No Dallas doughnut tale can be told without a nod to Sara's Donut Story, a family-owned shop which has been rolling out unique doughnuts in Flower Mound at 2201 Long Prairie Rd. #113 for 14 years.
Founder Sara Ko and her husband moved from South Korea to the U.S. in the 1980s and fell in love with Texas, where she was able to fulfill her dream of having her own doughnut shop.
The shop has become known for two things: a big assortment of doughnut varieties, plus a selection of other breakfast treats; and a quirky, highly personal interior with a visual feast on the walls of drawings, signs, and fun distractions.
Sara runs the shop with her sister Rachel Shim, as well as an assist from her three children. Tragically, her daughter Grace passed away in 2021, although she lives on through the shop’s vibrant decorations, many of which Grace created.
“Doughnuts bring me so much joy, and I want to share that with everyone,” Sara says.
The shop features 24 flavors at a time, dominated by imaginative creations such as white chocolate raspberry or tiramisu. The best seller is Strawberry Shortcake, a glazed doughnut sliced in half, with strawberries and icing inside.
“I try to have a new creation every two weeks,” Sara says. That approach keeps customers coming back to try what's new, and her doughnuts regularly sell out, especially on weekends when the shelves are nearly empty by 10 am.
Dumpling doughnuts from Sara's Donut Story.Sara's
The latest is her "dumpling" doughnuts, a savory doughnut in the classic dumpling shape, with three filling options: Korean barbecue steak, marinated pork belly, or marinated chicken. No surprise, they're flying off the shelves.
“I’m always experimenting with new recipes. Some are successes and some are failures. But I learn from everything,” she says.
Her lineup also includes seasonal flavors such as apple cider, red velvet, pumpkin pie, and apple pie. She also offers vegan and gluten free varieties.
Non-doughnut offerings include sausage rolls (jalapeño and cheddar), egg croissant sandwiches, croissant doughnuts, and waffles.
She also offers custom, special occasion doughnuts, which feature letters in any design. The most popular choice are Happy Birthday doughnuts, featuring a person’s name. Custom orders must be placed at least 24 hours in advance by phone or Facebook message.
“When people come into my shop, I want them to feel happiness," she says.
