Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Bacowka

    4.4 (474 reviews)
    ModeratePolish, Salad, Soup
    Open 11:00 am - 11:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

    Order Bacowka Takeout or Delivery

    Bacowka Photos

    BACOWKA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed
    Good for groups

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Bacowka

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Delicious mixology
    Alex K.

    We love polish food! Everything looked so good online and we're so surprised by the atmosphere here. We came on a Friday to live music and loved that they were open later than other places in the area. The staff were all so nice and welcoming. It feels great to be welcome with a smile! Natalia helped us with hard decisions across such a vast menu. All the options looked so good. After receiving our sampler plate and perogies, we knew we'd have to come back! Only problem is do we order the dish we know is so good or try something else that looks amazing. What a great evening! Thank you for fantastic food and vibes for our evening!

    Polish Plate
    Jessica S.

    Amazing! Beautiful restaurant down to every detail. The design of the restaurant - even the bathroom was one of the most beautiful bathrooms I've seen. I took some coworkers there as they've never had Polish food. But when in Illinois, I feel like it's a must! We found this place because it's one of the few places that opens late. Service was quick and our server was really friendly. Food was absolutely amazing! The four of us all got the Polish Plate. There was so much food that I had to take it back to my hotel. We got the house made fruit punch and it was very fresh - I liked that it wasn't too sweet! Thanks for a wonderful experience!

    Tradycyjny Schabowy - It was huge I could only eat a small portion and took the rest with me to go.
    Joley B.

    I thought long and hard about what Polish restaurant I was going to visit while recently in the Chicago area. I was very pleased with my choice. I came early and was seated in the front area near the door. The woman waiting on me - Agnieszka - was fantastic. She was attentive but not too much, and she was very friendly. The world is small and it turns out that I know someone she's related to - it turned into a fun conversation. I haven't been to Poland for a while, so I was looking for something traditional to bring me back to those days. I ordered Kwasnica (the sauerkraut soup) and it was delicious and served it a beautiful little hanging soup bowl. For my main I went with the Kotlet Schabowy, because what is more Polish than that? The surowki accompaniments were delicious, and I took my left overs with me. That was probably the biggest kotlet I've ever seen in my life, and it immediately reminded me of my downstairs neighbor when I lived in warsaw who would pound kotlets every sunday morning!!! My only regret is that I didn't try the oscypek! The restaurant is beautifully decorated, and I felt really comfortable here. Even with my poor Polish language skills I felt at home here.

    Pork cutlet, dinner sample and the side salads. All flavorful and delicious!
    Debbie G.

    I like the old decor better. I understand the remodel is trendy but the old decor was neat. I felt like I was in the mountains of Europe. Plus the furniture was way more comfortable. The menus are black and you cannot read them without your phone flashlight. The food is always consistently delicious. Maybe add something new to the menu or specials other than soup? I went on a Tuesday night and the restaurant and bar were empty. The bar always had a constant crowd. I hope the restaurant is still successful. I'll be back because the food is so good, I just wish things hadn't changed. Maybe I am old...ha!

    Placek po wgiersku / Hungarian goulash w/pancake
    Neal H.

    Bacowka is a cool place. Well decorated and hosted by pleasant people. The food was pretty good; meat and potatoes. My wife ordered the Hungarian goulash with a potato pancake and I ordered sizzling pork shoulder with fries. Let me be clear, the food was delicious. We finished everything......eventually ;-) The portions are pretty big, especially the pork shoulder dish. I wish I had a shoulder (or shoulders?) as big as the pig that helped me with my nutrient intake. There were three-ish well seasoned pork steaks. The goulash dish was a reasonably/"regular" sized dish. We took some home, but that is normally expected. In the end, we're going to go back and I recommend that you check them out. Just understand that you will leave with a full belly and lunch for the next day. The only, subtle issue is that the pork shoulder was not sizzling when it arrived. Peace!

    Mark G.

    The atmosphere is great. The food is great. The service is not good. I was ignored for 20 minutes before my order was taken. Plus all of the "regulars" received bread where I was treated as a unworthy. The place is fine. The servers tend to ignore you unless you speak Polish Not fun

    They charge $12 for the regular potato pancakes in person
    Nick P.

    This was our first time coming here. I'm no stranger to Polish food, so I wanted to try this place out since they close a lot later than other places. We went this past Saturday, it was someone's party so it was pretty busy. I'm not sure if they're normally that busy on the weekends. We got seated right away. You can tell it's authentic since most of the customers plus the staff speak Polish. Pro tip: if there is a language barrier, pull out that smart phone you always have and look up Google translate. Should not take that long to pull up. It did take some time for us to receive our food because of the ongoing event, that's understandable. They're also severely understaffed, so they didn't expect a multitude of people coming in after 8 pm. For every table that left, it seemed like 5 groups of people would come. We ordered a variety of food to try. Food portions were very generous and huge. Prices were very fair for what you get, but what they charge in person is different from their website prices. Be aware of that. Service was lacking, we had to keep flagging down someone. However, it could be different if it was on another day. FYI, there is a 12% sales tax in addition to the 3% surcharge. Not sure why the sales tax is so high since I've eaten at other restaurants in that area. Unfortunately, I'll have to give them a 3 out of 5 due to the price disparities (in person from online), high sales tax, and mediocre service. -hot tea 3 - good tea and they offer you a nice selection of different flavors. However, $5 is so much for just hot water and a tea packet. -red borscht with dumplings 5 - traditional Polish soup. It's red beet soup with meat dumplings. Dumplings were very good. Meat wasn't dry. -potato pancakes 5 - crispy and moist. Good flavor. -pork hock 5 - ridiculously tender and juicy. Cuts off the bone easily. Star of the show. -pork shoulder 3.5 - it was sizzling when I received it but the meat seemed to be kind of tough. I usually like my meat tender but this one seemed a little overcooked. I just took some screen shots to show their official website prices are $2 cheaper than what they charge in person.

    Zapiekanka
    Kristena R.

    Really nice restaurant- the interior and decor is absolutely beautiful. Service was awesome! The food was really good and prices are very reasonable. We came on Wednesday and we had no idea until we got the check that they do crazy Wednesdays and it's $10 off the bill! I ordered pierogis and they were decent! Especially liked the potato and cheese ones. The Zapiekanka was delicious! We plan on returning!

    Pork cutlet with eggs, cheese, and mushrooms and potatoes.
    Joshua M.

    This place is in the middle of a large Polish community and you could tell with all the people speaking Eastern European languages. I felt like the only person who only spoke English there. I was alone and I sat at the bar, they have two there and the look very nice. The decor in this place is pretty nice for a restaurant in a strip mall. The food was really good too. Besides the pork cutlet, I also tried the smalec that is served with bread and pickles (if this is your first dance with authentic Polish cuisine, like me let me tell you about it). It translates as lard because it is pork fat and spices that is traditionally spread on a crusty bread and often topped with pickles. It was very good, I'd definitely look for that again. In addition to my main course, they brought the three traditional salads. Cole slaw, beets, and cucumber salad. All of them were good, but I liked the cucumbers the best. Some smalec, rye bread, and cucumber salad; now that would be a good meal, I might be ready to summer in Warsaw now.

    Susan S.

    Had the polish plate.Polish stuffed cabbage potato pancake, sauerkraut kraut meat periogi. I think the mashed potatoes were instant . Could have used butter and seasoning . I really like the stuffed cabbage in a wonderful creamy tomato sauce . I tried someone mushroom gravy it was good. I haven't been in a while and they remodeled. Very spacious. When we came it wasn't busy there was a bit of snow . Mushroom soup was great 10 a bowl . They had fresh bread with a meat spread for a comp starter . We had a big group and asked for separate checks. For some reason they couldn't do that. Our server was not that great. I've been here before fourth time service was excellent. We had a big group and I guess our group asked for separate checks but she said we can't because we made a reservation . Not sure why since we were the only ones in the dining room for the two hours we were there. The food was good but did come out tepid. I carried out the steak tartar and liver and onions for my son. The tartar was delicious I had a bite. Liver was pretty good. Did I mention how good the bread is . The restaurant remodel is a mix of this n that nice and clean. The other people that worked there were very friendly . The menu looked amazing I'll have to come back and try the duck and pork cutlet. The crepes looked incredible . The restaurant had pony chairs and a taxidermy dream which they no longer have. I like the new decor

    The best Polish restaurant in the City! The food? Incredible. The pierogi were soft, flavorful, and clearly handmade--especially the potato and cheese ones, which melted in my mouth. The bigos (hunter's stew) was hearty and rich, with just the right balance of tang and spice. What really stood out, though, was the attention to detail. Every dish was beautifully presented, and you could tell the chefs take real pride in their craft. The portions were really BIG, and everything tasted fresh and well prepared. The staff were incredibly friendly, warm, and attentive--something that made the entire dining experience even more memorable. You can tell they truly care about their guests.

    Lily S.

    The perfect place to get traditional polish food, the service is very attentive. The environment feels classy, and the staff is very well mannered always.

    Cucumber/pickle soup special

    See all

    1 month ago

    Najlpesze polskie jedzenie w okolicy. Agnieszka bardzo miła sympatyczna i pomocna. polecam

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Mark N.
    9
    220
    211

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    16 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    16 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Sylwia P.

    Sylwia P.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Sylwia P.

    Sylwia P.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Susan S.
    304
    1031
    6249

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Food C.
    1
    43
    22

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jan M.
    0
    35
    45

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lilah J.
    0
    124
    241

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kate K.
    176
    10
    6

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Authentic Polish food with excellent service from Ilona. We will definitely be back and enjoyed our meals. Huge portions!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of C R.
    0
    261
    42

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lori F.
    4
    62
    17

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Sylwia P.

    Sylwia P.

    SCAM !!!

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 12

    Bacowka Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Bacowka

    Do they take reservations?

    Hello Yes, we are taking reservations;)

    Do they offer catering?

    Yes

    View All 3 Questions

    You might also consider

    Qulinarnia - Polish sampler includes goulash

    Qulinarnia

    (294 reviews)

    $$

    Definitely a must try restaurant for anyone who lives nearby. This spot gets everything right-…read moreplenty of parking, fast and friendly service, elegant decor, big portions, and delicious food! Admittedly, I'm not an expert in Polish cuisine, but this restaurant has greatly increased my interest in trying more! Outside of the food, there's many things to like about this restaurant. The decor is nice and modern, and the presentation of the food is good for this price point. The restaurant is comfortable and good for sitting in for a while, with service that is extremely friendly. This reminds me of another excellent restaurant A Thousand Tales, where we are treated like family on every visit - even on the first visit there. It's very clear how proud the staff is of the restaurant and the food they serve, and they take the effort to explain the food to the diner. Fortunately, the food is just as good as it looks. I've been looking for food that's prepared from scratch with high quality ingredients that aren't reliant on heavy sauces, and this really hit the mark. Everything from the bread with herbs and butter to the delicious soups was prepared fresh and tasty. Similarly, with the chips and salsa - it was clear that this was homemade with a great flavor to match. Unsurprisingly, the pastor tacos were full of flavor, with a generous amount of slightly fatty pork, fresh cilantro, and onions served with fresh lime. These were some of the best tacos I've had in recent memory from any restaurant, and I am definitely a huge fan of the preparation (the sweetness of the pineapple juice perfectly matched the bold mix of spices). The sampler platter was also a great option which gave a mix of many different items. The goulash was delicious with the mushrooms and sautee pepper. The pierogis had the perfect firmness and delicious filling. The sausage was flavorful and juicy. The potato pancakes could've been a bit more crisp but the flavor was still good. The breaded pork schnitzel was tasty and had just the right amount of breading. Overall, definitely recommend going to this spot for anything that's looking for high quality made from scratch food at a reasonable price point. The great service and elegant interior is a bonus on top of a very enjoyable and filling meal.

    Love this place!…read more Food and service always consistantly good. Good menu selections. Well worth the price. Friendly staff.

    Staropolska Restaurant - Veal Liver with Sauteed Onions

    Staropolska Restaurant

    (665 reviews)

    $$

    Avondale

    Ahead of a few rounds at Revolution Brewery, we stopped by this amazing Polish restaurant. The…read moreatmosphere was a classic Eastern European vibe - dark wood, a well stocked bar, plenty of seating and a separate room for larger parties. The food here was excellent. I had the cheese and potato pierogis which were delicious and covered with grilled onions and bacon. My wife got the stuffed cabbage and enjoy equally. Service was top notch. We ate at the bar and were served promptly and with lots of courtesy.

    Absolutely five stars! We stopped by here for a quick lunch after getting some groceries from the…read morePolish supermarket. The food was incredibly authentic and comforting from start to finish. We had the cheese and potato pierogis, Żurek, pickle soup, and the goulash with potato pancakes, and every single dish was packed full of rich, homemade flavor. The goulash and potato pancakes were so good that we honestly wished they gave more than two. Our waitress was amazing as well, super friendly, attentive, and genuinely helpful. The portions were generous, everything arrived hot and fresh, and you can tell a lot of care goes into every recipe. It felt like a true home cooked meal in the best way. We left full, happy, and we're already planning our next visit. Also side note - We've also ordered their food through DoorDash, and it was just as delicious. Some places lose quality when delivered, but not this one, everything still tasted fresh, authentic, and full of flavor.

    U Gazdy - great polish beer

    U Gazdy

    (304 reviews)

    $$

    The food is delicious! We ordered the potato cheese pierogis for our appetizer. You get 10 pierogis…read moreso it was plenty for us to share. They were perfect and better than other places I've tried. I ordered the white borsch soup and the stuffed cabbage with mushroom sauce and dumplings. This was my first time trying both of these dishes. The white borsch soup was so savory and I really enjoyed the combination of sausage and hard boiled eggs with the broth. The stuffed cabbage was better than I expected, and that mushroom sauce was so good! My friend ordered it with the tomato sauce and that was very good as well. The dumplings were amazing paired with the sauce. The atmosphere is super cozy! I loved it. It feels like you're in a log cabin. Great ambiance. Service was excellent. Our waitress was very sweet and friendly. Overall, I would highly recommend this polish restaurant! It's been located in the same spot in Wood Dale as long as I can remember, and I'm glad I finally gave it a try. It's also conveniently located right next door to Helen's Deli, a polish deli that sells polish sausages, breads, spreads, and other polish foods. Great experience!

    I don't know that much about Polish food... but I do know this: U Gazdy serves some of the best…read moreI've ever had, and I'm married into a Polish family, so I don't say that lightly. The place itself is incredibly inviting, all warm wood, cozy corners, very Bavarian lodge meets Polish soul. It was busy and buzzing, and Polish was the main language at nearly every table... except ours, which was happily bilingual in Spanish. It felt authentic, lively, and full of life. The service was friendly, fun, and patient, guiding us through the menu with enthusiasm. We shared a feast: pelmeni, Highlander-style pork shank, kiszka, Real Man's Meatballs (Męskie Klopsiki), and other delicious goodness that made the table groan (in the best way). Every dish was hearty, flavorful, and deeply satisfying. It was also my birthday, and just when I thought the night couldn't get better, the staff surprised me with dessert and sang Happy Birthday in Polish. I loved it. Big smiles, full heart. The food was so good that I stayed behind afterward to order takeout for my husband, stuffed cabbage (gołąbki) and pierogi, because sharing joy is important... and leftovers are sacred. U Gazdy isn't just a meal, it's an experience. One that fills your belly, warms your spirit, and makes you want to come back hungry.

    Bacowka - polish - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...