Just across from Metro Center sits a shop serving an unexpected pairing of fun-flavored doughnuts and crispy fried chicken.
After its grand opening in April 2013, Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken — founded by DMV natives Elliot Spaisman and Jeff Halpern — quickly captured the attention of Washingtonians, especially after earning the Washington Post’s nod for the best crème brûlée doughnut in D.C. On a busy street lined with office buildings and bustling with tourists being just a few blocks away from the White House, a small doughnut shop peeks out for customers to try.
Open from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. weekdays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays, the shop’s selection of doughnuts and sandwiches shifts throughout the day. Three Metro stops and a short walk later, I headed down G Street on Monday afternoon and almost missed Astro’s doors entirely.
The small, unassuming building had five bright red tables scattered outside the storefront with a vinyl logo pressed onto the glass doors. Scanning my surroundings once I got inside, the store itself was small — no more than about four people could comfortably fit inside.
On one side, a door led to their partner establishment, Astro Beer Hall — a retro-inspired bar and restaurant offering a myriad of starters and sandwiches — which is closed Mondays.
Eight display doughnuts sat on small wooden slabs behind a glass divider, with sheet racks beside them holding fresh batches, ready for customers to grab. I anticipated Halloween-themed doughnuts as seen on the shop’s Instagram page, expecting treats with eyeballs, pumpkins and ghosts but much to my disappointment, there were none.
When an employee informed me that none of the spooky doughnuts were available, they suggested I try the “Honey Bun” ($5), one of their monthly specials. I agreed and also added a jelly doughnut to my order ($5).
Right before I left, I went back in for one last order to get a fall-themed treat, the Candy Apple doughnut ($5.25), another monthly special. The employee grinned as he bagged it, and with an amused, “It’s on me,” waved me off. Surprised and grateful, I thanked him before stepping back into the chilly air.
At a table outside, I unpacked the doughnuts. Of the three, the Candy Apple stood out the most, with the deep red glaze matching the color of the surrounding seating. It covered the entire treat and unlike a traditional candy apple, this sugary shell was soft, melting on the tongue.
Craving fall flavors, I decided to move past my dislike for apples and it was worth it, as the apple-cinnamon filling was a pleasant addition to the doughy bread. With the ideal balance of sweetness and tartness, it was undoubtedly the best doughnut I had that day. With a stomach full of the one treat, I met up with my sister to try the other two with the church bell across the street bidding me goodbye as I made my way to Metro station.
I met with my sister to taste test the other two treats once she was done working at Starbucks. The Honey Bun doughnut lived up to its name — covered in a thin layer of cinnamon glaze, the treat was topped off by an extra drizzle of white syrup. The doughnut itself was good, but the glossy coating chipped off easily, quickly making a mess of the table we sat at. My sister compared the flavor to that of the butter at Texas Roadhouse with notes of cinnamon, honey and salt, which I somewhat agreed with. The sugary taste, however, built up in my mouth and quickly became sweeter than I’d like.
Out of the three I sampled, the jelly doughnut came in last place. The powdered sugar was messy, and its size made it difficult to bite into. The strawberry jam was too tart for my liking, overpowering the rest of the doughnut, making it difficult to enjoy. My sister noted that there was too much jelly, going so far as to have to scrape most of it out with a napkin.
Despite the mixed reviews, I enjoyed my trip to Astro Doughnuts and Fried Chicken and hope to return to get the Halloween treats I was searching for.
