Original vs Black Pepper vs Curry: The Don Chicken Pie Family Compared
Which Don chicken pie flavours are there?
The Don chicken pie family, as printed on the menu dated February 2026, has four chicken members, all baked under the DonChef name at Chicken Pie Kitchen & Don Signature Crab, the kitchen Chef Don Lim co-founded: the Original Chicken Pie, the Black Pepper Chicken Pie, the Curry Pie and the Chicken Shepherd’s Pie. The same kitchen also bakes beef and apple pies, but this page is about the chicken branch of the family tree. For the kitchen’s own notes on each pie in the range and how every flavour relates to the Original, go to the source.
New to the pie itself? Our Don chicken pie guide covers what is inside and the two sizes. Here is the whole family in one table. The descriptions paraphrase the menu; the last column is our opinion and nothing more.
| Flavour | What the menu says | Personal | Whole | Our one-line take |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Original Chicken Pie | DonChef’s original recipe, since 1983 | $6.80 | $33.80 | The benchmark. Start here. |
| Black Pepper Chicken Pie | Same pastry, extra peppery kick | $6.80 | $33.80 | For kopi-o people. |
| Curry Pie | Curry spices, chicken chunks and potato | $6.80 | $38.80 | A curry puff that sat down for lunch. |
| Chicken Shepherd’s Pie | Black Pepper filling under baked mash | $6.80 | $33.80 | Soft, spoonable, no flakes on your shirt. |
Prices are from the printed menu, as of October 2026. Check the official site before you go, because menus change; the where to buy page links to it.
What does the Original Chicken Pie taste like?
The Original Chicken Pie tastes like the reason people still talk about Don’s pies. In our tasting notes, the Original is savoury and rounded rather than loud: a gently peppery, creamy gravy, soft potato, chunky chicken and that half egg in the middle. The crust is golden and flaky. Nothing fights for attention, which is exactly why the Original makes the best control sample in every experiment we run.
If you only ever try one, try this. Our full Don chicken pie review has the long version of our notes.
Original vs Black Pepper: which should you pick?
Pick the Original if you want the classic, and Black Pepper if you want the same pie with the volume turned up. The menu describes Black Pepper as having the same pastry with an extra peppery kick (there is a longer write-up on donpies.com’s Black Pepper page), and that matches our experience: the pepper arrives late, at the back of the throat, and keeps going.
Inside our crew, this is the most argued-about choice on the menu. The pepper fans say it cuts through the richness of the gravy and wakes up a mid-afternoon slump. The Original fans say the pepper covers the egg and the potato, which are the best bits. Both camps are correct, which is very annoying.
Some practical tie-breakers:
- Drinking kopi-o or teh-o? Black Pepper. The bitterness and the pepper get along.
- Feeding kids or a mixed group? Original. It is the safer crowd-pleaser.
- Adding chilli sauce anyway? Original. Black Pepper plus chilli sauce is a lot of heat stacked on heat.
- Reheating the next day? Either. Pepper flavours tend to taste a little stronger after a night in the fridge, so day-two Black Pepper can feel punchier.
How is the Curry Pie different?
The Curry Pie takes the chunky chicken and potato idea and seasons it with curry spices instead of the Original’s milder blend. The menu photo shows half an egg in it too. If you grew up on curry puffs, the Curry Pie will feel familiar but sturdier: a round, lidded pie you can make a lunch of, rather than a two-bite snack.
The Curry Pie is also the only chicken flavour with a different whole-pie price on the February 2026 menu: $38.80 for the whole, against $33.80 for the others. The personal size matches the family at $6.80. For a wider look at the snack it echoes, see our chicken pie vs curry puff comparison.
What is the Chicken Shepherd’s Pie?
The Chicken Shepherd’s Pie is the family member without a pastry lid. The menu says the Chicken Shepherd’s Pie uses the Black Pepper Pie filling, topped with baked mashed potato, and it is pictured as a rectangular tray rather than a round pie. The kitchen’s shepherd’s pie site has a full page on its Chicken Shepherd’s Pie, including how it differs from the beef and lamb classics.
Because there is no top crust, the Chicken Shepherd’s Pie behaves differently in the kitchen. Mash does not shatter, so the Chicken Shepherd’s Pie is forgiving to reheat and very good for anyone who finds pastry too rich. The trade-off is texture: you lose the crackle that makes a pie a pie. The kitchen’s own storage note singles out the Shepherd’s Pie: do not keep it beyond 3 days.
Do the flavours reheat differently?
The three pastry-topped flavours reheat the same way, because the crust is the hard part, not the seasoning. The kitchen’s published air fryer setting (150C for 5 minutes, then 200C for 5 minutes) is our default for any personal pastry-topped pie.
The Chicken Shepherd’s Pie is the exception. The mash top benefits from a little colour at the end, so finish it hot and uncovered for a few minutes, and check the middle is piping hot, 75C if you have a probe. Our reheat calculator gives starting points for ovens, air fryers, toaster ovens and microwaves.
| Flavour | Reheat behaviour | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Original | Classic pastry pie | Soft base if heated on a plate |
| Black Pepper | Same as Original | Pepper tastes stronger on day two |
| Curry | Same as Original | Curry gravy can catch at the rim if overheated |
| Chicken Shepherd’s | Mash top, no lid to crisp | Cold centre under the mash in a deep tray |
What should you drink or eat with each flavour?
We ran a whole experiment on this, with verdicts that are pure opinion: sauces and pairings for chicken pie. The short version from our crew: kopi with the Original, kopi-o or a cold barley with Black Pepper, iced lemon tea with the Curry Pie, and a simple green salad with the Chicken Shepherd’s Pie. Our note on what to drink with chicken pie has more.
Which flavour would we buy for a party?
For a party, we would mix: mostly Original, a few Black Pepper for the pepper people, and one Curry for curiosity. Whole pies are easier to share at the table, and personal pies are easier to hand out. Whatever you order, one rule from our crowd experiment holds: label which pie is which before the lids come off, because a Black Pepper and an Original look identical from above.
Quick questions
What is the difference between the Original and Black Pepper Don chicken pie?
According to the menu, the Black Pepper Chicken Pie uses the same pastry as the Original with an extra peppery kick. The Original follows the 1983 recipe of Don Pie founder Chef Don Lim and tastes gently seasoned; Black Pepper brings a warmer, sharper finish.
Is the Don Curry Pie spicy?
The Curry Pie is seasoned with curry spices, so expect more warmth and aroma than the Original. How hot it feels depends on your tolerance. If you happily eat curry puffs, you will be comfortable; if you avoid chilli completely, start with the Original.
What is a Chicken Shepherd's Pie?
A shepherd's pie swaps the pastry lid for mashed potato. The Don Chicken Shepherd's Pie uses the Black Pepper Pie filling topped with baked mash, according to the menu, and is pictured as a rectangular tray rather than a round pie.
