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Los Angeles Area

Tips for Dining, Eating, and Food Shopping in the Greater Los Angeles Area (including Orange & Ventura Counties and SW San Bernardino County)

Best LA Pumpkin Pies?

What do you think?

26 Replies

  1. Here's my take on pumpkin pie

    Best value: Costco
    Most expensive: Urth Cafe
    Best tasting: Sweet Lady Jane
    Best texture (filling): Al Gelato
    Best crust: Pie N Burger
    Best overall: Urth Cafe

    I should add, not to end on a down note, but one of the most pedestrian pumpkin pies I've ever had was at Du Par's.

    1. re: ipsedixit

      Urth's coconut cream pie is also outstanding.

      I'm surprised Four 'N 20 is on the LA Times list. I haven't had their pumpkin pie, but tried a number of their other pies before concluding they just aren't very special. (This was at the Valley Village location. I've never tried the Sherman Oaks location.)

      1. re: Peripatetic

        I think Four N 20 is living more off reputation than anything else.

    2. I'm a fan of Lark Bakery in Silverlake. Last year I bought the pumpkin pie there, and it was a big hit!

      1. re: perk

        Oops. Technically, it's Lark Cake Shop. On Sunset,

      2. I was at La Brea Bakery this morning and they had a pumpkin pie for $25. I had to wonder how good it was. For that price, it had better be amazing.

        I'm a big fan of the Costco pumpkin and apple pies. They are especially good if you cook them a second time just before serving.

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        La Brea Bakery
        624 S La Brea Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036

        1. re: Jwsel

          I'm a big fan of the Costco pumpkin and apple pies. They are especially good if you cook them a second time just before serving.
          _______________________________

          Or garnish with some homemade whipped cream.

          1. re: ipsedixit

            Everyone knows when you serve a Costco pie, there is no other pie that big.

            1. re: monku

              The whipped cream is not to disguise (who cares who made it?), but just to make it taste that much better.

              1. re: ipsedixit

                Only a Costco snob cares.
                I like all Costco pies (I don't like pumpkin anything).
                Everyone I know who likes pumpkin pie raves about it, whipped cream or not.

                1. re: monku

                  Agree.

                  My only complaint with all of the pies (or cakes) at Costco is that they are too big. Unless you are buying it for a get together, or a party, or are feeding all of Shawn Kemp's children, it's hard to finish it before it gets a bit stale -- although stale pie is still pretty good, esp. with some whipped cream and a strong cup of espresso.

                  1. re: ipsedixit

                    A new record, is that two or three "agree's" today?
                    I won't let it go to my head.

                    1. re: monku

                      A new record, is that two or three "agree's" today?
                      I won't let it go to my head.
                      _____________________________

                      And, I won't let it upset my dinner tonight, which will be a gigantic hot pot feast. Love this weather.

                    2. re: ipsedixit

                      My brother-in-law has has a sweet tooth and will buy one of those Costco 1/4 sheet cakes and eat it himself in a week or two. He could probably eat one of the pies in a week.

                      Funny thing is, I don't know how he stays so slim eating that cake and he doesn't work out.

                      1. re: monku

                        The pumpkin pie is so big, you can't really cut it like a normal pie. Almost half to cut it the way Casa Bianca cuts their pizzas, where you get middle square pieces.

                      2. re: ipsedixit

                        ipsedixit- "...or are feeding all of Shaw Kemp's children..." I had to laugh, thanks for the chuckles.

                        1. re: Feed_me

                          ipsedixit- "...or are feeding all of Shaw Kemp's children..." I had to laugh, thanks for the chuckles.
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                          Probably would need 2 pies, not just one.

                          1. re: ipsedixit

                            OT: Has anyone tried that gigantic chicken pot pie? I have always been curious and was wondering if it is worth clearing out the refrigerator for.

                            1. re: A5 KOBE

                              I've had it once and thought it was pretty good. It is ridiculously big and fed four of us with probably enough for a second meal.

            2. No discussion of LA pumpkin pies is complete without a mention of The Filling Station. Cookie crust. Layer of marzipan or something magical in between the pumpkin and crust. Beautifully cooked, ruddy top. And the thing is a monster, probably about 6 lbs. Outstanding. A few years ago it was $20 but the price has crept up to $25... call for current pricing..

              http://elmomonster.blogspot.com/2006/...

              Mr Taster

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              Filling Station
              201 N Glassell St, Orange, CA 92866

              1. re: Mr Taster

                mmm, it is a monster and quite delicious, natch.

                1. re: kevin

                  I'm picking up a pumpkin pie from the Filling Station based on your recommendation and elomonster. Do you have another pie or cake you like from Filling Station? We usually like having a couple of choices for dessert.

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                  Filling Station
                  201 N Glassell St, Orange, CA 92866

                  1. re: js76wisco

                    Basically your choices are pumpkin pie or apple volcano pie. It's not really called apple volcano pie. But it looks like a volcano, covered in caramel lava and pecan boulders. It's fantastic, and also a monster... but given a choice between the two, I choose the pumpkin pie every time.

                    You absolutely have to make reservations in advance for whole pies before the holidays, so if you haven't already I would call then ASAP.

                    Mr Taster

              2. The Farm in Beverly Hills is the best Pumpkin Pie. I have tried all mentioned and nothing beats The Farm. Costco, I went to try based on all the reviews but when I saw the ingredients list I just couldn't all unhealthy nothing but processed, preservatives, what I would call barely food, may taste good but nothing healthy.

                1. A friend of mine brought a pumpkin pie from Ralph's to our T'giving dinner last year, and it was actually very good.

                  1. Simple Things on 3rd. Excellent. Haven't tried Urth Cafe's though...
                    Costco's pumpkin pie IS good, but it's pretty obviously store bought.

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