Federal Donuts Menu

  • Hot Fresh Donuts $1.50
  • Fancy Donuts $2.50
  • Fried Chicken

Healthy Meal suggestions for Federal Donuts

  • Hot Fresh Donuts $1.50
  • Fancy Donuts $2.50
  • Fried Chicken

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  • Regina F.

    10/29/2011 Things Ettya F. wished she liked but she really doesn't: 1. Spaghetti 2. Coconut milk 3. Donuts 10/30/2011 Location: Federal Donuts Situation: Ordered 4 donuts on a promise they were amazing. A fellow yelper wouldn't lie to me. Shared said donuts. Outcome: Oh-Ehm-Gee-Zee. Hot donuts. FOB Donuts. So freaking delicious. They don't really taste like donuts. There's none of that wierd greasy aftertaste that so often accompanies the DDs. There's none of that deflate in your mouth after you bite down that KK seems to tout as some sort of wierd signature even in thier "cakes". The hot donuts are cakey and taste fresh-from-the-oven more than fresh-from-the-fryer. They're small so you can eat more. They are covered in flavored sugars - Vanilla Lavendar and Indian Cinnamon are perfect for warming your tummy on a damn cold winter morning. You'll probably get sugar on your face. Get someone (or your pet dog) to kiss it off.

    (5)
  • Tim G.

    Ok sometimes the hype doesnt meet what is delivered, but I think Fed Donuts needs more hype. Finally had the chicken after several of their amazing donuts and all I can is wow. I had the buttermilk ranch it was amazing. Unlike any fried chicken that I have prior. I will make it a weekly spot from now on. Get there early things tend to sell out before 2pm.

    (4)
  • E T.

    The bun in my oven has been a demanding fellow. For the last three months, he has wanted a donut. I went to the local DD and order a French Crueller- it proved to be a cruel event- dry and stale- I spit it out. When I heard that FD had opened, I felt like the angels were singing, and this was the end of my quest. Of course, I could not just give in so easily to Bun's request- don't want a spoiled brat. So, I added a trip to Home Depot since it is a hike across town. Parking was a challenge. People seemed to ignore the hydrants. I parked a block away and was greeted by a wall of donut scent a few doors down. It added fuel to the fire of Bun's hunger. Business was brisk at 7:05 am. The staff was bright eyed and sweet. I had told people about my early morning adventure and was ready to bring home extras. I ordered one each of the sugared donuts. If you stand to the left, you can see the machine pooping out the dough into the hot oil. As they come off the conveyor belt, the donut makers dip them into the sugar AS ORDERED. So, you really get a fresh product. I took the warm bag out to the car and took one out- it was still very hot. WOW. Melted in my mouth . Bun approved the lavendar sugar- he is a metro sexual foodie, I think. When I got home, I cut a quarter of the chocolate cherry donut off. The chocolate crust was such a great foil for the tender donut. The filling was so perfect. Just enough piped throughout the dough. Really great. Bun is requesting the fried chicken. Maybe I have to head to Ikea....

    (5)
  • Ali K.

    Bittersweet: Negative - Wished I'd gone sooner; and donuts do sell out, limiting choices later in the day. Positive - I don't even like donuts, but dayummmmm.... Grapefruit and Brown sugar and Indian cinnamon spice. The chicken is bangin' - especially the coconut curry.

    (5)
  • Matt L.

    It's creepy when stores or restaurants open that are exactly what you've been hoping for. Had 4 kinds, all were so good here's a poem: Philly was in quite a rut it lacked a place with good donuts with with federal involved this problem was solved but now we'll have double-wide butts

    (5)
  • Iris M.

    There are a few indisputable facts about me. I am not a fan of fried chicken. I do not like donuts. Hipsters make me itch. So, what the hell was I doing at the long-awaited opening of Federal Donuts? Standing on the sidewalk in front of the coffee/chicken/donut eatery this morning, I wondered the same thing. I normally don't patronize restaurants on opening day as inaugural menus and service are usually as successful as the maiden voyage of the Titanic, but like most of the city, I was seduced by the hype. After all, Federal Donuts has been the highly anticipated darling of Philly food editors for quite some time-with City Paper, Foobooz, and uwishunu keeping the buzz alive with numerous write-ups. In my extreme naïveté, I thought my 11 AM arrival would give all the ironically cool hipsters time to get their coffee and donuts and get back to whatever hipsters do. I was right-sort of. I avoided the huge swell of people that one of the owners told me hit at 7 AM, but my fashionably late arrival was the culprit behind me not getting my hands on any of the fancy donuts. Anticipating demand, the FedDo crew doubled their initial batch and, even though people were banned from ordering by the dozen, they sold out by 8:30. A quick-thinking Michael Solomonov (of Percy St. Barbecue and Zahav fame and co-owner of Federal Donuts) ran out to get ingredients for another batch which-surprise-sold out as soon as they came out of the fryer. Undeterred, I decided to stick it out. Forty-five minutes of waiting in the tiny space and I was rewarded with a sticky box that was near collapse from the dripping honey glaze of what turned out to be a pretty amazing meal. (You'd be well-advised to shamelessly lick your fingers should this happen to you-completely worth it.) The Korean style fried chicken had a beautifully crispy skin with deep nooks and crannies that caught the rivulets of sweet glaze and made it addictively good, but a serving of pickled veggies was unimpressive. If, like me, you encounter a donut sell-out (of which I suspect there will be many), order the honey ginger chicken because it's the only bird that comes with a donut. The donut, painted with a thinned-out honey mixture, was akin to a beignet which I considered a small miracle because I hate dense, cakey donuts. Korean fried chicken and donuts may be the new Southern chicken and biscuits and guess what? It works. It may be too early to call, but I predict Federal Donuts will be a game changer-it's that good. Chicken joints and donut chains should be nervous-very nervous. **UPDATE: I was informed by a sharp, hawk-eyed Federal Donuts employee that every chicken order comes with a donut. I stand corrected.**

    (5)
  • Alex A.

    There are certain places that I will go out o the way for, even with the cost of fuel theses days, and this happens to be one. HANDS DOWN the BEST donuts in Philly. No one even comes close. The flavor combinations are outstanding, both with the glazed and sugared ones alike. 2 weeks ago, I sweet-talked (pun intended) a co-worker into stopping by the Sansom location and bring 1 dozen to work and WOW, were people pleased! Now, my opinions purely reflect the donuts, as I have never eaten fried chicken there (not my thing). But even if you're a skeptic- go and try it. There's a reason why these guys won BEST of Philly. They should win every year!

    (5)
  • Erica M.

    Oh. my. gosh. We finally made our way to Fed Donuts after months of talking about it every weekend. We were glutenous with 3 fancy and 3 regular donuts (for 2 people) - in our defense, we ate them over the course of 2 days. We started with the hot donuts, which were absolutely PHENOMENAL. I don't like donuts...but holy crap those were good. My only complaint is that all three honestly tasted the same. We couldn't really tell any of them apart. They were incredible, but very similar. Our 3 fancy donuts were halva pistachio, raspberry balsamic, and oatmeal raisin. We still liked these, but didn't find them as mindblowing as the hot donuts. I had a cup of coffee and while it was good, I didn't think it was anything to rave about. I wouldn't go just for the coffee. I can't wait to go back and try the fried chicken, which I hear I'll like even though I'm not a fried chicken fan!

    (5)
  • Elizabeth B.

    I like that I can walk here from my house. I like that even when there's a line out the door, the line moves fast. I like the pomegranate donut, the key lime donut, the pistachio donut, and the cinnamon donut. I know I am not using their proper names but you get the gist. I like the coffee (which I thought was Stumptown but Blake informed me that it's a delicious custom blend from PT's). I like the people who work here! Hugs all around.

    (5)
  • Aaron O.

    Three weeks ago I was whining to my wife about how Philadelphia lacked good ice cream shops and good independent donut stores. I can still whine about the lack of quality ice cream, and I will. HOW ON EARTH DOES THE CITY THAT BEGAN AMERICAN ICE CREAM HAVE NO GOOD ICE CREAM SHOPS? Back to donuts... One of the things that makes me sad is the death of independent donut shops. I like Dunkin, and LOVE their coffee, but I do miss there being local and unique donut shops in Philadelphia. Dunkin has consumed them all. Federal fills that hole with style and flavor. They have two main types of donuts..."fancy"donuts, which are stuffed and served cool and their fresh donuts, which are piping hot with different sugars and flavors. We sampled both kinds and loved them all. My favorite was the nutella and pomegranate donut while my wife liked the coconut/pineapple best. When I heard about the flavors, I was initially afraid it would be some Stephen Starr'ish fraud, but the place is simple, relaxed and fun. The unique flavors really work together and they don't come across in that annoying "gastro" way. With Felicia involved, you'd expect good service and Federal didn't disappoint at all. The chef came out to chat with us and everyone was sincerely interested in our reaction to the food. The staff is friendly, and boy do they hustle. They really turn over product here and it takes a ton of cooking to resupply it. On the down side, it's not en route to my job.

    (5)
  • Danan R.

    Get the nutella-tehina-pomegranate and coconut pineapple. Between those two, most of my favorite flavors were included. The nutella was definitely an interesting combo with the pomegranate but it almost tasted like a trail mix flavored donut: nutty yet sweet and refreshing. And the coconut? Well you all know my obsession with all things piña colada. If you like coconut cake, you will like this donut. It was very crowded but the donuts were worth the wait and trek. Will return to try the fried chicken.

    (5)
  • Bridget M.

    I love a donut, and this place does them really, really well. I got cinnamon and chocolate sea salt flavors. The cinnamon was one of the standard donuts and they made it while I waited. The chocolate sea salt was a special flavor and I got the last one of the day. I was going to say it was "good", but I definitely scarfed it down in less time than it took for them to make my cinnamon donut, so I guess that should be a grade of "good plus". In the quick minute it took for me to gobble the first donut, the second was made. The cashier handed me the donut and it was warm and steamy in the bag. I was going to save it for later, but one whiff and I was done for. I ate it with even more graceless flair than the first and, I kid you not, it melted in my mouth. I didn't even know donuts could do that. Coming back here forever.

    (4)
  • Meg S.

    My first few days back in Philly after vacation, and a friend texts me to hit up Federal Donuts. How could I say no? We walked in about 11:15 on Sunday, and there was basically no wait, and all the donuts were available. Since I'm allergic to dairy, I unfortunately had to skip the donuts. But I had a delicious cold-brew coffee as we waited for the fried chicken at 11:45. Even though they've been open for a while, there still were at least 20 people waiting for chicken orders at 11:45, so be prepared for a bit of a wait. I got the Harissa half chicken-you get about 4 generous pieces of deliciously seasoned chicken and a plain donut for $9. I only give four stars because it is kind of a shack...I guess I was expecting more of a fancy sit-down coffee shop atmosphere, but there's only about four benches (two inside and two outside) for sitting-and these are more for people waiting to order than to eat. There's about a park a few streets away, which is definitely better to eat your chicken in (especially if you're messy-who wants to be judged as they eat fried chicken?!!)

    (4)
  • Ashley S.

    I came here to try the doughnuts so I can't comment on the chicken (I love the combination of the two though!) and was blown away by the fried doughnut with vanilla and lavender sugar. Perfectly crispy on the outside and warm an fluffy on the inside. I also tried the pumpkin spice latte doughnut which was good but not nearly as good as the vanilla lavender. I will be back to try more of their flavors

    (4)
  • Shakila M.

    Oh, Federal Donuts, you are what sweet dreams are made of! Stopped off with 3 girlfriends one morning before a road trip. We got two of each freshly made flavor (6 total) and split them between the four of us. It was perfect. We sat in the car, trying to pace ourselves and pick a favorite. It was a lost cause...

    (5)
  • Michael J.

    Words cannot describe the experience at Federal Donuts, but I'll try. A tiny little shack in south Philly with some of the best fried chicken I've ever had. The chili garlic flavour is the signature, and it doesn't disappoint. Each order is served with a freshly fried lemon honey donut, which was our favourite flavour. I loved it so much I bought one of their tee shirts to make all my friends jealous! Get there early, though. They run out daily.

    (5)
  • Steve M.

    Federal Donuts, let's be honest, you had me at "we only make fried chicken and donuts." You had me. I've had the donuts already, and they were delicious. But today I went for lunch, and wow... wow that chicken. I went with some work buddies and we each got a half chicken of fried perfection in a basket, which comes with a honey glazed donut on the side. The chicken is also butchered into perfect pieces (split breast, thigh, drumstick) so you're not dodging huge chunks of bone while devouring this delicious stuff with your hands. Buttermilk Ranch: Holy geez. This is the best dry fried chicken I've had in Philadelphia. Crispy and juicy and incredibly flavorful, covered in a flavor-punch of ranch powder... incredible. Chili Garlic: Absolutely delicious. Just the right amount of spicy chili soaking into every piece. This would be great on wings, to further improve the sauce-and-skin to chicken ratio. Honey Ginger: Anywhere else this would be an incredible dish... but the bar was set so high by the other flavors above that I have to put it in third place. Still delicous. Honey donut: a perfect side item, somehow. Moist and perfect, just like the rest of the donuts in this shop. Bonus: Yelp Elite behind the counter! (What up Blake F?) It's always good to see an Elitist out in the real world! Went to add each other... and apparently we're already Yelp friends! Small world! And terrific friendly service!

    (5)
  • Jill L.

    Never, ever, ever, ever in my entire life did I ever think I'd say this but.... I love fried chicken (and it's all due to Federal Donuts) Have had their donuts before but I was intrigued by their fried chicken offerings. I am usually not a fan of fried chicken because I don't really like meat on a bone or super greasy stuff. But Federal Donuts chicken is perfection. Super juicy and full of meat (not too much bone), not fatty AT ALL, nice crunch on the outside, the seasonings (I got the Buttermilk Ranch) were so tasty, and the chicken was not overally greasy (I would say it was barely greasy at all). Plus you get a donut to eat as dessert- score! As for portion size, I shared a half with my husband. I probably could have eaten a half by myself but I'm not a huge eater. I would suggest getting a half chicken per person. As many of the other reviewers have said-- get there early! We arrived at the strike of 12 noon and there was already a line. Get there at 1145 am when they open! And stake out one of the limited seats at the bar and watch the guys cook the chicken. Great place-- definitely not a place to go everyday but definitely a go-to if you are craving some awesome fried chicken.

    (5)
  • Lili B.

    I never had the chicken but I got the Donuts.. And OH men, these taste like heaven. I went to Federal donuts a few times and my advice would be to go early as they run out of their fancy donuts pretty early in the day. I stopped there on Friday to by a dozen of donuts for my coworkers and I made them all very happy. I tried the mango with coconut donuts and it was pure awesomeness! Of course $20 for a dozen of donuts is a little pricy.. But you seriously pay for quality here! I plan on going back soon for the fried chicken

    (5)
  • Anna H.

    they make the donuts fresh right in front of you. It's more like a cake donut, but you get it hot and covered in sugar. Donut is not a gourmet treat , but the freshness and experience get the the 5 star review.

    (5)
  • Joanne T.

    I think I'm in love. Thank goodness we were able to check this place out before a daycation out of the city. It was such a treat. The bf didn't get to try the chicken cause it was still a bit early. Definitely coming back for that. The wait was not so bad, about less than 10 minutes. The smell inside was just glorious. We got all 3 hots (Indian cinnamon, Apollonia spice, and vanilla lavender). We also got some fancies (chili mango, chocolate coconut, and creamsicle). The bf and I both preferred the hots over the fancies just because it was a tad too sweet for our tooth. But they were oh so tasty. My fave was the vanilla lavender, the scent was intoxicating. Make sure you at least get 2 each of the hots. It was great that they did come out hot and fresh. It was about a 2 minute wait to get our order. The coffee was great as well. I'm not a java magnet at all and never finish my cup. Not the case here. This place might just have to be frequented more often.

    (5)
  • Maria M.

    We heard all of the hype and had to try the chicken and donuts. We ordered plain chicken and the buttermilk and it was all delicious as was the donut. We also had an order of chicken wings and here is the reason for only 2 stars...the wings were inedible because they all had numerous hairs fried into them. YUK!!! Kitchen staff obviously do not wear any type of hair nets while cooking. We probably won't be back.

    (2)
  • Tammi P.

    Not sure what all the hype is about this place. Very over rated. Dried-out fried chicken covered with a dusty mess on top. The donuts were barely edible. Lots of food coloring and fake flavors. The service was good, though, and we liked the counter stools. Good thing the parking was free on the street.

    (1)
  • Chris G.

    Finally, I got a chance to make it Federal Street Donuts! I have been hearing about this place for some time now though various media coverage. I did not arrive there until 2pm in the afternoon, which led to anticipation and anxiety. Both of these emotions were from hoping they were open, not sold out of donuts or Fried Chicken, and hoping that the line would not be too long. They were sold out of their Fancy donuts, but they had plenty of their Hot Fresh donuts, which come in three flavors: Appollonia, Indian Cinnamon, and Vanilla-Lavender. I was super geeked that they still had chicken. I ordered each flavor of the Hot Fresh donuts and I ordered a half of chicken, which consist of a breast split in half, one drumstick, and one thigh. You have the option of putting a dry rub or a wet rub on your chicken. Torn between the dry rub and the wet rub, I went with my first inclination and ordered the harrissa dry rub. On the surface, chicken and donuts seem like an odd combination, but they pair together well, just like chicken and waffles. The fried chicken is Korean-style, which made it super crunchy, and the donuts were warm and delicious. I can see why this place is so popular. They serve up donuts and chicken that is different from the norm.

    (4)
  • John S.

    Awesome donuts. Unfortunately I got there too late for the specialty donuts, but the spiced donuts are still delicious! Get some chicken along with it. I really liked the spicy chicken. Can't remember the name of it, but it was a glaze, not a rub. I wish I lived in Philly so I could go more often!

    (5)
  • tim c.

    Yeah, I usually prefer yeast donuts. But Federal Donuts' hot jawns have me in their shop on average 3 days out of the week. Granted, I live a couple of blocks away. But even with that frequency I still haven't tired of the taste. The fancy donuts usually take the spotlight, what with their inventive flavor combinations, and rightly so. The glazes that adorn these fried rings of batter typically reflect their stated flavors very well. Banana Cream Pie and Sticky Bun that are currently in rotation could practically stand in for their namesakes. But 9 mornings out of 10 I'm walking out with a half dozen hot donuts, three plain (or old fashioned), three assorted of the sugar offerings and a small hot coffee. Some like it hot, and also for the paper bag that carried the donuts home to be translucent leaning transparent as it sucked up some fry oil. That isn't to say they're oily or greasy. They're fluffy and moist and almost creamy all at the same time. And warm. Perfecto. And then there is the fried chicken. The fried chicken is even better than the donuts.

    (5)
  • Michelle E.

    I am not a donut fan. If someone brings them to work, I pass. I would never stop to buy one. They are just not appealing to me. Enter Federal Donuts. The line on this rainy morning was out the door. Most were there for donuts while some were trying to unsuccessfully sweet talk the staff into slipping them some chicken early. The line took a bit to get through due to these requests. I was only planning on getting one donut, the vanilla lavender one, but my wiser friend told me we are getting several to split. The vanilla lavender was the best donut I've ever had and the others, namely the chocolate banana, were outstanding. I found the staff to be friendly, hard-working, and patient with the early chicken schemers. The neighborhood is apt for the cozy shop. This place was collectively awesome. I will be back soon.

    (5)
  • Shannon M.

    All of hype about Federal Donuts made me a little worried it wouldn't live up to it's reputation. But, it absolutely did. I'm a vegetarian so I can only personally comment on the donuts and coffee; however, my husband is obsessed with the chicken. His favorite is the buttermilk ranch. The donuts are pretty amazing. Paired with an iced coffee and it doesn't get any better. The staff couldn't be nicer- even when they're busy.

    (5)
  • Tim A.

    Went here and tried the coffee, the double marshmallow doughnut, the Indian cinnamon, and the spiced doughnut, and two kinds of the dry fried chicken.The coffee was pretty good. The double marshmallow doughnut was the first thing I bit into and was so delicious that I should've cancelled the rest of the order and got a half dozen of them and just ate and cried tears of joy from the flavors dancing on my taste buds. The other two doughnuts would've made for better spiced tea. I wasn't impressed, and the fried chicken was good but not great. I definitely recommend trying this place out for the double marshmallow doughnut and a coffee, but don't bother with the fried chicken or the spiced hot doughnuts.

    (4)
  • Lauren B.

    The chicken...come for the chicken!

    (5)
  • Chris M.

    My nephew's idea of an ideal easter morning: Waking up to chocolate covered everything and going on an easter egg hunt. My girlfriend's idea of an ideal easter morning: Waking up and going for a long bike ride. My idea of an ideal easter morning: Waking up and driving to FedNuts by myself for a half dozen fancies, two hots, and a coffee. I take the approach of ordering one of each fancy, sampling each one, and hoping I don't give in to just eating everything - never works. While I'm not really wowed by the hot donuts (the apple cider donuts at the local farm are comparable), they still are fantastic for an appetizer coupled with a coffee for the drive home. The fancies are really where this place sticks out in terms of donuts. I got the: Chocolate covered banana - the banana really comes out on this one, better than the last banana version they had - caramel banana I think. Smores - this one doesn't really wow me, but still good nonetheless. Lemon blueberry pie - this one is a wild card with a tartness to it that goes well when paired with the sweeter chocolate varieties, etc. Halva Pistachio - not a big fan of nuts, but the nutty pistachio sort of powder really tastes good and is something you wouldn't expect on a donut, really good. Oatmeal Raisin - not that memorable Mandarin coffee - my favorite, you can smell this donut from a mile away. The coffee and mandarin really went well together. If I had to have one right now with a coffee, this would be my go to. I think the place really does live up to expectations mainly because of the uniqueness of the different flavors. Some of the flavors, I ask myself "really"? but then they end up being fantastic. Although it's not a place I will go to every weekend (pricey), I will definitely keep up with the new flavors and maybe dabble more into the chicken (the honey ginger was really good). Keep it interesting FedNuts!

    (5)
  • Big A.

    What this place has is a good idea (simplicity), the hip atmosphere and a great staff. I give the staff who work there 5 stars. They were friendly and helpful and if I were ever to return, it's because of them. The coffee was decent. The donuts were okay. The chicken was dry and too much sauce that didn't help with the chicken. But for $25 (2 coffee, 5 or 6 donuts and half a chicken), I think I can get much much much better coffee, donuts and chicken from elsewhere.

    (1)
  • Stephanie A.

    Some of the best doughnuts I've ever had! The flavors change often but I haven't had a bad one yet, even the plain honey doughnut is just right. The fried chicken is good too but the doughnuts are really the star item here. Coffee is top-notch too. Worth the wait in line if its crowded when you go.

    (5)
  • Sophia U.

    After watching the movie The Help, my husband and I suddenly started craving fried chicken. Lucky for us we found Federal Doughnuts. Their fried chicken is an amazing combination of juicy and crispy. Their doughnuts are mouth-wateringly delicious. Bonus - the staff is upbeat and entertaining. If you're a Philly foodie then Federal Doughnuts is a must-try!!!

    (5)
  • David G.

    I can't think of a single place in Philly that I was more eager to try than Federal Donuts. Don't believe me? When one of the other customers immediately pegged me as a non-regular and asked where I was from and what I was doing there, I told her that I had just flown 3000 miles for a FedNuts donut. And she knew I wasn't entirely joking. FedNuts may be a little hole-in-the-wall in a far-flung corner of town, but it's worth visiting no matter how far you have to travel to get there. Why? Because these are THE MOST DELICIOUS DONUTS IN THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES. Hyperbole much? I don't think so. I tasted the Indian cinnamon, Apollonia spice, and vanilla lavender donuts. Each one had a texture and flavor that was no less than sublime. Unlike your run-of-the-mill yeasty ("doughy") donuts, these are cake-based donuts, which are much fluffier and more delicate. They were doused in exotic combinations of sweet and savory spices that were unlike anything I've ever had before. Are donuts not enough? Let me also add the FedNuts serves up THE MOST DELICIOUS FRIED CHICKEN IN THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES. Still no hyperbole here, by the way. To turn donuts into a meal, I was able to enjoy them with a sampler plate of their specialty fried chicken: two piece of Harissa spice fried chicken, and two pieces of chile/garlic-glazed fried chicken. They were cooked exquisitely, with a perfectly crisped outside, a juicy interior, lots of punchy flavor, and not a speck of unwanted grease. The homemade pickles were an excellent complement. Have I convinced you to come here yet? No? Well, here's another motivation: I personally guarantee that Blake F. will give you a hug when you enter. If that doesn't make you want to visit FedNuts, I don't know what will.

    (5)
  • Elodie C.

    Best Donuts ever taste !

    (4)
  • Enid C.

    FedNuts is the anti-New Year's resolution. It is pure gluttonous indulgence. The stuff diabetes-affiliated bliss and fat kid dreams are made of. Fried chicken and donuts are the new peas and carrots (if peas and carrots were outrageously delicious and lower in fiber content). The donuts they serve here have delightfully exotic flavors like Indian cinnamon and pomegranate poppyseed. They are aromatic, tender, and make Krispy Kreme look like a soggy sack of afterbirth. The chicken, served starting at 11:45am, is divine and completely unique in this city. It is twice fried Korean style (see: Café Soho), but seasoned with a whole 'nother register of crazy spices. This place is pure genius. Come early. (and tip Blake and Felicia handsomely!) Word to the wise: Before you scurry out the door, with your frontside doused in drool, pop in a breath mint and swipe on some deodorant. It gets crowded in here, and you *will* exchange a grope or two with some friendly strangers/soulmates.

    (5)
  • Percy N.

    The chilie garlic fried chicken is superb. However, I suggest eating it shortly after it is served to preserve the crispiness. I discovered that I like the hot donuts which are made upon order better than the "fancy" ones.

    (5)
  • Hector M.

    Friday, August 3, 2012 2:21pm: I show up and they are sold out of chicken and fancy donuts. I accept the regular donuts which are nothing to write home about (but they must be fried in chicken grease, which drove me crazy the whole drive back to the hotel). Tuesday, August 7, 2012 1:46pm: I show up and there is a sold out sign on the front door. The owners of Federal Donuts must have been drug dealers in their prior lives because I'm hooked and I haven't eaten tasted their "product". I'll re-review once I sample their "product", but the 2 failed "sold out" attempts leave me wanting more. My anticipation is building....hopefully they'll hurry up on their 2nd location in Center City (1632 Sansom Street).

    (3)
  • Aaliyah P.

    Yes I will be the 115 person who has written a review and given it 5 stars the doughnuts are that damn good. No one goes to 2nd and federal EVER unless they are hitting up Federal doughnuts. I didn't get a chance to see Blake F in all her doughnut glory when I stopped in Sunday afternoon but the cinnamon doughnut pumped me back up for a Sunday funday in no time. I wouldnt make a special trip but would partake in the eating of these doughnuts any day

    (5)
  • Jennifer S.

    A friend recommended Federal Donuts so we decided to give it a try one Saturday morning. I heard about this place's popularity and tendency to sell out by noon, so I arrived at around 10 a.m., thinking that would be early enough. Wrong. When I stepped up to place my order, I was informed by the staff that two of my top choices, Cookies & Cream and Milk Chocolate Sea Salt, were already sold out. How disappointing. We ended up getting all three Hot Fresh doughnuts: Appollonia, Indian Cinnamon, Vanilla-Lavender. We also got two of the Fancy doughnuts: Banana Cream and Mango Coconut. I don't know if it was because all the doughnuts were put in one bag, but the three Hot Fresh doughnuts all tasted fairly the same. There wasn't much to them. The Fancy doughnuts were good at first, but the sweetness was overwhelming. At first impression, Federal Donuts was unremarkable. I may give them a second shot when their West Philly location opens in 2014. Hopefully that experience will be much better.

    (3)
  • Jimmy P.

    This review is only for the chicken. From the first taste - pretty great chicken. I was pleasantly surprised to bite into a glazed fried chicken and get a good crunch! I was expecting a somewhat soggy piece of chicken but No! It was delicious, crunchy and full of flavor. I would recommend going here with several friends that way you can try different flavors of chicken and donuts. I only had the chili garlic glaze-recommended by the cashier that day. Wish they could do multiple flavors per order of half chicken. Anyhow, good place ! --keep eating!

    (4)
  • Bri H.

    Federal Donuts for dummies: -Step 1: go to the counter and ask for a number; do not just stand there like an idiot (like I did) -Step 2: when your number is called, give your name and your order - Donuts: fancy (the ones that sell out quickly) and hot (made to order, deceptively simple looking donuts available with a variety of spices - seem to be available all day) - Chicken: dry and glazed varieties - Seating: don't plan on dining in - there are only a handful of seats around the counter We got there around 12:30 on Friday and the place was packed. The ordering process was easy & went smoothly once we got the hang of it. Two of us split a half chicken with chili-garlic glaze. The chicken was juicy and tender and the seasoning was tasty. Note: the glazed is VERY messy. We were lucky enough to grab seats at the counter. Wet naps would have been helpful. The chicken comes with a honey donut (good but nothing special) and Japanese pickles. We also split an Indian Cinnamon hot donut and then immediately each ordered another one to eat. The donuts are so warm and fragrant and taste as good as they smell. I'm still on a chicken & donuts high hours later. I'll be back to sample the different chicken & donut varieties.

    (5)
  • Kent W.

    Let me sum it up: "eh" and "oh". I came back to Philly for this?! Thanks "E-OR" (how you like that shout out mang?) Before I start this review let me say this: "Yelp is going to phuck sheet up. Okay, the wings were decent and if you're one of those "omg - best ever" yadda yadda yadda, then I should just shoryuken right in your face. On with the donuts. This is where I give you brownie points for creativity. With the "Strawberry Ginger", you nailed it; it did justice to my taste buds. For those who are afraid to try "out of the ordinary flavors", go with "sticky bun" So... * points for creative donuts - FYI, some were on the dry side * Chinese takeout chicken wings with sauced up flavored - awesome * it's hip...to be square * I'm nice with it * friggin bikers * should be a 3 1/2 stars joint - take it for what it is

    (3)
  • Monica L.

    After reading rave reviews about the "best donuts" in Philly, I decided to drop by here one Saturday afternoon while visiting a nearby store. PROS: Delicious, fluffy hot donuts CONS: They ran out of FANCY flavors! Plus, they're located far from me! I was disappointed that they didn't have any FANCY donuts left by the time I arrived. Apparently they sell out quickly on weekends. However, the fluffy hot donuts were still awesome!

    (5)
  • J J.

    Got the fresh cinnamon doughnuts and 6pc. Chicken wings. When they wrote "glazed"on the menu I thought it'd be a glaze but instead was a very vinegary glaze that I didn't like too much....but the wing itself was amazing! Loved it all.

    (5)
  • Danielle P.

    Federal Donuts is the perfect place to go for anyone who loves big, bold flavors and light fluffy donuts, this is the place for you. The staff is so nice and willing to help you out with anything. I went this morning with my mother and we got chili mango, Apollonian spice, strawberry rhubarb pie, and Indian cinnamon and the man behind the counter gave us a free donut to try! There's no wrong way to go. The vanilla lavender tastes like funnel cake, the chili mango is sweet and a little spicy and the strawberry rhubarb pie packs a punch. I'll definitely be back here, with friends.

    (5)
  • Edward M.

    Fried chicken is not a regular part of my diet. But now that I've tried FedNut's version, that may need to change. I've only tried one so far, but I am fairly certain that the other flavors would also be delicious. The half-chicken order came as four pieces -- a leg, a thigh, and two breasts, each covered in a crispy, spiced exterior and a well-cooked, toothsome, and succulent interior. They were, truly, finger-licking good. The order also came with a free doughnut side, which was nice. Speaking of donut (a)sides, FedNut's doughnuts are tasty, but they really don't amaze me like they seem to amaze many others; something about their texture doesn't appeal to my palate and they're not worth the journey out to 2nd and Federal (but the fried chicken is). The chicken seems reasonably priced, all things considered. If you want traditional sides, you'll have to get them elsewhere -- no mashed potatoes or biscuits here. The seating is limited to a few spots around the counter, where the seats are a unique swinging I-beam thing; check'em out. There's also coffee here, made in several cool-looking drip devices.

    (5)
  • Susan L.

    Came back on a Sunday for the chicken. We got here around 11:15 and thank God we did because it was starting to get crowded. It was exactly when they started taking orders for chicken. We did wings; half chili and half garlic. I'm a fan of bold flavors so I liked the chili the best, but both wings were really good. The place was definitely busy but the line was moving, thanks to the excellent service. You also get a side of these interesting pickle-like veggies, which I really liked because I'm a sucker for pickled anything. Also I really liked their coffee and this is someone who is usually very sensitive to coffee. A few side notes: -You really need to get there early (11:15am-ish) to get your chicken by a decent time. If you get here too late, forget about the wait time, be concerned if there are any chicken left. Which leads me to the second point... -This place knows what its doing since they set a specific amount of donuts and chicken to make a day. Instead of pumping out items all day long, they have a set limit and when they run out, they run out. So the question is, do you need them more than they need you? The crowded room of customers from open to close says "Yes."

    (5)
  • Cecilia J.

    Gourmet donuts and fried chicken. I needn't say more. Well ok, if you insist, I'll say a *little* bit more... Get there after 11:30 am, which will be perfect timing for the last of their gourmet donuts and put in one of the first orders for their fried chicken. They start taking fried chicken orders at 11:45, and your second course will come out right on time after you finish your dessert course. Hard to say which course would categorize as the entree though.... the airy, surprisingly flavorful cake donuts? or the crispy, smack-in-your-face flavorful fried chicken? Both will fill you up. Judging on Federal Donuts' popularity, I mistakenly thought that service would be pretentious, but the one girl holding down the fort at the counter was helpful in explaining the menu, patient when we were indecisive (although, let's admit, we just got all the flavors), and made us chuckle by calling out our order with "Team Ryan!!". 5 stars for creativity and good execution and being unpretentious at the same time.

    (5)
  • Brian M.

    Pretty simple here, they make fried chicken, donuts, and coffee. The fried chicken and donuts are my favorite in the city, the coffee my second favorite. No need to over-think this one, just give it a try.

    (5)
  • Abby W.

    If there was ever a place that exceeds its hype, this is it. We drove over at 5pm on the nose after a snowy icy storm made for a quiet Saturday in the city. Despite our promptness we were not the first ones there. People, this chicken is serious business. E and I got 2 half orders to try different flavors - one za'atar and one honey-ginger. We also scored a full dozen fancy donuts, two of each flavor they had that night. Our companions got a half order of buttermilk and another za'atar. Within about 8 minutes we had our chicken in hand and were out the door. Then we sat through what felt like the longest, most deliciously perfumed car ride of my life. I am currently still breathing a little heavy from my intense food coma after eating 3 pieces of chicken and 2 donuts. The honey-glazed donut that comes with the chicken is phenomenal and I love their fruit variations. The za'atar was my fave chicken but they were both delicious and impossibly moist. Two half orders of chicken and a dozen donuts came to $38, so it's not exactly cheap but since I eat fried chicken about once a year I don't mind paying for the good stuff.

    (5)
  • Christian S.

    I started going to FedNuts when the place was packed before noon and the chicken ran out shortly after. When you were assigned a number as you walked through the door to enusre you were guranteed a few pieces of that fried goodness before the limited supply ran out. Do, I think it is the best fried chicken on the planet? Of course not, but it damn sure borders and is quickly encroaching on the top spot. On my first visit here, my friend suggested that I try the buttermilk ranch. It was different but it was ok. It took me sometime before I made my second trip due to a weight lost competition at the office. On my second visit I was told to try the chili-garlic; "ok now we are starting to push the envelope" I said to my friend and coworker. I was a little apprhensive about eating my fried chicken in wet glaze. I want crispy friend chicken not a soggy mess. My friend tried to ease my fears by telling me to just think of it as a giant buffalo wings. If you go in there feeling the same way I did, leave your fears at the door because the chili-garlic chicken was, excuse me...is amazing. Earlier this week I finally had the opportunity to visit Fednuts for some morning coffee and doughnuts. The coffee is pretty decent. The doughnuts tasted exactly what everyone has been raving about. I ordered a creamsicle and a chocolate coconut doughnut. I was only able to finish the creamsicle. The doughnuts are way too sweet for this pancakes, eggs, and bacon guy in the morning. I am sticking with croissants, bear-claws, and bagels if I want pastries in the morning. P.S. You know damn well I finished that other doughnut right after the gym with a glass of milk.

    (4)
  • Peter D.

    As you can tell by my check-in rate, I have come to adore Federal Donuts. They have some of the nicest employees and are very patient with everyone's order. I have been able to try the Korean fried chicken by this point, I believe I had Za'atar sometime around November and it was good. I would like to try the sauces next time, and it is definitely a reasonable portion if you go with the half chicken. The honey donut and pickled jalapenos are an excellent compliment. Also...the s'mores donut is one of the best I've ever had anywhere. You must try this decadent masterpiece. I hope they keep it permanently, as it is the only fancy that has made me happy. I typically get 2 hot Vanilla Lavenders/Indian Cinnamons, a fancy, and take them to nearby Jefferson Square. Congratulations Federal Donuts, you did it. Did it well.

    (5)
  • Olivia D.

    i could eat the fried chicken and fresh fried donuts all day long. forget about the fancy donuts... they may be good, but they don't beat the fresh warmth of a donut right out of the fryer. and they're even cheaper than their "fancy" counterparts. and the chicken... LORD THE CHICKEN. it's so good. crisp on the outside, juicy and meaty on the inside... i got a half chicken (four pieces) for $9 in honey garlic sauce which was just a tad salty with a strong soy sauce flavor but, still. even my friend chicken-hating husband liked it. the coffee was equally awesome. i was fully expected subpar coffee since i assumed it would be an afterthought but no. it was delightfully fresh even at 2pm. can i pack you up and take you to dc? we need a federal donuts.

    (5)
  • Michelle C.

    It took some time, but I finally made it in to FedNuts today. And while I didn't partake in the donuts or chicken (both of which were tempting and delicious-looking), I did have a large cup of smooth coffee while enjoying conversation with the revolving door of industry peeps and neighborhood loyalists. Felicia and Blake make the ordering process look seamless, even as the small space filled with eager chicken-lovin' hopefuls right before noon. Arrive well before that to enjoy counter seating and some of the non-fancy donuts, which are only available early in the day. Next time, that chicken is mine.

    (5)
  • Angela E.

    Having previously reviewed the donuts, I feel I should return to update about the chicken. We tried the Za'atar dry rubbed chicken last night and it was so F'ing good. I'm so glad they're open for dinner on the weekends now!! It wasn't crowded and the wait was minimal. The chicken came with yummy Japanese pickles and a donut, plus I got a fancy donut so that I can give them my entire $20 (it only seemed fair!). This place is worth all the raving about. Can't wait to try more rubs! Special Note: They've added a few more stools, so I'd say 6 seats altogether? Not bad! I bet they open up for dinner during the week if business takes off!

    (5)
  • Colleen S.

    WOW. Fried chicken and doughnuts...amazing combination!!! My boyfriend and I split a whole chicken (8 small pieces) with the Za'atar seasoning. It was a Mediterranean blend of spices and we loved it. They had some other dry seasoning such as Buttermilk Ranch and also some glazes like Honey Ginger. It was $17 and came with two small doughnuts for free. Easily the best fried chicken I've ever had. The batter is SO crunchy and flavorful and the chicken is perfectly cooked and juicy inside. I also could not believe how much meat there was on each piece! The free doughnuts were not the hot or fancy kinds, just two regular doughnuts, but don't let that fool you-- they were DELICIOUS. We will be going back sometime soon to try the fancy ones-- Smores, Pina Colada, and Oatmeal Raisin are just a few of the flavors I saw. The place is very small, so don't always count on there being space to eat there. The food was served pretty quickly, especially considering the crowd they had. The staff was great, very friendly and the place was clean. This is a great place to stop for a delicious guilty pleasure snack!!

    (5)
  • Vanessa V.

    Curry fried chicken is the best! I am not a fan of cake doughnuts so that really needs to change.

    (4)
  • Mikey I.

    Wait, I haven't written about Federal Donuts yet? That's a crime. I guess I was too busy eating up their delicious donuts, and most recently, their most-amazing fried chicken. Truth be told, I was a big supporter long before this place ever opened. I'm a big fattycakes and I'm down with whatever food that will proportionally kick my lifespan down a few notches for how good it sounds. That, and an admiration of the most spectacular Felicia whose smile is known to make hearts skip beats. We also can't forget Mike Solo, one of the best chefs that our city has to offer (Zahav is still one of my favorite restaurants), and the Bodhi Coffee folks. Despite my bias, being a fan of all the respective robot cats that form this sensational restaurant Voltron I can objectively admit that this place blows my mind. I admire the creativity in each one of their products. I will stand by every item I've taken a bite out of. I will even defend the sometimes absurd wait times or unavailability of products at unexpectedly early hours. It's that good. The donuts are dense, delicious. I've only had the pomegranate nutella tehina, key lime and indian cinnamon, all of which rocked. The pomnutehina is perhaps my favorite, followed closely by by the indian cinnamon. Last weekend my girlfriend and I arrived at 11:20-something in order to get a ticket to buy fried chicken at 11:45. We didn't actually walk out of there until 12:00 or so. That's at least a 40min wait for some fried chicken. Worth it? Hell yeah it was. They even came with some plain honey donuts, which were dense and delicious as the others. We had the harissa and chile-garlic fried chicken. Some of the best fried chicken I've ever had? Yes. Perhaps the best in the city? Could be. Anyhow, lucky for me (unlucky for my waistband) I live within walking distance. I'm a fan, to say the least.

    (5)
  • Seema F.

    Dear hipster-chicken: It's not hard hard to actually have more than 3 chickens to serve to people. I'm starting to think you don't actually have chicken but pay people to line up outside and talk about how awesome it is. If you do actually have chicken you must be seeking clientele that have nothing better to do than wait outside for hours to get a ticket to get mediocre chicken. Then you can spend the rest of the afternoon drinking PBR. If you only serve chicken for 15 minutes from 11:30-11:45 before you run out, at least have the decency to take down your chicken sign, and start serving gin in spaghetti cans the rest of the time.

    (1)
  • Kojo B.

    Its ok, donuts (hot) were not to bad. I ordered a dozen to go and no i didnt finish it myself, split a couple with friends. I still have some left. The honey donut that came with the chicken tasted funny like someone touched the chicken and then the donut not a pleasant smell or after taste. I split my chicken order into half and half. The Za'artar (it was ok slightly salty) and then the Chilli-Garlic that i really liked. Honestly, i am glad i came by, but wont go out of my way again. Service was very friendly and great.

    (3)
  • Kevin R.

    Yet another place that the hype far exceeds reality. I absolutely love the concept and the hot and specialty donuts are unique and tasty. It's the fried chicken...albeit somewhat creative in wet and dry rubs...I've had way better. They also half their chickens in an interesting way that leaves bones where you don't expect them. Extremely friendly service and cool tunes in the background are a plus.

    (3)
  • Brad P.

    2 dollars? 2 fucking dollars for a donut this good? Sorry Federal Donuts, I know what kinda scam you are running. There's no way you can be making a profit by selling such high quality foodstuff at such a bottom-market price. I see your business model - You place sedative in the donuts and harvest organs from your hapless customers. Limited seating room means more room in the back for your surgical operatory. Coffee. Donuts. Chicken. Fresh human spare parts. - This is the sign in the back alley behind your restaurant, and features a red silhouette of a pancreas rather than one of a rooster. Oh man these donuts are addictive, too? Nice. I suppose you won't be satisfied with just one of my kidneys. You want the other one, too. Sure, I'll go back. I won't hold it against you because these damn donuts are so damn good. I loved the Indian cinnamon and Vanilla Lavendar donuts. I also loved the nutella-tahina-pomegranite. The chocolate raspberry wasn't as good as the others, but it still annihilated 99% of all (Non-Federal)donuts I've ever had. Pros: My favorite donuts. Good coffee. Cons: Limited seating room and they harvest your organs. I can't wait to go back and try the chicken. On the action-movie-parallel-satisfaction-scale, this place is Shoot 'Em Up but every character is the Predator.

    (5)
  • Bill M.

    Mike Solo,the people behind Bodhi Coffee, and Felicia D. joining forces to make this place possible? The Queen of Awesomeness holding it down at the cash register and welcoming you as you enter? Hell with people like this behind it FD could peddle snake oil and it would still seem like a revelation! But fortunately for all mankind FD peddles something so much better than snake oil. We're talking a custom blended coffee from PT's out of Topeka (thanks for the info Blake!). Combine it with fried chicken recipes that The Colonel couldn't even dream about, and add in fancy donuts made by ROBOTS; and you have yourself the new trifecta of glory! Like many, many people I knew the bulk of this months beforehand (and had even planned to camp out for the opening at one point. Fail!). But upon reading tweet after Facebook post about product selling out as fast as lightening, I figured that it would be best to wait a bit so I could truly savor the moment. It finally came today and the queen was as awesome as ever when I entered. Since it was one of moments where I was tempted to order one of everything I opted to just go for a 1/2 dozen of the fancy donuts so I could try one of each and have a bit leftover. And pending tomorrows breakfast (or the aftermath of this review if I can't hold back temptation) it just might have been the best worst decision ever. Between the glaze, the freshness, and the un-overbearing filling inside each bite is sheer perfection. And there's no Dunkin necessary because each bite is pure flavor country. Both the Key Lime and the Blood Orange yielded the necessary fruit flavor, while the Chocolate Raspberry was the perfect taste of decadence. But the Nutella-Tehina Pomegranate was the clear winner for offering the perfect combination of each flavor sensation. Believe the hype, because after just a couple of weeks Federal Donuts has more than earned its spot towards greatness!

    (5)
  • Pratik P.

    The shadier the place looks, the better the donuts are... that's what I learned after visiting this joint. I've had donuts all around the world, with some of the best being in Indonesia (seriously), but this one is STILL on top. Here's what you do: go to the IKEA nearby, order some delicious swedish meatballs, and then come here for desert. If I had a last meal, I'm pretty sure this would be it.

    (5)
  • Michael P.

    I went to Federal Donuts on the first day they were open. I wasn't quite sure what to expect. The fresh donuts were incredible, with a dusting of sugar not overwhelming the deliciously crumbly cake donut. The fancy filled donuts are a whole 'nother level, with creative frostings and fillings unlike you have seen at a chain. Neither the donuts nor the coffee survived my drive to work. I loved the space, just a small corner shop with lots of light, and a few clever fold-out stools at the counter. That first morning crowd gave me hope that they'd found a good business model. Little did I know that it was the calm before the storm. I'd been back several times for donuts, and never being disappointed, except to find that the perfect honey donut I'd had that first day was now being reserved for the afternoon's fried chicken orders. Getting a taste of that chicken would prove a challenge. There's a very narrow window with which you can obtain it. I finally did yesterday. I got there at the prescribed 11:45, and found the tiny space packed with people. I got to the counter and got my number: 43. The wait was somewhat torturous, nearly an hour outside, with the tantalising smell of the fryer emerging from the exhaust, and people digging in to their chicken on sidewalks and tailgates just outside. My turn came and I ordered a half in honey ginger. Heading home with it, it took a great deal of willpower not to tear the box to shreds for 5 minutes. And then I regretted not doing so. The chicken was amazing, moist and crisp and sweetened perfectly by the glaze. It was expertly tender, with the meat pulling readily from the bone. The honey donut made for a nice compliment to the chicken, but the side of pickles didn't really do it for me, just something off about the flavor. While I wish them the best, hopefully the current furor abates somewhat. Selling out in the early afternoon helps build buzz, but it's frustrating to have to deal with the crowd and wait for the food. I'm not big on crowds so I waited outside, that's going to become increasingly difficult with the cold weather. Or if the demand stays strong, I have to wonder when a second location might be in the cards. But really, if you're reading this in the morning, just run there now. Get the last of the donuts, or be first in line for the chicken. You won't regret it.

    (5)
  • Ruchi M.

    Yummy and delicious! I'm on a korean chicken wing kick these days, and the chili-garlic friend chicken was excellent. Not super spicy, but the chicken was moist and juicy - exactly as described. We also got the za'atar chicken, which was great. The crispy chicken kept better than the glazed chicken in case you're going to eat some later. We went overboard on the donuts, but the pina colada donut (which I wouldn't have predicted I'd like) was incredible. It tastes like coconut and pineapple - nothing like the cloying sweetness of the drink. The smores and caramel banana donut were only okay (I was expecting a lot I guess), and the pistachio halwa was a bit too much but I should have predicted that given my dislike for halwa. If you like it I think this donut will knock your socks off. The standouts were the hot donuts. All three were super delicious. Its hard to dislike a hot donut, but even still - amazing.

    (4)
  • Becca M.

    Okay, so the last few times I was at Federal Donuts everyone behind the register was an absolute hero. Bottom Line: No customer service issues whatsoever. Each employee was nice, attentive and friendly -- exactly what you want to be exposed to in the am. So, my former star that was deducted because of "sour puss" is added back on. Hooray donuts and chicken and coffee for all!

    (5)
  • Meredith B.

    These donuts are donuts to give as gifts to really impress anyone you love. I had the raspberry something or other and wow. I've never have had a donut with a hole in the middle and still jelly perfectly in the middle of the dough. The icing was like a gift from chef god. Best way to describe my experience. This is donut was like when you close your eyes and dream of a donut.... make it 25 times better in everyway. Right there you've only come half as close to how amazing this donut was. I use to bring (another famous Phila cupcake company) as gifts to hosts... I'm not bringing these donuts. They are insanely good. Also a side note. Check out their website. Before you click skip into listen to the song. You are one AWESOME restaurant webdesigner chef awesome person for putting Also Sprach Zarathustra aka 2001: A Space Odyssey as your theme song. Cheer to you, you awesome thing you.

    (5)
  • Schuyler L.

    GUUUUuu Have you even been here!! It's A-MAZE-ING. Not to mention Blake works there, and Felicia is part owner!! I'm glad FedNuts is in good hands, because this is the type place that provides me with the necessities in which I will occasionally require to get myself through the week! Turns out FedNuts doesn't have a five star rating right now. I can assure you that those less than five star ratings are unfounded. You will taste these donuts and say to yourself, "When I see dat donut I know dar da gawd."

    (5)
  • Dave K.

    The hot fresh donuts are rolled in flavored sugar which is not really my thing. Still, the taste of the donut in its pure state is bliss. Kind of like an old-fashioned at DD, but better. The real winner is the fried chicken. I went on a Friday at 11:45 AM and there was no line at all. I tried both the Coconut Curry and Chili-Garlic and Honey Ginger. Word of advice, go straight for the Chili Garlic. It's sauced in a Korean-style Gotchujang-type paste, so if you're familiar with that, you'll be a fan of this. Also, you're getting 6 wholes wings which is really 12 drums and flats. And you get Asian style pickles. And you get an awesome old-fashioned donut - not rolled in sugar! All this for 9 bucks, which if you think about it, is not a bad deal at all. Cafe Soho in N Philly is still the best KFC around, but closer to Center City, this is a very good option.

    (4)
  • Jessica S.

    It's 7am on a Saturday - there's also a mix of sleet/rain/snow falling from the sky. To start my weekend off right I took a 2.5 mi run... straight to Federal Donuts. Yep, through cold, wet, conditions & it was totally worth it. Doubled up on each flavor of fancy & added in some hot & fresh for good measure. Best birthday cake ever - and the first donut that I actually like (sorry DD & KK). Bonus points for the raddest staff ever.

    (5)
  • Alick W.

    The donuts here are amazing. They make specialty donuts that you don't see anywhere else. I've only tried the fried chicken once and it was decent. The fried chicken also has different types of rotating flavors that you don't normally see like coconut curry. Looking to try other flavors soon. The only problem with this place is that there's not a lot of room to sit down and eat and serves more as a takeout place, but definitely still worth checking out the donuts and chicken.

    (5)
  • John F.

    Not sure what I can say about this place that hasn't already been said in a few hundred 5 star reviews so I'll just tell two stories: 1. My first visit to Fed Nuts was last year. I was talking to one of the owners outside who is a friend of mine. I was hungry and chicken sounded perfect. I walked in and ordered a spicy chicken from the super awesome Blake F.... this is how it went down I pushed open the screen door and my senses were overloaded in fried goodness. My life seemed rather dull and lusterless before inhaling the medley of donuts and chicken. A familiar face was at the counter and beaming her winning smile. "Hey buddy, good to see you!" I said. "Hey there, welcome!" she replied. I could barely contain my hunger at this point. If I wouldn't look insane for licking the sweet air, I would have. "Can I get the spicy chicken?" I said. God knows I love everything spicy and fortunately, luck was on my side. "You bet, 1 spicy" she commanded. I paid and waited for my chicken. As I was admiring the simple establishment that has nailed the adage, "Do a few things VERY well instead of a lot of things crappily," an old timer walked up and adjusted his worn cover. He ordered chicken but his fortune was not as mine. "Sorry, we just ran out, he got the last one." The seasoned Philadelphian turned to me with a mired glare that said "you gotta be shittin me." I really wondered if he would wait idly in on a wooden stool and leap for the box of chicken as it offered to me, only to run out the door with a super villain cackle. Didn't happen though, he left with a donut and I ate the chicken. 2. I ran an experiment where I brought them in to work and let a bunch of people try them. Invariably, every person would take a bite and say, "This is like the best donut I've ever had."

    (5)
  • Nicey J.

    I'm a sucker for donuts, especially hot ones and the nuts @ the Fed sure fit the bill. I walked into this itty bitty place FILLED with people just WAITING for chicken haha.. luckily at noon I was still able to get some fresh hot donuts. SCORE! THOSE DONUTS WERE DELICIOUS! I'm usually not into cakey donuts, more a yeasty girl myself, however these donuts proved to me that cakey donuts can still be light, airy, and amazing fluffy! nice, Nice and NICE! no grease like after taste that can typically come with the cakey nut, and that made me giddy! I tried the vanilla and lavender donuts. ( wait I may be wrong but one of those donuts was lavender, perhaps the other was cinnamon) either way they both were worth GFO.. aka getting fat over :D the staff definitely works hard and the finished product proves it. I'm definitely a fan of being able to see EVERYTHING that's going on within the kitchen. Way to go Fed donuts, it's unfortunate that you are quite so far away, but I'm sure my pants are very thankful because I am very capable of developing a donut addiction.

    (5)
  • Thomas B.

    Where to start?!? This is the best place to get the most amazing, fresh and outrages flavored donuts! So many great donuts to choose from! I recommending to try them all! You can never go wrong! Hey don't forget the chicken... (Limited time/days) I never walk out of this place without a half dozen, for myself! The staff there are always energetic and ready to make your day that much better! Trust me you will not be disappointed! The price range that I grade it on is only because I can't help myself for just getting 2-3 donuts. But if your looking for a quick bite.. So cheap.

    (5)
  • Tom M.

    So much hype... ...and so much success! Federal Donuts is an experience. Philly and Twitter are on fire with it and as I discovered this morning, with good reason. The line out the door at 7. The cashier so friendly and seamlessly processing multiple orders demanding infinite combinations of coffee and donuts before sunrise on a Saturday. The counters made of recycled surfboards. Beneath them, fold-out stools cleverly tucked away. I've seen complaints of limited seating. It is, but not as bad as its been made out to be. There are seven to ten fold-out stools and a very spartan concrete bench in the window. The donuts are great but lets start with what's epic: the coffee! Wow! It has this unforgettable sweet delicious flavor. I decided against interfering with it by adding milk or sugar. As for the donuts, let's start with the fresh: They take a little while. I didn't mind as I sipped my coffee and enjoyed watching people mixing real donut batter, a sight far too rare in America circa 2011. I started with a vanilla-lavender. Great combination of sweet flavors. The Appollonia and Indian Cinamon are OK but I would rather just have a plain donut out of the fryer. I will probably ask for one next time. Perhaps this will be the start of the Federal Donuts secret menu. As for the fancy: They are stacked in racks behind the counter just like cupcakes at Magnolia Bakery in New York. If you are in a hurry, I would just order them as they are ready to go. The best of the bunch is the honey almond. Its just a bit wet and has perfect sweetness and taste. The key lime is another top notch winner. The filling is great and the graham cracker crumbs on top are the perfect finish. The nutella-tehina-pomegranate was my third favorite. Just like with the key lime, the filling is great. The orange blossom pistachio is good and I would probably kvell over it, but it is hard to impress after bites of the others. When I tasted the coconut pineapple, I wished they stuck to just coconut. The most meh of the bunch was the chocolate raspberry. It looks beautiful but I was hoping for a chocolate cake instead of a chocolate coating. I'm sure its multiple times better than a Dunkin Donut but it was a low point at Federal Donuts. One day I will try the chicken. For now I hope they open at 5:30 so I can get some and still be at work but 7:30. Opening a second location on Easton Road in Glenside would also be appreciated.

    (5)
  • Joe C.

    Love this place. The location is pretty much perfect for South Philly - small, intimate, and casual. Pretty much like eating in your favorite relative's kitchen. Federal Donuts has three selections - donuts, coffee, and fried chicken. Food aside, I love the concept of restaurateurs with successful full-service concepts (Zahav and Percy Street BBQ) adding a casual, inexpensive option, hyper-focused on a limited menu items to their portfolio. I think this is a trend we'll see more of in Philly. I visited on a morning so I missed out on the chicken (just my luck!) so I can only speak on the donuts and coffee. I tried the vanilla-lavendar and a spicy chocolate with nuts, the latter of which isn't currently on the menu. Suffice to say you won't find innovations like these at Dunkin' or even Krispy Kreme. Both were really good. And the coffee was smooth. I can't wait for my next visit - so many more donuts to try and, yes, the chicken! I'm salivating already. A fifth star is a no-brainer.

    (4)
  • J D.

    Amazing. Best donut shop. And great morning fried chicken. The dry rubs are great, especially the buttermilk ranch. As for the donuts, they usually change them up, but whatever they have is always good. Best breakfast in south Philly.

    (5)
  • Nicole L.

    Federal Donuts is a real BAMF, the rare kind where it packs a wallop and you go home and think that your insides might never recover again. After hearing for weeks about the mad hype of FD, coworkers and I deliberately planned a lunch excursion to try and score us some good lunch. A forty-block drive and some sweaty palms later, we managed to score a few boxes of chicken, bags of donuts, and several smiles from the counter staff. (They probably see this insanity all the time.) Talk about kids in a candy store -- we were gleefully bouncing up and down on the drive back to work. An hour later, work productivity went completely down the toilet. Blame it on the amazingly crispy skin, the tenderness of the chicken, or the honey-glazed donut and Japanese pickles that accompany the lunch. The za'atar chicken sent us out of work mode and into a serious food coma for the rest of the afternoon. And don't even get me started on the donuts. I'm pretty sure these donuts would send half my office into happy seizures during staff meetings. As crazy as donuts like pomegranate-nutella-tehina and dulce de leche + blood orange sound... oh man, Federal Donuts know what they're doing, and they aren't shy about it either. Utterly worth the long drive... and many others to come!

    (5)
  • TJ G.

    What can be said that hasn't already been said. The fried chicken is unmatched and the donuts are sublime. I live way outside Philly and make special road trips to come in for take out to eat in my car or on a bench in Washington Park and then drive 50 minutes back home...that is how good it is.

    (5)
  • Christopher D.

    Finally made it to Federal Donuts in time to get a precious number and order a half chicken. Went with a colleague so we each ordered a flavor, (Za'atar and harissa). Along with that I got a chocolate raspberry fancy donut, and a pomegranate donut. The chicken is incredibly crispy, and the flavors pack a punch. The meat inside remains juicy, but definitely cooked. Definitely some of the best fried chicken I have had. A half chicken is cut up into four pieces but they way they cut it up you really do not recognize the pieces other than the drumstick. Along with the chicken you also get a honey donut, as wel as some delicious Asian style pickles. Price is not cheap, but quality never is. I would definitely go back and try some of the other flavors like honey and garlic as wel as the fresh donuts. Bravo Michael and company.

    (4)
  • Christine B.

    Absolutely amazing! So I figured that Sunday after Thanksgiving would be a good time to check out FD because lots of people would still be eating leftovers, and I think I was right. I got there a little after 11:45 and was informed that they were just doing wings either 6 or 12. I love bonchon chicken in NYC so the wings were a perfect option for me. I got number 32 and ordered 6. Total wait time was probably about an hour, but it was a nice day so brought my yelp book club book, and sat outside for awhile. I went with the honey ginger which was really tasty. I'm not sure how they do it, but the wings really weren't sticky, yet I could taste the sauce. Some kind of magic. The batter is light and super crispy, and the wings were really good quality, with lots of meat on them. 6 is def enough for one person. I think the plan is for them to have wings every Sunday so I'll definitely be back to try the other sauces. Bonus: you get a honey donut with the wings.

    (5)
  • Jonathan L.

    Philadelphia is such a City of Assholes. AssholeFest. Paradise O'Assholes. I've never seen such a concentration of loud, rude, angry, foul-smelling, poorly-dressed shit-eaters in my entire life. When you've lived here long enough, you actually stop noticing it - even BECOMING it - until you visit another city, and everyone there seems as if they're 3/5ths into a serious narcotic high: friendly, happy, talkative, relaxed. When you visit that other city, people might say "HI!" to you on the street or at a bar, and it makes you feel suspicious - but then you realize: you've become a Philadelphia asshole. I was recently browsing WIKIPEDIA.COM and learned that the French invented the term "déclassé" when they first visited the original settlement of Philadelphia in 1524. I learned that we put the "phil" in "philistine". Worse yet, I learned that many years ago corruption was almost eradicated from the collective human consciousness, but we Philadelphians kept it alive during this time much like the Arabs kept the Greek classics alive during the Middle Ages. This shittyness all seems to fade away when you visit Federal Donuts. It's like walking into an alternate reality where Good Things actually happen in Philadelphia, and everyone is super elated about it. For that brief moment when you first bite into a hot Indian cinnamon donut, we actually live in a first-rate city, with first-rate sports teams, first-rate city planning, and first-rate career opportunities. For a split second, everyone is suddenly very attractive and has an interesting and articulate worldview. You even think that, at long last, you might not run the risk of getting your ass kicked or your throat slashed if you walk home alone in the middle of the night. Every customer of Federal Donuts is happy beyond reason. Adorable, rosy-cheeked citizens cup steaming envelopes of hot donuts in their hands and hold them to their noses, smiling like they just won the lottery. At lunchtime as the line winds out the door for fried chicken, truck drivers hold hands with be-mohawked feminists who hold hands with Mummers who hold hands with hipsters who hold hands with the guys who used to beat them up in highschool - and they sing. Everyone knows that the donuts and fried chicken are fucking delicious, but I give Federal Donuts five stars and tons of credit purely for the fact that they've created an oasis of joy and civility in this otherwise bleak tundra of disappointment, violence, and despair.

    (5)
  • Allie H.

    Stopped by this weekend with my boyfriend for our long-awaited chicken. Holy mother of spice rub. The Harissa is my favorite, a spicy, warm blend of chili and peppers. The dry rub lends impeccable flavor to a crisp, salty crust. The chicken was exceptionally cooked, moist, and greasy in a good way. My boyfriend's order of glazed chili garlic was reminiscent of Korean fried chicken, ala Cafe Soho. A crisp outer shell, anointed with hot/sweet glaze with visible chili flakes and a less-heavy feel than some similar Korean-fried styles. But I still preferred the dry rub. We arrived around 11:20 a.m. on Saturday, waited patiently with other customers milling about, made chit chat with neighbors and other poultry-hungry strangers. Felicia passes out numbers about 15 minutes before noon. We were 37. It doesn't appear the clamoring masses will slow any time soon. Best to plan your visit ahead.

    (5)
  • Julie N.

    It is currently 11am. We just scarfed down half a dozen donuts. Got in line to find out that we may have been too late, but we were the lucky two to get the last hot sugared donuts today. Vanilla Lavender for him and Apollonia Spice for me. Thumbs up! We also picked up some fancy donuts while they were still available: Coconut Pineapple, Pomegranate Nutella Tehina, Orange Blossom Pistachio, and Chocolate Raspberry. They were all pretty good in their own right, but I think the hot sugared are much better (maybe because they are hot). The "fancy" donuts are definitely "fancy." Coffee is okay, staff are very friendly. Quick service but beware of the line! The earlier you get there, the better your chances of getting donuts (sells out around 10-11am) and fried chicken (sells out before 1pm)!

    (4)
  • Cherryl L.

    I had the pistachio donut- its just sprinkled with pistachio on top of the donut. S'mores-only one left well it's already almost 1pm. Drizzled with chocolate and graham cracker crumbs. Razz berry balsamic-smells raspberry it's tart and yes I taste the balsamic!! Caramel Banana- in my mind I was thinking of Carmelize banana but it's actually banana chips on top of the donut. When I bite through the donut it's more like a brown sugar glazed I can't wait what other more flavors they will come up. I hope they would consider to make crene brûlée and tres leches donut!!

    (5)
  • Susanne J.

    Despite a rave review in The New York Times, I still don't understand how fried chicken and doughnuts compliment one another. Sometimes, after a night shift, I will drive out of the way for the Vanilla-Lavender. That and the Indian Cinnamon are my favorite. Nothing beats a warm, soft, aromatic treat. The fancy flavors don't rate as high on my list because I'm a fan of keeping it simple and flavors like Pina Colada are usually more than my tastebuds want to handle early in the morning. The service is remarkably cheery and snappy even at 8am on a Saturday morning which is when you had better get there lest you want to miss out. Doughnuts are continually cranked in perfect form right behind the counter. It's rather mesmerizing. The coffee is good and strong but I do wish they had tea and hot chocolate as well. Perhaps someday I will try the chicken, but to tell the truth - I hate meat on bones.

    (4)
  • Elaine M.

    Awesome donuts, awesome chicken. I don't drink coffee but I am told that is pretty good too! I have tried all of the donuts and several of the chicken varieties. The Za'atar is my favorite chicken seasoning. The half chicken is a pretty large severing and comes with a plain donut (a play on chicken and waffles, we were told). My favorite donut is the vanilla-lavender. The fancy donuts are extremely sweet, so eating a whole one is like eating dessert. I have only been to the South Philly location and I like the small intimate setting. If you get there right at 11 AM, you can get a seat on the side of the counter to enjoy your chicken away from the crowd that will be pouring in the door for the remainder of the afternoon. They only make a certain number of servings of chicken and donuts each day. They are very active on Twitter, keeping everyone informed on when they are sold out of certain items for the day.

    (5)
  • Allyson T.

    I like this location better than the Center City location- even though it is completely out of my way. It feels more at home and it is more comfortable. It feels like a mom and pop shop. I went here last week in the middle of a thunderstorm and Lowes run in South Philly. My husband wanted to try the chicken. I knew there was a location in South Philly, so I plugged in my handy dandy GPS and we arrived. He had the dry rub curry and coconut chicken and [he ate my] spicy garlic chicken [seriously, I had a piece of each, I was about to fight him for an actual bite of chicken before he consumed it all]. He was in chicken heaven. Though I like the chicken, I am not crazy about it - but I have dreams of the sugar cinnamon donut on occasion. I can't wait to try some fancies... Heads up: It's a first come first serve kind of place. You cannot call and put in an order- though many people tried in the 20 minutes I was in the shop.

    (4)
  • Steve C.

    Just consumed a #bananacreampie #donut! I thought about jumping the counter & running w/the entire tray! #dontjudgeme

    (5)
  • Josh S.

    Great staff and great donuts. I didn't try the hot donuts until I got home...it took about twenty minutes so that had cooled off (not sure if it was worth the wait). The fancies were great, strange flavor combinations that work great and taste even better. Get there early because the fancies go quick. Then you'll have to return later for some of the twice fried chicken. Great job Mike!

    (4)
  • Michael A.

    As a strong supporter of fried chicken and waffles, I was skeptical about the whole idea of chicken and donuts. I went just for the donuts, but was told they only had one kind of donut, and it only came with fried chicken. I said why not, and tried both. They had six different varieties of chicken: chili garlic, sweet ginger, buttermilk, coconut curry, and an arab seasoning. I went with the chili garlic, which was delightfully, but not painfully, spicy. The chicken was crispy on the outside, soft and juicy on the inside, and incredibly flavorful. The girl who helped me was incredibly bright, friendly, and chatted with me the entire time I was there. The donuts were sweet, doughy, soft, and warm. I didn't even come for chicken, but I was very pleasantly surprised by a delicious meal. There isn't room to eat inside, though, so get ready to go.

    (5)
  • Lavi V.

    Tried the Za'atar chicken and it was ok but the dry spices were a bit overwhelming. I definitely wouldn't order it again. Now that Chili Garlic was a winner!! Having samples available of the spices and sauces would be nice for someone, like myself, who is a first timer & might not be sure of what they want! A fellow foodie and I also ordered the Vanilla Lavender and Indian Cinnamon Donut (we both ate a half of each) and it's was the greatest donut experience we've had in a very long time. They came out hot and were sooo freakin soft they practically melted in your mouth! I'm officially a FD fan!! lol This will be my once a month go to spot for donuts.

    (4)
  • Steve S.

    This place is getting a lot of love, and I can see why. I applaud what they are trying to do. But I'm going to be a little tough on them. But just a little. Being a Delco guy, coming here means a 20 minute ride, and a minor struggle to find parking. So this review will be based on whether it is worth it for a guy like me to make the trip. I will admit that I made a special trip here on a day off just to try this place based on all the Yelp love. Yes, you Philly peeps influence us Delco Yelpers on our trips into town. I won't go into too many details on the serving experience. I'll save details for the food. But the people at the counter were very nice, and even cut up some donuts for sampling since it wasn't busy. So kudos to them. But the issue is I showed up at noon, and from what I understand it's a much different experience then. So I did not get to sample the hot donuts everyone raves about. But I did try several of the fancy donuts and the chicken. I think that's enough to give a fair review. Now the play by play on the grub... The chicken is decent, but not great. The dry seasoning helps it taste better. I suspect it might be better if you get it glazed. For 9 bucks, they don't really give you a half chicken. For instance, my order did not include a wing. Half chickens include the wing, right? I got a leg, a small thigh, and a breast cut into two pieces. So I consider that a bit of a short change. Bottom line is that although it isn't bad, I wouldn't give up KFC for it. The honey glazed donut they give you is more fun to eat than a biscuit though. The rundown of what I sampled of the fancy donuts goes like this..,. Chocolate-spicy peanut... it didn't work for me. And the main reason it didn't work is that it's not completely chocolate. It's one of the plain donuts with a chocolate coating and the spicy peanut just doesn't work as the topping. This one was a letdown. I say if you call it chocolate, the cake part should be chocolate as well. Sorry guys... fail. Grapefruit-brown sugar... this was a little more interesting. Tangy and sweet. Not their best in my mind. But definitely worth the bites. Caramel-banana... now we're getting somewhere. This one hit the mark. But at the same time, I didn't consider it memorable. Apple-walnut... this was the winner! This is the donut I will consider driving into town for. The apple taste was just perfect on this one. Win! So unfortunately, the verdict on whether or not a Delco person should make the 20 minute trip into town just for this place is "not so much". But, if you happen to be in the area at the time it is open, it's worth a swing over there. For a few interesting donuts and a good cup of coffee, it is a winner. But while we are at it here, I'm certain that I would have rated this place more favorably if I could have tried the hot donuts. This whole thing about only serving them until 11, and then serving something different after that is a problem to me. It's two different experiences, and one is not as good as the other from what I can tell. I consider this tactic more annoying and pretentious than anything. But that's just me. Thankfully, I know where Krispy Kreme is located.

    (3)
  • Bryce C.

    Besides being out of there Fancy Donuts , the chilli garlic chicken which tasted like it was dressed in homemade sriracha sauce was great ,.

    (4)
  • Rick W.

    My wife is a doughnut fanatic and somehow she came up on this restaurant in South Philadelphia. It is a very small corner store with only about 7 seats. Seats are a unique old style that you have to pull out from under the counter. Have to see to believe. It was packed with people waiting for takeout at about 11:30 in the AM on a Sunday. Only two counter people working as efficiently as they could to fill orders. Two cooks in the back,; one on doughnuts and the other at the chicken. No matter what I write you have to go to see this operation. Just like at the famous Philly Cheese Steak places this place is intimidating when trying to place an order. Thankfully not because of the attitude, but more because we had not been there before and they were so busy that you did not want to take up a lot of their time. Thankfully the waitress was very helpful when she realized we were new. Took time to explain. Ordered a few types of doughnuts and a half chicken. Chicken is small, but very tasty. Got plain and then ordered a second with buttermilk ranch. Buttermilk Ranch was disappointing. Seemed like powdered Ranch dressing was sprinkled over after cooking. The four of us agreed on that. Plain chicken is very good and I will keep to it when we go back. All fancy doughnuts sold out so we got some plain and cinnamon brown sugar. They were good, but would like to get there earlier to try the fancy one. We were extremely lucky that the only four seats on the one side of the counter became available and we did get to sit down. Also got to talk to counter people during a lull in business.Very pleasant people and took time to talk. We will return to try the other doughnuts and get some more chicken. It will fill you up for the day. Not sure if it's the healthiest meal, but once or twice, may be three or four times a year will not hurt. Another location near Center City and will have to try.

    (4)
  • Jesse R.

    Really solid donuts, the fresh hot ones are far superior to the "fancy" style. However, the fancy type are good too - Smores and Lemon Blueberry were tops. They also serve a nice strong coffee so it's a perfect morning destination. Beware, on a Sunday morning they will run out of the fresh hot donuts by around 10 or 11am! Next time it'll be time to try the chicken!

    (4)
  • Nancy L.

    Great fried chicken and decent donuts. A friend and I split the turkish coffee donut while waiting for our order. It was decent, but a bit dry and didn't quite pack enough coffee flavor. I liked the honey glazed donut that came with our chicken way better. Simple and tasty. The chicken itself was tender and flavorful. The shabazzi dry rub was a nice mix of spices and the honey ginger was sweet and mellow. Overall a deliciously messy lunch. While they're modeled after Korean fried chicken, it's not quite the same and you really can't compare the two.

    (4)
  • Dimitri K.

    Quality! Who cares about service and decor, give me a doughnut to stuff my face and grow my fat ass! They have a good selection of donuts and make some to order. The cherry almond would be the only one I'm not crazy about. A proper DOUGHnut, the kind you can dunk in coffee and it won't crumble into the bottom of your cup if you like to dunk. I'd give this place 5 stars but I'll hold off until I try the chicken. If you prefer yeast based doughnuts rather than the cake kind you will probably not like this place as much. Coffee could stand out more but you hardly think about it as you're stuffing your face like Homer Simpson.

    (4)
  • Paul L.

    Best Donuts Ever! Well, I only have them, Dunkin, Krispy Kreme and those ones you can get from the supermarket to go by so I'm no expert but from what I've tried from them. I love! I have worked at Dunkin before, so I have sampled a lot of donuts but I have never had a fresh hot one in my life. You can see the staff prepare them freshly in the back, fried in the machine and then roll them into lavender-vanilla sugar while they are still hot. Super yummy and reasonably priced. My only regret is that I don't live down the street or like waking up early. Fancy donuts doesn't come warm. (duh!) And they are pricier but well worth it. My favorites are the french toast donut and the turkish coffee one. Basically if it sounds good to you, try it. I'm sure you won't regret it. I bought a few dozens for my office and everyone loves them. One thing though: the fancy donuts might run out before the day ends, so make sure you get here early. the regular donuts may last until early afternoon.

    (5)
  • Jonathan X.

    There was a lot of hype surrounding Federal Donuts; the newspaper article, the twits every day stating how fast everything sold out. Finally give in to my curiosity and drove all the way from KOP to give it a try. The store is at a residential neighborhood, so street parking only. I got there at 8am on a Saturday, found the parking couple blocks away. There were already 15 or so people waiting in line. The store is not big, most people are ordering take out, there are 3-4 seats inside, nothing fancy. The ordering is pretty efficient; a young lady on the register, one other boxing the donuts; there are couple more working in the back. Hot donuts are prepared as you order; fancy ones are ready made. $1.25 for hot ones; $2 for fancy ($20 for a dozen). They also have their own coffee. I ordered Va n i l l a - L a v e n d e r(hot donuts); C o c o n u t - P i n e a p p l e; N u t e l l a - Te h i n a - P o m e g r a n at e; O r a n ge B l o s s o m - P i s t a c h i o and H o n ey - A l m o n d. The donuts size are pretty small. about 2/3 the size of the Dunkin Donuts ones. Definitely better than grocery store donuts or Dunkin donuts; I like the pomegranate ones the best. Overall, it is a nice donuts shop. probably not worth driving an hour to go just for the donuts; but if you are in the area, definitely worth a try.

    (3)
  • Karen Y.

    my first visit here i was a little too early on a saturday to get chicken, about 20 minutes too early. so fine, 1/2 dozen of fresh fried donuts were awesome- soft cake like texture in the middle, well seasoned on the outside. it was the only time to date my son used the word please without me asking him to first. amazing, right? so why the two stars? their service sucks. excuse me, capital S, SUCKS. so on a wednesday, following their directions, i showed up at 11:40, many people milling about waiting for their orders. i stand and wait. and wait. i watched one woman behind the counter walk away when i walked in. another guy came from the kitchen area and fiddled with the register and then walked away. and i waited. what ticked me off was that 10 minutes later a man walked in the door and was pleasantly greeted with a "hi are you here for chicken or donuts?" seriously, am i f-ing invisible?! i even said hey, i haven't ordered yet. no, acknowledgement. in order for me to keep my cool in front of my toddler son, i just walked out. you know, a lot of people make donuts. a lot of people fry chicken.

    (2)
  • Tim B.

    If you don't like this place then I don't like you. The donuts are imaginative and really delicious. You are seriously not going to want to eat a donut anywhere else ever again. Which is in and of itself a service, unless you live within two blocks of this place. I think the chicken is just stellar. I've only done the dry so far--glazed fried chicken isn't really my thing, but I'm willing to go there just to see what they do with it. This place is the essence of what you can accomplish if you've got a clear vision, a strong commitment to quality and a good work ethic. Folks who work here are uniformly nice as well. I'm just lucky that it's not around the corner from me or I'd be even more overweight than I am. ONE CAVEAT: a lot of the special flavor donuts are actually not as good as they ought to be, both because sometimes the icing is too sweet or cloying and because the more cake-like batter they use can be too heavy. Generally, stick with the freshly fried ones. But kudos anyway for the ideas behind a lot of the flavored donuts.

    (5)
  • Ryan G.

    So to be fair, I probably shouldn't even write this review given that I have yet to try the chicken. But, I've had 2/3's of what Federal Donuts is known for so take it or leave it. The coffee... top notch in my opinion if you're a black coffee drinker. It's not harsh like some Starbucks brews but it's balanced, smooth, sensual, sexy, funny at times, likes long walks on the beach, into skinny dipping... the whole 9 yards. If coffee isn't your fancy and donuts are, then you're in for a real treat. The flavor combinations are wild but they all work together in harmony. In the era of wild creations like Little Baby's Ice Cream and Pizza Brain, Federal Donuts holds a special spot in my heart because they're doing the same thing; crazy combinations that make you question your taste buds. Point-in-case... I hate peanut butter and jelly. My mom would make it for me every day as a kid and I'd toss it in the trash or feed it to the dog (Mom if you're reading this, that's not why Walter died). However, Federal Donuts makes a spiced peanut butter and jelly donut... I can't explain it, but I love it... probably because it's fried. Really excited to try the chicken. I hear amazing things but can never get down there at 11:30 during the week. I'm not alive at 11:30 am on the weekends, so I need to figure something out.

    (5)
  • Kimberly W.

    Wait a hot minute. Donuts AND fried chicken? Sounds too good to be true (or good). But it is AMAZING. I have only had the vanilla spice doughnut which when hot and fresh is so delicious. For chicken I ordered the Chili Garlic and Shabazzi. They are both delicious but I preferred the Chili Garlic which is a moist saucy chicken while my husband preferred the Shabazzi, which is a dry seasoned chicken. I had leftovers and the Chili Garlic reheats really really well. Go. Now.

    (5)
  • Clara L.

    1. Go to FedNuts. 2. Watch the donut robot squeeze out delicious fried goodness. 3. Enjoy the iced coffee as you watch it slow-drip down a column worthy of any mad-chemist. 4. Bite into the comfort of a warm donut. 5. Contrast with the spicey, steamy and moist chicken and its crispy shell. Don't forget to lick fingers. Enjoy Food-gasm.

    (5)
  • Sara B.

    This was my first time visiting federal donuts and it was great!! I got the buttermilk ranch chicken and coffee. This was some of the best coffee I've had! Yummo!!

    (5)
  • Sarah H.

    all right, friends. here's what you gotta do: 1. dress in as little clothes as possible (to minimize excessive sweating during your trek down to the pennsport corner of the city) 2. enter at the big rooster sign 3. give a nice big smile and say "one CHILI MANGO donut, please" 4. you'll want to sit down for this 5. carefully extricate creamy orange sprinkled donut from its casing to avoid losing any precious mango-laden morsels 6. FIRST BITE: savor each moment of the sweet fried goodness enveloped in rich mango puree & sprinkled with precisely the right punch of chili spice 7. order 5 more (this step will come naturally) 8. bask in epic food coma 9. rinse and repeat? (for this i recommend the loose leaf green tea. it's bangin' [although i do wish it came iced in this abominable heat]:HINT HINT:)

    (5)
  • Jennifer R.

    I was really hoping to give Federal Donuts a 5-star review after reading all the descriptions... especially because I LOVE Korean-style fried chicken and donuts, so having them together sounded like heaven. But sadly, there are better places to get donuts (Suzy Jo's in Blue Bell) and Korean chicken (Cafe Soho). The chicken wings were moist, but insanely salty... and I love my food salty, so for me to notice it is saying something. I ordered half plain and half chili, and the chili sauce made the wings really slimy and they completely lost their crunch (good Korean style fried chicken can still stay crunchy under the sauce). Their hot donuts are pretty darn tasty, I'd choose them over the specialty ones. If I were to pick one donut of theirs that was stellar, it would be the strawberry lavender (had it at their Rittenhouse location). Hot out of the fryer and bursting with flavor, it was a nice snack. I'd have that again. The only reason I'm not giving them 2 stars is because the staff are super nice. That's worth an extra star for me. Also -- be aware that this isn't a sit-down restaurant. There are 3 stools at the counter and that's it, so plan on taking your chicken to go.

    (3)
  • Albie F.

    Hands down the best donut place I've ever been to. Who would have thought they would make your donuts fresh and only when you placed the order? It sounds like their hot flavors are rotating so the day I went in they had appolonia spice, vanilla lavender, and indian cinnamon. I wish I could have tried them all but they recommended the appolonia spice as the "one I have to try" if I were only going there once. I wish I could have tried their non hot donuts which also seemed very popular. So I tried the appolonia spice and their moist fried chicken, one of the best fried chickens I've ever had as well. This fried chicken and donut meal made me a happy camper before I left Philadelphia. Foodies may come to Philly for the cheesesteaks but they should consider coming for Federal Donuts!

    (5)
  • Shannon J.

    OMFG THESE DONUTS. I want them every day. I'd probably cry about it if I didn't live three blocks away.

    (4)
  • Rick M.

    First let me start with this, I have lived in numerous states and I sometimes travel around the country for work. I was here for work helping out with the Hurricane and I yelped this place on my way back home. I am now ruined, ever since I got home all of the donuts pale in comparison, I havent found anything that is even on the same playing field as this place. Im seriously going to call them and ask them to overnight me a box...now, onto the review I wrote while sitting in this amazing establishment. Omg, donuts were amazing! Pumpkin tasted like pumpkin instead of manufactured processed flavors like some places. Hot and ready Appolonia was astounding. There's nothing like a donut made fresh to order, steaming when you eat it. And finally the maple bacon...first they cook bacon and then use the run off in the frosting, amazing flavors, highly recommend. Now let's talk about the chicken. The chicken was juicy, very flavorful, the only strange thing was where they say dry, they mean it. The flavor you pick is a dry powder on the chicken after they fry it. Still great flavor, just a tad odd.

    (5)
  • Barrett L.

    There are very few places that live up to the massive hype surrounding them. Federal Donuts joins that small list of places where the food matches its expectations. This small corner-sized store owned by Michael Solomonov (Zahav, Percy St BBQ, Bodhi Coffee), is the latest addition to a series of local eateries that challenges the restaurant empires built by Stephen Starr and Jose Garces. We went on a Sunday morning around 1230. There were no lines, and there was plenty of the famous chicken available. The BF and I split a vanilla lavender donut and a pomegranate nutella donut. I got a half order of the Harissa Chicken, and he opted for the Chili Garlic. We also got coffee, therefore trying each of the menu's three featured items: donuts, chicken, and coffee. A small wait after we got our food and we sat down at one of the five counter seats inside. The donuts are perfect: moist and cake like without being too heavy. They're also sweet but not too sugary. The chicken is also outstanding. The outside is crisp and flavorful without being too crunchy, and the chicken on the inside is warm and juicy, with all of the flavor sealed in. The coffee is also pretty terrific, but plays second fiddle to the donuts and chicken. If you can go when there's not a serious line, it makes the experience all the more enjoyable. The staff is super friendly and genuine; interested in making you feel comfortable and delivering to you a quality product. The food is fantastic and it's a great neighborhood spot. I would definitely come back to try all the donut flavors next time.

    (5)
  • Rachel S.

    Yum! Stopped by on my way to work to pick up goodies for my coworkers. Bought a dozen of the hot donuts and behaved myself during the car ride to work by abstaining from devouring any or all of them. Once getting to work and finally savoring an Appolonia Spice, I secretly regretted not eating 3 in the car. I can't wait to go back and try other flavors!

    (5)
  • Gordon M.

    Until I had Federal Doughnuts, I never craved doughnuts. Now I crave these gems. They are fresh and tasty. I had the black cherry doughnuts. Really yummy. Now I buy them for my customer's and deliver them regularly because they are not run of the mill. It's a much more enjoyable doughnut than anything the guys at Dunkin ever thought of creating.

    (5)
  • Melissa W.

    I was pretty impressed. Sadly, they were out of chocolate banana so we tried the s'mores fancy donut, which at $2 was tasty enough but nothing spectacular. Maybe I should've tried one of the weirder flavors, like razzbery[sic] balsamic or halva pistachio. Or the plainer donuts, like lavender vanilla. However, the chicken was quite good, particularly the dry-rub za'atar. I think the dry-rubs are the way to go, because they really showcase the perfectly-crisp crunchiness of the fried chicken. The chicken breast was juicy and not dry at all, which was great. The chile garlic was tasty too, but it seemed like they were trying to copy Korean fried chicken places and failed to execute it quite as well. The chile was a bit overwhelming in terms of flavor (spice level was fine though), and the fried outer shell didn't hold up quite so well to the glazed coating. They came with a tiny container of Japanese-tasting pickles, and honey-glazed donuts that were not-too-sweet and perfect with the chicken (think chicken and waffles). Overall though, I was bit surprised about the value we got from this place. I expected to spend a lot of money for not a whole lot of food, but the portion sizes were pretty decent for the price, and the chicken came out hot, fresh, and tasty.

    (4)
  • Christian P.

    Just went for the first time this past Friday. Not sure if the long lines are a thing of the past but we were in and out with no wait (this was around 8 a.m.). We went back for chicken at 11 a.m. with no problem either. I would have gladly waited if I needed to, as the donuts were spectacular. I never had doughnuts made to order until now. It's life changing. The Indian Cinnamon was particularly unique -- sweet, savory, and spicy. And get the pumpkin spice latte doughnut if they have any left. Words can't do it justice.

    (5)
  • Lauren L.

    It's a good thing I don't live in the area, because if I did, this place would be a straight-up addiction. I've seriously never had a fresher donut in my life. I didn't get there in time to have one of their "fancy" ones (I would have loved to try the smores one) but I did try one of each of their basic flavors, and couldn't believe that they are made to order, and only $1.25! I'm a vegetarian so I won't be trying their chicken, but from the looks on the faces of everyone else eating there, it's probably damn amazing.

    (5)
  • Jim M.

    I'd heard the hype. Seen the NY Times article. Nevertheless I was skeptical. Mainly because most people have at best, two reference points for donuts, Dunkin Donuts or Krispy Kreme. Neither of which really makes truly great donuts. So after waiting for the crowds to die down a little, I traveled over to see for myself last Saturday. It's a small shop that blends into the surrounding neighborhood. Inside there are a couple of seats at the counter and a wide window well that two people could sit in. I ordered my donuts. I went with the Indian Cinnamon, the caramel banana, the pina colada, and the halva pistachio. The ladies behind the counter worked as fast as they could given the decent sized collection of people waiting for orders and bopping in. My order was processed quickly, and I got my coffee right after I ordered it. The coffee was one of the only things that was a disappointment besides the lack of seating. Since there was no room to sit, much less stand I took my donuts and coffee out to a park just off of Federal between 3rd and 4th St. The donuts were truly transcendant. Each donut was a symphony of flavors on my tongue. The Indian Cinnamon-Very light on the cinnamon, coated with sugar. Hot, fresh, and so moist that it pinched in half when I started to eat it. The caramel banana-A delicious meld of flavors with something added to the banana chips that made them more tasty than I"d imagined. The pina colada-The donut I though I'd enjoy the least. However it tasted like the Rach 3 and Beethoven's 9th all rolled up. A complex mix of flavors that together was truly amazing. And unlike the current generations, I don't use that term lightly. The halva and pistachio-the final movement. More subtle flavors that nevertheless worked well. I'd never had halva before, but I liked it. Believe the hype. Believe the NY Times article. Federal Donuts makes some of the best donuts I've had.

    (4)
  • Jacky S.

    If you believe all the hype, you'll be disappointed. But if you go in with realistic expectations that it's a donut and fried chicken shop, nothing more and nothing less, you'll be very happy indeed. The fried chicken is amazing. I don't really think I can say anything useful about it besides "trust me, it's good." You get a honey donut with every fried chicken order too, which is a nice surprise if you haven't been there before. For donuts, you can get the "hot and fresh" or "fancy" variety. Honestly, I prefer the former. I haven't tried any of the recent fancy flavors, but the last dozen I got months ago were kind of disappointing. None of them were all that special: just super sweet and kind of overpriced cake donuts. But there is really nothing better than a hot fresh donut, so skip the fancies and get those instead. They make a great cup of coffee, too.

    (4)
  • James S.

    Okay, wow. Seriously. Boutique donuts with crazy flavors, great coffee; I went here twice during a four day visit. Not sure what my favorite flavor was: Mandarin Coffee? Orange Creamsicle? Good coffee. I hear the chicken is wonderful but we were never there in the morning. They sell out of flavors of donuts, supposedly, so get here early. Unique, and a staple of any trip to South Philly for the rest of my life, so I'll be eating a ton of donuts.

    (5)
  • Christian L.

    Hangover...check Far bike ride....check Worth every damn bite...check I rode all the way from Fairmount to here on a beautiful June Saturday morning. Once I saw a huge line out the door, I knew the place would be legit. People were taken cared of rather quickly. There were numbers given out to folks who wanted fried chicken. Since I wanted to eat ASAP, I ordered the creamsicle and mango chili donuts. Totes amazeballs! I then slammed down the sweet goodness with the best tasting Poland spring ever. Cheers!!

    (5)
  • Laura S.

    While Lauren H and I were sitting in the front seat of her car in South Philly, steaming up the windows and making obscene noises as we downed our half-dozen donuts and entire fried chicken, we pondered how Federal Donuts came to be. My favorite theory is that the restaurant began with the sign outside the door, which simply reads: coffee donuts chicken I imagined Michael Solomonov and friends coming across this vintage-looking sign somewhere. Later that night, after a lot of drinks, someone turns to Chef Solomonov. "Yo, dude, you know what you should do? You should totally open a restaurant inspired by that sign. You would serve three things: coffee, donuts, and chicken." And he would reply, "man, I could totally make that work." Then one of his friends turns to him. "OK, Mike, you think you're all that? Let's put your restaurant on a street corner where nobody ever freaking goes. You get no foot traffic. People are gonna have to work to come eat your chicken." And Michael Solomonov gives him a boozy handshake and goes "Yo, man, it's on." ... and several months later we all learn that yes, he really is that good.

    (5)
  • Jenn M.

    I saw the store front and the building said "Coffee. Donuts. Chicken." how could i not go in?!! The fried chicken is out of this world! I like their donuts... Very interesting combinations. I ordered one of each, and the flavors seem to be hit or miss but the ones i like were sooooo good! I will definitely be back!!

    (4)
  • Tam V.

    I've been meaning to visit Federal Donuts for such a long time and finally went last Sunday. The coffee was good (and piping hot!) and the donuts were very yummy! Unfortunately I can't give this place 5 stars (yet) because I haven't had the chicken ...yet. I hear so much about the chicken and was really hoping to get some but I didn't know they start serving chicken at 11am and I was there at 9am.

    (4)
  • Tamara G.

    Noon thirty. Saturday in Philly. "Fancy" donuts were straight sold out. But quite honestly I wasn't really there for the donuts...I was there for the fried chicken, and so were most of the people, it seemed. We all were graciously taking numbers and waiting. This is a small place with a small counter and a perhaps two benches outside. I was skeptical...but it seriously delivered. I'd go again and try all the chicken and also get there early enough to try the coffee that takes 24 hours to brew...

    (4)
  • Max W.

    Federal. Freaking. Donuts. Bad news first: you probably don't live near there, and making the trek to Federal can be a pain if you're aren't someone who loves to walk (like yours truly). They make the donuts early in the morning, and they're often gone by the afternoon, especially if you go on a weekend. The chicken disappears just as fast. They have a small dining space, about a third of the size of the bar at your local diner. But I'll be a monkey's great uncle if these aren't the best donuts and chicken you have EVER had. Mandarin Coffee. S'mores. Vanilla-Lavender. These are just a few of the sophisticated flavors of donut you can experience. They had a Pomegranate Nutella donut a while back and I'm pretty sure I went in some kind of food trance when I tried it. At 1.25-2 dollars a piece, they're 2-3 times the cost of a Dunkin Donut but let me assure you the splurge is well worth it. Not to be outdone, the chicken is equally delicious and amazingly crispy. They've added a couple more seasonings to the roster since I've been there, but my favorite is still the Honey Ginger glaze. The messier the better, I say. If you want chicken, get here at 11 and WAIT. You'll be given a ticket, and you'll have to hang out for a while (with a donut and coffee, hopefully) but you'll have some of the freshest, crispiest, most scrumptious chicken you've ever had. I cannot stress this enough: it does NOT last long. I'd love to see this place get bigger: more seating and more chicken served per day couldn't hurt. The adventurous and the patient will be so, so glad they came, however.

    (5)
  • Cristen S.

    WOW. I don't think I have ever experienced donuts until I tried Federal Donuts. I not only ordered every type of fresh cake donut they had, I also ordered most of the specialty donuts. All I can say is wow, every single one was perfect. Of all 10 kinds, I was very excited about the spicy peanut butter and jelly donut. It was a masterpiece. Go and try every one, you won't be disappointed!

    (5)
  • Kimberly S.

    Fried chicken, coffee and donuts?? And they sell out by noon?? What kind of business is that?? I didn't believe it and I didn't wanna believe it. BUT, I gotta say, Federal Donuts really lives up to the hype. When donuts are mentioned, I typically think of a Dunkin Donuts type. These are a hundred times better. And the fried chicken is amazing. Bonus points for not only allowing me to order although I walked in just as they were about to close, but for also giving me a whole box of free chicken wings and extra donuts!

    (4)
  • Cassidi B.

    AMAZING! These donuts are so awesome. I like you can get fancier flavors but picky eaters can also enjoy them, they aren't too crazy. I can not wait to try and the fried chicken, it smelled amazing and I keep hearing great stuff about it!

    (5)
  • Jason B.

    I'd like to propose a change of name. MAN TON DONUTS. As in "MAN, I'd like a TON o' these DONUTS" (Or, since I'll probably be ordering 'em from Blake, "MA'AM, I'd like a TON o' these DONUTS.") Yeah, that's the ticket.

    (5)
  • Ryan S.

    Great coconut curry chicken. One of the best. The only thing is when you order a whole chicken you would figure you would get 2 wings 2 legs 2 Brest 2 thighs not here we got a piece of a Brest no wings 1 leg and a thigh. It was good but they should tell you what there definition of a whole chicken and half chicken is. Now knowing that I would go again. Cause it is great coconut curry.

    (3)
  • Joy S.

    Wow! Basically only 2 things on the menu-donuts and Korean fried chicken. Nothing says yum like fresh out of the grease donuts. Think apple orchard donuts not Krispy Kreme. There fresh made to order do it's come in just a couple flavors with my fave being the vanilla lavender. Sadly I didn't get a chance to try the fried chicken while I was there-because they were sold out! They will however call to another location to see if they have any chicken left so I hear it's worth the trip! I'm only giving 4 stars cause I didn't get to try the chicken, but I'm feeling positive that when I go back to "Fed Nuts" next time I will get there early enough to get the chicken! Can't wait!

    (4)
  • Val R.

    Went here today and picked up a half dz of the chili garlic wings with 4 fancy donuts and an apollonia spice donut (that was cooked fresh) it was so warm while eating it. It was spiced great and had a unique flavor. The fancy donuts we got were cookies and cream, chocolate strawberry, chocolate sea salt and sticky bun. All were good but in order of favoritism, it is: 1. Sticky bun 2. Chocolate strawberry 3. Cookies and cream 4. Chocolate sea salt. I would like to try the banana cream next time. I can't comment on the wings bc I didn't eat any of those.

    (4)
  • Nando F.

    I finally had the chance to experience this amazing establishment. Timing is everything when it comes to coming here. Early in the morning when they open (sometimes) or an hour before they close is the best time to avoid the lines... the weekends good luck. I agree with Steve M. on this , fried chicken and donuts , oh mama could there even be a better combination than this? I'll wait for a comparison ... ( Jeopardy theme song being played in the back) What is NOTHING compares to Federal Donuts in the donut realm.. nothing. You are correct Nando, now lets see what you wagered, everything.. you are the champion . Now that I have wiped the tears of joy from my eyes, my sense of smell is in donut heaven with everything being made fresh it was time to order. I went with the butter milk ranch fried chicken, an order of a 4 piece please instead of an 8 piece. I wasn't going to be greedy here, I do want those donuts also, I could always get an 8 piece and bring it home for the wifey and I. Who am I kidding if it even makes it that far, that 8 might turn into 1 by the time I get to the Walt Whitman. Buttermilk ranch or the Glazed Chile -Garlic for the win people, for the WIN! This is a twice fried over chicken which makes this delicious, they fry it first , then once you order they fry it again with whatever you choose. Every bite I had taken I could taste the ranch seasoning with nothing but delicious juicy chicken. Licking my fingers from the residue of that buttermilk ranch. I also enjoyed the glazed chile-garlic, Oh momma ! This perfectly spiced, not overbearing where you can't enjoy it , nothing but perfect. I have just gone into cave man mode and started stuffing my face with this. Residue left over in my beard and upper lip is there serving a purpose which is. 1) The drive home where I can lick my upper lip to remind me of heaven. 2) As I kiss my wife I can make her jealous as she tastes and smell the residue of either buttermilk ranch, or the chile garlic on my upper lip and sides of my mouth . Sometime a beard is good, certain parts can be considered a flavor savor, not so sexy or appealing on women though . . What makes this an even better treat is they give you a complementary donut with your order, a delicious honey glazed. I am seeing a pattern here with the word "Delicious" 3 syllables 1 word could easily describe everything. De-Li-Cious.. Delicious. While I was enjoying every bite of perfection in front of me, I was washing it down with some Dr. Browns cream soda. Also they give a complimentary side of Japanese style pickles (I think it was) which were damn tasty Now here we go , this is the moment of truth, the donuts, their hot fresh donuts. AMAZING cake style donuts, that is deep fried for you right there. They do make specialty donuts also , but once they sell for the day I believe Porky Pig said it best "That's all folks " until the following morning. I had the pleasure to try the Chocolate peanut butter donut, along with the Indian Cinnamon, Apollonia spice and Vanilla lavender. Words can not be expressed , just sounds of pure bliss... small moans or enjoyment with every bite of mmmhh oh my god this is hot and fresh and mmm. I don't think there is an adjective to describe this other than .. right still can't think of one, just eat one and you will see. I will bet you moan a little. Rebecca is money behind the counter with the orders she was receiving. While I was wiping my mouth after annihilating this perfect blend of fried chicken and donuts , Rebecca made me an extra donut for free for my travels. A POMEGRANATE NUTELLA !! MY OH, OH MY! (In a George Takei voice) This was fabulous , and I do have an infatuation with Nutella. Great meal, great service, I will be coming back more just to try more different flavors of fried chicken. Now what are you waiting for.. be gone and feast upon chicken and donuts. Side note. They will be opening up a Fednut in the ballpark this season. Phillies.. donuts... fried chicken, that is a homerun right there. Donut rankings in my opinion: #1 Federal Donuts (King ) # 2 Suzy Jo (Queen) # 3 I don't care for, go and fight it out

    (5)
  • Tom R.

    Wowsahs! Hands down the best donuts I've ever had! Went to FD with my girlfriend. We had two hot donuts. The Indian cinnamon and the appollonia spice. We also had two fancies, cookies n cream and the sticky bun. Coffee is good too. Great place to go for a Saturday morning treat. Enjoy!

    (5)
  • Leah K.

    Delicious!! Seriously the most amazing fried chicken I've possibly ever had. Staff was friendly and owner even took time to chat with us about the business, the way the doughnuts were made and the flavor variations. Sadly by the time we got there they only had three flavor variations left, but they were great! All three of us loved it and would for sure go back!

    (5)
  • Robyn Z.

    Sad, poor little chicken. Overrated. SALTY to the point of being inedible. Does the" you got it dude" sample what he prepares? Obviously not. The saving fare was the donut. Better stick with that. Unique flavors and very fresh.

    (1)
  • Sean M.

    Federal Donuts is a few blocks from my house, therefore it's an area of my hood I now must avoid at all cost. Why?The smell attracts me like a fly to...well you know. I just can't resist, it's like smelling bad milk, but without the after gagging effect. Seriously, Federal Donuts is a great addition to the area and the city. I've eaten here for donuts and chicken on regular occasion and have never been disappointed. I bring fancies to friends, and love an early morning walk with my dog paired with their coffee and a fresh hot Indian Cinnamon. Worth any wait, drive, walk or whatever. The service is always with a smile, and the chicken hot whether you eat it there, or at home a bit later.

    (5)
  • James C.

    I finally went to see what the hype was all about their chicken and donuts. Maybe its because of all the hype and good reviews that got my hopes way up there but I was slightly disappointed when I finally bit into one of the chickens. Also I know what kfc (korean fried chicken) is supposed to taste like since I am korean, and have been having it for years ever since I was little. So I got there a couple minutes before they were handing out the tickets for the fried chicken, while waiting I decided to get one of the specialty donuts they make. I decided on their chili mango, which was very good, I was hoping for a little bit more kick from the chili but it as more sweet. I decided to go for three different flavors, since I heard rave reviews for the chili-garlic got a whole chicken with that and then i got a half coconut curry and half of harissa. The trek back home was brutal because I just wanted to dig in and eat it on spot but I had my family waiting for me. Out of the three I got I would say that the coconut curry flavor was the best. The harissa kinda reminded me of the old bay seasoning and the chili-garlic reminded me of the chicken i get at the korean grocery store. I think if I had eaten the chili-garlic on spot it would have been better but since I had to drive home the batter got soggy and was not crispy. The dry ones were very crispy. I also think next time I will get the wings. The piece are kinda too big and you can't really enjoy the batter, plus I thought it was kinda dry. They also give you a honey donut with the chicken which is a very nice compliment. I enjoyed it and the donut was very tasty. Overall my experience was nice but I guess I was expecting more because of the hype. I would much other go to soho and enjoy their chicken which is a tad bit better.

    (3)
  • Helen E.

    Wow, just wow. My fabulously wonderful coworkers brought donuts in from federal, and to say they were amazing is an understatement. The lavender vanilla is scrumptious, that leaves just the light hint of lavender in your mouth. And the chocolate sea salt is simply lovely. Federal completely lives up to their reputation.

    (5)
  • Pat T.

    Forsake the fancy donuts (ok, I woke up too late) and dive right for the cinnamon. This is perfection - sweet, a bit salty, fresh. Pair it with a cup of Federal's great coffee. Service here is friendly and knowledgable, and I love the design of the place too, from the rube goldberg cold brew drip system to the stowable counter seating. It's rare to see a restaurant get all the elements right, especially a fast food place, but Federal is respectful to donuts while operating in a class by itself. Oh, and the chicken? Yes, also great. The crowd here is happy too - who wouldn't be, eating delicious donuts and fresh fried chicken?

    (5)
  • Shannon P.

    I'm eating these donuts right now, and with every bite I can't stop myself from saying "Oh. My God." We (my boo and I) pre-ordered 9 fancies and a 1/2 honey-ginger chicken to celebrate Superbowl Sunday. Pre-ordering is KEY as we went in at 1pm and they had run out of fancies at 9am! We pre-gamed our fancy donuts & chicken with some hot donuts - 1 of each kind: Lavender-Honey, Indian Cinnamon, and Appolianaro (or something that sounds Apollo-y). These 3 kinds were the sugar-coated, sparkle in your mouth type. They all tasted similar, but the Apollo one was a darker, stronger cinnamon, the Indian Cinnamon reminded me of fall festivals, and the Lavender Honey had a nice clean taste, but you had to look for it. Now the fancies that we're currently binge-ing on are freaking amazing. I'm not one to order a dozen donuts every Sunday...I'm no donut seeker...but I'd seek these. Every single one is so unique from any donut I've ever had and they're unique from each other. The balsamic-raspberry is in my top 3...it's not artificially sweet and the balsamic cuts the sweetness with a nice tang...the "halva pistachio" holds on to the flavor of the nut and would be my #2, #3 would be a tie between the pina colada and the grapefruit with brown sugar. We also got the caramel-banana and the smore's donuts which were definitely good but those fruity flavors aren't found in your everyday donut and the flavor keeps standing out no matter how many donuts I eat. I keep eating more. I'm still eating. We blew through the 1/2 chicken pretty quickly (the donuts are still lingering on the counter) and I'm not a fried chicken seeker either. The glazed version wasn't sticky but thin & savory/sweet and the chicken inside the crispy coating kept the sweetness of the glaze. After this chicken I loooooooooove fried chicken. Well, maybe only Federal's. I have to credit the boo for finding and ordering from this place. He said donuts & fried chicken and I thought "you're fat and crazy"...but now I'm actually enjoying football...well I'm enjoying being fat and crazy.

    (5)
  • Zibby E.

    You've heard about this place for a while and have been meaning to go. A review isn't going to sway you either way. So go. And when you do, here are some things to keep in mind: 1. It's small and it's busy. So there's that. If you're not into that, maybe skip it. 2. If you're ordering chicken, you have to take a number TO ORDER. You get the number. You wait. They call your number. You order. You pay. You wait. Then you get your chicken. This is an unfamiliar ordering process for most of us. It can be upsetting to have routine disrupted and expectations unfulfilled; however, it's important to remain calm. You will eventually get chicken. The people helping you are very nice and would really like to furnish you with some chicken. Please don't be a dick. You're not going to change anything and everyone in there will just dislike you and who wants that? No one, that's who. 3. They very often run out of the fancy donuts early. Preparing oneself for this possibility may make it easier to accept if and when this occurs. 4. The chicken is ok. It's not life-changing. Honestly, is any food stuff life-changing? I mean, unless it's like wheat or milk or beef or you're starving or something. But it's pretty damn good. I liked Resurrection's better.

    (3)
  • Eric B.

    Worth the wait get there early the chicken is as good as the doughnuts and they both go fast

    (5)
  • Mike P.

    5 stars for the donuts, 3 stars for the chicken. Went at 9 AM on a Sunday, got 1 fig-on-fig, 1 indian cinnamon, and 1 strawberry rhubarb donut. The indian cinnamon was 1 of 3 donuts they make hot upon request, the other 2 were part of the pre made batch that runs out eventually. The hot donut was one of my favorite cake donuts ever -- moist, tasty, and the indian cinnamon spice complemented the donut flavor well. The fig-on-fig had a good subtle fig flavor. The strawberry rhubarb was good but a bit sweet for my taste. Returned at 11:45, got a number and waited until 12:20 for my half order of fried chicken with Zatar spice. The spices were ok but the chicken was dry. Compared to other fried chicken this one ranks medium-low on taste and high on hype. The staff here is really nice, crazy efficient. They manage to stay calm and keep lines moving amid the donut/chicken frenzy. Also while waiting for chicken they handed out hot donut samples. Would recommend the donuts, skip the fried chicken.

    (4)
  • Bruce B.

    The chicken is over rated. It's better from Acme. The donuts, even the fancy one's seem plain.

    (2)
  • Martha G.

    I knew I had to try this place after learning the Zahav owner is responsible for it. And once that NYTimes article hit the press, I needed to get here right quick. Well I came by on Sunday around 2 pm, hoping and praying there would still be chicken left. And there was! I think they must have upped their supply, cause he suggested that selling out of chicken by 5 pm on a weekend was early. It belies what the reviews say, and what the NYT article said, about the demand for chicken, but alas, I got my chicken. Half Za'atar; half chile garlic. Oh em gee. Amazing! The chili garlic tasted a little like buffalo wings, and a little like general tso's chicken, but not quite...and was obviously 100 million times better than either of the two. The za'atar was dry rubbed, and also amazing. The lemon flavor really stood out. Although fried, neither was overpowered with breading; you got a lot of meat. And the meat was moist as ever, at that. I couldn't decide which was my favorite, so I guess I'll have to come back for a second taste test. We also tried two of the three regular donuts - appolonia spice and the cinnamon one. They threw in a lavendar for free! Win. All were delicious, and as everyone has said, the donut itself is light, fluffy, moist, but also substantive, dense...and when served piping hot, it just melts in your mouth. They also threw in two plain donuts with our chickens... Is that regular practice?? Totally worth the money, which isn't really much. I want to come here every day.

    (5)
  • Jose A.

    Came back for the chicken... Let me see how I can put this. Hypothetically, say all of Philadelphia were burning to the ground. I'd grab a bucket and try to keep the flames away from fed donuts as my house and all possessions turned to ash. I got the dry rub za'atar, unbelievable great spice mix, really crunchy outside and nice moist on the inside. Also ordered the vanilla lavender donut... hot is definitely the way to go. I scurried away around the corner and chowed down suspiciously eyeing any passerby who might be lured to swipe my food. Not kidding at all when I say this is my favorite place in philly. I guess there are negatives, the guys in front of me took forever to order. And it's kind of a madhouse and can be a wait to order in such a cramped tiny space. But I mean why complain about waiting 10 minutes for perfection?

    (5)
  • Vivian T.

    The donuts were delicious!! I got the daily specials so it was freshly fried and rolled in cinnamon and sugar. super yummy. The chicken were a little disappointing. I was number 14 since they do not start taking orders until noon. I got a half a chicken order with chili-garlic glaze. It was not as crispy or yummy as the hype was. I thought it was kind of dry and not that good. the best part of the whole chicken ordering ordeal was that it came with a fresh yummy tart tasting donut (probably some lemon glaze). Summary: go for the donuts but the chicken is nothing special. Maybe the dried topping on the chicken is better than the wet glaze and I will try that next time.

    (3)
  • Mark S.

    I have a deal with myself: if I run for a couple hours Saturday mornings, I can get a half dozen Federal donuts. So far, this deal is working out awesome. They sell out early, so it's perfect incentive to get me out of bed on Saturdays and into my running shoes. The promise of the hot, fresh donuts keeps me moving -- and I always get a couple fancy ones for later. This place gets hyped, but believe it -- everything's even better than reported.

    (5)
  • Jim H.

    I mean this in the most positive and reverent way when I say that some day at my funeral, the words that will be spoken in hushed tones by everyone, will be ," spicy peanut chocolate donut".

    (5)
  • Catherine W.

    I've tried the donuts at Federal Donuts on a couple of occasions now, and haven't been particularly impressed. Maybe I'm wrong, but it seems that every donut is made from the same base donut dough. I guess that I was hoping for more flavor in the actual dough. It's all been kind of blah. I'd eat it again, but wouldn't go out of my way. I've had better at Frangelli's, where the donuts are cheaper.

    (2)
  • Christian M.

    This review is about the fried chicken. The donuts were really good, but I don't really review donut places. These situations infuriate me, I almost gave it two stars before realizing I was indulging irrational negativity toward how badly this place had been overrated, and by whom. The people crowding into this tiny little space and standing in line forever to get fried chicken at a place that made only fried chicken and donuts were clearly in love with the bullshit gestalt of all that. They were going to love the chicken no matter what. But the chicken wasn't that good. We ordered a wet one and a dry one. On the dry one, the skin was nice and crisp, but it was way over-seasoned, and the meat was almost dry. On the wet one, the wet sauce had turned the crispy skin into unpalatable mush. It was also almost dry. The chicken itself was not flavorful, and not especially tender. That's it, mediocre chicken, even if you were checking out Modest Mouse in tiny venues fifteen years ago, the chicken is still not that good. Get over yourself. Never trust a fried chicken place filled only with white people. Yeah, but anyway, like I said, the donuts were fine.

    (3)
  • Isaac H.

    Federal donuts is the pinnacle of tasty, impractical and seemingly fatty food in Philadelphia. With their array of fancy donuts, Federal gets really creative with things you never heard in the same sentence as donut. Things like raspberry vinnegrette, caramel banana, s'mores, pistachio and a load more. The chicken is quite scrumptious. With glazed and dry rub varieties with different flavoring and seasoning, there's at least one you'll like. My favorite was the honey ginger glaze. For $9 you get a good amount of chicken, although I only go for occasional chicken and donut splurges. The regular donuts are great; usually hot and fresh fr only $1.50 and $6 for half a dozen. Overall. GO TO FEDERAL DONUTS NOW!

    (5)
  • Blayer P.

    I live really close so it's hard not to go to Federal Donuts everyday. The coffee is amazing. The donuts are delicious. The chicken will change your life. If your concerned about the crowd, try getting there early if you want a fancy donut.

    (5)
  • Rob F.

    First, the process: Arrived at 11:20, had coffee and a donut, got first number at 11:45, got my chicken at 11:55. Service was friendly. They only serve 80 chickens a day starting at noon. Suposedly their limiting factor is how many chickens they can brine overnight, but this problem could be served by just getting kosher chicken, which is already brined. I suspect that they have just realized that the fake scarcity increases the value of the product. Now, the food. Donuts: If you like cake donuts, the simple $1.25 ones are better than most, especially when hot. However, they lack the snappy texture of a truly great cake donut and the fancy $2 donuts compound thje problem with heavy glazes and fillings. The coffee was first rate Chicken: First of all, this chicken is actually overbrined. A bonus of overbrining your chicken is that you can cook it fall-off-the-bone tender without drying it out. The downside is that it can begin to take on the texture of lunchmeat. This was right on the edge. Being Korean style, this chicken is not breaded with a secret blend of 11 herbs and spices. It's more like Buffalo wings which at most might be dusted with flour. Cooked fresh to order in hot oil, there is not a hint of grease clinging to the bird. I had mine tossed with Za'atar seasoning blend, which could have used some salt. And something about the dry spices just tasted like...dry spices. It didn't meld. I suspect the glazes work better. Bottom Line: I've had better Korean fried chicken and I prefer American fried chicken anyway. However, this chicken is unique in Philly and they do a good job with it. I might go back to try the glaze.

    (3)
  • Kamilah B.

    So after all of the hype, I finally made it to this place. Service was ok. I tried the Banana, the watermelon/cucumber and one more that i cannot remember. I didn't really like any of them. I said I would go back to try the chicken and was told that that is not worth it. However, I was also told that the hot donuts are waaaaay better. So, if I'm in the neighborhood...

    (2)
  • Vera D.

    I was not a fan of this. The donuts was dense and it wasnt too flavorful. But again, I'm not a fan of donuts and I prefer to have my donuts airy. Great service though.

    (2)
  • Lora L.

    Addictive. I went the 1st day I arrived and by the time I left I had to go again. Smelled up the plane with my take out & I completely did not care...would totally do it again. 1st thing you should know is that this is as much a chicken place as it is a donut place. And the donuts are cake based. Coffee by PT's Roasters & a Strawberry Lavender Donut is a super respectable b'fast...but if you stopped here for a coffee & donut in the morning you will be missing out on the chicken experience so it's best to go around 11 for lunch - you beat the crowd, it's not too late for coffee and you can grab lunch w/ a donut to go for that late afternoon boost that you may want. The wings are the full 2 part jointed kind so 1/2 dozen is plenty for one person. The Shabazzi dry rub style turned out to be my fave but the chili garlic glaze was delicious as well - just messier. You get some sliced pickles & a regular donut w/ 1/2 dozen wings and boy does that go well together....must be the sweet / savory thing kinda like chicken n waffles. Mmmm, I wish I was going some time soon... Oh and the people at the Sansom location were super cool!

    (5)
  • Whiz D.

    Thought this place was a little overrated. I've been to Pies & Thighs in Williamsburg, NY and thought it was leaps and bounds better.

    (3)
  • Julia K.

    After reading all the excellent reviews, I had to try this place for myself. Sweet Jesus, it was amazing, and I'm sorry I didn't know about it sooner. I went with the pickiest eaters alive, my twin fourteen-year-old cousins. One of them doesn't even like pizza, for pete's sake - I can never take them anywhere. But I picked them up from the orthodontist's office, told them about the option for fresh hot donuts and fried chicken, and the said, "OK, Julie, I guess we can try it... as long as it's not some weird combo of Dunkin' Donuts and KFC." Cut to an hour later, when we were in the car, on our way to the museum (yes, I really know how to entertain 14-year-old boys): "I think those were seriously the best plain donuts I've ever eaten in my life." The counter staff was helpful and friendly. We ordered, sat down at the counter, and the wait wasn't long at all. About 5 minutes later, our donuts were ready, and they looked and smelled so amazing we jumped on them. They lasted about 30 seconds, and then we got the buttermilk fried chicken - seriously, the best I've ever had. Then, as if all that goodness weren't enough (a whole chicken, extra donuts and drinks for 3 of us was about $22!) the guy behind the counter said, "ok, you each need an extra donut. What'll it be? It's on me." He recommended the Strawberry Rhubarb special donut and it was the best donut in the world. Delicious, cake-y, light, and the glaze was ... well, it was Scrumptious! I haven't been this happy after eating lunch in a loooong time. Do yourself a favor and get your ass here. OR, make sure your colleagues love you for life and show up with a box of these babies for your office some morning.

    (5)
  • Mildred B.

    Yum, who doesn't love fried chicken and donuts? The first time I heard about this place were from teachers in my school talking about it but I just thought it was a mythical place because the name was never brought up. I forget how I found the name but it doesn't matter because donuts. I've tried all the fresh donuts here and it's so good on a winter's day (as I reminisce in July). Hot cakey donuts covered in crunchy flavored sugar. Also, their coffee is pretty good. If you want fancy donuts, go there early; I like a lot of them, but some are misses (I had a surprise half-dozen and didn't know any of the flavors but one of them was covered in a deep-red glaze, and that was the only one I didn't like). Onto fried chicken...also try that. I had it plain just to see what it was like and it was one of the best breakfasts I've had. The honey donut that comes with it was really good, but you can't get any to go. I would get a dozen honey donuts. The pickle was nice to look at. The cashier was a sweetie and this place can get crowded at times with little seating but it's worth it.

    (5)
  • Danni S.

    After months of anticipation, I finally got to Federal Donuts. And man, did they deliver. Every expectation I had set was blown away. The shop itself is perfect, with counter seating and a giant cold coffee drip contraption. I went on a Thursday around noon which was perfect timing; we got to sample the donuts and fried chicken! We ordered Indian Cinnamon and Lavender Vanilla donuts. They came out piping hot and were the most scrumptious thing ever (next to the chicken, that is). My only complaint, and it is incredible slight, is that I wish there was a stronger lavender flavor in that donut. (Its one of my favorite flavors). Next up was the chicken! We tried the Harissa. Holy cow! It was so frickin' good. The spice was perfect. The chicken was moist and not greasy at all. Just finger lickin' good. The chicken comes with house-made Japanese pickles which were light, spicy and awesome. I literally haven't stopped thinking about this meal. Mmmmmhhmmm.

    (5)
  • RT R.

    I'm a fan because the donuts are just exquisite - I can still remember the lavender and cinnamon flavors. The coffee is good too. We didn't try the chicken, but I'd like to go back for that. The only downside - its so tiny that you have wait, and also I found the some of the staff a bit too preoccupied in their own conversation.

    (4)
  • Jeremy L.

    By chance we enter Federal Donuts while out walking on a Sunday morning, unaware that we have stumbled right into the 11:45 event horizon separating exotic doughnut time and fried chicken (and exotic doughnut) time. The air is tense with anticipation, and fear. A morbidly obese couple is forced to wait outside with their doughnuts until the fried chicken distribution begins. They eye us with suspicion and whisper between themselves: "Are they trying to parlay a doughnut order into preemptive poultry? Surely they would be shot by the guards!" The official behind the counter explains the details of the chicken rationing to the addicts in line - each adult is permitted to place one half-order consisting of four pieces: split breast, thigh, and drumstick. A 400 pound man trembles with sweat. A stern young woman in jackboots walks the line for fried chicken orders, handing out tickets. No one is smiling except the children, seemingly too young to know better. Fearing retribution from the chicken junkies we limit our order to doughnuts and leave. The doughnuts were excellent. I can't imagine how good the fried chicken must be.

    (5)
  • Jessica M.

    SO GOOD. I'll be dreaming about this place, and I can't wait to come back to try other types of fried chicken! We got there at about 12:15 on a Saturday, and by 12:30 the place was packed. Just in time! We ordered all 3 hot fresh donuts, and the mango chili and pomegrante nutella fancy donuts. We also got 1/2 fried chicken, dry, with the harissa spice. I have a fancy donut place near my house, but they don't do the hot fresh donuts-- these were really something special. Reminded me of the homemade donut holes my babysitter used to make, specifically the indian cinnamon. I wasn't crazy about the chili mango-- the mango sweetness totally overpowered any heat for me. In retrospect, I was most impressed by the fried chicken. It was really excellent! The harissa spice wasn't overwhelmingly hot, the chicken was hot and juicy, and the skin perfectly crispy. The donuts might be a novelty, but that chicken was no joke, and tops my list of best ever-- and fried chicken was one of my favorite foods!

    (5)
  • Mike L.

    I thoroughly enjoy chicken + waffles, and let me tell you - the half sibling to this delicious combo, chicken + donuts, is just as satisfying. I have had my fair share of fried chicken, and these guys are doing it right. Go with the basic donuts. 'Fancy donuts' is code for 'loaded with sugar donuts.' The coffee is also very good. Pike place doesn't hold a candle to the 8 hour brew jawn.

    (5)
  • Jackie T.

    This is a small place with just a few seats so it might be best to get take out if you can. Although the line may be out the door, the service is pretty fast. The hot doughnuts are good and wholesome while the fancy are unexpectedly delicious. My favorite was the pomegranate nutella - mmmm mmm good! They have several flavors for the chicken - the dry was VERY crunchy yet still moist. The chili-garlic glaze is hot hot hot. We'll definitely be back!

    (4)
  • Jennifer L.

    DOOOONUUUUTTTSSS most of Philly has been reduced to Homer Simpson status when someone even utters the word Federal Donuts. I am one of them. I've been dying to try this place since it opened its doors. When I was recovering after surgery all social media was a buzz with FedNuts. All I wanted was a donut, I would have settled for just one little morsel, but I knew I had to wait until I was better. Yesterday I finally got the chance to indulge! Normally places don't live up to the hype, but FedNuts has surpassed all of the hype! It is one righteous establishment! Quick Summery of the deliciousness I've tried: Hot The Appollonia was the first donut I tried from FedNuts and I made sure to savor every bite. Warm and delicious you can't go wrong. Fancies Pina Colada- it's oh so tropical, it made me feel like I was on vacation Caramel-Banana ,Love this combo, simple yet delicious Passionfruit Poppy Very unique and I just had a passionfruit last week, and the taste is spot on. This may be my favorite. Shh don't tell the others. Chocolate-Spicy Peanut, amazing, I want this to be offered as a bar snack at every bar in the city! Spicy, salty, peanuts and chocolate, but a donut at the same time? Someone figured out the key to my heart... I love them all so much, I'm so happy I don't live in South Philly because I'd be eating there way too often!

    (5)
  • Hunter F.

    Usually I try to put a little more creativity into these reviews, but all that is going through my mind is how mind-blowingly delicious the Harissa Chicken is. Like most people, the first time I visited Federal Donuts I left empty handed. The online buzz surrounding the grand opening resulted in a depletion of donuts by 9am and chickens by 12:15pm. However, I had more luck the last three times I have visited. The donuts are all great, especially the fresh, hot options (my wife says the Vanilla Lavender is the best...hard to argue). But the chickens are, soundly, the best I have ever eaten. The chile-garlic glazed was the perfect balance of sweet and spicy and perfectly tender. Its reign as the best chicken I had ever tasted lasted for about four minutes, when I tasted the Harissa. Slightly smokey with just the right amount of spice, and the crispiest skin! Perfection! Fringe benefit: when you order a chicken, they serve it broken down in to parts so you do not have to tear at it like a savage.

    (5)
  • Erin F.

    Um Federal Donuts is the best. The coffee is always hot and tasty, the staff is hot and tasty, the donuts are beyond delicious. Props to key lime, coconut pineapple and pomegranate glazed - I'm addicted and wish I could eat them every morning. Mike has said "I don't think it's smart to keep eating donuts". Too bad he's wrong. I can't say much for the chicken since I don't eat animals with feet or claws, but one time I may or may not have snuck out a piece of glazed Korean-style fried chicken out of a restaurant that may or may not be the home of one of the masterminds behind FD and I may or may not have woken my significant other up from his slumber and forced him to eat it and he may or may not have said it was the best fried chicken he's ever had. And Elizabeth B. and I may or may not have agreed to try the chicken in secret but that's neither here nor there. I love FD and I wish it was closer but the distance won't keep me away, even on late mornings such as this one when I knew that there was a slim chance of procuring a few tasty fancies. When it's FD it's always worth a shot.

    (5)
  • Howard L.

    Donuts are great. Im generally a fan of cake style donuts. My preference is the fresh hot plain donut. I was told the chicken was PHENOMENAL, but it's only slightly better then good. If you've had Cafe Soho in the northeast, then you'd probably agree with me. If I had a choice to go out of my way for korean style fried chicken, it'd be Soho everytime. It's nice that it gets busy, which means the food is good, but I feel they're artifically creating a demand by supplying little.

    (4)
  • Martha R.

    Had the hot donuts this morning. Appollonia and Vanilla Lavender. Hot and yummy. The flavors were perfect. Loved them both equally. Can't wait to go back and try more. This place is cute, the staff was friendly, service fast. I agree, tables outside at some point would be nice. Thank god it is just far enough away from my home that I don't go there twice a day and spend all my time eating donuts. Hopefully I can try the chicken soon. Philadelphia needs more places like this. Really good casual food that isn't pizza, hoagies or cheese steaks.

    (5)
  • Eleanor M.

    Man, these Dougnuts are off the hook,

    (4)
  • Lakara B.

    Long trip for minimal satisfaction. To start... Federal sells two of my favorite foods. I LOVE donuts. I LOVE fried chicken. How could this be any less enjoyable than a free trip to DisneyWorld? My six year old nephew was off from school for some unknown occasion, so we decided to go on an adventure. It was my understanding that chicken tickets were given out beginning at 10:45 (which made sense to me since the normal lunch rush is between 11am and 1pm), so we arrived around 10:30, appetites whetted. Fail. Chicken tickets aren't available until 11:45. I was slightly turned off by the very matter of fact "chicken's not til 11:45" response I received, rather than a mildly apologetic & explanatory "I'm sorry but our chicken isn't ready until noon," but I didn't come all that way for nothing (nephew lives in Cheltenham), so, we decided to order donuts. Double fail. Federal Donuts are fancy. I had no prior knowledge of the menu, and came in with visions of some fantastically hefty, "old fashioned," "authentic" boston cream doughnut (yes, what i envisioned was a doughnut, not a donut) blessing my mouth and belly, and nephew just wanted a simple chocolate donut. We sat down to eat our donuts (Appolonia Spice for me, chocolate raspberry for the little one), as I debated in my head whether or not I was willing to wait an hour for the chance to buy chicken. The decision was made for me, as we were in the way of the people trying to put cream and sugar in their coffee, plus it began to get uncomfortable in the small space as more people trickled in to wait for chicken tickets. (You try hanging out in a silent room full of people with a 6yo.) Ultimately, I thought my donut was pretty tasty, but after one bite, nephew decided to put his away "for later." He never even thought about that donut again, except to decline it when I offered it as an afternoon snack. I can't offer an opinion because I am repulsed by all things raspberry and didn't taste it. As much as I wanted to love Federal Donuts, and wanted to adore the experience, the highlight of the day was nephew's excitement at seeing the NBCPhiladelphia van outside because we arrived as the Ten Show was wrapping. Still mad I missed the chicken.

    (2)
  • YelpHatesMe Y.

    These guys should really consider changing their name to Federal Yeah, We're Out of That. NEVER been here when they actually have donuts. Could you imagine walking into Wawa and they're out of coffee or walking into Dominoes and they're "out of pizza"? Well, this is no different. I shouldn't walk into a donut shop and be constantly told they're out of donuts. Maybe I'll go back in a few months when they (if ever) get their act together and actually have donuts. Till then a donut shop that never seems to have donuts - gets 1 star, sorry.

    (1)
  • Ky T.

    Nothing special about their donuts. I tried a variety and would have to say I prefer dunkin donuts. Their fried chicken was simply overpriced and not good. Sorry but I probably won't be returning for a while

    (2)
  • Angela S.

    Just. So. Good. So good. I've only had the Za'atar because it's just so amazing but I can't wait to try the glazed flavors. The hot donuts are the BEST and the iced coffee is great. Go on a Monday and you won't wait at all.

    (5)
  • Aruna A.

    So I recently went back, and the pomegranite nutella tahina and and the Apollina Spice are easily my favorite ever. They are AMAZING!

    (5)
  • James G.

    Well, well, well, I've finally made it to Federal Donuts. Wake up on a Sunday morning, after a lengthy night out consuming multiple adult beverages, and say "let's go get some donuts". Sunday morning has always had a spot in my heart for donuts because that's what I always did as a kid--got donuts on Sunday. I've followed Federal Donuts on twitter for quite a while now; I've read about their donut robot, their dilemmas, triumphs and their sell-outs. I needed to try this place. Little did I know that a donut trip at 11am on a Sunday morning would result in delicious food for the rest of the afternoon. The donuts were delicious. The pomegranate-nutella to the obscure creamsicle donut were the two 'fancy donuts' we tried, I was a huge fan of both. I was more of a fan of their simple 'hot fresh' selection, appollonia and indian cinnamon. The 'hot fresh' donuts are where it's at, simple, hot and fluffy, yet very solid--probably great for dunkin' in coffee, but I'm not 75 years old. On to the real stuff, the chicken. The fried chicken was out-of-control. We opted to get one dry and one glazed order. Our dry order was the buttermilk ranch, which had a great balance of flavor, I was worried it would be too 'ranchy', that wasn't the case, it was a perfect ratio of buttermilk batter to ranch seasoning. The real flavor was the chile-garlic. This has to be my favorite glaze of absolutely anything that has been in my mouth, whether it be ribs, a burger, a friggin salad or even calamari, this glaze would be perfect on almost anything. The spice-to-sweetness ratio was near perfect, a little on the spicy side, so, if you're sensitive don't get it. I'm going to stop writing now because it's making me too damn hungry. Oh yeah, they sell out really fast so get there ASAP. FYI, they will be opening a new spot in center city soon. I also took off one star because it's too damn small in their current store front and they also ran out of iced coffee at 1130 am on a Sunday. A few kinks to work out in regards to fulfilling demand and this place will be a fried chicken and donut dynasty.

    (4)
  • Mike C.

    Donuts are decent (but honestly taste more like fried dough than a donut), but are WAY overhyped and overpriced. I guess it gets the advantage of unique flavors, but the true sign of good donuts is when the basic plain ones taste outstanding, which does not happen here. But I guess this day in age, where the nearest donut competitor is Dunkin Donuts, anything seems great. I much prefer old-school classic donuts, like at Beilers in RTM, or at Shady Maple Farm Market out in Lancaster County. To each their own I guess.

    (3)
  • Powell A.

    Two weeks later, and they are now making enough donuts so that you can enjoy them while waiting for your chicken at lunch. Don't let the lunch lines scare you. Take a number to get served in the chicken line - it moves quickly

    (5)
  • Brett D.

    The hotties are the best. The specials are alright. Banana cream would be my groups favorite. Generally dry doughnuts.

    (3)
  • Charles B.

    not sure what was better here, the cold brewed coffee, the doughnuts, or watching the silly doughnut crazed yuppies sacrifice their childs safety to shove pomegranate glazed bites down their gullets Poor girl got handed a hot doughnut straight out of the fryer (deliciously spiced w apple and cinnamon) and she immediately started crying after realizing how hot the doughnut was, BUT SHE WOULDNT LET GO BC SHE KNEW HOW DELICIOUS THE DOUGHNUT IS!!! seriously it was sad watching her cry but it all worked out after i got my belly full of key lime, chocolate-raspberry, nutella and pomegranate doughnuts. I thought the cold brewed coffee was unique and amazing. I haven't gotten to the chicken yet, and regret I didn't wait because there was no one there. Soon enough. If your like me and hate lines (and people for that matter) this is the place you stay away from on the weekends, nothing could ever be worth that (see Sunday brunch at Parc, Saturday night at any old city club)

    (4)
  • Yevgeniy D.

    Best donuts I've ever tried. Didn't like donuts before but this place changed my mind. It's rich and flavorful, not as "empty" and over-sweetened as DD. Chicken deserves 4.5 stars. They say that they use a Korean style fried chicken double frying technique. It's great but not quite as good as "original" Korean fried chicken. It's a bit too dry to my taste. And I was surprised that they don't divide the wing like most other places do but rather fry/serve the whole wing. But the chicken was worth to try.

    (5)
  • Chadd B.

    What can I say about federal donuts. Just reviewing this place makes me want to go out and grab a donut. I can't speak about the chicken because I've never had it but the donuts are some of the best I have ever had. There is a wide variety of different kinds and they are always made fresh. Ignore any negativity you have heard about this place (as if there even could be any) and stop in for some of the best donuts you have ever had. You won't be disappointed.

    (5)
  • Bonnie J.

    The fried chicken! The donuts! The fried chicken! Where to begin? First off, the za'atar fried chicken was the most delicious fried chicken I've ever had in my life. The white meat was juicer than most dark meet. The chicken was perfectly seasoned so that I didn't have seasoning all over my fingers but every bite still had amazing flavor. The vanilla lavender donuts are scrumptious. I didn't realize just how much of a treat piping hot donuts are in comparison to donuts that have sat on a rack for god-knows-how-long at dunkin donuts. My only complaint (that is so minor that it doesn't warrant a docked star) is that I wish there was more seating! I want to eat the donuts and chicken IMMEDIATELY but I always have to wait until I walk back home because there isn't enough seating in the restaurant.

    (5)
  • Melissa V.

    All donuts should be this good! We had the blueberry muffin flavor.

    (5)
  • Jenn J.

    I am by no means a doughnut lover, especially not plain, but WOW! Just the plain doughnut that came with the chicken was so amazing. And to think, I almost didn't eat it. Can't wait to go back!

    (4)
  • Meghan K.

    I go here after church on Sundays, and let me tell you, its really as good as it gets. Hot coffee (good coffee) fresh steaming donuts and fried chicken that melts in your mouth. Couldnt ask for much more on a Sunday morning. I recommend this place to anyone who enjoys a good coffee and donut, but wants that little extra attention to how its prepared and made. This makes Krispy Kreme and DD look like amatures. And the fried chicken....well it mostly speaks for itself....

    (5)
  • PP F.

    AHHHHH fried chicken and donuts!!! 2 of my favorite foods all in one place!!! The chili garlic chicken had just the right amount of kick. Great flavor and very saucy. A bit messy but that's what wet naps are for. Had a bite of the buttermilk ranch chicken as well. It's like the southern version of Korean fried chicken. Loved the vanilla lavender and Indian cinnamon donuts. When you first break apart that first piece, you can just watch the steam seep out and breathe in that lovely scent. It's a moment... so slow down and enjoy it. There's also cold brewed coffee that's perfect with the donuts. Can't wait to try the fancy donuts!

    (4)
  • Jim H.

    This guy has found the perfect time/temperature to deep fry chicken. Amazingly moist. Buttermilk flavor was ok but did not distract. Fresh donuts melt in your mouth day old still taste better than any donut you'd find anywhere else.

    (5)
  • Andrea S.

    Love this place! my boyfriend and I were at an event on Columbus and wanted to check out some area places. He wasn't sure he wanted to go, but we were glad we did! The hot donuts are amazing and the chicken was fabulous! We got the chili-garlic glaze, awesome! Sure to be back soon!

    (5)
  • Matthew H.

    Visited today for donuts and chicken. Both were delicious! The dill pickle glazed chicken was amazingly crisp and tasty. The donuts we ate while we were waiting on our chicken. Well worth the one-hour drive from Doylestown!

    (5)
  • Anthony P.

    Great chicken and donuts. Prices are reasonable and the staff is friendly. Only bad thing is if you are not there early you will not get chicken. So get there early and wait it is worth it

    (4)
  • Diana K.

    We came, we saw the "sold out" sign, we came back, we saw the "sold out" sign again. Why must the rest of Philadelphia come between me and my donut/fried chicken obsession? The only good thing to result from this boomerang trip into Pennsport was a tasty sample my boyfriend and I scored when he ignored the "sold out" sign and went in anyway. The staff gave us advice on planning future visits and offered a sample from some odd-and-ends pieces that couldn't be sold. It was a crunchy-friend, dusted in Za'atar spice, and juicy. It was even better drizzled with honey. I can't wait to try the Korean friend chicken glazed varieties. I will return for more chicken and a shot at those donuts. FYI, they serve donuts from 7:30-11:30 AM. At noon, they turn over the oil to fry up the chicken (no more donuts after that).

    (3)
  • Ro S.

    I love fried chicken and this place has some awesome fried chicken. I'd say it is now #2 on my all-time favorite fried chicken places after Uncle Remus' Chicken in Chicago.

    (5)
  • matthew s.

    Wow! This place is so worth your visit. For take home chicken or take out donuts... you've got to go to Federal Donuts! Out of the way place in south philly. So, if you don't have a car and aren't running or biking to South Philly (about 1 mile south of south street),don't bother going or go to their other location. BUT, if you have a car and have a 2nd person to sit in the car while you go into to pick up your order... you're golden. Parking's lousy in the area so you need the 2nd person to sit in your car while you double park at the hydrant next door. The chicken is pieces like split breasts, thighs or legs (wings are a separate item). The chicken either comes plain or with one of two dry rubs, or one or two "glazes" which are wet sauces put on. We tried one dry rub and tried one glaze; both were terrific. Donuts come plain, simple, or fancy (Simple is $1.25, fancy are $2.00 each). Simple are basically flavored sugared- I had Vanilla Jasmine) and fancy are fancy iced ($2.00 each- we had one oreo, toffee, pB chocolate, and others). The simple are simply sugared donuts which are terrific... They come served hot, and are probably a better deal than the fancy, which are also terrific, although not served warm. Take 'em home and nuke 'em for 15 minutes. If you like iced donuts than the fancy ones are for you. If you are leaving town and need a breakfast fix (really good anytime) or want chicken to go...then definitely stop by. You can eat at this sparsely decorated, tiny restaurant, but I would recommend it for takeout. Since the place is so small, the people waiting to take food ended up standing over the shoulder of the few diners. Staff was very helpful with the options. Really loved it here. A unique and delicious place.

    (5)
  • mike v.

    Very good. I have definitely downgraded this place since I discovered Bieler's in Reading Terminal, which is at least 10 times as good and half the price. However, the fresh hots at FEDNUTS are special. Amazing. Their fancy donuts suck. The chicken is pretty good, not amazing.

    (3)
  • Loy G.

    yes, donuts are the new cupcakes. and I'm a fan of fed nuts' chicken and donuts.. uh, well sort of... every donut on the menu sounds delicious. so, I ordered one of each. the fancy donuts are nothing to write home about. honestly, the hot fresh donuts are half the price of their fancy brethren but twice as good. the hot fresh donuts are just that. simple flavors win out when it comes to the donuts here. the complimentary plain donut that comes with an order of fried chicken was actually my favorite along with the indian cinnamon. so on to the "korean-style" chicken. don't expect bonchon chicken with a side of pickled daikon radish because you will be sorely disappointed. The glazes at fed nuts make the chicken a sloppy soggy mess. don't get me wrong, the dry seasoned chicken wings are great but those glazed monstrosities just ruined my experience! the "korean-style" chicken here is like saying "maryland-style" crabcakes or when any restaurant claims "new york-style" anything. you're just setting yourself up for disappointment. anyways... go to fed nuts but stick to the hot fresh donuts and don't expect bonchon.

    (3)
  • A T.

    Great coffee, delicate and simply delicious doughnuts, very friendly service.

    (4)
  • Steve F.

    If your gonna do fried chicken, u minas well do it right. Never have I ever seen so many varieties... Tried the Buttermilk Ranch and Harrissa dry rubs; would recommend both.. The honey donut was also "amazing" as promised. Was also a fan of the no frills ambiance.

    (4)
  • Bill T.

    Excellent donuts and chicken with unique flavor on the chicken do to the zaatar shami season....get the dry flavor and you will be hook. One thing, get there early because they do run out and once it's gone, you will be short!!!!!

    (4)
  • Benjamin E.

    When a place gets as much hype as this one, rarely does a plan to get exactly what you want workout so well. The plan was to time things so that we could show up at 1130, get a donut, wait to order chicken and then stuff our faces sharing two half chickens. We got the chocolate raspberry fancy donuts because they were the only ones left. Definitely the best jelly donut I've ever had, but it was not the donut I would have ordered if I had my choice. We then waited around 15 minutes, took our numbers and ordered. Another 15 minutes later we each had a box of fried chicken; harissa and chile garlic. The fried chicken is fantasticly crispy and not greasy at all. The harissa was exactly as promised, spicy but not hot and cooked perfectly. The chile garlic was saucy and intense. I was glad we opted to share because a full half chicken of chile garlic could overwork the palate. I cannot wait to come back.

    (4)
  • Ryan N.

    Maple bacon donut enough said...

    (5)
  • Sarah W.

    Oh. Mah. Gawd. Thank you for opening a location on Sansom. Now my girlfriends and I can convince ourselves that it is okay to eat many of your donuts as long as we run to them on the path. Way to encourage exercise and delicious, delicious gluttony!

    (5)
  • Scott F.

    This is a review of the donuts only. Haven't tried the fried chicken yet. Taking a few extra miles and minutes out of an early morning trip to NYC for the day, me and my friends decided we would try the much hyped Federal Donuts. I had been following the opening and rave reviews of this donut, coffee and fried chicken joint with much glee as it seemed like everyone was overjoyed by their experience.... my reaction was, well, pretty so-so. It was about a 20-30 minute wait as this is still the new buzzy eatery for early morning bites, but in the end this treat isn't worth venturing out of the way for. The "fancy" donuts are premade and left sitting on trays with no warming light to keep them soft and tasty so the end result of my chocolate raspberry order was a pretty cold offering. Don't get me wrong, it tasted good, but nobody really goes out of their way for cold donuts. On the other hand, if I do return I will stick to the "fresh" offerings on the menu that are hot and coated with their respective toppings when ordered. So overall there was enough of a mixed feeling that while I'd say you should try this place if you've been thinking about it, I wouldn't tell anyone to go out of their way for the donuts..... now, on to the chicken!

    (3)
  • Jennifer P.

    On our way to our New England road trip I had a chance to check this place out when we stayed in Philly for one night. DELICIOUS!! I had the Indian Cinnamon and the Vanilla Lavender and they were both fresh, warm and divine!!! My boyfriend had the mango chili donut and he did not enjoy his but he's also not a donut fan so I am not faulting Federal for that. Definitely check this place out. I only wish I was there after 11:45 so that I could have also tried the fried chicken.

    (4)
  • Sally f.

    CHILI MANGO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! you cant get that kinda shit at duncan. this is artisan.

    (5)
  • Amina C.

    Really nice. We went for the fourth time today and for some reason it was crazy busy and they'd run out of all the special donuts by 1 pm (Sat). We've gone previous Saturdays at later times and they hadn't run out of things so quickly, so who knows.

    (5)
  • Amy O.

    Great prices for some creative donuts. Wish we could have also tried the fried chicken as it seems to be famous around here. Loved the spicy PB and J donut.

    (5)
  • Kassi R.

    It's one thing if you are looking for a non-Dunkin Donuts option on the East Coast that delivers, but Federal Donuts really stepped it up a notch when they threw in some of the best Fried Chicken north of the Mason Dixon. The Za'tar spice for the chicken is a must try and the Appolonia Spice donuts were our favorites. If you're in Philly go to Federal Donuts, then the Mutter Museum.

    (5)
  • Tre F.

    So I'm attempting to avoid some bad interstate traffic.....get off the interstate and began to weave my way through various streets and accidentally came across a sign saying doughnuts and chicken. Now as a human being, how do you not like the idea of chicken and a doughnut. Two of Gods greatest creations!!! It was the Lord that sent me. So we stop in, but it's around 1 pm and there are several menu items missing. No chicken wings....certain doughnuts are gone....the place is losing it's luster. However, I order some random doughnuts and get a whole chicken. The flavors are really creative and the combinations of flavor are truly unique. For the record never been a cake doughnut fan (love Krispy Kreme, hate dunkin), but their doughnuts are really really good. The chicken had some kind of ranch seasoning that was pretty good. I don't like to give in to racial stereotypes, but as a black man, I consider myself a fried chicken aficionado. It's some pretty good chicken. Good texture, juicy, but not greasy. So I'm in a tough spot. If the food was not good, they would have plenty and would never run out. But since it's good, you may just wanna get up early and get in line like you are buying concert tickets. (People don't still do that, do they??? Internet???) This would be an amazing late night spot, but the city would have a major weight problem. Just work it off???

    (4)
  • Lisa C.

    We went to FedNuts on a Saturday afternoon, and I was thrilled that they still had chicken available! We ordered two half-orders: Za'atar and Buttermilk Ranch. Both were delicious and heavy on the rub and flavoring. The meat was juicy, and I think they achieved what they intended. As mentioned in other reviews, though, this is Korean-style chicken, and I have to admit I prefer the traditional approach with the buttermilk flavor. The pickles weren't up my alley so much, which is not to say that they weren't good for those who like the sweet and strongly flavored. Though the plain honey donut was as good as you could hope. For the flavored donuts, we tried the strawberry-rhubarb, pomegranate-Nutella, Appollonia, and Indian cinnamon (I think! They disappeared rather quickly.). All were good, though my favorite was the Appollonia--the perfect mix of sugar and spice (cocoa, spices, orange?). They were consistently moist and fresh, with a perfect cake-like texture and donut-level chewiness. Definitely wished that this place was closer for the morning donut pick-me-up! Four stars instead of five since the fancy donuts aren't cheap (for donuts--$2 each--which is not to say the quality's not worth it) and the Southern girl in me doesn't find fried chicken completely satisfactory without some kind of traditional side. (I know, I know! It's not the the place's mission! But still!)

    (4)
  • Alex Z.

    This review is just of the donuts. I've now sampled four different types of donuts here. Some of the flavors are quite unorthodox. One had sesame seeds and tahini in it, there was a key lime donut with something else in it. The most "boring" flavor was a plain chocolate-dipped donut. The donuts were solidly good, but failed to wow me. I've had much better from other independent donut shops throughout the U.S. But what really struck me was that the "interesting" flavors of donuts were not that interesting...the flavoring struck me as mild, dominated by the overall donut flavor. Contrast this with the now closed Burnside donuts of Lancaster, PA, which featured things that actually tasted unique and interesting, such as a maple-iced cinnamon swirl bun, that definitively tasted maple-y and cinnamon-y. Like many others, I think this place has been over-hyped. But...granted, I still have not yet tried their fried chicken.

    (4)
  • Meg B.

    Finally! I'm still in a donut coma from indulging in all of the scrumptious hot and fancies I sampled yesterday. I was also happy to finally see my good friend Blake working her magic on a Monday morning behind the counter. All three of the hots I sampled in the shop were so powerful in flavor and loved the light fluffy texture of them. We took to go a dozen fancies to the Phil's home opener and our friends could not stop picking and raving. Crowd favorites were the S'mores (of course) and Pistachio but all were enjoyed. Next up is trying the chicken and if they're even half as good as the donuts, I'll be a happy camper!

    (5)
  • Aly G.

    Friendly service and delicious unique donuts!!

    (5)
  • Tim P.

    I just wanted to get this visit over and done with. After reading all of the "God destroyed all other donuts after having a Federal donuts" reviews, I was sure that this place was over hyped... Well... Maybe I took my prior to visiting description a little too far... These are hands down the best donuts that I've had to date... I was looking forward to being disappointed that I waited til I got home to try them. I didn't want anyone to hear me cursing about wasting my $2 per donut money on just flour, yeast, and some watered down sugar icing.... Anyway, my favorite was the caramel banana. I don't think that I've ever taken the time before to identify every ingredient that I tasted in a donut. This was one awesome donut. Soft and pillow-like. The only thing missing was the banana peel and the caramel wrapper. I guess my favorite Amish fried donuts have been kicked down to #2...

    (5)
  • Chuck Z.

    Great chicken, great staff, mediocre donuts.

    (3)
  • Lauren C.

    Mmm... donuts.

    (5)
  • Joe B.

    After reading the glowing reviews here on Yelp, I was eager to try Federal Donuts. The place was clean and the service was friendly. I got one of nearly each type of donut. I was visiting my Mom that day, so I brought them over and split each one in half so I could try each flavor. Other than the Pina Colada and Pistachio-Halvah (the fancier $2 ones) I couldn't taste a substantial difference between the other 3. To read the reviews here, I expected more than what I got. Maybe my expectations were too high, but I just don't see what all the hype is about. It's just a friggin donut! I could go to any good bakery and find better. And for the price they charge, I really don't see the value. The fancy ones weren't worth $2. All said, a big let down. The little skeptic in my head makes me wonder if this is just a case of good (Yelp?) promotion by the owners. Most of the reviews on this site have been pretty accurate. In this case, there was a big disconnect between hype and reality. If you're creaming your jeans over these donuts, you need to get out more.

    (2)
  • Adina R.

    YUM! Yum. yum. Yeah, I'm a little late on the bandwagon after the New York Times has written about this place. Regardless, it was so delicious. I went with Martha G and another friend, so I had the chance to try 3 types of chicken -- Honey Ginger glazed, Zatar and Coconut Curry dry. While I loved the Zatar spices best (made me nostalgic for my first zatar exposure in Israel years ago), I think the glazed chickens are just so much more delicious. I can't wait to go back to try the Chile-Garlic glazed or whatever else they have on the menu. Also, this review would be incomplete if I didn't mention the donuts. I will say that I'm generally not a big donut person - I love them, they're fabulous, but to me however good they are, they're generally just not worth how bad they are for you. I'd rather have another piece of fried chicken. Ah, but here... the honey donut that comes with all the chicken is so good you can't not have it. And the Halvah donut I tried -- also delicious but nowhere near as good as the honey donut. I need to try the hot donuts which sound amazing -- or maybe I'll just have more chicken instead.

    (5)
  • Darnelle R.

    Soooo...I walk in and the girl at the counter recognizes me from our mutual friends, so that was cool. Then, the menu, simple. Coffee, Donuts, Chicken, that's it! There are several amazing rubs for the chicken and donuts which were all awesome! They are only open until they run out of product! So, you gotta plan to get there when they open. We didn't wait long at all. The place moved like a busy train station but, wasn't crowded at all. For $20.00 we got a half dozen donuts, 6 awesome wings and two cups of coffee. What a deal! We went on a sunday about 30 minutes after they opened! My new favorite place!!

    (5)
  • Jeff H.

    Federal Donuts is a total success and with their early sellouts they've kinda developed a cult rep. I've been there a few times so I guess you can def put me down as a fan too. However, I can't give it quite 5 stars despite the hype and my repeat appearances. The chicken is great quality but I think the seasonings need to be a little stronger. Harissa is a spice I'm into but the harissa chicken seems too weak on this flavoring. And in a way I feel the same about the donuts. Again great quality but today I got the vanilla lavendar hot donut and couldn't really taste much of any flavoring. If I didn't know what is was, I couldn't have told you for a million dollars if it had any flavoring or not or what the flavoring was. I'm pretty sure for both the chicken and the donuts the flavor/spices is the last thing added after they're deep fried. Up the flavoring a bit guys and I'll give you that 5th star.

    (4)
  • Steve R.

    Great fried chicken and donuts, but not worth the hassle. Never on time with the chicken, as least the two times I've been here and grab ass customer service. It's chaotic and disorganized...pretty frustrating when all you crave is hangover grease.

    (2)
  • Dharam P.

    Chicken was really small and was over seasoned. Don't know what all the hype is about.

    (1)
  • Paul G.

    Bomb fried chicken. Only tried the za'atar. Awesome hot donuts. Had all 3. Didn't try the specialties, but I have a feeling they are pretty awesome too.

    (5)
  • M L.

    I haven't had everything yet, but the fresh donuts are really very special. The chicken was good as well. Cold brew coffee! Delicious.

    (5)
  • Phil D.

    I'm an atheist. Major existential crisis: there are no atheists in Federal Donuts. OMFG.

    (5)
  • Parker S.

    good coffee...better donuts...best chicken. Federal Donuts is a simple place. Coffee, donuts, chicken, that's it. The coffee is simple but good. The donuts are delicious but sometimes they are a little too interesting for me. I'm a fan of your basic donut, which you can get here, but if you want to branch out and try some of the other styles they have some unique glazes (jalapeno, etc.) the chicken is straight up delicious.

    (5)
  • Caroline P.

    you catch a teasing whiff as you cross the street a woman outside whispers to you as you head for the door "grab a free sample...if they have any" you turn the knob, swing open the door and are doubly-greeted by the smiling faces of felicia and blake that wonderful aroma rushes you head-on (hello, pavlov) i was impressed by how 'tight' it is here - quite the model of efficiency...i swore i saw extra arms on those girls as they not only greeted customers by name and chatted, but poured coffee, served donuts, and prepped for the chicken-frenzy sure to come we sat ourselves down (thanks to jim h for the tip) and were treated to fresh hot appolonia spice and vanilla lavender donuts (mmmmmmmm donuts) those alone, which we enjoyed with a cup of really great coffee, would have made the trip worthwhile...but no, we were on a mission to.get.chicken. za'atar, harissa, chile garlic, honey ginger...how to choose?? yes, one of each to go please...buttermilk ranch, we'll get to you another time once the chicken was ready, blake suggested trying some while it was fresh and hot - so glad we listened - we built a wall of chicken boxes, hunkered down and shared a piece of each flavor...i would be hard-pressed to say which i loved best - the chicken is phenomonal; crispy and juicy and so, so flavorful... ps it is even great cold...loved the pickles too - thanks blake : ) we also took a box of fancy 'nuts home to share - (choc spicy pnut, lemon poppy, white choc rasp, key lime, pom nutella tehina, apple walnut...next time, i am coming for you blood orange) - as proof to our fellow suburbanites that the umbilical cord does indeed stretch as far as pennsport

    (5)
  • K. A. N. A. K.

    This food is wizardry. The half-order chicken was delightfully plump from extra crispy batter and perfectly moist meat. And the grapefruit and brown sugar donut was worthy of being a favorite, with refreshingly sweet/citrusy glaze and fresh cake.

    (5)
  • Mason L.

    I have to say that I was really impressed with this place. I had heard about it here on Yelp and decided I should try it. I ordered the ranch fried chicken and the indian cinnamon donut and both were very good. I also had what I would call their plain donut and it was delicious. The donuts were moist and warm and extremely tasty and were probably the best I have ever had. The chicken was tender and moist and also delicious. The only downside to this place is the size. The restaurant is very small and there is very little seating. The seating is diner style, stools at a counter. This would be a great place for takeout, which they do. Overall I would definitely recommend going here. I would also recommend going early as they tend to sell out fairly quickly in the mornings.

    (5)
  • D L.

    Came in on the morning of Valentine's Day expecting a zoo, but it was pleasantly calm. No wait, and room at the counter. Score! The Indian cinnamon donuts are sinfully good. I could eat nothing but those and be a very happy man. The "fancy" donuts, while also tasty as hell, were--in my opinion--less earth shattering than the hot donuts. I tried the Halva Pistachio (yum, with that unique sesame flavor), the Raspberry Balsamic (neat mix of sweet and sour, but a bit cloying), and Banana (way too sweet for me). The coffee was fantastic and did a nice job at modulating the sweetness of the donuts. Definitely coming back.!

    (4)
  • Jacqui S.

    I actually went here today with my husband because he heard about this place on the radio. When I first arrived, I wasn't sure and I was a little unwilling to even try it, but after biting into the first piece I was sold. The chicken is so juicy, savory, and crispy. I haven't had chicken like that in years. It reminds me of the south actually. The reason why I gave it four stars is because I thought it was a little too salty, but otherwise it is pretty amazing chicken. The donuts were okay, but I didn't go there for donuts, I went there for the chicken and I was pleased. Yummy.

    (4)
  • Anna P.

    i ventured here after a day already full of eating and drinking, just for a "little snack" - promising myself i wasn't hungry and so i would be a good girl and just have a little bite of whatever donuts my girlfriends decided to order. that went out the window in about 2 seconds, as soon as i smelled the delectable scent of fried dough and spices wafting out of the building. the six of us ordered an even dozen and packed them in within about 10 minutes. they were AMAZING. i am usually a dedicated krispy kreme loyalist, but these donuts are so special that you can't even compare them - they use spices like lavendar, cardamom, cumin, cayenne pepper...all amazing. yuuuuuuum curse you, federal donuts for tempting me with your delightful and delicious combination of fried chicken and donuts! and also, thank you :)

    (4)
  • Albert L.

    If Homer Simpson existed, he would be Federal Donut's best customer. I wish i could I say i was a close second. Unfortunately, I don't work close enough... I waited anxiously until the hype died down but I couldn't wait to taste the chicken and donuts that would forever ruin my diet. Hey, if you're going to cheat, go all out! I arrived on a wet and cold Tuesday morning at 11:00 a.m. It should be noted that I huffed it on my bike because I wanted to make sure I was in line to taste some of that delicious chicken. When I walked in, the first words out of my mouth was hi.. Chicken! Wait, sorry.. that was really direct. "Are you serving chicken yet?" No, we don't serve until 11:45 a.m. but you're welcome to try some of our chicken wings. Yes!!! They served them up with a ginger glaze and a few seconds later, I don't remember if they were even bones left. As I swayed from side to side waiting for the chicken, I was soon joined by a crowd of people who kept popping in and out to wait for the clock to hit 45 and I was first in line.. Yay me! The chicken comes in halves and I took the recommendation of fellow yelper Mikey I and got the Harissa flavored chicken and pomegranate donut. My sweaty palms wanted to tear up my box but it was too crowded to enjoy this fine delicacy. After arriving in a safe and quiet location (aka. my apartment) I tore into the fried chicken. Wow. What a party of flavors. Crunchy and juicy. I know those 2 words don't often go together but they certainly found a happy marriage here. Although I'm not much for sweets, the flavors of the pomegranate tickled my tongue and had me yearning for more. But alas, I was without any "Federal goodness." I have no shame in admitting that if the donuts and chicken were served on a plate, I would go and lick it clean. Thank you.

    (5)
  • Hymae W.

    Went here when i was visiting Philly. I had to take an very early, long, and hung over bus ride to get here but it was worth it. They don't have the best system for getting you your chicken in a timely matter but I expected that. There donuts sell fast so you have to get there early. Honestly i prefer their hot donuts over their fancy ones but I like simple things. The chicken wasn't the greasy deep fried mess that i expected but I still enjoyed it enough to eat 6 pieces of it.

    (4)
  • Dana B.

    With all the buzz in the air (and on Yelp) about Federal Donuts, I stopped in one unusually balmy winter afternoon and was delightfully greeted by the lovely Blake, whom I hadn't seen in ages. Since all the fancy donuts had been sold for the day, I settled on a fried-to-order vanilla lavender donut and a black cherry soda. Both really hit the spot; not to mention I ran into someone I met while I was a first-year student at Arcadia whom I hadn't seen in years! Nothing better than reuniting and bonding over great donuts and feeling like you're in your friend's kitchen! I wasn't in the mood for chicken that day, but I am eager to come back and try it, as well as their fancy donuts. At the rate it's going now, Federal Donuts has great things on the horizon and is well on its way to becoming the next Cheers...where everybody knows your name.

    (5)
  • Michael B.

    I broke my right ankle jumping into a deceivingly shallow chesapeake bay on new years' day. i think the #1 thing that i am going to miss for the next few months is the 11:30am federal donuts' run on weekends. that fried chicken is STUPID good. and that's what i'm basing my five-star review upon. i don't mean the glazed stuff-- that was OK by my book. But the za'atar spiced dry fried bird is sensational (my fave), as is the harissa. both zatar and harissa are middle eastern spices for those who don't know-- typical in israeli food markets and street foods. i like how solomonov incorporated some of his jewish roots in this joint! the donuts are great but most are forgettable in my book in comparison to the chicken (as are the pickles.. i was seriously disappointed in those!) the best 'nut I've had thus far was the chocolate peanut but they're ALL at least worth trying.. just snag a sample (which the counter folks seem to endlessly cut up) while you're waiting for your chicken and sipping on some excellent coffee, while making friends in the crammed space on 2 st! the service here is excellent by the way.. bunch of sweethearts. this being said.. will someone PLEASE bring me some while i wallow in my misery here in Lower Merion at my parents' house.. car-less and immobile?! lunch is on me if you do. happy new year, y'all.

    (5)
  • Anne R.

    I had the buttermilk ranch dry chicken and an oatmeal raisin donut today. AWESOME. The guys are very nice in there and it was empty so I pulled down a stool and ate my dinner. I had no idea you receive a honey donut and very small side of japanese pickles with the chicken so that was a pleasant surprise. After eating, I couldn't help myself and bought 4 hot donuts, they gave me 6 just because, and I scarfed one down on my way out. It literally felt like heaven in my mouth.

    (5)
  • Krifka S.

    YES! YES! YES! If you are going to eat donuts, there are only 2 kinds--Federal Donuts and HOT Krispy Kream donuts. When we found out that I would have to quit wheat we made a beeline to Federal donuts the very next morning, arriving shortly after they opened the doors on a Sunday. Then we proceeded to order one of everything--yes, one of everything and then like weirdos- my son, my husband and I devoured the whole freaking lot of them in our car down the street (there are no seats in the restaurant), which is located on the corner of a residential block. They appear to change the flavors daily, but I doubt you can go wrong with any of them.

    (5)
  • Lorna F.

    I like donuts. Hot,fresh,now at Krispy Kreme used to be my Mecca of donuts. Now that I have tried Federal's donuts, I have vowed that no other donut is worthy of the calories. A plus is that the folks are nice and the location makes it feel "real."

    (5)
  • Avi O.

    Got there at 1130 and had to wait until 12 to get chicken. It was very expensive and came out half cooked. Over hyped.

    (1)
  • Ryan H.

    I'm never the slightest bit disappointed with any of their doughnuts, I've been blown away every time. Personal favorites are the dulce de leche blood orange and grapefruit brown sugar.

    (5)
  • Lindsay M.

    Staff was super friendly and the donuts were actually as good as they were hyped up to be! My hot and fancy donut melted in my mouth. I bought a dozen to bring to work and we greedily sampled them all. Chocolate-raspberry, pistachio-orange blossom, key lime, and nutella-tehina-pomegranate were all fun to eat, flavorful, and satisfying. Ideally, there would be more seating, but I'm sure they have reasons for keeping it limited. I'm jealous of residents in that area. They get to smell sugary goodness in the morning and fried deliciousness in the afternoon.

    (5)
  • Scott S.

    Just recently experienced the Korean Fried Chicken trend. Glad it caught on because Solomonov takes the idea in a whole new direction with Middle Eastern/African influences. Never thought of the Chicken and waffles chains as a positive but an order of Harissa spiced chicken and warm donut from FEDNUTS and I see why they are so popular in the south. Arrive early for chicken Noon, earlier for the specialty donuts 6am. Because when they are out, they are out...and closed!

    (4)
  • Ted C.

    Amazing donuts!! This place is booming. For the amount of people waiting in line the services was fast and very friendly. I got the orange blossom pistachio donut. A+. They just need more bar seating and 2 registers. Go here!

    (5)
  • Sarah P.

    Highlights of Federal Donuts 1) Free pistachio donut, compliments of the staff just because. 2) AMAZING hot sugar-coated donut, highlight of the four we tried. I had wanted to check out FD since I read about it's impending opening in City Paper several weeks ago. I'm glad I got a chance to go during opening week, before word gets around and it's overwhelming on the weekends. Went today (Thursday) only FD's fourth day open. We tried four different donuts, the tahina nutella filled, orange blossom glazed, hot sugar coated and pistachio glazed. Will definately be back, great job FD.

    (4)
  • Kristin H.

    I wasnt surprised by the line of people going out the door of this tiny shop on Saturday morning. They gave us tastes of the hot donuts while we waited to keep us happy. We shared a key lime, raspberry nutella tahini and a hot cinnamon, too. The hot donuts were definitely my favorite and absolutely worth the wait.

    (5)
  • Melanie S.

    YUMMY! stood in a not so long line and got several of the regular (not fancy) donuts. had eaten most of them by the time i got to 8th and market. haven't had the chicken yet, but i'm sure its delicious!*******UPDATE**********went back and had the chicken, was delish. had to stand in line and get a number and wait a bit, but it was kind of worth it.

    (5)
  • amber r.

    Chili lime donut and cold brewed iced coffee...amazing!

    (5)
  • Sonia H.

    Great concept, great service, delicious donuts. We went on a Sunday around 11:00. They still had 2 flavors left of the stuffed donuts, yum! Yum! No line, good coffee. Yes they are small and pricey, but they are also quite rich and made with great ingredients. The cashier patiently explained the chicken process over and over as each person came in and remained all smiles. For chicken go at 11:45, get a ticket and wait a little while for your chicken. The ticket ensures you will get chicken. We will be back to check out the chicken soon. It seems this place is doing two things really well.

    (5)
  • Rebecca S.

    not a fan of sugary sweet donuts so i like to come here at lunchtime. be prepared to wait on the weekends or perhaps even seeing a sold out sign, but do....def do get the fried chicken. harissa fried chicken. bomb!!!! even better cold. for realz....

    (5)
  • Jacki G.

    The donuts here are one thing, but holy moly, the chicken is out of this world. We got the honey ginger, coconut curry and za'atar and each flavor was incredible. You could easily distinguish the various seasonings in each flavor, too. The chicken is double fried which made it so crispy but still allows it to maintain its juiciness. My only complaint is that I wish there was more seasoning on the chicken, but other than that, it was pure perfection.

    (5)
  • Diana L.

    Like Yelp says when you click two stars -- Meh, I've experienced better. What's the big deal about? The donuts are ok but not great. The glazed donuts in particular are overly sweet, and the sugar donuts are actually salty. Plus there's almost nowhere to sit.

    (2)
  • Mike H.

    New donuts are on point, had the lemon blueberry pie (mmm), chocolate banana (give me banana anything), and the mandarin coffee, my new favorite. Sorry to see the old ones go, but long live the new favors.

    (5)
  • Tasey V.

    Fantastic neighborhood shop. I am so glad that I live far away b/c I could easily become addicted. Hubby and I tried their 3 hot flavors (minus 1 star for not making their "fancies" throughout the day or even early midday, the hot donuts will be all you can get if you do not get there early morning from what the girl behind the counter told us)- Appollonia. Indian Cinnamon. and Vanilla-Lavender. The Appollonia was unbelievable- a marriage of warm spices and just a touch of sweetness. The other flavors were a little too sweet for me- too much sugary coating on the outside, but still fantastic. The fried chicken is the real deal. I am from the South, and we do fried chicken. A lot. It is everywhere and cannot be escaped- you find it on every non-chain restaurant's menu, any gathering is a reason for fried chicken- birthday parties, funerals, holidays. I can say I have had a decent share, especially while in school in Nashville. Yet Federal Donut has served me the best darned chicken I can recollect. I opted for the coconut curry, and wow, it delivered on flavor. Perhaps a little too much, I will opt for a little less of the seasoning the next time I find myself at Philly Donut. Which will be the next in a long line of visits.

    (4)
  • mary d.

    Delicious! but WAY too expensive. $20 for a dozen donuts! $17 for a chicken? You're out of your mind. Won't be going back.

    (3)
  • S P.

    Fantastic! I have no problem driving from north Philadelphia, searching for a parking spot and waiting in line for this food......vanilla spice are sooooo good! Chicken awesome love the glaze selection...butter pecan,maple bacon,pb&j fancies are gone before I reach the car....think u federal donuts for coming to center city! Ps....great staff!!!

    (5)
  • Anthony S.

    Most over-Rated donut / chicken shop ever. Since finding out that this place was among top 50 great restaurant / food joints in philly I had to check it out. No doubt, I love the concept: chicken & donuts who doesn't? Philadelphia chicken and donut scene was already pretty weak and needed a revamping. Being actually from South Korea, I know what KFC is all about. Tried the chili-garlic, soy-ginger, & zaa (something- dry rub) and what are you kidding? I can't believe you guys are getting away with selling this food to customers. The chicken is no where near KFC in terms of twice-fried texture, tender meat, as well as the sauce. Federal Donuts, you've done your best to imitate it but no offense, don't call it KFC and market it that way to people here, I'm quite offended. On the other hand, I gave you at least 2 star because your donuts is actually quite creative and pretty tasty. Other than donuts, this place is just played out simple!

    (2)
  • Fem M.

    The Indian Spice and Vanilla Lavendar donuts were good. I didn't get to try any of the fancy donuts because they were sold out (it was 12:30pm on a Saturday!). The wings were also out so we got a Chili Garlic Half Chicken which was spicy but good. I'd like to just try the buttermilk ranch wings next time. I'll definitely go back to try the fancy donuts.

    (5)
  • Ella L.

    The staff at Federal Donuts is amazing. I rolled up a few minutes after closing and wanted to buy a few for the road. A staff member came out and handed me some of the donuts he was saving for later. Forever grateful! They were delicious and will def. come back (much earlier) next time I'm in town!

    (5)
  • Amy R.

    I revisited FedNuts last week to try their 6-piece chicken wings, and for what feels like the zillionth time, they failed to disappoint. A patron asked the gentleman serving the food and working the register what "type" he liked best, as an assortment of dry seasonings and wet glazes are available for your chicken, though you can also order them "naked." He responded, "They're all phenomenal, but Chile Garlic is my favorite." That was all the persuasion I needed to reorder my favorite glaze. As I waited for my number to be called, the two cooks in the kitchen looked up at me, on separate occasions, and smiled. There's something really nice, almost indescribable even, about individuals working in a lightning fast-paced environment but still taking a second to greet the customer. Likewise, the cashier made quick side conversation with me when I asked for something additional to my order though he was clearly swamped. Such friendly folks here!! When I got my order, I raced home, spread the contents on my coffee table, and basked in the aroma of Chile Garlic. As usual, the wings were impossibly juicy and tender, the skin crisp despite a wet glaze, and the glaze itself - as good as it gets. Note: Chile Garlic implies both spice and garlic breath. Each chicken wing was actually a combination of the V-shaped wing and the drumstick-like portion you usually get in an order of wings but still connected. In other words, each FedNut wing is really a combo of 2 wings still unseparated - and when you order 6, you're getting 12. Beautiful. I think you should all run, or rent a jet, and get yourselves to Federal Donuts a.s.a.p. This place never disappoints.

    (5)
  • Steve W.

    Our 1st attempt to get either donuts or chicken was unsuccessful. We arrived at 10 am on a Saturday only to find the door locked and a sign on the door that read: no donuts, no chicken. On our second trip we decided to get there by 8 am and they were open! Great donuts. My wife and I had the: key lime, chocolate raspberry, pomegranate nutella, all fancy. All of the fancy have one of the flavors laced in the middle of the donut. Very good but the fancy are cold. If hot they would be heavenly. The one hot one we had was the Indian cinnamon which was fantastic. Must say best donuts we've ever had. Coffee was ok, best to grab a Starbucks on the way. Can't wait to try the fried chicken! Three negatives: they sell out of donuts early, the fried chicken goes even quicker and lastly, Federal is located in a neighborhood with absolutely no parking. I made the mistake of turning on the side street where they're located, nothing all the way down which results in about a 6+ block circle back and still ended up parking 2 blocks away. Still worth giving them a try.

    (4)
  • Liz R.

    If fried chicken can change world views or bring peace, love, and understanding to our planet -- this is the chicken that will do it. Specifically, the chile-garlic-glazed chicken is the chicken that will do it. If this place opened an outpost up in Center City near the office towers, it'd make a billion dollars.

    (5)
  • Amy G.

    Nothing could be better. I went in the morning, so was unable to get chicken, but tried every flavor but the Indian Cinnamon. Bring back for friends so you can share and TRY THEM ALL--you will be tempted to eat an entire box alone. Don't skip any flavor--they are all donut perfect. Unlike with most donuts, these don't leave you feeling greasy, oily, and gross. This is coming from a health nut, and I don't even feel guilty about the fact that I probably consumed about 2 1/2-3 donuts in one day. GO GO GO

    (5)
  • Simon B.

    Donuts are amazing. There is nothing that comes even close. The flavors are so unique and interesting. The chicken is above average, but I'd eat their chicken over 90% of other fried chicken in Philly. This is a true South Philly gem.

    (4)
  • B B.

    I like the chicken. They have made up for mistakes on their part, so I like the service. I like their plain donuts. So, there you go.

    (4)
  • Holly O.

    So I gave fednuts another try, this time for their chicken. I ordered the whole chicken with buttermilk ranch dry rub and a wet glaze of the chili garlic and an iced coffee. We thoroughly enjoyed both kinds, though the dry rub definitely stands up better to reheating then the glaze. the chicken was super crispy, fresh tasting and hot even by the time i got home with it. I was sad they didn't have any more wings by the time I went in (mind you I was there at 12:30!) so I guess they're a hot ticket item and we'll have to come back to try those out next time. They served some kind of pickled condiment along with the chicken and I was not impressed. They tasted old and were soft instead of crunchy. I like pickled veggies, especially with something heavy like fried chicken so I applaud the thought but their execution at least of the ones i got just missed. The iced coffee I ordered was delicious and made with those cool japanese style cold brew thingys. And lastly, we got some hot donuts alongside the chicken, and I cannot say they won me over or changed my mind since my last review. I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree on what a "good" donut is.

    (4)
  • M J.

    Creative and tasty donuts. I gave them 3 stars because the prices are steep ($2 for fancy donuts and $1.25 for sugar donuts). I'll reserve FD for special occasions and stick to Dunkin Donuts to get my everyday caffeine and sugar fix.

    (3)
  • Nancy L.

    I really want to love this place, and have tried- I swear it. The people who work there are great, really nice, and friendly, they seem to know almost everyone by name. BUT Is this the emporer's new chicken? So much hype led up to the opening of FD, and I was pretty excited about the place, but four tries in, and I just don't get what the fuss is about the chicken. I feel like the 2 women in the old joke complaining about the food at a Catskills resort- one says 'the food here is is terrible' and her friend replies 'yes, and the portions are so small'... Pieces are small, and often dry, never juicy as great fried chicken should be. Last time I got it, it wasn't even crispy. I have tried three flavors and I like the flavor of the ranch, but not enough to pay $9.00 for 4 tiny pieces. I am sorry, but I think I am giving up on FD for chicken and continuing my search for truly great fried chicken.

    (2)
  • Nick M.

    This place isn't bad--I'd probably give it 2.5 stars if I could--but it's definitely not worth making the internet explode, as it seems to be doing. Feel free to assault my unsophisticated palette if you wish (I'm kind of whatever about a lot of food trends--e.g., truffle fries), but despite all the bells and whistles, these donuts really just taste like you're putting a handful of sugar in your mouth and swallowing it. Skip the "fancy" donuts because they're soggy and way too sweet. The fresh donuts from the other side of the menu are better and cheaper. Maybe they'll iron things out after they're open a little longer, but I doubt I'll bother going back to check. If you liked cupcakes or bacon-peanut butter cookies 2-3 years ago, you'll probably flip out over this place. Maybe I'm old school, but for my $$, I'd rather have 1/2 dozen sour cream donuts from Jack's in Laurel Springs. Or the cream-filled donuts at Frangelli's where they actually pump the cream into the donuts after you buy them. Those places were there before Michael Solomonov was born and will continue to be there long after Federal Donuts stops trending on Twitter.

    (2)
  • S P.

    Unique donuts! Must try everything.

    (4)
  • Erik s.

    They have the best donuts hands down in Philadelphia. The hot ones are the perfect mix of sweet and spice, although they can be a tad oily, but they are still fried & sugared deliciousness. I recommend you be fat like me and eat em immediately or in shame in your car before they cool down because they are infinite times better hot. They sell out of the hot sugar donuts usually by 10ish but don't fret if you are not an early riser their non hot "fancy" donuts are pretty f@cking ridiculous in their own right. How good? My friend and I found some hairs in our donuts that were clearly not ours and I ate my donut- hair and all -immediately, while my friend waited a precious half second and removed the hair out of her donut before eating hers. Disgusting ?...maybe .... deilcious?...you bet your sweet little ass it was. 2 things upset me number #1 ordering chicken here is harder then getting alone time w/ the pope. I bailed both times b/c I couldn't wait more than 45 mins for chicken and had eaten so many donuts waiting I was no longer hungry. Granted this was when they first open, from what I hear it is not too bad now if you get their before a rush. #2 they sell out before 3 pm a lot of days...come on man! Donut plant doesn't even sell out til 4 pm.

    (5)
  • luna r.

    okay, whoever gives this place one star is buzz-kill! the line does suck, of course, but it's not their fault that the chicken is so darned tasty. and the staff is always super nice, gracious and apologetic about the wait. no snobbiness here. had the crispy harissa chicken which was amaze-balls, and the garlic chile which i personally wasn't a fan of (too spicy) but my friend loved. donuts are great too - love the pomegranate nutella tahina donut. the sugar spice donuts are fantastic too, but truth be told i couldn't exactly tell the difference between the three different flavors. whatever. i ate them all anyway.

    (5)
  • Nick H.

    Worst doughnuts ever! Everyone stop going here. You're ruining it.

    (5)
  • Kev G.

    Didn't expect the place to be so small! It was beyond tight! I went around 8am. I wanted to try the chicken but not until 1145 (damn the coconut curry sounded so good!) I couldn't make up my mind about what ones to get so I decided to get one of each donut and try them all! I didn't like the "hot" donuts. I thought they all tasted the same, and i couldn't tell which was which. The fancies on the other hand were sooooooo good! I didn't care for the Raspberry balsamic at 1st but as I kept eating it the taste grew on me. I think the best one out of all the fancies was the Pina Colada. It was like I just bit into a piece of pineapple (it was full of flavor!) I also got a small coffee (they sell large too) and it was one of the best coffee that I ever had! I was kicking my self because I got a small and I wasn't sure I was going to like it (should of got a large) The one (and when I say 1 I really do mean it ) complaint is (and why I gave 4 instead of 5 stars) is the floor in the main are was SO sticky that my feet were kind of sticking to the floor. They really need to clean it up! Other than that job well done Federal Donuts! Can't wait to try the chicken!

    (4)
  • Caroline S.

    This is probably one of my hardest reviews.. I have serious mixed emotions about Federal Donuts, allow me to explain. The first time I had their fancy donuts, I was in love. I've tried piña colada, lemon poppy, passion fruit brown sugar, apple walnut, indian cinnamon, vanilla lavender.. All phenomenal, no exaggeration. However I was fortunate enough to have these donuts brought to me from a friend. So when he suggested going to Federal Donuts for chicken, I was totally up for it given I had no idea of what I was in store for.. It was a massacre. Lines, chaos, complete and udder disorganization. Note this establishment is NOT for the anxious. We waited well over an hour (#43) for a half chicken and 3 donuts in a cramped space. We ordered the Za'tar which is one of their dry chickens. It was quite good but most definitely not worth that kind of wait. I for surely will never make the trip to Federal Donuts again, send someone else in for the dirty work.

    (3)
  • K P.

    federal donuts! after months of finally getting the energy to go, i went to federal donuts to try the much talked about donuts and fried chicken. the donuts were clearly very inventive and had put very interesting flavor combinations together. some were better than others. as for the fried chicken, it wasn't for me. i might have a lower salt threshold than most, as i found it to be too salty and therefore inedible. however, the chicken was not as greasy as you'd expect from fried chicken. i would go back to take out of town guests as its a local novelty.

    (3)
  • Queen R.

    Coming from a non coffee drinker, their coffee is straight up remarkable. Get it black to taste the flavor. Apparently they add coco nibs and a gazillion other awesome things to the coffee for robustness and wow factor :)

    (5)
  • Damon R.

    I wanted to try this concept. I think that it is a good idea maybe? I am a person who does not appreciate style over substance. I was afraid that this would be another place that was that. The donuts were good. They are warmed for you on the spot who does that? Federal Donuts does this. The establishment is on a corner its small but im sure that doesnt matter to much. I stopped in and ordered a couple of donuts, I was a little early for the check. I wish i could have tried a couple of pieces. If i had tried the chicken im sure that i would have been able to give a more complete review. The donuts alone were pretty good. Nothing over the top. Im sure if i could have tasted everything it might have been different. If im ever in philly again i will stop at a time were i could grab some check as well. Oh yea the ladies who work here are pretty awesome and willing to have a conversation.

    (3)
  • Debbie D.

    This is the tough part. Do I love the chicken and donuts? Yes. Do I love the workers? Yes. Do I love that I have been coming here since the beginning and the size of the donuts have changed SIGNIFICANTLY in the past 6 months? NO. Come on people - we are paying a fortune per delicious donut and although the price is still high, the donuts themselves are about 1/3 of the size that they used to be. My rating for everything else would be 5 stars if the donuts hadn't experienced shrinkage. Perhaps we could rectify this?

    (3)
  • Skyla C.

    I had a friend that worked at a federal donuts but at a different location . He always tell me how the donuts are so good and that I should give it a try. He promise I'll like it. I'm glad I decided to stopped in today . He was definitely right . The donuts were delicious . It's not your average donut . The best donuts I've ever had yet . Should I say fresh and cake-like donuts . I think I'm addicted already . Although , I wish they have more variety of coffee here beside the cold brew . Until then it would be considered a five stars .

    (4)
  • Jo Jo L.

    No public restroom for my walk "home". Please make it five stars soon! Good music. Window ledge to sit on. Clean. Most of all..Great donuts & iced coffee.

    (4)
  • Sang D.

    Maaaan if you're reading this you already know whats up...you already know fried chicken is the food of the Gods on the lower east side of heaven, smoking magical homegrown heaven super kush and shooting dice, jafeel? These chickens were born in soft green fields of paradise, grazing on sweet corn and seeds, getting laid and squawking around happily. Donuts are straight blizzity blaze...Indian spiced cinnamon is like better than warm sex with the hottest most thickest and baddest girl from BET's Week In Review. Also dig the blueberry mascarpone.

    (4)
  • Sharon C.

    As if my hips needed more encouraging along comes Federal Doughnuts and their yummiest fixings into my life. There are several locations within Philly. They have a short menu but they're good at what they make. For beverages it's hot or iced coffee, bottled water and an assortment of Brown's sodas. I ordered the half fried chicken ($9.25) and a lemon ricotta doughnut ($2.50). I didn't know that the chicken order comes with an old fashioned cake doughnut. Wings are not listed on the menu but are available in an order of five for $9.25. Select a dry rub or a glaze to accompany the chicken but it is hot, juicy and delicious without adding to it. This business was featured on msn.com among the top 50 fried chicken places in America. They were spot on. For those of you doubting if a doughnut shack can get chicken right, I'm here to tell you that this twice fried chicken was golden brown, juicy and paired well with the doughnut. This location is pretty quaint with a few pull down stools at the counter. Parking can be a challenge as its located in a residential area.

    (4)
  • Emmi A.

    Lunchtime rolls around and usually the first question is "what's for lunch today?" And my response will typically be chicken wings and have been finding myself here more often than I'd like to admit. No good for dieting but oh so good in my mouth. I'm a little obsessed with the ranch wings with a side of the spicy chili sauce. And the honey donut that comes with the wings just goes perfectly together. This particular location always has the wings in stock but I have heard other locations run out quickly so lucky for me this shop is close by and convenient. Not so much for this gut I'm trying to get rid of but I walk out extremely happy every time.

    (5)
  • Priya R.

    This review is going to be sweet and simple. If you love light, airy, fluffy, and delicious donuts come here. The Vanilla Lavender donut just hits the spot. and I don't even LOVE donuts. If you are looking to splurge on come calories and treat yo self, come here get some fried chicken, some fresh hot donuts, maybe some coffee and people watch through the window.

    (5)
  • Victoria L.

    They freshly make the donuts when you order! Nice and hot when you get them! We came here 30 minutes before closing so all the specialty donuts were sold out. Tip: Come here before noon! The friendly worker there said that they sell out of the specialty donuts by noon! Wowww, must be that good! Anyway, the service is great, the donuts are delicious! A must when you are coming to this area! It was so nice to give us complimentary honey donuts (typically served with their fried chicken) since they were closing. They also gave us an extra vanilla lavender donut even though we only ordered one! So nice! Really made our Philly trip worth it! They have limited seating. It's more of a to go type place. FYI

    (5)
  • James I.

    Amazing donuts. Not much more you can say. They have a moist cake like texture unlike any donut I have ever had. Seems like every flavor is better then the next. Highly recommend the grapefruit creme brulee.

    (5)
  • Shawn W.

    Nice little neighborhood shop serving donuts of course but surprisingly good chicken. If you want wings you have to specifically ask for them but trust me they are there. I did not get crazy in choosing one of there many varieties of donuts they have. I instead went with the old standby of a simple glazed donut. I like to judge a place on how good they can do simple things before sampling anything else. The donut was good and hearty. What I mean by that is that when I bit into it there was content and I could taste the bread as compared to Krispy Kreme donut which is very airy to me. The chicken was good and came out hot as I got there ten minutes before they started cooking chicken (they start serving chicken at 11). I went with the zsatara. Ok not sure how it is spelled but it was a dry rub of various tasting much like a Mediterranean spice rub used on lamb. It was very good and on my next trip I really want to try their honey garlic.

    (4)
  • Nate L.

    Finally had the opportunity to have federal donuts. Stopped in real quick and grabbed two popular donuts just to see what they were all about: strawberry lavender and cinnamon brown sugar. These are not your ordinary yeast donuts, they are more like cake. I waited a couple minutes for the lady to make them to order - so they were fresh and hot. Definitely delicious flavor and consistency, I think I like the yeast style s little better! But if you have a sweet tooth and are in center city - give it a shot!!

    (4)
  • Marissa C.

    I've been dying to try Federal Donuts since they first opened their flagship location. So a few weekends back when we happened to be in the neighborhood, we finally had our chance! We walked into the small storefront and were greeted by a warm smile behind the counter. We settled on a half order of the buttermilk ranch chicken and six chili garlic style wings (which we were told were excellent choices btw.) The lovely lady behind the counter told us she'd cut us a break and just charge us for the whole chicken instead of two halves to save a buck. Then of course, we needed to decide on donuts. Lots of their specialty donuts were sold-out so we stuck with the classics. I ordered the Indian Cinnamon and Bry went with the Apollonia Spice, then as if our day couldn't get any better, the sweet lady behind the counter told us she would throw in the Vanilla Lavendar for free, just so we could try it! Bam! They just earned themselves a lifelong customer. The inside of the store is minimalist and charming, there are about six seats at the counter so if there is an open spot, snatch it up quick! The buttermilk ranch was my absolute favorite. I loved the flavor and crispiness of the outside and the chicken was crazy moist on the inside. I've had dreams about it every night since I first got my hands on it. Please note: and we were newbies so we had no idea, with every order of chicken you get a tasty honey lemon donut to go along (pictured below.) It's really the perfect compliment to the chicken -- a little savory and a little sweet. If I had known that we might not have ordered three other donuts, but heck, you live and you learn.

    (5)
  • Daniel C.

    Not my kind of donuts. My ideal cake donut is crispy on the exterior and soft on the interior. Federal donuts are soft throughout. The toppings are not defined flavor, just really sweet. Does not hold up to the ratings published. Very dissapointed - oh BTW a dozen was $22.00 - kind of expensive.

    (1)
  • Jennifer V.

    Been living in south philly for the longest time and I always hear about how good federal donuts are. So finally about 6 yrs later, drove 2 mins( literally not far at all from where I live) and got a blueberry mascarpone donut. The donut was freshly made , very moist and delicious!!! Don't know why it took me so long to come here to try it. The place is not so big but the people are friendly and welcoming. I will definitely come here more often now.

    (5)
  • Richard R.

    Finally made it to Federal Doughnuts on 2nd Street on the way to a Phillies game with my daughter. I know there is a Federal at the park but figured the 2nd street location would be better, faster and cheaper. My daughter has been to Federal in Center City but this was my first time at any Federal. We had 3 doughnuts, the Vanilla Lavender, the Appolinia and the Indian Cinnamon. Federal rotates their flavors on a daily basis. Their doughnuts are all cooked fresh and come out hot and delicious. Our favorite of the 3 was the Indian Cinnamon. They were out of the fancy doughnuts, it was almost 3:00 PM. I would like to go back and try the fried chicken. The coconut curry sauce sounded really good. The store is simple and plain with a few seats at the counter. We found parking on the street fairly easily. This was the best doughnut I have had except for the Doughnut Plant in NYC.

    (4)
  • Nick J.

    Awesome donuts. Small selection but cant beat the taste! cinnamon brown sugar was great fried and hot. The strawberry and vanilla were just as good as well. They have a "fancy" donuts that rotate occasionally but I willhave to try them next time!

    (4)
  • Adam F.

    Amazing fried chicken. Amazing donuts. A must-eat in Philly.

    (5)
  • Mark Z.

    Finally got a chance to go here and see what all the hub bub was about. I got a chance to get a fancy donut of a Creamsicle and it was delicious. The woman behind the counter was friendly, so big kudos to that. I now have to come back and try the fried chicken.

    (4)
  • Kaitlin L.

    Screw going to the Rocky Statue, if you want the true "Philadelphia" experience, go to Federal Donuts on a weekend around 11:30 and happily wait for your number to be called to order fried chicken so good, it would make Ben Franklin blush. I have never been in such a good mood waiting for my food to be prepared. Mind you, helping yourself to a hot donut while you wait for fried heaven helps the situation. But honestly, the wait is quite reasonable, especially for the happiness that your taste buds are about to experience. I ordered two half orders of za'atar and coconut curry and split them with my boyfriend. Although both were fantastic, we both agreed that the coconut curry oh so slightly edged out the za'atar. I've been told though that harissa is the end all and be all of fried chicken. (Unfortunately, they didn't have any that day. Sad face) I've been here before for donuts only and I know people rave about the fancy donuts, but I think the fresh hot donuts are the way to go. I have never had such crave-worthy donuts in my life. As a side note, I walked my bag of fried chicken a good mile and a half before I got to dig in, and it was still one of the most splendid things I've ever eaten. Oh, and the honey donut that comes with it was delicious as well.

    (5)
  • Lauren H.

    This place makes a fabulous donut. Obviously. I mean look at all of the reviews. I wander down usually once a weekend for a donut and a large coffee. I will share with you one thing I've had to come to terms with - do not walk into this place mid to late morning dreaming of a particular fancy donut. The hot made-to-order donuts are always there...waiting, but there are only a limited amount of fancy donuts available each day - the diminishing availability making the fancies that much more appealing. Inevitably, the person in line in front of you will get the last [insert the name of your favorite donut here] and you will feel an immediate intense hatred for that person as you glare heatedly at the back of their head - willing the person to change their mind at the last minute. That person leaves with your donut - no doubt feeling the prickle of your glare boring into them as they exit. You realize you are holding up the line with your glare and hastily glance up at the board at the remaining donut choices. You're so thrown off that you choose whatever one your eyes register first - not even thinking. Barely registering which (non-favorite) fancy donut is now resting in the bag in your hand. You pout - still thinking about your favorite donut - the crumbs of which that person in front of you in line is now licking off their fingers somewhere close by. You find a seat, open the bag and pull out the donut, frowning slightly, and take a bite. And it's beyond delicious. Your new favorite. [Repeat]

    (5)
  • Sara V.

    Delicious warm donuts that melt in your mouth. This is my 2nd time at this particular location and it was just as incredible as the first go 'round. The donuts were fresh and hot. The chicken (coconut curry) was crispy and aromatic. The service was quick and attentive. Mmm.

    (5)
  • G Y.

    Good donut, but the girl at the counter seemed more interested in chatting with her friend about her upcoming wedding. I ordered one donut, waited for five mins. No donut. Asked the girl about it and it seemed like she had forgotten to push my order through. She apologized, asked me to wait then went back to chatting. Five mins later, still no donut. I asked her again and she then turned to the sullen girl in the kitchen, who hadn't even heard my order. Donut finally ready another five mins later. A lady came in, was ignored and left without ordering. Girl at counter later offered me some donuts to make up for the crap service, but damage already done - won't be back.

    (1)
  • Adam B.

    Not the best at everything even with their laser-sharp focus, but solid fried chicken + excellent donuts + crazy slow-drip coffee = a very, very good combo. Dry harissa spiced fried chicken was nice and peppery. The "wet" honey-ginger glaze was a wonderful nice change of pace. Quite possibly the best donuts ever: pomegranate-Nutella, chocolate-banana (which sold out quickly), fresh hot vanilla-lavender, honey donuts with the chicken. Cakey, luscious, just nuts. Your best bet is to do this for brunch/early lunch: Get there around 11:30ish, snag some donuts and coffee, and hang out for the chicken queue (!) to start at 11:45. The wait won't be so long, and you're pretty much guaranteed to get most anything on the menu before they run out. And they WILL run out.

    (4)
  • Michelle S.

    ***This was really a 2 and 3 star experience. In the realm of fancy doughnut shops its a 3/5 but in the realm of doughnut shops as a whole it's a 2/5 when you factor in taste, price, wait, etc. I came here on a visit back home from Brooklyn. I've had my fair share of fancy doughnut places in NY like Dough and the Doughnut Plant but have never been really impressed so my expectations coming in weren't high. People usually over hype them and I finally taste them for myself with the "meh" reaction. Federal Donuts has a good variety, small store and friendly staff. The prices are hefty and I feel like I pay the same amount in hipster Brooklyn. Just take the free honey doughnut that comes with the chicken unless you're coming for just fancy doughnuts. The free one is hot, quality, light and fluffy. Great for $0.00! My family and I got buttermilk ranch 4 piece chicken and honey ginger 4 piece chicken ($16...-__-) and Indian cinnamon, Apollonia, blueberry mascarpone, double chocolate, lemon poppyseed and an extra honey doughnut because I like honey. I wanted mixed chicken flavors but they have to do a whole batch of each flavor since it's made to order. So prepare to buy a lot of chicken at a premium if you're visiting town and can't just come back next week for a different flavor. The chicken was a bit under cooked and had some of the feather tips still attached so it can be cooked and cleaned better. The flavors were fine. The honey ginger is way better and could be stronger but that's because I love ginger so I expected more kick. I didn't really like the doughnut base for the blueberry and cinnamon. I liked the toppings but the actual doughnut tasted a bit burnt/wheat? Not sure but the actual dough flavor wasn't great to me. My friend and my mom liked it though so its a matter of personal preference. I liked all the toppings though and loved the lemon poppyseed and honey. The pickles are awesome and I would buy just those. Zesty and flavorful and fresh. Would I come back? Maybe to try the harissa chicken or some super crazy doughnut combination but I wouldn't go out of my way. I would be happy with warm crispy creme and popeyes for cheaper.

    (3)
  • Sara M.

    Like my boy Blue, I too was let down by Federal Donuts. I had put a visit to Federal Donuts on my "must do" list while on a recent quick vaycay in Philly. I read an article about Federal Donutes in either T+L or AFAR... one of those online travel magz, and jasflksdjflaj it looked delicious, so I attested to not leave Philly without eating a fancy shmancy donut. Womp womp. Mission= failed. We first attempted a visit to the Sansom St. location and upon walking in, was greeted with the horror of a sign that read "Sorry, we are out of fancies." That would just NOT do. I can get a regular ol' donut at a plethora of shops and restaurants anywhere on the map, and I was not wasting precious calories on something other than a creative hand-crafted rainbow-frosted sparkly fancy pants donut concoction. So, left store numbero uno, and made our way over to this location, crossing our fingers for some fancies (at this point, it was mid afternoon on Monday). Womp womp part deux. The same horrid "Sorry, we are our of fancies" sign was prominently displayed as we walked in. FFFF. At this point, we could have driven to one of the other locations (I didn't realize FDs was a chain?) but the outlook on any of the other stores having fancies was grim. We settled on ordering one of all three of the options available: vanilla lavender, chocolate (with a fancy name), and cinnamon (also with a fancy name). They were fresh, they were warm, but they were a let down. And actually, all three tasted really similar despite being totally differentiated flavors. I haven't had a donut in multiple years and I'm kind of disappointed that those were the ones that broke my streak. Don't get me wrong, they were sugary fried dough and there's nothing to hate about that - they tasted yummy and all, but they weren't the blueberry marscapone I had my sights set on. Didn't have the fried chicken. Didn't have the fancies. Wouldn't return (if I ever come back to Phily) unless calling before hand to ensure they weren't sold out of the good stuff which is probably what anyone who frequents a Federal Donuts has long since caught on to. Oh and FYI they don't have a restroom. PS FYI the girl working will chat your ear off.

    (3)
  • Leon G.

    Simply said BEST DONUTS in Philly. I definitely prefer this location over the center city location. If looking for great donuts toys is your place

    (4)
  • Diana M.

    I would give this place a 3.5 but i'll round up to a 4 because i like the concept. They have hot donuts, specialty donuts, and fried chicken. I got a pumpkin spice donut which was really tasty, but i do wish they served it hot. That would make this place AMAZING. The friend chicken was very moist and flavorful. I would actually recommend trying that. They have a bench outside where we ate which was nice, bc its very limited seating inside.

    (4)
  • Joann B.

    Undeserved hype. The donuts are cakey, too sweet & expensive. The oil that was used to fry the donuts needed to be changed (re-used too many days) which gave them an odd taste. The chickens were scrawny, salty birds. The staff can be salty too.

    (1)
  • Kat J.

    Un-be-liev-able!! Everyone yelped that they sell out of their fancies early. I'm a night owl so for me to get up at 9 am (the crack of dawn), and drive a half hour, it better be like crack good. Well WTF?! 3 out of 6 "fancies" were plain glazed, chocolate glazed, and honey dipped. Does that sound FANCY to you?? Everyone was raving about the chocolate sea salt and cherry pie, but NOOOO - discontinued!! Um, I can get plain n chocolate glazed at any donut shop! When I asked the girl at the counter why they have 3 unfancy fancies she got snarky and said, "they're actually popular and requested"! Oh is that why there's not one friggin review raving about their glazed donut?? Btw they've gone up to $2.50 each. Nope not worth getting up for!! Save your trip for when menu changes.

    (2)
  • Mortimer S.

    I used to hold Federal Donuts in fairly high esteem but that all changed when I went in last weekend to find that their "fancy" flavors pretty much suck ass now. I see I'm not the first person to complain about this. Chocolate, honey-dipped, and PLAIN GLAZED are boring as hell and certainly not worth $2.50 apiece. I got a chocolate peanut butter which wasn't that great either. For some reason their chocolate donuts are never very good. My favorite flavors in the past have been things like blackberry anise and green tea but those were nowhere to be found. And yeah, the girl at the register said people were complaining that they didn't have those fucking boring flavors. Well you can't please everyone, but they've always sold out of their fancy donuts anyway so I don't see the problem. Who were the people supposedly complaining about the flavors? Probably a bunch of basic, grouchy Pennsporters. Must we cater to the taste of simpletons? The hot donuts are already plain enough.

    (2)
  • Beth K.

    These donuts with fried chicken have become my latest guilty pleasure.

    (5)
  • Jennifer M.

    Heard great things about Federal Donuts for quite some time now, so I finally had the chance to try them out this weekend. Sadly I was only able to get here around lunch time, so they only had a few of the 'Fancy Donuts' available. I was able to try their Chocolate Sea Salt, Pumpkin Spice Latte, and the three 'Hot Donuts': Apollonia, Indian Cinnamon, and Vanilla Lavender. I highly recommend the Indian Cinnamon and the Chocolate Sea Salt. The Pumpkin Spice Latte held up to its name, although I don't think it's as good as the Chocolate Sea Salt. The Vanilla-Lavender was very subtle which I liked and the Apollonia to me was just your normal sugar donut. Unbeknownst to me, all of their donuts are cake donuts and not yeast based. I'm more a yeast based donut lover but these were just as excellent. The donuts were not greasy, not too sweet, and the cake texture was moist. I wasn't really interested in getting the fried chicken at the time, but by the looks of the trays, there was still plenty to keep them open to 3pm.

    (4)
  • Valerie S.

    Sooooo good. Excellent coffee, even better doughnuts. Hot & fresh won't let you down, but choose wisely if you go for the fancy glazed, you may end up with a grapefruit brulee that will blow your mind or a weird cake doughnut covered with chalky pastel glaze. Depending on the time you visit it may be a quick visit or an interminable wait due to the number of other patrons and general competence of the hipster employee running the register. Either way, the food is worth the wait. Good luck making it home without breaking into that bag of wonder.

    (4)
  • Mike C.

    Donuts and fried chicken. This is one of my favorites places ever. Not only do they serve two of the finest foods known to man, but they happen to be so incredibly good, and the service is also outstanding. My only problem here is that they sell out of everything too quickly. Make sure you get here earlier in the day to avoid disappointment (or don't, so that I won't be disappointed). This time I was here, by about 1:30, they only had 2 out of 6 of their Fancy Donut flavors left. This was actually a good thing though, as I probably never would have ordered these flavors, and they were both excellent. We tried the Blackberry Anise and the Mango Coconut. At $2 each, these are an absolute steal. Even cheaper, and just as delicious, are the Fresh Donuts, which are available in 3 different rotating flavors. These are only $1.25 each, and they fry them fresh on the spot for you, so you get them piping hot. There are few foods better than a fresh, hot donut, so you must make sure to try at least one of these. We tried the Vanilla Lavender on this visit, and it was really great. As if that weren't enough, they also make some outstanding fried chicken. You can get a half chicken ($9) or a whole chicken ($17), which consists of breasts, thighs and drumsticks, or you can get wings ($9 for half a dozen). You can also choose from a ton of rotating dry or glazed preparations as well, which have all been great so far in my few visits. I've tried the Buttermilk Ranch and Za'atar here, both dry toppings, and both great. Like everything else, it all tasted so fresh. The chicken was incredibly juicy and tasty. As if that weren't enough, they also give you a free, simple Honey Glazed donut with every order of fried chicken. The service here is great. Every single worker is super friendly and is very helpful with suggestions. They are very talkative and frequently chat with customers, as the few seats in the small place are lined up at the counter. I've been to more than my fair share of this new thing of Fried Chicken & Donut restaurants, and this one is by far the best. I will keep on returning also because of the great variety. I came a year ago, and the entire selection of donuts was completely different. Any time I'm in Philly now, this is a must.

    (5)
  • Xindy W.

    Came here late, so there was no fancy donuts left. However, I did end up getting the strawberry lavender and a order of the honey ginger wings. I've always heard about how great this place is, and it did not disappoint me when I visited it. The donuts came out hot, which made them even more enjoyable. Overall the donut was good, but it could have been better with less sugar and more strawberry lavender flavor. The chicken was delicious. The skin was crispy and had just enough flavoring. It was also cooked perfectly as well. One thing that bothered me was the amount of chicken feathers left on the chicken wings. There is inside seating, although it is limited. The staff there is very nice and attentive. One thing to note is that there is no bathroom, only a sink to wash your hands!

    (4)
  • Vikki S.

    Forget the specialty donuts and just get one of the hot donuts, made to order fresh all day. You get a free honey donut with your chicken order, but I actually don't like that kind at all and usually give it to my daughter, who inevitably hovers over me waiting for my donut like a baby bird waiting for food to drop from its mother's beak. The famous fried chicken is really really good, if you love crispy savory skin. In fact, I could just order their za'tar dry rub skin and be happy. While the chicken is also good, it's really just fried chicken, and when you order a "half chicken" you're not actually getting a half a chicken. You get four smallish pieces of chicken that are mostly bone. It's delicious, but it's not a lot of meat for the price.

    (4)
  • Brandon Y.

    The chicken is definitely one of the best I've had anywhere. The za'atar flavored chicken is definitely the one to get. The rub tasted unlike anything I've had before, and the skin was super crispy and cooked just right. The sugar donuts were also very tasty. Also, if you happen to show up close to closing time, Lauren might be able to give you the last remaining donuts of their daily batch, assuming there are any still left!!

    (5)
  • Vincent F.

    Wifey and I visited this place on the way to an Eagles game last year, expecting to have some GREAT donuts, and GOOD chicken. I was intrigued by the concept of a place that specializes in DONUTS and CHICKEN....not really two items you generally would put together, but certainly two of many peoples, myself included, favorites! This place ended up offering the exact opposite in my opinion; GREAT chicken, and GOOD donuts. We got a half order of the Buttermilk Ranch seasoned "twice fried korean style" chicken, and I swear...I'm not like a chicken connoisseur or anything, and I haven't traveled the world 'round looking for the best chicken, but in my 30 years of life on this planet, it was the BEST I've ever tasted. Perfect crispiness on the outside, just the right amount of seasoning without being too much, and the actual chicken itself was nice and hot, and flavorful. Incredible!! The donuts we got were a Sticky Bun, Chocolate Sea Salt and Cookies & Cream. My fav was the Cookies & Cream, the Sea Salt was damn good, and the Sticky Bun was really good too. These are the "Fancy Donuts" and you better just HOPE they have them left, you gotta get there at the right time (I forget the time exactly, but read other reviews to get a sense), otherwise you're SOL and are stuck with whatever they got left. The donuts were really good, soft enough and a good texture. MUCH better than places like Dunkin Donuts (though i'm fond of them...) but not quite as good as a place like Duck Donuts (if you've ever made it to the FAMOUS OBX spots, you're missing out on life). Service was very friendly despite being very busy, which as much as I love philly, i'm unaccustomed to (ever been to Pats/Genos? YEA - opposite of this), and it was a very pleasant surprise to have very nice people behind the counter. Parking was easy enough, there's about 6-8 spots right out front in a little "lot" and street/curb parking. Despite a picture somewhere else from someone, it is NOT "sketch" at all. Great place overall, and we'll definitely be coming back!!

    (5)
  • Isabella T.

    I think they deserve a lot of credit for creativity, but I think it's a crime not to offer yeast donuts as they make me feel better about myself after I've eaten 3 or 4....or who is really counting? The donuts my boyfriend and I got were: Strawberry: This was a sugared donut with hints of strawberry, but I was really hoping for something to have a more powerful flavor and concentration of strawberries. I finished it anyways. Blueberry mascarpone: This was my favorite. The blueberry was prominent as was the mascarpone was creamy yummy, and i felt that it was the best executed. Chocolate Mint: This was my second favorite as it reminded me of an andes mint. Enough said. Pumpkin Spiced Latte: I've actually never had a pumpkin spiced latte, but this was pretty good. The best part was the pumpkin glaze, what I wish pumpkin pies were made of. Dark Chocolate Glazed: The simplest donut of the bunch, but was well executed.

    (3)
  • Shalla L.

    Not a chicken eater, but it did look tasty. The donuts are delicious, hot and fresh with a nice, and creative, variety of flavors.

    (4)
  • Daniel M.

    Friendly staff employed at this location, helpful and fast service. The donuts taste great and look forward to visiting this location in the near future.

    (4)
  • Nomi P.

    The donuts here are amazing. I have been a few times now. I have not been disappointed with any of the choices. Personally, the hot donuts are my preferred diet destroyer of choice. The flavors are creative, but not overwhelming. The chicken is equally delicious. I liked the zahav spice best, but none of the others were too far behind!

    (4)
  • Demetra T.

    Excellent donuts! The hot donuts are made to order and one is better than the next. You can get six for the price of four so definitely try all three flavors. Vanilla spice, cinnamon brown sugar, strawberry lavendar. All were scrumptious. Get them with a cup of coffee and you are good to go! The prices are very reasonable. I didn't try their other specialty of fried chicken but the smell was fantastic.

    (5)
  • Kyle K.

    The creativity and variety of the donut options at Federal Donuts is unlike any I have ever seen. Earlier this summer, I opted for one each of the fancy donuts which included: cookies & cream, blueberry muffin, sticky bun, chocolate peanut butter, banana cream pie, and white chocolate peach. My tastebuds were in heaven with every bite of each donut. The banana cream pie donut may actually be the best donut I have ever had. With the high bar the delectable donuts set, I was amazed at how the chicken was just as good. I've tried the buttermilk ranch and chili-garlic chicken thus far and both were the best chicken I have ever had. If I could only pick one, I would go with the chili-garlic because of the spicy kick of the glaze. Overall, Federal Donuts would be the one culinary spot in Philadelphia I would recommend all visitors go to.

    (5)
  • Liam E.

    Finally got to try their chicken. It seems the center city location always runs out when i stop in. Any as to the chicken i thought it was perfectly spiced, not overly greasy, nice breading to the chicken, and cooked perfectly. Their coffee is pretty good, although the cup i had tasted a bit old, but perhaps that was the roast my girlfriend got me (if they even have options). But yeah i thought it was all great. Their donuts are out of this world, so many flavors and with the two styles you can't go wrong. Their fresh made donuts remind me of the apple cininamon ones my dad used to get me as a kid, so i effing love them. Gotta get there early though cause they tend to run out of stuff if that is any helpful information as to how much people love this place.

    (4)
  • Rob M.

    I had heard of this place for some time but never ventured out to taste. So I finally caved and boy was it worth it. I have to say that my favorite location is the one on 2nd St. I tried a couple of donuts and they were really good. My favorite was the carmel banana. To be honest they are all petty yummy. The best thing they serve here is the fried chicken. It's so good. They serve half and while chicken as well as wings. Be sure to get there early if you want wings. They only make a certain amount each day but if they run out you can always settle for a half chicken. It's golden crisp on the outside and so moist inside. They always have a couple of different flavors. I'm partial to the coconut-curry and the chili garlic. Every time I have gone the chicken has been spot on. Can't go wrong here.

    (4)
  • Linh N.

    I've heard good things about Federal Donuts and since this past Friday was National Donut Day, how can I not visit? Not only do they have donuts, but they also have fried chicken which is done Korean style (being fried twice). The hardest part was deciding which donuts and which flavor of fried chicken. Ended up ordering 2 donuts (Appolonia, Vanilla-Lavender), but the girl behind the counter was so sweet and she gave us a free Indian Cinnamon - pretty awesome. As for the chicken we opted for half the chicken (since they were out of wings) with the dry seasoning of Za'atar. We (boyfriend and friend) had the donuts right away. It was insanely fresh. I actually didn't expect this from donuts but it was so pillow-y soft, actually it tasted like cake. Warm, moist and soft donuts. The best out of the 3 donuts was the cinnamon one. A good few hours past and we were able to dig into the chicken. It got cold. The dry seasoning started to taste heavy. The combination of flavor was kind of weird, it's like a cross of old bay seasoning and some citrus flavor - oh and the chicken pieces were small. Even though this was a bit of a disappointment, we saw another donut laying there! Apparently the chicken came with a honey donut, and this donut won me over. It was simple and plain but the sweetness of the honey stood out from the donut. I can eat a whole box of this. Federal Donuts is a must stop if you're in Philly. They just don't make anything like this in NYC.

    (4)
  • Shauna G.

    Federal Donuts, you do not need another glowing 5 star review but what the heck, I am going to give it to you anyways. You see, I recently went to a "friendsgiving" where in place of turkey, Federal Donuts chicken was served in all of its glorious flavor options. As always, it was knock your socks off phenomenal. Actual turkey thanksgiving would be ashamed of itself. Your donuts are awesome (even my dog eats them when I stupidly leave them on the table and turn my head for just one second). Your chicken is awesome. Your coffee is awesome. Your staff is awesome. So happy holidays to you, Federal Donuts. You are worth every lb. I gain each time I indulge in your heavenly fried wonderfulness.

    (5)
  • Jae R.

    Fried dough with lots of brown sugar. It's an experience, but nothing sort of amazing. Fresh donuts if comes out deep fryer within seconds always taste good. I went there late, so much of donuts were "sold" out. I don't know whether it's a gimmick or real. But the taste was ok. I got one with cinnamon (apparently it's retired now). But then, I think it's a bit overpriced,

    (3)
  • Hannah P.

    I know, I know, this place is known for their donuts AND/WITH fried chicken. Welllll, as big of a foodie as I am, I just couldn't bring myself to have a heart attack at 10 in the morning. Sorry, FeDonuts (ya, I just gave you a nickname). Maybe next time? Maybe when I'm hungover or have drunchies? Definitely think FeDonuts should have some late-night opening hours - pretty sure it would be poppin'! Onto the donuts! I'm not even a huge fan of donuts, to be completely ... heretical-ly ... honest. But these donuts, man. I loooOOoOoOoved the hot donuts! They fry them on the spot, so they come out to you all warm and soft and doughy. The regular donuts are just as good, too, though - don't you worry! The donuts aren't too sweet or too heavy. I think it has to do with the size? They're not as large and dense as other donuts. Larger is not always better ;) I've been here twice and they offered a different assortment of donuts. I'm guessing they switch it up every couple of days, or maybe even every day? But here's what I've tried, categorized into the yum, the meh, and the oops: YUM (strong flavors, light, tasty): cookies and cream, sticky bun, blueberry, cinnamon, and vanilla lavender (there was an actual stick of lavender sticking out from one of the donuts lol cute) MEH (weak flavors, okay): banana, peanut butter chocolate (couldn't taste the pb at all) OOPS (interesting but it just didn't work): strawberry ginger, lucky peach As for the actual place, it's small and there really isn't a lot of seating. Pretty sure there's only five seats that you pull out from under the counter. It's neat. But don't expect to sit and eat here during peak hours.

    (4)
  • kelly z.

    Best donut! Love all the different flavors. Strawberry lavender, vanilla, cinnamon. Services is really good too. Will be back.

    (5)
  • Jennifer D.

    This place spawned my new love for donuts, cold brew coffee and double fried chicken! Everyone must try at least one of each. One made-to-order hot donut, one fancy donut, a dry seasoned and a glazed chicken as well as their cold brew and hot coffee. Also, each location has a slightly different selection of hot donuts. I can't say enough of how great this place is and how wonderful of an addition they have been in the Philadelphia food community. I frequented this place at least three times a week for the past year and the quality of the product as well as the service are very consistent. Also, the chef Matt is always coming up with new and yummy creations so you'll never get bored of the flavors, ever. What are you waiting for?! Go check em out, you won't regret it. -P.S- they did not pay me for this review, I just love them so gosh darn much. ;)

    (5)
  • Sokha Y.

    Five stars because the three things they serve are phenomenal period. Best fried chicken in city, served hot and fresh to your liking. I prefer dry rubbed ranch with garlic sauce on side. Finally got a chance to try all their fancy donuts. They very yummy but too sweet for my liking but delicious nonetheless. The pumpkin spice latte is by far by favorite. All of their hot fresh donuts are actually better to me and you get two for price of one fancy donuts. Their coffee is great and better than many coffee joints around the city. Best of everything. Just wish they served chicken sooner, like for breakfast :)

    (5)
  • Lilli C.

    Walk in, go to the counter, and grab a number. Don't stand by the door and wait for 10 minutes like I did. Once they call your number, you go to the counter and place your chicken order. At 12:30 on a Friday, it was a bit packed, but the wait wasn't terrible. By 1:15 the place had cleared out and I was able to get seats at the counter. I got the chili-garlic glazed fried chicken. It was pretty good, but not mind-blowing. The chili-garlic glaze is much like the chili-garlic sauce you get in a jar from an Asian grocery store. Next time I'm going to try the dry rubbed chicken- I think it'll be crispier. The honey-glazed donut that came with the chicken was just okay. It tasted thick and cakey, but the Indian Cinnamon donut was AMAZING. It was hot and tasted light, despite being a cake donut. I got an extra one for my boyfriend, but ending up eating his too. The donuts are only good when you have them piping hot though. I had one of the donuts a few hours later and it was hard as a rock and not that great. Unfortunately they were all out of the 'fancy' donuts so I will have to go back to try those!

    (4)
  • Bryan R.

    This is a must-do every time I'm in Philly. I can't get over how good the donuts are. I even brought some back along with some fried chicken this last time.

    (5)
  • Michael U.

    The morning began early with a long run followed by left-over cake from Wit & Wisdom (plus some terrible hotel coffee) prior to the drive from Baltimore to Philadelphia - a drive made in record time thus landing me in the City of Brotherly Love at 7:10am, a mere ten minutes after Michael Solomonov's oft-raved Federal Donuts opened its doors. Always a fan of breakfasts and baked goods, particularly from a chef who went out of his way to stop by my table to chat when I ordered (er, 'devoured like a viking') the pork shoulder at Zahav, Federal Donuts had been on my 'to visit' list for a while and although my eating plans for the day were substantial I knew walking in the door that I had co-diners throughout the day with whom I'd happily be able to share. A small space to be sure and not yet busy on a Tuesday morning parking was a cinch and with two bakers plus a young clerk I asked what was best with a typical response, "everything," and sizing up the donuts and realizing them to be small I went with the theme ordering a half-dozen fancy options and one of the made to order hot sugared donuts plus a cup of Federal Blend coffee plus a plastic knife with which to divide the selections. Making my way to the street and sipping the vibrant coffee with earthy cinnamon tones throughout I started first with the hot "Vanilla Lavender" selection and was instantly quite impressed as the exterior was a bit crunchy while the interior was soft and dense, the floral notes understated while mellow vanilla notes came to the fore. Moving next to the daily selections of $2 fancies it was a mixed bag (or box) with the same high quality textures as the hot donuts but the flavors far more bold - and sometimes a bit strange. Starting with the selections I expected to work nicely, Creamsicle, Strawberry Rhubarb Pie, and Chocolate Banana each choice was a pleasant blend of flavors with the same cake body simply wrapped in a different glaze - a fan of cake donuts over yeasted 'raised/glazed' things were off to a good start. Moving next to the more aggressive flavors, Chili Mango and Pomegranate Nutella both proved to be quite bold and interesting - the former with a bit of heat and the later somewhat akin to a peanut butter and strawberry jelly sandwich in flavor. Far less successful, the Mandarin Coffee was simply not my style - far too much acid with the smoky coffee notes providing little balance. Overall a really interesting spot with a good vibe and prices far less than many 'designer' donut shops I unfortunately never did make it back for the fried chicken.....though I guess there is always next time.

    (4)
  • Ritzcel E.

    My go to spot for a special treat for my coworkers. Just wish they sold chicken earlier!

    (4)
  • Linda S.

    Damn that fried chicken is good. But unbelievably enough, the donuts are better! Keep in mind that these are cake donuts, not yeast, so they're moist and just a little dense. The best part is how they don't taste overly sweet, greasy, or heavy. We got the honey ginger glaze for the chicken, which was double-fried to order and was just spot-on crispy. The honey and ginger was super fresh. Definitely looking forward to coming back again.

    (5)
  • Doris T.

    Got 1/2 dozen donut for my fiancé for Valentine's Day. Let's just say I had the better gift idea this year! The peanut butter chocolate covered was his favorite. I love the grapefruit one. It was sweet with a slight tart at the end. Definitely worth all the calories!

    (5)
  • Gina V.

    Incredibly delicious (if pricey) specialty donuts. There was a bit of a mix-up with our hot donuts so I'm not sure what kind I actually had, but it was cinnamon-y and delicious. I also got the cookies and cream, which was super sweet, as could be expected. The chocolate and sea salt was my favorite (I tried a bite of my roomie's donut). They have coffee and soda, which is great because some of us aren't big coffee drinkers and prefer cold and refreshing beverages with our donuts. The actual place is pretty small, just a counter with stools that fold out. This is great because it makes the most of their space, but it also means that on busy days it's best to grab your donuts and eat elsewhere.

    (4)
  • Aislinn H.

    We stopped by Federal Donuts on Monday on our way out of town and just made it in before closing time. If I had known they closed at 3 I would have definitely visited earlier. These donuts are delightful! I got one of the few remaining fancy donuts of the day (blackberry anise omfg i could eat this all day) and one freshly fried vanilla lavender donuts. I couldn't pick a favorite. A hot, fresh donut has few comparisons. But the blackberry glaze on the fancy donut was out of this world. I also got a sticky bun donut "to-go" which ended up meaning just to-go-walk-to-the-car. It was tasty but nowhere near as good as the other two. Next time I'm in town I'll definitely be stopping by (and maybe check out the other location on Sansom Street). I'm also intrigued by their chicken.....Obviously I need to make another trip.

    (4)
  • Geraldo H.

    Ordered the lavender vanilla and Indian cinnamon donuts and some buttermilk ranch chicken. The food smells very good. Great service, good food... Sucks that this place closes early. However, the food is amazing. Donuts!!!

    (5)
  • johnny w.

    How can I describe federal donuts? Hmmm hot, cheep, delicious, and addicting. I'm tempted to drive 2 hours again from nj to Philly just to eat more!!! They make the signature donuts to orde so u get the freshest thing ever all hot in your mouth. .. sounds sick i know... but go if u want to get hooked. The staff is awsome.

    (5)
  • Helen P.

    This place has ruined all other donuts for me.. they were SO GOOD, I don't think I would be able to eat another donut anywhere else! And they come in these really delicious and unique flavors that are to die for... add to that really good coffee and you have yourself a real treat! Then there is the fried chicken.. so good that they run out quick! Add to that a staff of really friendly girls with a great attitude make this place worth returning to.

    (4)
  • Lauren G.

    Parking can be a bit of a struggle, and if you don't show up early enough, there's a good chance they will be out of what you want. The fancy donuts are cool, I guess, but the hot donuts are awesome. Seriously, they're the way to go. The vanilla spice is my favorite, so far. I'm a vegetarian, so I cannot comment on the chicken, but I'd bet it's great.

    (4)
  • Anna A.

    Having lived in cities that define themselves by their d-nuts (Portland, LA - proud to be Dunkin' Free) and now Philly with their Feds, I have become an expert in the field of Expectation Management. What is said about the cities "Best Donuts" might just be a mouthful of overtly sugary wreckage. Federal keeps it consistent. The same block of dough for every doughnut. You decide whether this is boring or not. I will tell you that they have nailed this dough. It's what cake doughnuts should be - a slightly airy crumb bite that gives you the false impression you could eat 6 and still not be full. The coatings and icings get all the jazzing up, which is fun. Adventurous flavors like watermelon cucumber lime and strawberry ginger icing or sugar coatings - lavender sugar? Yes! While I wouldn't break my neck or stand in line for more than 10 minutes for some Federal Donuts, I could eat one every other day and be very happy (and without rotting teef). they are delicious and are best in class for cake doughnuts. Good stuff on the d'nuts Philly. I like your style.

    (4)
  • Blue A.

    What a let down! This place came highly recommended when a buddy found out I was going to Philly. I MADE SURE I fit it in and went on my last day, right before going to the airport. We walked in and it was not what I expected. It looked like a dive bar for donuts. "Eh, maybe that's just how Philly donut shops are." I thought. The young lady behind the counter looked a hot mess. Like she stumbled out of bed, put her hair up and ran to work before she was late for her shift. I had been to a lot of other places in Philly where young, hip waiters and servers had cool tattoos and dressed casual...but this one...she looked disheveled to say the least. So we go to order..."Sorry we are out of that one." ..."Nope, we are out of that one." Then she says "Let me just tell you what we have left....." No explanation of the flavors...she just rattled them off. No "Your first time? Let me tell you a bit about us...." The only had 3 flavors and of those there was only one Banana Cream left. I get it, the donuts fly out early morning. That's fine. But to only have 3 flavors left at 11AM?! I did a sticky bun - Not really impressed. It was dry, and wasn't too tasty. My wife got the Banana Cream. It was better, and between the two of us we finished that one off. Maybe the customer service made the donuts less desirable. When you start off feeling like the staff doesn't care I think it drastically damages the experience.

    (2)
  • C L.

    We were yelping for doughnuts and found Federal Doughnuts- great reviews so we went there but sad to say it was not the best doughnut nor fried chicken we've had. We got the following: raspberry glazed doughnut which we think is the best one, tahini something, one with chocolate and another with tiny marshmallow and 2 gourmet. We also got Za'atar wings which was ok, buttermilk half chicken which is probably the best tasting one and the ginger something which was bad ( we are Asians). There is 4 of us, Two of us gave them a 3/5 and two gave a 2/5. For the doughnuts, imagine a box mix cake, fry them and make them greasy. It taste good but not great. The best doughnuts we've had is still from PitmanBakery in Pitman NJ which unfortunately have closed.

    (3)
  • Zehava W.

    I've been to the Sansom Street location a couple times and loved the dry rub Za'atar chicken and select donuts there. This was my first time coming to the S 2nd Street local, and I love it! It's in a quieter location which made sitting outside with my coffee and fancy chocolate and sea salt donut much more enjoyable. Quaint neighborhood with friendly neighbors planting their spring flowers; waiting for the fresh fried chicken and hot donuts was relaxing. I got the coconut curry dry rub chicken this time and it is flavorful and had a great crunch on the outside and was juicy on the inside. My bf got the chili-garlic glazed chicken and it was literally finger-licking good. Nice heat. Had to get the vanilla lavender hot donuts, Summer in confection form. Employees are super cool and sweet. I look forward to my next visit!

    (5)
  • Chris H.

    Good cake donuts. Coffee is basic but enjoyable and goes well with the donuts. Not many places to sit.

    (4)
  • Jill C.

    Ok so as I write this there are 300 other reviews. So ill keep it short and sweet (much like myself) Just go! If you get one of the 3 basic flavors they are made to order. As in served hot and delicious (also much like myself lol). My dad and I split a vanilla lavender and all I can say is YUM. The cinnamon and spice options smelled deadly too. They also have fancy flavors that are pre-made. I'm glad I don't live in the neighbourhood. I could see coming here with my little Saturday mornings and enjoying a coffee and donut tradition! And $6 for a half doZen seems totally reasonable, especially after that first bite. Yummmmmm

    (5)
  • Michael R.

    $2.50 a donut... No thanks. The hot donuts are good but they aren't that good. Krispy Kreme hot glazed crushes these.

    (2)
  • Victoria L.

    The fried chicken really is one of the best I've had in the city. My friend and I got in line after hearing the raves about their Korean fried chicken. We got the Za'atar seasoning per an employee's recommendation and it was phenomenal. Obsessed with the Japanese pickles and honey donut that they come with. It's the perfectly flavored meal. Worth every penny! I'm craving just writing this review. Though upon another visit, my only gripe is that the fancy donuts are not really my cup of tea. The flavors are so creative and I want to appreciate them but I'm not the biggest fan. I'd choose Frangelli's or Suzy Jo's over Federal (plus they're cheaper).

    (4)
  • David A.

    The expression "artisanal food" has been up and coming the past few years and is used to characterize upscale, smaller batch specialty fare such as say, Gefilte Fish. If the humble donut could aspire to attain artisanal status, they would no doubt be those you'd find at Federal Donuts. The donuts are uniformly delicious, served warm by the friendly (and occasionally hilarious) staff. They are in fact so delicious, that you'll probably find that far fewer of them make it home than your doctor would recommend. I'd advice you to pace yourself. The fried chicken is also really good with a ample portions (and a donut!) in a couple of zesty flavors. Make sure that you have access to a lot of napkins - the chicken is as greasy (in the best possible way) as it is good.

    (5)
  • L R.

    I give 5 stars for their fresh hot from the oven donuts. Definitely incredible and their service is lovely. Very friendly. I see all the 5 star reviews and I so badly want to join in and give a solid 5 but has anyone questioned if the chicken is real chicken??? I know this sounds bizarre but I eat a lot of chicken and the chicken I've gotten from federal donuts has a strange texture. It's more, I don't know... processed perhaps?? It looks compressed inside and it's always a bit pinkish. I've tried cooking it extra in our toaster oven but it still seems like bad turkey cold cut meat packed onto a chicken carcass. I've only tried their chicken 3x now though. I still love the place and will be back for donuts and coffee just not interested in those funny chickens.

    (3)
  • Jason I.

    Oh. My. Gawd. Best donuts I've ever had! This place makes Krispy Kreme and Dunkin look like cheap, grocery store, Hostess-style donuts. We picked up a dozen of the fancy donuts (4 different flavors) and we were blown away! Didn't try the fresh hot donuts, but we'll be back to give them a shot too. The ice coffee was also incredibly good! A little crowded on a Saturday morning, but with amazing donuts like this, I can definitely see why! I was a little disappointed that they don't start serving the chicken until 11:00, because we wanted to try it too. I guess that means I'll have to go back for that!

    (5)
  • Phillip L.

    The donuts absolutely live up to the hype. I actually tried Federal Donuts (fried chicken and a honey donut) for the first time at CBP last year and was completely underwhelmed. Gave them a second chance today on my way to the office and I'm glad I did. They're very fresh and bursting with flavor. There wasn't a bad one in the batch.

    (5)
  • Alison W.

    These donuts were absolutely amazing. We tried all of the fresh-made ones and they are TO DIE FOR. Simple and warm, sugary, oh my god. They all look and taste kind of similar but I don't mean that in a bad way; it's just that they're all the same type of donut. They were amazing and, I suspect, better than the specialty donuts, but I can't say because we didn't try those.

    (5)
  • Nazee Z.

    This is the best combination of foods I've ever experienced. It takes chicken and waffles and elevates it to a level of fantastically awesome. The donuts are so clever and delicious (these guys take an average blueberry donut and make it a crackberry donut) and the chicken marinades are so interesting too! I have yet to actually try the chicken--as it's usually sold out after I get out of work, but I seriously wanna go try it sometime.

    (5)
  • Michael N.

    While down in philly for a spartan race I got to eat at this place. It was mid afternoon and they were sold out of almost all there donuts but, what I was able to try was phenomenal and worth the drive from NYC alone. I was told if your not online before 12 you have a slim chance of getting there more popular items. I'm not in the food business but I wonder why they just don't make more lol.

    (5)
  • Michelle B.

    Came to Federal Donuts as part of my food pilgrimage through Philly, it was listed on the "Best of Philly". Plus, how could I not resist? Move over fried chicken and waffles....it's time for fried chicken and doughnuts! My sister and I got the chocolate chip doughnut and the fried chicken with chili garlic glaze. First of all the doughnut was "okay" it wasn't the best or worst I've ever had. I definitely wouldn't come back to get it again. The fried chicken however was AWESOME!!! When you order the fried chicken...it comes with a plain glaze doughnuts with pickles. The skin is perfectly crisp and it was just the right amount of spice! We destroyed our half order. It's a small place with seating for 6-9 people. Good customer service. They give plenty of napkins and wipes for those wings. We will be back tomorrow for more!

    (4)
  • Daniel T.

    The Indian cinnamon donuts are delicious! The rest are just OK, the fancy donuts were nothing to rave about and I had such high expectations for the fried chicken, but it was also pretty standard stuff. But definitely grab a dozen Indian cinnamons.

    (3)
  • Andrea M.

    Warm fluffy donuts that taste like cake. That is all Best...donuts....I've ever had!!!! Hands down!! :)

    (5)
  • Mallory D.

    I hope I don't get tarred and feathered in the hypothetical Yelp town square for this review, but I don't get it. I mean, it's good. But not mind blowing. I was able to try an Indian cinnamon donut. It was tasty, but again, not tasty enough for me to stand in line for. Unfortunately they were all out of fancies when I arrived, so I was not able to sample one of them. Perhaps if I did I would be more impressed. Since they had chicken readily available when I was there, I had to order it to find out what all the fuss is about. I'm still trying to figure that out unfortunately. I ordered the dry curry rub, and was completely unimpressed. Maybe I got the wrong flavor, but it was just alright. Like I said,if I ever happen upon Federal Donuts at a time when they have some fancies available I will certainly try one, but I won't go out of my way again for it.

    (3)
  • Ryan D.

    Ok how can one not give FD 5 stars? I mean we are looking at donuts and fried chicken, two guilty pleasures combined in one house. I don't know where FD gets their chicken but wow it is really packed with a lot of meat, you will be full sharing a half dozen (and a donut :) ) Make sure to get their early to get their fancy donuts. Their regular donuts are very good (I mean they are homemade) but those fancy look great.

    (5)
  • Caroline C.

    Saw a friend post a picture of these on Instagram and I instantly had to check it out on Yelp and bookmark it. I happened to be in the area so I stopped by for some fancy donuts. The dude who helped me must have been having a really bad morning because he was not friendly at all. They had 4 fancy donuts available, but I only chose 2, the cookies and cream and the gingerbread flavors. I wanted to try them all, but that would be bad for new years resolution! All joking aside, the donuts were awesome! Upon inspection, it looked like it was just glaze over the donut which distinguished the flavors, but they really tasted like the flavors describe! The donuts are soft and moist. They are definitely worth the calories! Now I must come back to try the chicken!

    (5)
  • LaShonda R.

    Trying so hard to write this review without slobbing on my phone. It's not working. After procrastinating for months on visiting this fabled land of chicken and nuts I finally went out of my way to drive to Center City for a taste. I arrived at about 2 pm with my attitudinous daughter in tow and we scored the last 2 sets of wings. Harissa for her and Chili-Garlic glazed for myself. I was quickly told, by what I presume was the owner, not to even think about donuts because they were long gone. I would however get the basic honey with my chicken order. 2 wing meals and can sodas were just over 20 bucks. I passed them my debit card and they flipped a high tech tablet over to my side of the counter for me to sign with my finger. Loved! So as we waited, my ten year old daughter sat there with her bottom lip nearly dragging on the floor because she wanted Kentucky Fried Catastrophe. She didn't have to pout long tho because before we knew it we were out the door with a bag full of fragrant, piping hot, bird pieces. We ate in the car like all classy folks do. This chicken is amazing. Coming from a very southern, fry everything family, I was impressed. My glazed wings were reminiscent of buffalo wings but with a much more complex flavor spectrum. My daughter managed to tuck her lip in long enough to bite into her dry wings and was instantly won over. Our honey donuts were so simple yet delicious and little bites of it between my chicken helped reset my tastebuds. I will seriously cry if this place ever closes. I'm about to go eat my remaining wings. After I wipe off my phone of course.

    (4)
  • Alison L.

    My suggestion: go with a couple of friends, order half a dozen (or 12, hey more power to ya)--one of each of the specialty donuts--to share. Though a tad bit too sweet, every single donut was delectable. 4 stars for the donuts. On the other hand, the venue was dirty. Granted, the dingy look of it goes with the whole "Philly's finest" theme. However, cleanliness is a huge factor in my reviews. I asked for a fork and the counter associate picked up a plastic fork from under the sink. It was covered in dust and actual dirt. If the donuts weren't so good, I would give this place 1-2 stars. Definitely worth a try! Just don't ask for utensils...

    (3)
  • Emily C.

    So happy this place exists. Fried chicken, hot donuts, and coffee? Straight and to the point-- who could ask for more? What a wonderful intro to my weekend in Philly! My friend and I stopped into Federal Donuts for breakfast to feast on flavors that I didn't know donuts could own. Lavender vanilla...banana salted caramel- you get the picture. We sat at the counter, ate, and listened to motown. Beautiful start to the morning! And then. Just when things couldn't get any better, it was time for fried chicken. We placed a half order of za'atar rubbed fried chicken-- the spices and crispy chicken skin were just plain heavenly. I wish I could remember the other flavor options-- all of them sounded delightful! Can't wait to return on my next visit to Philly.

    (5)
  • Julie M.

    I had extremely high hopes for this place but alas it did not meet them. I can only speak for the donuts and those did not impress me. With the warm donuts, I could not discern a difference between the two I tried, although they were different colors. The "fancy" donuts were not particularly interesting to me. The consistency was ok and the flavors were not very prominent. I tried each flavor; the caramel banana was the best. The donuts here are better than chains but not nearly as delicious as I had hoped. Ultimately, to me, this is not a donut destination. I think I have been thoroughly spoiled by the awesomeness that is Donut Plant in NYC. Take the train, go there. I still want to try the fried chicken!

    (3)
  • Susan M.

    Cake like donuts in lots of amazing flavors! The flavors change pretty regularly, but if you get a chance to try the Chocolate Sea Salt - Do it, you won't regret it! I also enjoy the sticky bun, and vanilla lavender! I typically go for the hot - that's when they're the best! Avoid the center city location and come down to Pennsport for an authentic experience. Fried Chicken is at 11am, don't be late!

    (5)
  • Christine G.

    Amazing amazing donuts like nothing you've ever had. always warm when you get them. both the plain ones and the special ones are great depending on how much you want to spend. Good coffee too. Haven't tried the fried chicken yet but plan to.

    (5)
  • Chelsea B.

    The maple bacon donut was good, but where's the bacon? I was expecting a nice piece (or crumbles maybe?) of some thick sliced bacon on the top, but it was MIA. It did taste of bacon though... witch craft. We got a recommendation to arrive well before the 11:45am chicken cut off to get a seat, eat donuts and wait it out for the chicken, but the place filled up fast around 11am when we arrived. Also, what looks like ample seating on the website is in reality six seats at the bar and two other small built-in benches. Lack of seating aside, you'll definitely get service with a smile: get ready for free samples, chatting with your kids, dancing at the register, etc. I probably would have really admired this personal vibe in the usually not-so-personal city of brotherly love, but in the cramped quarters with a mounting line it didn't strike me as efficient. Turns out we didn't wait for the chicken. Tip: You can't place an order for chicken until 11:45am on the dot (even if you're there early), and at that point they said it takes about 5-10 minutes to fry some up especially for you.

    (3)
  • Suzie L.

    I love their specialty donuts but its def on the first come first serve terms so if you're the late bird.... not much to chose from unless it's the standard flavors that they make often. I had their coveted fried chicken, have to say I liked the dry rub over the glazed chicken but decent. I wouldn't necessary go back for the chicken but donuts, you can count me in.

    (4)
  • Jon Z.

    Our first visit here was also the first day they had the dinner service. There was a line of 10 ppl about 15 prior to opening. The line moved quickly and they were serving chicken only with a free donut for every half order. The chicken: got a dry and a glazed half chicken, both very equally juicy and well fried. However, I didn't realize there is a difference between "Half-chicken" and chicken wings only when you order the chicken until after I ordered. The chicken wings tend to sell out first for some reason. The frying style tries to copy that of Korean Bonchan chicken with a double fried style. Donuts: not your fluffy 90% air filled donut like you see @ Dunkin, a donut came included with each half order of chicken and they were the plan kind (kinda sweet+sour) and had a solid consistency to it. Definitely a unique taste. They didn't have the fancy donuts during our Saturday dinner visit. Service: friendly and plan on waiting 15-20 minutes for your order. There are newspapers around the restaurant you can read if you like. Would definitely come back again!

    (4)
  • Vinny P.

    I had the fried chicken. It was worth the trip in snow-tober. I started with Za'Atar and I was really happy I did. It was super crispy and lots of awesome salt and herb flavor. The donut that comes as a side is the perfect contrast to the chicken. I have to go back for the glazed varieties. Seriously awesome.

    (5)
  • Jordan P.

    I'm really digging the whole gourmet donut thing, I never could get behind that fancy $4-5 cupcake thing. A weekend or a few ago, I was up in Philly for the weekend, visiting the beau who was laid up in the hospital. And I bought myself (and a few other people) some donuts. Not just any donuts, though. Federal Donuts. Sure, the store is itty bitty and, yes, I may have scratched my mom's car pulling out of the impossible parking area when a garbage truck blocked me in. But that's okay, because these things are AMAZING! Only open from 7am-3pm (weekdays) or 7pm (weekends), this joint regularly sells out of their scrumptious 'nuts. And their hots (Appollonia, Indian Cinnamon, Vanilla Lavender) were amazing, but I also go to try two of their limited edition "Fancies": Root Beer Float Root beer glaze with vanilla ice cream icing. Gingersnap Cookie Ginger glaze with gingersnap cookie crumb Affordably priced, these treats are friendly to the wallet, but much more so to the tastebuds. GET THEE TO FEDERAL, STAT!! But don't drive a new car. Just walk.

    (5)
  • Jennifer K.

    I worked at a mom and pop shop donut shop close to home and these donuts are the only things comparable to that shop I worked at. the warm donuts are so good.

    (5)
  • Ali E.

    Three words: worth the hype. That fried chicken, man, I would make out with that fried chicken. The optional spices we got were excellent and not overwhelming - you can still taste the good chickenness of it. As others may have mentioned, a half and a donut are totally filling enough for two people - but you'll want more. So much more.

    (5)
  • Tony P.

    What can I say that has not already been said!!! I know just get your ass there and get some chicken and donuts! And be warned one hot and fresh will only piss your taste buds off! You will need a dozen to satisfy them!!!

    (5)
  • Rizwan A.

    So they have special donuts, yes, but I wasn't really a fan. Everything here seems to be a pretty random collection of ingredients that have not been mixed together before for the obvious reason that it doesn't work. Pink Grapefruit donut? Guess what? That's just not the kind of donut I want. The more traditional flavors however are still pretty good, although I can't say they outshine any normal donut place, and guess what, chain haters everywhere, Krispy Kreme donuts still trump this place. I have to say the chicken was just average fried chicken too, although I ate it later once it was cold. It wasn't the flavoring or anything, I felt like they just used low quality chicken but who knows, maybe it was an off day or something or maybe that piece just had a lot of dark meat which I don't like. Whatever it was, I just wasn't that into this place, but they run a decent operation. At any rate, it seems to be one of those philly-centric things to do now, so if you want to complete your city experience, then you might as well make the trip out here.

    (3)
  • Casey R.

    Finally made it to Federal Donuts this weekend despite knowing that the Queen of Awesomeness would not be there. But as I was running to Target for last minute wrapping supplies and wanted to beat their the rush of holiday shoppers I took the opportunity to try the donuts. They did not disappoint! I had the Indian Cinnamon which tasted exactly like I remember the donuts at my favorite farmers market tasting as a kid in Michigan. It was the perfect motivation for me to get going on errands and I will definitely be using that donut in the future to motivate me out of bed on the weekends. I also got some fancy donuts to take home for afternoon treats and they were tasty as well. We tried the chocolate spicy peanut which was the fav of the bf but I thought it could have had more kick. We also got the grapefruit and brown sugar which I loved. It had a great sweet and tart ratio. The small coffee I got had me bouncing off the walls for the rest of the day, so it must have been fairly strong. I did get all my wrapping done in less than two hours, so mission accomplished. Can't wait to be back for more donuts!

    (5)
  • Jo L.

    I don't know how the chicken is here but the donuts are definitely just about the hype. My brother and I came here today on National Donuts day to finally try their donuts out. We had the Key Lime, S'mores, Pomegranate Nutella and Spicy PB&J. Their donuts were dry and just really sweet. Other than there, there's nothing much to them. They are also super oily. It went right through the bag they put the donuts in and the paper plates at home. I also wanted to try their chicken but they weren't ready yet. I came here a time before early afternoon and they were sold out already. I feel like that is a thing with them because I've tried the one in Center City also and they were sold out.. Get more chicken guys. I will definitely not be coming back for their donuts. And if their chicken is anything like their donuts.. I will not be going out of my way to try them. Really guy.. Dunkin Donuts

    (2)
  • Jennifer C.

    I now know that Federal Donuts is the absolute bees' knees for locals who swear by their outstanding donut creations. However, I did not know this fact until right before our planned weekend getaway to Philly, when a foodie friend of ours (who also happens to be an editor at a swanky food mag), posted a message about feening to return to Philly just for Federal Donuts' Pomegranate-Nutella treat. And what do you know, this gal loves Nutella!!! Call it then, serendipitous that I made it a point to come to this S 2nd street location to explore the reasons why this place came with such high recommendation(s). What I like about Federal Donuts far outweigh what I don't like about it. So I'll start with a few negatives. THE NOT-SO-GOOD: The shop is situated on a somewhat seedy stretch of neighborhood. It's nice that it's right on the corner of the street, and in a low-key, residential area, but at the same time, I'd probably feel a cold sweat running through my body if I had to walk around these parts at night. Naturally then, you should try your best to come here early before it gets dark, or before the shop gets hounded with customers. Because even in a relatively remote location, Federal Donuts packs in their devotees quite early in the day and you can certainly expect crowds to swell until they run out of donuts (and fried chicken) to sell. We thought we had come early enough (shortly before noon), but we were mistaken. I must have waited on line for 30-40 mins to order two donuts and some wings. And the donut that I came here for (pomegranate-nutella) was all SOLD OUT by the time we ordered. Pooey. Another downside, is their strange ordering system. It's a bit confusing if you've never gone here and have no idea what the drill is, but apparently, there's a two-part process if you want to get donuts and wings. It's not as seamless as you'd wish, and I'm not exactly sure if this system they've drummed up actually helps the line go by faster, or if it is causing a lot of stalling and waiting. To me, it seemed inefficient. THE VERY GOOD: Believe the hype. These donuts are amazing! Texture wise, they are ever so gently crisp on the outside, yet incredibly soft and cake-y on the inside. And you simply can't beat the inventive and fun variety they have on offer. You have a choice between their "FANCY" donuts (Creamsicle . Chocolate Covered Banana . Mandarin-Coffee . Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie . Pomegranate-Nutella . Mango-ChileHot), or their "HOT FRESH" donuts (Appollonia . Indian Cinnamon . Vanilla-Lavender). They are nice enough to cut up some samples of the hot donuts while you wait in line to place your order. The donuts are favorably priced (there's a premium for the Fancy donuts, of course). Fancy pricing: $2 each $12 half dozen $20 dozen Hot Fresh pricing: $1.25 each $6 half dozen $11 dozen Another main draw to Federal Donuts is their FRIED CHICKEN. I would have to say THIS was the utter surprise of our trip to Federal Donuts and stole the show for me and the bf, as we were not expecting to have such tasty wings from a donut shop in Philly. They were out of this world, from another dimension of deliciousness and would easily best some of the finest Korean Fried Chicken you'd find in New York. We had an order of 6 wings, wet glazed with honey-ginger. Since there was no space to devour our wings at the shop, we decided to eat them in the car (keeping things classy is what we do), while they were still nice and hot. Let me tell you, these wings were phenomenal... so tender, flavorful, and juicy. It was no surprise to me that boxes upon boxes of their fried chicken were flying out of the Federal Donut kitchen. An added treat is the fact that you have OPTIONS, and can choose amongst six different flavors (4 dry seasonings, and 2 wet glaze flavors). Btw, you can't mix. To top off all this goodness, the folks at FD manning the operation, are all so nice and patient, and quite friendly. The popularity of this place is no doubt gaining more and more momentum and will hopefully lead to further expansion, and quite possibly an empire....?! Let's hope by the sheer Federal Donut fan volition, the craze spreads to New York!!!

    (5)
  • Amanda L.

    If you are a fan of cake donuts, like donuts with the density of cake, you must come here! I was told to go early, but we went a little after 10 on a Saturday morning and there was no line. We shared half dozen donuts...but I wasn't quite sure why the server didn't pack it in a box. She gave us 3 different bags... Anyways, my favorite ones are the donuts that had to be "sugar-coated" when you order. Those include vanilla spice, strawberry lavender and cinnamon brown sugar. Def recommend those! The glazed ones were very sweet and went great with milk. And since I was so distracted by the donuts, I'll def have to come back to try the chicken!

    (4)
  • Paul D.

    Omg, this place is so damn good! First, the chicken is amazing. I got the green chicken and I was very impressed. It's nice because it has a thin crust while being packed full of flavor. The doughnuts are great although I will say that I preferred the honey doughnuts over the sugar-covered ones. I didn't get a chance to try their specialty doughnuts because they were sold out. The next time I am in Philly, I am making it a point to get chicken and doughnuts from Federal.

    (5)
  • Sara P.

    Really yummy, unique donuts. Definitely the best I have ever had in Philly - maybe ever had anywhere. Tried the Appollonia and the Chocolate-Sea Salt. Washed down with a cup of the most delicious coffee! Perfect breakfast. Next time I have to try the chicken! I was sorely tempted this time, but it seemed like a bit much for breakfast. Also, go earlier rather than later. It was so ridiculously crowded. Not that I don't know the reason why... I'd go every day if my waistline could handle it.

    (5)
  • Mandy H.

    Vanilla lavender donut is really yummy! So is the honey-ginger chicken. And so is EVERYTHING else! The place is tiny, so on a Sunday, like the day we went, there was a little bit of a wait, but it moves pretty quickly. I got the honey-ginger chcken and my bf got the coconut curry schicken. Both were really good. I didn't get to try his blueberry muffin donut because he ate it so fast, but I think that sounds like it was pretty good. I definitely want to come back to try some of their other chicken flavors.

    (4)
  • Jessie H.

    Come early. They sell out fast! I got here around 1030am to get wings because they're usually ready by 11am. It was packed!! I got an order of the chili garlic wings. Delicious!!! I want to come back and try the buttermilk ranch wings before I give this place a 5. Service is friendly!

    (4)
  • Benjamin M.

    Yeah, I know....another glowing Federal Donuts review, but too bad. After dropping by the newer Rittenhouse Square shop last winter, I was recently able to make a morning visit to the original location. At least I knew exactly what to expect this time: delicious donuts! And that's exactly what I got. I pulled out one of the counter stools and enjoyed a warm Indian Cinnamon and fancy Chocolate Peanut Butter and took a Double Chocolate to go. For later. Seriously. Hey, when it's great, it's great. Just go. I gotta get that fried chicken eventually though.

    (4)
  • Allison G.

    My roommate and I have been dying to try one of these for months! We went on Saturday afternoon around three, and after seeing dozens of pictures of the most creative, mouth watering donuts on yelp and Instagram, I was a little disappointed they only had three flavors. Lesson learned: go in the morning! I did appreciate that their three flavors are all made to order and served hot. I had a cinnamon sugar. It was good, but my mind wasn't blown. I look forward to trying something unique next time!

    (4)
  • Lindsay W.

    Their 'fancy doughnuts' are terrific! I used to live by Dough in Brooklyn and these are like the Philadelphia equivalent (also only a short walk from my apartment). The flavors are rich and the freshness of the doughnut holds up pretty well the next day in case you get too many to eat in one sitting. Although more expensive, these are a great occasional treat. The sugar doughnuts were tasty, but they were not shockingly delicious in comparison to the region's signature apple cider doughnut. However, they did give me a fresh, warm 6 pack with three varieties. Warm sugar doughnuts are always well appreciated.

    (5)
  • Di P.

    Spicy peanutbutter and jelly donut. Mint chocolate chip donut. Butter pecan donut. Why doth thee haunt me??? Obviously from the reviews the summary is that this place is a must go. I'm just listing the donuts you must try. Yeah the hot donuts are good... but the speciality donuts is what will make your brain happy. Just do yourself a favor-- get one of each and grab two friends, split the donuts in thirds and have a sampling party like we did. Call it education. PS. The chicken ain't no back-up quarterback-- i's running it's own team. Curry spiced fried chicken. Beautiful.

    (5)
  • Erin M.

    At a donut shop where the focus is on innovative ingredients, it's surprising that my favorite was the simple honey almond. I sampled all nine donuts on the menu. After one bite of each, I had a sugar high for hours. The honey drenched donut was by far the best tasting of the bunch. A distant second was the hot and fresh Indian spiced donut. As far as I know, Philly doesn't have any real donut shops that serve them fresh out of the fryer. The demand for this place has made for long lines and early sell outs. If you manage to get there in time, I'd suggest ordering a couple of the honey almond donuts and a hot coffee, which is also delightfully rich and not at all acidic.

    (5)
  • Meredith R.

    I have to be completely honest -I didn't like Federal Donuts the first time I tried it, but now it's one of my favorite places. No one told me the best donuts were the hot ones! I'm also not from here, so cake donuts weren't something that I found appealing, which didn't give Federal Donuts a fighting chance. Time has aged my appreciation for this place. I grab a coffee and a plain or sugared hot donut (or both), and I'm a happy woman. This location is by far my favorite. Maybe it's the chill neighborhood or the cute girls at the counter. It's probably both.

    (5)
  • Ling X.

    Have yet to get the chicken here, but the donuts are always delicious and constantly changing flavors. I got Turkish coffee (you could taste the nuttiness of coffee grounds) and Sour Cherry Almond, and have determined that I like the fancy donuts more than the hot & fresh ones. Easier to find parking near the South Philly location than the Center City one.

    (4)
  • Karen S.

    Federal Donut is the bomb dot com. I had the buttermilk ranch dry-rubbed chicken. I can honestly say that it was some of the best fried chicken i have ever had. The pickles were similarly amazing. I also had a lavender sugar donut and an indian spice donut, both were unique and simply delectable. The menu is small but what they do, they do well. Counter space is limited, so be ready to grab and go. It's cool place to eat at the counter if you are lucky enough to grab one of the precious seats.

    (5)
  • Alex T.

    I haven't had the chicken yet, so this is strictly a donut review. Man, these donuts were really effing good. That Chocolate and Sea Salt guy was unbelievable. I really need to try the chicken. Very excited to update this review eventually.

    (4)
  • Tanya D.

    I am a Pennsport neighbor...and have been here at least half dozen times. Never had there been both donuts and chicken available at the same time. Either too early for chicken or too late for fancies. For a place that touts themselves a chicken and donut spot this is unforgivable. The staff can't be bothered to answer questions or sometimes even acknowledge that you are waiting while they grouse. (i was the only one standing). I won't be back. I would rather walk further to Baker Bros.

    (2)
  • Catherine Z.

    Holy moley, these donuts are SWEET. Like, so sweet my teeth hurt. I love creative flavors and FedNuts definitely hits the mark there, but I can only eat half of one of these sinful creations if I don't want to put myself on the fast track to diabetes. That said, a box of these babies is definitely a people pleaser and will earn you the title of office king or queen at your next meeting. Will return in hopes of trying the fried chicken.

    (3)
  • Jana C.

    Not getting it---- completely lost on me!!! This morning, 0830---- tried 4 different ones with girlfriend---2 fancy, 2 hot and fresh. Strawberry lavendar Cinnamon br sugar French toast Turkish coffee Overrated.....yes, the cake donut batter is yeasty and nice...but I think of places like Dynamo Donuts, Top Pot, Krispy Kreme, and small boutiques in the Oakland area. I would have absolutely loved to have a plain donut:)! Israeli owner Michael Solomonov, same guy of the very well-rated Zahav, about which my brother raves!

    (3)
  • Kaitlin B.

    Great donut spot! I had a cinnamon donut that was delicious. It was freshly baked, flavorful, and light so I didn't feel too bad after eating it. It was also the perfect size, not too big or too small. All of the people working there were really nice and accommodating.

    (4)
  • Brittany A.

    Delicious donuts and a wonderful staff! I need to come back here to try the chicken!!! If you are in Philly, make sure to check this place out!

    (5)
  • Marissa N.

    Ehh, ok, much to do about nothing once again. Actually I liked the plain donut this time around better than the fancy pants ones the last time we went. Fried chicken was the mission this time we sampled Za atar and Buttermilk ranch both good but not great.

    (3)
  • paula c.

    my husband and I visited here on fri 6/9. I think my expectations were way to high. Donuts were not bad but certainly didn't live up to the hype. We ordered 6 hots, 2 of each and each sugar mix and 2 of the fancys they had which where spicy pb and j. My husband is crazy for chicken and couldn't wait to dive in. He said it was ok

    (3)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :7:00 am - 3:00pm

Specialities

  • Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Parking : Street
    Bike Parking : Yes

Federal Donuts

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