Fat Thursday is one of the most anticipated Polish culinary holidays — a day when you can indulge in as many pączki as your heart desires without guilt. For the Polish community in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, it’s a special occasion to visit Polish grocery stores, bakeries, and delis, which every year prepare hundreds — and sometimes thousands — of pączki with traditional rose, custard, blueberry, or advocaat fillings.
Where to look for the best pączki? The PolishPages.com directory is a trusted source of information about Polish businesses in America. Here are the stores and bakeries that certainly won’t disappoint on Fat Thursday:
New Jersey:
Piast Meats and Provisions (Garfield / Passaic, NJ) — a legendary Polish bakery and butcher shop that prepares pączki every year according to traditional recipes. It’s a place where entire families return generation after generation.
Tomi Bakery (Passaic, NJ) — a bakery and patisserie where pączki taste like they’re straight from a Polish confectionery. In addition to classic flavors, it’s worth asking about seasonal surprises.
Taste of Smakosz – Store and Restaurant (Clifton / Garfield, NJ) — this is not just a store, but also a restaurant. In addition to pączki for Fat Thursday, it tempts daily with a wide selection of Polish dishes and products.
Orzelek Polish Deli (Netcong, NJ) — a Polish deli with catering and a rich food offering. An ideal place for those looking for pączki in Morris County.
Heart of Europe Polish Deli (East Brunswick, NJ) — as the name suggests, the heart of Europe beats strongly here, especially on Fat Thursday.
Dariusz Polish Deli (Toms River, NJ) — Polish deli on the Jersey Shore. A great option for the Polish community in southern New Jersey.
New York:
Syrena Market (Maspeth, NY) — one of the most recognizable Polish stores in Queens. Pączki from Syrena are a hit every Fat Thursday.
Cafe Riviera (Brooklyn, NY) — a cafe and patisserie that combines Polish tradition with modernity. An ideal place to sit down for coffee with a pączek.
Ranczo Polish Deli (Ozone Park, NY) — a Polish deli serving homemade flavors. On Fat Thursday, a queue here is a guarantee of quality!
Sam-Społem Family (Ridgewood, NY) — a store with a long tradition, offering a wide range of Polish products, including pączki for Fat Thursday.
Polish Deli Mahopac (Mahopac, NY) — a Polish deli north of the city. Great news for the Polish community in Putnam County.
Beata Deli (Valley Stream, NY) — a small but atmospheric Polish store on Long Island, where pączki disappear from the shelves in a flash.
Pennsylvania:
Dymski Pierogies, LLC (Brodheadsville, PA) — known primarily for pierogies, but during the Fat Thursday season, they also tempt with Polish specialties.
Krakus Deli Polish Specialties (Mount Pocono, PA) — a Polish store in the heart of the Poconos, supplying the Polish community with the best bread, pączki, and babkas imported directly from bakeries in New York and New Jersey. In addition to sweets for Fat Thursday, Krakus offers a rich selection of cold cuts, products from Poland, and package shipping to the country.
Tip for Fat Thursday: Don’t wait until the last minute! Many stores accept orders in advance — call or write ahead to ensure your favorite pączki will be waiting. You can find the profiles of all listed companies in the PolishPages.com directory, where you can check current phone numbers, addresses, and opening hours. Enjoy!
