Tempe’s newest doughnut shop, Voodoo Doughnut, opened publicly on Sept. 7, 2023. The shop specializes in uniquely flavored doughnuts including bubblegum, pop tart, hibiscus and grape, and even has vegan options.
Ryan Paslecznick went to VooDoo Doughnut to do a taste test.
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He tried four different types of doughnuts. First, he tried “The Ring of Fire donut,” which he thought was the most unique donut he tried.
“It has a red hit of chili pepper in the middle! It was not as spicy in the initial bite, but it did have a slight kick to it afterward,” he said
Next, Paslecznick tried the “Oh Captain My Captain” Doughnut.
“Oh, Captain My Captain is a tribute to Capt’n Crunch cereal and it provides a nice, sugary taste with a blend of crunch,” he said.
Then, he tried “Blueberry Cake.”
“It tasted like I was eating an actual Blueberry,” he said. “Its flavor was authentic in taste and rich in texture. It tasted more like a cake than a donut and I mean that as a compliment.”
And finally, Paslecznick tried “The Homer.”
“It not only looked like the donut that Homer Simpson would eat, but it also tasted like something Homer would eat,” he said. “The icing on the donut provided a nice strawberry taste and is something that is perfect to start your day off with.”
Overall, Paslecznick had a lot of fun.
“It was a vibrant experience. When you walk in, it feels like you’re in a sugar palace,” he said.
Customers are not the only people who believe VooDoo Doughnut has a corner on the market. Many employees enjoy working there because they get to feel comfortable in their work environment and get to make the donuts that make the pink donut shop on Apache and Rural so special.
According to Selena Soto, a shift supervisor, she and her employees enjoy multiple aspects of working at VooDoo Doughnut.
“We can listen to basically anything we want and wear whatever we want,” she said. “The culture of the place is the big thing. It’s not basic and the flavors make VooDoo Doughnuts really unique. Plus, I’m sure no other donut place is going to have a ‘C**k N’ Balls.’”
Grace Monos, a VooDoo Doughnut employee, does a variety of tasks during her work shift including preparing the dough, frying the donuts, decorating the donuts and working the cashier. Monos typically spends her time at the cash register.
“It is an amazing work environment and typically the customers are great too because they are just happy to be getting donuts,” she said.
VooDoo Doughnuts originated in Portland, Ore. and was created by Kenneth “Cat Daddy” Podson and Tres Shannon. According to the VooDoo Doughnuts website, the pair jokes about “world doughnut domination” with their friends and family. The VooDoo Doughnuts in Tempe attracts a lot of college students and continues to get busier and busier. Soto says that some festive features will be available for the upcoming holidays.
