The real Barbakan is a gateway to the old city of Krakow in Poland. This one? The gateway to traditional Polish food for novices. Located in the heart of Chicago’s Polish district, Barbakan leaves no stone unturned with a massive menu of greatest hits. Of the half-dozen housemade soups, venture out with the flaczki (tripe) soup, a hearty old-school soup with bits of tripe floating in broth heady with bay leaf. Move on to kotlet milenijny, a crispy boneless pork chop oozing with cheesy mushrooms and topped with a fried egg. The gluttony doesn’t stop there: End with sweet cheese or blueberry pierogi, dusted with sugar and served (of course!) with sour cream for dredging.
The best Polish restaurants in Chicago offer everything from an Old World vibe and cabbage soup at Podhalanka to a cozy interior and great pierogies at Smak-Tak. Explore Eastern European culture through breaded chicken at Ferajna, tripe soup at Barbakan or another great Polish restaurant or bar. Here are our picks for the best Polish restaurants in Chicago.
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