Polish Villa II // Photo by Lauren Spoth
Updated March 2020
Kuchina Polska in Buffalo
Buffalo is well-known for being a city of many cultures, all with rich histories from our ancestors who first stepped foot in this great city way back when. And if Dyngus Day is any indication, one of those rich histories is Polish.
During the 1880’s a wave of Polish settlers arrived in Buffalo and the area around Broadway and Fillmore Avenue was soon known as the “Polish colony”. In the early twentieth century the Queen City embraced as many as 100,000 Polish-Americans which made it the sixth largest Polish-American community in the United States. Nowadays many people of Polish descent still live in the areas that their parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents first settled in: Broadway-Filmore, Clinton-Bailey, Black Rock, and Riverside as well as Cheektowaga, Depew, Kaisertown, and Lackawanna…and that’s also where you can find the best kuchnia Polska.
Did we miss one? Email us the full name of the restaurant and their Facebook page > editorial@stepoutbuffalo.com
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Broadway Market
999 Broadway St, Buffalo, NY, 14212
The Broadway Market becomes one of the hottest spots in town once Dyngus Day approaches, and for good reason. Centered right in the hub of the Historical Polonia District the Broadway Market originally served as a means of preserving old world customs, traditions, and heritage for immigrants in the late 1800’s. Today you can still find the freshest Polish sausage in Buffalo all year round, Pierogi by Paula on Saturdays, and of course those butter lambs.
Pierogi at the Broadway Market // Step Out Buffalo
Chrusciki Bakery
Broadway Market, 999 Broadway St, Buffalo, NY, 14212
80 West Drullard Ave, Suite #300, Lancaster, NY, 14086
4475 Transit Rd Suite #103, Buffalo, NY 14221
This family owned and operated bakery specializes in gourmet breads and desserts with an old world European flair. Whether you’re in the mood for a one-of-a-kind wedding cake or some authentic hand-crafted pierogi, paczki, placek, or chrusciki, Chrusciki Bakery has you covered. Plus they have three (count ‘em, THREE) locations for your eating pleasure AND you can order their menu online and have it shipped anywhere in the country. As their motto says, “Life is short, eat dessert first”.
Chrusciki Bakery’s Blueberry & Sweet Chesse pierogi // Step Out Buffalo
Polish Villa I / Polish Villa II
2954 Union Road, Buffalo, 14227 / 1085 Harlem Rd, Cheektowaga, NY, 14227
I mean, “Polish” is literally in the name! When you walk into Polish Villa II the entire place is decked out in traditional décor and you immediately start feeling transported to Eastern Europe, then once you dig in you’re 100% back in the motherland. Everything here is handmade by the Kutas family so you really can’t go wrong. We say go with a platter to get the most Polska for your buck. Plus check out the bigos we went behind the scenes and watched them make, your mouth will thank you. in 2014 they opened their own food truck called Polish Villa II Food Truck of course, so you can get your Polish fix on the go!
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K Sisters Authentic Pierogi
2116 Clinton St, Buffalo, NY, 14206
Pierogi, golabki, and czarnina, oh my! The story of this now famous pierogi shop starts with K Sisters’ Karen Markiewicz struggling to find a pierogi like her mother and babcia used to make. Unsatisfied with her findings she decided to open up a very homey storefront in Kaisertown to make them herself, and the rest is history. All of K Sisters’ ingredients are locally sourced, and in addition to traditional pierogi flavors they also feature what they call “innovative pierogi” filled with fruit, meat, seasonal fillings, or even stuffed like tacos. If you want traditional kuchnia Polska like babcia used to make, look no further.
North Star Tavern
7340 Seneca St, East Aurora, 14052
This place may be small, but it’s food is mighty. Everything here is made fresh fresh from scratch and the vibes are cozy – aka exactly what you want when eating Polish food. While they may call themselves a Polish restaurant, they’ve got lots of options on the menu to choose from including a kids menu with delicious mac-n-cheese plus things like organic bison burgers. No matter what you choose everyone will leave full and satisfied, so if you’re in East Aurora, don’t sleep on North Star.
Morluski’s Polish & Italian Cuisine
121 Prospect St, Attica, 14011
We know what you’re thinking – is Attica really worth the drive? And the short answer is yes. This place has almost perfect 5 star reviews across the board, and if that isn’t enough it was recommended by Step Out Buffalo readers so you know you’re in good hands. The menu features homemade Polish cuisine with other options from Italy, but you’re here for the Polish food although we’re sure the Italian is also delicious. Expect all your favorites plus a few things you might not have seen before all in an unsuspecting restaurant with great vibes, great service, and great people.
