Polka Restaurant

"Remember that never-ending motivational book series moms were into in the ’90’s, Chicken Noodle Soup For The Soul? We’d like to submit licensing for a new series: Polish Home Cooking For The Soul. Maybe the title doesn’t roll off the tongue as well as the original, but if any publishers (or people in need of some serious soul-curing) are looking for conclusive evidence, we’ll direct you right to Polka Polish. Situated in the Eastside neighborhood of Glassell Park, Polka Polish is the homiest home cooking you can find. The tiny strip mall restaurant has been around for decades and walking inside feels like walking into your great-grandmother’s house who definitely has money hiding under every mattress. There are scattered trinkets on the shelves, large pictures of people doing the polka, and a really impressive wood-carved eagle looking over the whole place. It’s as eccentric and weird, but entirely welcoming all at the same time. photo credit: Philip Guerette As for the menu, it’s pretty straightforward - mainly dominated by meats you like (steak, pork loin, chicken, or sausage) that come with grilled vegetables and mashed potatoes that’ll speak to you on a spiritual level. But if you know one thing about traditional Polish cuisine, you know it starts and ends with the pierogi. And the little dumpling from the gods is delicious here. The move is the platter - six pierogis and you get to choose the fillings for each one. The best thing on the menu though ? That’s the bigos - a dense “hunter’s stew” mixed with beef, kielbasa, and a whole bunch of sauerkraut thrown in. We’re not the hunting types, but if this is kind of food they eat, we’ll see everybody at the campfire. There’ll definitely come a point when you realize you’re pretty much eating the same five ingredients in different variations, followed immediately by a bigger realization that you don’t give a sh*t. Everything at Polka is so hearty and flavorful and the kind of food you can’t get often in LA, you simply don’t ever want it to end. This might not be a place you get in your car and drive across the city for, but if you’re in the area or just need some home cooking to rejuvenate your blackened soul, Polka is waiting with open arms. Your move, chicken noodle. Food Rundown photo credit: Philip Guerette Pierogi Platter Six pierogis, all the flavor combinations you could want. For us, the traditional potato and cheese filling still takes the cake, but even the more modern options (like jalapeno) are still worth trying. And if you think six dumplings doesn’t sound like much food, just order it and see for yourself. Bigos Aka the “hunter’s stew,” this guy is probably our favorite thing on the menu. Served on a plate, it’s also not a stew as much as it is a beautiful pile of meat cooked in sauerkraut. It’s simple, hearty, and an absolute must-order. photo credit: Philip Guerette Kielbasa Platter Polka has no shortage of meat and vegetable plates, but our move is always the kielbasa. It’s sweet, spicy, and cooked till it has that ideal crunch. Nalesniki Yes, Polish food involves crepes, and yes, they’re wonderful. Filled with sour cherries and cheese, this is some much-needed sweetness at the end of a very hearty endeavor." - Brant Cox

"Polka Polish is one of those places we don’t tell many friends about. We’ve been going for years by ourselves and want to continue eating in your pajamas in solitude. The spot in Glassell Park makes excellent Polish classics across the board, but your boss asked you twice this week “Where’s your happy version at?” so you’re here for one reason: pierogi. One of the great gifts to humankind, these little dumplings come stuffed with everything from sauerkraut to bacon to jalapeños, and you’re going to want all of them." - brant cox

"It started raining overnight and now your bones are hurting. The good news is one of the world’s most well-known superfoods, the pierogi, is ready for you. And while there’s a decent number of spots around town serving these glorious babies, our move is always Polka Polish. This family-run restaurant in Glassell Park has been a neighborhood staple for years and we’re thankful for that, because those cheese and potato pierogies are everything we want on a stormy day. " - Brant Cox

"When everything in life seems to be falling apart, there are very few places we’d rather be than Polka Polish. This family-run Polish restaurant in Glassell Park has some of our favorite comfort food in the city—kielbasa, meat-filled stews, and gigantic platters of pierogis. It’s rich, hearty, and everything your dark heart could want on a solo midweek lunch or dinner run." - brant cox

"Your British accent slipped into an Australian accent, and then on the way out, the casting director asked if you were intentionally doing an impression of John Travolta in Hairspray. Time for some pierogis at Polka Polish. One of god’s most trusted superfoods, these stuffed dumplings are everything you need when you realize $800 worth of acting classes didn’t pay off. Not only does Polka Polish make our favorite pierogis in town, the quiet dining room is the ideal place to wallow and contemplate if you should just become a John Travolta impersonator." - brant cox