Polkowickie Zapiekanki — Review by KSIĄŻULO
Polkowice, Poland — Polish Street Food
A MasterChef participant's zapiekanka shop in Polkowice claims to serve Poland's best, but the reviewer found them significantly overpriced at 30-50 PLN with surprisingly little cheese and dry bread. While the sauces are flavorful and variety is interesting, the quality doesn't justify costs double that of superior Limanowa zapiekanki, leaving the reviewer disappointed despite some positive local testimonials.
What was great: Crispy exterior on some items, sauce options (jalapeño and aioli were flavorful), unlimited sauce choice
What could improve: Extremely insufficient cheese despite high prices, dry bread, dried-out ham, mushrooms overshadow other ingredients, overpriced compared to Limanowa zapiekanki which cost half the price, portions appear smaller with less cheese than gas station zapiekanki, overly complicated premium items that don't justify the cost
The Dishes
The reviewer sampled multiple zapiekanki varieties throughout the visit. The Student version with mushrooms, cheese, and ham came with a choice of three sauces including sun-dried tomato, jalapeño, and aioli. The Classic version featured mushrooms and cheese with similar sauce options. More premium offerings included the Shredded Pork Carpaccio with Argentine sauce, cucumber, and habanero oil at 45 PLN, and an Asian variation with grilled chicken, julienned vegetables, marinated carrots, sesame, and chives. Each zapiekanka appeared generous in size but notably undersupplied with cheese, with ingredients like mushrooms and meat dominating the cross-sections.
The Experience
The establishment operates as a casual takeout spot on 3 Maja Street. The owner, Piotr Hermanowski from MasterChef, actively promotes the business on social media with polished presentation videos. Staff provided sauce options at ordering, and sauces appeared unlimited for customization. However, the reviewer noted no receipt was initially provided and had to specifically request one. The atmosphere was straightforward street food casual, with locals offering mixed opinions when interviewed.
Value & Pricing
Pricing proved to be the major point of contention. The Student version cost 24 PLN in-house or 27 PLN for takeout, while the Classic was similarly priced. Premium options ranged from 45-50 PLN with takeout surcharges of 3 PLN. Student discounts offered 4 PLN off for those with ID. The reviewer emphasized repeatedly that these prices were nearly double comparable zapiekanki from Limanowa (14-16 PLN) and significantly more expensive than gas station versions, despite appearing to contain less cheese.
30 zloty. Terribly expensive. Overall this feels like a rip-off for me.The reviewer questioned what justified such premium pricing beyond the MasterChef association.
Notable Moments
When interviewing local residents, opinions divided sharply. One local woman stated the zapiekanki didn't taste good to her or her boyfriend, though others praised them enthusiastically.
Zajebiste, zajebiste. Petarda.The reviewer conducted informal street polling throughout the visit, finding that divided opinions contradicted the marketing claim of being Poland's best. A particularly frustrating moment came when examining the Classic zapiekanka, where the visible lack of cheese prompted the reviewer to film it as evidence.
Look at this. You come and you're looking for cheese. You see cheese? Very little. Forty zloty for a zapiekanka and you can barely see cheese.
The Verdict
The reviewer concluded these are overpriced, underwhelming zapiekanki that don't justify their cost despite some appealing sauce options and interesting flavor combinations. While locals had differing opinions and the sauces were genuinely good, particularly the jalapeño option, the insufficient cheese content and dry bread were consistent problems across all varieties tested. The more elaborate premium items seemed unnecessarily complicated for what should be simple, quality street food. The reviewer suggested that even gas station zapiekanki offered better cheese-to-price ratios and would not return, instead recommending the superior Limanowa zapiekanki or exploring alternative spots like the nearby Tosteria. Best for those who prioritize chef celebrity status over actual food quality.