A donut shop that once sold more gyros than donuts? That’s a plot twist I didn’t see coming.
Even better, the doors stay open 24 hours a day, every single day.
The donuts get made by hand, fresh twice daily. The signature one combines chocolate frosting with peanut butter at its center, like the famous Ohio candy.
Then there’s the gyro menu, complete with tzatziki, falafel, and steak options. You can even get a gyro tucked into an egg and cheese breakfast sandwich.
That combo alone puts this place on my shortlist. A sweet tooth and a savory craving rarely agree on dinner plans.
Here, they don’t have to argue.
When a shop has fed students and night owls since 1969 without hanging a closed sign, I’d say it earned a spot on anyone’s list.
The Sign On The Door Basically Says Open Always, Closed Never
Buckeye Donuts runs on a simple promise: open always, closed never. The shop serves customers 24 hours a day, seven days a week, right on High Street in Columbus.
That kind of schedule changes how you plan a day. A morning class, a late shift, or a 3 a.m. craving all get the same answer.
Donuts, coffee, and Greek food are available around the clock. Breakfast sandwiches keep a slightly shorter schedule, typically running from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
So if a gyro egg and cheese is your goal, aim for daytime or evening. If you only want a glazed donut and a hot coffee, any hour works.
The shop also offers dine-in, takeout, and delivery through popular apps. That gives you options when you’d rather stay in your pajamas.
Seating inside is limited, so takeout makes a lot of sense during busy stretches. A box of donuts travels well anyway.
Few places in Ohio can say they’ve kept the lights on this consistently. Holidays, finals week, and game day all fall under the same rule. Honestly, that’s a reassuring thing to know about any kitchen.
Especially one that fries donuts.
A Peanut Butter Surprise Lives Inside The Signature Donut
Ohio has a beloved candy called the buckeye, made from peanut butter and chocolate. Naturally, a shop named Buckeye Donuts turned it into a donut.
The signature Buckeye Donut is a chocolate-frosted raised donut with peanut butter at its center. It’s the edible version of a campus mascot, which feels pretty fitting for a High Street landmark.
Peanut butter and chocolate already have a famous friendship. Putting them together with soft, yeast-raised dough just gives that partnership a bigger stage.
This is the donut I’d grab first if I only had room for one. It tells you exactly where you are without saying a word.
Fans of the Scarlet and Gray will appreciate the tribute. Visitors from out of state get a tasty introduction to a true Ohio tradition.
One tip if you’re buying for a group: double-check allergies before you share. Peanut butter fillings aren’t always obvious from the outside.
The donut also makes a smart souvenir for friends back home. It’s easier to explain than a sweatshirt and a lot more fun to eat.
Just don’t expect it to survive a long car ride untouched.
Gyros Once Outsold The Donuts, And That Tells You Plenty
Back in 2002, the owners added Greek food to the menu. Within a year, business jumped, and at one point gyros were outselling the donuts.
That’s quite a twist for a place with donuts in its name. It also makes sense, since the shop was founded by Greek immigrants.
The gyros are hand-cut and served with tzatziki sauce. You can pick from several styles depending on your mood.
Options include the Traditional Gyro, Grilled Chicken Gyro, Falafel Gyro, Steak Gyro, and Philly Steak Gyro. Each one comes as a stand-alone item or as part of a combo meal.
The falafel choice is handy for anyone skipping meat. The Philly Steak version feels like two classic sandwiches decided to team up.
Greek salads round out this side of the menu. The lineup includes a classic Greek Salad, Gyro Salad, Chicken Salad, and Falafel Salad, all made to order.
And yes, gyros are served 24 hours a day. A midnight gyro followed by a donut for dessert sounds like a very balanced plan. Well, balanced in spirit, anyway.
Breakfast Gets Weird In The Best Possible Way
Gyro, egg, and cheese. Read that again, because it’s a real breakfast sandwich on the menu here.
The hot breakfast sandwich list covers the usual favorites too. You’ll find Sausage, Egg and Cheese, plus Bacon, Ham, Kielbasa, and Steak versions.
A simple Egg and Cheese is there for anyone keeping things light. Still, that gyro option is the one that makes this lineup stand out.
Breakfast sides deserve a mention as well. Tater tots, hash browns, potato patties, and French toast stix are all available.
French toast stix next to a donut might feel like double dessert. I’m not judging, and frankly, I respect the commitment.
Remember the timing, though. Breakfast sandwiches are typically served from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., not all night.
That’s still a generous window for anyone who sleeps in. Brunch at 9 p.m. counts here, and nobody will raise an eyebrow.
Pair your sandwich with a coffee and you’ve built a full meal. Add a donut, and you’ve built a great story for whoever asks about your morning.
Long Johns, Cronuts, And A Bowtie Worth Dressing Up For
Decision fatigue is a real risk at the donut case. The fancy lineup alone could keep you staring for a while.
Long Johns come in Chocolate, Vanilla, Maple, and Maple Bacon. That last one combines sweet and smoky in a way that sounds like a dare and tastes like a reward.
Apple Fritters, Bowties, and Cinnamon Buns hold down the classic bakery corner. Red Velvet with Cream Cheese adds a dessert-style option.
Cronuts are on the menu too. They’re the croissant and donut hybrid that took over bakeries a few years back.
Classic fans aren’t left out. Glazed, Chocolate Raised, Devil’s Food, Buttermilk, and Old Fashioned keep things simple and familiar.
Every donut is handmade, and batches get made fresh twice daily. That’s a lot of rolling and frying for a shop that never shuts its doors.
My advice is to mix styles in one box. Grab a cake donut, a raised one, and something filled.
That way everyone at home finds a favorite. Or you keep the whole box and quietly say nothing. Either plan works.
Your Coffee Order Can Taste Like Game Day
Donuts without coffee feel a little lonely. Luckily, the drink menu here takes that pairing seriously.
Hot coffee is the reliable starting point. From there, you can branch out into hot or iced lattes in several flavors.
The lineup includes Vanilla, Caramel, Hazelnut, and Mocha. Then things get more creative with a Buckeye latte and a Milky-Way latte.
A Buckeye latte at Buckeye Donuts just feels right. It keeps the whole visit on theme, from the first sip to the last crumb.
Not a coffee person? Hot chocolate and French Vanilla are both on the menu.
Fountain drinks cover the rest. They pair nicely with a gyro or a basket of fried sides.
Since coffee is served 24 hours, this is a solid stop for late study sessions. Night-shift workers and early risers can share the same counter.
An iced latte on a warm Ohio afternoon sounds pretty great too. Grab one with a donut and walk along High Street.
It’s a small treat, but the right small treat can fix a long day. Coffee and fresh donuts have that talent.
Fried Sides That Turn A Snack Into A Feast
Cheddar fries at a donut shop? Sure, and they’ve got company.
The menu includes battered fries, cheddar fries, onion rings, and mozzarella sticks. Jalapeno poppers, fried zucchini, and fried breaded mushrooms join the party too.
Chicken tenders are available as well. They’re an easy pick for picky eaters or anyone wanting something familiar.
This part of the menu makes the shop work for groups. One friend wants a gyro, another wants tenders, and someone else only wants donuts.
Everyone wins, and nobody has to drive to a second spot. That’s a big deal at 1 a.m.
Sharing a few sides is a smart way to sample more. Order a basket of onion rings and mozzarella sticks for the table.
Then let each person choose a donut for dessert. It’s a meal plan built around options instead of rules.
Fried zucchini and mushrooms also add a veggie angle. Technically, anyway.
Gyro combos can pair with fries for a full plate. That makes this a real dinner stop, not just a quick sugar fix. Your appetite gets taken seriously here, no matter the hour.
A Family Story That Started With A Pirate Name
Long before the Buckeye name, this shop had a pirate theme. It opened in 1969 as a Jolly Roger donut shop, sometimes called Jolly Pirate.
Greek immigrants Jim Barouxis, George Barouxis, and George Sauter founded the business. In 1978, it officially became Buckeye Donuts.
Today, Jimmy Barouxis runs the shop as a third-generation owner. Keeping a family business going for that long takes serious dedication.
As of July 2024, the shop had been on High Street for 55 years. That’s a lot of graduating classes fueled by donuts and gyros.
The interior has a mini-diner feel with an old-school, no-frills energy. An old-school Star Wars poster hangs among the decor, which feels like a nice nod to the past.
Over the years, some famous names have stopped by. The list includes Prince, The Black Keys, George Steinbrenner, Woody Hayes, and Foster The People.
ESPN has visited too. Woody Hayes eating at a shop named Buckeye Donuts seems almost too perfect for Ohio State history.
Plenty of places claim tradition. Few can point to more than five decades of keeping the fryer warm.
Plan For Parking Before You Plan Your Donut Order
Location is a huge part of the charm. The shop sits at 1998 N High St, Columbus, OH 43201, right in the Ohio State University campus area.
That puts it on one of the busiest corridors in Columbus. Students, concertgoers, and Ohio visitors all pass through this stretch.
Parking takes a little planning. Metered street parking is the main option nearby, and spots can fill up during busy times.
Walking or biking works well if you’re already on campus. Delivery is another easy choice when parking feels like a puzzle.
The shop is close to the Newport Music Hall, which makes it handy after a show. A late donut beats a quiet drive home.
Seating is limited inside, so think of it as a grab-and-go spot first. If a table opens up, consider it a bonus.
Game days bring extra energy to the whole area. Give yourself extra time and a little patience.
For travelers mapping a Columbus food day, this stop fits any hour. Morning, midnight, or somewhere in between, the counter is ready. That’s the beauty of a place that never locks its doors.