As peurile punks at Peñasco junior high, many of us acquired our first exposure to “VD,” (no, not the way you’re thinking) the corporeal corruptor of unprotected men and women of all ages. Being immature teens, the boys guffawed at the dramatic instructional filmstrips that relied heavily on fear tactics, clinical diagrams, and stern warnings about morality and hygiene. Plotlines (if you can call them that) tended to emphasize worst-case scenarios such as permanent physical disfigurement, blindness, or sterility to deter sexual activity. Being young and indestructible, we didn’t think VD could ever happen to us.
Valerie, the most gorgeous of our classmates had a last name which began with the letter “D.” Ordinarily anyone with the initials “VD” would be referred to in merciless taunts because of those initials, but Valerie was a teenage goddess whom everyone (particularly the boys) wanted to be held in good graces (or just held period). Ah, yes, Valerie was stunning. So unlike Baron Samedi, the powerful and flamboyant head of the Gede family of spirits in Haitian Vodou and Louisiana Voodoo. Had me and my male classmates been magically transported to Voodoo Donuts and espied the tall black man dressed in a black tailcoat and top hat sporting the initials “VD,” we would have ridiculed him until he turned us into toads.
Any ridicule would have subsided when we stepped into Voodoo Doughnuts (“Mmm…donuts”) then resumed when we read the slogan “good things come in pink boxes.” Ah, to be young and stupid all over again. But, I digress. Voodoo Doughnut was founded in May 2003 by a couple of guys, well-known in the local music and bar scene, who aimed to create a unique, “wacky” business that matched the city’s eclectic “Keep Portland Weird” vibe. After finding that downtown Portland lacked a dedicated doughnut shop, they decided to fill that gap with unconventional, artistic donuts, rather than just traditional ones. Their goal was “world doughnut domination,” which they achieved through quirky, imaginative offerings like the Voodoo Doll, bacon maple bar, and even early experiments like a Nyquil-glazed doughnut.
Within a month of its launch, Voodoo Doughnut garnered its first mention in national media coverage. Since then, Voodoo Doughnut has been featured in a variety of outlets, including The Travel Channel, The Cooking Channel, MTV, Good Morning America, The Today Show, The Tonight Show, Wheel of Fortune, Portlandia, Grimm, Leverage, The Amazing Race, and Access Hollywood. In addition, it has been spotlighted in print publications such as People, Playboy, Conde Nast, Spin, GQ, Jane, Maxim, Food & Wine, among others. Today Voodoo Doughnut has locations in ten states (Oregon, Arizona, New York, California, Colorado, Tennessee, Florida, Texas, Illinois, Washington).
The Tempe Voodoo Doughnut store launched in 2023 on Rural Road just a few blocks away from Arizona State University (which is rumored to be considering changing its mascot from “Sundevil” to “Sundoughnut.”) With a shocking Pepto Bismol pink facade, you can’t miss the popular doughnut shop. By the way, pink IS associated with specific spirits in both New Orleans and Haitian voodoo, including the female spirit responsible for love, beauty, romance and luxury. I’m beginning to like pink more and more. It’s also the color of Huarachis Taqueria, an outstanding Mexican restaurant in Phoenix.
As doughnut shops go, Voodoo is perhaps most conspicuous by its exterior facade…until you stand closer to the shop and the sugary aromas waft toward you. Step into the shop and you’ll espy a rotating pink display case with the day’s doughnuts arrayed. Other doughnuts are on baking racks waiting to be handed over to hungry patrons. Among the type of doughnuts offered are “Skinny Dippers,” limited-time summer menu item featuring handcrafted, bite-sized glazed doughnut pieces shaped like French fries, served with a choice of two sweet dipping sauces. “Dozens” are available in three categories: Voodoo Dozen (a baker’s dozen containing 13 doughnuts that mix the shop’s famous, eccentric specialty creations with classic and cake options), Vegan Dozen (12 plant-based handcrafted doughnuts featuring a mix of classic and signature specialty options) and Classic Dozen (13 traditional, old-school flavored doughnuts for about $31.00. It highlights basic cake and raised rings rather than the eccentric specialty creations).
Though it was tempting to order a dozen, discretion (and dinner plans) dictated otherwise. Instead we ordered three each for consumption at a disciplined rate of one per day. For my Kim, it was a raised glaze (a classic for a reason. Fluffy raised ring covered in a layer of sweet glaze), maple bar (Raised bar dipped in maple frosting) and a buttermilk bar (buttermilk bar doughnut covered in sweet glaze). These are the type of doughnuts which my Kim enjoys with milk. Yes, she’s a dipper.
My choices were a bit more unconventional: Portland Cream (raised shell filled with Bavarian cream and topped with chocolate and decorated with a set of Voonilla frosting eyes), Mango Tango (It might take two to tango, but it only takes one bite to fall in love. Filled with mango jelly and topped with Voonilla frosting and Tang) and a a raised glaze (a classic for a reason. Fluffy raised ring covered in a layer of sweet glaze). The Mango Tango was spectacular, unlike any doughnut I’ve ever had. The Tang (yes, the well-known brand of sweet, orange-flavored powdered drink mix) was a surprise. The Portland Cream was perhaps an Oregonian take on the Boston Cream pie. It, too was amazing.
Voodoo Doughnut is infamous for its edgy humor, quirky shapes, and clever or double-entendre. With a menu featuring hilarious novelty treats like the Voodoo Doll (filled with red jelly and stabbed with a pretzel), the Maple Blazer Blunt shaped like a lit cigar, and anatomically explicit novelty shapes, it’s not a doughnut shop for everyone. It’s a doughnut shop for those of us who like a little fun with our deliciousness.
Voodoo Donuts
1324 S Rural Road
Tempe, Arizona
(602) 641-6669
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LATEST VISIT: 6 August 2025
# OF VISITS: 1
RATING: N/R
COST: $$
BEST BET: Portland Cream, Mango Tango, Glazed Donut, Maple Donut, Buttermilk Bar
REVIEW #1543