Where can I buy fresh kielbasa

It has been a holiday tradition that my mother-in-law bring fresh kielbasa when she comes to visit. She lives in Garden City outside of Detroit, and buys her kielbasa from a butcher there. Now that she is getting older, she will be 80 this year, she is traveling lighter and won't be bring the 15lbs to 20lbs of meat with her.

Being an Irish boy, my experience with this sausage started when I met my wife16 years ago, and I haven't to this point gone shopping for this item. I would love to get recommendations as to the best places to buy fresh Kielbasa in or around Chicago so we can continue this holiday tradition.

tomsullyjr wrote:It has been a holiday tradition that my mother-in-law bring fresh kielbasa when she comes to visit. She lives in Garden City outside of Detroit, and buys her kielbasa from a butcher there. Now that she is getting older, she will be 80 this year, she is traveling lighter and won't be bring the 15lbs to 20lbs of meat with her.

Being an Irish boy, my experience with this sausage started when I met my wife16 years ago, and I haven't to this point gone shopping for this item. I would love to get recommendations as to the best places to buy fresh Kielbasa in or around Chicago so we can continue this holiday tradition.

The BEST way is to make it yourself, (a relatively simple process, pork shoulder, salt, garlic, black pepper and ice water) how-to at http://wamah.myfreeforum.org/viewblogtopic.php?t=171. If you're not up to that try Niles Polish Deli on Milwaukee Ave one block south of Dempster.

Tomsully -- Where do you live? There are a lot of very good Polish delis and butcher shops around the city and neighbouring towns, so you should be able to find a purveyor of good fresh kielbasa near or at least reasonably near where you live.

As a start, my usual go-to Polish deli/butcher is Rich's on Western at Iowa and I enjoy their fresh sausage, though I must confess that usually, for my Italian palate, the very heavy-hand with the garlic is something that I can handle only now and again. But when I'm in the mood, it hits the spot. Ecco:
viewtopic.php?p=42016#p42016

Up on MIlwaukee there is the well-known and respected Kurowski Sausage Shop, which is worth a visit whether you live nearby or not. I haven't been there in a while but I doubt much has changed:
viewtopic.php?p=9688#9688

If you're near Lincoln Square, you might want to check out the new Gene's, in the space of the old Delikatessen Meyer:
viewtopic.php?p=291926#p291926
or the main Gene's out on Belmont Gene's (5330 West Belmont).

For the southwest side, you might want to look up what's up -- or down -- with Bobak's, which is located somewhere on Peyton Place, I believe... ... and so on and so forth...

Anyway, there are a number of places you can try... Surely there will be recommendations for favorites forthcoming...

Antonius

Those recommendations are all good, but don't forget about Andy's Deli, the Keilbasa Superstore.

Andy's Deli
5442 North Milwaukee Avenue
Chicago, IL
(773) 631-7304

stevez wrote:Those recommendations are all good, but don't forget about Andy's Deli, the Keilbasa Superstore.

Andy's Deli
5442 North Milwaukee Avenue
Chicago, IL
(773) 631-7304

The best...took the recommendation right out of my mouth. As it were.

Hi,

Peoria Packing House does sell fresh Polish sausage. I'm not suggesting making a special trip, though if you are in the area buy some. I'd love to hear your opinion on how it holds up to your expectations.

I smoked some last summer for Mom2 who used it for dinner. She was somewhat non-comiital in her comments: she said it was rough texture. While I certainly value her opinion, I'd like feedback sometime from someone more fresh kielbasa oriented.

Peoria Packing Butcher Shop
1300 West Lake Street
Chicago, IL 60607
312-738-1800
Monday - Saturday: 6am-5pm
Sunday: 9am-3pm

Regards,

I've very much enjoyed the fresh sausage from Joe and Franks near Midway.
Sausage photo
You know it's good when the smell of raw sausage tempts me during the ride home.

Joe & Franks Sausage Company
7147 W. Archer Ave.
Chicago, IL 60638

I wasn't aware of the other location until a moment ago but here it is:
8720 Ridgland Ave.
Oaklawn, IL 60453

Website (This site plays music, sorry)

Antonius wrote:For the southwest side, you might want to look up what's up -- or down -- with Bobak's, which is located somewhere on Peyton Place, I believe... ... and so on and so forth...

<smile>

While Andy's on Milwaukee is my go-to Polish sausage shop, all are solid recommendations. I would suggest to the original poster they offer in what part of the city or suburbs they live. There are many (many) shops in Chicagoland selling Polish sausage, I'd guess one near your location.

Enjoy,
Gary

Miaras on Addison east of Harlem. A little west of there is PolMart they also have excellent sausage. Up around Lawrence and Harlem is a good place who's name slips my mind. East side of the street (in by Office max) Also Avenue foods on Belmont just west of Oak Park Ave has good sausage. That is one thing thats easy to find on the NW side.

Bobak's is on Archer.
Between Bobak's and Kurowski its a toss up, real Polish, real Polish people. Bobak's is much larger with an oustanding array of everything Polish. It would depend where you live as one is North and one South.-Dick

Thank you for all of the suggestions. I live in Oak Park, so coming into the city, north or south, isn't too far out of the way. If anybody is familiar with the style of fresh kielbasa made in the Detroit area, and can recommend something similar, that would be very helpful. My guess is that there is probably some differences in the recipe's by region.

Cathy, Peoria Packing is on my way to work, (I take the Green line downtown), so I will likely give that a try since it isn't too far off the Ashland stop.

I'll let everyone know how my selection is reviewed by the rest of the family.

The differences in fresh polish are profound. Much the same as regional differences in the US for hot dogs or BBQ. I grew up in South Bend - 4 polish parishes. It has a distinct fresh polish - different from anything i have found in Chicago. However the Grand Rapids fresh polish is very similar. Both populations came from the mountains in the south of Poland. The best polish ins south bend is at EBY's...garlic or no garlic.. It is on the west side of SB on the corner of Sample and Mayflower.

Eby's Old Fashion Meat Market
* (574) 287-3586

56977 Mayflower Rd, #D, South Bend, IN 46619

There are many Polish deli's that sell good fresh Kielbasa. My favorite is at 6800 w. Archer,Chesters Deli.
I cook it in a skillet with bay leaf,black pepper and 6 garlic cloves.Add water to the pan halfway up the kielbasa,cook on medium heat till all the water is gone then turn often till browned.Serve with kapusta (saurkraut) and savor.Great winter meal!!!

Andy’s is till the place for all foods Polish!
With the demise of Bobak’s it’s my go to place.
I love the vibe at Christmas time but the Saturday before Christmas it’s really mobbed.
So this year we went today.
My # was 97 and I got there at 82. Numbers are very well hidden at the front of one section and it’s like knowing the password to find them.
Fresh Polish is a commodity in Chicago and Andy’s sells at $2.29 presently.
Smoke products abound on the back wall of sausage.
Barrel pickles and at least three forms of barreled Kraut are available.
We just got done putting up 30l of Kraut we made, so no Kraut for us.
Polish beer and many type of condiments from Poland.
Unfortunately most of the bread comes pre-sliced.
After the Deli, you get another ticket for the food to go section.
Fresh Pirogi’s were out along with ground chicken ‘birds of some type came home with me for tonight’s dinner.
On the counter was a tray of hard rolls stuffed with Mushroom/Kraut/Dill and topped with melted cheese @$1.69 labeled Pizza! I had one for my lunch and it was one of the best things I have had in a long time.
Polish tomorrow and the freezer is now full.
Bacon with the ribs attached and some smoked fresh Polish also came home.
The bacon is used to prepare Kapusta.
-Richard

Celinas deli on McCarthy rd. in Lemont has some of the best i've had.Great selection of smoked polish also.

Assuming you are referring to Fresh Polish Sausage, Kolatek's Bakery & Deli 2445 N. Harlem Ave, Chicago, IL Just North of Grand on East side of Harlem
They only make it on the weekends. Great breads deli etc.

HI,

Yesterday at Shop and Save by Midway Airport, they had fresh Polish sausage. If you go to another Shop and Save, I suggest calling to reconfirm they have Polish sausage.

I bought a clear beet broth, small mushroom filled pierogi, larger potato and cheese, and larger mushroom pierogi. They also had a dried fruit mix for making compote. They also sell wafers for Polish Christmas Eve.

Regards,
Cathy2

My go-to is always Andy's on Milwaukee Ave lately with the addition of Szymanski Deli & Liquors. Both are wonderlands.



Andy's Deli
5442 North Milwaukee Avenue
Chicago, IL
773-631-7304

Szymanski Deli & Liquors
6016 W Irving Park Rd,
Chicago, IL 60634
773-202-0886

They even sell fresh Polish at some Pete's Markets, but that's not my favorite.

Our family always loved the version at Dunajec (the tiny Archer location; the large Bridgeview location on Harlem burnt down last year.) Having moved a bit farther southwest, my parents (both Polish-born) and much of their family and friends swear by Palos Deli and Liquor at 107th and Roberts Road for their Polish sausages, both fresh and smoked, and other Polish items.

Dunajec Bakery
5060 S Archer Ave
Chicago, IL 60632

Palos Deli and Liquor
10650 S Roberts Rd
Palos Hills, IL 60465

Pete's Fresh Market on Madison & Western
as their stores in Oak Park and on 47th/Kedzie Store
all sell a variety of Kielbasa and Kabonsoky -
many with free samples.

My GO-TO resource though
Kurowski's Sausage Shop i
Milwaukee and Central Park in
Chicago's Avondale is THE place to get yer-Kielbasa on.
Just avoid it during Post-Church Hours on Sundays- cause the line will kill ya.
Over 25 "flavors" and varieties of Kielbasa's
and plenty of cut-off's /damaged-ones for sale in bundles atop the Counter next
to the scale.

2976 N Milwaukee Ave.
Chicago, IL 60618
773 645 1692