Two things you should know about McDonald’s pies in Hawaii.
- They’re fried. Hawaii is one of the few places in the United States that offers fried McDonald’s pies. (Oddly, we are also the healthiest state in the country.)
- We have local seasonal pie flavors many of you would call “exotic.” The Haupia Pie features a coconut-flavored filling with gelatinous pieces and the Taro Pie has a purple filling with gelatinous cubes.
McDonald’s Hawaii’s newest fried pie doesn’t have jellylike cubes, but it does have a thick guava-flavored filling. To be honest, I’m surprised our local McDonald’s didn’t come out with a guava pie sooner because guava is our state fruit.
And if you look that up on the internet, you’ll learn it’s not. But we use the fruit in enough products that it should be.
Even though we love the tropical fruit, the 50th state can’t brag about it being the first one to have McDonald’s guava pies. Florida can claim that fact that no one from there will brag about. Although, not to brag, theirs was baked.
The exterior of the Fried Guava Pie looks like the skin of someone who was in a freak chemistry laboratory accident. But, man, that bubbly skin is crispy like the best fried chicken you’ve ever had. It has a level of crispiness that you wish McDonald’s chicken filets, patties, and McNuggets had.
The viscous pink filling has a flavor that reminds me of the canned guava nectar I drank as a kid, but warm. Perhaps, too warm (and maybe a bit too sweet). My taste buds are so used to having that delicious flavor ice cold that it’s weird to taste it at a higher temperature. It’s like drinking warm soda. Also, a few chomps had a sweet chemical zing to them. It was a turnoff to my taste buds, but it wasn’t in every bite so it didn’t prevent me from eating the whole pie.
Haupia and taro are foods I don’t eat, but love them when in the form of McDonald’s fried pies. With guava and McDonald’s Fried Guava Pie, it’s the opposite.
(Nutrition Facts – 210 calories 60 calories from fat, 7 grams of fat, 3 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 140 milligrams of sodium, 35 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 16 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.)
Purchased Price: $1.00
Size: N/A
Rating: 5 out of 10
Pros: Flavor reminds me of canned guava nectar. Super crispy shell. Fried pies.
Cons: Occasional chemical bite. It’s weird tasting a flavor I usually consume cold. Regional pie variety. Wikipedia saying Hawaii’s state muffin is the coconut muffin.
I loved the canned guava nectar when I lived in San Diego. But ever since I moved to Ohio 20 years ago I can’t get it. I wish there was a way I could try the guava and haupia pies from your McDonald’s Marvo! I’d be willing to pay shipping and dry ice fees ?
Where in Ohio are you? Jungle Jim’s in Cincinnati and Fairfield should have it (plus it is a cool store where you can get stuff from all over the world). Or any store that has a decent Hispanic section. Goya is big here in the Northeast, I don’t know how far into the country they go though.
Portsmouth, about 2 hours east of Cincinnati, near Ashland KY and Huntington WV. Bigger cities but still not a lot of variety. I will definitely have to check out Jungle Jim sometime. Thanks for the heads up! 🙂
Hey McDonald’s, fry your pies everywhere for goodness sake! They’re much better that way, and how much worse for you could frying make it?
Hawaii has a state fruit? I would have thought pineapple would be it.
Just happened to see this when I went to McD’s for a McTeri (which was gone ??) and tried it. Was a little too sweet for me but I probably would have eaten it again. Went to McD’s last night and guava is gone but the taro pie is back.