Voting in Round 1 is open through 6 p.m. Thursday.

Nobody really needs a doughnut, but pretty much everybody wants one. They're full of calories and stuff that would make your cardiologist shake his head, but so what? They're doughnuts, and they're awesome.

Fortunately, the Jacksonville area is blessed with some really good doughnut places . If you need a quick fix, you're never far from a Dunkin, Krispy Kreme or Publix but if you prefer something a little more hand-crafted, there are plenty of options out there.

We're letting you choose Jacksonville's finest place to get a doughnut. Over the next few weeks, we'll present a bracket that pits one place against another; simply choose your favorite and check back to vote in the next round.

A word about seeding: We don't know who makes the best doughnut in Jacksonville; that's the whole point of this tournament. So when it came time to seed the entries in the field, we didn't use the traditional method, pitting the best in the field against the worst. Instead, we listed them alphabetically, then ran the list through a randomizer.

Also note that the results won't be scientific because the poll allows you to vote more than once. We'll keep an eye out for voting shenanigans, but humbly request that you don't abuse the system.

Sweet 16 voting guide

Voting begins today and ends at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 13. Elite Eight voting begins Monday, March 17, featuring winners from the previous round. Be sure to vote in each match-up below.

Best Donut Championship dates

Old Soul Donut Company vs. Mochinut

Oceanway’s favorite doughnut shop can be a busy place in the morning, with customers stopping by for apple fritters, cinnamon twists, bear claws and Texas-style kolaches.

Mochinut is a California chain, but new to Florida. They specialize in mochi doughnuts, which trace their roots to Hawaii and are lighter than what most people are used to. They’re made with eight small balls of sweet rice flour dough formed into a ring, then covered in frosting ranging from blueberry to black sesame.

Bunny’s Donut Shop vs. Daily Donuts

The owners had no experience with donuts when they opened their family-run shop, but they have quickly become a neighborhood favorite with handmade specialty doughnuts, including Girl Scout-inspired S’more and Samoa doughnuts.

“Homecrafted happiness” is the motto at Daily Donuts, which sits in front of Moosehaven in Orange Park. Most mornings, there’s a line as people wait for their apple fritter, cinnamon twist or classic glazed.

Love Donuts and Smoothies vs. Shipley Do-Nuts

Owners of the Orange Park donut shop brought Texas-style kolanches with them when they opened in 2023. A drive-through window keeps this place busy.

The Texas-based chain started in 1936 and the Beach Boulevard location is one of just two in Florida. They make around 60 varieties of doughnuts and kolaches, so you’re bound to find one you like.

Sweet Theory Baking Co. vs. Cheer Donuts

Like all great doughnut places, you really need to call before heading out to make sure they haven’t already sold all the inventory, since they make fresh ones every morning. They have more than 30 varieties available, but we’re really curious about what “Yoga Pants” tastes like.

Cheer mostly sticks to the classics — vanilla-, chocolate- and marble-glazed, twists, turnovers and vanilla-filled Bismarcks. They keep selling them until they’re all gone; anything leftover is donated to the Clara White Mission .

Parlor Doughnutsvs. Duck Donuts

We said we were going to steer clear of the national chains, and Parlor definitely qualifies as a national chain with more than 50 locations open and dozens more in the works, but they’re new to the Jacksonville market, opening their first location in 2022. They make layered doughnuts, which are crisp on the outside but fluffy inside. Try the French toast, churro or strawberry shortcake varieties.

Duck had the misfortune of opening its first Northeast Florida location a week before COVID shut down everything. Doughnuts are made to order at Duck, and each one takes 5-7 minutes to make. You can order from a dozen or so “fan favorites” or go wild and create your own lemon/chopped bacon/marshmallow masterpiece.

The Donut Shoppe vs. Dunkin/Krispy Kreme/Publix

When you’ve been making donuts for 60-plus years, you can get pretty good at it. Jacksonville’s Donut Shoppe has been around since 1962 and has been the city’s favorite for pretty much the whole time. It’s a tiny place, about 850 square feet, but can produce hundreds of dozens of donuts every morning. They offer about 20 varieties of yeast-raised and cake donuts and fritters (called “uglies”) and close the doors when the day’s inventory is gone. Oh, and leave the debit card at home, it’s a cash-only place.

Between them, Dunkin, Krispy Kreme and Publix have dozens of locations in the Jacksonville area where you can get a pretty good doughnut. But are you really going to claim they are the best you can find in the city?

Cinotti’s Bakery vs. Doughfee Donuts

Cinotti’s is more of a full-service bakery than a doughnut shop, but they can still turn out a mean raspberry jelly-filled, Heath double-chocolate or red velvet cake ring. The key lime is a summertime favorite.

You’ll find everything from a plain glazed to a decadent ube cream-filled treat topped with cream cheese, but don’t miss the Kingston Donut Pops, which come on a stick studded with Oreos and Fruity Pebbles.

Good Dough vs. Lukumades

They make their doughnuts throughout the day using a brioche-style yeast dough that gives them a different bite. They rotate varieties in and out, so if you don’t find your favorite one day, come back the next. They also offer vegan doughnuts on Fridays, but they typically sell out quickly.

There is only one Lukumades outlet in the United States, and it’s in Jax Beach. They make Greek donuts, which have no hole in the middle. The fried dough balls are served with the traditional honey and cinnamon, with crushed Oreos, white chocolate, melted hazelnut sauce on top or filled with custard or strawberry jam.