{"id":17364,"date":"2020-12-21T17:30:00","date_gmt":"2020-12-21T16:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wildeast.blog\/milk-bar-poland\/"},"modified":"2023-10-31T07:56:23","modified_gmt":"2023-10-31T06:56:23","slug":"milk-bars-poland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wildeast.blog\/en\/milk-bars-poland\/","title":{"rendered":"Milk bars in Poland \u2013 How to eat for under $3 in a bar mleczny"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The milk bar is an institution in Poland. Here everyone can get a cheap meal. Often a lunch costs less than $3 and there is a huge selection. How the Polish milk bar cstarted and how you can still eat there super cheap as a foreigner, we explain to you in this article.\u00a0Smacznego!<\/p>\n\n

Milk bar Poland – What is it?<\/h2>\n\n

A milk bar in Poland is a kind of canteen where lunch is served at a low price. Self-service restaurants originally served only non-alcoholic and often even only vegetarian food. Today this is different and in most milk bars in Poland you can buy meat dishes and in many also beer. <\/p>\n\n

\"Milk
The Bar Mleczny is an institution in Poland. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

Milk bars in Poland – History<\/h2>\n\n

Much has changed in Poland in recent years. When I was there for the first time, it must have been around 1997, everything still looked gray. People drove Polski Fiat, didn’t speak foreign languages, walked around in cheap clothes and drank a lot of vodka. But Poland has changed. Today it is lively, many people speak English or German, in the evening people go to chic pubs and drink cocktails or craft beer. And Western car brands have pushed the Polish Fiat and the Czech Skodas off the roads. One thing, however, has not changed: the milk bars <\/strong>– in Polish Bar mleczny.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Not a child of communism<\/h3>\n\n

Contrary to what is often assumed, milk bars have been around in Poland for much longer. The first milk bar was opened in Warsaw<\/a> on Nowy \u015awiat in 1896. At that time, a farmer sold mainly agricultural, vegetarian products there, including milk. Hence the name milk bar. After the First World War, to the Second Polish Republic, milk bars already gained great popularity and allowed ordinary people to have a cheap meal.<\/p>\n\n

However, the Polish communists took up this idea of a meatless and cheap diet<\/strong> for the population and opened many milk bars nationwide, and already existing ones were nationalized. In the 1980s, the system was even to be expanded, but the plans were not realized due to the state of emergency, lack of space and food.<\/p>\n\n

\"Milk
The facilities in Polish milk bars, like this one at Mis milk bar in Wroclaw, are still rather plain today.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

Fewer milk bars with more choice and still cheap<\/h2>\n\n

Nevertheless, the Polish communists made them much more popular. The Polish state subsidizes the stores to this day, even though their number has drastically decreased since the end of communism in Poland. But there are still some, and people still share this place like they used to. Professor and construction worker, student and pensioner sit at the tables and eat good Polish food that tastes like at home. The interior is still plain today. A few simple tables and chairs. In the window a few green plants. On the wall a blackboard with the dishes. Next to it a cash register and the often grumpy cashier and behind it the counter with the dishes.<\/p>\n\n

\"Milk<\/a>
The menu from Mis milk bar in Wroclaw: if there is a price behind the dishes, you can order the dish.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

How to order in a milk bar<\/h2>\n\n

There is in each case a board with the offered dishes. If there is a price behind the dish, you can order the meal<\/strong>. If there is no price, the dish is not available today. Just write down your desired dishes. Here below you will find the most important dishes in Polish. The cashier will then add everything up. Usually you pay hardly more than 10 or 12 zloty (2.50 to 3 euros) for a large meal with drink.<\/strong> Now you get a piece of paper with the dishes. Then you take a tray and cutlery next to the food counter. There you hand the cook behind the counter the note and wait until the dish is ready.<\/p>\n\n

Milk bar Poland \u2013 Where to take a seat<\/h2>\n\n

After a few seconds you have your food. The food is usually prepared in large quantities and kept warm. If you also ordered a drink, take a bottle from the refrigerator. Then you can find a place. If no table is free, it is common that you just sit next to someone at a random table.<\/strong> I usually sat down next to younger people at the table. If you feel like talking, it\u2019s not uncommon to do that. But if you just want to eat, that’s okay too. When you’re done, take the dirty dishes to the dish tray or the cleaning window. If you are not sure, simply watch what other people are doing.<\/p>\n\n

\"milk<\/a>
Especially the food in the milk bars is very authentic. Polish food is simply delicious. Even vegetarians can find plenty dishes in the milk bars.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

Try typical Polish dishes in a Polish milk bar<\/h2>\n\n

I personally love cabbage rolls, in Polish they are called go\u0142\u0105bki<\/strong>. Also you must try Pierogi<\/strong>. These are dumplings with various fillings. For starters, try Barszcz<\/strong>, a beetroot soup that you may know from Ukrainian cuisine. Many people also find Bigos, a stew with sauerkraut, white cabbage and sausage<\/strong> really tasty. \nOn the other hand, desserts from Poland are rather unknown. I personally like desserts with poppy seeds, which is why I found Makowiec<\/strong> quite delicious. But you can try various since most things are cheap!<\/p>\n\n

Soups<\/h3>\n\n