This blog post is brought to you by Click&Go’s collective love for pierogies and pretzels. Of course, those staples have to be acknowledged, but we also know that Krakow’s food scene has so much more to offer. Rich in meat and hearty vegetables, Polish cuisine is incredibly comforting and definitely worth experiencing in person.
Here are 8 of the must-try foods that you should indulge in and where you can find them, when you head to Krakow with Click&Go!
Pierogies
Pierogies are a staple of Polish cuisine. These tasty stuffed dumplings have been served since at least the 13th century, making them the country’s most famous dish. The dough dumplings can be filled with many different things – from savoury fillings like potato, cheese, spinach, ground meat, or sauerkraut to sweet fillings like cherries or other berries. Mashed potato and cheese are the most common fillings. They are typically served steaming hot and topped with onions and other sides. Head to Morskie Oko a traditional restaurant and try some of the best pierogies in Krakow with a range of fillings to choose from!
Obwarzanek
Essentially a ring-shaped pretzel and a close cousin of the bagel, this tasty dough gets boiled and then sprinkled with various toppings like salt, poppy seeds, or sesame seeds. Its golden crust is crunchy and reveals soft savoury bread when you bite into it. It’s most often sold from blue street carts around the city of Krakow, so you won’t be far from them whenever you are walking around the city!
Polish Beer
With all the tasty food you will be consuming, you have to have something to wash it all down with! Polish beer has been brewed for well over 10 centuries, and as one of Europe’s top-three beer producers, Poland is a destination you must visit if you appreciate a pint…or more. Head to House of Beer a bar located in the old town that has a variety of craft beers to try! Beer is called “piwo” (pronounced pee-vo) in Polish, and in combination with a great meal, you’re in for a treat. Two of the most popular Polish beers are Zywiec (pronounced zhiv-ee-ets) and Tyskie (pronounced tis-kee).
Vodka
The Poles sure do know their vodka and similar to their beer, it’s been a staple for centuries. Normally served in a larger than average shot glass and nice and cold, it’s a drink meant to be enjoyed and never mixed. Flavoured vodka is very popular and you are almost 100% guaranteed to find a wide array of vodkas in any bar you may find yourself in. So raise your glass, say “na zdrowie” (pronounced naz-drove-ee-ah), and toast to good health. If you want to try out some Polish vodka head to Wodka café, one of the smallest bars in Krakow! Its cosy atmosphere is the ideal place to try out some traditional vodkas.
Ziemniaczane
Ziemniaczane are Polish potato pancakes. Their presence in the Polish gastronomical culture is not surprising because of the large Jewish population in Poland. Whether served plain or with a flurry of sauces and sides, they are simply delicious. You won’t be able to just eat one! You can also find some of the best ziemniaczane at Morskie Oko, as it has all the traditional Polish favourites!
Paczki
This savory dessert is similar to a doughnut, but simply less sugary, less oily, and a bit more dense yet still fluffy. This is due to the small amount of grain alcohol added to the dough before frying which prevents too much oil from being absorbed by the dough. There are many different fillings, but commonly they are filled with jam and have powdered sugar on top. Try out Gorace Paczki a quaint bakery that serves delicious fresh paczki!
Bigos
Colloquially known as Polish Hunter’s stew, Bigos is a very versatile meal. It combines various meats and both pickled and fresh cabbage. It is served warm and is therefore a quintessential Polish comfort food. The nickname of “Hunter’s stew” comes from its reputation as an easy enough meal to bring on long treks and is still good even after a couple of days and with reheating. If you want to try out this delicious polish stew head to Polakowski a traditional restaurant in Krakow that serves some of the best bigos!
Sernik
You must try Polish cheesecake which is called sernik in Polish! This is a popular dessert especially in Krakow so it’s a must try. Polish cheesecake is denser and less creamy than a regular one, often with crushed shortbread as its base. Many bakeries and cafes in Krakow will have sernik including Charlotte Café in the old town, which is a favourite among dessert lovers!
Do these have your mouth watering? Do you need to head to Krakow as soon as possible? If so, start planning your Krakow City Break with Click&Go today!
Very informative site great info thanks
I am 3rd generation Polish and interested in traveling to my DNA background. I