Ranked by TableJourney editorial score.
Crisp Polish potato pancakes, finely grated raw potato and onion bound with egg and flour, fried in lard until lace-edged and golden. Served sweet with sour cream and sugar, or savoury under a goulash blanket.
Placki ziemniaczane became a Polish home-kitchen staple in the 19th century once the potato spread across rural Galicia. The Tatra-mountain version of the dish, placki po zbojnicku (highwayman style), tops the pancakes with a heavy goulash and originated in Zakopane bars; this version is served at Morskie Oko on Plac Szczepanski in Krakow.
5 editor picks for Placki Ziemniaczane (Polish Potato Pancakes) in Kraków, ranked by editorial score. All Kraków signature dishes · Placki Ziemniaczane (Polish Potato Pancakes) across every city.
Also in: Warsaw.
Pod Baranem near the Wawel side of Kraków's Planty cooks classic Polish since 1997. Chef-founder Jan Baran's menu runs duck, veal cheeks, traditional soups.
OrderDuck with apple and red cabbage; veal cheeks in mushroom sauce.
TipReservation only in the evening; lunch easier as walk-in. Close to Wawel Castle.
Milkbar Tomasza on Kraków's Świętego Tomasza updates the milk-bar form: same prices and naleśniki, but table service and a younger crowd. Priced at $.
OrderNaleśniki with cottage cheese and strawberry jam; the żurek soup is the runner-up.
TipClosed Monday. Breakfast all day; the brunch plate at 25 zl is the steal.
Marchewka z Groszkiem in Kraków's Kazimierz is the homely Polish bistro on the Mostowa footbridge: pierogi, gołąbki, beetroot soup with uszka.
OrderGoose pierogi and a bowl of beetroot soup with little uszka mushroom dumplings.
TipThe Mostowa branch sits on the footbridge with river views. Open daily 12:00-22:00.
Morskie Oko in Kraków cooks Tatra-highlander Polish in a wooden-room dining hall with live folk music. Oscypek, kwaśnica cabbage soup, slow lamb.
OrderGrilled oscypek with cranberry and the kwaśnica sour-cabbage soup with smoked pork ribs.
TipLive highlander folk music in the dining room most evenings; check ahead for the schedule.
Polakowski in Kraków's Kazimierz is the all-day Polish canteen for the Old Synagogue end: pierogi, bigos, schabowy, gołąbki, served counter-style from 10:00.
OrderA mixed pierogi plate and a bowl of bigos; the rye bread is included.
TipAll-day Polish canteen on Miodowa in Kazimierz; counter service, no bookings.
Placki Ziemniaczane (Polish Potato Pancakes) makes more sense with someone from Kraków explaining it. These are the classes and tours we have checked, with booking links.
Guided tour · 4 hours
Savor the flavors of Poland on a 4-hour food tasting tour of Krakow. Learn about the local food culture, and hear fascinating stories about the Polish relationship to ...
Guided tour · 4 hours
Go on a journey through the vodka culture of Poland on a 3.5-hour tasting tour in Krakow, and visit 3-4 different shot bars to taste 6-7 different types of vodka. Hear...
Guided tour · 3 hours
Eat your way through the historic Kazimierz district of Krakow on a 3-hour food tasting tour. Visit at least 4 local restaurants to try 11-13 different dishes and 2 vo...
