U Babci is a cute little Polish Bistro located 1/3 of a mile from the 5 Fwy in Lake Forest. The food is made fresh daily and is very authentic! If you are new to Polish cuisine, the staff is very friendly and knowledgeable. I recently tried the stuffed potato dumplings which were deliciously exquisite And filling! This place is reasonably priced where you can have a real Polish dining experience!

Mark C.

Couple doors down from my barber, got to support Grabbed a beer and a dessert for my son. Will be by to try some food, looks like an awesome spot. I've already told alot of people about this spot and have been meaning to come by.

Leah C.

This is one of my new fav places to eat!!!!! As someone who does not eat meat or dairy, I was so happy to see so many things on the menu that fit within those bounds. We got the mushroom sauerkraut pierogis, cabbage rolls (they have pork and beef inside of them) with mushroom sauce instead of tomato, potato dumplings, beet soup, and salad sampler. For dessert, we split a plum donut. We also requested a flyer to take pictures of and send to friends and family! The food is made fresh, with love, and so so well! Looking forward to coming back!

Thomas L.

U babci is a quaint and welcoming little restaurant which a selection of authentic polish food and a large drink menu with many options that I've never heard of before. I'm not very familiar with polish food, but based on other reviews as well as comparing the food against google images; the restaurant does appear to serve authentic Polish food. The pictures in the menu accurately reflect what gets served. The Potato Pierogis are an easy recommendation, I'd say hands down my favorite item. The waitress said we could split the order and recommended doing potato along with another flavor. Ordered the meat option and it had an interesting texture, similar to pork floss. It was tasty, but think I'll try a different flavor next time. We also ordered the cabbage rolls, hunter's stew, and the Potato Pancakes with Beef Goulash. The cabbage rolls come with a mild tomato sauce and the inner mixture is a mildly spiced meat mixture. It tasted lean and healthy with a nice balance between the cabbage, stuffing and sauce. The hunter's stew had an assortment of meats and sauerkraut. The flavors were subtle and mild. The Hungarian Beef Goulash had a thick coating of shredded cheese and was far richer than the other dishes we had. The potatoe pancake had a nice char to it and went well with the Goulash. Got the poppy seed cake for dessert, although it's closer to a bread with a sweet layer to it.

Howie C.

I felt like I was eating at someone's home! U Babci is a warm restaurant that serves amazing Polish comfort food. I have not been to Poland, but I can imagine eat these dishes with family in the middle of winter in a house with warm lighting, warm food, lively banter and heart warming drinks. Dishes made with care. Dishes made with love. Oranzada (Red) - This is a sparkling soda, tastes like a raspberry Italian soda. Had moderate fizz and is sweet but not too sweet. Kompot - Homemade apple juice made of boiled apples and other fruit juices and spices (like a touch of cinnamon and cloves). It looks like like an unfiltered apple cider but is much less sweet than any apple juice you'd get in a store. It's more like a mulled home brew without the alcohol. It's so well balanced. It was sweet with enough apple flavor for me to know it's apple, but not so sweet that could I couldn't have another glass or two or three if I was at a house party. When I got to the bottom of the glass there were two apple wedges that had been slow cooked and were tender and edible. A wonderful drink that they make in house. Highly recommended. Potato Pancakes ($10, $1 extra for each topping/sauce) - This is a meal in itself you only one have one person eating as it's served with five large and thick pan fried potato patties. Generous portions on this one, great for sharing with 3-5 people. Kinda like hash browns, kind of like pancakes, but made of all potato. These were browned on the outside and broke apart easily when cutting. They felt light in my mouth, which is a good thing (as opposed to being heavy and oily). We had them with sour cream and apple sauce, but you can add bacon bits, cheese, caramelized onions, powdered sugar and sweet cream. Combo Plate ($28) - It's huge! You get some of almost everything... 3 Pierogi (you can pick all different if you want... Potato Cheese, Meat, Spinach, Sauerkraut Mushroom), 1 Cabbage Roll, a massive scoop of Hunter's Stew (meat and sauerkraut stew), and a grilled or boiled Kielbasa Sausage (with or without hot dog bun). Just the pierogi themselves are pretty filling. The cabbage roll is a boiled cabbage wrap of minced meat, onions and rice. The filling is light and a joy to eat. The Hunter's Stew adds some sauerkraut heft to the place and it's filled with different meat pieces inside, including sausage. The Kielbasa Sausage on Hot Dog Bun is a meal itself... A thick 7" sausage, grilled and topped with grilled sauerkraut. I added Gulden's Spicy Brown Mustard on top and it was perfect. The servers were friendly and attentive. The restaurant looks homely and welcoming but modern and clean at the same time. There were so many other things that I didn't get to try... Sour Rye Soup, Red Borscht, Polish Pizza, Polish Donut (with Plum, Raspberry, Nutella or Pistachio), the Blintzes. Loved my meal here. Every bite felt like it was made from a handwritten recipe book that had been passed down for generations. I can't wait to come back!

Bryan C.

I wasn't even planning to stop here, I was just heading to an eyeglass appointment when I noticed the word Babci on a sign. My Babci passed about 2 1/2 years ago, around the same time my mom, my kids' Babi, also passed, so it immediately caught my attention. I had to check it out, wondering if it might be Polish food, and I'm so glad I did. Walking in felt special right away, photos of Poland, flags, and a warm welcoming atmosphere that felt truly authentic. The two girls working there were so kind, and the woman cooking reminded me so much of my own grandmother. It made the whole experience even more meaningful. I ordered the potato and cheese pierogi and the gołąbki, the cabbage rolls, and both were absolutely incredible. It was actually my first time having Polish food since losing my Babci and my mom, and I didn't expect it to hit me the way it did. The flavors brought back so many memories, it was emotional in the best way. This place is something special. The food, the people, the feeling, you can tell it all comes from the heart. I don't live in California anymore, but I'm in SoCal often, and this will definitely be a regular stop for me. I can't recommend it enough.

Dave B.

Really looking forward to some good local Polish food after our trip to Krakow, and found U Babci. We have had their food at the Polish festival in Yorba Linda and it is always good. I ended up ordering the combo plate. It was all very good. Our server was friendly and nice to talk to. I'm sure we'll be back.

Audrey A.

My friends and I love trying new foods and were super excited to find U Babci to get some Polish food! It's a cute and cozy restaurant with friendly service. We didn't take a close at our receipt until after we left but I noticed they charged us twice for 2 items but my friend called them right away and they issued a refund without any trouble. No harm no foul! We got a bunch of things to share: Stuffed Cabbage Rolls, Potato & Cheese Pierogis, Potato Pancakes, Borscht, Polish Sausage, and the Blintz. We also got a two wines to try and I loved the blackberry wine but my friend's wild strawberry wine was very sweet and almost syrupy and we didn't enjoy that one as much. The standout dishes for me were the cabbage rolls, the polish sausage, and the blintz. The cabbage rolls were hearty and warm, the kind of thing you'd love to eat on a rainy day! The polish sausage was snappy and flavorful. Very juicy and satisfying. The blintz was the absolute favorite dish of the night! A rolled crepe with a light and creamy cheese filling, slightly carmelized with sugar on the outside. The jammy cherries on top were perfect and we all agreed we could have each eaten our own order instead of splitting next time. We really enjoyed getting to try all these different foods and had a great experience. I highly recommend you visit if you're interested in trying something new!

Jenny J.

Wow, what a place! Amazing food and drinks. Went with my family tonight and we had potato and cheese pirogi, kielbasa, chicken cutlet, borscht, mashed potatoes, potato pancakes and amazing dessert, including cherry pierogi. If you grew up in Poland or the former USSR, this good will bring tears to your eyes. Bravo, u babci!

Mandy L.

This is a really cute place in an unassuming strip mall with a few of my other favorite restaurants. I've been to this plaza plenty of times but it is easy to miss if you aren't looking for this specifically since it is isn't facing Lake Forest Drive. I think its really cool to have some Polish food here: its not something that is an easy find in this part of Orange County. The menu looks pretty authentic: there are plenty of classic shareable options like the pierogi and placki, and some stews/soup like the goulash and borscht. The decor is really cute, with photos of different cities around Poland, and spacious and cozy enough for a nice homey meal. I think its a little odd to charge extra though for the "condiments" like applesauce or onions, which is $1 extra, so that is probably one area that I would wish change to at least be able to include that when it is such a minor add-on item that usually is expected to come with pierogis. In all, it is a cute find here in Lake Forest and I am happy to have this variety of food so close to home!

Jenn S.

We have been here twice now, and I am so excited that there is Eastern European - specifically Polish - food that's both authentic and fresh available in Lake Forest. I enjoyed the hunters stew - the Polish sausage served with the bun was also delicious but my favorite part of this restaurant has to be the drinks.

Nell C.

European Food has captured my tastes buds! Try something new this week and go to U Babci! This mom and pop owned Polish restaurant is authentic as it comes. The wife still works there and is fit as a fiddle. You will see a picture of her and her husband on the wall from the time they opened the restaurant. There are magnificent pictures of majestic cities within Poland on the wall. Amazing! Service is friendly and everyone who comes in is treated like family. We tried the Cauliflower soup of the day, Golabki Cabbage wrapped rolls, pierogi dumplings, Zestawy Surwek salads and Frytki fries. Everything tasted great! The fries were tasty but made soft and polish ketchup is an acquired taste. It's not Heinz!

Ania K.

Delicious Polish food in Orange County. U Babci translates to "at Grandma's" and true to its name, babcia Teresa, now over 70, is still in the kitchen cooking with all her heart. The owner is an extraordinary woman. She welcomed us as if we'd known each other forever, and her food radiates authenticity. I originally planned to stop in just for pierogi, but we ended up ordering half the menu and left with enough leftovers to relive the experience again at home. So what makes Polish food special? It's born of resourcefulness and tradition. Potatoes, always abundant, are transformed into countless creative dishes. Meat wasn't always plentiful, but when it was, the tougher cuts were stewed for hours until fork tender. Vegetables and herbs play a starring role, ensuring every dish is deeply seasoned. Polish cuisine is comfort food at its finest - rich, soulful, and for me, inseparable from childhood memories. I came to the states at age five, but Polish cooking has always been part of my life. Now, I crave it more than ever, seeking out Polish restaurants wherever I travel. Polish food is hearty, soulful, and steeped in history and tradition. To babcia Teresa, thank you for treating us like family. I'll never forget you.