ExploFood · Europe
What to eat in Poland
Five dishes to try in Poland, the most typical first. One is vegetarian.
Five dishes to try in Poland
Pierogi
Boiled dumplings, classically filled with potato and farmer's cheese.
How to have it: Order pierogi ruskie at a milk bar (bar mleczny) for a cheap lunch, topped with fried onion.
Żurek
Sour fermented rye soup with white sausage and boiled egg.
How to have it: Often served in a hollowed-out bread loaf; a traditional Easter dish.
Bigos
Hunter's stew of sauerkraut, cabbage, mixed meats and sausage.
How to have it: Best in winter and at Christmas markets; it tastes better reheated over several days.
Kotlet schabowy
Breaded pork cutlet fried in lard.
How to have it: The classic Sunday dinner; comes with boiled potatoes and cabbage or cucumber salad.
Zapiekanka
Half a baguette topped with mushrooms and melted cheese, with ketchup.
How to have it: Kraków's Kazimierz district has famous late-night zapiekanka windows at Plac Nowy.
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Questions
What food is Poland famous for?
Pierogi (boiled dumplings, classically filled with potato and farmer's cheese) comes first on our list, followed by Żurek, Bigos, Kotlet schabowy and Zapiekanka.
What is the national dish of Poland?
Ask ten people and you get several answers. The dish we put first for Poland is Pierogi: boiled dumplings, classically filled with potato and farmer's cheese. Order pierogi ruskie at a milk bar (bar mleczny) for a cheap lunch, topped with fried onion.
Which dishes in Poland are vegetarian?
One of the five on this page is vegetarian as usually made: Pierogi. Recipes vary, so ask about stock, lard or fish sauce.
What street food should I try in Poland?
Zapiekanka (half a baguette topped with mushrooms and melted cheese, with ketchup).
How reliable is this list?
The dishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, where you can also tick off the ones you have tried. Recipes vary by region and by family, so take it as a starting point.
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Tick off every dish you try in Poland
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Get ExploDishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, with links to Wikipedia. Recipes and names vary by region.