It’s a proven scientific fact: pie makes everything better.
Here are four places around Tokyo where you can score a slice, or an entire pie – it all depends on how much better you want everything to be…
Pie Queen Amya
The Story: After several years doing PR work for Rikuzentakata, an Iwate Prefecture city that was horribly damaged by the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, Amya Miller was looking for an outlet for her creativity and love of baking, which has been a part of her life since her youngest days. She was also looking for a way to help foreigners overcome their homesickness with tastes from home and to share American flavors with Japanese palates. She’s certainly found her groove with her Pie Queen Amya business, which she runs online and at farmers’ markets and other events.
What We Love: Amya’s pie fillings come cradled in a rich, homemade buttery crust. Two of our favorites are her yuzu lemon tart and pecan pie: the tart has a unique zing and an extraordinarily rich flavor, while the pecan pie is sweetly indulgent.
For more details about Pie Queen Amya, visit our Concierge listing.
Pie Holic Roppongi
The Story: First launched to great popularity at Yokohama’s Marine and Walk shopping center in 2016, the “California style” pie purveyor Pie Holic has set up a pop up shop at Roppongi Hills that will be open through September.
What We Love: Two good-sized bites and they’re gone, so they’re perfect for a quick snack or a micro-pie based feeding frenzy (we admit to having succumbed to the latter!). But this tiny size is perfect, because it invites you to sample their extremely broad range of 27(!) flavors, both savory and sweet – everything from s’mores and purple sweet potato to chicken pot pie and bacon with mushroom. So even if you don’t go fully pieholic at the shop, you owe it to yourself to take home at least a few.
For more details about Pie Holic, visit our Concierge listing.
Kyle’s Good Finds
The Story: Kyle Sexton started up Kyle’s Good Finds back in 1992. Since then, he’s been baking pies, cakes, and more using entirely American recipes in his shop, located about 10 minutes from Nakano Station.
What We Love: Weekender first caught up with Kyle back in 1993, shortly after he opened up, and it was a pleasure to see that the shop is still going strong. One of his specialties is Dutch Apple – the kind with the crumbles on top – and we can’t wait until the summer to try his seasonal Key Lime Pie. We also have to admit that we dug his laid-back attitude; he makes all of his customers feel at home when they walk into his place. Kyle also runs a catering business, so if there’s anything you’re looking for to accompany an American style pie, he’s your guy.
For more details about Kyle’s Good Finds, visit our Concierge listing.
Granny Smith Apple Pie and Coffee
The Story: Granny Smith Apple Pie and Coffee opened in the stylish Mishuku neighborhood with the aim of bringing homestyle, American-inspired pie recipes to trendy Tokyoites. From their first shop they’ve expanded to a few different locations, so they’ve definitely hit on the right recipe.
What We Love: Their seasonal Granny Smith Apple pie was surprisingly tart and crisp, and their Dutch Crumble goes heavy on the cinnamon, and adds to the dessert’s crunchiness with the unique touch of walnuts. You can get slices of the pie to go at Granny Smith Apple Pie and Coffee, but if you’ve got time to sit down, we recommend going across the street to Fungo, their partner restaurant, where you can sample the pies served with ice cream and sauce. Also check out their website for their other locations around town, which include Aoyama, Ginza, and Yokohama.
For more information about Granny Smith Apple Pie and Coffee, visit our Concierge listing.
Do you have a favorite place to get a slice of pie in Tokyo? Let us know in the comments!
