Two things surprise people about Poland: its stunning Baltic beaches and the fact that there are more scrumptious dishes to try beyond pierogi (dumplings). Polish food is hearty, soulful, and deeply rooted in tradition, boasting dishes like slow-cooked meat stews, fresh seafood, sour soups, and indulgent desserts. After a heavy day immersed in WWII history or clocking 20,000 steps while uncovering the charm of cities like Kraków, Warsaw, or Gdansk, there’s no better reward than a comforting plate of traditional local fare.
Eating your way through the country is one of the best things to do in Poland. Polish is famously tough to learn, but when it comes to food, a few key words can go a long way. Follow our guide to Poland’s best food and drinks, and you’ll leave the country full and happy.
Bigos
Poland simply couldn’t choose when it came to picking a national dish, so the country has a few. The most well-known and iconic is bigos. Often called hunter’s stew, it’s made with a mix of sauerkraut, fresh cabbage, and a variety of meats, including pork, sausage, and sometimes beef or game. Every family has a secret recipe, often slow-cooked with onions, mushrooms, plums, and fragrant spices. If you’re visiting Poland in the winter, bigos is the perfect dish to warm you from the inside out.
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Gołąbki
Variations of gołąbki can be found all around the world, but ask any proud Pole, and they’ll tell you theirs are the best. This comforting dish features tender cabbage leaves wrapped around a filling of ground meat, rice, onions, and herbs, all simmered in a tangy tomato sauce. If you're seeking the ultimate comfort food, look no further.
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Pierogi
No trip to Poland is complete without indulging in an absurd amount of pierogi: soft, crescent-shaped dumplings stuffed with sweet and savoury surprises. Thankfully, their versatility makes this delicious mission entirely achievable. Pierogi for breakfast, lunch, and dinner? Absolutely. Classic versions are a must, with comforting fillings like potato and cheese, ground meat, or sauerkraut and mushrooms. But save some room for the pierogi reimagined with bold, inventive flavours inspired by global cuisines like Thai, Indian, and Korean. When it’s time for dessert, the dumpling magic doesn’t stop — think sweet cheese, seasonal fruits, or gooey Nutella wrapped in pillowy dough.
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Naleśniki
Much like pierogi, naleśniki is a versatile dish that can be enjoyed any time of day, from breakfast to dessert. These Polish-style crepes are thin, soft pancakes filled, rolled, or folded before being lightly fried or baked for a little extra crispiness. Sweet versions, stuffed with fruit preserves, sweet cheese, fresh berries, or even chocolate, are an indulgent treat, but the savoury options are just as tasty.
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Zapiekanka
Not all travellers are familiar with zapiekanka, but trust us, it quickly becomes a fan favourite. Back in the communist era, it was a go-to snack for its affordability and quickness, and it’s just as popular today. How would we describe zapiekanka? Imagine Italian and French cuisine having a delicious love child. This popular Polish street food is essentially a French bread pizza made by slicing a baguette-style loaf in half and topping it with whatever you’re craving: mushrooms, cheese, ham, salami, or vegetables. The signature touch is a generous ketchup or garlic sauce drizzle on top.
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Placki ziemniaczane
Prepare for potato pancake perfection. Placki ziemniaczane are Poland’s golden, crispy-on-the-outside, soft-on-the-inside grated potato pancakes. The perfect bite is completed with a dip in sour cream or applesauce if your taste buds enjoy a salty and sweet combo.
Oscypek
Tracking down authentic oscypek is almost as tricky as visiting Poland and not eating pierogi. This traditional smoked cheese is crafted by highland shepherds, known as baca, in Poland’s Tatra Mountains. Made from sheep’s milk, oscypek stands out with its distinct spindle shape, decorative carvings, salty and smoky flavour, and squeaky texture. The time-honoured techniques used to make it are so unique that it’s protected under EU law. Only cheese made in the Podhale region using these traditional methods can be called oscypek. Find the real deal, and you’ve struck gold.
Kluski śląskie
Who knew you could do so much with potatoes? Kluski śląskie is another traditional Polish food that uses potatoes, this time in the form of dumplings. Made from mashed potatoes and potato starch, these small bites of heaven are round with a thumbprint indentation in the centre, perfect for catching rich gravies and sauces. Traditionally served alongside roast meats, you’ll often find them gracing the table at Sunday dinners or family feasts, especially in the Silesia region.
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Barszcz
Heading to Poland to experience the enchanting Christmas markets? At some point, you’ll likely find yourself with a bowl of barszcz in hand. A staple on Christmas Eve, barszcz is a classic Polish beet soup that’s as rich in colour as it is in flavour. With its deep red hue, the soup offers a tangy, earthy taste, often elevated by a dollop of sour cream or a splash of vinegar for an extra kick.
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Źurek
Another beloved sour soup is źurek, traditionally enjoyed at Easter. Made with a sourdough rye starter, this soup delivers a bold, tangy kick that's as unique as it is addictive. Imagine a bowl brimming with hearty sausage, boiled eggs, and chunks of smoked meats swimming in that delightfully sour broth.
Obwarzanek
Even if you didn’t check our list of must-try Polish foods before your trip, anyone visiting Kraków is bound to stumble upon obwarzanek, if only out of curiosity. A true street snack icon, it’s impossible to miss the vendors selling these chewy, ring-shaped breads from their blue carts scattered across the city. Obwarzaneki are so iconic that they're protected by the EU as a traditional regional product. These vendors have been a part of Kraków for more than 600 years. Feeling hungry after hours of sightseeing? Obwarzanek sprinkled with sesame seeds, poppy seeds, or salt is the ideal snack for a burst of energy and a bite of Kraków’s history.
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Kwaśnica
The final soup on our Polish food list is kwaśnica, a staple among the highlanders of the mountainous Podhale region in southern Poland. Thanks to plenty of fermented cabbage, this soup has a sour flavour that packs a punch, perfectly balanced by the rich, smoky flavour of meats like smoked pork. It’s the kind of soup that warms your bones after a cold hike in the mountains and cures just about anything from a chill to a hangover.
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Pączek
Sure, you’ve probably eaten plenty of donuts in your life, but once you’ve had a Polish pączek, it’s a whole new ball game. Pączek is Poland’s beloved version of the round, deep-fried treat loved worldwide. Filled with delightful surprises like rose jam, plum jam, custard, or chocolate, they’re often topped with powdered sugar, a delicate glaze, or even bits of candied orange peel. While Poles enjoy pączek year-round, it’s especially popular on Fat Thursday, a day of indulgence where it’s believed that the more pączki you eat, the more luck you’ll have. That’s a tradition we can definitely get behind.
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Makowiec
Visit any Polish bakery, and you’re bound to spot makowiec. This festive dessert is made from soft, yeasted dough rolled around a rich, sweet filling of ground poppy seeds, honey, nuts, dried fruit, and a hint of spice or citrus zest. If that doesn’t have your stomach rumbling, wait until it’s baked to perfection and finished with a glossy glaze or a light dusting of powdered sugar.
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Drinks to try in Poland
Like other Eastern European countries, wódka (vodka) holds a special place in Poland's culture, traditions, and celebrations. Locals enjoy this popular Polish drink in various ways: sipped slowly, chilled, and shared among friends or raised in traditional toasts like “Na zdrowie!” (to your health!). Poland is home to some of the world’s most renowned vodka brands, including Belvedere and Chopin, solidifying the country’s status as a powerhouse in the vodka industry.
If your head is spinning after two or three shots of Polish vodka, it might be time to switch to piwo (beer). Poland brews excellent, affordable beers. Look out for popular Polish beers like Tyskie, Żywiec, Lech, and Okocim.
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