The Best Pierogi in Krakow

Modern Polish cuisine is the result of centuries of tradition, influenced by the resources the land provided. Vast forests provided Poles with mushrooms, fruits and more. Among the most popular Polish dishes is pierogi. Here we break down what’s so special about this Polish dumpling, and where to find the best pierogi in Krakow.

Nobody really knows what the origin of pierogi is. However, there are several legends surrounding the topic. For example, some suggest they were eaten during ancient Pagan feasts. Others say that Saint Hyacinth brought them to Poland in the 13th century.

Yet another legend is based on the travels of the Venetian merchant, Marco Polo. During the 1200s, he travelled the Silk Road, exploring China and other Asian territories. Life in the East had been a mystery to Europeans up until then. So, he shed some light on the Eastern world – and apparently, this included dumplings. They say he introduced it to Italy and from there, it spread to other European countries. 

However they came to be, there’s nothing more comforting during a cold, Polish winter’s evening than a plate of pierogi – with vodka on the side, of course. And I’m not talking about the knock-off versions of pierogi you might have seen in the frozen section in Asda. If you’ve never tried the real thing, you’re in for a treat.

So, what are pierogi, actually? If this is all still a mystery to you, let me enlighten you. Pierogi are a type of dumpling that you can find in many Central and Eastern European countries. The dough is rolled thinly and stuffed with all sorts of tasty fillings before being pinched together. 

The most common fillings are various types of ground (or pulled) meat, as well as the very traditional “Pierogi Ruskie”, which contains potato, onion and cheese. You can also find sweet pierogi containing seasonal fruits and other delicious desert-like fillings such as white chocolate.

Pierogi Fillings

On most menus, you’ll see “pierogi z mięsem” – pierogi with meat. Pork is very popular in Poland and along with ground beef is the most common meaty pierogi filling. You can also find chicken, veal, duck, goose and lamb which can all make for mind-blowingly good pierogi.

Other common fillings are mushroom, cabbage, spinach and other vegetables. You’ll also find pierogi that contain different types of cheeses, such as feta. In Eastern Poland, it’s popular to have pierogi with lentils.

It’s common to add a topping or relish to a plate of pierogi, such as fried bacon or onion, caramelised onion, sour cream, butter, chives, sautéed mushrooms and many others.

If you’re vegetarian, most menus offer at least a few vegetarian options, with even more choice available in dedicated pierogi restaurants as you’ll soon find out.

Pierogi Cooking Methods

What’s the tastiest way to cook pierogi? I’ll let you be the judge of that. Each cooking method gives its own unique spin on the dish. Some restaurants give you the option of how you want them cooked, so it’s good to keep this in mind. 

One of the most popular ways to cook pierogi is to boil them in salted water, which gives them a tender texture. This method is my personal favourite. There’s something very satisfying about it, especially in the colder months.  

After boiling, it’s quite common to pan fry them for a couple of minutes to give them a crispier texture. Otherwise, they may be pan fried directly without boiling. Grilling creates a similar result. 

Instead of boiling, you can steam them. You may also come across deep-fried pierogi. As you can imagine, this gives them a much crispier texture.  There are also oven baked pierogi. The result is a crisp, golden-brown exterior with a fluffier texture on the inside.

Pierogi Traditions

Traditionally, pierogi were eaten only on holidays and each holiday had its own special variation. Take Christmas, for example. Poles usually enjoy two different types of pierogi on Christmas Eve. 

Uszka, meaning “little ears”, is the name of a small type of dumpling containing mushrooms or meat. They serve it with red borscht, or barszcz – a type of beetroot soup.

The regular sized Christmas pierogi traditionally contain cabbage, sauerkraut and dried forest mushrooms. This is the most common filling but in other regions, you may come across something different. In some Eastern regions, Christmas is the time to enjoy pierogi filled with smoked, dried plums with poppy seeds.  

The traditional wedding pierogi is called kurniki. They tend to be larger than usual. They always contain chicken and sometimes additional ingredients. Then there are also pierogi for Easter; the Christmas caroling period in January; name days, and much more.

Pierogi Festival

Another popular tradition in Poland which has spread across the globe is the pierogi festival. The Kraków pierogi festival takes place every year in mid-August, in the old town’s Mały Rynek (Small Market Square). It lasts several days and is the perfect opportunity to try a wide selection of pierogi.

You can also enjoy folk music and art alongside the festival and you have the opportunity to try new and creative adaptations of traditional pierogi recipes. If you’re visiting in August, make sure you check it out. 

Best Pierogi Places in Kraków

In most restaurants, you’ll be able to find a plate of pierogi for around 20 zł or less (about £4). Servings generally come with around 10 dumplings. Servings from fancier restaurants will usually be smaller but they’ll be trying hard to take the taste experience to the next level.

Here we’ve compiled a list of the best restaurants in Krakow for pierogi. Also, we’ve listed places to visit in Krakow for vegetarian and vegan pierogi.

Pierogi Mr Vincent

On my first visit to Mr. Vincent, I was pleased to see their menu had a lot of choices. After placing my order, they brought over a container with cutlery, accompanied by a paint brush. “Perhaps that’s for the relish”, I thought to myself. I looked around at all the artwork on the walls and ceiling…sunflowers…the name, Vincent… Then it dawned on me…it was Van Gogh themed. 

So, what’s on the menu at Pierogi Mr. Vincent? They have a good selection of meat, vegetarian and sweet pierogi. It’s typical for a restaurant that’s not dedicated to pierogi to only serve a few of the classics. Here, I was spoilt for choice. With 12 different meat options, I went for chicken, spinach and garlic. They also have nine vegetarian options, including the classic pierogi ruskie. There are five traditional options and seven varieties of sweet pierogi, in case you’re coming here for dessert instead. 

They also offer mixed plates if you want to try more than one type. They do mixed meat, mixed vegetarian and mixed fruit pierogi options. On my second visit, we tried a mixed meat plate and it was delicious. In my opinion, one of the best places to eat in Krakow. 

Pod Leliwą

Pod Leliwą offers a range of classic Polish dishes, including pierogi. They serve four different flavours:  ruskie, duck, veal with sage butter, as well as a beef and bacon combo. In addition, they also have an option for a mixed plate of 20 dumplings.

Pod Leliwa is located in a renovated 17th Century palace, previously owned by the wealthy Tarnowski family. This residence was a typical Polish example of a city palace. Sławkowska Street, where today the Pod Leliwą restaurant is located, actually used to be a part of a medieval road connecting Krakow and Wroclaw.

Regarding the restaurant itself, Pod Leliwa is staffed with friendly, attentive English-speaking staff. Their menu is extensive, with more of a modern take on traditional Polish dishes. Their pierogi are amazing, and beautifully presented – my favourite is their delicate veal dumplings with sage butter. Their menu also includes great vegetarian options. Prices are also very reasonable here for both food and drink. They’ve also got amazing lunch tie specials! Definitely worth a try. Also, some of the best pierogi in Krakow. 

Chłopskie Jadło

Chłopskie Jadło is on Świętej Agnieszki street. (ul. Świętej Agnieszki), which is also very close to the main square. You have a choice of boiled or baked pierogi here. With either type, you can choose a sauce to accompany the dish, but with the boiled option, you have the option of a serving of lard and fried onions instead (definitely go for the latter).

There are nine types of pierogi to choose from here. Their meat version contains a mixture of braised pork, beef, and poultry. Another mixed meat option is the “Pielmieni”, a Russian type of dumpling filled with a mouth-watering combination of beef, pork, onion and garlic. There are a few other meat, vegetarian and classic options on the menu. If you fancy something a bit different, why not try the “Bavarian”? The filling is sausage and onion, fried and stewed in beer.  Definitely a spot to try if you’re on a hunt for the best pierogi in Krakow. 

Pierogarnia Krakowiacy

This was my first experience of pierogi and I’ve returned a number of times. They’ve got some of the best pierogi in Krakow that I’ve had before. The restaurant is located just off the main square in the old town and serves a range of pierogi and other traditional dishes. 

You can find all the classic fillings as well as spinach, feta and rice; mozzarella and dried tomato; and duck and apple. The sweet pierogi options are seasonal fruits, or cherry with mascarpone cream.

Nakryto

If you’ve been looking for the best pierogi in Krakow – you would have no doubt sampled a lot of ruskie by now. The humble pierogi ruskie. You can tell a lot about a restaurant by how well they do the basics. Nakryto serves it with a rather interesting relish – mint cream. There’s also pierogi with lentils and red pine mushrooms, which they serve with tomato sauce. 

If you’re looking for meat-filled pierogi but you want to try something a bit different, Nakryto has pierogi filled with chuck steak. If you’re not familiar with this cut, it comes from the area towards the top of the shoulder blades of the cow and can be extremely flavoursome and tender. Nakryto is just around the corner from Pierogi Mr. Vincent, in the Jewish Quarter.

Pod Aniołami

Pod Aniołami boasts a cosy, rustic, atmosphere with  13th century architecture – the perfect setting to immerse yourself in the traditional, and indulge in some of Kraków’s finest dumplings. 

The pierogi at Pod Aniołami are a bit pricier than elsewhere. For a portion of 5-6 dumplings, you’ll pay between 26-31 zł. Their pierogi are pan-fried with butter and onion and you have five options to choose from. Why not try the “exquisite noblemen’s dumplings”? Or how about some venison? If you can’t decide, you can order a portion of 5 dumplings – one of each filling. 

Vegetarian and Vegan Pierogi in Kraków

Almost every restaurant that serves pierogi will have vegetarian options, even if it’s just the classic pierogi ruskie. There are vegan and gluten free options out there, although they’re not as easy to find. However, don’t fret – we’ve done the research for you. 

There’s something else you should know – not all pierogi advertised as vegan is truly vegan. Sometimes they use egg in the dough, so it’s best to double check with staff beforehand. The restaurants we’re about to mention use vegan alternatives to egg. 

You can find vegetarian and vegan pierogi on the menu in many vegetarian restaurants, such as Glonojad. Some restaurants have a wider selection. As I mentioned, Pierogi Mr Vincent has nine vegetarian options. The spinach and feta filling that Pierogarnia Krakowiacy serve is also quite common. 

Pierogowy Raj, close to St. Florian’s Gate, serves a selection of meat, vegetarian and vegan pierogi. In fact, there are eight vegan options to choose from – some savoury, some sweet.  Nearby is Farma Burgerownia Roślinna, another restaurant dedicated to serving both vegan and vegetarian options. It’s located just off the main square. 

If you want vegetarian or vegan pierogi to take away, Przystanet Pierogarnia is the answer. They have different branches located around the city and you have the option of takeaway or eating in. The vegan option is a lentil and carrot filling and they serve a few classic vegetarian varieties. 

Veganic is a vegetarian restaurant with vegan options, including vegan pierogi. There are several options to choose from, including Pierogi Ruskie and pierogi with Italian cabbage and black rice, both served with vegan sour cream. There’s also pierogi with broad beans and aglio olio sauce.  Just outside the old town, it’s located at Dolnych Młynów which is a former tobacco factory, converted into a complex of restaurants, bars, galleries and more.  

Finally, we have to mention No Bones, whose menu is 100% vegan. They serve a seasonal pierogi dish, so you’ll need to see what’s on the menu when you visit. 

So there you have it. The best pierogi in Krakow, and the best restaurants in Krakow to eat them! Like I said before, pierogi is best enjoyed with a healthy dose of vodka. So now, what’s the best Polish vodka? Book a vodka tour to find out.