Virtually every cuisine around the world has a tradition of enclosing sweet and/or savory ingredients in dough of some kind — Spain and Latin America with their empanadas, China with its dumplings and baos, Turkey with its börek, France with its tourtes and tartes, and so on. And of course, America with its good old-fashioned double-crust or meringue- or custard-topped pies, made with fruit, chocolate, nuts, or whatever else seems appropriate.
The earliest pies in more or less the sense that we know them today were made in England way back in the 1100s, but these were primarily savory, filled with meat, poultry, or wild game (remember those nursery-rhyme blackbirds “baked in a pie?”). The first fruit pies probably date from the 16th century, and English tradition gives credit to Queen Elizabeth I for making (or, more likely, having somebody else make) the first cherry pie — at least according to the American Pie Council’s brief history of pies.
English settlers brought their pie-making skills to our shores, and because apple trees grew well in the original colonies and the fruit was easy to preserve year-round, it was probably they who developed our nation’s most emblematic dessert — “as American as apple pie.”
Over the years, bakers in other parts of the country began making pies from whatever ingredients were common in their regions — peaches in Georgia, Key limes in Florida, blueberries in Maine. The Midwest developed dairy-based cream pies, and in other places, sugary confections like chess pie, shoofly pie, and pecan pie, as well as pies topped with meringue, were created.
Click here to see the best pie shop in every state
Today, pie shops, bakeries, diners, and cafés all over America make delicious pies — sometimes classic, sometimes innovative. In assembling this list, 24/7 Tempo has focused on purveyors who specialize in pies, even though they often produce other sweet treats as well and may also, in some cases, serve full meals. (Even if they’re not on this list, you’ll almost certainly find plenty of good pies at the best diners in every state.)
Some of these places may offer savory as well as sweet pies. Some hew closely to tradition, while others get creative. Whatever the particulars, all the establishments included here make extraordinary pies, and many rank among the 40 best pie shops in America.
In order to determine the best pie shop in every state, 24/7 Tempo compiled a list of pie shops, bakeries, and pastry shops that are rated highest on Yelp. From that selection, we chose the highest-ranked examples at which pies are the specialty or main focus or which are particularly well-known for their pies even though they may also sell other kinds of food. To narrow down the choices, we also consulted reviews and roundups from a wide range of authoritative websites, including those of Zagat, Food & Wine, Eater, Thrillist, and The Daily Meal, making the final choice editorially based on a combination of sources.
Source: JaWanda's Sweet Potato Pie
1. Alabama: JaWanda’s Sweet Potato Pie
> City: Birmingham
> Yelp rating: 4.5
> Sample specialty: Pecan sweet potato
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Source: A Pie Shop
2. Alaska: A Pie Stop
> City: Anchorage
> Yelp rating: 4
> Sample specialty: Peanut butter cream
Source: Rochelle M. via Yelp
3. Arizona: Mamma Toledo’s The Pie Hole
> City: Phoenix
> Yelp rating: 4
> Sample specialty: Green chili apple
Source: Rymolene's Pies
4. Arkansas: Rymolene’s Pies
> City: Fayetteville
> Yelp rating: 4.5
> Sample specialty: Cranberry Key lime
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Source: I Like Pie Bake Shop
5. California: I Like Pie
> City: Claremont
> Yelp rating: 4.5
> Sample specialty: Chocolate chip chess
Source: 3.14 Sweet & Savory Pi Bar
6. Colorado: 3.14 Sweet & Savory Pi Bar
> City: Colorado Springs
> Yelp rating: 4.5
> Sample specialty: Amaretto cherry almond
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Source: Cutie Pies
7. Connecticut: Cutie Pies
> City: Thomaston
> Yelp rating: 4.5
> Sample specialty: Apple Cranberry
Source: Photo by Sweet Somethings via Yelp
8. Delaware: Sweet Somethings
> City: Wilmington
> Yelp rating: 4.5
> Sample specialty: Banana cream
Source: P is for Pie Bake Shop
9. Florida: P Is for Pie Bakery
> City: Orlando
> Yelp rating: 4.5
> Sample specialty: Caramel pecan hand pie
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Source: Donna K. via Yelp
10. Georgia: The Little Crown by Pie Society
> City: Savannah
> Yelp rating: 4.5
> Sample specialty: Steak and ale
Source: Hawaiian Pie Company
11. Hawaii: Hawaiian Pie Company
> City: Honolulu
> Yelp rating: 4.5
> Sample specialty: Passion orange guava pear
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Source: PIE HUT
12. Idaho: Pie Hut
> City: Sand Point
> Yelp rating: 4
> Sample specialty: Crème brûlée
24/7 Wall St.
Source: Bang Bang Pie & Biscuits
13. Illinois: Bang Bang Pie & Biscuits (Logan Square)
> City: Chicago
> Yelp rating: 4.5
> Sample specialty: Blueberry pistachio
Source: Courtesy of Pots & Pans Pie Co.
14. Indiana: Pots and Pans Pies
> City: Indianapolis
> Yelp rating: 4.5
> Sample specialty: Biscuits and gravy pot pie
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Source: Photo by Kathy's Pies via Yelp
15. Iowa: Kathy’s Pies and Bakery
> City: Cedar Rapids
> Yelp rating: 4.5
> Sample specialty: Dutch apple
Source: Anita C. via Yelp
16. Kansas: The Upper Crust Pie Bakery
> City: Overland Park
> Yelp rating: 4.5
> Sample specialty: Raspberry peach
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Source: Homemade Ice Cream & Pie Kitchen
17. Kentucky: Homemade Ice Cream & Pie Kitchen
> City: Louisville
> Yelp rating: 4.5
> Sample specialty: Double crust apple
24/7 Wall St.
Source: Not Just Pie
18. Louisiana: Not Just Pie
> City: Monroe
> Yelp rating: 4.5
> Sample specialty: Banana caramel
Source: Courtesy of Sari Marissa G. via Yelp
19. Maine: Puzzle Mountain Bakery
> City: Newry
> Yelp rating: 5
> Sample specialty: Blueberry
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Source: Dangerously Delicious Pies, Canton Baltimore, Maryland
20. Maryland: Dangerously Delicious Pies
> City: Baltimore
> Yelp rating: 3.5
> Sample specialty: Baltimore bomb
Source: Petsi Pies
21. Massachusetts: Petsi Pies
> City: Somerville
> Yelp rating: 4.5
> Sample specialty: Mississippi mud
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Source: Courtesy of Sister Pie
22. Michigan: Sister Pie
> City: Detroit
> Yelp rating: 4.5
> Sample specialty: Salted maple
Source: Courtesy of Heather's Pies
23. Minnesota: Heather’s Pies
> City: Minneapolis
> Yelp rating: 5
> Sample specialty: Apple cranberry pecan oatmeal crisp crumble
Source: Photo by Alivia T. via Yelp
24. Mississippi: Tom’s Fried Pies
> City: Richland
> Yelp rating: 5
> Sample specialty: Pineapple
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Source: Pie Oh My!
25. Missouri: Pie Oh My
> City: Maplewood
> Yelp rating: 4.5
> Sample specialty: Bailey’s chocolate cream
Source: Courtesy of Rock 'n Roll Bakery
26. Montana: Rock N Roll Bakery
> City: East Glacier Park Village
> Yelp rating: 5
> Sample specialty: Huckleberry
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Source: Courtesy of the Natural Pie King/Kitchen Council
27. Nebraska: Natural Pie King/Kitchen Council
> City: Omaha
> Yelp rating: 5
> Sample specialty: Extra deep chocolate bourbon pecan
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Source: Mix Bakeshop
28. Nevada: Mix Bakeshop
> City: Reno
> Yelp rating: 4
> Sample specialty: Mixed berry
Source: Just Like Mom's Pastries
29. New Hampshire: Just Like Mom’s Pastries
> City: Weare
> Yelp rating: 4
> Sample specialty: Chocolate M&M
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Source: The Pie Store
30. New Jersey: The Pie Store
> City: Montclair
> Yelp rating: 4
> Sample specialty: Double crust cran-apple
Source: Courtesy of Burro Street Bakery
31. New Mexico: Burro Street Bakery
> City: Cloudcroft
> Yelp rating: 4
> Sample specialty: Walnut “fruits of the forest”
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Source: Jeffrey D. via Yelp
32. New York: Petee’s Pie Company
> City: New York City
> Yelp rating: 4.5
> Sample specialty: Black bottom almond chess
Source: Fayetteville Pie Company
33. North Carolina: Fayetteville Pie Company
> City: Fayetteville
> Yelp rating: 4.5
> Sample specialty: Candy cane crush
Source: Photo by Michael U. via Yelp
34. North Dakota: Nichole’s Fine Pastry & Café
> City: Fargo
> Yelp rating: 4.5
> Sample specialty: Key lime
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Source: Just Pies
35. Ohio: Just Pies
> City: Westerville
> Yelp rating: 4
> Sample specialty: Buckeye
Source: Pie Junkie
36. Oklahoma: Pie Junkie
> City: Oklahoma City
> Yelp rating: 4.5
> Sample specialty: Drunken turtle
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Source: Courtesy of PIE vs PIE
37. Oregon: Pie vs. Pie
> City: Gresham
> Yelp rating: 4.5
> Sample specialty: Coconut cream
Source: The Pie Place
38. Pennsylvania: The Pie Place
> City: Pittsburgh
> Yelp rating: 4.5
> Sample specialty: California raisin
Source: Photo by Kevin M. via Yelp
39. Rhode Island: Wayland Bakery
> City: Providence
> Yelp rating: 4
> Sample specialty: Boston cream
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Source: Sugar Bakeshop
40. South Carolina: Sugar Bakeshop
> City: Charleston
> Yelp rating: 4
> Sample specialty: Buttermilk
Source: Photo by Lauren M. via Yelp
41. South Dakota: Pistachio Pie
> City: Rapid City
> Yelp rating: 4
> Sample specialty: Pistachio
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Source: Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop
42. Tennessee: Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop
> City: Murfreesboro
> Yelp rating: 5
> Sample specialty: Peanut butter cream
Source: Emporium Pies
43. Texas: Emporium Pies (Emporium Arts District)
> City: Dallas
> Yelp rating: 5
> Sample specialty: Granny smith apple
Source: Rocky Mountain Pies
44. Utah: Rocky Mountain Pies
> City: Salt Lake City
> Yelp rating: 4.5
> Sample specialty: Sea salt caramel French silk
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Source: Photo by Sarah C. via Yelp
45. Vermont: Poorhouse Pies
> City: Underhill
> Yelp rating: 4.5
> Sample specialty: Lemon cream
Source: Proper Pie Co.
46. Virginia: Proper Pie Co.
> City: Richmond
> Yelp rating: 4.5
> Sample specialty: Blueberry almond
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Source: A la Mode Pies
47. Washington: A la Mode Pies
> City: Seattle
> Yelp rating: 4.5
> Sample specialty: Bourbon butterscotch
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Source: Photo by Ryan T. via Yelp
48. West Virginia: Oliver’s Pies
> City: Wheeling
> Yelp rating: 4
> Sample specialty: Old-fashioned egg custard
Source: Elsie Mae's Canning and Pies
49. Wisconsin: Elsie Mae’s Canning & Pies
> City: Kenosha
> Yelp rating: 4.5
> Sample specialty: Ginger lime
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Source: The Bread Doctor Bakery
50. Wyoming: The Bread Doctor
> City: Torrington
> Yelp rating: 5
> Sample specialty: Chicken pot pie
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