Federal Donuts

Address	Multiple locations
Map	View on Google Maps
Neighborhood	Various (originated in South Philadelphia)
Website	Official site
Cuisine	Doughnuts, fried chicken
Price range	$
Established	2011
Owner	CookNSolo Restaurants
Hours	Varies by location

Federal Donuts is a Philadelphia doughnut and fried chicken mini-chain founded in 2011 by Michael Solomonov and Steven Cook (of Zahav fame) along with partners Bob Logue, Felicia D'Ambrosio, and Tom Henneman. The concept—hot fresh doughnuts and Korean-style fried chicken—became an instant phenomenon, with lines forming before opening and flavors selling out daily. Federal Donuts expanded from a single South Philadelphia location to multiple stores and has become one of the most imitated restaurant concepts in Philadelphia.^[1]

History

Origins (2011)

Federal Donuts opened in 2011 in a small space on South 2nd Street:

Founding team:

Michael Solomonov: Chef, known for Zahav
Steven Cook: Restaurateur, CookNSolo partner
Bob Logue: Doughnut specialist
Felicia D'Ambrosio: Operations
Tom Henneman: Partner

The concept:

Hot, fresh doughnuts made to order
Korean-style twice-fried chicken
Limited menu, executed perfectly
Counter-service format

Instant Success

Federal Donuts became an immediate hit:

Early days:

Lines before opening
Flavors selling out daily
Massive social media buzz
Food media attention

The combination of Solomonov's reputation and genuinely excellent food created phenomenon-level interest.

Expansion

Federal Donuts grew thoughtfully:

Timeline:

2011: Original South Philadelphia location
2012-2015: Additional Philadelphia locations
Center City: High-traffic locations
Suburbs: Broader reach
Stadium: Wells Fargo Center location

The expansion maintained quality while meeting demand.

The Doughnuts

Hot Fresh Doughnuts

Made to order:

Doughnuts fried when ordered
Served hot and fresh
Coated in sugar and spice
Eaten immediately for best experience

The process: 1. Dough prepared fresh daily 2. Fried to order 3. Tossed in choice of sugar 4. Served within seconds

Fancy Doughnuts

Pre-made specialty doughnuts:

Glazed and topped in advance
Creative flavor combinations
Seasonal specials
Often sell out by afternoon

Popular flavors:

Strawberry Lavender
Churro
Cookies & Cream
Seasonal specials (pumpkin, eggnog, etc.)

Hot Fresh Flavors

Sugar options for hot fresh:

Cinnamon Brown Sugar
Vanilla Spice
Strawberry
Chocolate
Seasonal rotation

Hot fresh doughnuts are the essential experience.

The Fried Chicken

Korean-Style

Federal Donuts' fried chicken was revolutionary for Philadelphia:

The technique:

Twice-fried: Korean method
Ultra-crispy: Shatteringly crunchy exterior
Juicy interior: Perfectly cooked
Spiced options: Dry rub flavors

Flavors

Dry rub options:

Za'atar: Middle Eastern spice blend
Coconut Curry: Southeast Asian inspired
Buttermilk Ranch: American classic
Hot Fried: Spicy heat
Seasonal specials

The za'atar reflects Solomonov's Israeli cuisine background.

Chicken Options

Format:

Individual pieces: Wings, drums, thighs
Half chicken: For serious eating
Whole chicken: Shareable
Chicken sandwich: On a bun

Why It Works

The chicken succeeds because:

The technique: Twice-frying creates unique texture
The flavors: Creative, well-balanced dry rubs
The quality: Good sourcing
The combination: With doughnuts, unexpectedly perfect

The Pairing

Doughnuts and Chicken?

The combination seems odd but works:

The logic:

Both are fried
Both are indulgent
Both are best hot and fresh
The pairing is fun

The experience:

Order both
Alternate between savory and sweet
Embrace the indulgence
Regret nothing

CookNSolo Empire

Federal Donuts is part of the CookNSolo Restaurants group:

Sister restaurants:

Zahav: Flagship Israeli restaurant
Dizengoff: Hummus-focused
Abe Fisher: Jewish deli/restaurant
Laser Wolf: Israeli grill
K'far: Israeli cafe
Merkaz: Israeli restaurant

The connection:

Solomonov and Cook's vision
Quality standards shared
Staff and techniques overlap
Brand reputation

Locations

Philadelphia Locations

Multiple Philadelphia locations including:

South Philadelphia:

Original location

Center City:

High-traffic locations
Office worker crowd
Tourist accessible

Other neighborhoods:

Expanding reach
Suburban presence

Stadium Presence

Federal Donuts operates at Wells Fargo Center:

Available during Sixers and Flyers games
Concerts and events
Brings the concept to stadium crowds

Cultural Impact

The Line Culture

Federal Donuts pioneered Philadelphia's line culture:

Lines before opening became normal
Social media documentation
FOMO (fear of missing out) driving visits
Sellouts creating urgency

Doughnut Renaissance

Federal Donuts sparked Philadelphia's doughnut boom:

Before Federal:

Dunkin' Donuts dominated
Few artisan options
Doughnuts were ordinary

After Federal:

Artisan doughnut shops opened citywide
Quality expectations raised
Doughnuts became "foodie" items

Fried Chicken Impact

Similarly, the chicken influenced the city:

Korean-style fried chicken became popular
Other restaurants adopted techniques
Fried chicken standards elevated

Tips for Visitors

Recommendations:

Arrive early for best doughnut selection
Get hot fresh - it's the essential experience
Try the chicken - don't skip it
Za'atar*** is the signature flavor
Expect lines*** at peak times

Ordering strategy: 1. Start with hot fresh doughnuts 2. Add fried chicken 3. Consider a fancy doughnut if available 4. Get drinks

What to expect:

Counter service
Limited seating (some locations)
Cash and cards accepted
Casual atmosphere

References

↑ "Federal Donuts". Federal Donuts. Retrieved December 31, 2025

External Links

[feddonuts-official-1] "Federal Donuts". Federal Donuts. Retrieved December 31, 2025

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