Looking for the best pies in Auckland? Look no further! Whether you’re looking for a quick snack or a hearty meal, try one today!
We, as Kiwis, just simply have a natural affinity for the yummy, savoury goodness, otherwise known as pies. Delicious pastries have kept us full and satisfied for generations. We’re such serious and dedicated pie fans that we have pie competitions and supreme pie awards that we take extremely seriously. Only the best pie of all pies in Auckland can be called the supreme pie. Last year, this prize was won by a female baker, for the first time in Auckland history.
This tasty pastry is perfect for any meal; breakfast, lunch, or dinner – a good pie will always be an excellent choice. Let me introduce you to the best pies in Auckland; whether you like ’em with apples or with beef and gravy.
The Best Cheese Pies
Often, when we say pies, people may think of apple pie from a cute bakery. This type of imaging is enough to make your mouth water uncontrollably. Here in New Zealand, we mean savoury pies. (Even though all flavours of pie are valid and beautiful in their own way). Here, we are going to focus on the top savoury pies, in the classic flavours of Auckland. Try to think of mince and cheese, steak and cheese, pastries with perfect layering, eaten with gravy… Is your mouth watering yet? Because if not, it will once you hear more about the top finalists and about the supreme winner of the supreme pie awards.
The only question now is what makes this gorgeous pastry one of the best pies that Auckland has to offer? Is it the additional ingredients/source of protein such as smoked fish, pork belly, steak, mince, or bacon? Is it the creamy sauce? Or is it the type of cheese used? The answer is: all of it… and a little more. Let’s break down who deserves our gold award for best pie.
Humble pie or Cheese pie: The Creme De La Creme
The Federal Delicatessen
This wonderful diner is located at 86 Federal Street, Auckland City, Auckland 1010, New Zealand. They have a rating of 4.5 on TripAdvisor, and countless reviews raving about how great their food is. Their whole theme is a mixture of authentic NYC dishes combined with Jewish heritage. Here, you will want to try their American-style griddle cakes. They’re soft, tasty, and filled with chicken, beef, or pumpkin. What more would you want? Some other pies in Auckland that you should try are the steak and cheese pie, or the mince pie which is so rich in flavour that it almost tastes sweet.
Dairy Flat Bakery
Located at 1443 Dairy Flat Highway, Albany, Auckland 0794, New Zealand; where would this list be without the Dairy Flat Bakery? Their pies have won more awards than Katharine Hepburn has Oscars. This bakery won in five different categories back in 2015. They are well known for their amazing chicken and spiced apple pies. In our eyes, this bakery deserves a gold award every year.
The Fridge
The Fridge has been proclaimed online as one of the top places for the best cheese pies in Auckland. If you’ve never had a pie from The Fridge – you need to try their mince and cheese pie. They have all the classic flavours, and you can find a pie here for more than one occasion. They do anniversary pies, birthday pies, and even Mother’s day pies. If you think you can handle having your life changed forever, try one of their best pies: the steak and cheese. Their golden flaky pastry is, honestly, to die for. Buttery, yet hearty and full of flavours.
Ronnie’s Cafe and Bakery
Located at 3 Albert Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010, New Zealand, this is an excellent choice if you want to go easier on your wallet. Known for the semi-soft tangy cheese in their pies, you will definitely have a delicious experience visiting this place.
Supreme Pie Award
Last year was a historic year for the Supreme Pie Awards. For the first time, a female baker took the title. Auckland baker Sopheap Long from the Euro Patisserie bakery in Torbay, New Zealand, has won the 24th Bakels NZ Supreme Pie Award thanks to her beautiful steak and cheese pie. (She makes it with mozzarella!) New Zealand Bakels managing director expressed his excitement with Sopheap Long winning this award:
“This is an enormous achievement for her and we congratulate her on her success. It shows that if you are determined to work hard and be committed to the quality of what you produce then it can take you far and reward you well. Pie fans from everywhere will be heading for her bakery to try her pies and I’m sure they won’t be disappointed.
When it came to judging Sopheap’s gold-winning steak and cheese pie in the final round to find the Supreme winner it seemed like all of us judging stopped in our tracks as we tasted it and we were all deep in thought. This pie has everything going for it! The steak was chunky but so tender it just melted in your mouth. It was surrounded by rich, dark gravy and topped with a semi-soft tangy cheese; just delicious. The golden flaky pastry had perfect layering and the base was lightly golden brown with a hand hold-able firmness. We just couldn’t fault it.”
Sopheap Long had to outshine over 5000 pies that were competing against each other in the competition this year, with around 465 bakeries entering the competition.
Bakers spent time polishing their beloved recipes during lockdown times, creating quite a competition this year. Kiwis love a good blend of beef and cheese, as the two categories “steak and cheese” and “mince and cheese” had the highest numbers of entries.
However, the bacon and egg pies were also quite popular this year. (P.S. Bacon and egg pies are a very popular breakfast seller, if you weren’t aware of this.) Another pie trend that was noticed during the competition was the rise of gluten-free and vegetarian pies.
Pumpkin was a popular choice for the vegetarian category. For some categories, it was an extremely close call. There were instances where it would have been either a tie or where a baker won with one point difference and even half a point difference.
“This year the Bacon and Egg gold award pie had a creamy sauce surrounding the egg and wonderful smoky bacon. The Gourmet Meat gold winner was slow-cooked Wagyu beef curry, perfectly balanced sweet and savoury spices in an Asian-fusion style. Both demonstrate that pies today are enormously superior to when we started this competition and yet they are still an affordable, nourishing meal,” says Mr Kersel.
Bakers from across New Zealand met up at the Hilton Hotel in Auckland on July 27 for the 24th Bakels NZ Supreme Pie Awards – a Bourbon St, New Orleans themed night – to celebrate the winners among them (Jason Hay) and to crown the first-ever Pie Queen, Sopheap Long, with her top prize.
Conclusion
Since Kiwis love pies so much, we need to mention some honourable pie places such as Ginger Dynamite Go Go Food and Coffee with their excellent lentil and curry pie. This is made with cooked wagyu beef curry.
No list is complete without the Mustard Kitchen and their wondrous bacon and egg pie, made with only the best of the best ingredients. If you are looking for a flavour different from the ordinary apple pie or chicken pie, go to Mairangi bay. This bakery is well known for its tasty smoked fish pies. If you are ready to expand and challenge your taste buds – go to Mairangi bay.
Try some of Auckland’s best pies, as soon as today!
