The Best Polish Street Food to Try in 2025

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Where Western and Eastern Europe collide, Poland has to be seen to be believed. When travelers from afar flock to Europe, most head to Paris, London and Rome. Gdansk, Krakow and Warsaw seldom appear on their bucket lists. They really should. Stretching from the white sandy beaches of the Baltic Sea to the coniferous forests and ski-slopes of the Tatra Mountains, Poland is as diverse as it gets.

First settled 500,000 years ago, this is a country shaped by its past. Traditions ring strong, but it’s Poland’s modern history which has really left its mark. Almost 80 years ago, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill delivered that famous speech announcing to the world, “an iron curtain has descended” across Europe. At that moment, Poland was a country on the boundary of two worlds which couldn’t differ more.

Reunited and independent, the cultures which Poland has embraced throughout its history have left their mark. One area that is more apparent in than any, is its cuisine. A wonderful mix of centuries old recipes joined with Russian staples meet modern influences from the west. A journey through Polish street food is itself a journey through this multifaceted nation.

The Best Polish Street Food

Zapiekanka

Kicking off our tour of the best Polish street food, zapiekanka is a relatively recent addition to the country’s food scene. Often referred to as “Polish pizza”, zapiekanka is a cross between a sub and an open sandwich. Made from half of a sliced-open baguette, the bread is topped and toasted.

Even though Poland was still behind that “iron curtain” in the 1970s, it was a time of prosperity for many Poles. For the first time in decades, foreign brands began to appear on supermarket shelves; notably, Coca Cola in 1972. Western influence was beginning to seep through, and Polish culinary masters made the most of new found luxuries.

When French baguettes began to be imported, zapiekanka was born. Traditionally topped with sauteed white mushrooms and cheese, the toasted baguette is topped with ketchup. More recent variations include toppings similar to those commonly found on pizzas. Some of the most popular examples include Hawaiian style with ham and pineapple and Greek zapiekanka which features olives and feta cheese.

As one of the most popular Polish street foods, zapiekanka is widely available across the country. It’s frequently enjoyed as a late night snacks from food stalls. If you have time to indulge in some Polish nightlife- and when you’re in the country which invented vodka (Russia may disagree), you really should- you’ll find no shortage of zapiekanka vendors plying their trade when bars and clubs kick out for the night.

Obwarzanek

From a modern favorite to an age old stalwart of the Polish street food scene, obwarzanek has its roots in 14th century Krakow. A few years ago, Krakow came onto the radar of European tourists as a party city. Stag-dos and Hen Parties flocked there in their thousands; the culture of what was once Poland’s capital, all but lost on them.

Thankfully, Krakow has reinvented itself. Once again, it’s back in the limelight and, this time, for all the right reasons. On top of the museums, underground tunnels and bustling markets, Krakow is Poland’s street food capital.

Obwarzanek is a ring-shaped braded bread, a little like a German pretzel or Polish simit. The large bread rings are served sprinkled with salt and a covering of either sesame or poppy seeds. You’ll find them being sold from traditional street carts all over Krakow. They’re so popular, in fact, that 150,000 obwarzanek are sold in the city every day.

Kielbasa

Continuing our exploration of Polish street foods with another age old classic, kielbasa have been a favorite since the 13th century. Wherever you go in Europe, sausages are a personal subject. Every country or, in many cases, region, does them differently. One constant though, is that they’re all very proud of them.

Poland’s most famous sausage originated as a way of rural farmers preserving meat during the winter months but little did they know, they’d invented a culinary symbol of Polish identity. Today, there are strict government guidelines on what can be called a kielbasa to the extent that many similar sausages have to be sold under different names.

Kielbasa comes in many shapes and sizes and, today, is often served by street vendors as a hot dog, between bread. So popular is it, kielbasa is one of the few Polish street foods which you can easily find outside of the country, especially in areas with large Polish expat communities. In fact, kielbasa even influenced Chicago’s take on the classic hot dog

Pierogi

The next of unmissable Polish street food is where Polish and Russian cuisines collide. These delicious dumplings are Poland’s answer to pelmeni, although their origins stretch further east still. No one truly knows how dumplings came to reach Poland, but what is certain is that they originated in China.

Whether Marco Polo discovered them on his expedition across the Silk Road or Saint Hyacinth brought them back after a missionary trip to the Far East, we’ll likely never know. However they got to Poland, their status as a national dish is not up for debate.

There is no end to the fillings you can enjoy in this delicious Polish street food. Mashed potatoes, onions, cheese, mushrooms and sauerkraut are always popular and many varieties include ground meat too. A nod to Russian tradition, savory pierogi are often served with a generous dollop of sour cream. In a more recent development, pierogi are also available as a sweet snack with a jam or fresh fruit filling.

Kynsza

If ever you needed proof that Polish street food takes its influences from all over the world then kynsza is it. Poland’s answer to the doner kebab, kynsza is the ultimate indulgence. The main ingredient, a sliced bread roll similar to pita bread, is filled to the brim with grilled meat and vegetables before being doused in sauce.

The newest of all the Polish street foods we’ve discovered so far, kynsza hails from the southern city of Wroclaw. If you make it to this Gothic marvel of a city, take a street food tour to gouge on kynsza as it was meant to be enjoyed: with a shot of vodka in the other hand.

Ponchke (Paczki)

Turning our attention to the sweet delicacies the Polish street food is known for, no trip to Poland is complete without a ponchke or two. These classic donuts may look deceivingly like a berliner, the German jam donut that John F Kennedy is hilariously mistaken as declaring he was, ponchke are no imitation.

Made with a far richer and heavier dough, the result is a much flatter donut than their German counterparts and can have a variety of fillings. Traditionally, cream or plum jam is used, but nowadays, everything from strawberry and raspberry to rose petal and apple ponchke are available.

Piernik

Without doubt the most famous sweet Polish street food, piernik’s popularity has seen it spread throughout the world. Originating in beautiful Torun, birthplace of Nicolaus Copernicus, in the Middle Ages, although gingerbread is now made all over Poland, nothing will ever come close to the Torun original.

Torun, one of Poland’s oldest cities, had everything needed for the perfect gingerbread. Rich soil gave lead to the perfect conditions for growing wheat, whilst local people had perfected the art of making honey. The only thing missing was spice. When German trade companies opened up links to India from the port of Gdansk, pierniki came to Torun.

If your travels through Poland take you Torun- if pierniki isn’t enough to draw you, and evening admiring the medieval city from the Vistula should be- don’t pass on a visit to the Living Museum of Gingerbread. Local brewery Jan Olbracht have taken Torun’s love of pierniki even further with a gingerbread flavor beer. It’s an acquired taste, that’s for sure, but one you’ll regret not trying.

Polish Street Food at Christmas

Poland and Christmas go hand in hand. The festive season starts with the Day of Saint Nicholas on 6th December and, unlike in much of the world, Christmas Eve brings the biggest celebration of all. Christmas trees are decorated, carols (known as koledy) are sung before midnight mass is celebrated to mark the start of Christmas Day.

It should come as no surprise that Christmas takes Polish street food to another level. If you visit Poland during the festive period, the chances are you’ll find yourself browsing through handmade ornaments at a Christmas Market. You’ll also have the chance to savor some truly spectacular festive delights.

Christmas Culinary Staples

Of course, you’ll find all the year-round staples. The warming spices of pierniki taste even better when there’s a chill in the air. In addition, there are a few Christmas specialties that you won’t want to miss. Barszcz is Poland’s take on borscht and to set it apart from the crowds, it has a distinctive bright red color. Along with beetroot, onions, carrots and celery are added to the broth along with pierogi which is topped off with, you guessed it, sour cream.

When you need to satisfy your sweet tooth, sernik will do just that. This may look like just another cheesecake but it’s anything but. In true Polish style, sernik stands out from the crowd. There’s no Philadelphia here. Only traditional Polish farmer’s cheese can be used to prepare this Christmas classic. Combine that with a sugary cocoa powdered crust and you have a little slice of Polish street food heaven.

Another festive favorite you will likely recognize is Christmas fruitcake. Yet again, Poland do things differently. Keks swiateczny is far softer with more subtle flavors than the overly-rich Christmas cakes of western Europe. If you ask us, it’s all the better for it.

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