My mother was born in Sopot, in the north of Poland by the more famous Gdansk. When I was younger, we travelled there a lot to learn about my heritage and to meet family and friends. The food there never phased me as I had grown up with a lot of it. However, my husband took some time to get used to it all. Polish cuisine is criminally underrated and I wanted to share with you my favourite things. If you ever wonder what to eat in Poland, fear not, there is something tasty and hearty for everyone.
What to Eat in Poland | My 21 Things You Must Try
Pierogi
The most famous Polish dish has to be pierogi. These are some of my favourite dishes in the country. Meats, cheese, potatoes, onions, mushrooms… The list goes on for savoury fillings. However, my absolute favourites are the sweet ones. Raspberry-filled pierogi are a lovely and light dessert in Poland.
Krokiety
As you may have guessed, Krokiety are Polish croquettes. These are typically thin crepes that are filled with a variety of savoury or sweet things. They are then deep fried to give a thick and crispy exterior. I absolutely love these as a starter, especially when filled with lots of melted cheese!
Poppy Seed Cake (Makowiec)
The first dessert now and one that reminds me of growing up. Poppy-seed cake is a must when it comes to what to eat in Poland. The flavour is really unique and I think it is perfect for an afternoon snack.
Zapiekanki
This is effectively Polish pizza and is the ultimate Polish street food. It starts with half a baguette, which is then covered in mushrooms and thick cheese. Then other toppings can be added to it. A must-have in Poland.
Polish Goulash (Gulasz)
You find goulash in most European countries, but the Polish variant is a pretty good one. It is similar to the traditional Hungarian one, but I find it thicker and creamier. There are also other vegetables added to it, depending on where you go. It is a great comfort food and perfect on a cold evening.
Hunter’s Stew (Bigos)
Continuing the trend with comfort food is Hunter’s Stew. It includes meat, mushrooms and, of course, sauerkraut. This is one of the most traditional dishes on the list and I would recommend it. Whilst it may not sound delicious, I can assure you that it is!
Schnitzel
Schnitzel is an import from Austria and, to be honest, there isn’t much of a difference. I find that the Polish schnitzel is usually thicker and is served alongside potatoes instead of chips. There is also usually a side of sauerkraut.
Polish Beef Rolls (Zrazy)
Zrazy was a dish that was, once upon a time, reserved for nobility in Poland. Nowadays though this meaty roulade is open to everybody! It is basically meat that has been rolled into a roulade shape, with a variety of different fillings. Think of a European and prettier meatloaf.
Oscypek & Bryndza Cheese
New cheese is a very exciting prospect wherever you go. In Poland, you’ll probably come across either the smoked oscypek or the feta-like bryndza. Both of these are made of sheep milk and are traditionally made in the south of the country. Both are very tasty and perfect in pierogi.
Kluski Śląskie (Silesian dumplings)
These delicious potato dumplings are the Polish version of gnocchi. These are a fantastic side dish to order for a meaty dish, such as the gulasz. I love mine with a large knob of melted butter on the top, with fried onions.
Potato Pancakes (Placki Ziemniaczane)
Another potato-based dish now and, I dare say, the ultimate snack in Poland. These are crispy and thin bites, which are not dissimilar to hash browns to be honest. They are usually served as street food and are perfect on cold evenings.
Polish Donuts (Pączki)
A post about what to eat in Poland would definitely not be complete without Polish donuts. These are deep-fried and filled with either jam, curd or chocolate. They are incredibly tasty and you should eat as many as you can. I genuinely am craving one as I’m writing this…
Wuzetka
Otherwise known as WZ or Warsaw Cake, this is a traditional dessert served in Poland. It consists of two light chocolate sponges which sandwich a big dollop of cream. On top of the cake is a thin layer of chocolate ganache. I really like this cake and should be high up on your priority list when in Warsaw.
Cabbage Rolls (Gołąbki)
The name doesn’t sound particularly tasty, but give it a chance. In this dish, meat is wrapped up in cabbage alongside things like onions and rice. They are then cooked in a delicious tomato sauce. You will find this in some restaurants, but usually these are served at bigger events like weddings.
Polish Burgers (Kotlet Mielony)
I absolutely love these and they are a very popular Polish dish. Effectively, they are fried and coated meatballs. These are delicious either by themselves or with a side of potatoes / dumplings.
Polish Baked Beans (Fasolka po Bretońsku)
If you’re looking for a way to spruce up a mediocre beans on toast, this could be the recipe for you. The Poles make fantastic baked beans, featuring sausages, bacon and onion. It is usually served as a side dish and is extremely delicious. You’ll never want Heinz again!
Wild Mushrooms
Polish cuisine features a lot of mushrooms. This is because they could be easily foraged in the countryside. Often, you can buy wild mushrooms to eat by themselves. These are usually cooked (or made into soup) and are very tasty.
Beetroot Soup (Barszcz z Uszkami)
This is one of the dishes served at Christmas time and, when you see the vivid colours, it isn’t hard to see why! The dish is usually served with dumplings and it is light and easy to eat. I’ve had this on Christmas Eve before and it really gets everyone feeling festive.
Pyzy Dumplings
These are quite similar to pierogi, but are bigger and filled with meat, cheese or vegetables. They are generally served as a main course too and, if I’m honest, you only need a couple! I think that these dumplings are quintessentially Polish and are well worth-trying.
Pork Hock
Pork hock, or knuckle, is a dish served in a lot of European countries. The Poles don’t do anything particularly different, but I always think that they do it well! It is usually cured and really salty. Perfect accompanied with vegetables, dumplings and a good Polish beer!
Rice Pudding with Apples
Last is a rather interesting entry and, arguably, the most simple. It is literally just a mixture of rice pudding and apples, but coated in cinnamon. It is absolutely delicious and you need to try it.
Final Thoughts – What to Eat in Poland
I hope that this list of my 21 favourite Polish foods has inspired you to visit Poland. As I said at the beginning, the food is underrated and underrepresented in the UK. However, if you go over there, I’m sure that you will fall in love with the food like I have.
cover image: Everyday Delicious
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Thank you for reading and I hope that my post has been useful and have helped to inspire your next foodie visit to Poland!
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Happy exploring,
Love Victoria X
