The Unexpected BBQ Pork Sandwich At This South Dakota Pie Shop Steals The Whole Show
Some places have a gift for completely rewriting your expectations before you even finish sitting down.
I entered what looked like a cheerful little pie shop in South Dakota, fully prepared to grab a slice of something fruit-filled and be on my way.
I had things to do. Places to be.
A sensible afternoon itinerary that did not include lingering.
Then I spotted the BBQ pork sandwich on the menu, ordered it on a whim, and suddenly my sensible afternoon itinerary was in serious trouble.
Here is what nobody tells you about pie shops: the best ones are never just about the pie.
The same kitchen producing those golden, flaky crusts has been quietly turning out savory food that would embarrass restaurants three times its size.
This little South Dakota spot has been doing exactly that since 1981, feeding everyone who stumbled in and never quite wanted to leave.
The Shop That Does Way More Than Pie
Purple Pie Place is the kind of spot that makes you do a double take. The name says pie, the sign says pie, and everyone around you is talking about pie.
But then your eyes catch a menu item that stops you mid-sentence.
The BBQ pork sandwich sits there, quietly confident, surrounded by fruit pies and cream fillings. It feels out of place on paper.
In reality, it belongs exactly where it is.
The sandwich is smoky, saucy, and loaded with slow-cooked pork that practically falls apart before you even pick it up.
Custer is a small town with big energy, especially in the summer when visitors pour in from Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse Memorial. This shop feeds that crowd with something they did not see coming.
Locals already know the secret. Visitors figure it out fast.
Once you try that sandwich, the pie becomes the second reason you came.
The BBQ Pork Sandwich That Started It All
Honestly, I almost did not order it. A pie shop is not where your brain goes when it wants BBQ.
But something about the way it was described on the menu at 19 Mt Rushmore Rd, Custer, South Dakota, made me pause. Slow-cooked pork, house sauce, fresh bread.
That is a sentence worth investigating.
The first bite was a full moment. The pork was tender without being mushy.
The sauce had a depth that suggested it had been simmered low and slow, not squeezed from a bottle.
The bread held everything together without falling apart, which sounds basic but matters more than people admit.
What makes this sandwich memorable is the balance. It is not trying to be the loudest thing on the table.
It is just very, very good. The smokiness is present but not overwhelming.
The sweetness in the sauce complements the pork without turning it into dessert. For a menu item at a pie shop, that kind of restraint is impressive.
It earns your full attention, one bite at a time.
Why The Pie Still Deserves Your Respect
Let the record show: the pie is excellent. The sandwich may steal the headline, but the pie is why this place has a loyal following that stretches well beyond Custer.
People plan road trips around stopping here.
That is not an accident.
The crusts are golden and flaky in a way that suggests someone actually cares about the ratio of butter to flour. The fillings are generous and not overly sweet.
A good fruit pie should taste like the fruit, not like syrup pretending to be fruit. Purple Pie Place understands that distinction.
Seasonal flavors rotate based on what is fresh and available, which keeps things interesting for repeat visitors. You might find a berry blend one month and something more unexpected the next.
The cream pies are smooth and properly chilled. The whole pie operation is serious and skilled, which makes it even more impressive that the sandwich manages to compete at all.
Order both. Split the sandwich first, then finish with a slice.
That is the correct order of operations here.
The Atmosphere Inside Feels Like A Genuine Find
Inside this spot in South Dakota feels like a place that has been doing its thing for decades without needing anyone’s approval. The decor is warm and unpretentious.
Nothing is trying too hard.
That is refreshing in a region full of tourist-facing restaurants that lean heavily on theming.
The seating is casual and comfortable. The kind of place where you take your jacket off and stay longer than planned.
Conversations at nearby tables tend to involve recommendations, everyone pointing at someone else’s plate and asking what that is. It creates a friendly, communal energy that you cannot manufacture.
The staff moves with the easy confidence of people who know the menu inside and out. They are not reciting lines.
They are actually enthusiastic about what they serve, and that comes through.
When your server says the pork sandwich is worth it, you believe them immediately. The whole room operates like it has been running smoothly for years, because it has.
That kind of consistency is rare and worth recognizing.
A Town That Rewards Slowing Down
Custer sits in the southern Black Hills region of South Dakota, and most people pass through it on the way to something else. That is a mistake.
The town has a pace and personality that rewards anyone willing to spend a few hours actually looking around.
The streets are lined with shops, eateries, and local businesses that feel genuinely rooted in the community. It is not a manufactured main street.
It developed organically over time, and you can feel that in the way things are laid out. Purple Pie Place fits naturally into that fabric, which is part of why it works so well.
The surrounding landscape is genuinely stunning. Custer State Park is nearby, and the drive through the park alone is worth the detour.
Bison wander close to the road. The hills roll in every direction.
Coming back into town after that kind of scenery and sitting down to a BBQ pork sandwich feels exactly right. The town earns the meal, and the meal earns the town.
They are a good match for each other.
What Makes A Pie Shop Add BBQ To The Menu
This is actually a more interesting question than it sounds. Most specialty food shops stay in their lane.
A pie shop makes pie. A BBQ joint makes BBQ.
Crossing those two categories takes confidence, or at least a very good reason to try.
The answer here seems to be straightforward practicality combined with genuine skill. The kitchen at Purple Pie Place clearly knows how to cook, not just bake.
Adding a savory centerpiece to a sweet-focused menu makes sense when your customer base is hungry travelers who need a full meal, not just a slice to go.
The BBQ pork sandwich bridges that gap perfectly. It gives the shop a reason to be a lunch destination, not just a dessert stop.
Families rolling in from a morning at the Crazy Horse Memorial need more than pie.
They need something substantial. The sandwich delivers that without the shop losing any of its identity.
If anything, it adds to it. The ability to do two very different things well is a sign of a kitchen that takes its craft seriously.
How To Order Like You Have Been Here Before
First-timers at Purple Pie Place tend to freeze at the menu. There is a lot to consider, and the pie options alone can take a few minutes to process.
Here is a simple approach that works well: lead with the sandwich, finish with the pie.
The BBQ pork sandwich is the move for lunch. Get it without overthinking the sides.
Whatever they are offering that day will likely be solid. The kitchen does not seem to phone anything in.
Once the sandwich is done, take a proper look at the pie case. Ask what is fresh.
The person behind the counter will have an opinion, and it will probably be a good one.
If you are visiting with someone who insists on going straight to pie, let them. Order the sandwich anyway.
Sharing bites back and forth is actually the best way to experience both halves of this menu.
You get the full picture that way. Pro tip: go earlier in the day rather than late afternoon.
Popular items can sell out, and missing the pork sandwich after reading about it would be genuinely disappointing.
Why This Place Sticks With You Long After You Leave
There is a specific kind of satisfaction that comes from a meal you did not plan for. You showed up expecting something ordinary, and you got something that made you stop and think.
That is what happens at Purple Pie Place on Mt Rushmore Rd in Custer, South Dakota.
The BBQ pork sandwich is the surprise. The pie is the confirmation.
Together, they make a stop that earns a spot in the rotation every time you pass through the Black Hills.
And if you are the type who keeps a mental list of places worth returning to, this one makes the cut easily.
What lingers is not just the flavor, though the flavor is genuinely excellent. It is the feeling of the place.
The unhurried pace, the real food, the staff who seem to enjoy being there. Not every restaurant pulls that off.
The ones that do tend to stay with you. Purple Pie Place is that kind of spot.
You leave satisfied, slightly surprised, and already planning when you can come back. That is the highest compliment a meal can earn.
