I am literally addicted to Polish food. No lie, I used to eat it at least twice a week at the local spot in my town. Unfortunately, it closed up last year due to the owner's declining health and now it's a sports bar. Instead of griping about not being able to get my Polish fix, I decided to Google around to see what I could find when I stumbled upon this place. I will be honest when I say that while the name sounded familiar, I had never heard of it.
Regardless, I decided to head Krakus with my girlfriend after seeing a Tiger's game one weekend. Upon walking in, the one feature I love about this place is the "feel." You feel like you've transported yourself to the mid-1970s. It just feels so cozy and old-fashioned. From previous experiences at these types of places, I know that they usually offer up the best food.
Anyways...I chose to order a plate of potato pancakes for my girlfriend and I to share. I also grabbed myself a pierogi with bacon and some Ukrainian soup. What can I say? I was a hungry guy! The one thing I thought was interesting is that there is one older woman who is around cooking up all the food. And everything is made from scratch. I was in heaven. The Ukrainian soup was amazing, as was the pierogi and potato pancakes.
The only thing I was bummed about is the fact that they take cash only. Regardless, there is parking right near the restaurant, the waitress was friendly, there is live music on Saturdays, and the meal was only around $20 for two people. Not bad at all.
I'll be back to Krakus again soon with some of my Polish friends to try out more of the delicious food that this place has to offer. If you're in Detroit, stop by this place!
My step-mom used to frequent Krakus when she moved to Michigan from Poland - and many new immigrants from Poland enjoy the music/dances held there on weekends...plus they pour a strong cocktail :O)
Krakus is located in a rather sketchy-looking part of The D but there is parking right next to the restaurant where you can safely leave your car, and usually parking right on the street outside.
On to the food!
Great, homey, well-prepared, stick-to-your-ribs Polish fair. Extremely reasonable in price. You'll get friendly, but no-nonsense service from the owners or staff.
My favorites:
Kraut & Mushroom Pierogi with fried onion and bacon. Not mushy or overdone. Get 'em fried for a truely-toothsome supper.
Polish-Plate. A bit of everything, good, thin, homemade gravy. Real potatoes with some chunks, pierogi, Golumpki was well-flavored, satisfying, and big garlicky smoked Polish sausage.
Fried porkchops - had an excellent coating/crust and nicely salty and porky.
I didn't like the beet side-dish at all - so sweet it was nauseating, other side veg was fine - standard boiled frozen veggies with a bit of bacon fat.
Soups were good - I thought the Pickles Soup was a bit too rich (not used to a cream/egg base) but in a small cup it's tasty. Great chicken noodle and hammy pea soup.
All meals come with a bread-basket of rye slices and butter. Definitely recommend having a beer with the food, makes it taste Just Right.
I have finally gotten around to reviewing the delicious food! Â We stopped in on a Friday night while the restaurant was still open and were astounded by the quality and execution of the food. Â The three soups we ordered were served piping hot and were very fresh. Â The tomato dumpling soup was very rich and delicious, as was the dill pickle soup. Â I believe I tasted a bit of celery in the dill pickle, which was a nice, homey touch. Â After the soup course came the entrees: two Polish plates and an order of meat pierogi with onions and bacon. Â The Polish plate was very high quality; it had excellent kielbasa, a delicious potato pierogi, mashed potatoes, stuffed cabbage, etc. Â The food truly tasted like my grandmother made it. Â It is so obvious that these dishes are prepared with the same care as in the finest Polish-American home. Â Now, on to the reason I would give this restaurant more than five stars if I could: the meat pierogi with onions and bacon. Â They were so fresh, crispy, hot and tasty that I could not resist sneaking bites off my daughter's plate. Â If Polish-American cuisine had invented the slider (burger), this would be it, in the most savory way. Â Don't let the neighborhood phase you...and if you want, you can watch your car through the CCTV, but I live around the corner and it's not as scary as some reviews would lead you to believe. Â Give this place a try...it is well worth it and reasonably priced. Â Smacznego!
Review Source:Amazing Polish food at extremely reasonable prices! There's grandmas in babushkas running the kitchen, so you know it's legit. The dill pickle soup was the best I've had, pierogi were top notch, and the Polish Plate dinner was a heaping mountain of tastiness. There are several kinds of Polish beer on offer as well as a full bar. Don't mess with Agatha the waitress or she'll give you major sass. They DO take credit cards now.
Review Source:Other reviews were so great that I had to take my family here one Saturday for an early lunch. Neighborhood and exterior are a bit off-putting, but in we went anyway. Entry sign offers pierogi selection as takeout for $5/dozen, which we took advantage of. Specials board offered tripe soup (unavailable) and a handful of specials.
Stale smoke was our first impression--maybe Krakus hasn't heard about the smoking ban in MI? This definitely tainted our experience.
Agatha was working it, handling all four tables with the calm efficiency that I'm sure she's perfected over the years. Keeping up with the locals in an effortless  patter that spanned weather and current news and bar hours. The decor hasn't changed much in 30 years, and the Christmas decorations were tired. But we weren't here for ambiance, we were here for the food.
The Ukranian beet soup (with several stray kidney beans) was tasty and comforting. Tomato soup had terrific dumplings--slightly gummy and fresh, a nice touch to the rather bland tomato flavor.
The pierogi (cheese and potato) were good, fried in butter and served with sour cream. Nice balance of dough and filling, although the cheese was a bit bland. A forgettable "salad" of cukes and tomatoes came on the side, set atop a leaf of iceberg lettuce.
The Polish platter offers sausage, pierogi, stuffed cabbage in gravy, mashed potatoes and sauerkraut. The sausage was quite good--spicy, with a hint of smoke and a snap to the casing. Grilling would have been a better method to kick it up a bit. The pierogi were bland, and needed the sauerkraut to make them interesting. Same for the stuffed cabbage, covered in regrettable brown gravy. The potatoes were smooth enough to have come from a box, which might have been the case.
Stuffed cabbage has many incarnations, and Krakus' was on the mild side. The meat filling was very bland, and somewhat light--maybe from rice or another grain filler. The cabbage was tasty, thin and richly flavored as cabbage gets when long cooked. A spicy red sauce would have been a welcome change, or a bit more kick in the meat filling.
The sauerkraut was disappointing. Maybe it suffered from overcooking, or maybe it was from a can. But it was limp and too salty and rather forgettable, although I appreciated the saltiness when mixed with the pierogi and stuffed cabbage.
Blintzes came in a variety of flavors--we tried blueberry, apple and cheese. They were quite good--nicely crisped, light crepe. Sweet fillings tasted as though they came out of a can. The mild cheese worked well here, complementing the crispy crepe.
So was it homey comfort food like baba used to make? Only if baba was a poor cook. Go there for the take out pierogi and fry them at home with onions, topped with sour cream and applesauce. Maybe have the sausage with the butter fried beets but avoid the kraut.
Came home to Detroit and took my 87 year old father for lunch. What a way to come home. The food was great, the waitress had a great sense of humor and the place was being home again. Ordered some city chicken to go with my leftover potato pancakes, beware an order will serve 3 people as a great side, and wished I had doubled the order later. My father raved about the pancakes and I loved the CC. Can't wait until my next visit. Krakus will be my first stop. You can't get food like this in Winter Haven, FL.
Review Source:Having a hunger for Polish Food the other evening and thinking of heading to the Polish Village in Hamtramck, I searched Yelp and came upon this find in Detroit just a mile outside of Hamtramck. Â
Our friends and us had a variety of foods.  As the previous poster stated the dill pickle soup is wonderful, I ordered a bowl.  My wife & I both ordered the Polish platter  and a side of potato pancakes.  The food was good and plentiful.  Agatha, our waitress was great and packaged our leftovers which I enjoyed the next day.
If you are hungry for Polish food, please give it try. You won't be sorry but you will be full and at a bargain price
Dill pickle soup here is heavenly. Magic. I could dive in and stay there happily. It has the right texture, flavor combination and is served nicely steaming. Mmmmmm. I should have gotten more to go.
You feel like you are at a family party here, welcomed into this homey and happy place. There will be fatty, starchy foods in plentiful quantities that will either make you nostalgic for your own Polish granny or will make you wish you had ever had one.
The sausage and kraut were delightful, especially with a bit of horseradish, the pierogi was pillowy and perfect, my fave item, cheesylicious and rich. I am a huge fan of the golabki and potato pancakes as well. A real treat is the butter fried beets, I don't see those everywhere and they are as tasty as they sound. Be sure to get some pickles too, it somehow makes everything less heavy in my opinion.
The four of us were quite content with everything. It was a bargain and we left happily stuffed to the gills for not a lot of coin. We will be back.
my sister followed me to the restaurant in her own car. when we pulled in she said "i will not eat here under any circumstance". i politely told her that waiting inside was delicious polish food.
once inside she was still skeptical and was freaked out by the decor.
when the food arrived she shut her mouth, because she was cramming it full of golabki and perogi.i must say, smothering the perogi in bacon and onions is a stroke of genius. i was shoving my hole with sausage and kraut. btw, this is the largest golabki i have ever seen and the unique sauce is delicious. the dill pickle soup might just be the best i have ever had. i just ate at polonia last week and theirs was nothing in comparison. we were all having a lovely time filling ourselves full of polish delicacies. the lomza beer was just the best topper of all.
after reading the other reviews, i wish i had tried the potato pancakes. i have never been the biggest fan, but apparently i must try them.
also, two thumbs up to mariah B for the suggestion. thanks so much.
cash only.
love, juston
Kraku's may have the best polish food in hamtramck - although its just barely outside of hamtramck.
The neighborhood is sketchy - (You know you're in Detroit when you see razor wire) and I'm still disconcerted that the restaurant sign says "witchcraft krakus" - there is no explanation of the title I've seen.
Very seventies styling in the restaurant, but it serves its purpose well. They have a huge bar but I have never seen the bar area in use, just the smaller dining area over by the kitchen and waitress stand. One or two polish beers are always on tap and go along great with whatever you order.
My first experience here, I ordered the dill soup- the waitress told me it was czarnina (as a joke), which i would have been ok with - but the dill soup was great. If you order the Polish plate expect to bring some home, especially with all the sides and soup you'll be eating. Everything they have is extremely tasty- I've had the polish plate, the beef roll and the breaded pork chops. No complaints on either end- and the fried beets and carrots are both great too. The side veggies that come with the pork are a bit bland- they almost definitely come out of a large GFS can - and are soggy and boring. You'll eat them anyway if the waitress gives you crap about it.
If you don't have a gigantic appetitie, consider ordering the half dinners. They will more than fill you up and leave you satisfied.
Although I still prefer Srodek's kielbasa and pierogi, what they serve at kraku's is cooked well and integrates perfectly into the rest of the meal you'll order.
Cash only- but it's worth it to stop at an ATM on the way!
I'm so happy I found Maria's review for Krakus. Â 8 of us found ourselves here after the paczki countdown event today, super hungry after having polka'd so much.
What a lovely restaurant! Â It has a very homey, comfortable, feel inside. Â Among us, we ordered lots of potato pancakes, pierogie, Hungarian pancake with goulash, liver and onions, blintzes, Ukrainian soup, chicken noodle soup, the side salad. Â Also, you can get Zywiec.
Everything was enjoyed by all. Â Everyone was sending pieces from their plate around the table to be shared. The potato pancakes were the best Polish potato pancakes I've ever had. Â Just unbelievably tasty. Â Agatha, the waitress, is hilarious and wonderful. Â
The prices are super reasonable. Â I would definitely return.
CASH ONLY.
Shhhhhhhhhhhh.....don't tell anyone, but Krakus makes better Polish food than most of the well known Food Network & Travel Channel frequented restaurants (that shall not be named) in Hamtramck.
Located on the outskirts of Hamtown in a post-apocalyptic neighborhood near Davison - and yes i'm allowed to say this b/c it's my hood - is Krakus Restaurant.
The restaurant's decor is a time warp into the late 1970s, which has stood the test of time. I remember when the restaurant had a smokey haze upon entering, before the smoking ban took effect, and now that the air has cleared all the kitschy decor is made visible once again.
A couple things you should know about this Polish restaurant:
1. Order the Ukrainian Borscht Soup! Some of the best tasting beet soup around, a close second to my Mom's homemade borscht.
2. Agatha is THE waitress, yes the one and ONLY waitress at the restaurant and she's a no nonsense type of gal with a stoic look & a dry sense of humor.
3. All the food is prepared from scratch by the Babcia who is the chief cook & bottle washer....you may even get a glimpse of her thru the small window between the dining area and kitchen and see her carefully preparing the food.
4. Their potato pancakes & pierogi are scrumptious, handcrafted, deliciousness!
5. The patrons of Krakus are ALL locals, and most of the time (if you live around here or grew up in the area) will run in to a few people you know.
6. There's a secured parking lot next door to the place.
7. On Saturday nights there's a live Polka band that performs in the adjacent dance hall, and of course plenty of vodka vodka vodka...Sto lat!
8. Cash only!
If you've never been to Krakus, make it a point to visit this authentic Polish restaurant!
This restaurant has the best Polish food. Â The chicken soup is outstanding, not too salty and very flavorful. Â The pierogis are very good, some of the best I have had in any restaurants around. Â You can also purchase pierogis to take home at a very reasonable price. Â There is a big menu with all the traditional Polish dishes and several daily specials too. Â The parking lot and street around the restaurant are secure (cameras with display monitored in the restaurant) and the restaurant is very clean and simply appointed.
Review Source:**Disclaimer: This is meant as a light hearted review. Read it with a smile!*
Divorce is tough. It's even tougher when your former in-laws are the owner, the cook and waitress at Krakus. Not only do you lose a husband, you lose the freedom to walk in and savor the best polish food you've ever tasted. More to the point: THE best damn potato pancakes, pierogi, sausage & soup evah. Evah. Of course, my friends are all fans, too, taking every chance to casually mention how they still do Saturday afternoon food runs to see my former in-laws and their amazing food... and send me camera phone pics of their heaping dishes. :D
Everything, and I do mean everything, is from scratch. The meat is smoked in the smokehouse below the venue. The potatoes for the pierogi & mashed spuds are hand peeled daily by the little polish lady upstairs who does not speak English, and helps Alicja in the kitchen prepare everything from her recipes she brought with her from Poland years ago. The potato pancakes are crisp outside, fluffy inside, and just a dream to eat. They even stay that way thru a carry out order from Ham/Det to Clinton Twp--they are made that amazingly.
Stanley is the most suave host you'll meet. On Saturday nights you'll see him crooning with the Polish-music playing musician or dancing with guests. He'll lift a Bacardi up to you served by Agata behind the bar... and yes, there are a LOT of spirits to choose from. If you are looking for a WAY different and throw back to what it would have been like to hit a nightclub in the late 70s, you GOTTA make Krakus a Saturday night stop (the only night the bar side is open).
Freedom gained... but ah, why can't my friends just sneak me a carry out? :)
Krakus is a Polish restaurant located located on J. Campeau, but it's out of Hamtramck, in Detroit. It's quite a hidden gem, and worth a try if you'd like something different outside of the restuarants everyone knows in Hamtramck.
The menu is quite small, compared to other restuarants, but they offer the traditional Polish goods: Pierogies, Potato pancakes, stuffed cabage, pork chops, liver and onion, city chicken, fish, etc. Â Thier potato pancakes are huge, you can easily split one order between 2 or 3 people. Â Pierogies are great, as well.
Their soups are quite good, dill pickle soup is standard, their mushroom soup is creamy, with chunks of wild mushroom mixed in. Â Cabbage soup is more like a Kapusta soup, sour and tart. Â Duck blood soup is a little on the sweet side, almost too sweet for my taste. They also have Tripe soup.
Attached to the Krakus restaurant is their bar, which is a sight to behold. Pink and blue neon lights, with tons of booze. Â Ive only been there for lunch but I wonder what the place is like, at night. Â Also, when I was there, they were advertising Red Bull/Vodka for $3.50. What!?
All in all, Krakus is similar to other Polish restaurants you will find in Hamtramck, but if you'd like something different, check it out!
--Be Careful...they don't take Credit/Cards or Checks. Cash Only!
I give this restaurant four stars only while completely forgiving the neighborhood and the decor. From the outside, you may think that there's no way in hell you'd eat here, and the inside is decorated much like it probably was in the '60s or '70s...like your Polish grandmother's basement rec room.
But to me, that just makes it more charming. If you like Polish food, it's worth a visit. The kitch and vintage factor of these places go up as they become more few and far between. I had the Polish plate and my boyfriend had the meatballs. We agreed both dishes were satisfying and bland in that meat-and-potatoes way that European food sometimes is. We even suspected the mashed potatoes of being instant, but I'm still not sure.
The best part of the Polish plate was the pierogi. The kielbasa was the pink kind, which I like, but it wasn't as good as Polish Village Cafe. The chicken soup was awesome, though! Tons of noodles, and really homemade-tasting. I intend on going back and trying the potato pancakes.
I'd also like to hit it up on a weekend. The bar area was dark and closed off, and there were few customers, which made the whole scene kind of depressing.
My mother just called me to tell me she has a facebook page. Â I don't even have a facebook page. Â She is slowly becoming more tech savvy than I am. Â This scares me. Â She hasn't discovered Yelp yet but I'm sure it's just a matter of time. Â So mom, let me apologize in advance.
My mom is the quintessential Jewish mother. Â She loves to cook but she loves watching her family eat even more. Â Her potato pancakes are out of this world. Â I always thought they were the best. Â My love for food comes from growing up in my mother's kitchen. Â My strong sense of Jewish guilt comes from growing up in my mother's home.
This is why my visit to Krakus leaves me conflicted. Â Their potato pancakes are better than the ones my mom makes. Â It's like eating a flash fried potato cloud. Â I had no idea a potato pancake could taste this good. Â So now I'm riddled with guilt and craving potato pancakes.
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