San Diego Chicken Pie Shop Reviews

The San Diego Chicken Pie Shop is more than a local landmark, it's also a great place to eat! Their chicken pies are the best, bar none!!! They're delicious!!! Every time I come to San Diego, I always plan for a stop here! The staff are always warm and friendly, and make you feel welcome. The food is delicious!! It's not fancy, but it's great comfort food. I'd highly recommend it!!!

We tried this restaurant on a whim. Our breakfast was excellent. Food portions were generous and price was reasonable. Our waitress was very good, very attentive. I would definitely return here again.

Talk about comfort food.....gravy and chicken, no veggies, in a delicious crust, cole slaw and a slice of coconut cream pie for dessert. I was not disappointed. Atmosphere is not great, diner/cafeteria. It was a quick visit for me. Very busy to go counter. I did purchase a dozen frozen chicken pot pies and cooked some at home for company. They raved about them. Easy to cook directions printed on the box. Much better than any frozen pie I have purchased in the past. I will go back to purchase and serve at home.

I've gone to the San Diego Chicken Pie Shop since a child. Every time I go back to San Diego I load up on frozen pies to take back to the SF Bay Area. These pies are all chicken and a delicious creamy gravy with a great tasting crust. So some people may complain that there are no vegetables, but that's their loss. I've had some of their other food, such as their fried chicken, good but not the best. That is why I rate this restaurant 4 stars, instead of 5. The décor also is not fancy, just your basic essentially the same as when I went 50 years ago.

I love their chicken pie meal which is now $9. The pie is large, the meal is large and the service is extremely fast when I order the chicken pie.

This is one of my favourite restaurant here in SD , i just love their foods! And the servers were nice

A revisit to San Diego and our favorite restaurant for the full meal of pot pie, vegs, mashed potatoes, dinner roll and berry pie for dessert! Good eats!

Great local diner which has been serving hot chicken pie dinners for over 60 years, in the Hillcrest and North park area, great eats for a low prices and good basic cooking for generations... It is not fancy, the food is great and freshly cooked, a great value, what more can I say..... What new? It's open early for the breakfast crowd, still closes around 8 pm, good take out and cook the meat pies at home , mixed vegetables and mash potatoes and a delicious gravy... Plus dessert of home baked pies and treats. Don't come here for fancy or ambiance... Come if you like a good home style cooked meal , no nonsense, many seniors eat there plus the local folks who enjoy a great fresh meal. I order the chicken pie dinner, their chicken fried steak is pretty good, and other menu items are equally nice... They take Visa card also... And parking lot is behind the cafe next to the alley, good off street parking. Enjoy.... It's an institution for local great eats.

Took the kid here for lunch after researching old San Diego restaurants. It’s been open for 81 years and their Chicken Pie recipe has remained the same. We got the Chicken Pie Dinner which came with the Chicken & Turkey Pie with whipped potatoes, all smothered in gravy which is made from the chicken and turkey stock. The dinner also came with slaw, mixed veggies and a slice of pie for dessert. I got the blueberry and it was super, but I admit it was difficult to eat all this in one sitting. It really is a lot of food. The chicken theme runs strong in here with most of the decor being chicken-centric. There are some great photos and news articles on the walls that tell the story of this long time San Diego icon. We are so glad we made this a destination during our trip.

I LOVE this place. It's just honest-to-goodness chicken pie. Nothing fancy, nothing new. It's just a delicious chicken pot pie, served with old-fashioned school-cafeteria sides like mashed potatoes, coleslaw and frozen/canned vegetables. The pie crust is tasty and the inside is creamy gravy with chicken pieces. And the price can't be beat. Do not however, have high expectations for their dessert pies -- most of them fall a little short of good, in my opinion. (I usually get one of the cream pies and it's usually just fine.) But dessert is not why you'd come here (even tho it's included in the price) -- it's called the "Chicken Pie" Shop so enjoy the chicken pie!

Pop.pie was dry. I asked Jessica for a refill on my drink. She gave me an attitude.she said 1 refill per customer. Told her it didn't matter. I'll pay for it. UNACCEPTABLE SERVICE!!!

It had been about 8 years since I last visited San Diego, and had to include a trip to the chicken pie shop. It hasn't changed a bit, continues with friendly servers, and great chicken pie. So glad I stopped in once again.

Wow!! This place has very tasty homemade chicken pies baked fresh every order.. Served with mashed potatoes, corn, cole slaw and dessert, pie.. They give you several choices.. Try it, you'll like it!

Its like your grandmas cooking. This place has been around since the 20's in San Diego and businesses like this have earned support from me. You cant go wrong with a chicken pie, cole slaw and a strawberry rhubarb mini pie for dessert. Its a value!

I love nostalgia, loved the history on the walls and that people who came as kids now bring theirs... but for food? I'd spend my food money elsewhere. I heard the rolls were super good but I don't eat bread so I didn't try them. I thought the chicken pie was super bland and not a lot of chicken in it... the potatoes were bland, the coleslaw too sweet, the green beans meh... The pies looked like cafeteria pies, I passed. One of my kids ordered chicken fried steak - that was the only thing with flavor that I tried. One of the kids ordered chicken tenders - they were ok. We spent a LOT of money for a group of ten. Our server was very attentive and very pleasant, he clearly had a passion for the place. He was the bright spot. Not the food.

This restaurant has been in business for many, many years and you can tell. This is a place you go to for FOOD not atmosphere. Myself and the four others in my group went in, were seated at a booth, and our waiter appeared - all in less than 2 minutes. He took our drink orders, left the menus and returned as quickly as he left. We ordered the chicken pie, of course. Four in the group ordered the "dinner" and I just ordered the chicken pie. Our food was served in less than 5 minutes. I was wholly expecting a traditional chicken pot pie with a little chicken, some mixed veggie and a yellow gravy all in a small pie pan. What a surprise. The chicken pie is all chicken - delicious, tender, tasty chicken - the gravy is poured on the outside of the pie! The dinners came with a side of mixed vegetables so you could add a spoonful to each bite of pie if you wished. I liked mine just the way it was, chicken and pie crust topped with gravy. The also have a selection of pies for dessert. I choose banana cream, we also had a blueberry and apple at the table. They were all very tasty (of course we shared bites lol). Unique restaurant.

Great place to stop in and grab a bite to eat. Food is excellent and service is great. They have booths or regular table and chairs. Menu has good selection.

A classic that you don't have to dress up for!

there is nothing special about the looks of this place from the outside (or on the inside either for that matter). but when it comes to consistently GOOD CHEAP home style food. it can not be beat. I have been eating here for more then 20 years. not once have I ever been disappointed. the prices have crept up over the years. ( i believe it was around 3 dollars for a complete meal when i first went) now its maybe 7 ? dollars. With the 1000's of great restaurants in san diego. this one still wins out more often then not. I can not rate this place high enough.

Visiting from the NC. Saw this place on you tube before arriving. My husband loves chicken pot pie. We ordered the chicken pot pie meal which came with a chicken pot pie corn which was bland, okay tasting mash potatoes and okay tasting gravy. The chicken pot pie was pretty good and the peach cobbler was also good. Overall I would visit again.

This is a San Diego tradition for many people. Their Chicken Pie Dinner is a lot of food for a little dough. Old fashion chicken pie, cole slaw, mashed potatoes, gravy, home made roll, veggies and a slice of pie for $8.99. Can't beat it!

great wholesome food at a great price always on list of stops when I Am visiting in San Diego. parking is the only issue at times

It's a real throwback to old school diners but the foods good and the prices are cheap. The soups are really good (especially on Monday!) and the pies taste great.

Chicken Pie Shop is one of those frozen in time places. You get good value at a low price. The chicken pies, rolls and dessert pies are made fresh daily and it shows. Service is super fast and usually friendly. A good choice for families and people not afraid of a little starch in their diet who like old fashioned food served simply. I love it for what it is and have for 40+ years.

This dine is a relic of times long past. It hasn't changed since it opened in what, the 50's (my guess). The Chicken Pot Pie dinner is to die for...and the price is so great you will about pass out.

I have been coming here for years, and my family been coming here since it open. By far one of the cheapest places for a pretty fantastic meal. $8 and you will leave full. Don't forget to save room for dessert.

An evening at the San Diego Chicken Pot Pie shop is a drive down childhood drive, eating with family and enjoying the simplest things. It's visualizing that Sunday family gathering that used to be so prevalent in our society. They have survived countless culinary twist and turns and remain. As for the meal, it's old school chicken pot pie smothered in gravy with mashed potatoes and corn with coleslaw, a biscuit and a piece of pie. Just downhome cooking at it's best. Friendly staff. Breakfast and lunch are also served. Very wallet friendly and you'll leave full. If you palette requires organic ingredients, farm fresh meats with wine and cheese, this place probably isn't for you.

This restaurant has been in business for over eighty years. Chicken is king, but there are many other options. I had the chicken pot pie dinner, quite a value at $9.99. It included a small chicken/turkey pot pie, mashed potatoes, corn, good cole slaw, a roll, and a choice of pie. The cherry pie had a flaky crust and much fruit in the filling. The BLT with avocado sandwich was filled with good quality ingredients. Staff is efficient and friendly enough. They bring food on large carts.

I was unsure about going here .. but never know until you try. Well .. wow. it was like the old days. Just a great Chicken Pot Pie and a chocolate cream pie to power it down. I will be back for more chicken pot pie .. and I will bring even more jokes of course. You know why? Chicken Pot Pie ! Duh !!

Thank goodness places like this still exist! The food is just like sitting down at Mom's (or Granny's) for dinner! The decor is really a hoot too! I loved every bite! Where else can you get an entire dinner including dessert for $8.75 (tax included!)?

I have been a few times and as always it's great! Fast delivery of food! By the looks it will be slow but it's super fast and everything comes out at once!

Very affordable. Go for the overall experience. Food is what it is.

This restaurant had been recommended to me, and I was very disappointed! The atmosphere felt like a cheap buffet. The food was inexpensive, but low quality. I would not recommend this place.

As I mentioned in my previous review.....For $8.99 where can you get pie and mash, coleslaw, veggie and roll and dessert. The pie had great flavor its up there for me with the best pies I have had. Just really enjoy this place and its comfort food. Other peoples meals looked good too but for me its I will always get the pie there.

First time here. Outstanding, mouthwatering, and superb! the chicken pot pie dinner is to die for! Highly recommended. Yuh-mmy!

Good quality comfort food. Great chicken pies and American favorites. Prices are reasonable for a good size meal. Liked the friendly service and home atmosphere.

If your into chicken this is the place to go. The meals are filling and a healthy lunch you won't be hungry for supper. We have been going there for a few years and never had a bad meal,or bad service. Recommend for all family's

I remember going to the Original Chicken Pie shop on 5th Ave when I was a kid The food was great and delicious back then too!!! Some friends and I stopped in to the Chicken Pie Shop on El Cajon Blvd. It's nice because there is parking behind the restraint and street parking as well. It is always busy!!! So be prepaired! The food is just so delicious and simple! The chicken pies are rockin, whipped mash potatoes, veggies. The menu has a variety! The buns are so fresh and fluffy...slap some butter and honey on that!! what a treat!! The staff are very friendly, and they are like family to the regulars! Bring cash with you because that's all they accept! no credit cards, debt cards, checks! just ordinary cash!! Old School!!! It's a great place to take a family & friends. I think their is something for everyone on the menu. But if you love pot pies... this is the place!!! So starve the belly because you are in for a treat!!! Enjoy!!!

This was my second visit. The food was just as good as the first time. This time I had the braised beef tips special. This came with beef tips over noodles, soup, coleslaw, a vegetable, roll and desert. The entire meal tasted very good. It was very filling. The service was excellent. The nice lady was very attentive and friendly. Kind of like eating a family meal at your aunts house. I will definitely return here.

This is a San Diego institution and should be declared a historical landmark! No frills and you can't go in with a shi-shi attitude. The main attraction is the chicken pies! Tender mix of chicken and turkey under a doughy pie shell, with mashed taters and vegetable of the day. A big roll and some coleslaw to start. Oh, and you get pie for dessert! I love their coconut cream pie! One of the last restaurants that offers a complete meal for an affordable price. The waitresses are old school and friendly. And the crowd is always amusing to watch!

We found this place thanks to our San Diego relatives and where we had a wonderful Sunday dinner. The prices are beyond reasonable - they are astonishingly inexpensive (especially having eaten out at several places in San Diego). The food is not gourmet by any means, but it was plentiful and tasty. Most of us had the pot pie that came with French fries, coleslaw, a veggie and a dessert pie. The pot pie was yummy, the sides were good and the pie (coconut cream in my case) was good if not remarkable. My husband had the hot roast beef sandwich, with mashed potatoes, all smothered in gravy and he's still talking about it two weeks later. He said it was just like his mother used to make and he enjoyed every single bite. This is a fun place with good old fashioned food and worth the trip if you want a reminder of childhood favorites and don't expect Michelin star cuisine.

A San Diego tradition! Good food in large quantities at low prices. Feels like a visit from the past. Fun for variety.

An institution, extremely low cost food, simple menu, good food

Fantastic value. Always great food, service and price. Chicken pie is super. Chopped sirloin is also great.

We had their special chicken pie dinner. It was what I call okay, chicken pie was good but everything else was tasteless, potatoes and vegetables. I would not recommend it.

cheap and good food

This place is a classic. If you love chicken pot pie you have to come here. When I'm in the mood this place hits the spot!

My mom used to take me and my sisters here when we were little. I'm grown and married now but I have to go here at least once a month. Even though it's a little bit of a drive from where I live now it's worth every mile! The food is the best comfort food and the atmosphere is great. There is a waitress that has been there since I was little :)

The best chicken pie shop in the world. They have roast beef that melts in your mouth and the best pie shop club sandwich. We treat ourselves out 2 times a month LOVE IT 😀 ❤️!!!!

The Chicken Pie shop is a place that I have been going to since the 1960's when I was a kid. When you go, it feels like you are stepping back in time. The food is pretty basic and not fancy. But the chicken pie, mashed potatoes and gravy are terrific - and the price is relatively cheap. It is homestyle cooking. It may not be the most nutritious meal you will ever have but it is delicious.

If you want an upmarket restaurant then this is definitely not the place for you BUT if you do want a great filling old fashioned meal at an unbelievable low price then this is for you. Four of us had the chicken pie dinner (a home made pie packed full of chicken/turkey chunk) served with mash potatoes and corn, with a side dish of coleslaw and a dinner bun, followed by a choice of peach/cherry/apple pie with ice cream, 2 cokes and an endless supply of coffee all for $47- amazing value. The service was ultra quick and friendly- it was also nice to see the "more mature" staff being employed (I don't think any of the staff on duty tonight will see 50 again) nice to know we senior members of the community aren't being put out to grass. Word of caution -as from 20 September they now close at 8.00pm rather than 9.00 - we only made it by the skin of our teeth

What a total disappointment ! After many years of coming to this chicken pot pie restaurant with yummy anticipation, we found that the quality of food has totally declined. Chicken pie seemed like it was processed canned chicken and, rest of food was salty. This was the 3rd time we found that the food was salty and mentioned it to management. Still salty! What a shame. We had family celebrations and special gatherings at this place for many years . Not anymore. It’s a shame, that their lack of attention to their clients complaints was not heard. This has only led to the loss of many loyal clients.

have been there many times with friends and family, food and service is always great. went april 16th for breakfast for the first time, great meal, we also noticed you can get anything on the menu anytime. we had 6 in our party and everyone wanted something different, no problem at all. service was fast, and food was great as always.

Home cooked meals - like Grandma used to make (if you're southern).

My grandparents would take us (back in the 60's) to San Diego Pie Shop when they were closer to downtown somewhere (I was still pretty little, but remember it). As I grew older I had forgotten about this place until the last 10 yrs and started going again whenever I visited my sister there, since I now live in OK. It isn't anything fancy, but is homemade cook'n at its best!! I always get the same thing which is the chicken pot pie dinner;(consists of pot pie, dinner rolls, mashed potatoes w/gravy and a side of your choice, plus a homemade piece of pie; which they usually have several to choose from).The prices are very inexpensive and you can also buy the pot pies cooked, non cooked or frozen if you'd rather take them home. All I can say is, I try to go here as many times as I can whenever I'm in So CA because it is soooo good!

I came here after a few years for their chicken pot pies. They are as yummy as I remember them the first time I dropped by five years ago! SD chicken pie shop knows how to prepare their pies. They have shredded chicken, peas and the sweetest cream inside a pie crust. It is baked to perfection. The price is only 2.90 baked or frozen. You would think they charge more for hot out of the oven goodness. You have to try them when you are visiting or on business in San Diego. You will not go wrong with these delicious pies!

I have ben going to this restaurant since 1960, in a different location then. The food is always consistent, fast, and inexpensive. A great place to go alone, or with friends or family. Very casual. Every time I visit my home town of San Diego, I make sure I go here. Not for the dieters... so yummy!

Comfort food at its best! The chicken pie was delicious! I wanted to have the cherry pie for dessert so I didn't opt to have the chicken pie dinner which comes with whipped potatoes, slaw, roll AND pie for less than $9!!! The service was outstanding! Had our meal in less than 10 minutes too!

Back in December during the Christmas rush i took the back way up out of Mission Valley up Texas Street and I remembered the San Diego Chicken Pie Shop. I had to make my way over to the place and get some! I was worried that they had sold out out! Were fortunate to have some after hours of searching for gifts in the Mall(s)

We each had the iconic chicken pie dinner after a forty year lapse. It hasn't changed at all, except it is now 9.99 instead of 3.21. You get the chicken pie, all chicken and no veggies, a scoop of mashed potato, both covered in gravy, a heap of corn, a very good warm soft trashy roll, a side of finely chopped coke slaw, and your choice of our for dessert. And you don't need any teeth to eat it! Also, service was instantaneous. The meals arrived less than two minutes after we ordered! It is not gourmet, but you won't find a better value for good tasting comfort food. By the way, there are lots of other chicken based options on the menu.

Picked up some frozen pot pies and cole slaw after a busy day. Easy meal for a busy day. Flavor was a bit bland, but a little salt and pepper flavored the pies to my taste. Crust was very flaky.

Hungry so decided to give this a try. Ordered takeout pie dinner (pie, mashed potatoes, veg, coleslaw, roll, butter AND dessert) for $8.50 (includes tax). Pie was good, filled with chicken/turkey. Crust was not soggy as the restaurant is so popular that they keep making fresh pies every 15 minutes (per sign on wall). Mashed potatoes were standard, gravy was also standard. Veggies were peas and corn and were bland. Peas looked like canned peas which I dislike. Coleslaw was okay, but slaw was chopped so fine, it was more like coleslaw mush. Roll was standard. They ran out of apple pie, so I settled for pineapple cream pie, which was okay-plus. Overall, except for the pie, it reminded me of lunchtime food at my school cafeteria. If you want a complete quick meal and don't want anything fancy, the pie dinner is acceptable. But I recommend just getting a hot pie with gravy to go, go home, and make your own veggies/salad to go with the pie. Take out counter was busy as the restaurant is popular. Some counter servers were very friendly, others seemed to be more on the surly side (like the one who served me). Transaction was handled correctly, but didn't make me feel like a welcomed customer.

Great homestyle dinners cheap. Cash only as of last visit. The food is fast and hot, no frills dining that is awesome on a rainy or cold day. If you want chicken pie, this is the place to get it.

Having dined here a number of times, this is my first review. The decor is classic Americana with all sorts of chicken kitsch. This is no frills, dineresque, welcome to 1950s dining. They are famous for the chicken pies which actually contain turkey too. I usually go here for the best sauteed chicken livers in all of Southern California. We started with the split pea soup which is nice on a cool day and the chicken and rice soup which is chock full of chicken. The bowl of cole slaw is nice but a bit milky. The chicken livers are sauteed to perfection and accompanied by TV dinner like mashed potatoes and canned corn. The rolls are excellent and with tiny butter pats. All of the meals also are accompanied by dessert pies. We had the rhubarb (rare in this part of the country) and the blueberry. Both are sweet, simple and filling. The servers are all Seniors with great personalities! They roll by with carts laden with food for you. Remember, this is no frills and the prices match. Regardless of what you have heard, they do take credit cards. Also, they have ample parking out back. A great place for a full stomach with nice home cooking! Old time San Diego lives!!!!

No filler! Just tender chicken and gravy in a light, tender crust. The dinner comes with veg, coleslaw,mashed potatoes/gravy, the pot pie and desert. I tried the split pea soup tonight. No ham in it, but tasty just the same. You can get pot pies yo go, either already cooked or raw frozen, so you can bake at home. I highly recommend San Diego Chicken Pie Shop!

............after many people told me that I had to give this San Diego icon a try, I tried. The chicken/turkey pie was alright, but nothing to rave about. I found the pie to be only slightly better than the frozen pot pies my mother put in the oven on tired weekdays..........

I grew up in San Diego, Back at the beginning of the 50's you could go to The Chicken Pie Shop in downtown San Diego on 7th & B street and get a complete meal that included a fresh made Chicken Pie with a side of mashed potatoes with the Best chicken gravy, a vegtable of the day, cold slaw, a roll and dessert ( some kind of pie)...all of this for 25 cents...I'm not kidding! Fast Forward 50+ years with a couple of relocations. Now the same basic meal is about $8.00 (Still a bargain) For me, walking in the door is like a time warp. It can only be described as kind of a retirement home (meant in a respectful way) I'm 75, so I fit right in. God knows I know the menu by heart .It's Chicken Pie Dinner or the Chicken Fried Steak Dinner....some things never change. As for the service, I believe some of the waitresses have been there at least 45+years. I don't know their names (I should, but don't). It's kind of like eating at your mother's house. Your always greeted with " Hi dear, what can I get you today, the usual?" or "What kind of pie would you like today?" All very comforting & sweet. Speaking of comfort, this is really the epitome of "Comfort Food". There's a sense of time mixed with goodness & a bowl of comfort, kind of like you expect your own mother to come out of the kitchen with your meal....."There you go dear" ...Perfect! You could call it "Old School" for sure, but some things you just never want to change, and why should they? It's still working after 50 years.

Coming back after 8 years and the place did NOT disappoint. Just like I remembered and so glad it was on my return list!!!!

This place is popular for there pot pie meals they have other things also but there pot pies are wonderful. Some of the dinners also come with a piece of pie for desert and they have a wide variety of that also. Nice size portions be ready to take some home.

Looking forward to my lunch with friends. What a let down. I had my chicken fried steak (beef). The meat was tough and the potatoes and vegetables were cold. The male young waiter was apologetic. The fish dinner was cold and lacking in flavor and appearance so disappointed ): The one good thing was the split pea soup it was excellent in taste and appearance. The other person had a Blt. She was a little bit surprised at the lack of bacon. Flavor was good and potatoe salad was a hit. The rhubarb pie and peach pies were filled and very good especially heated. I has to say it was a big let.

This place has a very old school feel to it. It kind of reminds me of the something from the Andy Griffin show. The food was very good and the staff very friendly. I would recommend this place to anyone.

My husband and I had lunch there yesterday. It is the same lunch we have been having for years. You can count on the meal you get. The chicken pies are great! Its affordable and tasty!

SD Chicken Pie Shop is a San Diego institution. I've been eating there for 30 years. The chicken pies are made with chunks of chicken and turkey in a creamy gravy. Mashed potatoes are fresh and delicious. My only gripe are the canned overcooked vegetables that they have been serving for years. My dinner came with a slice of chocolate cream pie, which was a little dry and stale. My son had a vegetarian burger which was large and very tasty. The service is friendly although a bit low key. Restaurant needs a make over... it is starting to look a bit outdated. Overall, it's a great place for comfort food just like Mom used to make.

Even after all these years.. This is still one of my favorite restraunts. They have the best Chicken Pot Pie bar none. Be warned .. If you order a chicken fried steak it will be fried chicken and not beef. You can not beat the value here when A pot pie dinner still comes with a slice of homemade pie for desert! Like the cows say "eat more chicken"! Mooo

Tried this place on a whim. Good amount of free parking in back. Our lunch consisted of a chicken pot pie, mashed potatoes, corn, slaw, roll, and pie for dessert. The chicken pie is all meat and a really good crust. While I prefer veggies in a chicken pot pie, this is one of the very best I've eaten. Gravy was delicious and plentiful. Our cherry and rhubarb pies were scrumptious. Good food at a good price. Try it when you visit San Diego. I'll definitely go back when I'm in the area.

For $8.99 you get pie and mash, coleslaw, veggie and roll. The pie had great flavor but ask for gravy on the side if you don't want a drenched pie. Its really hard to get a good pie in the states and I really enjoyed this .....great comfort food and plenty of it and you also get a slice of pie ......I took mine to go and didn't check it. I asked for rhubarb and got coconut cream which I was bummed about ......but would eat here again if in the area.

The location has changed since I was a kid, but the fantastic food and great value have remained the same. Simply the best chicken pie anywhere, plus for only $10 you get that plus mashed potatoes, veggie, Cole slaw, dinner roll and dessert pie! A classic diner atmosphere where the service is fast, if sometimes surly.

Actually, that may not be fair . . . to some bowling alleys . . . . I met a group of friends for lunch on 9 April 2015. I had read the reviews but decided to withhold my impressions until I’d had the whole experience. I had the chicken pie meal. Coleslaw: probably the best part of the meal. Still, the pre-packaged product you can buy in the deli department at your local supermarket is better and probably better for you. Chicken pie with gravy: plenty of meat, pasty thick sauce, flaky crust, good flavor. Overly salty, loaded with fat and other stuff that you probably should avoid. Mashed potatoes: just like out of a box. Gravy: just like out of a packet. Vegetables: horrible. Restaurants of conscience stopped serving this kind of overcooked mush sometime in the last century. Pie: just like out of the freezer section. Service: good. Setting: bowling alley from the 50's. I cannot in good conscience recommend this restaurant. Really, if you can't find anyplace better to eat, they you really are not trying very hard.

This place is old, run down, needs a paint job, new furniture basically the building sucks, but the food is incredible and incredibly priced! Best deal in town! Those who are poor and have large families eat here! The pies are made from scratch and the rolls are really amazing. You get dessert with every meal. Great restraunt.

I've been eating at the Chicken Pie Shop since I was a kid. I'm over 50 now, live in Pittsburgh and miss the place like it was part of my family. We just visited San Diego and returned to the Chicken Pie Shop and I think the food got better if that's possible. What a great product for a great price. We filled up and left with frozen pies to take home to Pittsburgh. If you have time, GO! You won't be sorry.

We have been eating here for many years. The whole family loves their chicken pies. We come from the Imperial Valley so if our son knows were going to eat there we have to bring a couple home for him. We even brought some home as a birthday present. Very reasonable and fast service. You just 'can't go wrong'.

Great comfort food. Great crust on the chicken pie. Excellent prices. Highly recommended. Parking was easy as well with free parking in the back for customers.

They took 18 of us to a well known local eatery where we were delighted to have the house special of a chicken pot pie, mashed potatoes and gravy, roll & butter, corn, peas and carrot and a piece of pie. Wonderful Cheap! Great service. We all now can see why it has been a tradition for over 3 generations.

Well worth the trip. Saw a clip of this place and that they offered menu items on a foodie website to ship. Huge portions, staff was super friendly and food did not disappoint. For 9.99 you get a pie, two veggies, coleslaw and desert. Trust me you will take some home. The fried Chicken was just as tasty, ordered to go to have for dinner at the hotel, again enough for two to share. Place is not fancy, no elaborate decorations just good old fashion meal at a great price.

Is it sad that I actually have the phone # and address for this place programmed into my phone?!?! As some other reviewers have mentioned, this place has been around for a LOOOOOONG time. I first heard about it over 10 years ago when it was a featured tv news story on local SD businesses (with Aloha Taylor presenting!). Yes, the prices were not what they used to be (you can actually see a sign hanging on one of the walls that shows how "cheap" the pies used to be!), but you still will not find a better deal for a FULL meal, including a drink and a slice of one of their delicious fruit or cream pies! Their chicken pot pies are true comfort food at its best for a great deal! You can even purchase frozen chicken pies (and fixin's) to take home with you and heat up when you're ready to eat them. I used to do that all the time! Service is great, decorations on the wall add to the classic style of this classic diner, and the value can't be beat! I don't live close by, so we have to plan special trips just to come down to eat here. And it's so worth it! (Menu with prices at this URL: http://sdpieshop.menutoeat.com/index.cfm)

This place isn’t pretending to be an old time coffee house, it IS one. Retro, but real. Chicken pie is the thing here. Other stuff comes with it if you order the full meal, but the pie is the star. The vegies, coleslaw and roll are ho hum and I didn’t need the extra calories, so I ordered just the chicken pie. It’s chock full of meat, meat, and more meat. Fabulous! Then I ordered a slice of pie for dessert. A slice of pie comes with the full meal, but again, I didn’t want the extra stuff. I also ordered a large drink. The bill came to around eight or nine dollars! Delicious food, old fashioned waitress giving good service, and economical prices. It’s like going back to the best part of the 50’s. If you don’t like it, you just don’t get it. By the way, they now take credit cards and they have their own parking lot.

guilty pleasure! It may sound like a weird idea for a restaurant, but it's ever so cheap, incredibly filling, and ridiculously delicious.

A SD instituion. One of the best meal values around. Always get the pot pie dinner which comes with cole slaw, mashed potatoes, gravy, vegtables and dessert. Everything is home made and it's a nice clean place, and fast service.

Ordered the chicken pie dinner which included chicken pie and gravy accompanied by mashed potatoes, tasty gravy, peas and carrots and excellent rolls. If you are looking for comfort food this is the place to go! The chicken pie is made with a combination of chicken and turkey meat which gives it an excellent flavor. I suspect the gravy is made with both kinds of meat too as it's delicious. I'm a bread man, so I really liked the pie crust and the rolls---btw the rolls come with real butter. To top it off, the dinner comes with a desert and ordered the strawberry pie for an up charge of .99 cents....it was the bomb. I'll be back!

This place has a loyal customer base, but it's not us. Thought we would be served home-cooked food. Not so. The chicken pies are filled with canned chicken and bland gravy in a bland doughy crust covered with more bland gravy on a bed of instant mashed potatoes. Gross. The side was more starch: canned corn. The pie: bland canned peaches in a pre-made crust.

Though we'd try the pie shop again for breakfast. We stopped going after the service had gone down hill about a year ago. Well glad we tried again. The food has always been good and the prices very reasonable and our server Hector, fantastic. Since our return we sit in his section since he really pays attention. Not only does he interact well, he know the menu and makes excellent suggestions. The portions are large and very filling. The kinda' old time food you might get at a diner, but better. Don't expect linen napkins but do expect good food for a good price.

Great price, good food, great service. It's better than home made. Can't wait to go back ..........................................

Fast, friendly, and great food. Large plate for the price and then you get PIE! Service was good, and I'm still dreaming of the flaky crust.

It is called "chicken pie" for a reason-it is ALL chicken with a little gravy in a delicious pie crust. This is not to be confused with a "pot pie" that has lots of gravy, vegetables and a few pieces of chicken. The chicken pie dinner comes with mixed vegetables, mashed potatoes and gravy, fresh rolls, cole slaw and pie for dessert. The kids' meals are inexpensive and have a good variety of choices. Service is fast and friendly. The food was enjoyed by all of us. The decor will bring back memories of the past.

This place is great. I grew up eating chicken pot pies and these are like the ones hen I was a kid. The help is is so good and right there when you need something. The house meal deal can't be beat. The blueberry pies is the bomb.

Cheap, good, fun, but ever so unhealthy!

The food was bland, tasteless, awful. Closest thing I can compare it to is nursing home food. The ambiance felt like going back in time 40 years. That can be charming, but not in this case. Bad from the wait staff to the food. Husband got sick after eating here. The. Chicken looked and tasted horrible.

We always go here when in San Diego, this time there was not as much flavor in the gravy but when I asked for more gravy it seemed better. It's nothing fancy but good prices and it is usually good so I would try it again.

It's one of the oldest restaurants in San Diego and tastes pretty much like a Swanson frozen pot pie. It's all about he chicken decor and the history of the place. Great comfort food for the price and even a dessert slice of pie thrown into the whole thing. You will feel like you need to eat clean for a week after coming here. The wait staff is so attentive and if you want to get in on this kind of history, then just go for it but know what to expect.

Excellent food, decent prices, good for family especially with kids, very friendly staff. This restaurant has been around since the 30's and is consistently good.

This restaurant is a great place to eat with your family. Yummy food of all kinds. Friendly staff and affordable pricing. I plan to go there again when I am in the area.

Got a pie to go, filled me up and only cost $3. Packed full of chicken and not a pea/carrot to be found (take a lesson, Marie). If I hadn't been traveling, I'd got a dozen frozen pies to stock up.

Stopped in here while running an errand. Very good decision. The staff are friendly, the service good, and the food was awesome. The Grind for breakfast was amazing!

This diner has without a doubt, the best dinner meals available, for the price, in all of San Diego. Their specialty is the chicken pie dinner. This is the meal I usually eat when I go there. I always try to go at least once whenever I'm in town. They have other menu items available as well. An example of the prices on my last visit for lunch was about $8.00 per meal (Chicken Pot Pie meal) which included dessert and side dishes and soft drink. Don't let the appearance of this restuarant fool you. Great food, great prices and great service. Do yourselves a huge favor, and make it a point of eating at The San Diego Chicken Pie Shop.

I try to visit the Chicken Pie Shop every time I co.e to San Diego. It's an old favorite from when I lived and worked here. I'm sorry to say that it isn't what it used to be. The pie crust and gravy are still delish but the chicken, which used to be chunky and plentiful is now sparse and shredded. The rolls, which I used to take home by the dozen, don't taste home-made anymore. I will say the Cole slaw is still excellent. The meal is still a good deal for the price but it isn't somewhere I will be going out of my way for anymore.

No one comes to The Chicken Pie Shop on El Cajon Boulevard for anything but lots of tasty, filling food. Don't expect ambience, an overly chatty wait-staff or even good lighting. But for 75 years, this place has served up the best chicken pie dinners (OK, if you demand 100% accuracy they use turkey in the pies) and you'll never go away hungry! Currently priced at $8.10, the pie dinner includes crunchy slaw, fresh baked roll, creamy mashed potatoes, somewhat over cooked veggies and a flaky crust pie, brimming with tender meat and slathered in gravy. Still hungry? Dinner ALSO includes a slice of pie (fruit or cream) to ensure you'll happily roll out to your car. There's plenty to choose from on the menu (liver and onions, anyone? Yep, it's that kinda place!) but why try anything but the famous pie dinner? When I'm in San Diego, I never miss a chance to dig in and enjoy...you shouldn't either!

Friendly service,tasty food.I quite often get pies to go and take them home. They freeze well. The pies are full of meat and gravy but its good to get extra gravy. I add microwaved frozen peas and carrots.

We came for dinner but I wasn't hungry so just ordered a slice of banana cream pie for $1.99 - what an amazing deal. Where else can you get a dessert for this price. The next day my family was out shopping so I stopped in for lunch at the counter by myself and ordered the chicken pie dinner for $8.99 and splurged on the tomato-basil soup for $1.27. The food arrived quickly and was piping hot. The pot pie was delicious. The corn kernels and mashed potatoes with gravy weren't exceptional but good comfort food. It also came with a slice of lemon pie that was very good.

Can't beat the price.

For decades we have been buying delicious chicken pies (actually a mix of chicken and turkey) from this shop, both to eat in the restaurant and to carry out. I did carry-out a lot when my kids were young; they loved it and it was so easy! Lots of San Diegans swear by this place; I figured it was time to let the rest of you in on the secret. Carry-out pies are available either hot and ready-to-eat, or frozen. Eating in the restaurant is so inexpensive I wonder how they stay in business. You can get a three-course dinner - cole slaw, nice big chicken pie, mashed potatoes, gravy, vegetables, and your choice of dessert pie - for only $9.99. It's an unassuming, diner-style place; the service is fast and attentive. Highly recommended.

The chicken pie shop is near my home in North Park and a favorite for good old fashioned chicken pot pie. They have a varied menu but this is always my favorite and very reasonable. When I have visitors from out of town, they have always enjoyed the food there.

This place is a institution!! their pot pies are so deliscious they melt in your mouth! I like the mixed pot pie checken/turkey. The meal comes with vegetables, salad or slaw,slice of pie and a warm homeade roll.. it's old school because they only except cash! So don't pull out your debt or credit card because it's not excepted! Parking is in the back! enjoy!!!

When I lived in San Diego, my office was close to the restaurant and my co-workers and I could not get through a week without a lunch at the Chicken Pie Shop. The chicken pies are the best!! I have never had any better anywhere else. I highly recommend this wonderful place!

Fun if you're hungry, and enjoy and old-school atmosphere (limited menu, food rolled around on carts). Pot pie dinner is the go-to. The pie has meat only - I think it's a combination of chicken and turkey. It contains chunks of meat, not leftover scraps. Vegetables are cole slaw, and corn. It also comes with a white bread roll, and mashed potatoes with gravy. Lots of carbs, so I passed on the roll and took only a sampling of the potatoes. It also comes with a piece of pie. Selection includes several types of fruit pies, and a couple of cream pies. They're diner-style - not gourmet, but a cut above some of the cheap supermarket pies. If you enjoy that kind of food, it's a good choice. If you're looking for fresh vegetables and cooked-to-order meals, there are lots of other choices in SD.

My friend and I saw this restaurant when we were driving home one day, we have been back several times since then. We usually take out our meals but there is a restaurant area as well. I got the pot pie dinner which is under $10, it came with a pot pie covered in gravy, mashed potatoes, vegetables, roll, and a slice of pie. The pot pie is obviously the star of the menu, you can even buy them in bulk to take home to eat later (frozen baked or unbaked). My friend really enjoyed the chicken soup and said the pie was delicious. I highly recommend this place if you enjoy eating hearty and filling food for an excellent price.

I rate this Average for the food, it is fun and brings back memories of the old time diners; simple comfort food. Worth trying for the diner experience. If you are a traveler looking for great food I wouldn't recommend this place.

The place doesn't look like anything special from the outside, but whether you dine in or take your food home you're assured of a fabulous meal. And the prices are amazingly low; I got a giant chef salad and my husband got chicken pot pie / veggies / mashed potatoes & gravy / his choice of pie, plus there were enormous fresh soft rolls & butter...all for under $20.

Feels like eating at an old diner, but food is good and inexpensive.

Make no mistake, this is nothing but a huge cafeteria style restaurant masquerading as a family restaurant, but it works and it works well. 4:30 is the dinner rush for all the older folks that live in the neighborhood and the servers look as thought they've been here for 100 yrs. For one set price, about $7, you will get a big chicken pot pie, roll, soggy, canned veggies, mashed potatoes and a dessert...are you kidding me? And if you don't want the veggies, or potatoes you can ask for double bread, double potatoes or double veggies...they will be happy to leave one thing off and double something else. (Except dessert of course.) The chicken pot pies are amazing...the crust is a double crust, the gravy is heavenly and there are NO veggies inside..just gravy and chicken. The drinks come in huge, old school plastic glasses and the food is brought out on a metal, rolling, serving tray. The rolls are homemade and out of this freaking world and I think the pies are homemade as well. Occasionally I have ventured outside my usual homemade pot pie but always come back to my standby. They also finally started taking cc/atm cards so that's the icing on the cake. Don't be a stranger, give it a shot!

A fun treat more than a meal it's a a throwback to yesteryear dinner fare. Warm friendly staff welcomes you. A wide rang of item selections. But the star here is the chicken pie!!! A mix of chicken and turkey all fresh in a pastry pocket with warm gravy, corn and mash potato round out the meal. Then , guess what , a slice of fresh made pie. Again a surprise , about 6 choices of pie all under $ 8.00. All this in a place serving San Diego since 1938 .

What is all the fuss about this place? We went out of our way to come here as we were told this has some of the best comfort food. At best it was average and the prices were very reasonable. However, within a couple of minutes after ordering, the wait staff came to our table with a tray of food that was obviously just waiting to be served. We tried the standby, the chicken pot pie and the meatloaf. Both were nothing special! The pie was a few chunks of chicken and gravy in a pie crust without any vegetables or taste! The meatloaf was the same; a big chunk of meat smothered in gravy and no taste to it. At least the dessert pie had some taste to it, but it was nothing special. The best thing? The warm biscuits! Somewhat sweet and very flaky. However, this was not enough to give this place a recommendation. Both I and my friend were in awe of how a place like this stays in business!

Good, cheap food.

Our family has loved this restaurant for 5 Generations. Chicken pies do not need vegetables in them. These pies are hearty delicious meals. Their $8.99 meal includes chicken pie, mashed potatoes, vegetables, cole slaw and pie for dessert. They also have great options for take out. Cannot find better old fashioned home style family dining

I had the $8.99 pie dinner. It included a chicken-turkey-vegetables-gravy pie, mashed potatoes with gravy, a roll, and a coleslaw side. The price includes a slice of on-site baked pie for dessert. All were flavorful and served within a few minutes of ordering. I've been here several times and the food is always very good and the service is always good as well. The 'chicken' decorations throughout give the place an nice ambience, but it is a place for regular folks and not fancy and certainly not expensive. Note: the dinner fills most people up without any add-ons like soup (less than $2 extra). I'll be back!

We went over for nice chicken dinner special at the san diego chicken pie shop On el cajon blvd. We had ice water ,root beer floats ,two chicken pie dinners with chicken, turkey, cold slaw,corn, home made biscuits butter,mashed potatoes,gravy and took home pie rhubarb real nice meal. Handicapped spaces one on side building on street and two in their parking lot. There was other parking as well. Didn't care for music in background but did like watching the two different tv screens with sports but couldn’t hear but was able to view nice touch. Waiters were able to seat us right away close by because we couldn’t walk far nice that they heard us and didn’t walk us to back area of restaurant. Husband was glad of that some times we get seated to far from entrance. Bathrooms were very clean. Sometimes they walk you to far back and its hard when you have troubles with walking. We were handed the menu and given cold water right away . Our waitress came over told us all the specials for the day and we went on from there root beer floats came real soon and full dinners after. The place filled up while we were there so when waitress came by we asked for our pies to go. There was quite a few big groups of guests coming in as we were finishing our meals. Our waitress was real,real busy we saw some of the other waitress and waiter talking and joking with ther customers but our waitress was way to busy with many tables to really visit with us but I’ll say she got our orders right and stopped by when she could and asked if we wanted anything else and got our take out and bill when she had time. We went over got three take out dinners for friends that were sick and dozen dinner rolls and a pie to go. All that was done in timely manner as well we sat down and waited like just few minutes. We added two photos of some of was taken home for later that evening. All in all it’s a pleasant place place and service staff were mostly friendly busy. Take out was friendly staff and fast service that was helpful and all made it Home real nicely. We didnt get the side order of hot soup that day as it was to hot out side for soup.

If you are looking for delicious comfort food in San Diego, this is the restaurant to go. I have eaten there many times and tried various offerings and they are all very good. I particularly like the tortilla soup and ribs on Tuesdays. The chicken pot pie is delicious. There is nothing fancy about this restaurant. The staff are very accommodating. I return as often as i can. Finally, the price is right!

This throwback to the Depression has changed locations, but the value is still there. The chicken pies are delicious. If you've never had anything other than the frozen type, then you'll be in for a real treat. The vegetables are, well, nutritious. They are invariably overcooked. I'm guessing them come from a can or frozen food bag. The cole slaw is tasty though. The rolls are soft and tasty. If you order the meal (which offers the best value), you'll get your choice of pie too! The overall value is exceptional. I've never been disappointed in over 25 years eating at this restaurant. You can also order take out (including uncooked pies you can throw into the freezer). The chicken soup is creamy and great if you're not feeling well. I sometimes drive over to pick up some soup when my wife is feeling under the weather. The decor is basic 1950s diner (not the retro kind either, but the genuine article). Be forewarned that they only take CASH. There is, however, an ATM inside the restaurant.

I do enjoy this restaurant's chicken pot pie, with basic and simple sides being offered. The service is efficient.

S.D. Chicken Pie Shop 12/27/15 While visiting San Diego over the holidays we decided to go back to a restaurant we went to a lot back in the 70’s. At that time, they were located on 5th Ave. in the Hillcrest area. They are now located on El Cajon Blvd. Our server was outstanding but I must say the chicken pies are not what they use to be. The ones I remember were nice and juicy inside. The ones the wife and I had was not juicy at all. The inside was thick and a little dry, like they may have mixed mash potatoes in it. I am finding that things look better thru the rear view mirror. Thanks for the memories. Cap & Virginia