Is There a Don Chicken Pie in Toa Payoh? Where to Go Instead
If you typed “Don chicken pie Toa Payoh” into a search bar, you are not alone, and you are not wrong to look there. For a few years, Toa Payoh was where Chef Don Lim, the founder of Don Pie, did his cooking. Today, though, the honest answer is short: there is no Don chicken pie outlet in Toa Payoh. Here is what happened, where to go instead, and how to get your pie home in good shape.
Is there a Don chicken pie shop in Toa Payoh now?
No. There is no current Toa Payoh outlet, and no Toa Payoh delivery base either. Older listings, food blog posts and map pins still tie Chef Don’s name to Toa Payoh, which is why the search keeps turning up. Those listings describe a chapter that has closed.
The Don chicken pie, Chef Don Lim’s Original Chicken Pie, is baked today under the DonChef name at Chicken Pie Kitchen & Don Signature Crab, the kitchen he co-founded. The kitchen is at 39 Tyrwhitt Road in Jalan Besar, and the pies are sold there and at takeaway kiosks around the island. Our Don chicken pie guide covers the pie itself in detail.
Why do people link Don chicken pie with Toa Payoh?
Because of the Toa Payoh years, roughly 2015 to 2021, as food blogs from the time describe them.
- From about 2015, Chef Don ran a crab bee hoon stall in a coffee shop at Toa Payoh North. Food writers covered the crab bee hoon soup, and the stall built a following of its own.
- From late 2019, his chicken pies were sold under the name “Don’s Pie & Cake”, at Toa Payoh North Food Centre II.
- Since 2021, the pies have been baked at 39 Tyrwhitt Road, and the Toa Payoh stalls have closed.
That is the short version. The kitchen tells the longer one, with dates, in The Toa Payoh Years. For many Toa Payoh residents, it was the place they rediscovered the pie, so the association sticks.
Where is the nearest Don chicken pie to Toa Payoh?
Two good options, depending on what you want.
| Option | Getting there from Toa Payoh | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| AMK Hub kiosk, Ang Mo Kio | Three MRT stops north on the North-South Line (Braddell, Bishan, Ang Mo Kio). AMK Hub connects to Ang Mo Kio MRT station. | A quick takeaway run, the shortest train ride |
| Tyrwhitt Road flagship, Jalan Besar | A longer trip with a change of line; the restaurant is a short walk from Farrer Park, Lavender or Jalan Besar MRT | Sitting down, a bigger order, making an outing of it |
The AMK Hub kiosk is in the basement and is takeaway only; if you are in Ang Mo Kio anyway and want to compare, Pie Singapore’s North-East page lists the other pie sellers nearby. The Tyrwhitt Road flagship is a dine-in restaurant opposite Jalan Besar Stadium. Kiosks can sell out before closing, so for a whole pie or a big order, ordering ahead is the safer move.
If you want step-by-step MRT routes, including from Braddell, donpies.com has a full walkthrough on how to get a Don pie from Toa Payoh. We do not list opening hours here, because hours change. For current addresses, hours and ordering, see our page on where to buy a Don chicken pie.
How do you carry a chicken pie home on the MRT?
The ride from Ang Mo Kio back to Toa Payoh is short, but pies are fragile and the train is crowded. Our crew’s checklist:
- Remember the rule. Eating and drinking are not allowed on MRT trains or in the paid areas of stations. The pie waits until you are out.
- Keep the box flat. Hold the box level, or slide it into a tote with a flat bottom. A tilted box sends gravy to one side and can crack the lid.
- Do not tie it into a tight plastic bag. A hot pie in a sealed bag steams itself soggy. Carry the box in an open tote so steam can escape.
- Give it space. Pies on top of the stack, never under the groceries.
- Watch the clock. Cooked pies should not sit at room temperature for more than 2 hours, and Singapore heat makes sooner better. If you are running errands first, go to the kiosk last.
- Be a good neighbour. A box of hot pies smells wonderful to you and very distracting to everyone in the carriage. Keep the lid closed.
How do you reheat the pie once you get home?
The maker’s advice is to eat the pie within 4 hours of purchase for the best texture. If you are eating soon after the trip, a short reheat brings the crust back to life.
- Air fryer (the maker’s guidance): 150C for 5 minutes, then 200C for 5 minutes.
- Oven (from the maker’s older reheating post): 150-180C for 20-30 minutes.
- Toaster oven or microwave-then-crisp: our own suggestions, not the maker’s. Use moderate heat in a toaster oven and cover the lid with foil if it browns too fast. With a microwave, use short bursts, rest, check the centre, then crisp the crust in a hot oven or air fryer.
Whatever you use, reheat until the pie is piping hot all the way through, 75C at the centre if you have a probe thermometer. Our chicken pie reheat calculator gives times by appliance and starting temperature, and our air fryer chicken pie settings experiment shows what happens at different settings.
Not eating them today? Chill the pies within 2 hours. The maker says chilled pies keep up to 3 days.
Is it worth the trip from Toa Payoh?
We are obviously biased: we run a whole blog about one pie. But three MRT stops for a golden, flaky crust and a filling with half an egg in it feels like a fair deal to us. Make it a weekend errand, buy an extra pie for the freezer, and the next craving is already handled.
Filed in the chicken pie blog, where every post answers one question. New here? The Don chicken pie guide is the place to start.
Quick questions
Is Don's Pie & Cake still at Toa Payoh North Food Centre II?
No. The Don's Pie & Cake stall at Toa Payoh North Food Centre II has closed. Chef Don Lim's pies are now baked at 39 Tyrwhitt Road in Jalan Besar and sold there and at takeaway kiosks, including AMK Hub. Check our where-to-buy page for current outlets.
What is the nearest Don chicken pie outlet to Toa Payoh?
The AMK Hub kiosk in Ang Mo Kio is the closest by MRT: three stops north of Toa Payoh on the North-South Line, via Braddell and Bishan. The Tyrwhitt Road flagship in Jalan Besar is the other good option, especially if you want to sit down and eat.
Can I get a Don chicken pie delivered to Toa Payoh?
The maker takes advance online orders and arranges delivery through third-party drivers, with the fee based on distance. Delivery terms change, so check the official ordering site, linked from our where-to-buy page, for the current options and charges.
