Best pierogies in Chicagoland?

I'm trying to scope out the best pierogi spot in Chicagoland. I'm looking for traditional potato/cheese pierogies cooked in butter.

I've read many recommendations on the forum for the pierogies at Smak Tak, so I'm leaning towards going there. Any other recommendations?

I know you are looking for restaurants but for prepared...

Alexandra's Pierogi
3300 N Central Ave, Chicago

Many varieties in their long line of freezer cases,

"How did you find them?" I'm glad you asked.

We have been attending the Whiting Pierogi Fest every year for a long time now and our favorite stand is Dan's Pierogi's on the far east end of the strip.

We were there with a group and one gent was bound and determined to find out who their purveyor was. He camped out watching and when the unloaded the boxes from the truck to the freezer it was revealed.

Just a couple of miles from my house! We drive all the way to Indiana to eat something that is local.

Enjoy!

We were invited to Pierogi Fest by some friends last summer and very pleasantly surprised. Clued in by the locals to go to the package store on the street for their cheap tall-boy cans of beer which the local authorities ignored once we brown-bagged them. And the line for Dan's was about 45 minutes long.

Panther in the Den wrote:I know you are looking for restaurants but for prepared...

Alexandra's Pierogi
3300 N Central Ave, Chicago

I second this. My family has been getting Alexandra's pierogis for at least twenty years. My folks were born in Poland; they live on completely the other side of town, yet that's their choice, so that's good enough for me! My kids especially love their maultaschen pierogi. Now, maultaschen are a Swabian stuffed pasta (looks like an oversized square raviolo) usually stuffed with pork (or other meat or combination of meats), spinach, and mace/nutmeg. Alexandra's takes that filling idea and stuffs it in a pierog. Great stuff!

Very interested in trying these. Are Alexandra's pierogies available fresh at their store, or only frozen?

Al Ehrhardt wrote:Very interested in trying these. Are Alexandra's pierogies available fresh at their store, or only frozen?

Only frozen.

https://alexandrapierogi.com/

Not in Chicago...

Tata's Pierogi
554 E Devon Ave, Elk Grove Village

The wrapper was a little thick but the place had a nice Eastern European feel to it.

Since there were several mentions...

https://www.pierogifest.net/

There are many vendors and some of them have some unconventional pierogi's...

Alligator
Taco
Italian

... just off the top of my head.

Maybe 10 traditional.

Pierogi Fest does have its charms. A small-town scale food fest about 30 minutes from the Loop.

Panther in the Den wrote:

Al Ehrhardt wrote:Very interested in trying these. Are Alexandra's pierogies available fresh at their store, or only frozen?

Only frozen.

https://alexandrapierogi.com/

Yum - there's a dropdown for what they're making each day, and it sounds like those may be fresh, not yet frozen? Hard to tell from the website

Hi,

Are you seeking pierogi in restaurants or simply to pick up?

Best Pierogis - St. Andrews Ukrainian Church Bloomingdale

I happen to really like these pierogi, which can be bought freshly cooked or frozen. This is a church fundraiser, which has done very well for this institution. Open on Saturdays until 2:00 PM. If I know I will be in their direction, I will call my order in.

If you wish to buy before a major religious holiday, then call in advance to place your order and time of pick up.

***

For sit down pierogi, I like Cavalier Inn in NW Indiana. Wally's Mother and her friends come once a week to make pierogi. They crimp the edges to indicate their filling, which I have seen nowhere else.

Regards,
Cathy2

Al Ehrhardt wrote:Very interested in trying these. Are Alexandra's pierogies available fresh at their store, or only frozen?

I believe I've only had them frozen, but I'm not 100% sure. It's completely possible we got some stuff fresh, but we freeze the suckers, anyway, so it doesn't matter to us. Pierogi freeze fine.

To be honest, as much as I love the pierogi, I like Alexandra's other dumpling items, like the kluski śląskie (Silesian dumplings -- basically a potato dumpling that goes great with any gravy-heavy dish), pyzy (like a stuffed potato dumpling version of a pierog--if you're familiar with kartoffelkloesse, then it's something like that with a filling), kopytka (Polish gnocchi), and uszka (Polish tortellini).

That's a lot of great info, thank you all!

I've always wanted to go to Pierogi Fest, sounds like a good time is had by all. Funny to hear that Alexandra's may be the secret to the deliciousness at some of the booths

The Ukranian Orthodox Church pierogi scene sounds very unique. Cathy2, thanks for the tip on that!

I will definitely procure some frozen Alexendra's to take home on a future trip, but this time around I'm looking for someone to cook them up for me (restaurant or food truck). Honestly, the closer to the loop, the better, although Smak Tak still seems to be calling my name and it's not exactly down the street.

Shop and Save Market which is a large polish grocery store with multiple locations makes their own pierogies. At the Chicago location on Devon and Nagle they have hot food counter (really cheap $5 -- 1 meat / 2 sides) usually has 1 or more types of prepared pierogies available (sauerkraut or potato seems most common). When there freshly put out in a large tray there is onion and bacon on top but as soon at quantity gets narrowed down the bacon and onion are gone and your just left with pierogie.

Also note I think the other shop and save locations have a hot food counter but the prices vary (and are not as cheap and selection is much smaller than the Chicago --Devon/Nagle location).

Shop and Save Market
6312 N Nagle Ave,
Chicago, IL 60646
https://www.shopandsavemarket.com/weekly-ads

I'm by no means an expert, but I found everything, including the pierogies, to be fabulous at U Gazdy.
270 W Irving Park Rd, Wood Dale, IL 60191
https://u-gazdy.com/

I also enjoyed the pierogies (and pretty much everything else I ordered) at Qulinarnia.
1730 W Golf Rd, Mt Prospect, IL 60056
https://qulinarnia.com/menu.html

I’ll second Cathy2 and the Ukrainian Church!
As Posted call ahead! They also have bread and sausages.
you can’t beat honest home made style!
I keep trying to get the ones at Andy’s Deli but they are never available in the morning!-Richard

Genes Sausage Shop & Deli on north Lincoln Avenue in Lincoln Square has always been our go to place for great, fresh pierogies. http://www.genessausage.com/

CSD

While I have been working up in the Glenview area I did have a chance to try...

Ewa's Pierogi
976 Harlem Ave, Glenview

... and for some reason was unimpressed.

We have had the pierogi's at...

Czech Plaza Restaurant
7016 Cermak Rd, Berwyn

... and if you order them at the table there will be a 15 to 20 minute wait as they boil them to order. Not too bad.

You might have good luck ordering them at any Bohemian restaurants.

Hey! Waitaminute! I almost forgot...

I had some really good ones at...

Okocim Bar
6801 W Addison St, Chicago


I haven't been back as the cook doesn't show up until 6:30 pm. It was a nice visit and the onion and bacon were added without being asked. Nice fresh Polish beer on tap as well.

I was going to mention Sweet & Savory Crepe Cafe in Arlington Heights, behind Target at Willow and Rand, but it appears to now be Tugo Tea, Taiwanese bubble tea -- but also beef noodle soup and a couple other entrees -- now moved to the top of my next lunch out list.

spinynorman99 wrote:And the line for Dan's was about 45 minutes long.

Dan’s opened a storefront in Highland IN a couple of years ago. Pierogis available for eat-in or take out. http://www.danspierogies.com/

Panther in the Den wrote:Hey! Waitaminute! I almost forgot...

I had some really good ones at...

Okocim Bar
6801 W Addison St, Chicago

A013CAC4-385B-4C9D-913F-3602D6AAD378.jpeg

I haven't been back as the cook doesn't show up until 6:30 pm. It was a nice visit and the onion and bacon were added without being asked. Nice fresh Polish beer on tap as well.

FB9F5D16-6BD0-492D-BC85-C293CA74C2E7.jpeg

Hey, Panther was that photo taken in Prince's basement? Looks like black lights?

NW Indiana
Here are 8 places in the Region you can satisfy a pierogi craving

chicagostyledog wrote:Genes Sausage Shop & Deli on north Lincoln Avenue in Lincoln Square has always been our go to place for great, fresh pierogies. http://www.genessausage.com/

CSD

Came here to say this! I've liked every kind I've had at Gene's, with the exception of one. It was spinach, if I remember correctly. Pro tip: make them very soon after purchase. I've had the unfortunate experience of having them get slimy, moldy, and inedible after sitting in the fridge uncooked for a couple days.

LPython wrote:

chicagostyledog wrote:Genes Sausage Shop & Deli on north Lincoln Avenue in Lincoln Square has always been our go to place for great, fresh pierogies. http://www.genessausage.com/

CSD

Came here to say this! I've liked every kind I've had at Gene's, with the exception of one. It was spinach, if I remember correctly. Pro tip: make them very soon after purchase. I've had the unfortunate experience of having them get slimy, moldy, and inedible after sitting in the fridge uncooked for a couple days.

I too, did not care for the spinach. I always eat them the day or day after purchase.
CSD