Months ago, I decided to go on the quest for the best pies in Hawaii.
And while it hasn’t been boring, it’s been challenging. Who knew pies could be so varied and polarizing!
People really have their emotional favorites and personal requirements. For some, the crust is important. For others, it’s texture. And still others pick by some kind of nostalgic connection.
So here’s what I’ve discovered so far:
• Lee’s Bakery in Chinatown (shown above) does a killer custard pie. But it’s best when fresh out of the oven — like most pies but not necessarily custard — and that batch comes out at 8 a.m. Though people line up for its pies on Thanksgiving, the bakery sells them everyday. It also makes a mean peach-pear pie that often sells out.
• Kaneohe Bakery and Deluxe Bakery — neighbors in Kaneohe — have notable custard pies, too. Deluxe has more variety, like very interesting lemon custard and apple custard pies. Kaneohe has a nice custard-pumpkin mix that’s great when you can’t decide between the two.
• The jury is still out on who’s got the better frozen apple pie: Big Island Candies or Holy’s Bakery. The former has a saltier crust with crunchier Fuji apples and no cinnamon; the latter has a buttery crust and a spicy filling. It comes down to personal preference.
• The best chocolate cream pie I’ve had is from Sunny Side in Wahiawa. (Sorry, Ted’s Bakery!) I prefer thinner crusts, and this pie meets that requirement. And the chocolate and custard layers are well balanced. One doesn’t overpower the other.
I’m still looking for the best cream pies and lemon meringue, too, so any recommendations would be greatly appreciated!
The #piequest continues!
12 Comments
Tough job but somebody’s got to do it, yeah Cat?
Hello Cat!
I just love custard pies.
Pumpkin pie… make my own. Not had one better anywhere. It has a graham cracker crust. Do not follow the recipes around, just played with spices, cooking temps and times, until I got it the way I like it. Small hint. Cinnamon is a super food. Also love a good chocolate pie with a regular crust but never made one I liked… at least not yet.
Have you ever thought of starting your own tour company, Cat’s Culinary Tours? 🙂
@DIO: This is it…if you did not know it. It is free, with pix, and vicarious tasting of FUUD! Low fat, low calorie, high visual satisfaction, and low cost. Can’t beat that with any tour. Plus you don’t need to bring a camera. Just sit back in the comfort of your home and not worry about parking, traffic, tipping, dressing up, etc., let CAT take you on this virtual culinary tour of Hawaii. For real Fuud, I am stuck with oatmeal! LOL
Pie truck Sweet Revenge has the best apple pie ever! The apple is crisp and fresh.
Cat, It’s the Big Island Candies Fujii Apple Pie that I have for Friday.
best pie i ever had was in oakland a few years ago at a jazz club (kimball’s east). random, for sure. I’m a sucker for sweet potato pie and for pecan pie (HI’s the southernmost state, so i do trend to some traditionally southern tastes sometimes)
anyway, this pie was a bottom layer of sweet potato and a top layer of pecan. both layers were very good on their own but simply insane together. the smooth creamy, not so sweet sweet potato layer played very well off the syrupy sweet pecan layer.
oddly, I can’t stand pumpkin pie.
Being that far south, we could technically say we’re from the Deep South.. 😆
I do. have won many drinks with a “who’s more southern” bets with drunk, proud Dixie heads in the SF area.
People used to ask me when I lived in Hawaii why I fit in OK. Answer, we were all from the south with them more southern than me, we all like cooking in the yard, we all grew up in the ocean, and we were pretty close with our families. Everything else was skin tone etc and who cares about that kine stuff.
Best banana cream pie for me is at Monarch Seafood (home made) with real whip cream.
Crust is flaky and banana cream filling is delish!