Czerw's Polish Kielbasa

Man, you all sure know how to make a newcomer to Philly feel welcome! The atmosphere, service, and food are all top-notch. Their decor was also amazing - it brought me right back to my Babcia’s home, right down to John Paul II’s “A Message of Peace” vinyl. Dziękuję! I will be back!

This place lives up to the hype. Its a staple in the community. The guy working behind the counter knew all the customers in line. He was beyond nice to me. I got a pack of perogies which were amazing. And I got a cheese dog. He even threw in a slim jim for free which was a massive beef stick. Prices were good for such a high quality product. I'll never get frozen perogies again. Im going to czerw's instead.

You cannot get more authentic Polish-American in the greater Philadelphia area than Czerw's. John and his family proudly serve the local and wider community for almost a century now and he carries on the traditions and quality service and food that his grandfather began. From the famous freshly smoked kielbasa, to the award winning pierogis, to the highly snackable kabanasa (all-natural Polish slim-jim - think German land Jäger if you're familiar with that (smoked hunter's sausage)), to stocking other Polish goodies and treats - Czerw's represents the best of small, family run businesses and what a classic, no pretentious butcher shop and market should look, feel, and taste like. Heck - the highest compliment I can give is guess where the best Italian Sausage in Philadelphia is - not in the Italian Market or some other hidden store in South Philly, not in Reading Terminal Market, but here - in the heart of Polish Philadelphia. Sto Lat! to John and his entire staff!

Walked in, never been here not from Philly. The owner was legit the best, kind and professional! Seems like something most don’t do anymore. I think I’ll be back once a week for the next 20 or 30 years to continue getting bacon! We also got the Philly cheesesteak pirogies and I think I almost cried from having such a delightful tasting experience

I've been coming here since I was a teenager. It never disappoints. The people are wonderful and the kielbasa is the best. Perogies from here, along with the kielbasa, are now a part of our holiday traditions. If you're not familiar, this is not a dining establishment, this is essentially a meat counter.

The best pierogies I have ever eaten! I bought the potato and cheese for family and friends and we all loved them. I also bought the smoked kielbasa and enjoyed every bite. This store is take out only. The employee who waited on me was friendly and helpful.

Kielbasa review only: As a Polish kid raised on kielbasa I tried their regular kielbasa. It was good, a bit heavy in the marjoram spice so it was hard to taste any meat flavor. Also the casing is a bit chewy and not easy to remove so if you prefer to remove the casing before eating you will struggle. I think this place sets the baseline for what people should expect when having authentic kielbasa but explore the variations to find what you like. The people there are super nice, friendly and will chat with you. We went 30 minutes before close and everything was sold out so go early if you want to get all their various kielbasa.

If you haven't been here before this is a must to get there. My dad and I used to go around every Christmas and Easter to grab some fresh kielbasa, cheese babka and of course pierogies. This visit was different my father has just recently passed and we wanted to honor him by serving his favorite dish at the services. My husband and I went in and ordered all of his favorites. The gentlemen at the counter was amazing and compassionate throughout the entire process even asking my father's name and wishing him a good send off even though the phone was ringing off the hook. You don't get personal service like that at many places. Here you are never a number and I highly recommend everyone supporting this business not only for their amazing selection of delicious foods, but for an amazing family run business in our community ❤️

Salt of the earth owners/workers who just want their customers to be happy and keep coming back! Cash or Venmo only. Best garlic kielbasa we've ever tasted. Many different pierogi varieties in stock at all times. Babka, mustards, sauerkraut, etc. Parking is EXTREMELY limited. If you're trying to get an order before a holiday, trust me, order in advance or you'll be standing in line for hours! Worth it, but...

This place is amazing. The meat is absolutely delicious--keilbasa, bacon cheddar burgers, bacon, hot dogs! The pierogi come in varieties like loaded potato, cheesesteak. The best part is that the owners make you feel welcome. John never lets you leave without an extra treat thrown in and one for the dog!

HIGHLY recommend! Amazing food and just the friendliest people happy to greet you. Mike knew we were first timers and talked to us about everything. Super neat/fun experience. Will definitely return each time we're h

Indulged in the most authentic Polish treats - Kabasa and pierogies galore! Tip: Arrive early during the holidays; the line wraps the building, but it's worth the wait for the freshness and flavor. A taste of Poland right in the heart of Philly Pro Tip: have them slice up their version of pork roll for you to take home and make breakfast sandwiches!!

Amazing food! I love kielbasa that is authentic and pirogies that I am used to enjoying!

This is literally the best bacon I've ever had in my life. I bought 5 lbs of smoked kielbasa and 3 lbs of bacon to take up the mountains with my family. We all ate the kielbasa together for dinner. But the bacon was the star. My son got a pound, my dad got a pound and I got a pound for my house. We all have been raving about the bacon. I just woke up this morning hoping I can fit it into my schedule to get more bacon before my other son starts school this week so he can have a great breakfast to start high school with.

Homemade pierogis are out of this world. Especially the cheddar, bacon and potato. Everything is amazing.

Finally found a new authentic place to get my Polish delicacies. Absolutely love it please don't go anywhere.

After years of hearing about this place, I finally stood in line here for my taste about a week ago. Yes, the kielbasa is everything that everyone says it is. I've been cooking it in chili, with eggs, on a roll with mustard, and every time it's been perfect. And the mustard... they sell the Pilsudski local brand and I'm in love with it. I may go back just to get that. I also got a hold of a loaf of babka that is decadent, and the kabanosa was perfect to snack on while driving back to Delco. It will be worth the drive again and again.

Friendly folks, great food, & excellent customer service! For an authentic Philadelphia Polish Experience this is the perfect place!

Food was absolutely delicious and moderately priced. The service was amazing and the staff was very friendly. I was impressed by the wide variety of food available for sale for the consumer.

The smoked and fresh kielbasa were delicious. The perogie was even better.The prices were reasonable .

tl;dr the kielbasa and pierogis are both delicious crowd-pleasers, but be prepared for a wait, even bright and early Czerw's Kielbasy is the oldest kielbasa butchery in Philadelphia. Polish immigrant Jan Crerw originally opened the shop in Port Richmond as "Philadelphia Provisions" back in 1938, and Czerw's has remained a family-owned-and-operated business ever since. The main draw is (unsurprisingly) the kielbasa, hand-made from pork butt and smoked over fruit woods in Czerw's old-fashioned brick ovens. The pierogis are another fan-favorite, hand-filled daily with stuffing varieties ranging from traditional potato to the more adventurous Philly cheesesteak. Czerw's has been featured on everything from the Philly news to Bizarre Foods, and it continues to boast a loyal clientele and long waits, particularly around the holidays. Oustide, a red-and-white sign hangs above the unassuming garage and single-storied brick building, and additional logos (including a self-proclaimed "World's Best Kielbasy") are painted directly onto the walls. Enter through a heavy, stainless steel door to find a cramped room loaded to the brim with character. Harsh fluorescent lights shine from the low, scarlet ceiling. The walls are heavily decorated with Czerw's-related posters, photographs, apparel, and more. The deli counter -- warmly top-lit and filled with more meats than I can count -- stretches all the way back along the left side of the room. Shelves on the right are lined with condiments, from fresh sauerkraut to Polish pastries. The back corner hosts two sliding-door fridges stocked with countless trays of pierogis. Chatter is respectfully quiet, and oldies tunes play in the background. My partner and I arrived just after opening on a Saturday, and the line was already stretching out the door. Everyone ahead of us was loaded up on pierogis, bread loaves, and other accouterments. The line moved at a leisurely pace, as folks picked out pounds upon pounds of sausage. After about 15 minutes, it was our turn. We ordered a half-pound each of several different varieties (which ended up weighing in at closer to three-quarters pound each), and service was otherwise friendly and helpful. The prices weren't displayed, but the sausage ran for around $8 per pound, while the pierogis were $14 per package, cash only. In all, we spent just over $30. The next day, we heated up our kielbasa over the grill. All varieties sported an intensely garlicky flavor and crispy skin. Our favorites were the ooey gooey "Popper" Kielbasa (stuffed with jalapenos and cheddar) and the extra-juicy Fresh Kielbasa. The Loaded Potato Pierogis were no slouch either, sporting a rich, cheesy flavor outdoing even the most dolled-up baked spud. Our portion was the perfect size among our group of 6, and everyone was left with bellies full and hearts content. While I couldn't be convinced to brave a multi-hour queue for Czerw's around the holidays, the experience was well-worth the early-morning trek to Port Richmond.

The best old school spot In Philly for all things amazing. it's a meatastic journey for of kielbasa, pierogies and more. John behind the counter is a such great representation of the place and everything thing there is homemade and great don't sleep on the hot pickles there excellent but then Kabasa and pierogies how to start a show among with the Kabanossa

The quality of the amazingly delicious foods made at Czerw's only comes second to the quality of amazing human beings working there and running it. This Philadelphia institution is a landmark that should be on everyone's to do list when visiting the area. This morning I was a first time customer. Going forward I'll be a long time customer. Czerw's is the benchmark of excellence in Polish cuisine! 5 stars is not enough!

Amazing food!!!! Cheesesteak pierogies and the best chicken Italiano sausage. A must stop for polish food.

Anyway you try and look at this place - you understand that you can ONLY give it 5 stars. Is the history there? Yes - it is been a staple in Philadelphia for over 80 years! Is the service good? Above and beyond - friendly staff, always very helpful, and they care about the community. What's up with the kielbasy? AMAZING - they have a great variety of options, from smoked, to garlic, to jalapeno popper. They get creative, and the quality is always there. Is it only sausage? Nope - great spot to snag some homemade pierogies, or any other traditional polish fixings like sauerkraut or spicy mustard. Are you breaking the bank? Not even close - the place is beyond fair on pricing LIke literally, I can't think of one bad thing to say or experience I have had at Czerw's. To give you an idea of the loyalty people have for this place, I stood in line for an hour a couple of days before new years to get some pork and sauerkraut (didn't mind the wait because I knew to expect that.) I got there at 7:45, they open at 8:00, and there was already a line (keep in mind this is due to COVID and they were limiting the amount of people in the shop at once.) The guy in front of me drove all the way down from West Chester, PA to get this stuff - it is that good, and he's been eating it since his grandparents were getting it. Just an awesome place all around!

this should be the most cherished producer in Philly! Their kielbasa is incredible, second to none. The pirogies are absolutely bliss. Today im snacking on some delicious snacking sausage, that's filled with cheese. 20 seconds in the microwave and im in heaven! :) Plus, perhaps the nicest people to shop with, and support!

The best Pierogis I've ever had. I purchased them frozen and prepared at home. They were spectacular!! They have several options with a variety of fillings. I bought a package of Pierogis and bun for some kielbasa I had already purchased from somewhere else. That was my biggest regret. I wish I had bought everything from this place. Everything in their shop looked amazing. I highly recommend. They also were selling a kielbasa burger that I wanted in my life immediately, but they were sold out. Go now. You won't regret. Actually you would regret because I'm writing this at 7:30pm on a Saturday and they are closed. But definitely go during their operating hours and you will be extremely impressed by how delicious their products are.

Traditional Polish food. Basic setup. I didn't try their famous kielbasa. That's for another time. Called ahead of time to check if they had any Pierogies left. "Yes. First come, first serve". Fair enough. Limit 2 dozen per person. Good. No hogging. They were down to 4 packages. All 4 were Philly Cheesesteak. Def not my fav. But I know who would enjoy. Lady behind the counter was wonderful. Cheerful, helpful. Everything you would hope for in a small business. The Pierogies were cooked at home and were GOOD. I had half of one. Enough to know it's very good. I'll be back after I place an advanced order. BTW: One customer at shop at a time. Covid smart.

The kielbasa is the best and the service is even better. I live in Jersey and make it a point to stop in a couple times a year

The hype is real! Favorites: Cajun Kielbasa, sauerkraut pierogis Arrive early (15-30 min) before opening around the holidays. Other time of the year , I usually stop in around 10-11am and there's usually still a good selection of meats and pierogis and no line. Bring lots of cash!

The food is authentic and tastes excellent. The Kielbasa is made and smoked at the shop. Excellent progres as well lots of other treats.

Food was amazing - best pierogis I've had since my grandmother passed in 1997. They were so generous - they threw in a free babka and slim Jim's. I'm definitely going back!!

All who like kielbasa and pierogi will appreciate this place. The food is great and the owners are friendly and gracious. I stopped in on a visit from California and got some smoked kielbasa, kabanosa, and potato-cheddar pierogi for cooking at the AirBandB.

Pronounced "tschev". Bring lots of cash and patience, people line up for their meats and they sure don't hurry filling orders behind the counter. I definitely recommend coming early in the day if you want smoked bacon. Sausage is $7-8 per pound, it makes me a little nuts that there are no prices on anything in the store. I'm a big fan of their bigos, a sauerkraut sausage & bacon stew pronounced something like bigosh. She who must be obeyed was a big fan of the pierogies, $14 for a package. Also sells mustard, cheese babka, poppyseed babka and rye bread from a Polish bakery.

This was definitely an experience to try out. I knew that there was going to be a line, especially with Easter around the corner. Holy Thursday, open at 7am and I pulled onto Tilton St at 7:05. There were already about 30 + people in line. Of course no parking left on that road, so I parked about 3 streets over ( 3 short blocks) and joined the line. Slowest moving line possibly on earth. I had imagined what the inside looked like, curious how many people fit in there. I did catch a glimpse of the backroom, racks upon racks on kielbasa hanging out. So inside, incredibly small. Only two people at the counter, but fast & efficient. I assumed the guy was the owner, both very friendly. Lots of regulars were in line with me, as they walked in and were greeted by name, which I love. BEST cheese babka ever (just sell, not made here) . BEST fresh kielbasa (handmade) . Pierogies, I got the potato & cheese, which got rave reviews. I did pick up one dozen of the cheesesteaks pierogies, but put those in the freezer for a later day. Very, very good smoked kielbasa. Total time waited in line, hour & half. Cash only.

Richard Kedanis Amazing! Kielbasa is handmade and smoked the old-fashioned way. Freshly made with great ingredients. The best.

One word: Delicious! John is always so pleasant and friendly. I highly recommend this place.

Best service and polish meats anywhere around by far Highly recommended I have many favorites in this store. The Kabasa is excellent. I also love the spicy and cheesy Kabanosa !!!!

This is an incredibly late review, but I just wanted to write here that the kielbasa is absolutely amazing, and the owner is super friendly and generous. If you ever want to impress at a BBQ or just treat yourself, pay this place a visit. I sampled a few different kielbasa, including jalapeño-cheddar and classic smoked kielbasa. Honestly the classic was the best for my tastes - I found that it highlighted the nuanced and delicious depth of flavors coming from their smoking process.

Expensive but tasty... Had $6 garlic kielbasa and $14 pierogi (loaded) with bacon cheddar potato... kielbasa was good but I have had better... Pierogi heavy on the cheddar not balanced Wouldn't say it's worth standing in line for but if you are around this part of the city check it out

Oh my lord! My wife and I took a ride to get some their kielbasa. We were not disappointed. So delicious and smoky, along with their off the charts perogies. Mrs T's who? Highly recommend.

Absolutely amazing. Deserves 10 stars. We came in late in the day (1:20 pm) and almost everything was sold out. So we got a free sample (like 6") of the house made slim jim! Came home with the most amazing smoked kielbasa and he gave us a free pack of frozen cheesesteak pirogies (because he was sold out - these were a set aside for someone picking up next week and he said he'd just make more for that order). If you've never had cheesesteak pirogies, you're missing out on life. He recommended calling in your order ahead of time.

Fabulous! I've been going to another place for years. Only recently did I try Czerw's. What a difference. I love it. My new go to place. I bought a couple of pounds for company. I cut it in circles, made a spicy honey mustard glaze and it was devoured in minutes. I should have bought 5 lbs!!!!!

love the extra garlic smoked!! luckily I have a co-worker who lives close by. next time crab pierogi

Very good and appetizing hand made products with excellent flavor profiles. My highest respect to their recipes and menu.

So awesome. I just had the cheddar bacon burger. I am a hamburger aficionado. And this was the best I ever had. The bottom line is run to this place don't walk.

Arrived there at noon on Saturday and almost everything was sold out. I was lucky to get smoked kielbasa, cheeseteak pierogies, and potato cheddar pierogies. The owner was really kind to give me free slim jim. The pierogies are amazing. Not frozen, ready to be fried. Cash only. Make sure to arrive early or call ahead

Down a tiny street in Port Richmond is a kielbasy store in what looks like a garage. They've been around for at least 75 years, and it's where my grandmother and her family would get Polish provisions years ago. (By the way, it's pronounced sort of like "chev's".) So I took my mom there to get some food for a party, and we were impressed by the selection. If you know your Polish meats and don't see something, ask. They might just have it. They've got pierogi with traditional fillings as well as creative ones like Philly cheesesteak (their most popular, they told us) and buffalo chicken. The bacon cheddar pierogies are made with their homemade bacon. We picked up kielbasy, sauerkraut from a big barrel, pierogi, hot dogs, and something called 'bacon cheddar burgers.' Even if you think you don't like kielbasy, you might become a convert once you try the fresh made stuff here.

The best kielbasa ever! My family has been going here since they opened!! Never disappoints!

Best kielbasa in the city. Pictured is their jalapeño popper kielbasa, which made an amazing sandwich. Plenty of other options as well as they have a great selection of pierogis, pickles, condiments, etc. Combine that with attentive and friendly service and you have a true Philadelphia gem. Whether it's their regular or specialty, every item in the store is delicious. If you are in the city and want kielbasa, this is the store you have to go to.

What could I say about this place that hasn't already been said? Everything is authentic and traditional. Extremely friendly people running it. This place is an institution in Philadelphia just as much as Terminis or the Reading Terminal. The owner gave me a dozen free pierogies just because I told him how much I liked them. That's crazy. Try going anywhere and getting free anything! I've attached some pictures of the pierogies and bratwurst I cooked from Czerw's. Best ever.

Easy 5 star decision. Stopped by over the weekend after reading all the great things people were saying, and they are all true. Great customer service, great price, and AWESOME food. I got the smoked keilbasa, cajun keilbasa, polish slim jims, babka and sauerkraut. The smoked keilbasa was the best I've had in PA. The cajun was a great twist and I will grab a bit of this whenever I stop in. The trip is worth it just for the babka- it's that good (warm it up in the oven with butter). If you are in the area and like polish food (or you're not sure if you like polish food), stop in! Don't be afraid to ask questions about the selection- the staff is extremely helpful.

This place is spot on! Have been going here for lotta years and everything they have is just so damn yummy. Every time I go there I want to buy everything. Can not say enough great things about Czerw's!

Fun experience. Highly recommended. The owner makes the trip worth it even if you don't buy a thing. No pressure, just gracious explanations for all your questions.

The Mecca for Polish kielbasy and pierogis in Philly is to be found in a totally non-descript building on a little side street in Port Richmond. This is the culinary oasis of Czerw's. Make no mistake about the quality here - it is extremely high .... from the quality of the meats or dough used in various preparations to the use of on-site brick ovens where kielbasy and kabanosa are smoked from the burning of apple and cherry wood. The grandson of the founder is often present and greeting customers in a friendly and gracious manner. I recently stopped by to pick up some cheesesteak pierogis for a special occasion but also left with some smoked kielbasy and a snack of kabanosa. Everything was delicious as usual. Oh and just remember if you wind up purchasing a lot of goodies - it's cash only.

I sent a Facebook message to the business last week asking for information on pierogi selection and pricing. The website has some pierogi listed followed by...and many more. No prices are listed. The response I got was to call the store during business hours. I finally had the chance to call today. Whoever answered the phone needs some customer service training ASAP. I didn't appreciate being barked at. When he answered, I replied that I'd like to place an order for pick up. The guy was rude yelling that I had to pick a date for pick up. I tried to find out when was the earliest that I can pick up and he just kept saying with COVID I need you to pick a date. I got it...but could you at least answer my question. I said how is Monday? He again barked.. hold on and put me on hold. As I sat there for several minutes, I thought...I have a few questions and if I ask them...this guy is going to lose it. So I made the decision to hang up and order elsewhere. I'm very disappointed because we had Czerw's kielbasi a few years ago when we lived closer and it was good and I was looking forward to trying the pierogi. Very sad that this guy is so unpleasant with customers that were planning to spend a decent chunk of change. Additionally, I sent a private message to the Czerw's Facebook page letting them know about the ooor experience I had. They almost immediately viewed it yet never responded. An I'm sorry for your bad experience would have gone a long way. I will never even consider buying anything from your business again and I will strongly encourage others to reconsider patronizing a business that can give a care less about their customers.

John is great he has a large selection to choose from. The the cheese steak pierogi are the best