The 10 best Polish restaurants in NYC

The first and perhaps most regal of Nobu-trained chef Krzysztof Drezewiecki’s holy trinity of Brooklyn-based Polish restaurants, Krolewskie Jadlo stays true to its translation, offering hungry Greenpointers no less than a “king’s feast” atop every plate. Choose from traditional dishes like beef goulash or stuffed cabbage, or go full haute with venison and walnut meatballs drizzled with wild mushroom truffle oil. Whatever your pleasure, just don’t forget to pair it with one of Krolewskie’s offerings of eclectic international wines—like the hard-to-find Casal Thaulero Pinot Grigio from Abruzzo, Italy.

Conveniently located just a few steps from the Bedford Avenue L train, Dziupla is a rare combination of elevated quality and quantity in an area all too sadly known for its overpriced, mediocre-at-best eats. For the ultimate value, swing by during happy hour Monday through Friday from 4pm to 7pm, where you can indulge in $3 beers, $4 wines and half off all pierogies. At just $5 a plate, the chanterelle-topped spinach and goat cheese pierogies are one of the cheapest eats in all of NYC.

What this no-frills Greenpoint eatery lacks in ambience it makes up for in taste. Perfect for a solo nosh on a cold winter’s day, this counter-style canteen serves some of the best smoked kielbasa–laden white borscht that $5 can buy. Just be sure to hit the ATM before ordering—Pyza is cash only.

With its old country farmhouse décor complemented by a waitstaff dressed in traditional folk garb, Karczma is where you go to impress a group of out-of-towners with classic Polish cuisine. If its lengthy menu leaves you feeling paralyzed by choice, opt for the sampling plate of Polish specialties which includes three pierogies (boiled or fried), two potato pancakes, Polish kielbasa, hunter’s stew and stuffed cabbage for just $14.

This family-run, BYOB restaurant has been serving up its rotating selection of potato, cheese, mushroom, meat and sauerkraut-stuffed pierogies to south Brooklynites since the 1990s. Homestyle staples like stuffed cabbage and pyzy (stuffed potato dumplings) will satisfy a savory craving, while a sugar-and-lemon-kissed, ricotta-and-cream cheese–pocketed blintz will add just the right amount of sweetness to the end of your meal.

Located in the heart of Greenpoint, Brooklyn, aka Little Poland, Polka Dot houses a hot table of revolving Polish delights, offering everything from vegetarian stuffed cabbage and zucchini pancakes to pork stew and mushroom-stuffed chicken. Package it by the pound and take it to-go, or have a seat and take your time as you dig into house-made pychotka, a traditional Polish custard-and-fruit layered cake.

Nestled in the food labyrinth that is Dekalb Market Hall, the Pierogi Boys serve up a well-deserved post (or pre) Trader Joe’s snack. Meat, cheese, potato and mushroom pierogies are packed and boiled right on the spot, resulting in a steaming pillowy pierogi so fresh you’ll forget all about the Ikea-esque basement ambience.

For Polish cuisine and comfort food favorites, look no further than Teresa’s in Brooklyn Heights. This restaurant serves up traditional Eastern European fare alongside diner staples like omelets, burgers and pancakes. You can order a veritable buffet of Old World favorites like pierogies, cheese blintzes with blueberries, broiled kielbasa, stuffed cabbage in tomato sauce, goulash and borscht. Glasses of the house red or white wine are cheap, as are most domestic and imported beers. With a menu this extensive, you’re sure to find something that tickles your fancy.

Don’t order light and don’t look for low-carb options. Go to Christina’s for stick-to-your-ribs Polish fare served in a homey, brick-walled diner setting. Steamed pierogi are perfectly prepared, but a diet-be-damned fried version is a better way to go. Beef goulash arrives with tender bits of meat in a savory gravy, served with your choice of potatoes. Figure in the sides of beets and red cabbage as your daily dose of vegetables.