Niles Polish Deli

Two words. BACON ROLL. So so good. The ladies behind the counter have a bit of a «hurry up» attitude, but the stuff that is produced behind this meat counter is worth it. I will go back anytime I’m in the area just for the bacon roll, and will try some other new stuff too.

If you are not Polish, they are so rude. Every person that works there is VERY unfriendly. Sad, but not one person! I have been many times, because, unfortunately, the food is good. I wish there was somewhere else I could spend my money.

Was looking for kielbasa and found it. Freaking awesome. First glance at the meat counter was awe inspiring. Living on the West coast it’s been long since I’ve been presented with such opportunity. Nice selection of other polish foods as well. Stocked up on Zurek (3 different kinds) and others items including Polish candy and beer. This will become a regular stop when in town again.

best place in Chicago area for Kielbasa (Polish sausage). everything here is made from scratch and simply delicious. and you can’t beat the prices, anywhere. be sure to check out the homemade soups and the amazing selection of sausages and cured meats. one of my absolute favorite hidden gems!

I come here all the time to buy the soups and fresh bread. Sometimes I buy a dinner for my mom :) I usually pick up pickle soup (so good please try) mushroom soup (yummy) and if I’m lucky tomato :) I am polish & I prefer shopping here more then any other polish deli

I am not Polish whatsoever, but I do come here all the time to buy good Polish soup. They are ridiculously cheap and ridiculously yummy. I recommend the zupa ogorkowa (check my spelling, lol) aka pickle soup. I admit I sometime get weird looks because of my non-​Polish-​ness but that doesn’t stop me from trying out some good Polish meats and soups!

Not a fan. I’ve tried this place maybe four times, in the past two years. I like to support local businesses and this one is walking distance from my house.
But it’s disappointing. There is a good selection at the deli, and basic deli meats/​cheeses are what I’ve tried, but #1: it’s overpriced. I realized that for what I paid for ½ lb. of swiss cheese here, I could pay the same or less at Jewel, Dominick’s and definitely at a different ethnic grocery store like Produce World.
I saw very little produce to speak of (another reason for me to go to Produce World, Shop & Save, Jerry’s, etc.) and the limited selection of basic grocery items they do have are also quite overpriced.
And while I appreciate that this deli is targeted to the Polish community, in all the times I’ve come here, I’ve gotten the distinct impression I am unwelcome (reason #2). I’ve not received any greetings, any smiles (even when I first smile at them) or any thank yous for shopping here.
Yeah, you can keep your unfriendly employees and overpriced goods. I’ll go elsewhere.

I would add another star if it was bigger, but the deli alone is definitely in the 4-​star range. In the past decade, you may have noticed that the near-​NW suburbs have been getting a steady influx of Polish-​American residents (myself included) buying up homes around Niles and Park Ridge. It was especially noticeable on this year’s Constitution Day, May 3^rd, when it seemed there were homes on every block adorned with the red and white flags on their porches.
Well, when Jewel or other big grocers don’t carry many Polish specialties or overcharge for them, it is places like Niles Polish Deli that meet the need and thrive in a niche market. From the moment you walk in, if you are blond-​haired and blue eyed, expect people to talk to you in Polish at the deli, the checkout or even as you pass other shoppers in the narrow aisles. Now I have an OK mastery of conversational Polish, so I do fine, but I warn non-​Polish speakers to be ready for some hardcore Polish immersion when you walk through the door.
Niles Polish Deli has a nice bakery section of various fancy, whole grain breads from other Polish bakeries in Chicago, and a pretty good variety of powdered soup mixes imported from Poland. My favorite is Winiary Borowik soup, which is derived from the rich-​tasting boletus mushrooms. Add some dried boletus chunks to the mix and you got yourself a meal.
The basic grocery and fresh produce is minimal, overpriced, and not the reason to come here. The real reason is for the deli that packs a lot of variety for a tiny shop. They got various sausages, hams, cheeses and Polish meatloafs to choose from. There’s always a line, but typically you’ll have 3 or 4 people working the deli counter so it moves along nicely. This place would hold its own farther east on Milwaukee Avenue in the heart of Chicago’s Jackowo neighborhood.
I love their real smoked sausages for grilling, which have a better texture and quality than the corrosive-​tasting «liquid smoked» sausages you find in vacuum-​packed bunches in other stores. The checkout area has a pretty big Polish magazine rack. Across from it, you also have a small liquor section with the essential Polish beers and other imported drinks.
I usually get my Polish stuff at Shop-​N-​Save, but this place is good for the occasional trip when I’m in the area.