Dyngus Day Food Guide

The undisputed star of Dyngus Day. Dumplings filled with potato & cheese (ruskie), sauerkraut, meat, or fruit. Boiled, then pan-fried in butter and onions. Every venue serves them.

Grilled Polish sausage — smoky, garlicky, served on a roll with mustard and sauerkraut. The smell of kielbasa on the grill is the official scent of Dyngus Day.

Stuffed cabbage rolls — ground meat and rice wrapped in cabbage leaves, simmered in tomato sauce. Hearty, comforting, and the dish your Babcia made every Sunday.

Hunter's stew — sauerkraut and fresh cabbage slow-cooked with smoked meats, sausage, mushrooms, and prunes. Often called Poland's national dish. Tastes better the next day.

Sour rye soup — fermented rye flour base with white sausage, hard-boiled egg, and potatoes. Tangy, savory, and unlike anything in American cuisine. A true Polish original.

Duck blood soup — a sweet and sour soup made with duck blood, dried fruits, and noodles. A true Polish delicacy that separates the tourists from the veterans. Not for the faint of heart.

Braised sauerkraut — slow-cooked with onions, sometimes with mushrooms or bacon. A simple side that appears on every Polish plate. The word literally means 'cabbage.'

Rich, filled Polish donuts — heavier and more decadent than American donuts. Traditionally filled with rose hip jam, custard, or prune. Get to XYZ Tavern early before Rudy's Strudel sells out.

Angel wings — delicate, crispy fried pastry dough dusted with powdered sugar. Light as air but dangerously addictive. Traditional Carnival treat that appears at every Dyngus Day.

Polish coffee cake — a sweet yeast bread with streusel topping, often filled with cheese or fruit. Perfect with a morning coffee before the festivities begin.

Polish crepes — thin pancakes rolled with sweet cheese, fruit jam, or savory fillings. Lighter than pierogi but equally beloved. Dusted with powdered sugar for dessert.

Na Zdrowie! Tyskie and Zywiec are the classic Polish beers. Vodka (wódka) is the national spirit — Sobieski, Chopin, Belvedere, or Żubrówka (bison grass vodka). Dyngus Day is not a dry holiday.