Cuisine Scene: Pie

When the clocks fall back and the holidays await, that’s when you know it’s Pie Time. Pie for Thanksgiving, pie for the holidays, pie for office parties and family gatherings, pie for just being pie. As has often been observed, Long Beach is a Pie Town, here’s some of its most notable landmarks.

STRAWBERRY, Hof’s Hut

It doesn’t get any more traditional than strawberry pie, and of course, it doesn’t get any more traditional in Long Beach than Hof’s Hut (2147 N Bellflower Blvd). This local institution has been serving breakfast, lunch and dinner for more than 70 years, greeting each guest to its Los Altos location with a large refrigerated case of pies in its entrance. Standing out is the spectacularly sweet architecture that goes into Hof’s signature Strawberry Pie, piled high with ruby red glistening strawberries. It looks scrumptious!

FRANKENPIE, Laurie’s Pie Bar

We all know the holidays can be a difficult time, since there are the inevitable disagreements. This one argues for the tart and magnificent Key Lime pie, while that one wants Whiskey Peach and still another demands purple Ube Coconut or Salted Caramel. Laurie’s Pie Bar (450 Pine Ave) is all about bringing peace/piece of pie. That’s why they offer not only sugar free and gluten-free but decision-free, i.e. its Frankenpie option allows you to make your own pie by picking six separate slices. Now everyone is happy!

CHOCOLATE CREAM PIE, Republic of Pie

Anyplace that declares itself Republic of Pie (5272 E 2nd Street) is setting itself up to be scrutinized, pie-wise. Fortunately, Republic of Pie not only passes the smell test, taste test and can I have another slice please, test. All of its pies are great, including an amazing stable of cream offerings. The chocolate cream is decadent and like all its offerings, handmade. So is the amazing coconut cream and banana cream and banana chocolate cream, as well as all manner of fruit pies, cheesecakes served in a relaxed atmosphere.

BANBERRY, Polly’s Pie

When one heads to Polly’s Pies (3490 Atlantic Ave.) they can expect an extremely curated pie experience, one that leans heavily on the classics: apple, cherry, chocolate cream, etc. Still, their signature pie is an amazing amalgam of strawberries and banana called, wait for it, Banberry. It combines banana creme filling, topped with fresh strawberries, all of it ringed with a healthy band of real whipped cream.

LEMON LUSH, Bake ‘N Broil

Pie is just one of the amazing things Bake n Broil (3697 Atlantic Ave) has done for decades, making it truly one of the most beloved restaurants in the city. That love is returned with a commitment to quality that includes its bakers arriving at 4:30 AM to begin the process of crafting a selection of homemade favorites from scratch–turning out an incredible 2,000 leading up to Thanksgiving. While everyone has a Bake ’N Broil favorite–apple, German chocolate, French peach–its most popular is Lemon Lush, an incredible, indelible combination of sweet and cream cheese, lemon curd, and just the right amount of pecans.

About the Author

Steve Lowery

Steve Lowery is a longtime local. Over the years he has written for the Los Angeles Times, ESPN, and others. If you're looking for the hidden gems of Long Beach, Steve is your go-to.