Vegetarian Food in Poland – The Best Meat-Free Polish Dishes

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Central European cuisines are traditionally meat-heavy and Poland is no exception, so, if you’re looking for a guide to the best vegetarian food in Poland, you’ve come to the right place.

Poland is one of our favourite destinations in Central Europe and we try to spend as much time there as possible, exploring different parts of the country each time.

After experiencing Poland as slow travellers, we can safely say that vegetarian food in Poland not only exists, but it’s also hearty and delicious.

But we won’t lie. Polish food does rely heavily on meat. Even dishes that don’t seem to need the addition of meat almost always have it sneaked in somehow.

Yet, if you’re vegetarian, like us, fear not. Reading this guide before travelling to Poland will prepare you for a unique culinary journey through the best vegetarian food in Poland.

The Best Vegetarian Food in Poland – All The Meat-Free Dishes You Should Try

Let’s be honest. There’s not a wide variety of traditional dishes that are vegan or vegetarian in Poland. However, those that exist are delicious, satisfying and worth trying at least once.

Moreover, although Poland does have a meat-heavy cuisine, more and more restaurants have been adding vegetarian and vegan options to their menus in recent years, a welcome surprise for responsible travellers visiting Poland.

1. Pierogi (Polish Dumplings)

The indisputable queen of Polish dishes is Pierogi. These iconic dumplings come with different fillings to choose from, mostly savoury but also sweet. Traditional Pierogi dumplings are boiled, but you can also find oven-baked ones.

Sadly, most savoury versions contain meat. Yet, you can always find vegetarian Pierogi, too, no matter where you’re having lunch or dinner. There are Pierogi filled with mushrooms, spinach and cheese or cabbage.

However, if there’s a language barrier and you’re not sure if what you see on the menu contains meat or not – as is often the case at Polish milk bars, for example, where the staff seldom speak English – there’s a safe option: Pierogi Ruskie.

By the way, do you know what Polish milk bars are? These are no-frill eateries where time seems to have stood still. It’s your best chance to try traditional food cooked the way a Polish mum would prepare it at home.

Interiors are rustic and old-fashioned, prices are low and written or spoken English is scarce. Yet, eating like a local at a milk bar is part of the Poland experience in its own right.

But let’s go back to Pierogi Ruskie. This type of Pierogi is omnipresent. We’ve found Pierogi Ruskie in each and every restaurant or milk bar we’ve been to in Poland.

They are filled with mashed potatoes, cream cheese and onions and meat is never added.

2. Placki Ziemniaczane (Potato Pancakes)

Placki Ziemniaczane is a versatile dish that can be savoury or sweet. Its savoury version can be served with cottage cheese or mushroom sauce.

Sometimes, meat sauce may be added, too, so make sure you double-check with Google Translate before you order.

In their sweet form, Polish Potato Pancakes are served with sour cream and fruit preserves.

When the aforementioned language barrier is in place, you might end up having dessert for lunch – it’s happened to us once or twice, but we embraced it with all our might.

3. Barszcz Czerwony (Beetroot Soup)

The list of heartwarming soups you can try in Poland is quite long, which is no surprise considering the country’s cold climate.

However, for the purposes of this article, we’ve only included the two most common among them and the easiest to find at any restaurant or milk bar.

Barszcz Czerwony is the Polish variation of a beetroot soup that forms part of many cuisines in Central Europe.

Poland’s take, though, hides a treat: mouthwatering ear-shaped dumplings that differ in size but are very similar to taste as Pierogi.

This clear ruby-coloured soup is the perfect starter or main course, especially on a cold winter day.

Unfortunately, Barszcz Czerwony can be tricky as meat may be used in the stock or as filling for the dumplings. Most of the time, though, Barszcz Czerwony is indeed vegetarian. However, always double check before you order.

4. Pomidorowa (Polish Tomato Soup)

If the possibility of finding meat in your soup haunts you, play it safe by ordering a tomato soup instead. This will definitely be meat-free.

Polish Pomidorowa is comfort food at its finest, the best remedy against the cold. But even if it’s not super cold during your trip, don’t miss the opportunity to try one of the best tomato soups you’ve ever had.

We’re not exaggerating. Polish tomato soup can easily be compared to – or even surpass – its Southern European counterparts.

We’ve had more tomato soup variations than we can keep track of in Poland and we can confirm that no two are the same.

Depending on the cook’s preference, a bowl of Pomidorowa can be plain, with pasta or with rice. The latter is our least favourite.

5. Kartacze (Polish Potato Dumplings)

Finding a vegetarian version of Kartacze is a very long shot, but if you do, don’t think twice, order it.

Unlike Italy’s potato dumplings, the famed gnocchi, Polish potato dumplings are enormous and filled with – usually – meat and – rarely – mushrooms or cheese.

Kartacze is one of the most filling and mouthwatering Polish dishes to try and we can’t recommend it enough.

6. Zapiekanka (Polish Pizza)

A popular street food since the 1970s, Zapiekanka is the Polish take on pizza, only heavier and more hangover-friendly.

Zapiekanka is an open-faced sandwich made of a halved baguette and topped with wild mushrooms, cheese and ketchup or any other sauce you choose.

Of course, a wide array of other ingredients can be added, but this is the typical base.

We’ve never had Zapiekanka outside of Krakow, which is considered the best place to try this Polish street food staple.

More specifically, the quaint Plac Nowy in the Kazimierz neighbourhood, an essential addition to your Krakow itinerary, is where you should go for the best Zapiekanka.

7. Obwarzanek Krakowski (Krakow Bagel)

Speaking of Krakow, another staple to try there is the city’s PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) bagel, which is as emblematic of the city as its Old Market Square.

Of course, this isn’t a proper dish. Yet, sometimes, a quick snack is all you need in between your sightseeing.

As you wander around the streets of Krakow’s Old Town, you’ll stumble upon the iconic blue carts that sell bagels.

These are certified and you can be sure that you’re eating the original Obwarzanek Krakowski when you buy from these carts. You can also bake and eat your own bagel at Krakow’s Bagel Museum.

8. St. Martin’s Croissant

This list of the best vegetarian food in Poland wouldn’t be complete without some dessert. Although we’re sure there are plenty of scrumptious sweets to try in Poland, we chose the one that stands out for us.

Hailing from Poznan, a beautiful city in western Poland, St. Martin’s Croissant shares nothing but a name with its famed French cousin.

Poznan’s PGI croissant is filled with poppy seeds and nuts and topped with sugar and more nuts.

It dates back to the 19th century and you can try it at cafés and bakeries when you visit Poznan.

Honorary Mentions: Our Favourite Places For Non-Polish Veggie Food in Poland

Eating the local food is one of the most immersive ways to delve into the culture and history of any given destination.

This is why we encourage you to try all the traditional vegetarian dishes we recommend in this guide to the best vegetarian food in Poland.

That said, sometimes, you just need to eat something different; or familiar; or a little junk food-like. Especially if you’re travelling slowly, like we are.

There’s no harm in that and this is why we’re sharing our list of the best places to savour non-Polish staples, such as pizza, hot dogs, burgers, Mexican or Asian food in their vegan or vegetarian versions, obviously.

1. Piwna Stopa (Poznan)

Starting this list with a bar rather than a restaurant may strike you as unorthodox, but at Piwna Stopa, we devoured the best veggie hot dogs. Not just in Poland. These were the best meat-free hot dogs we’ve had to date.

As a plus, this bar plays great music and has a wide variety of beers to choose from, both Polish and international.

2. Zielona (Lodz)

Set in one of the best places to visit in Lodz, the magnificent Manufaktura leisure complex, Zielona must be one of the best vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Poland.

With a warm interior and a menu that has everything from Asian and Italian staples to juicy vegan burgers to traditional Polish cuisine with vegetarian twists, this is the perfect place to relax and unwind over a dish of tasty food.

The only problem is that you’ll have a hard time deciding what to order. Everything looks – and is – so appetising.

3. Vegan AF Ramen (Krakow)

This fully plant-based restaurant serves what must be the best vegan ramen in Poland.

The restaurant itself boasts a very cosy setting and is situated in an authentic part of the city that reverberates with laughter and energy from the nearby universities.

There’s yet another of these vegan ramen shops in Wroclaw. We’ll definitely check it out next time we’re in Poland.

4. Pizzatopia (Poznan & Krakow)

You can’t go wrong with pizza anywhere, as you can always have a meat-free Margherita, right? We couldn’t agree more.

However, when we find a pizzeria that offers the option to add vegan bacon, we can’t help but scream it out loud to anyone who’s listening. Even if it’s just a plain fast food-like pizzeria.

After many many years, we had the chance to eat pizza with bacon again and we’ll forever be grateful for that.

We tried Pizzatopia in both Poznan and Krakow, but you can also find Pizzatopia restaurants in Wroclaw, Katowice and Sopot, if you happen to be there.

5. Los Gorditos (Krakow)

Inevitably, you’ll crave some Mexican food at some point. If that happens while you’re visiting Krakow, you’re in luck.

Although this casual Mexican restaurant isn’t fully vegetarian, you can opt for vegetarian chorizo or roasted cauliflower as a meat substitute.

Go for the quesadilla or Nachos Supreme with vegetarian chorizo and you can thank us later.

What To Drink in Poland

We can’t leave you without mentioning all the drinks you can wash your vegetarian food in Poland down with.

1. Vodka

Even if you’re not into strong spirits, a sip of Poland’s national beverage is mandatory. Vodka in Poland is ubiquitus. Apart from the strong plain vodka, you can also find lighter flavoured versions with fruity or sweet tastes.

Polish people usually drink vodka in shots, most often next to a glass of cold beer.

2. Beer

This brings us to the second most popular alcoholic drink in Poland, beer. Poland is Europe’s third-largest beer producer and that says a lot about the variety and quality of beers you can try there.

3. Kompot

Kompot is a fruit-based non-alcoholic beverage with a bright red colour. The Poles like to accompany their meals with Kompot, especially at milk bars.

A glass of Kompot can be very refreshing and goes well with hearty dishes, like Pierogi. So, don’t hesitate to do it like a local and enjoy a glass of Kompot at lunchtime.

4. Hot Chocolate

Since we ended our list of the best vegetarian food in Poland with dessert, it’s only fair to do the same with our section about what to drink in Poland.

Enjoying a cup of hot chocolate is one of the best things to do in Poland in its own right. Especially in cold weather, just like we did when we visited Warsaw in winter.

That was the first time we ever tried this nectar of a beverage. Since our trip to the Polish capital, it’s a tradition of ours to start any trip to Poland – no matter which city we’re visiting – with a cup of hot chocolate.

Of course, we’re not talking about any hot chocolate, but the one served at cafés run by E. Wedel, a popular Polish chocolate brand that has been around since 1851.

We hope this guide to the best vegetarian food in Poland convinced you that you won’t starve in this Central European country as a vegetarian traveller.

Although not many, traditional Polish dishes without meat exist and they are delicious, while veggie versions of the best Polish and international dishes are also easy to find.

So, what do you say? Are you ready for a journey for all the senses in Poland?

WORDS & EDITING: Maria
IMAGES: Katerina