Federal Donuts Reviews

So basically it's the same kind of donut with different toppings. We tried one of every kind they had for the day. The consistency of the donut was like a cake donut but not super dense, a little lighter. The toppings ranged from strawberry lavender, cookies and cream, banana, cinnamon and sugar to things like tres leches. They have two kinds, hot out of the oven and some that are in the case. The coffee is also great. Definitely worth a visit if you're in the area!

I admit I came to FD with very high expectations given its reputation. My wife and I both ordered the chicken sandwich to go. The bread is outstanding and I loved the pickles and breading on the chicken. My issue is the chicken was stringy which you don’t see with high quality chicken. I did enjoy the sandwich but admit I was a bit disappointed given my excitement in finally trying FD. I will try one again since I live near and hope it was an anomaly.

This is the 2nd location of federal donuts that I've now tried (there are 3 I believe) and it has confirmed to me that it is a top-10 must try food in Philadelphia. They serve nothing but donuts, chicken and coffee. All are A+. The donuts are either fresh (literally cooked for you) or near fresh if you get a fancy one (they concoct 5 flavors per day). The chicken also cooked to order. I think the dry coating are awesome. My favorite fried chicken of all time. This place was created by one of Philly's top chefs (owner of Zahav) and should be taken very seriously. I promise you it will be the best donut you have ever eaten.

I feel like they use to serve fried chicken now just wings. Very crispy but still juicy on the inside. Definitely taste like the wings you get from a Chinese restaurant. The donuts are delicious and I would probably just stick to that unless you are super hungry. Friendly service and there are a bunch in Philly so worth a stop in if near one.

I had 2 donuts and a cup of coffee. The donuts are worth trying. they change to type of donuts they have everyday. The coffee was very good. They do offer some sandwiches. I saw one of the sandwiches and they looked good.

I had done some research before a conference visit to Philadelphia, to discover this place was around the corner from my hotel. The first morning, I decided I would get one of the specialty donuts as part of my breakfast (don't judge! :-)), and once I got into the shop, decided to have one of their "normal" donuts, which did not disappoint. I picked strawberry lavender, which I wish was more lavender-y, but the strawberry sugar on the outside made up for it. It was still warm handed to me in a little bag. It's tender, dense cake on the inside, with just a little tooth-iness to the exterior. I was going to go back the next morning, maybe evern bring some home with me, but all the eating I did in Philadelphia had my skirt waistband screaming "No!". The staff is very friendly, and the person who waited on me asked where I was from, and when I said NC, she immediately asked if I'd ever had a donut from Duck Donuts, which has a store in the town I live in (Cary), but started out in Duck, NC. I hadn't, but plan to (my son tells me they're de-lish.) I'm originally from NYC, so I've always leaned towards Dunkin' Donuts (blueberry cake is my favorite), and while I work three blocks from a Krispy Kreme in downtown Raleigh, unless they're Fresh Hot Now, to me they're just meh. They also make Korean fried chicken, but I didn't have time to check that out, as they were closed by the time we got around to dinner. Very casual on the inside.

I have never been a fan of sweets, much preferring salty and/or savory, but my trip to Federal Donuts has me second guessing that one. I went with my son who has a massive sweet tooth and had done the research on donuts (we also went to Beilers), and I was impressed. Sweet but not too sweet, these donuts were cake-type but not so heavy they were uncomfortable. The caramel key lime was my favorite although the chocolate cookies and cream was delightful. I will be back the next time I’m in Philly.

Federal offers more than donuts, but this review is based on very limited experience. The cake donut itself is very good; and the cinnamon-sugar variety is worth FIVE stars. The other kinds we ordered (glazed, glazed/half chocolate, chocolate eclair) were just a bit too sweet. Personal preference I suppose.

SOOOOOOOOOOOO GOOOOOOOOOOOOOD! They have chicken sandwiches too which we did not try because we were saving room for cheesesteaks later. But I think I would have enjoyed them more than the cheesesteak I ended up eating. (FOMO). They have two types of donuts: "Fancy" and Old fashioned. The fancy ones are already made and there were 4 flavors when we went that all looked amazing. The old fashioned are cooked to order and tossed in sugar, there were 4 flavors of those too. I had a cinnamon sugar and it was to die for. It was hot and soft and just so so so good. I wish I lived in Philly so I could go back for more!

Federal Donuts is a small shop with several donut selections plus fried chicken. We only tried the donuts. They all were excellent! Moist and cakelike... nothing like Krispy Kreme or Duncan which I also like. These were unique with flavors like Strawberry Lavender...my favorite and carrot cake. If you're in Philly, try Federal Donuts😁

Philadelphia is probably one of the unsung great food cities in the USA if not the world. It isn't know for fancy food, but it is known for delicious food and that should be more than enough. All that said I had many great meals on my 6 days trip to Philly, and they all had to live up to my lunch at Federal Donuts. I read about Federal Donuts on many websites as a recommendation, and I thought the whole chicken and donut idea seemed like a gimmick, but I tried it anyway. I am glad I did. I put my three piece chicken order in. It would be a thigh, drum stick and breast. You can order it plain (which would not be plain at all), or with a glaze. I chose the buttermilk ranch glaze (which was actually a just big enough sprinkling of buttermilk ranch seasoning). They cook the chicken to order (no fried chicken under heat lamps). So while I waited I ordered two donuts. They were Christmas seasonal, sticky toffee and egg nog. I ate the sticky toffee which was toffee atop a just right in sweetness donut. I ate the second donut, an egg nog donut later , and it was also amazing. When the chicken finally arrived the real taste adventure began. I don't think Federal Donuts offers sides for their chicken, but every chicken order comes with a honey donut. Again this sounds like a gimmick, but it is a great choice as a side because the donut itself is not super sweet so it goes wells with the flavorful chicken. I compare the flavor of the donut to slightly sweeter delicious cornbread. I ate the donut as I scarfed down the chicken. The chicken was ,no lie, the best fried chicken I have ever had. The buttermilk ranch season did not dominate the flavor of the chicken but added to it. Each piece was the perfect degree of moisture. The breading of the chicken was nothing less than spectacular. For me it was really the star of the chicken and they never should reveal the secret of what the breading is made of. I prefer white meat with chicken so I saved the breast until last, and it was really nothing less than a work of art. White meat dries easily, but this was not the case for this white chicken meat. It was so juicy and it was the perfect combination with the breading and seasoning. My only suggestion (and they clearly don't need my suggestions) is that the offer a three piece white meat blend with two wings and a breast. But beggars can't be choosers and I would literally BEG for Federal Chicken and Donuts.

My boyfriend kept telling me that I needed to try Federal Donuts because they were unlike any donut I had ever had. I wish I had gone sooner. He ordered us two “plain” donuts. I was surprised as there were many delicious looking frosted and “fancy” options in the case. But then I heard the fryer and realized that our donuts were being made to order. After a few minutes’ wait we got two donuts that burned my fingers. The outside was so crispy and the inside was so warm and soft. I’ll never get excited about Dunkin’ Donuts again.

So hubby and I walked Spruce street harbor and saw this cute little shack thing called Federal Donuts. I was SUPER excited! To be shortly followed up with severe disappointment. They were cold and doughy. I thought they'd be warm and slightly crunchy. Nope! Dense and cold. Ugh. Not worth $5.00 😟

There were only three flavors to choose from and we tried each of them. Very unique flavors and quite possibly the best donuts we've ever had. Made fresh to order. Can't get much better than than! Highly recommend trying!

Happened to park outside their shop during a trip to U Penn. Donuts were delicious though a little pricey($2.75) but well worth the taste. Will go again when I visit there.

This is a fairly small place and it is an interesting combination of fresh made specialty donuts in the morning, and Korean Chicken for lunch time. The donuts come in two basic formats; the fancy are the mocha, banana and berry frosted and other unusual-for-a-donut flavors with decorative glazes and sprinkles of mini-marshmallows, etc. These fancy donuts change on a regular basis and they usually have six types of fancies available at any given time. The second donut type is the "Hot-n-Fresh" which are made right in front of you. These are in a flavored sugar donut format like cinnamon, strawberry and brown sugar. These are "stlli-warm" fresh and melt in your mouth good. Either donut format is far better than any of the "Chain" donut alternatives. You might have to wait 5 or 10 minutes for them to make your "HnF" donuts, but it is worth it! I have not yet personally tasted the Korean Chicken offerings, but they smell wonderful. I will make a point of returning sometime soon to try this out as well.

Doughnuts are very cute, and strawberry lavender doughnuts are made fresh to order. It was cool to see them being made so fresh. The breakfast sandwich was not the best. Bacon wasn't crispy, so it was hard to chew fatty pieces. It was a little too hot for my taste.

I can't speak on their chicken items here, but the donuts are absolutely delicious! My favorites that I have tried are the sweet potato pie (seasonal, I believe) and strawberry/lavender sugar-coated varieties. Went here quite often when I went to college in this part of the city and I 10/10 recommend going at least once!

I thought chicken and waffles was a great way to start the day. Nope, chicken, and donuts. Every time I travel to Philly I cannot miss stopping here in the morning for breakfast and if I was honest maybe lunch too. The cinnamon brown sugar donut is hot and fluffy and not overfilling. They do have other fancy donuts like the snowcap or caramel chocolate banana. The chicken (after 11 am) is crunchy and not overcooked. They do have a sandwich, on a potato bun, I have yet to try but the guy in front of me ordered two, so it seems a safe bet. The staff is friendly and can handle a crowd like masters. The little school "desk" seats are great to sit and watch while waiting for a fresh donut. This place is a must, and they even have coke products!

Donuts to die for and that says it all. Not to be missed. Their lavender donut is my all-time favorite. If you haven't tried it, go and try one more, you won't regret it.

It was so good however extremely greasy that when i places the donut onto a piece of napkin, the grease went through the napkin and onto my desk calendar and soaked through the months into Sept! All good! 💕

I the heart of downtown Philly, this place gets mostly carryout traffic, but my friends and I were lucky to find three seats at the window, Perfect! There are maybe only 7 or 8 single seats altogether inside, and a couple of small tables outside. Don't let that scare you off. The lunch menu is simple: chicken, one-half, whole or on a sandwich. The sandwich is served on a potato roll for $6.75 and is quite tasty. Cheese, sauce, pickle on it. If there are donuts left over from breakfast, get one. They are the specialty and they are excellent. The counter help is friendly and helpful to strangers. Prices are reasonable. If you like fried chicken, I recommend it. I would dine here if I am ever in Philly again.

Strangely enough, nobody likes donuts (except my husband) in the family but we heard about the chicken sandwich here so of course we had to stop and try. Really good - it's a generous piece of fried chicken with American cheese but somehow transcends the typical one. Sorry, I didn't try the donuts, though they had some interesting choices!

We were there late, but the doughnuts were still very fresh, and the quality is fantastic. Many options to choose from (more if you get there earlier). We had the chicken, as well, and it was excellent. Most impressive, though, was the service. Very friendly and very helpful.

Federal Donuts is right around the corner from the Palomar. I know, I know. I'm just being greedy. But you cannot call your trip to Philly a successful one until you've had a donut from Federal Donuts. Seriously! Take a bite when you visit. It was so soft, warm, succulent and it hit the right spot. You know that spot where you really want something and you're not sure. Then you take a bite of something random and realize that it's heaven? THAT SPOT! I've asked a few Philadelphians (passer-bys) and they attested that Federal Donuts is the place to go for authentic and delicious donuts.

they were out of their "fancy" donuts mid-afternoon, so we bought the brown sugar cinnamon, vanilla spice, & strawberry lavender. No trace of grease anywhere and a great mid-afternoon pick us up would be very easy to get carried away if they had all of their offerings available.

I saw Federal donuts on one of the shows on Food network. This was my first visit. I ordered the donuts which are made to order. strawberry lavender, cookies and cream and cinnamon sugar. All are delicious. I also had a chicken sandwich. Though it’s small it filled me up for lunch. The coating on the chicken was delicious! The dressing and dill pickles were a nice touch. It also had cheddar cheese and comes on potatoe bread that they lightly toast. Really delicious chicken! I stopped back before going home after spending the day shopping in that neighborhood and got a chicken sandwich for takeout. There are other locations. Next time I’m near one I will be stopping in again!

Stop by federal donuts and grab a half dozen freshly made donuts. Cakey and hot with really interesting flavors. Strawberry and lavender is an interesting and delicious combo! Service is fast and efficient especially on the weekends when the line can be long. Worry not, it moves quickly!

One of our favorite places in Philadelphia. The food and the staff are excellent. No issue recommending it!

I was very much looking forward to this place and was left disappointed. It's $10 for a half-chicken that includes a plain donut. I didn't think this price was too bad. I got the spicy-garlic chicken and really didn't care for it. I was expecting a spicy type of sauce like at a Korean fried chicken place, but was bummed to get a soggy piece of chicken with a vinegarry sauce. It was like Frank's Red Hot was the base. The donut was of the cake variety and nothing special. You'd do better getting both fried chicken and donuts at the Reading Terminal Market. With all that being said, the service was super friendly and quick.

As I mentioned, I prefer raised donuts over cake donuts, and since Federal only has cake, this review is not the best. I actually ran across Federal while walking from one place to another. Since I was there, I had to give it a try. I stuck to just donuts. Great flavors and topping, but heavy cake donuts, so even the great toppings couldn't overcome the cake. I really wish they offered raised with those toppings, it would be 5 star all the way.

I have been wanting to try Federal Donuts fried chicken for quite sometime and finally had the opportunity, it is delicious! My wife and daughter's have had their donuts and while they thought they were good, they did not think they were great. In fairness they prefer raised donuts versus cake donuts which Federal donuts serve. I had the fried chicken sandwich, I think the chicken must be double battered and fried. The coating of the chicken packed a serious punch and the roll and accompaniments went together well. I had a freshly fried sugar coated cake donut which was perfect to me. I would recommend Federal Donuts to anyone.

Doughnuts are hot and fresh, and served with a smile. I am in love with the cinnamon and brown sugar. My husband likes the specialty doughnuts, which change daily. Walking distance to CHOP.

I had heard, read, and seen so much about this place that I absolutely had to go. I got to the restaurant (which was conveniently located in the downtown area not far off Broad St. on Sansom) at about 2PM. I guess they had been slammed that morning because there were no "specialty" donuts left but you could order hot cake donuts still. As well, there was no chicken left except for chicken sandwiches. Anyways, I took what I could get and I ordered a strawberry lavender donut and a chicken sandwich. The donut was hot out of the fryer but strangely did not taste of strawberry or lavender but just seemed to taste of a sugary coating. The chicken sandwich was a fried chicken breast on a soft potato roll(reminiscent of a prepackaged hamburger bun) with a Kraft slice, ranch seasoning, pickles and a spicy mayo. The chicken was average and dry- definitely not as tender as a Chik Fil A chicken breast - and didn't have a lot of flavor. The bun and cheese just kind of made the sandwich seem "cheap". Perhaps my expectation were way too high given the rave reviews but I know when something is good and deserves to be ordered on a repeat basis and this was not it. With no comparisons to anything else, the meal was average. No one was more disappointed than me. The donut was $1.75 and the sandwich was $7.50. They only take cash and the restaurant has very limited seating. No restrooms either.

Fresh baked while you are waiting. Many flavors, great coffee. Sometimes there is a line. Its worth it!

Stopped in for a donut and iced coffee on a Monday morning. The donuts were clearly fresh, and there was a nice variety of flavors. The apple crumble was amazing!

Not the best donuts I've ever had, they are cake donuts and my SO and I are more into yeast donuts. We'll probably go by here again to try a different one. We had the caramel peanut apple as a dessert after a meal nearby. Will say that offering fried chicken with their donuts is quite a twist

Heard so much about this place when I walked past it just today went in got chicken to Go..the smallest was a 4 piece box @ approx. $9! well opened the box never saw such small parts of a chicken tiny mystery pieces..could not tell the breast (she said one was in there..LOL) from thigh..i recognized the leg....batter was bland no umph..no spices & dry all in all disappointing. KFC or Popeye at the very least have taste. & spices or better go to the terminal get it from amish..or other better fried chicken joints there..

I visited twice. On my first visit, I ordered two donuts. The carrot cake and cookies and cream donuts were awesome. Sweet, perfect cake texture. A little pricey for donuts but not completely unreasonable. I came back another day and ordered the 3-piece chicken with Zatar flavoring. AWESOME. Unique spices.

Unusual doughnut place which offers fried chicken so you can visit with your friends on keto and low carb diet. Their coffee is decent but you really go there for the donuts. We heard they started as a Korean fried chicken operation. Their donuts are colorful, flavorful and somewhat fancy. I liked especially the red on the outside cherry donuts. We decided to visit all three center city locations.

I badly wanted to go to Federal Donuts because I'd heard so much about it and read the reviews. I wanted to go specifically for the fried chicken as I don't eat sweets very frequently. We looked at the location in University City, but ended up at the one across from Abe Fisher on Sansom St early one Saturday morning. Too early, in fact, to get fried chicken. So we had coffee and a donut each. I had cinnamon and my partner had the Turtle one. They were good donuts, different but not radically better than what is available at other places. One absolute rating scale, we didn't like them as much as plain Krispy Kreme donuts or fresh out of the oven chocolate Dunkin Donuts. But they were good - and not overly insanely sweet. We did end up coming back at lunch time to try the fried chicken. We took out a 'two piece' with donut package. It was well seasoned and good, but certainly nowhere near the greatest friend chicken I've ever had. Nothing to make a special trip for. I can see where someone who loves donuts might fixate on one of their special kinds, but overall we didn't think it was in anyway absolutely compelling. So for us while it was ok it did not live up to the advance hype. I do admit that we don't seek out sweets but if I'm looking for fried chicken alone, I wouldn't come here again. The chicken was ok but - again - not compelling. We were actually here for both breakfast, then lunch on the same day, so I'm going with brunch as the meal. A little pricey for what you get. But the coffee is good.

Warning: Resist the urge to shove them in your face until they cool. It tends to be painful if you don't. They have 2 different styles Fresh ones are served hot and tosses in any one of 3 or 4 different mixes of sugar. I had the cookies and cream and it was amazing!!! They're so soft and squishy and delicious. The fancy ones are not served warm since they are glazed and some have toppings. I tried the blueberry pancake one and didn't care for it but I'm used to the fake blueberry of a Dunkin Donuts doughnut. Definitely worth checking out if you're anywhere in the area. Avoid the coffee if you have a sensitive stomach it's very very acidic. Even my coffee addicted fiance wouldn't drink it.

Amazing, warm food. All made to order. Super simple menu of chicken and donuts. Worth the walk! By far one of the best things we ate in Philly!!!

Nothing like fresh warm donuts! Of the regular varieties (cinnamon & sugar, cookies n cream, strawberry lavender), I liked the strawberry lavender one the most. I also purchase a half dozen of the fancy donuts, Za’atar French fries, & 5 honey ginger chicken wings. I visited the the Center City (Sansom St.) location. The food was all excellent but I gave them a rating of 4/5 because with all the food I purchased To-Go, there were no napkins or wet naps in the bag, & the Za’atar fries say they come with ketchup, but there was none included with my order. I drove to a park to eat to discover no napkins or ketchup. I was honestly disappointed. For a place to get the food so right & then completely fail on the follow-through pis surprising. I think Federal Donuts can do better!

We were in town for the Army Navy game and stopped by Federal Donuts after dinner one night. We got two boxes of a variety of donuts...so delicious! The service was wonderful.

I was skeptical of the flavored donuts, expecting sugary goop, but instead was treated to a freshly made donut that was rolled in the flavored "donut dust". Hot and delicious, and only $1.60. We saw them making the honey glazed donuts around 10am, getting them ready for their fried chicken/donut combo. They looked amazing! Can get crowded, but they can handle it.

We had a dozen donuts from Federal over the course of a couple of days. They were delicious. Moist and flavorful. We had a wide assortment. Everyone enjoyed them.

I meant to write about this location, not the 2nd street one. Stayed at Club Quarters and the concierge, Milton, recommended this place. It was just what my tastebuds wanted. They have some interesting flavors, but you might want one or two classics for those of us less bold. I really enjoy the chocolate and peanut butter and oreo and lavendar options. Oh yeah, they have awesome fried chicken and sandwichs too- so when in doubt get a sandwich

The strawberry cheesecake donut was delicious. The hot chocolate wasn't quite as moist or as flavorful as I would have hoped. $2.50 for these standard type donuts seems a little steep. All in all, I would come back again.

What a great find! Hipster boutique style donuts with a diverse and unusual choice of flavors- try the pomegranate!

Wow. Love these donuts. Try the strawberry lavender. My brother got 3 chocolate, but had to stop after two as they are really sweet. Nice staff. Will return when in philly next.

My boyfriend grabbed up a quick bite here before traveling back home. He ordered a Dulce De Luche donut and two "Hot and Fresh" donuts. These donuts are sold straight out of the fryer and covered in cinnamon sugar. Dear God...they were so good. So please, if you come here, get a "Hot and Fresh" donut because the feeling of a delicious donut melting in your mouth is just heavenly.

Very nice, quant, unique place. It has a nice faded patina and rustic look. The staff is friendly engaging. The food recipes are original, interesting, and tasty. Prices are moderately high but affordable (apx $7 for a sandwich/$11 for a dozen donuts/$1-$2.50 per individual donut). Despite their name, "Federal Donuts" has more to offer than just fresh donuts. There's sandwiches, rotisserie chicken, some fried foods, and coffee (all with unique recipes and combinations) from "fancy" to "Federal's" version of basic. Everything is made fresh and on the premises. You can enjoy a meal on the go with takeout, dine inside on the antique "schoolhouse like" bench/desk or eat outside at the sidewalk bistro tables. I would definitely recommend this cafe/restaurant to a friend and TripAdvisor followers alike!

It is easy to miss, first couple times we just walked by this place. The window is small, the place is small but people working there are so passionate! We didn't care about chicken pieces but always recommend Chicken sandwich. If you don't like hot, just ask them to skip the sriracha sauce. And donuts! They are made right in front of you so always fresh. I also fell in love with their fancy donuts. Be ready to come back couple times since it's impossible to try everything at once. Service is also great. They get busy but still we always feel as if we are taken care of. They always make sure to exceed the expectations, really.

I was so excited to see how close our hotel was to Federal Donuts. It was our first stop on our trip to Philadelphia. We had the strawberry lavender and the cinnamon brown sugar donuts with the za'atar chicken. The cake-y donuts was sweet and subtle and melt in your mouth delicious. The chicken was piping hot, crispy and well flavored. I would eat here every week if it were near my house. You must eat here.

Totally enjoyed our donuts but really wouldn't go out of the way to get here, unless maybe you are looking for chicken too, especially since it is so small and seems like a wait always here But bottom line, tasty when hot, so if you do go, it's worth the wait for fresh and hot! Don't settle for what they have on the counter unless you are in a hurry

I generally hate donuts, but this place changed my perspective regarding what’s possible with a donut, especially the ones they make to order like strawberry lavender. It’s hard not to go inside when I’m in town. I generally don’t like desert, but I make an exception for this place.

Seriously, if you are a donut lover you should be stuffing your face with these. I don't even have a love affair with donuts and I am still dreaming about the strawberry lavender and butter pecan donuts I had. If you are staying at the Hotel Palomar there is no excuse to not go as this place is only a block away.

This location on Sansom Street in Philadelphia, PA is in the mist of shopping. For those who do not want to get lost in Philadelphia and coming from the South. Take South Broad Street, all around City Hall, get in/stay in far right lane, make a right on Sansom Street. Easy! Donuts are great and chicken is great. Try the HoneyGinger

They are donuts. Nothing earth shattering going on with these donuts. I prefer duck donuts or gene better buckeye donuts. Paying 13 bucks for 6 donuts seems a bit much for an average donut.

I had to try it since they are kind of a thing around here. They don’t have a huge selection of donuts but they have interesting flavors you won’t get anywhere else. I had a caramel brûlée. I love cake donuts and these were warm and soft. It wasn’t earth shattering but it was good. Weirdly, they also have fried chicken for sale...

My husband and I both typically prefer yeast donuts over cake donuts, but these were not your typical cake donuts! We tried the Churro and Strawberry Cheesecake "Fancy Donuts" and they were wonderful! The donut itself was moist and they had a delicious glaze and flavor. The manager was very friendly and actually gave us each a free "Hot Fresh Donut" to try because he said that's what they are known for. So we ended up trying the cinnamon sugar and strawberry lavender hot donuts (also cake donuts), too! They were even better than the fancy donuts and essentially came right out of cooker, rolled in sugar, and handed to us. We would definitely go back for the donuts and want to try their chicken as well!

Let me start by saying " I do not like donuts. I don't search them out. I don't crave them". Federal Donuts was within walking distance of our hotel, The Notary (which is a fab hotel). After an exhilarating 6 mile run from the hotel to the Schuykill River and back, I decided to walk there with my amazing fiance. Had heard SO much about it from friends. Well well, they had samples of their cinnamon-sugar donut and it was warm. We ordered one and split it. We also bought 3 other donuts for my fiance's mom & brother. Let me say: I would definitely search out this place. Reasonably priced, great staff. Darling little place. Can so understand why people love this place. I should be glad there is not a Federal Donuts in my town, near Washington DC or i would have to run extra miles!

These donuts are to die for! They're soooooo good, even the sugar/cinnamon ones that sound kinda plain are incredibly delicious! I have tried some of the specially flavored ones as well, and they were magnificent! Don't miss out on getting some donuts and just enjoying them, especially while they're still hot!

My husband and I stumbled upon this place looking for a place for breakfast. My husband had the "fancy chocolate donut" and I had a "hot fresh cinnamon brown sugar donut." Both donuts were fresh, just made (mine was still warm) and absolutely delicious! The service was excellent. The counter person took the time to explain everything as we were puzzled by all the choices.

We tried four different flavors. Guava and cream cheese, Key lime Caramel, Blood Orange Cream and Carrot Cake. I love the creative flavors and they tasted so amazing. We each had our favorite. I thought the carrot cake was the best, but my son loved the blood orange. Yum!

Raised on donuts since birth these tower over those boxed donuts I was eating while watching cartoons on Saturday mornings. Then came DD donuts where I could mix a dozen but still they fell short. Along came federal donuts and I fell in love with donuts all over again. They are simply the best. They also have fried chicken and a new location on South Street.

We stopped in here on our way back to the parking garage which was very close to Federal Donuts. We thought there would be a big selection of donuts being their name is Federal Donuts. There were only four types of donuts to chose from. The place is very small. Friendly staff but not a lot of selection. Donuts were good.

We went for the first time to the 2nd st location. Two days later, we couldn't stay away and had to go back for more doughnuts and chicken.

If you are in the U Penn neighborhood, got to stop by for these donuts. Really delicious and freshly made. Unique and decadent

Federal Donuts was on my list since I heard the food is awesome. Yes, it is. We stopped after morning tours to City Hall and One Liberty Place as we were in the neighborhood. We split a six piece chicken, and we went with the sweet soy sauce as I can’t handle too much spice. They were sizzling hot and filling enough for lunch. The order came with free donuts—moist and delicious. They sell cold drinks, so we had Dr. Brown’s cream soda to wash it down. We found seating both inside and out as people who stopped here seemed to know what they wanted and tended to take things to go. We opted to sit outside. Overall, as good as expected.

We went later in the day, so they were out of a couple. The banana cream one was shockingly so good. It's tasted like banana cake. The chocolate glaze and blueberry lemon also tasted good. The vietnamese coffee was good.

I was in town on business and wanted something more then Dunkin when I stumbled upon this gem! Definitely worth the 10 minute walk from center city. I got the Blueberry Pancake and the Cookies n cream donuts and they were mouthwatering! Customer service was top notch as I forgot my receipt (which I needed for my expense slip) and after calling them they didn't hesitate to email it to me within minutes. Great place!

Amazing!! We couldn't decide what we wanted, so we shared the strawberry lavender, PB malt, and cinnamon brown sugar. They were still hot...so good! I never want a room-temperature donut ever again...donuts are meant to be enjoyed hot! Love this place!

These donuts are incredible! A little pricey, but worth it. We even brought a box home to Chicago; they lasted the plane ride. I don't usually like cake styled donuts, but I will have these any day of the week. Wish I had room to try the fried chicken.

If you are looking for a wide variety of donuts, this is not the place for you. But, if you are looking for hot, fresh cake donuts, then look no further. They do serve a few different flavors and they are all excellent. I especially liked the butter pecan donut.

Short stay in Philly and here is Federal Donuts just around the corner on Sansom. Had to try their cake donut - my usual fave type. Excellent - warm, moist and tasty. Perfect pick-me-up! My spouse choose the 'guava poppy' and is still licking his lips. Must come back for the other delights!! They all looked good.

Honestly, they have the best donuts. I ordered a strawberry lavender and it is fresh made. Super warm and fluffy. It's so beautiful and it taste even better. Each piece is $1.75.

Donuts from Federal Donuts was a great way to end my short stay in Philly. I had the cinnamon and brown sugar and my boyfriend tried the peanut butter marshmallow fluff and he's still talking about it a week later! The service was great and the donuts were fresh and delicious!

We grab donuts and coffee for breakfast here - the donuts were outstanding. Literally one of the best I have ever had, light, warm and covered in crunch sugar granules.

I hope to try the chicken next time, but I thought their all-spice donut, with chocolate icing and some kind of shaved chocolate on top was excellent. Interesting flavors and good eats.

Great doughnuts, friendly people, quick and simple ordering. There's nothing not to love about this place!

Delicious and warm melty happiness. Skip the "fancy" ones and go with the fresh vanilla or cinnamon. Sucks when someone in front of you orders 2 dozen and you have to wait 15 minutes for them to makes more on their inefficient donut line. They should have 2, but I guess the wait make them taste better

You gotta eat here when you’re in Philly! My wife and I share great Southern food via our blog at FoodieScore.Blog and this stuff will soon get a review on our page even though it’s not in the South. Amazing honey donuts! Crispy and flavorful fried chicken! (Grab the napkins.) And the specialty donuts are to die for!! They also have coffee. Seating indoors and outdoors. And complimentary water if you need a beverage calorie break for all that delicious food! We appreciated that so much on a hot day. And the staff was so kind to us.

I had been wanting to try the donuts here on previous visits to Philadelphia but just couldn’t make it work. I was finally able to stop in and was not disappointed. I tried the Blood Orange Creamsicle donut and it was great! I only wish I was able to come by later (after 10AM) to try the chicken, which I hear is also great. From the looks of the selection, you can’t go wrong in this place. Don’t let the meek exterior fool you. This is the place to come for breakfast and maybe even lunch! Staff were friendly and service was fast, even at the peak of the breakfast rush.

Very expensive - $18 for eight donuts. They do have unusual flavors like mango. I would try a different donut place next time.

The best donuts ever!!! Just went for donuts and also tried the chicken sandwich, it is amazing and I don't eat fried chicken sandwiches often, now have another favorite sandwich. I try the "best of donuts" in every city I visit and there is only one place that rivals Federal. Cool, friendly staff. Few seats, but mostly take out. Right now really good fancy flavors, try them all!!

Wonderful donuts ! Probably my favorite in the country . The powdered sugar and cookies and creams are a must .

How do you make a donut taste even better ask the employees at Federal Donuts. Wow these donuts are put of this world the staff is fantastic I can't wait to come back for the chicken.

I wanted to bring donuts to a large meeting of 60 people in town for a convention. I saw their good reviews and thought it would be nice to get some local flavor even though Dunkin Donuts are everywhere around here. I got a couple boxes of each of their regular (non-fancy) donuts: strawberry, vanilla, and cinnamon. I normally find cake-like donuts to be too dry or hard, but these were very soft and had an excellent texture. The problem, though, was that they are all crusted with granular flavored sugars. For a meeting in nice shirts and ties, the sugar was too messy, and I think the hard granularity detracted from the flavors.

Serves two things: donuts and fried chicken. Both are excellent and the types vary from day to day. With any type of chicken, you get a free plain donut. There are donuts with fancy frosting as well as donuts with different kinds of sugar. This is not a good place for people on diets or someone who has a low tolerance for salt.

Although the person picking this location was all about the donuts, it was the chicken we left raving about. The batter is to DIE FOR! The chicken is moist and the donuts are creative. This place is small and fills up fast. But with donuts like Cookies and Cream, Strawberry Cheesecake and Hot Chocolate, they are both worth the wait.

The fancy donuts are where it’s at. Multiple locations but no loss in the quality. Enjoy them and get your coffee elsewhere.

The fried chicken is the star of the show here. It really should be called Federal Fried Chicken. The donuts are in fact very good, nice and moist cake donuts, not the best I've had but up there- but the chicken is insanely good.

We stopped here just out of curiosity (and for something different than the familiar doughnut chains). The variety on display were unique and appetizing. We ordered the PeanutButter donut -- the glaze was gooey and delicious. I can't say enough about the cake - it was so soft and melted in every bite. The price was slightly less than $3 per donut, but worth the experience. We recommend it, especially when you need to treat yoself!

I had the 3-piece fried chicken with the coconut curry dry rub. Wow! So much flavor! It was some of the best fried chicken I've ever had, and if I lived in Philly I might develop a problem (and gain several more pounds) by frequenting this place all the time. I really came here for the donuts, though, and I thought they were a bit underwhelming. I tried 3 flavors over two visits. The best one was actually the freshly made honey donut that came with the chicken. The prepared donuts were a mixed bag. The blueberry muffin one was pretty good, but the carrot cake was too much like actual cake. It was too moist and kind of gross. The 3rd speciality didn't taste like anything. I honestly can't remember what it was. Stick with the chicken and the freshly made donuts and I'd say you're golden.

The chicken is cut-up in portions and you don't get your money worth at all. For $10.00 I was really expecting a half of chicken not pieces cut up, like my chicken breast was cut up so I only got a tip, like a chicken breast is a chicken breast not to be served in portions. Big rip-off little itty bitty pieces of chicken I will never go there again. I don't recommend it either I could've bought a whole chicken, at least I would've gotten a whole chicken breast. It's sad how people & places like this just rip you off and get away with it. Federal Donuts you should be ashamed of yourself & better be glad I didn't look in my box before I left, because I would've asked for my money back for sure!! Not a happy customer...............

Located between Sansome and 16th street Old school desks serve as tables in the shop or you may opt for 2-3 patio tables. The special order cake donuts take a few minutes to cook. Had the Strawberry Lavender – not able to taste the lavender Brown Sugar – very good and got my day started Not sure why the big write up on this place, they are just cake donuts.

Couldn't wait to try this place. I loved getting the donuts warm and freshly made. Some of the best I ever had. I also really wanted to try their chicken sandwiches, but we were there too early in the day. The blueberry pancake donut takes exactly like a blueberry pancake. Really wish they could come to Pittsburgh!!

Some of the best donuts - as they are hot and fresh and melt in your mouth - can be found at federal donuts. They have a variety of flavors that update with the season. Come at 11am or later and enjoy hot, freshly fried chicken with your donuts. This is a great small place to meet up with friends and grab a quick and messy bite. Don't expect a lot of variety of menu options. This place is really chicken and donuts.

Had my first taste of Federal Donuts today - my favorite was cinnamon and sugar which was warm. The chocolate was also very good.

We were psyched to check out this place. We got three donuts - two fancy and one hot. The hot one was pretty awesome. I won't lie. The other two were just ok. And, the coffee... it wasn't anything special. The service was pretty flat; not even a smile! We definitely would love to head back and try the fried chicken for sure.

Fresh and tasty Donuts! Lavender, Cookies-Cream flavours were amazing. Heard so much about their fried chicken but unfortunately it was sold out. Had the chicken sandwich with a hefty portion of juicy, well coated chicken breast. One of the best chicken sandwiches.

They make the donuts when you order them. They are hot and yummy. When we were there they had three different types. Cookies and Cream, Strawberry and Lavender and Cinnamon with Brown Sugar. Tried the first two. I liked the Strawberry one best but the Cookie one was a close second 😊

This little hole in the wall in University City serves up some amazing donuts! We enjoyed the old fashioned, Mighty Quinn and cinnamon! Very friendly staff too. Warning: NO DECAF COFFEE. They also have fried chicken and fried chicken sandwiches with lots of interesting seasoning/sauces, but we were not able to try that on this visit.

There's a very good, interesting donut selection here, but I opted for the simple, cinnamon, brown sugar donut. It's a cake donut and it's hot, fresh, and delicious. I just found the prices to be a bit high and the coffee was very average and forgettable. But I would still go back for a donut if I'm ever in the area and the mood strikes me.

Ok, first, I am not even really a donut person. However, walking by day after day smelling wafts of deep fried miracles...I had to go in! I'm not talking chocolate frosted blah. I am talking chirro, pumpkin, blueberry, and strawberry lavender (my favorite) and many more! Even better, many of them are made to order! Hot and calling your name!

I picked up lunch for a group of six people: Two whole fried chickens and a half dozen "hot fresh" doughnuts. Got two different dry seasonings for the chicken--buttermilk ranch and za'atar. The chicken was perfect: Crispy outside and moist inside. Great flavor, too. The doughnuts were also very good, but the chicken was the star of the show. The interior of the restaurant is no frills. There are no tables, only a little snack bar facing out the window with a few stools. There's a dispenser of water and some plastic cups so you can rehydrate while you wait for your order. The staff is friendly and efficient. The menu is extremely limited. They have fried chicken, doughnuts, coffee and cans of soda. If you want side dishes with your doughnuts, you should probably go to WaWa for some potato chips or macaroni salad on your way to Federal. I would absolutely come back here. The fried chicken was first rate.

So rare to find hot donuts! Great selection, friendly service. Our country has become so accustomed to crappy donuts from Dunken, everyone should come here and find out what real donut are all about.

Had a quick breakfast here, one block from hotel. Great coffee, greater donuts, warm when served - cake style, soft and toothsome and among the best I have ever had.

My sister and I came here recently to get some donuts (obviously). I'm not hugely into donuts, but I prefer them to cakes. Holy smokes these things were GOOD! I got the strawberry lavender and cinnamon sugar donuts. My sister got those two plus the hot cocoa and tres leches donuts. I didn't get to taste the two fancy donuts but the other two were fantastic. I don't think I could eat donuts from any other place...well, except for Krispy Kream of course 😊

This restaurant has been a food institution in Philly for a long time, I think there are a few different locations. Fried chicken is a must, the chain restaurants can't compare to this. Crispy, made to order, and full of taste. Donuts are old fashioned or fancy. They are cake donuts so maybe a little different than what you are used to, but still very good. They are very filling, so choose carefully. I would come back here.

We ordered chicken sandwich, half order chicken with soy sweet garlic glaze, one fancy donut and one hot donut. The chicken sandwich was just fair. The chicken was tough. Honestly, the half order chicken was alright. However, Half order chicken only come with 4 pieces. It cost 9.25. Thigh and drumstick were delicious, the other two chicken breast pieces were tough. Pricy. Each piece of fancy donut cost 2.75 And each piece of hot donut cost 1.75 I had strawberry lavender, it was good. Overall, it's pretty average.

So, I recalled seeing Philadelphia's Federal donuts on the travel channel and my fiance' and I live in Philly and we are foodies so he said, "let's go!" It was not a great experience. The chicken was worse than any chicken I've ever had, burnt, greasy and tasted like straw. So for the donut, I chose the honey-ginger glaze, I understand that's supposed to make it taste better...uh..no. So, I and my fiance had the banana donut..hmmm... There was nothing spectacular about it. It was a donut. In recent years I feel like Dunkin' Donut's donuts have fell off as far as taste but Dunkin' Donuts gets a hundred in my book compared to Federal Donuts. I think it would be better to fry your own.

The fried chicken was tasty. I think it was a mistake to order the garlic sauce - the bites without the sauce seemed to taste better. The staff was friendly. We ate there before the NFL Draft and they gave us a box of donuts to bring to the event. Very limited seating, making "dining in" a challenge.

I know I should have had the fried chicken but we didn't have time. We did have the donuts though. There was a line of people and the place was packed but we still got our food quickly. I don't think you should be fooled by all the fancy flavors if I am being honest. Get the cinnamon sugar donut (WARM!!!!). You will not regret it. All of the donuts were good and we tried several but you cannot go wrong with a warm, melt in your mouth donut.

Donuts were very good. Best hot and fresh. I took some home and they didn't taste as good the next day. Chicken was awesome, I tried the soy ones. My wife had the chicken sandwich... That was excellent.

Took a walk back to our hotel from Rittenhouse Square and recalled hearing about this chicken and donut shop. We decided to stop in and sooo glad we did! Best donuts ever. Banana Cream Pie and Strawberry Lavender donuts were AMAZING- No equal! This will be a regular stop when we travel to Philly.

So we tasted four different donuts and were far from impressed. The four types basically the same with slightly different sugar arranged on top. For the price: $1.50 each, the uniform response was chewy but eh. Add in the fact that we had to wait five minutes for the so-so warm donuts I would give it a pass.

Visiting Philly and couldnt pass up a chance to savor the asst donuts. Also had their breakfast sandwich. I believe the donuts were made to order, they came out hot, and the aroma gets you.. The kids loved them!!

Heard this place has the best fried chicken from locals & also saw it showcased on tv. We went at 9am & the donuts were ready but the chicken not til 11am. We went back & ordered fried chicken to go. Casual small place with indoor seating & a couple tables outside. The chicken was fried to order with your choice of different sauces. We ordered ours plain. The chicken had a nice thick crunchy batter, juicy & flavorful. A bonus plain cake donut came with our order. The donut was fresh but lacking in flavor.

There are a few seats to wait while your order is being prepared, but it's not an eat-in restaurant. This place sells about 6 varieties each of fried chicken and donuts, a few random drinks and that's it. The plain friend chicken is excellent, not too greasy or salty and my husband likes the zatar fried chicken. You can order a half or whole chicken in any flavor or glaze, and you get a free honey donut with your chicken order. You can also order the donuts separately. In terms of service, you can order in advance and pick-up, or they will deliver locally for a small fee. We order about once a month as a sinful treat. Enjoy!

If I hadn't been so hungry/desperate and had I not been such a regular glazed donut and fried chicken freak, I woudn't have bothered. That said, everything I feared - ok, I knew they'd be cake donuts, but a bone dry so-called fresh donut? And whassup with all those idiotic glazes? Couldn't you have just one donut without one of your pitiable toppings? Chicken was not dry, but unless you're in the mood to burn your mouth out, beware!!! Hated the whole thing from concept to execution.

Stopped for a couple of take out coffees and donuts. Coffee was great but the donuts were way too sugary for my taste. Plain donuts loaded up with different frostings at $2.50 each.

The fresh donuts were delicious! we stayed at a hotel right nearby and couldn't resist going in for fresh donuts every morning!!!

Stumbled across this gem while walking around the city. Can get busy at times, I recommend the wait and patience. They have some standard donuts that they serve every day and then they rotate special donuts. All were good, some of the specials were very unique. Chicken must be good too since a bunch of people ordered while we were there, we didn't try. Next time we will give it a whirl.

Federal Donuts are an institution in Philly, and it's no wonder. Great fresh, hot donuts, but the fried chicken is the real kicker. They begin serving chicken at 11am and there was a short line inside the tiny shop. Three folks behind the counter hustling to get folks their pastries, and drinks and execute those chicken orders. We opted for the chili spiced chicken and were not sorry. Three hearty pieces and a honey donut makes the perfect Saturday morning breakfast! If I lived closer, I'd be in big trouble. Definitely worth the wait and packing a few to bring home if you're from out of town!!

~Preface~ Narrator: On the 16th of June, Joe (protagonist) embarked on a journey to Federal Donuts after reading novels of reviews that conveyed how "amazing" this establishment was.. little did he know what was In store for him... Chapter 1- Don't Judge a Book By its Cover Narrator: Joe arrived at his destination approximately at 11:30, he peered up at the charming red,white,& blue storefront, & said to himself, "I hope this isn't another industrial rustic décor." Upon entrance, Joe immediately noticed a huge air duct running right over the kitchen; this paired with the concaved spider webbed ceiling, dim industrial lighting, & dirty floor made him skeptical of the cleanliness. The motif Joe would use to describe this later on to his friends would be a "run-down elementary school hostel." Chapter 2- Pretty On The Outside...Raw On The Inside Narrator: Approaching the front desk counter, Joe explained that he was a virgin federal donuts customer, & asked what the cashier recommended for lunch. The delightful girl replied, "Our fried chicken sandwich is to die-for..." Being somewhat tight on time he went ahead & ordered the recommendation. Along the right of the wall Joe spotted a bench with an elementary school desk-top on each seat. He decided to sit & take in the ambience of the Federal Donuts. At this point in time he noticed that it didn't even smell of donuts, & more importantly he had forgotten to order one! Roughly 7 minutes passed, & the girl called Joes name for his order; he popped out of his desk-seat like a giddy school boy as if the recess bell had just rung. Fortunately a table just opened up outside. Joe sat down & began to unbind the wrapping; what unveiled itself was a beautiful sandwich encompassed with a boneless chicken breast, buttermilk ranch seasoning, American cheese, dill pickle slices, & a spicy rooster sauce on a Martin's potato roll. The first bite...flavorful, crunchy, & messy, as the sauce ran into the thick rugged manbeard of Joe; he would need to use his napkin every bite...and then it happened.. a bite into the middle revealed a rawness of the chicken..everything when down hill from there... the breading sliding off the poultry, & the bun disintegrating into a flat tasteless nothingness as Joe tried to nibble around the raw center..it was a lost cause. After assessing this establishment Joe can equivocally say his chicken sandwich was unsatisfactory, but would be open to revisiting for a sufficiently cooked sandwich, a better bun to hold the ingredients, & at least a side donut for the price of $7.29 (after tax).. Chapter 3- A Picture Is Not Always Worth a 1000 Words Joe went to the website to find out what was exactly on their chicken sandwich.. the landing page was visually captivating, but realized once again....Don't judge a "book" by its cover... Joe would like to note to the website developer: it does not allow the visitor to expand the menu tab on the desktop version (extremely frustrating when the tab keeps dropping back down). After having to go on the mobile website to access the menu, Joe found what he was looking for, but noticed basic layout & text looked worse than a free Wix website. The Don does not yet approve of this establishment & may be back~

Simple menu, but everything we’ve had is great. Their chicken sandwich is a highlight! It’s a lightly breaded chicken breast with simple toppings. Nothing fancy but very tasty. A bit pricey, but worth it. The staff is always friendly. Though there is a bench area to sit at, if is definitely a grab and eat kind of place.

The chicken was really really good! The donuts were just ok. Very cakey and rely too much on the toppings for variety. With 3 of the top 5 donut shops located in Reading Terminal Market that's where you should go for your donut fix.

The chicken sandwich was crispy and moist. Very flavorful and freshly made. We found the donuts to be okay. Some of the flavors didn’t seem to deliver in taste.

They only serve fried chicken and donuts. Great idea and they do them perfect! The chicken is fried up crispy with your choice of a dry rub they toss on them after there fried or a wet sauce for dipping or tossed in. Both are soooo good! With every order they also fry up some cake donuts for free with your chicken order but, they are plain not flavored, still good though. I like to order the a few or dozen if I'm taking back to share of all three flavors (cinnamon sugar, strawberry and lavender, or vanilla sugar). My personal favorite is the strawberry and lavender and I don't even like lavender but in this combination it totally works beautifully. I never miss this place when I'm in town.

I stopped in for donuts at breakfast. There was no wait, the service was great. I ordered the cinnamon brown sugar, strawberry lavender, burnt caramel, and blueberry pancake donuts. I tried a few bites of each, and while all were moist and well done, I found the more elaborate, frosted creations to be too sweet to do anything more than taste. The traditional style cinnamon and brown sugar and strawberry lavender were warm and flavorful, much more conducive to eating (whole) with a cup of coffee. Definitely worth a try.

Love this little gem. Homemade cake doughnuts in awesome flavors. You can even get them made hot to order! Yummy!

Heard so much about it but whole family was disappointed in the taste. We got dunkin donuts next day and everyone was happier lol!

We are from Toronto and some locals recommended we stop here, as it was around the corner from our hotel. We ordered the custom hot donuts. Me...strawberry lavendar, my husband....cinnamon brown sugar. Piping hot and OH SO GOOD. Other creative kinds were available but we loved the hot ones. At lunch they serve chicken that is supposedly awesome, too. Lots of fun!

Do yourselves a favor and get some donuts and chicken from Federal donuts on Samson street in center city Philadelphia !!!! Amazing food and service! Thank you Kevin, Matt and Tim!

Just couldn't overlook the homeless/scary person who waited just outside the door to pounce on all customers and passersby for money. Wouldn't take no for an answer. Wanted to buy chinese from next door. Cake donuts aren't my thing but these were not bad. Chicken sandwich was good, nothing special. Place was not overly clean, and had a bad odor to it. My kids love this place, so I guess maybe my opinion as always is my own.

This is a must go place for anyone who likes donut and fried chicken. The food is Devine and service excellent. Try the Chocolate Eclair Donut (usually sold out so reserve in advance)

They have every type of donut imaginable, except plain glazed. The flavor combinations are very creative (hot cocoa, churro, tres leches) and their coffee is spot on. Great little snack spot.

Some of the "best" freshly made chickens and donuts. Get them fresh, cook to order. Great ppl. Most of the donuts are up to 5 if not 10 favors and chickens do not last.

Had the breakfast sandwich!! Yum!!! Egg, bacon, white cheddar, chili pepper relish all on a little potato bun!! Perfect! Topped off with a delicious fresh chocolate donut. Great first stop!!