Born in a Staff Cafeteria
The recipe goes back to 1983 and the staff canteen at Hewlett-Packard, where a new pastry was made every day. One of them stuck: staff began ordering the chicken pie for friends and family, and urged its baker to open a shop of his own.
Armed with only a chicken pie, he won a $30,000 loan from Hong Leong Finance, and Don Pie opened at Far East Square before growing across the road into China Square. The pie you order today follows the same recipe, made in DonChef's kitchen at 39 Tyrwhitt Road; the family story is on Our Story. In 2025 it was awarded the “Gold Standard” by Singapore Pie.
Rolled and Filled by Hand
The dough is made in our pastry room. It is mixed by hand first, then in an industrial mixer so every batch is consistent, then sheeted and layered several times to build the flaky layers. It rests for a couple of hours and is portioned by weight.
The cooked filling goes in by hand: generous chunks of chicken, potato and vegetables in a closely guarded blend of herbs and spices, with our signature egg on top. The pies bake in small batches in our deck ovens through the day, and we keep a strict no-overnight-pies rule.
A Whole Family of Pies
The original recipe is still the standard every pie is baked to, and the one regulars ask for by name. Around it the family has grown:
- Black Pepper Chicken, for an extra peppery kick.
- Chicken Shepherd's Pie, the peppery filling under a golden mashed-potato crust.
- Curry Pie, a personal pie with a local soul.
- Creamy Chicken, Beef, and an Apple Pie with raisins and cinnamon for afters.
Our kitchen uses no pork and no lard, though we are not Halal-certified. For something nobody else has, Build Your Pie lets you choose your own fillings.
From Our Guests
Whole pies, personal pies and shepherd's pies, as our guests filmed them and shared them on Instagram.
Whole Chicken Pie
A whole chicken pie in its open box, the lid printed Singapore's original Chicken Pie, since 1983.
Filmed by @yisforyen, shared 30 August 2024.
Credits
- @yisforyenVideo, shared 30 August 2024
- @thatfoodadvVideo, shared 2 September 2024
- @msjaniceeatsVideo, shared 7 February 2025
- @botakjazzVideo, shared 24 March 2025
- @aliciat.
anVideo, shared 29 January 2026 - @doublerubble_Video, shared 9 January 2025
- @joslyn07Video, shared 31 March 2025
- @limpehatwoodleighVideo, shared 12 July 2025
Made by Hand Since 1983
A Personal pie feeds one and a Whole pie serves 4 to 6; the Chicken Shepherd's Pie always steals the show at parties. Our core pies are at every one of our outlets, from the restaurant at 39 Tyrwhitt Road to our kiosks, for pickup or islandwide delivery. Pies are best on the day, and our guide to storing and reheating covers the rest.
Featured in
- Tasting Table: The Chicken Pot Pie Restaurant You Must Try When You're In Singapore, 17 June 2025
- Honeycombers: Ready for a slice of heaven? Forks out for the best sweet and savoury pies in Singapore, 14 June 2023
- Eatbook: 10 Best Pie Shops In Singapore With Sweet And Savoury Options, 11 September 2026
- 8days: Tasty Crab Bee Hoon From $33.80 & Handmade Pies At Charming 'English Pub', 11 December 2021
The 1983 recipe, sized for 4 to 6.
The same original, a portion just right for one.
The original with an extra peppery kick.
Peppery chicken under a golden mash crust.
