Pierogies in Manhattan

[el gringo]

Can anyone tell me where to get pierogies in Manhattan? I think they are originally Ukranian, but you can get them in a Jewish deli in San Diego and some Polish cafes in Cleveland.

[janethepain]

Ugh this thread makes me crave them, and I was always puzzled by their appeal, especially since I'm used to Korean and other Asian dumplings. I guess I'll have to pay a visit to Ukrainian National Home, which has been on my list for a while. Hopefully there's some other good stuff there, the menu looks interesting.

[mrnyc]

some polish cafes? you can get them in most neighborhood bars in cleveland, not just the polish joints.

if you cant get to the pierogi palace in the westside market in cleveland and want to order online from them here ya go -- this is truly the mother of all pierogi sources:

http://piepal.com/

check out the menu selection - i can vouch for many of them - lol!

http://piepal.com/flavors.ftml

oh, in downtown manhattan i prefer THERESAS over VESELKA.

[Woodside Al]

"some polish cafes? you can get them in most neighborhood bars in cleveland, not just the polish joints."

...and in literally hundreds of places in Detroit. I suspect they're reasonably easy to find in just about any other big upper midwestern city (Chicago, Milwaukee...) too. I'm not Polish (or Ukranian) at all and I grew up eating them in Michigan. One of my favorite foods when I was a kid.

All of the places named above are OK for them. I particularly like the Ukranian East Village Restaurant in the back of the Ukranian National Home on 2nd Ave. between St. Marks and 9th St. Not just for pierogis, but for all sorts of good Ukranian/Eastern Europeanish food. There are Ukranian places all over the East Village, and just about any restaurant or food shop in largely Polish Greenpoint Brooklyn will have them too.

[mrnyc]

true, but cleveland and detroit (older immigrants) and greenpoint (newer) are the top three places to easily root around for pierogies. as a source, nothing tops the "palace" tho.

[Woodside Al]

Agreed. It's legendary as far away as Detroit...

[bigjeff]

love the ones at Stage Restaurant (in the East Village, next door to the STOMP theatre on 3rd ave). Polish proprietors, really nice people and great pierogies, boiled or fried. You can get a mix I think, but I usually get the meat, and the cheese. Their other dishes are good too; cutlets, swedish meatballs, etc. and they have nice bread and butter.

[financialdistrictresident]

Ukrainian National Home in EV.

[financialdistrictresident]

Arugula and goat cheese, pumpkin pierogies!*? Babci is turning over in her grave! Sauerkraut or potato for me. If I force myself I can eat the sweet cheese ones. Some things (like 2nd Avenue Deli and Kossars) should just never change.

[ballulah]

My thoughts exactly. Some things defy a modern twist and/or innovation. I don't know if I'd know what to do faced with an arugula and goat cheese pierog. (FYI to all the nerdy linguists out there...pierogi is already plural, the singular is pierog. Saying "pierogies" is like saying "cakeses.")

[Pan]

What about "pirogin" as plural?

[ss3pml]

Veselka! Its a 24 hour Ukrainian diner located in the East Village - 9th St & 2nd Ave.
Ive gotten pierogies both times Ive been there, they have some pretty good fillings. they have the traditional fillings as well as a few others.. I especially like the sweet potato pierogies.
Theres also another Ukrainian restuarant right next door that seems a little hidden (Ive never actually eaten there, just seen it) since its within the Ukrainian National Home. I think it might be called the Ukrainian East Village Restaurant. Its a small place and Ive heard they serve all the traditional dishes including pierogies but I cant tell you if its worth your time or not, I have yet to try it.

[kiworan79]

I second Veselka.

[JungMann]

Not the biggest fan of Veselka's pierogis. There is something a little too savory-tasting in Ukrainian sauerkraut for my liking. But just up the block on 2nd are a trifecta of Polish restaurants which look promising.

[kathryn]

Veselka can be good, dependent whatever the "special pierogies of the month" are -- I've had good arugula/goat cheese ones, and fantastic pumpkin ones (last October).

[littleguy]

I LOVE the Veselka Pumpkin Pierogies!

[ballulah]

Teresa on First Ave between 7th and St Mark's makes good pierogi. If I really have a hankering, though, I head out to Greenpoint to Cafe Relax. Ukrainian pierogi are a bit different than the Polish pierogi that are more commonly available. They are smaller and most commonly filled with pork.

If you want to prepare them at home, Whole Foods in Union Square, near the cheese counter and the beer they have a brand that I usually get in Greenpoint. They're made locally and they carry all the varieties, cheese (Ruskie), meat, sauerkraut and potao, plain potato and mushroom. You can boil them, or fry them (if you fry, steam them in the pan just a bit to get them warm through).

[Pan]

My preference at Teresa's is for the mushroom/sauerkraut pierogies. The potato, cheese, and (for a special) spinach ones are also good - the only kind I don't like all that much is meat.

Little Poland, mentioned above, is also alright.

For Ukranian, walk past Veselka and go to Ukranian East Village in the Ukranian National Home. If they have the blueberry varenniki (pierogies) on special, get them!

[kathryn]

I really like the ones at Teresa's, too. For the potato ones, I believe they put in some chicken broth, and that's what makes the filling especially tasting, as my poor vegetarian friend discovered.

[taraxstar]

Teresa's Cheese Pierogies boiled are really good, or the potato ones fried. I also get the Ukranian style pierogies near Brighton Beach off of Stillwill Avenue and Ocean Parkway at a Russian Grocery store and those are my favorite!

[Cheese Boy]

Ballulah, can you post an address for Cafe Relax for us?
Is it an internet cafe or is it a Ukranian Restaurant/ social club? TIA.

[ballulah]

Neither. Cafe Relax is a Polish cafeteria. If the "Chowhound Team" doesn't delete this for being outside of Manhattan, it's on Newell St off of Nassau (it's one block beyond McGuinness). Everything there is good, not just the pierogi. And cheap!

[Cheese Boy]

Much appreciated ballulah. Sounds like delicious fun!

[ohromujici]

My favorite are at Little Poland. The place is REALLY Polish (i.e. your waitress will speak mostly Polish and a little English). Anyway, all of the food is good there if you like Polish food. I like the cheese pierogies but they have other kinds.

200 2nd Ave, New York 10003
Btwn 12th & 13th St

[wleatherette]

i second little poland. they also have good soups. for complete greasy indulgence, i like the fried pierogies at b&h dairy restaurant, also on second avenue (near st. mark's place).

[slcorlis]

I will have to go ahead and third Little Poland. One does not go there for atmosphere, but the food (at least according to a Polish friend) is among the most authentic in the city. The meat pierogies are very good.

[kobetobiko]

Fourth Little Poland. I have almost forgotten this place. Such a hidden gem (in terms of food) in the city. Thanks for bring back the memory. I am going to put it to the underrated restaurants thread.

[davisready]

I agree with Little Poland as well. Odessa's are really good too. Plus, they deliver 24 hours a day.

[piccola]

I get them at Odessa in the EV. But I don't claim they're the best in the city.

[guttergourmet]

I like Odessa's fried pierogie combo-meat, cheese and sauerkraut,If I recall, with sour cream and apple sauce. I miss the old Kiev.

[piccola]

I've never had the meat ones, but the sweet potato ones are fab. And you *know* that's full-fat sour cream.