Get to know East London better (10)
March 2024
You may remember that we mentioned in previous posts that we like to eat garage pies when we’re on a road trip. It’s those iconic filled pies (chicken, steak, venison, spinach and feta, etc.) that one can buy at petrol stations/garages along the road. It’s certainly not the healthiest snack out there, but it’s tasty.
We have been looking for a place in East London for some time that also sells these tasty pies and after a bit of snooping around, Berto triumphantly announced that he seems to have discovered the best pies in East London!
Taking a detour, which took us past the Indian Ocean, we drove to Wagon Wheel Pies.
Views over the sea on our way to Wagon Wheel Pies
Wagon Wheel Pies is located on the N6 highway. Itās about 19km/12 miles from East London, but from our house itās only a 10-minute drive.
Inside Wagon Wheel Pies
Of course, there has to be wagons at a place like Wagon Wheel Pies. It was nice to walk around between the different wagons and admire the craftsmanship.
Wagons (and even a miniature ship)
More wagons
After placing our order, we walked around Wagon Wheel Pies a bit to see what they were selling. There are so many delicacies, from homemade brandy, jam, sweets and rusks. I wouldn’t mind walking out of there with a bag or two!
Homemade brandy
Homemade jam
We love everything pineapple
Something sweet
Buttermilk rusks ā an old favourite
Although everything looked very tasty, we came to Wagon Wheel Pies to try some of their famous pies.
Wagon Wheel Pies
Berto ordered a steak pie and my choice fell on the chicken pie with gravy. We also each got a large portion of freshly fried chips/fries with it.
Our pies are served
And they weren’t kiddingāthose pies were truly packed with steak and chicken. Berto finished his pie, but I took half of mine home to enjoy again later.
What a delicious pie
Outside in the garden of Wagon Wheel Pies are animals made of sheet metal. We couldn’t leave without walking past each animal and taking pictures. Isn’t it amazing how creative people can be?
Buffalo and Kudo
Blue crane
Elephants
It’s going to be hard for any other pie shop in South Africa to top the pies we tasted here at East London! And now that we know it’s only a few minutes from our house, we’ll most likely be stopping by Wagon Wheel Pies more often.
Wet and Dusty Roads 
Wagon Wheel Pies sounds like something youād find in the midwestern US š. The pies look amazingly delicious, as do the other items. The sheet metal animals are very creative. Looks like a fun and delicious place to visit!
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Well, then I guess we’ll love the midwestern US! It was fun to walk from one sheet metal animal to the next … it’s amazing how creative people can be. Definitely a place we will visit on a Saturday morning again, because it’s just around the corner from our house!
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Can’t beat a good pie with gravy. I love those cranes too. Hope you had a good Easter š¤š
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Pie and gravy … such a simple meal, but yet so tasty! The cranes were also my favourite ā oh, how I admire the creativity of people. Thanks Jo, we had a great Easter, hope you too š¤!
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Grant is going to be so envious! Heās always talking about meat pies and weāve never found any that are really good. I love those sculptures too.
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That’s because Grant knows what a decent pie must taste like! It really is something you find all over South Africa … I think there must be some sort of competition between all the places about whose pies are the best. The sculptures are lovely – the cranes were my favourite.
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What delicious looking pies Corna. I love a pie and though they are not the most healthy of foods I think that everything is fine in moderation. I also like it that you got a jug of gravy to accompany your pie and chips. Did you know that pouring gravy over chips is a Lancashire favourite!
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Gravy over chips is a Lancashire favourite? No, I didn’t know that! I think we would love a visit to Lancashire š. Yes, pie and gravy are definitely not healthy … but as you rightly say, all in moderation!
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“Garage pies,” ek is ook mal daaroor, Corna. Nog iets wat jy glad nie te koop kry in Mosambiek nie.
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Ek lag altyd so lekker wanner ons die slag ‘n ‘garage pie’ koop. Voor ons nog begin eet, vra Berto alreeds ‘n Rennie (want hy weet hy gaan sooibrand kry š). Maar dis so lekker, dat hy dit maar “verduur”.
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Ooh, yes, nothing like a decent pie on a road trip, though it sounds as though you could almost walk to this place! We always used to stop for a Cornish pasty on our way down here. Now that we live in Cornwall it is a very rare treat. (And also very calorific). As an aside, I don’t think I have seen pineapple jam outside SA.
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I couldn’t believe it was that close! We never drive on the N6 (it’s on the way to Bloemfontein) so that’s why we didn’t know about Wagon Wheel Pies. A Cornish pasty is my favourite (but it’s sold out most of the time). To be honest, I’ve never seen so many different varieties of pineapple jam anywhere other than here in the Eastern Cape Province (I suspect this is because there are more than enough pineapples to make it).
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Pie fest!! Yep, they do look good, Corna. Love the name āgarage piesā too š. When I read that you
took half of your chicken pie home for later, I couldnāt help but wonder how you carried the gravyā¦.
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Oh, but the folks at Wagon Wheel Pies are very smart with takeaways … they placed the gravy in a small sealed container! So, I had pie fest all over at home again š.
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The pies here are absolutely the best!! I shamelessly eat about 2 or 3 a month haha. Great blog post and pictures on an awesome post. Thanks for sharing. Sam (New Places To Go)
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It’s always great to read comments from someone who was also at the places we visited! And if it’s in agreement, even better! I wouldn’t mind eating one of Wagon Wheel’s pies once a week, but my hips aren’t going to like it very much š! We’re glad you enjoyed this post. Thanks for your lovely comments Sam, it’s much appreciated.
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I must say, your petrol stations and garages are way nicer than the ones here in Canada! The wagon wheel pies sound like a nice treat while out on the road.
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I must admit that it is very nice to stop at most of our petrol stations on the main routes in our country. There is always something delicious to eat (like the famous “garage pies”) and many of these places also have nice playground for kids. Which mean that the parents eat well while the kids enjoying themselves. A win-win situation for everyone š. Wagon Wheel Pies will definitely see us again!
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Oh, that’s a lovely selection of ‘garage pies’ – great name btw. If I had to pick only three, I would go for steak and kidney, spinach and feta, lamb and mint. It’s a lovely shop indeed with homemade jams and other delicacies.
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The name ‘garage pie’ may not sound so sophisticated, but I can guarantee you that some of these pies are almost Michelin star quality! When I’m not in the mood for meat, the spinach and feta are always my go-to pie. Of course, it’s a bonus that there are so many other goodies … it’s better to go to Wagon Wheel Pies when you’ve just got paid at the end of the month š!
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Now that is my kind of store, I would have to buy one of each! I love the wagon, such a unique place.
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It’s indeed a unique place – we have been to many farm stalls before, but never one like Wagon Wheel Pies. And because it’s so close, we go for there at least twice a month š.
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