12 Delicious Foods to Try in Poland

A trip to Poland is one where you need to build in plenty of time to sit down and enjoy the delicious food this country is known for. Whether you’re strolling through a market in Krakow or eating outside along the waterfront in Gdansk, you’ll find so many quaint restaurants serving authentic Polish cuisine. 

If you’re wondering what you should eat while visiting Poland or if you are traveling to Poland with kids who are picky eaters, and you want to know what Polish food is like before your trip, here are some of the best foods to try in Poland that will give you a taste of the country’s culture.

Polish Appetizers and Sides

Before we get to the main course, let’s start at the top of most menus and take a look at some of the best appetizers and side dishes to order in Poland.

Pierogi

Pierogi are without a doubt one of the most popular and well-known Polish foods. These dumplings can be found at just about any Polish restaurant in the country. 

Made from soft, unleavened dough, pierogi can be stuffed with a variety of fillings, ranging from savory to sweet. One of the most beloved yet simple fillings is mashed potatoes and farmer’s cheese. This type of pierogi is known as pierogi ruskie, or Russian pierogi, although it isn’t actually Russian and originated from a region that is now part of Ukraine.

Although pierogi ruskie are the most common and my personal favorite, you can also find pierogi filled with ground meat, mushrooms, or sauerkraut. There are even sweet versions filled with fruits like blueberries or cherries. 

Once filled, pierogi are either boiled or sometimes pan-fried, and served with toppings such as sour cream, butter, and fried onions. Pierogi can be ordered as either an appetizer or a meal.

Because pierogi are one of the most popular foods to try in Poland, taking a pierogi cooking class is a fun activity to add to your Krakow itinerary or your Warsaw itinerary.  

Barszcz 

Barszcz, sometimes called Borscht or beetroot soup, is a tangy soup known for its bright red color. 

Made from beetroots, which gives it the striking deep red color, it is often flavored with garlic, and onion. Other ingredients commonly added are carrots and mushrooms to give the soup a chunkier consistency. 

In Poland, barszcz is commonly served as a first course during Christmas Eve dinner and can be found as an appetizer on many menus at Polish restaurants.

Polish Cheese

Poland may not be known for its cheese in the same way the Netherlands is, but if you love a good cheese board, you’ll find some delicious varieties of Polish cheese. 

One of the most famous types is oscypek, a smoked sheep’s milk cheese from the Tatra Mountains, known for its firm texture, salty flavor, and decorative spindle shape. It is often paired with something sweet like jam or cranberry sauce. This cheese is a must-try in Poland, particularly in Zakopane, one of the best places in Poland to visit.

It is not only a great food to try, but also makes for one of the best Polish souvenirs to bring home from your trip.

Poland also produces other cheeses, such as twaróg, or farmer’s cheese, which is a soft, white cheese similar to cottage cheese, used in pierogi. Since this cheese is typically used as an ingredient in various Polish dishes, you won’t necessarily find it on a cheese board or appetizer, but it is worth mentioning because it is one of the most widely consumed cheeses in Poland. 

Mizeria

An easy side dish or appetizer, Polish cucumber salad, or mizeria, is a refreshing addition to your Polish meal. 

Its deliciousness is found in the simplicity of the recipe. Typically made with thinly sliced cucumbers, mizeria is dressed in a creamy mixture of yogurt, dill, salt, and pepper. Sometimes, a touch of lemon or vinegar is added to balance the flavors and give it a little extra zest. 

Served chilled, it is a perfect accompaniment to a hearty Polish meal and is one of my favorite Polish side dishes to eat during the summer months.

Foods to try in Poland as a main dish

From sausage to stews, Poland’s main dishes are hearty and flavorful. Expect to find cabbage, onions and pork in many of these dishes, all of which are staples in Polish cuisine.

Kielbasa

Another staple of Polish cuisine, kielbasa is a type of Polish sausage made from various meats, most commonly pork. The ground meat is mixed with seasonings like garlic, pepper, marjoram, and paprika. 

Kielbasa is prepared in numerous ways. It can be grilled and eaten as a hot dog topped with mustard and fried onions, sautéed and served alongside sauerkraut and potatoes, or simmered in stews and soups. 

Bigos

As the national dish of Poland, bigos is one of the best foods to try when visiting the country. Referred to as “hunter’s stew” in English, this Polish dish tastes a lot like a roast stew. 

Traditionally, this stew combines sauerkraut and fresh cabbage with a variety of meats, such as beef, pork, and sausage. It is a hearty meal that is typically slow cooked for several hours. Because of its warm, filling nature, it is a great meal particularly during the cooler months when Polish towns like Zakopane become winter wonderlands. 

Gołąbki

Gołąbki are another personal favorite among Polish foods to try. I like to compare this traditional Polish dish to lasagna.

This dish consists of tender cabbage leaves rather than noodles stuffed with meat (we like to use ground beef) mixed with rice, onions, and spices. These cabbage rolls are covered in a tomato-based sauce and baked. 

Often served with a side of mashed potatoes or bread, this is a comfort food in Poland, and one that takes a while to make. But the end result is well worth the effort put into making it. You won’t find this delicious meal at every restaurant serving Polish food, but when you do find it, you’ll definitely want to try it. 

Golonka

Golonka is a slow-cooked pork knuckle (ham hock). Its melt-in-your-mouth texture makes this one of the best foods to try in Poland. 

Braised or roasted, golonka is prepared with a mix of vegetables like carrots, onions, and garlic, along with spices such as bay leaves, allspice, and marjoram. The meat is cooked until it is so tender it falls off the bone. It’s usually served with sauerkraut or mashed potatoes, both staples in Polish cuisine. 

Golonka is especially popular in Polish taverns and is often enjoyed with a cold beer. 

Żurek

Although Żurek is a soup, I typically consider it a main course rather than a starter or appetizer. This traditional Polish soup has a distinctive sour flavor because it is made from fermented rye flour. For this reason, it is simply called “Sour Soup” in English. 

This unique soup has boiled potatoes, smoked sausage, and hard-boiled eggs in it, making it a filling meal. In restaurants, it is sometimes served in a hollowed-out bread bowl, making it even more satisfying as a main course. 

Zapiekanka

Zapiekanka is a great Polish dish to try at festivals and outdoor markets. It is Poland’s version of street food. This open-faced sandwich is similar to a baguette pizza. 

Zapiekanka starts out as a halved baguette which is then topped with sautéed mushrooms and melted cheese, then toasted until crispy. Once out of the oven, it is traditionally garnished with ketchup and sometimes with chives, pickles, or other toppings like ham, onions, or peppers. 

Zapiekanka is often sold at food stalls and kiosks at outdoor markets. It’s quick, affordable, and easy to eat, making it a go-to food to try in Poland. 

Polish Desserts

Dessert may be the final course of a meal, but you won’t want to pass up on these sweet Polish creations.  

Pączki

Technically, Pączki aren’t desserts as much as they are sweet indulgence. They are traditional Polish doughnuts, enjoyed especially on Fat Thursday (Tłusty Czwartek), the final Thursday before Lent begins. The day of indulgence is celebrated on a Tuesday in the United States. 

These deep-fried, golden-brown pastries are made from a yeast dough and filled with a variety of sweet fillings. Traditional paczki, and the ones I recommend trying when visiting Poland are filled with rose jam and have a sweet, yet floral taste. Other varieties are filled with custard, strawberry, plum and other fruit jams. 

Pączki are sometimes dusted with powdered sugar or glazed for added sweetness. 

Their dense and delicious donuts are a popular treat during Carnival season, symbolizing a last indulgence before the fasting period of Lent. But you don’t have to visit Poland during a specific time of year to find them. Pączki have become a beloved Polish food and are easy to find year-round.

Sharlotka 

Sharlotka is to Poland what Apple Pie is to the United States. This Polish apple cake is made with a few basic ingredients—apples, flour, sugar, and eggs—creating a light, airy texture that showcases the natural sweetness of the fruit. 

The dessert is made with tart apples that are layered or folded into the battery dough, which is then baked until golden and tender. Some variations may include a dusting of powdered sugar, a touch of cinnamon, or a splash of vanilla. Like traditional American apple pie, Sharlotka is often served warm, sometimes with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Don’t expect the same level of sweetness that you’ll find in apple pie in the U.S., like most desserts in Europe, Sharlotka is made with far less added sugar, letting the tartness and sweetness of the apples truly shine.

Final Thoughts of Polish Food

As a family with strong Polish heritage, we have not only visited Poland several times and tried many of these foods while there, but we have also learned to make many of these awesome Polish dishes at home. We not only have a Polish cookbook which contains recipes for many of these dishes, we are also lucky enough to have a collection of family recipes handed down from my husband’s Polish grandfather. 

While Polish food holds sentimental value for us, even if you do not have Polish roots, chances are you’ll enjoy sampling the food from this incredible country.

Do you have a question or comment about any of these Polish foods? We’d love to hear from you! Leave your thoughts in the comments below.

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