Let Tacoma bakeries, restaurants supercharge your Thanksgiving with pies, sides

Whether you’re hosting at home or headed out to visit family for the Thanksgiving holiday, there are plenty of avenues to ease the stress of family gatherings while supporting a local business along the way.

Bakeries in Tacoma and around Pierce County are prepping for the busiest few weeks of their year, with pre-orders going on now. A few restaurants are packing up whole meals, while some focus on the good stuff — the sides — so you can relax as the turkey roasts.

We’ve gathered the goods to order ahead this Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving desserts, dinner buns, more baked goods

Corina Bakery

• 602 Fawcett Ave., Tacoma, 253-627-5070, corinabakery.com
• Pre-order: online, by phone or in-person
• Pickup: Thanksgiving week during opening hours, weekdays 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

One of Tacoma’s go-to bakeries for special occasions, Corina offers nine-inch pies in 17 flavors (most $39), including Southern pecan, spiced pumpkin, apple or blueberry, plus specialties such as the chocolate marsala cream and peach melba. Cheesecakes, fluffy layered cakes, cookies, bars and more are also available, as are ample vegan and gluten-free options (pies $42-$43).

Maggie Magee’s Bake Shop

• 604 Regents Blvd., Fircrest, 253-302-4494, maggiemagees.com
• Pre-order: online, by phone or in-person
• Pickup: Nov. 25-26, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

This Fircrest bakery is known for cinnamon rolls, vegan and gluten-free breads and seasonal cookies. For the holiday, stock up on take-and-bake cinnamon rolls ($45+, pans of 6 or 12) for the A.M. in five flavors, including caramel pecan, espresso chocolate chip and cranberry orange. Mini cookie platters ($35-$50) are an easy win, while pies range from sweet potato to berry crumble ($45). You can also snag pumpkin cheesecake ($60), cannoli, lemon bars and brownies.

Girl Loves Cake Desserts

• 11122 Gravelly Lake Dr. SW, Lakewood, girllovescakedesserts.com
• Pre-order: online only through Nov. 21
• Pickup: Nov. 26, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Erin Powell is most-loved for her macarons ($36 a dozen) in rotating flavors and canelé ($24 for 8), and you can pre-order those delights along with several other treats for the holiday. Also scoop the apple blondie (brown-sugar cookie base with apples, oat flour and caramel sauce on the side), pumpkin swirl cheesecake pie, or a tart passionfruit cheesecake pie (most $40). Consider donating a few extra dollars to support her efforts to supply neighbors in need with a sweet treat for Thanksgiving, too.

Lobo Bakery

• My Commercial Kitchen (commissary), 3812 S. Wright Ave., Tacoma, instagram.com/lobo_bakery
• Pre-order: via Google form by Nov. 16
• Pickup: Nov. 26, 8-10 a.m. or 5-7 p.m. (delivery available in Tacoma/Puyallup by request)

Lobo Bakery has attracted loyal fans at farmers markets (Proctor, Puyallup, Maple Valley) for its clever croissants with fun flavors and the couple’s eagerness to just try something new. For Thanksgiving, snag pies like a passionfruit lemon meringue, old-fashioned pecan (no corn syrup!), Dutch apple with “stick-bun toffee spiced” fruit, and spiced pumpkin brûlée. The multi-layered Ukrainian honey cake would also make a nice alternative to common sights of carrot or pumpkin cakes.

Medzo Gelato

• 612 Tacoma Ave. S., Tacoma, 253-600-9491, medzogelatobar.com
• Pre-order: in-person or by phone or email, medzogelatobar@gmail.com
• Pickup: call, email or stop by for details

Be the star of your holiday gathering with the help of Medzo Gelato. You can pack some pints, of course, but for the holidays, the owners also whip up gelato pies and cakes. Seasonal flavors include tiramisu, cherry cheesecake, German chocolate and pumpkin, plus whatever they’ve created for the week. Every batch is made from scratch on-site. Ordering in-person or via email is encouraged, and the owners will respond with more information.

The Savory & Sweet Cafe & Catering Co.

• 201 S. Meridian, Puyallup, 253-445-5922, savorynsweetcatering.com
• Pre-order: online, by phone or in-person by Nov. 23
• Pickup: Nov. 26 by 3 p.m.

This Puyallup cafe and catering company has pies a-plenty for Thanksgiving. Nine-inch pies ($35) on homemade crusts include a classic pumpkin, apple or pecan. They each feature a cute pie-dough topper in the shape of a turkey.

The Cat & Rabbitt Cake Shop

• 111 E Stewart Ave., Puyallup, 253-693-9463, thecatandrabbitt.com
• Pre-order: online only until sellout
• Pickup: Nov. 26, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

There’s no better slice of cake in the South Sound than that crafted by the ladies behind the Cat & Rabbitt in Puyallup, but for Thanksgiving, you can pre-order some other goodies. On the menu: a 9-inch apple crisp that can be enjoyed hot or cold, plus a vegan version, and whole pumpkin or peanut-butter pie ($25-$40). Tack on a six-pack or two of cupcakes, which taste like the shop’s famous cake, in holiday flavors of pumpkin with brown-butter cream-cheese buttercream, vanilla with marionberry, and chocolate with ganache-dipped buttercream.

Little Miss Sweets NYC

• My Commercial Kitchen, 3812 S. Wright Ave., Tacoma, littlemisssweetsnyc.com
• Pre-order: online by Nov. 21
• Pickup: Thanksgiving week, details in order form

Lydia Mendez exclusively creates gluten-free treats that honor her Puerto Rican family and Brooklyn childhood, usually available in individual slices at local retailers like Tacoma Boys and the Proctor Farmers Market. Holiday specials, in their whole form ($29-$67 on the high end for a hefty 10-inch cheesecake) range from pecan pie to pumpkin pie cheesecake, a retro apple cake and apple-cider mini bundts to pumpkin-spice puffs (reminiscent of a doughnut hole, $21/pack). Again, everything is gluten-free!

Terrace Cafe at Watson’s

• 6211 Pioneer Way E, Puyallup, 253-251-2527, terraceatwatsons.com
• Pre-order: online by Nov. 23 at 10 a.m.
• Pickup: Nov. 25, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

The cafe at Watson’s Greenhouse in Puyallup bakes up great sweet treats year-round, but for Thanksgiving, pre-order a nine-inch pie ($38-$46) in either fluffy spiced pumpkin or Dutch caramel apple, the latter finished with a crunchy streusel topper and fresh caramel.

The Sumner Cafe

• 909 Alder Ave., Sumner, 253-987-5402, thesumnercafe.com
• Pre-order: in-person or by phone or email, sumnercafe@gmail.com
• Pickup: during business hours, Monday-Saturday 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

This Sumner spot always carries an array of baked goods. For the holiday, pre-orders are recommended for whole pies in flavors like apple, pumpkin, berry, coconut or chocolate cream and lemon meringue. Cookies, brownies, scones and muffins are also available — call for details.

B’s Bagels & Butters

• 3308 Uddenberg Lane, Gig Harbor, 253-358-3257, bsbagelsgigharbor.com
• Pre-order: by phone, email, Instagram DM or in-person
• Pickup: Nov. 27, 7-10 a.m.

As B’s reminded fans this month, some people want a bagel for their birthday, not cake. Some among us might also want bagels for breakfast on Thanksgiving. Set the morning table with these hand-rolled wonders in select flavors (plain, everything, the favorite seasonal “stuffing,” the always controversial French toast, jalapeno cheddar) with a load of schmears, including seasonal choices like cranberry-orange and spinach artichoke.

Thanksgiving meals & sides to-go

Southern Kitchen

• 1716 6th Ave., Tacoma, 253-627-4282, southernkitchen-tacoma.com
• Pre-order: online by Nov. 23 at 7 p.m. (10% off orders received by Nov. 15)
• Pickup: Monday-Wednesday 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

Serving Tacoma since 1981, Southern Kitchen upsizes its comfort-food sides for catering and holiday orders. Bring home trays of mashed potatoes and homemade gravy, mac and cheese, cornbread dressing, collards, red beans and rice, candied yams and buttery corn. Select four dishes for $225 or six plus a sweet potato pie for $325. Both packages include a dozen cornbread muffins. Complete the online request form and a staffer will personally confirm.

Essence Lounge at Olive Branch Tea Room

• 2501 E. D St., Tacoma, 253-999-1857, instagram.com/essence_lounge_tacoma
• Pre-order: by phone or in-person by Nov. 24 at 6 p.m.
• Pickup: Nov. 25

Olive Branch Tea Room is now also home to Essence Lounge. Southern-style sides feed 10-12 people, with each tray $35-$80 depending on the item. Proteins include catfish nuggets, wingettes (try the candied-yam or Henny glazed), pulled pork and smothered chicken. Load up on shrimp and grits, jambalaya or gumbo (made with halal meat), and pair with mac and cheese, rasta pasta or rice and peas in coconut milk. Other sides offer collards with smoked turkey, sweet plantains, yams and garlic-butter potatoes.

Charlie’s Restaurant & Lounge

• 113 E Main Ave., Puyallup, 253-845-0588, charliesofpuyallup.com
• Pre-order: by Nov. 22
• Pickup: Nov. 23-26, 12-8 p.m.

Charlie’s in downtown Puyallup will serve Thanksgiving dinner for one ($22) and a family dinner for four ($95) Thanksgiving week. Order ahead for takeout — can be prepared hot or cold for easy reheating at home, or reserve a table to enjoy in the restaurant in the days leading up to the holiday, Monday through Wednesday. Plates include roasted turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, cornbread stuffing, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie.

Carr’s Restaurant

• 11006 Bridgeport Way SW, Lakewood, 253-584-4622, carrsrestaurant.net
• Pre-order: online or by phone by Nov. 22
• Pickup: Nov. 26, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Carr’s in Lakewood cooks up a whole, “oven-ready” Thanksgiving feast for easy pickup and reheating at home. You don’t even have to get a turkey because they also offer carved ham and whole chickens! Choose a protein ($90 for chicken and small ham, $160 for large ham, $180 for whole turkey to serve up to six people), a potato dish, two sides including classics like green bean casserole and homemade stuffing, a bread and dessert. Customize your meal with extras like cold pea salad, a green salad, and add-on sides in small or large formats. Bonus: mimosa carafes in orange, cranberry or pineapple.

Velvet’s Big Easy

• 124 146th St. S, Tacoma, 253-503-0357, velvetsbigeasy.com
• Pre-order: by phone or in-person by Nov. 22
• Pickup: Nov. 27 by 2 p.m.

This Cajun and Creole restaurant in Spanaway is also taking the sides route. Mix-and-match warm dishes (most serve up to six people) including collards in chicken broth with smoked turkey, seven-cheese baked mac, green beans (fresh, not casserole-style), spiced and candied yams, and mashed potatoes with homemade gravy. Add some cornbread muffins, tart cranberry sauce and dinner rolls for the full deal.

Wildfin Tacoma

• 5115 Grand Loop (Point Ruston), 253-267-1772, wildfinamericangrill.com
• Pre-order: online, manager will confirm order and payment by phone
• Pickup: Nov. 26, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.

Wildfin at Point Ruston will be closed Thanksgiving Day, but the kitchen will package a full holiday meal (serves up to six, $219) ready for your home oven. Just pick up on Wednesday. It includes half of an herb-roasted turkey (fully cooked but proper reheating instructions included), scratch gravy, Idaho russet mashed potatoes, bacon Brussels, stuffing with Italian sausage and artichokes, homemade cranberry sauce, potato-rosemary bread with fig butter, and of course a pumpkin pie with Chantilly cream. Add some wine (cab sauv, red blend and sparkling rosé) — a portion of all bottle sales will be donated to Feeding America.

This story was originally published November 12, 2025 at 5:30 AM.