Eating Out Cheaply in Poland

Milk bars (bar mleczny)

• Cheap, traditional, no-frills cafeterias.
• A bowl of soup + pierogi + compote = 15–30 PLN.
• Pay at the till, take a slip to the counter.
• Warsaw: Prasowy, Bieda, Maciej; Kraków: Tomasza, Gali.

Lunch menus (menu lunchowe)

• Weekdays 11:00–14:00, most restaurants.
• Soup + main, sometimes a drink — 25–45 PLN.
• The cheapest restaurant option in cities.

Food trucks and markets

• Zapiekanka (Kraków Plac Nowy) — ~10–15 PLN.
• Kebab — 12–25 PLN.
• Targ śniadaniowy breakfast markets on weekends.

Pizza and chains

• Local pizzerias: a slice 8–15 PLN.
• Fast food chains (McDonald's, KFC) at local prices.

Supermarket hot counters

• Biedronka, Lidl, Żabka sell hot snacks (parówki, zapiekanka) cheap.

Tips

• Drink tap water (safe in cities); skip overpriced bottled water in restaurants.
• Ask for the lunch menu even after 14:00 — some extend it.
• Student discounts at some milk bars.