McDonald’s, like many other international restaurant chains, are known to modify and make additions to their menu to cater to the demographic of the various regions they’re located. Hawaii is no exception with unique offerings such as McTeri Burgers, Saimin, Portuguese Sausage, Eggs and Rice breakfasts, and even experimenting with McD’s own version of the “plate lunch”.

Recently made available for a limited time at participating Hawaii restaurants is their new Haupia Pie…

Similar to their familiar Apple Pie, this item uses the same crust and turnover shape, except with this, it has a filling intended to (loosely) replicate the traditional Haupia dessert offered at a Hawaiian Luau.

Upon first bite, you ‘ll notice the light, golden crispy texture and mild salty flavor of the crust compliments the sweet, creamy coconut-flavored filling quite nicely. Others who tried it while it was piping hot claimed the filling was a bit runny, but when I tried it, it had already cooled below scorch-level, so the filling had a chance to congeal a bit and “tighten up”. The coconut flavor is pronounced and fairly convincing of being “real”. Whether they use actual coconut milk or if it’s some chemical concoction made of extracts, I don’t know.

At $1.09 each, it’s certainly worth a try and pretty darned “coco’nutty” good.

According to the dates on the bottom right of the sign, this item is effective from March 12 to May 7, 2007.

The Haupia Pie looks to be an offspring, not only of the Apple Pie, but of their previous limited offering, the Taro Pie…

McDonald’s Taro Pie

This made its debut in Hawaii back in 2005, and was said to have actually been a spin-off from a Sweet Taro Pie item that an executive discovered on the menu while visiting a McDonald’s franchise in China.

Shown above are two samples I bought to try. Similar to the Haupia Pie, it has a piping hot, sweet and creamy filling, except in this case it has small (and farely sparse) chunks of white taro in it. The filling itself looks to have been colored artificially purple to more closely resemble the Hawaiian Taro. While I won’t say this tasted like a “Poi Turnover”, the taro flavor was suttle yet still pronounced enough to be identifyable.

Personally I’m not too fond of sweetened taro, so I’d say the Haupia Pie was my favorite of the two. And while exciting and exotic these offerings inspire, the traditional Apple Pie is still my overall favorite, as I think the chunky soft apples and spicey cinnamon has more character than any of these two offerings.

Still, kudos to McDonald’s of Hawaii for trying new concepts. Any chance we’ll see a “McSpam Musubi” next?

Aina Haina McDonald’s, the first location to open in Hawaii in 1968. Here it is as at stands today.