Pączki Day — also known as Fat Tuesday — is the final day of indulgence before the Lenten season begins.
Pronounced PAWNCH-key, these are not doughnuts. The richer dough is deep fried and stuffed with cream, custard or traditional fillings of rose hip jam or prune. You can also veer off for trendy twists such as Dubai chocolate or mango tajin.
Here are 20 spots across Chicago offering the Polish pastries on Tuesday, Feb. 17. All sell the treats on Pączki Day — but get there early or call and order ahead to be sure you get yours.
Chicago bakeries to get pączki on Pączki Day
- Alliance Bakery & Cafe, 1837 W. Grand Ave., West Town
773-278-0366
Available day of; preorder online by Feb. 16 for pickup at the main location in West Town, 1837 W. Grand Ave.; pickups at 1736 W. Division St. by request only. - Ann’s Bakery, 2158 W. Chicago Ave., Ukrainian Village
773-384-5562
Available day of; call to preorder. - Bennison’s Bakery, 1000 Davis St., Evanston
847-328-9434
Available day of; preorder online. - Daisies, 2375 N. Milwaukee Ave., Logan Square
773-697-9443
Preorder online. - Delightful Pastries, 5927 W. Lawrence Ave., Jefferson Park
773-545-7215
Available day of; for a dozen or more, preorder online. - Forest View Bakery, 6454 N. Milwaukee Ave., Norwood Park
773-775-7740
Available day of; call to preorder. - Gene’s Sausage Shop, 4750 N. Lincoln Ave., Lincoln Square
773-728-7243
Available day of; for more than a dozen, call to preorder. - Ideal Bakery, 1250 Pratt Blvd., Elk Grove Village
773-775-7740
Available day of; call to preorder. - Kasia’s Deli, 2101 W. Chicago Ave., West Town
773-486-7500
Available day of; preorder online. - Kolatek’s Bakery, 2445 N. Harlem Ave., Montclare
773-637-3772
Available day of; for more than two dozen, call to preorder. - Kurowski Sausage Shop, 2976 N. Milwaukee Ave., Avondale
773-645-1692
Available day of; call to preorder. - Laramie Bakery & Deli, 3012 N. Laramie Ave., Belmont Cragin
773-725-4965
Available day of; call to preorder. - Montrose Deli, 6601 W. Irving Park Rd., Dunning
773-725-6123
Available day of; call to preorder. - Montrose Deli, 5411 W. Montrose Ave., Portage Park
773-628-7515
Available day of; call to preorder. - Polish Paczki Cafe, 7210 W. Foster Ave., Norwood Park
708-667-0451
Available day of. - Pticek & Son Bakery, 5523 S. Narragansett Ave., Garfield Ridge
773-585-5500
Available day of; call to preorder by Feb. 12. - Racine Bakery, 6216 S. Archer Ave., Garfield Ridge
773-581-8500
Available day of; call to preorder. - Roanoke Hospitality @ Bandol Brasserie & Raw Bar, 100 W. Monroe St., Loop
Preorder online by Feb. 15. - Roeser’s Bakery, 3216 W. North Ave., Humboldt Park
773-489-6900
Available day of; call to preorder or use Uber Eats. - Weber’s Bakery, 7055 W. Archer Ave., Garfield Ridge
773-586-1234
Available day of; call to preorder.