If you searched for “pie Singapore” and landed in a traffic report, you are not alone. In Singapore, the word “PIE” is claimed first by the road. This page sorts out the meanings, so that you can get to the right kind of pie, and so that anyone searching for pastry gets pastry.
PIE: the Pan Island Expressway
PIE is the Pan Island Expressway, the expressway that runs across Singapore from the east, near Changi, to the west, towards Tuas. It is generally described as Singapore’s oldest and longest expressway, at about 42 km, and it carries heavy traffic through the middle of the island. When Singaporeans say “the PIE is jammed” or “take the PIE exit”, this is what they mean.
Because of that, search engines in Singapore often read “pie” plus a place name as a traffic question. “Pie Toa Payoh” or “pie Jurong” will usually return exits, speed limits and accidents rather than bakeries.
Pie: the food
A pie, in the food sense, is a filling baked inside or under pastry. In Singapore the best-known savoury pie is the chicken pie: diced chicken, potato and vegetables in a creamy sauce under a pastry lid, sometimes with a piece of hard-boiled egg. Sweet pies such as apple, pecan and banana are just as popular. This site is about that kind of pie: our Pie List ranks the best, and our pie types guide explains the styles.
Kueh pie tee: not a pie
Kueh pie tee is a Peranakan snack: thin, crisp pastry cups, shaped like little top hats, filled with stewed shredded turnip and other vegetables and topped with prawn, egg or chilli. The pastry is fried in a special mould rather than baked. It is delicious and very Singaporean, but it is not a pie in the baking sense, so you will not find it in our directory.
Pi Day
Pi Day falls on 14 March (3/14), after the mathematical constant pi, which begins 3.14. Some bakeries and cafes in Singapore mark it with pie promotions, and it has become a reliable date for “where to eat pie” features. If you are planning a Pi Day order, the usual lead times apply: allow at least three days for a whole pie from a specialist.
Other pies that are not pies
- American Pie: a song, and a film series. Searches mixing “Don” and “pie” sometimes surface the song because of Don McLean.
- Pie charts: circular charts, often used in school and office reports.
- “Easy as pie”: an English phrase meaning very easy, which the pastry rarely is in Singapore’s humidity.
How to search for pie shops near you
Add a food word to every search. “Pie shop Tampines”, “chicken pie Jurong East” or “bakery near Clementi” will return food. Better still, use our pie shops by region map or the seller directory, which you can filter by region, pie type, halal status, price and delivery.
Questions people ask
What does PIE stand for in Singapore?
PIE stands for the Pan Island Expressway, an expressway running east to west across Singapore, from the Changi end in the east to the Tuas end in the west. It is generally described as Singapore's oldest and longest expressway, at about 42 km.
Is kueh pie tee a pie?
No. Kueh pie tee is a Peranakan snack of thin, crisp pastry cups, often called top hats, filled with shredded vegetables such as turnip and topped with prawn and chilli. It shares the word pie but not the method.
When is Pi Day?
Pi Day is 14 March, written 3/14 to match the first digits of pi. Bakeries and cafes sometimes run pie promotions on the day, so it is a good date to watch for deals.
How do I search for pie shops near me without getting traffic results?
Add a food word. Search for 'pie shop', 'chicken pie', 'bakery' or 'best pies' plus your area, rather than 'pie' plus a place name, which tends to return expressway traffic and exits.
