USA, Canada / Please help me find new places to buy Polish food in the Chicago area [37]

Thread attached on merging:
Please help me find new places to buy Polish food in Chicago

I'm going up to Chicago this weekend and plan to stock up on some of the Polish food that I can't get locally, primarily pierogi, different kinds of kiełbasa and lunchmeats, and Polish beer (plus whatever else strikes my fancy when I come across it).

I used to be able to find everything I needed at the various Bobak's stores, but all but the Bobak's on Archer Ave. are gone. I have heard that the quality and selection of products at the one left are not what they once were, and the last I knew, the Frank & Angie's on 159th St. & Wolf Rd. (which was owned by the Bobaks on the other side of a family feud) was closed as well.

So, now I'm at a bit of a loss as to where I should plan to do my shopping, and as I've been lurking on these forums for awhile now, I thought I might be able to get the info I need here as there seem to be several members (and guests) from around Chicago. Any answers to any of these questions will be greatly appreciated:

First does anyone know whether the on 159th St. & Wolf Rd. has reopened?

It seems that the Bobak's in Burr Ridge and Naperville are now Farmers Fresh Market and Garden Fresh Market, respectively. Can anyone tell me if either of these still sell a decent selection of Polish items? I have gotten conflicting reports on both of these.

How is Wally's Market for selection and quality? Which location has the widest selection?

I read that Binny's Beverage Depot has a very good selection of Polish beers. Anyone know which location has the best? Are there other stores that have a better selection?

Are there better grocery/meat stores than those mentioned above for buying Polish food? Surely I'm missing some. Which is the best of all?

I plan to be in the southwest suburbs a bit, as well as a trek up to Alexandra's on North Central, but will go anywhere in Chicagoland if needed to find the best places to shop.

Again, any information or opinions would be greatly appreciated!

USA, Canada / Polish bakeries in Chicago [51]

I know this is in reply to an old post, but: Pticek's & Son Bakery at 5523 S. Narragansett is very good. I have fond memories of enjoying their sweets with my grandparents.

USA, Canada / Please help me find new places to buy Polish food in the Chicago area [37]



Thank you both for your quick responses. The decision to make the trip this weekend was kind of spur of the moment, but I wager I should be able to find what I need, now. Much obliged.

The only thing that I anticipate being hard to find is Okocim's Palone beer. I tried it at the Taste of Polonia last year, but have not seen it since. Does anyone know where this can be gotten?

USA, Canada / Please help me find new places to buy Polish food in the Chicago area [37]

Thanks again for pointing me in the right direction. After Alexandra's, Wally's, Gene's, and Avondale Liquors, my car's back end was riding pretty low! I was able to stock up on all my usual gotta-haves, and found quite a few new things to try. (I'm seriously considering buying another freezer before my next trip up, bringing me up to three stand-alones.)

I'll have to try the places on Archer next time I'm up. I actually grew up in the area, but have only ever been in Bobak's, and once to Joe and Frank's. I was never one for shopping trips; my parents and grandparents kept the supply of Polish food constant so I usually didn't pay any attention to where it came from (when they didn't make it themselves). Now that I live where there are no Polish stores, shopping has become a highlight of my Chicago trips. I'm just lucky that my wife indulges me in my marathon shopping sprees.

USA, Canada / Please help me find new places to buy Polish food in the Chicago area [37]


Right you were. I had heard that Okocim Palone was very hard to find, but I needn't have worried. After I bought my two cases they brought out more.

USA, Canada / Can i find Tatra beer in Chicago? [8]

Thanks to plk123's advice, I was recently in Gene's Sausage Shop, and bought some there myself. I believe I also saw it at Avondale Liquor when I stopped there, as well. Avondale seemed to have better prices, on average.

Food / Mushroom Picking Parties (Poland tradition) [74]


Mushroom picking plays a large role in many cultures. In Indiana and the states surrounding it, there are mushroom festivals every spring dedicated to morel mushrooms. Their popularity stems largely from the fact that they are very hard to misidentify (see my avatar for an example). That, and they taste REALLY good.

USA, Canada / Taste of Polonia 2009 Chicago, Illinois [33]

I went: it was a blast!

My wife and I brought a friend and his kids from here in Indiana. They're not familiar with Polish food, so we shared a ton of kiełbasa, gołąbki, and several kinds of pierogi. They raved about it into the next day. (Our friend raved about the cute Polish girls even longer.)

They've already expressed an interest in returning next year, so we're going to treat them to some kiełbasa and Alexandra's pierogi from our freezer the next time we visit.

Food / What Polish food or drink do you not like and why? [37]


Very true. My mom convinced me to try jellied tongue, once, and now I keep a supply in my freezer for sandwiches. The stuff looks terrible, but it tastes terrific.

USA, Canada / Taste of Polonia 2009 Chicago, Illinois [33]


It was very tasty. I'm not sure exactly what it was, unfortunately. It's not listed on the Stawski web site, and when I asked the guy at the booth what kind of beer they had, he just said, "Polish or Lithuanian." (From the web site, I assume that the Lithuanian one is Kalnapilis.)

Okocim is no longer listed on the site, either. I'm wondering whether Stawski is no longer the importer. The last time I paid any attention though, the label on the Okocim in my basement still listed them as the importer. I'll have to double-check.

USA, Canada / Taste of Polonia 2009 Chicago, Illinois [33]


Please let us know if you find anything out.


Since the server did advise me that it was a stronger than average beer, I assume that what I had was the Perła Mocna. Maybe I'll just pick up some of both the next time I'm in town. (And yes, I'm going to drink my "vintage" Okocim anyway. It still tastes just fine to me!)

USA, Canada / Taste of Polonia 2009 Chicago, Illinois [33]


And I still can't get any Polish beer locally! :-(

USA, Canada / Taste of Polonia 2009 Chicago, Illinois [33]

Dubois & Vanderburg: I'm much closer to Chicago.

Marion, though, I get over there occasionally. You wouldn't happen to know where in Marion would you? Is there maybe a Polish neighborhood in Indy?

(I get the distinct feeling that we've been through this before...)

USA, Canada / Is there anyone of Polish heritage in West Central Indiana? [8]


My Dad (who isn't Polish--my Mom was Polish and Slovak) grew up in Terre Haute (and I have a lot of family from his side still in that area). My wife and I just recently reconnected with an old friend from there, who now lives in Brazil, just east of T. H.

We took him and his kids to the Taste of Polonia a couple of weeks ago. They're not familiar with Polish food, so we shared a ton of kiełbasa, gołąbki, and several kinds of pierogi. They raved about it into the next day. (Our friend raved about the cute Polish girls even longer.)

They've already expressed an interest in returning next year, so we treated them to some kiełbasa and Alexandra's pierogi from our freezer last week. They were ecstatic.

We're going camping with them this weekend, and they requested that we bring some kiełbasa & sauerkraut. (I figure that'll be great with some Okocim around a campfire.) It's refreshing to see the flip side of your brother's experience, where, when you share a part of the culture, it's embraced.


I imagine so, but I try to stay away from campus: it's a mess the way it's laid out. And besides, these kids nowadays.... :-)


They're so hard to find, though, as there's not much Polish Pride on display around here.

USA, Canada / Is there anyone of Polish heritage in West Central Indiana? [8]

Thanks! Cool link--I had no idea they even existed. I'm going to watch their event calender for sure.

USA, Canada / Has anyone been to "SZALAS" restaurant in Chicago area? [6]


For Chicago, only very slightly, and not during daylight hours.

USA, Canada / Has anyone been to "SZALAS" restaurant in Chicago area? [6]


I would, at least as far as Bobak's. Well, actually I'd drive, but only so I didn't have to lug groceries back to the car.

I keep meaning to try Szałas, but never get around to it. When I was a kid, and it was called the Red Barrel, my family went there almost every weekend. I wonder if they still keep the rabbits alongside the building.

Food / What are the most popular drinks in Poland? [23]


And try the fries and toast, too.