Restaurant Review: Die Pie
DIE PIE
11817 105th Avenue | diepie.ca
Instagram: @diepieyeg
Co-Diners: The E.A.T Crew
Did you know that Edmonton has a vegan pizzeria? Did you also know that it's Alberta's first plant-based pizzeria that has been blazing trails since 2017? They've been on quite a turbulent journey to say the least. Die Pie first opened their doors downtown on Jasper Ave in 2017. Then the pandemic hit and threw everything into question and they ended up moving to 97th in the Boyle Street area in 2020. Then, sadly, later in 2020 they announced that Die Pie would be closing it's doors for good. It seemed that everything had come to an unfortunate and heart breaking end. But there was some hope when the pizzas became available at their sister business Seitans in the 5th Street Food Hall in 2021. ...And then in 2023, rising from the ashes, Die Pie opened once again, this time on 105th Street in Queen Mary Park. Nothing short of a roller coaster, I'm not sure how they've done it. However, their legion of devoted fans certainly wants their plant-based pizza revolution to continue. VUE Weekly named Die Pie # 1 Pizza (Classic) 2018 and # 1 Best Pizza (Thin Crust) 2018. Yes, the pizza is meatless but this is a place that can compete with all of the rest. You need to try it for yourself to believe it! I was so pleased to visit for the first time on a Saturday evening and I would totally describe the restaurant and location as "industrial-chic." They've got plenty of space with a fun tropical vibe from the pink-sided bar area to the pink-and-green frond print on the chairs. The best decor item of all, without a question, is the huge original Jasper Ave restaurant sign that now hangs inside. What a testament to their resiliency. There's a little stage area that must be great for live music and other such performances. Speaking of music, the tunes at Die Pie are absolute perfection and I found myself dancing and singing in my seat for the majority of my visit - we must have very similar taste in music. Our server was helpful and friendly, happy to give us the time that we needed to make our way through the extensive menu. There's quite a lot more than just pizza! I'm not much of a pop-drinker but I do enjoy a soda with pizza from time to time. I really like that Die Pie doesn't serve the mainstream brands and instead opts for Jarritos (which I love), Wild Brewing Kombucha, and Phillips Soda Works from Victoria. We chose a Speed King Craft Cola ($5.00) and an Intergalactic Root Beer ($5.00), both from Phillips. The art on the can alone is worth it.
I really like a craft cola made with cane sugar a lot. You've probably heard people talk about Mexican cola and how it's a far superior product - and the cane sugar is why. Using cane sugar makes the flavour so much better. Speed King is made with actual kola nut as well as cane sugar, has a rich flavour, and somehow isn't too sweet. The Intergalactic was interesting because it actually tasted like real root beer. The amber colour is not typically expected and the flavour of licorice root, cloves, and cane sugar creates a beverage that tastes much more authentic. They both paired wonderfully with the pizza. The food menu involves a lot! You'll find a whole host of starters, fried chickun (which I believe is Seitans main thing, now available at Die Pie), pasta, and burgers. And of course there is pizza. A lot of pizza. I was excited to start my meal with some Bites (there are four types) which I remember very well from my 5th Street Food Hall visits. This time I chose the Kimchi Bites ($16.00) because they sound so unique. However, the chedda, donair, and pickle versions are excellent options as well.
These little tender and twirly dough balls are served with two dips of your choice and they've got twelve to select from! Gochujang Dip seemed like an obvious pick and we also got Garlic Aioli Dip for a more cooling option. If you love Die Pie's soft and fluffy pizza dough (and you do) this is just another way to get more of it. Pungent, acidic kimchi is wrapped within the dough like a soft blanket. These bites had some spicy kick! Dip them in the gochujang for an even bigger punch! These are fun and easy to eat. However, if you're also ordering pizza it does mean that your meal will contain a lot of dough (which is not necessarily a bad thing). The main event is absolutely the California style pizza and with 18 different pies you certainly won't be wanting for choice. Each one is made from scratch using their signature hand-tossed sourdough crust which they make with local flour. And let me tell you: IT'S THE CRUST. I'm the type of person who doesn't always eat my crust - in most cases I have no desire to eat additional plain, tough bread. But once in a while there's the odd case when the dough itself is something special. Die Pie makes a dough so pillowy that you will find it in your dreams. But that's not all. On Thursdays they do Detroit style pizza, they can make gluten-free versions of their pizzas as well, and if you prefer a thin crust they can do Neapolitan style for you. I decided to try the Die Pie Deluxe Pizza ($19.00) because it seemed prudent to try their namesake 'za.
It goes without saying that the dough was incredible. That's a given. I really enjoyed the freshness of the ingredients and I could taste the quality of the peppers and mushrooms. The cheese is a really great effort (you can buy their housemade vegan cheeses to take home) but it does seem to lack the same ooey-gooey meltiness that dairy cheese possesses. I'm someone who absolutely loves plant-based "meat" products but I felt on the fence about Die Pie's pepperoni. It was quite spicy and the texture was more sausage-like and less like the thin, dense pepperoni texture that I'm used to. Unsure of a second pizza to try, I asked the server which pizza is the most popular and she suggested the Black Garlic Truffle Pizza ($22.00). I'm glad that I asked because I'm not sure that I would've chosen this one on my own!
WOW. This was the one. Everyone at my table agreed that this was the pizza that blew us away. I don't think that I've ever tasted anything like this and the unique flavours came together exceptionally well. On the menu since day one, I can see why this particular pizza has weathered the restaurant's various storms. The base of the pizza boasts an incredible creaminess from the unctuous aioli and I loved the prominent garlic and truffle flavour. The greens and hit of lemon served as a wonderful way to provide acidity and cut through the heaviness. Fresh yet decadent and entirely unique. This pizza is a must-try! I now have a whole list of pizzas that I would like to taste, including the Buffalo Chikun, Mediterranean, and Pickle pizzas. And you know that Die Pie is in the Big Mac game with a Big Mack pizza on the menu. There are a few dessert items to choose from and the Birthday Cookie ($3.50 each) caught my attention.
Unfortunately, I have to disagree with the description of this cookie because it was not soft or chewy at all. The cookie was actually really hard. It's a gluten-free cookie and that might be part of the problem? I didn't find these to have much flavour and even the marshmallows were like solid shards. These could be really cute and fun if only the concern of breaking my teeth wasn't there.
Overall, I really enjoyed my meal and was impressed by their innovation and excellent plant-based ingenuity. Who is Die Pie for? People who like good food and who want to experience the most amazing pizza crust in the city. It's also for vegans, gluten-free diners, and anyone who can't do lactose. I hope that Die Pie is finally receiving the fair chance that they deserve after everything that they have been through and that they continue to provide for the community for a long time.
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