Polish Food
Milk bars
Eat at an authentic polish milk bar (bar mleczny). Don’t be confused by the name – they don’t serve just milk at these places. It’s rather a cafeteria. You will have to walk up to the counter and order and pay for your food before sitting down. The menu will be written on big boards hung behind the counter and are many times only in Polish language. Milk bars were introduced during WWII to provide cheap places to eat for the polish working class. They are still very popular among locals, but there are also milk bars for tourists with English menus.
Pierogi
You have to try pierogi. They are the most polish dish ever and come in so many varieties that you can live just of pierogi while you are in Poland. Pierogi are little dumplings. Usually you can choose if you want to have them boiled or fried. The most traditional pierogi that you will find everywhere are Pierogi Ruskie. They are filled with mashed potatoes and curd cheese. Pierogi filled with onion and mushroom are also very popular and are the traditional polish Christmas dish. There are of course many more varieties. Go ahead and try them all!
Kompot
As for the traditional drink: try kompot. It’s a homemade non-alcoholic fruit drink obtained by cooking fruit in water and adding spices. Every location has its own unique recipe, so it will taste a bit different depending where you go.
Vodka
The number one alcoholic drink in Poland is Vodka. They have a huge variety and are very proud of it. Prices are cheap when you buy it at supermarkets.
Pączki
Treat yourself with Pączki, the polish donuts. The most common one will be filled with strawberry jam and is covered in sugar glaze. But you will also commonly find Pączki filled with chocolate or vanilla cream covered in icing or with powdered sugar.
