Another Great Pierogi Place Comes to the Northwest Suburbs

E.J. Pierogi doesn't readily present itself. I spotted it by accident as we were on our way someplace else, and couldn't really tell what it was. All I could make out was a storefront's worth of gaudy flashing lights in the distance, just past Busse Road on Oakton (very near one of Kabul House's previous locations). We were in a hurry, so I made a mental note of the curiosity and kept driving.

On the way home, driving back up north on 83, there was the storefront, still flashing. We were actually in the far right lane, ready to head east, back home, when I said to Mrs. Roadhouse, "Can you whip into the left lane and head for that multicolored glow over yonder?" She managed to make the maneuver and we pulled into the parking lot. All I could make out at first was the word "Pierogi" inside a giant representation of an actual Pierogi. But as soon as I saw it, I knew we were in a place we wanted to be.

We jumped out of the car and headed for the front door when I saw the posted hours. They close at 7:00pm and we'd arrived around 7:10. Ah, but the lights were on, there was a lady behind the counter, and a couple of guys eating at a table, so I reached for the front door, and it was still unlocked.

The very accommodating lady behind the counter explained she was in the process of cleaning up, so she had a limited number of menu items still available. And we would have to take it to go. No problem on either count. We started with a dozen nice sized, plump Pierogis; three each of four varieties, potato and cheese, spinach, kraut and mushroom, and meat. She even ladled on a couple of loads of minced bacon and sauteed onions. All four varieties were very good, although the spinach was the weakest of the bunch.

We also picked up an order of Bigos, served with a side of mashed potatoes. The Bigos was quite good, although some of the chunks of meat may have dried out a bit from sitting in the steam table all day. Still, very good flavor, and the mashed potatoes were excellent. Rich buttery taste, and mashed to a fluffy coarseness that made you realize with the first bite, these spuds didn't come out of a box.

They've got a full line of Eastern European choices, including pork goulash, stuffed cabbage, cheese blintzes, and a thing that looks like a home made Polish version of a Stouffer's French bread pizza, only way better. It's called a "Zapiekanka" and it consists of a split loaf of bread, covered in what might be described as a mushroom tapinade, topped with cheese, then baked until the whole thing is nice and toasty.

E.J. Pierogi is now on my list of places where I need to work my way around the menu. I'll keep you updated.

Buddy

E.J. Pierogi
1700 Oakton St.
Elk Grove Village
(847) 258-4854

No website of their own, but here are links to their facebook and yelp pages:
https://www.facebook.com/E.J.Pierogi
http://www.yelp.com/biz/e-j-pierogi-elk-grove-village

Hi,

I just called to learn they close at 5:00 pm on Saturdays.

Regards,

Sorry about that. Didn't know they closed early on Saturdays. Hope you'll try again another day.

Buddy

Amazing that it has been open for 5 months (per the owner's comments yesterday) and even though I've passed by it probably 80 times, I've never noticed it, so much for my super snooping abilities.

I went yesterday for lunch. Tried various pierogi, cabbage roll, and the Zapiekanka.

Pierogi were right on the money, dough had good chew, fillings were abundant and seemed very fresh. I had my personal favorites of the potato & cheddar and the meat, with the mushroom & kraut coming in a close second to those.

I had to wait for the cabbage roll and as a result I think I dug into it too quickly as it was blazing hot. Once it cooled a bit, I was in my cabbage roll heaven. The flavor is this roll in particular is a bit light compared to what I've had elsewhere, I'm guessing different ratio of internal stuffing/meat

I had very mixed views of the Zapiekanka, I really liked the sautéed mushrooms & crispy bread, was lukewarm on quality of cheese. The topping offered was ketchup which didn't do it for me, now if they had a good marinara, the Zapiekanka would be a killer snack. I actually may just get one to go and have at home when I have some leftover sauce at home.

So Thanks for posting about E.J. Pierogi, I will for sure be back to try some of the other items such as Pyzy w/meat, borscht, potato pancakes, bigos, goulash.

Brought home two cabbage rolls and some meat pierogi (with bacon/onion "sauce") the other night for dinner, even though cabbage rolls are not a favorite of Mrs Willie.

Both of us were quite pleased with our meal and did not find the meal too heavy on a warm summer night.

40 person dinner here last night. Borscht broth was very light, not as viscous as I'm used to but delicious none the less, meat filled dumplings are divine, spinach ok, cabbage roll was it's usual goodness, bigos was good (I can only have so much sauerkraut).

Had been awhile since I've been to EJ Pierogi. Borscht was delicious, very light, & pierogi (had meat, spinach, potato/cheese) were still making me happy.

Sweet Willie wrote:Had been awhile since I've been to EJ Pierogi. Borscht was delicious, very light, & pierogi (had meat, spinach, potato/cheese) were still making me happy.

I am confused. Are their pierogi considered good?

Lenny007 wrote:Are their pierogi considered good?

That would be a yes

Sweet Willie wrote:

Lenny007 wrote:Are their pierogi considered good?

That would be a yes

Here is another Polski pierogi place opened nearby in Elk Grove Village
"Tata's Pierogi". Wonder how you will rate them, as you are LTH pierogi expert.
BTW, have you ever tried pelmeni in Madison, WI?

Lenny007 wrote:Wonder how you will rate them, as you are LTH pierogi expert.

easy Lenny, no one is claiming to be a pierogi expert.

Lenny007 wrote:BTW, have you ever tried pelmeni in Madison, WI?

have not, if you have, post to Madison thread in Beyond Chicago forum

Lenny007 wrote:Here is another Polski pierogi place opened nearby in Elk Grove Village
"Tata's Pierogi".

Thanks for the heads up, if you've been what did you think?

Tata's Pierogi
554 A East Devon
Elk Grove Village, IL 60007

Here is another Polski pierogi place opened nearby in Elk Grove Village
"Tata's Pierogi". [/quote]Thanks for the heads up, if you've been what did you think?

I have not tried Tata's, but EJ's were truly horrific (both flour and fillings). Must be factory made like Alexandra brand sold in the stores. I will be shocked if EJ survives.

Lenny007 wrote:I have not tried Tata's, but EJ's were truly horrific (both flour and fillings).

and we can mark 1 in the "horrific" column, firmly.

If you've been, I'm curious why did you not state this from your first post to this thread.