Yatala Pies

Yatala Pies is perhaps South East Queensland’s quirkiest food attraction, an institution off the M1 highway at Yatala that started as a humble pie shop in 1914.

Today Yatala Pies have expanded to a sprawling red tin-roofed premise with wraparound verandahs and a parking lot that has room for tourist buses but some things haven’t changed.

The pies, which come in all manner of sizes, with sweet and savoury fillings, have a handmade rustic quality to them and the pie store still uses the original ceramic ovens, which are in full view of the customers who line up along the lengthy counters.

And in keeping with the non-manufactured style of Yatala Pies, ingredients used in the fillings are quality, with fresh chicken, fruit and vegetables and A grade meat a feature.

As such Yatala Pies is well worth a detour off the highway between Brisbane and the Gold Coast, to join the dining hordes or even if only to pick up a pie to take home.

From the savoury menu (individual or family sizes) choices include pepper steak, lamb coconut curry, vegetable pie, steak and kidney, chicken and vegie, steak, bacon, egg, cheese and tomato and gourmet options such as chicken mushroom mornay, along with delicious savoury triangles such as broccoli, cheese and cauliflower or spinach and fetta. Peas, potato and gravy are optional add-ons.

Sweet pie fillings include apple, berry or apricot (with or without cream), while also on offer are custard, caramel or custard and apple tarts, pavlova, cream and jam donuts and a range of cakes and slices.

Need to know - While everyone should dine at Yatala Pies just once, the family sized pies and sweet pastries (which serve up to 4 people) make a great heat-up dinner/dessert. Family-sized pies are sold cold unless pre-ordered, while individual size pies are available to take home cold as part of a take home pack.

The menu may have changed since our visit.