Polish food could be considered similar to many other central European traditional dishes. There’s a sprinkling of a German, Czech, Slovakian, Ukrainian and Russian influences here. Although any Pole worthy of his or her passport will patiently explain to you that while there are similarities, Poland are the original creators of some of the most well loved dishes in Europe.
These traditional dishes are known locally as domowy jedzenie (in English, homely food). This is the kind of food that you would order as your final meal if you were on death row. Soul-nourishing, carb-laden and with enough fortifying potato that it will stick to your insides, for the times when you’re travelling and it’s zimno ciemno i do domu daleko (cold, dark and far from home).
There are still all of the usual suspects in Poland like McDonalds, Burger King, KFC, Starbucks and so on. But these are found mainly in the tourist traps and are almost exclusively there to service visitors (and those with a killer hang-over).
An old-school kiosk selling soft drinks, gofry (wafers) and lody (ice-cream)
Eating like a local will enable you to deep dive into Polish culture and experience some of the most wholesome, hearty and tasty food you will ever try. As an added bonus, old-style cafeterias where they sell this kind of food are mind-blowingly cheap. You could get a three-course meal with a drink for two people for under $10 (NZD).
If you go the cafeteria route, then you should dine with a Polish speaker or to learn a bit of basic Polish so that you can order there. These places are from the old school and are mostly run by older ladies in their 60’s or older. They likely don’t know much English, they were probably taught Russian in school instead. So it will probably annoy them and make them feel embarrassed if you start speaking English and they don’t understand you.
That being said, if you go to a more upmarket restauracje or bar in a major city or town that is targeted towards younger people, almost all the serving staff aged under 40 would know how to speak English. So you shouldn’t have a problem with ordering exclusively in English. Also in the big cities all of the menus of the touristy places are in English (but this is generally a sign that the prices will be doubly as expensive).
A very nice looking restaurant in Krakow that we never tried out
So I’ve put together this brief guide to why Polish food is amazing and included some pics and food stories from my own trip to the south of Poland, I hope you enjoy it.
A little restauracja called Morandowka provided the best meal we had in Zamosc. After the meal they gave us all a cute model figures of a medieval town-crier as a parting gift, with a tiny feather in his cap. It’s a wonderful and expected gift I will treasure! https://www.facebook.com/Morandowka/
Chocolate here is pretty incredible and so is coffee as well. This chocolate themed cafe in Wroclaw incorporates dramatic declarations of love for chocolate into the alley way graffiti.
A chocolate themed cafe in Wroclaw incorporates declarations of love for chocolate into the alley way graffiti.
When you ask for a latte, this is what you get in different places in Poland. Using the long spoon you mix in the strong coffee with the large frothy cream cloud and then you scoop it out as though its a hot dessert. Wow!
Villa Hubertus was a beacon of homely food at the mid-way point of a small hill. At the top was Srebrna Gura fortress, a hill fort that originates from the Napoleonic Wars. On the way down from Srebrna Gura we had an epic meal here. http://www.villahubertus.com.pl
Placki ziemniaczane (potato pancakes layered with spinach, diced tomatoes in a thick mushroom sauce) at the delectable and highly recommended Szalone Widelce in Krakow http://www.szalonewidelce.pl/
Gofry domowe (or wafers with whipped cream and fresh berries) is a national summer obsession.
Yes this is an extinct New Zealand bird – a Moa in an eatery in Poland. Moa Burger is a chain of three burger places Krakow, Warsaw and Wroclaw themed around the majestic bird. The red and black Maori motifs blend in effortlessly to the Polish bialy/czerwony (white and red) national colours. It’s a match made in heaven. Also the food is amazing as well.
Moa Burger in Wroclaw: Up there with the most tasty burger, fries and shake I’ve ever had anywhere in the world. New Zealand’s burger places seemed inferior by comparison.
You can find examples of understated cafeteria-style places selling reasonably priced domowe obiady (home style lunches) in the tunnel beneath most main city train stations. My favourite cafeteria was underneath of Wroclaw main train station, pictured. Although everyone seemed harried and ready to jump on the train as they gulped down food, the food itself more than made up for the rush-rush of the station, it was soul food.
Owoce i warzywa / Fruit and veg
A craft beer festival coming up in Wroclaw. Poland has a booming craft beer culture with crazy combinations of flavours floating around all over the place.
A Polish craft beer with Maori symbolism.
Pierogi ruski / Russian Pierogi is a delicately flavoured dumpling filled with cheese and herbs and served with sour cream and sauteed onion. It sounds simple but it will blow your mind.
Bar Mleczny exemplifies the best of Polish soul food, wholesome, cheap and tasty home-style meals. This place exists in the centre of the Krakow old town, but don’t try and order anything in English as they prefer if you try and speak Polish, it’s only polite.
Evening market squares like this one opposite to the St Peter and Paul Church in Krakow, often sell craft beer by the pint and kielbasa (sausage) and bigos (Polish hunter’s stew with slow-cooked saurkraut, smoked sausage, bacon mushroom and vegetables.
Content Catnip is a quirky internet wunderkammer written by an Intergalactic Space Māori named Content Catnip. Join me as I meander through the quirky and curious aspects of history, indigenous spirituality, the natural world, animals, art, storytelling, books, philosophy, travel, Māori culture and loads more.
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3 thoughts on “Polski jedzenie/ Polish food: My om nom nom nominations”
The Bojan beer is also available in coconut flavour – the best beer I’ve ever drunk (as a woman, of course 😉 )
BTW I think there should be “Polskie jedzenie” in the title 😉
Love the way U write about the traditional dishes of my country. Pierogi ruskie definitely do blow mind! 🙂
Content Catnip 
The Bojan beer is also available in coconut flavour – the best beer I’ve ever drunk (as a woman, of course 😉 )
BTW I think there should be “Polskie jedzenie” in the title 😉
Love the way U write about the traditional dishes of my country. Pierogi ruskie definitely do blow mind! 🙂
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Very nice article. Beautiful city
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Thanks so much for your comment, my partner and I (he is Polish) hope to come there again soon, best country ever for food ❤ cheers
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