by Glen Poezyn
Sometimes, when the craving hits, there’s no quieting that urge for a delicious golden brown pastry. The only thing that might get in your way is deciding which spot truly has the BEST pies in Joburg. Worry not! We scoured the city to put together this guide that'll spoil you for choice.
Not Bread Alone
A Joburg mainstay, this unassuming bakery has had Joburgers' mouths watering for years. They've really got their pie-making down to a science, and many will tell you they're the best in Joburg. Some of their more popular pastries include the powerful peppersteak and the bobotie mince and Malay curry pies. Another fan favourite is their roast chicken, though they recommend a salad on the side to complement the flavours.
Baked and cooled to perfection, the fillings of each pie are nearly bursting at the seams, rocketing Not Bread Alone to the top of the charts of Joburg's pie spots. It’s quite fitting, then, that they’re located across from Cosmic Comics, as their treats are out of this world. Was that cheesy? We're not sorry.
Details: https://www.facebook.com/NotBreadAlone/
Maggie's Farm: Home Of The Chicken Pie
You probably already knew that they were going to be on this list; no Haarties road trip can truly be complete until you stop off at Maggie's. As the name implies, they are to the chicken pie as Jasmyn is to markets: the undisputed champion. Whatever variation of chicken pie you’re craving, you’ll find it on the menu here.
Maggies offers something that some other Joburg pie spots don’t. You get a scenic view with which to enjoy your selected chicken parcel. Watch the ducks waddling around the lake or ponder the gifts found inside the market stalls! Whichever you decide, you’ll always feel welcomed in the Home of the Chicken Pie.
Details: https://www.facebook.com/homeofthechickenpie/
Croydon Bakery
We understand that getting to the airport 3 hours ahead of time is just a thing that we all do. After visiting Croydon Bakery, you might want to add an extra 30 minutes to your travel time. Located near O.R. Tambo, Croydon Bakery has pastries of all sorts to calm those pre-flight jitters. Nevermind the best pie in Joburg...they’re looking to go internationally as well!
Their homemade pie menu stretches from the humble sausage roll to the hearty Cornish Pastie. From there, though, their menu expands quite a bit. For those looking to be a little more adventurous than usual, give their Jalapeno Cheese Spring Rolls a try as well.
Details: https://croydonbakery.co.za/
Bossie's Pies
The most traditional Joburg pie spot on this list, Bossie's Pies, is based in Linden. Should you and your mates be planning a lekke Linden jol to take in all of the storefronts, there’s no better place to start or end than at Bossies. Chicken and Mushroom, Prime Steak, Beef Rib, Cheese and Mince...whatever you’re after, this spot will sort you out. They've even got specials to sweeten the deal. What sets Bossie's Pies apart from the other places on this list is that they offer you a window into the pastry-making process. You’ll be able to watch the masters at work, lovingly crafting your order in front of your very eyes.
Details: https://www.facebook.com/BossiesPies/
Satellite Bakery
If you’re doing a tour of Joburg’s best pies, you're going to want to add Satellite Bakery as a stop after Croydon Bakery. Situated in Boksburg, they’re well known for their sweet treats, but their pies will have you orbiting their display stand! Their Christmas Mince Pies, while only available around the holiday period, are absolutely unreal.
If you can’t wait until Christmas (understandable, neither can we), their extremely extensive array of assorted pies will have to hold you over until then. Stuffed with your favourite filling and coloured a delicious golden brown, grabbing a few more for the road is a must.
Details: https://www.facebook.com/satellitebakery/
A good pie should feel like a crispy, warm love letter to your tummy, and we've seen folks get into fights online about where to find Joburg's best. This isn't an exhaustive list, by any means, and we're always open to tips on where to find more pastry-laden goodness. Think we've missed a spot worth highlighting? Let us know! We're very serious about good food around here.
