s the obviously extension- Spudnuts begets Pud Nuts. Neither of which, I might add, I have any reason to go out and buy.
I hadn’t even heard of Krispy Kreme until two years ago, when they opened their first outlet in Southern California. I think that qualifies me as being a hype-free KK test subject, though I admit that I went with the rest of the family to see what the hoola was about.
And you know what? Their donuts are better. They’re best when they’re fresh and warm, but even when cool, they are tastier and lighter than the stuff I usually get from Winchell’s.
No hype, just a satisfied customer,
My mom always used potato flour for donuts, and everyone thought that was weird…
As for KK’s popularity in Texas, or at least in Austin, it may have something to do with yankee transplants. I myself think they make a very good donut (when served hot), but it pales (literally!) next to the yellow-orange goodness of a Round Rock Donut from the Lone Star Bakery…
These are the worst tasting doughnuts on the planet. Just grease and sugar. 3 day old grocery store doughnuts taste better.
Note that KK started in the South. These are people with very low standards of what is edible (chicken feet, hog rinds, and other parts most people throw out).
On Wednesdays, we have KK’s in the office, on Friday’s it is from a Winchell’s…(as you can tell, this is not a California aerobics class). Krispy Kreme is hands down the favorite - probably because they are “lighter” and don’t necessarily have to be washed down your throat to avoid gagging.
I remember Spudnuts from Illinois in the early 60’s…they were good too…also on the light, airy side instead of the heavy cake variety.
To each his own…hell, some idiots drink LemonCoke.
I finally had some Krispy Kremes and I must say I was thoroughly underwhelmed.
The amount of hype generated around these is totally disproportionate to quality of the product.
When they first opened one here in the Bay Area, you’d think it was the second Koming of Khrist.
Not unlike when Boston Markets first came out here.
“You might say the extra ingredient is salt.” - Marge Simpson
Obviously the rise of Krispy Kreme is an unconscious national effort to stem Canadian doughnut hegemony. As usual you Americans have backed the wrong horse but will continue beating it long after it’s dead.
I had Spudnuts for breakfast (thanks again Johnny L.A.) and am relieved that those delicious rings of doughy goodness remain relatively obscure. On my return to Canada, I’ll be recommending that Tim Horton’s pre-emptively buy out the Spudnuts chain of outlets and provide them with decent house coffee.
Invest now, I predict a record IPO. 
Even if you don’t get them hot, but still get them fresh, 8 seconds in the microwave does the trick. Melt in your mouth goodness.
And yes, I am from the South. 
I still like munchkins from Dunkin’ Donuts, though.
Another advantage of Krispy Kremes is that they are hot. Yum.
But better donuts can be found in Los Angeles, California at the corners of Weyburn and Broxton streets in the Westwood District.
We’ve enjoyed Krispy Kreme in the Charlotte area for as long as I can remember. Hot from of the oven, their plain glazed donut melts in your mouth like buttery cotton candy. I do, however, like Dunkin Donuts kreullers better. Edlyn and I remember when they first announced locally that KK intended to expand. As I recall, one of the morning talk show people was in town, tasted them, proclaimed them “heavenly” and then fauned over them on his show. Anyway, maybe that’s how it started.
I can take them or leave them, though the local KK (about 2 blocks away from work) drops off a couple dozen free at the office now and then just to keep us interested.
For the record, I’ve never seen any long lines etc at the local KK. It’s just another donut joint making donuts.
We’ve only recently gotten Krispy Kreme in the Chicagoland area. Like anything new, the first few months saw long lines and lots of exitement (though I don’t remember people camping out for them!), but now-a-days, you can pretty much waltz right in there and get your dozen without waiting- for the most part.
I’ve never met anyone in person who DIDN’T like KK after trying them. In fact, it never occured to me that people would actively dislike them until I read this post.
They certainly are friendly… Always giving free samples, giving kids who got “A” on thier report cards free donuts, etc. A lot nicer than how most places treat thier customers these days. I can never get the kind I like at Dunkin Donuts… They always sell out of my favorites, so it makes me wonder why they don’t make more of the popular ones. It got so frustrating I stopped going to DD mostly for this reason. I can always get the KK’s I prefer.
Plus 3 day old KK’s are way better then fresh DD’s! IMHO of course! 
As for cake vs. light donuts: KK has both kinds.
I always said they should make thier KK company slogan (said in your best drug-dealer slur…): “Krispy Kreme… The first taste is free…”
There HAD been a Krispy Kreme here in Austin decades ago. So, when the new one opened last year, there were long lines of people who remembered the old Krispy Kreme doughnuts, loved them, and had never forgotten them.
So, here, at least, they didn’t have to do any advertising or promotions. Nostalgia alone brought out loads of people.
As for me… I think their regular doughnuts are okay (not substantially better than Dunkin Dounuts, frankly) and their jelly doughnuts are excellent.
Decent stuff, and I’ll never refuse one when a co-worker offers one, but if a newcomer genuinely expects something out of this world, he’s bound to be disappointed.
Thanks to JohnnyLA for telling me where I can go for spudnuts. CC is a bit out of my normal range but for a spudnut I can make an exception. For those who think the name is funny, well, all I can say is BITE ONE. They’re delicious, but so are Krispy Kremes, if you’re a sweetaholic. (for those who aren’t, just be grateful)
KK has put their tiny kiosk in our local Raley’s Supermarket in Monterey, California. They are 79 cents each & from the
look of them, kinda small too. $7.99/doz
Spudnuts are food of the gods. KKs are sad, sad things compared to them