5 Favorite Pies to Celebrate National Pi Day

Our five favorite pies and why we love them.

March 14, 2016

Maria Kanai,

Two of our favorite pies! From left, the caramel apple pie from Hawaiian Pie Co. and the chicken pot pie from Sweet Revenge Honolulu.

Photos: Maria Kanai and Sweet Revenge Honolulu

Some of us pie fiends here at HONOLULU are always on the search for the best crust-and-filling combo. So, in honor of National Pie Day on Saturday, Jan. 23 and National Pi Day on Monday, March 14—not that we really needed an excuse—we scoped out five of our current favorite local bakeries and their must-get pies.

1. Caramel Apple Pie from Hawaiian Pie Co.

You won’t find a flakier, more buttery crust than at Hawaiian Pie Co., the new brand that emerged last year from the Hori family who founded the original Holy’s Bakery. Their must-have pie is the caramel apple pie, available in regular 9-inch pies ($20 for frozen, $21 for fresh) or mini pies ($6). The rich flavor comes from the fresh apples paired with an unexpectedly not-too-sweet caramel sauce. And, while the filling is worth spooning out by itself, the real star of the show is always the crust. With the signature flower cutout, it’s definitely still the Holy’s Bakery crust that we’ve come to know and love.

Hawaiian Pie Co. will also be celebrating its one-year anniversary on Jan. 23, with a larger selection of flavors, 10 percent off discounts and multiple prizes. The grand prize? Pie for a year!

508 Waiakamilo Road, hawaiianpieco.com, 988-7828

2. Chocolate Haupia Cream Pie from Ted’s Bakery

Photo: Maria Kanai

We can’t have a pie roundup without including the classic chocolate haupia cream pie from Ted’s Bakery. It’s the quintessential potluck dish; just swing by the market and arrive to the party a hero. The rich dark chocolate custard cream, haupia pudding and whipped cream is an irresistible combo, which lets us overlook the forgettable crust. We recommend picking up these pies fresh from the bakery on the North Shore if you can ($12.88 for whole pie, $3.56 for a slice), but you can head to your nearest Safeway and pick one up for $12.99. Foodland carries it for $14.79 and Times for $14.39.

59-024 Kamehameha Highway, Hale‘iwa, tedsbakery.com, 638-8207

3. Custard Pie from Lee’s Bakery and Kitchen

Photo: Maria Kanai

Ah, the custard pie. No matter where your allegiance lies, the best custard pie can prompt fierce debate. Here in Honolulu, it seems everyone’s big favorites are Lee’s Bakery, Kāneʻohe Bakery or Deluxe Bakery. We’ve always been a fan of Lee’s Bakery and Kitchen’s creation where, at $14.50, the custard is slightly eggy, with a creamy and smooth texture that we can’t get enough of. The crust is flaky but firm, holding up well to the hefty custard filling. A tip: Call first before heading to the Chinatown bakery, to make sure the pies are available or order for pickup later. Resolve not to eat the whole thing on your drive back home.

125 N. King St., 521-6261

4. Lemon Custard from Deluxe Pastry Shop

For a fun variation on the classic custard pie, we recommend the lemon custard pie ($12.50 for 8-inch, $14.25 for 9-inch) from this Kāneʻohe bakery. This pie won’t last long in the office, thanks to the slightly tart flavor that balances the creamy custard. Folks who aren’t a fan of the eggy flavor from Lee’s Bakery might prefer the custard texture and taste from Deluxe. Think more flan, less custard. And, as a bonus or an option, there’s a lemon crunch pie. Trust us—you’ll love them both.

45-1042 Kamehameha Highway, Kāneʻohe, 247-4235

5. Chicken Pot Pie from Sweet Revenge Honolulu

For a savory take, we’re fans of the simple comfort of Kathy Matsunaga’s chicken pot pie ($8). The tender, buttery crust with its adorable heart cutout holds hearty chunks of bite-size chicken, peas, carrots and mushrooms in a creamy sauce. We love that Matsunaga is generous with the crust—there’s plenty of it to match the chunky filling and, for $8, it’s an affordable, stick-to-your-bones kind of dinner that you won’t find much of in Honolulu.

Various farmers markets, sweetrevengehonolulu.com, 282-0234