February 17 isn’t just the last day of Mardi Gras, it’s also Paczki Day in Chicago—a time to indulge in the city’s favorite Polish treat!
Named after the doughnut-like pastries stuffed with different flavored filling, Paczki Day marks the last hurrah before the start of the Lenten season.
The holiday has been a Windy City tradition since the early 20th century, introduced by our city’s Polish population.
You can find paczkis at just about every bakery in Chicago this Fat Tuesday, but we’ve rounded up a few of our favorite places to start:
1. Alliance Bakery
Alliance Bakery in Wicker Park is a time-honored destination for delicious paczki this holiday.
This year’s menu includes inventive flavors like rose and apple cinnamon. You can place your order online beforehand as they’re offering both pickup and delivery. Address: 1736 W Division St.
2. Roeser’s Bakery
Unsure of what Paczki flavor to pick? At Roeser’s Bakeryin Humboldt Park you can choose from more than a dozen different flavors!
Sample fresh fruit varieties like cherry and pineapple, or opt for indulgent cream flavors like caramel or chocolate custard.
📍Address: 3216 W. North Ave. Chicago, IL 60647
3. Weber’s Bakery
Weber’s, one of Chicago’s oldest family-owned bakeries, draws lines out the door each year for its beloved paczki.
The bakery offers a long list of creative and classic flavors like custard with chocolate topping, raspberry jelly, and strawberries + whipped cream.
For a boozy treat, try one of Weber’s drunken paczki in three flavor combos.
4. Schlegl’s Bakery
If you’re up for a drive just outside the city, Schlegl’s Bakery in Lincolnwood is well worth the trip this Paczki Day!
Schlegl’s offers a long list of paczki flavors, from blueberry jam to Bavarian cream. Whatever your preference, the bakery has the perfect paczki for you!
📍Address: 3915 W Touhy Ave., Lincolnwood
5. Central Continental Bakery
Central Continental Bakery in Mount Prospect is a paczki paradise just outside Chicago! The bakery is whipping up huge batches of paczki in dozens of different flavors.
Choose from traditional flavors like sweet cream cheese and strawberry, or opt for a gourmet flavor like banana custard or birthday cake.
Additionally, Central Continental is offering a special St. Paddy’s day paczki featuring festive green mint cream and chocolate chips.
5. Kolatek’s Bakery & Deli
They sell a variety of both traditional and adventurous flavors like rum raisin, caramel bacon, hot chili chocolate, and limoncello!
📍Address: 2445 N. Harlem Ave.
6. Delightful Pastries
Delightful pastries sells paczkis year-round in an assortment of regular and gourmet flavors, including everything from chocolate to boozy fillings! Make sure you have your order in before February 17 because they’re sure to sell out!
📍Address:
7. Bennison’s Bakery
Bennison’s is an Evanston staple since 1938, serving up delightful packed paczki’s just outside of the city. They’re available for walk-in orders or online 24-hour advance orders to ensure a box of the fabulous baked goods.
📍Address: 1000 Davis St. Evanston
8. Bittersweet Pastry Shop
Bittersweet Pastry Shop in Lakeview is packing the paczki this February 17, offering the pastries in boxes of six, with three varieties: Chocolate Cream, Vanilla Cream and Raspberry.
Pre-order yours here.
📍Address: 1114 W Belmont Ave.
9. Stan’s Donuts
Stan’s Donuts is your one-stop shop this Fat Tuesday for delicious Paczki. The popular chain is offering the Polish pastries in five delectable flavors:
- Cannoli
- Raspberry
- Pastry Cream
- Chocolate Pastry Cream
- Strawberry
📍Address: Various locations
9. Jarosch Bakery
Jarosch Bakery is celebrating Pączki season by offering its classic Polish pączki at its new location in Elk Grove Village, both in-store and via pre-order. These traditional yeast-raised donuts are made using time-honored recipes and are known for their generous filling-to-dough ratio.
📍Address: 111 E Higgins Rd, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007
10. Daisy’s Po-Boy and Tavern
Inspired by the food, music, and vibrant spirit of New Orleans, Daisy’s Po-Boy and Tavern is celebrating the Mardi Gras season with festive flavors and live music in Hyde Park.
Under the direction of Erick Williams, Daisy’s is featuring King Cakes crafted by Virtue pastry chef Becky Pendola. These petite Bundt-style King Cakes are available in cinnamon and cream cheese flavors, with some containing the traditional baby figurine. When a guest finds the baby, Daisy’s donates a full meal to a family in need in their honor.
📍Address: 5215 S Harper Ave, Chicago, IL 60615