Billing itself as a modern Polish restaurant, Qulinarnia puts new twists on classic recipes. Owner Agnes Janowska offers dishes like pork tenderloin in a wild mushroom sauce; pan-roasted cod on a potato pancake with shiitake sauce; and lobster and spinach pierogi roasted with garlic butter and tossed with cherry tomatoes. Of course, traditional items such as smoked sheep’s cheese and beef tenderloin tartare are also available. Online ordering is available here.

A lodge-themed dining room is the setting for Old World meals in Schaumburg. Bacowka treats diners to plates such as breaded pork chops, beef liver, smoked cheese, sauerkraut soup, and more.

SMAK-TAK!’s cozy atmosphere is what makes the Jefferson Park spot special. There’s stuffed cabbage rolls and hunter’s stew, plus sweet cheese blintzes to finish off a traditional meal. Online ordering is available here.

Smakosz, with red wooden shingles, has a humble look from the outside. But don’t be deterred from heading inside and grabbing a seat in a booth. The full bar pours cold ones to help diners eat plate after plate of dumplings.

Head to Wood Dale and this warm home-style restaurant to experience the culture of the Polish Highlands. Start with complimentary rye bread and smalec — a lard spread — before diving into comforting plates from the country’s southernmost region. Standouts include sizzling lamb chops, 24-hour beer-marinated pork shank, crispy duck baked with apples, and pork tenderloin escalopes covered in smoked cheese and mushroom sauce. Online orders can be placed here.

This Montclare shop specializes in all things bakery related and becomes a popular destination around Paczki Day, but the kitchen also serves up a variety of sausages and other Polish specialties that aren’t just baked goods. There’s hunter’s stew and red borscht, plus European groceries.

Podhalanka is an old-school restaurant that whips up traditional Polish recipes. In addition to the long list of soups, pierogis, salads, and favorites like stuffed cabbage, this is also the place to find some of the rarer dishes.

Veal meatballs, pierogis, and borscht are staples on the menu here. Kasia’s Deli also has a wholesale line that brings blintzes and dumplings in various flavors to tables all across the country. Whether it’s right in the restaurant, at home, or even at the Taste of Chicago, customers can look forward to dependable Polish fare. Online ordering is available here.

Untraditional yet wholly unique, Kimski is a Korean-Polish mashup that delivers fascinating bites. Chef Won Kim’s street food lineup includes a Polish sausage on a bun topped with soju mustard, kraut-chi, scallions, and sesame seeds; pierogis filled with potato and cheese; and a sausage plate with Ko-Po-inspired banchan. Folks can enjoy their food on the restaurant’s lovely backyard patio or take it next door to essential beer temple Maria’s, which is run by the Marszewski family who are Polish and Korean.

Locals turn to this watering hole for a few cold ones after work, but it also functions as a great spot for Polish food. Beyond devouring pierogis at the bar, the menu features potato pancakes, goulash, and some traditional bar snacks like chicken tenders and fried shrimp. There’s also a Karolinka Club radio station, so expect this to be the place for polka.

A hearty taste of Poland and Lithuania attracts folks to this diner in the southwest suburbs. Feast on stuffed cabbage, potato pancakes topped with pork goulash, blintzes, borscht, and more. Parking can be challenging as the lot is often full but the delicious rewards are worth the effort.