For the uninitiated: pierogi are a type of dumpling, often called “Polish ravioli,” very popular in Pittsburgh. S&D Polish Deli’s pierogi are the real deal with a soft shell of dough encasing mashed potatoes and cheddar cheese, all topped with butter and onions.

But the city’s immigrant story is still preserved there in the hand-painted signs, vendors, truckloads of produce, and old standbys like Robert Wholey & Co. seafood market (1711 Penn Ave), Mediterranean and Asian grocers Salem’s (2923 Penn Ave) and Lotus Food Co. (1649 Penn Ave), S&D Polish Deli (2204 Penn Ave), and the Pennsylvania Macaroni Company or “Penn Mac” (2010-2012 Penn Ave), where as a teen I made pecorino and prosciutto runs for my family of hungry Italians. You can’t hit the Strip without a stop at the OG Primanti Bros. (46 18th St), renowned since 1930 for its fries-and-slaw sandwiches, first made to keep truckers fed on their southbound routes. My regular order is the Pitts-Burger and Cheese; add a fried egg and that’s a piece of sandwich art.

There are no-frills, traditional spots, like S&D Polish Deli (where you can also shop for all kinds of Polish groceries), and Forgotten Taste, as well as more modern establishments, like Stuff’d Pierogi Bar and Cop Out Pierogies (who offers traditional, sweet and gluten-free versions). There are the umpteen, uncountable dive bars offering plates of pierogies, cementing the humble dumpling’s place in the canon of exceptional beer-friendly foods. Then, there are the hip, new-wave bars and restaurants with pierogies on the menu, like comfy gastropub Butterjoint and the much-lauded vegan Polish cocktail bar, Apteka

Dorota and Slawomir Pyszkowski opened their Strip District market in 2008 as a means to connect Pittsburgh’s Polish community, as well as a broader audience, with food from their homeland. The couple returned to Poland last year and sold the business to Gretchen and Matt McDaniel; the duo plan to continue the Pyszkowksi’s mission to celebrate the cuisine of Poland. In fact, general manager Agnieszka Sornek says that the kitchen’s offerings likely are going to expand over the next few years.

This classic Polish store and deli in the Strip District offers hot pierogies for lunch and dinner, and frozen pierogies to take home with you (they ship nationwide, too). S&D’s pierogies are made with a Polish flour, which they say causes the dough to be soft and stretchy, resulting in pierogies that have “a thin and delicate shell of dough.” They have 15 different types of pierogies, including Mushroom, Kraut, Spinach and classic Potato & Farmers Cheese. S&D Polish Deli (2204 Penn Avenue)

Located in the Strip District, S&D Polish Deli has been providing tasty Polish treats to Saturday-morning strip goers since 2008. Not only does S&D sell imported Polish products, but it also makes homemade foods according to traditional Polish recipes. Pierogies, of course, are on the menu along with red and white borscht (soup made with beets or potatoes), potato dumplings, stuffed cabbage and letcho pepper stew.

S&D Polish Deli has so much more than just pierogies – although their pierogies are darn good. If you’re looking for Polish meats, smoked kilebasy, bacons, kiszka, liver sausage, headcheeses, fresh sausage, hams, krakowska, zywiecka, and more…well, you know where to go. They also offer an online store with shipping and pickup options.

S&D offers 15 different fillings in their pierogies made with Polish flour for a thinner casing than most others. Try the traditional kraut and mushroom or opt for a savory treat with the cherry pierogies. If you're eating at the deli, try one of their platter meals for some haluski and kielbasa to go with the dumplings.

We can’t talk about Polish food in the city without talking about S&D Polish Deli in the Strip District. These dense delicacies are made by hand and look like they came out of a Polish grandparent’s kitchen. All of the traditional varieties are available, including sauerkraut, potato, farmer’s cheese, and mushroom.

S&D Polish Deli is one of the best places to get these doughy delicacies. Choose from over 15 different flavors, ranging from the standard potato and cheese to the more exotic cherry filling. Order them to go to cook for yourself or sit down and enjoy a pierogi platter featuring three different tasty varieties.

S&D Polish Deli is the area’s one and only restaurant dedicated to Polish food. They use a special kind of flour that creates a soft, stretchy dough allowing the finish product to have a delicate shell. In total, they hand-make 15 different pierogies daily from classics to unique flavors.

First off, it’s a mild disgrace that Pittsburgh only has one Polish restaurant, now that the Bloomfield Bridge Tavern is finished. Luckily, those who run S&D don’t see their lack of competition as a reason to get lazy. They’ve got expertly made pierogies in all of the classic varieties.

Pittsburgh is a huge Polish city, so eating some pierogi’s, stuffed cabbage, and Polish style Kielbasy is something you have to enjoy to experience Pittsburgh’s Polish culture. S&D Polish Deli is a store and restaurant where you can find all your Polish and Eastern European food needs.

Since 2008, S&D Polish Deli has provided the Strip District of Pittsburgh’s food scene with quality meats, snacks and Middle Eastern and Polish culinary classics. Guests can purchase refrigerated or warm meals from the friendly and knowledgeable staff at the takeout counter.

I personally just discovered a cute little Polish deli (S&D deli) in the strip district that has a pretty cheap lunch for delicious polish pierogis. OH also if you're in the strip, be sure to check out sushi at Wholeys. You'll be served by Andy and he is just great.

Start at the S&D Polish Deli and work your way toward downtown. If you’re not a borscht fan, you will be before you leave the Polish Deli. I traveled all over Poland and Ukraine, sampling the delicious beet soup in its motherland, so I have a good reference point.

- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (162 reviews)- Detailed ratings: Food (4.5/5), Service (4.0/5), Value (4.5/5), Atmosphere (3.5/5)- Type of cuisine: Quick Bites, Polish- Address: 2204 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15222-4504- Read more on Tripadvisor

They feature traditional Polish potato and cheddar pierogi that’s frozen by the dozen or, for the ultimate host, a full-size pan containing four dozen of the dumplings ready to be refrigerated and reheated at home.

S&D Polish Deli doesn’t flaunt itself with flashy signs or trendy decor, but locals know this modest establishment holds culinary treasures that transport you straight to Eastern Europe with just one bite.

S&D Polish Deli – As a city that prides itself on its pierogi consumption, it should be no surprise that the Strip District has a grocery store completely dedicated to all things Polish.

Find real-deal kielbasa, borscht, haluski noodles, poppy seed rolls, takeout trays of pierogi and imported Polish goods at this specialty market in the Strip District.

S&D Polish Deli, 2204 Penn Ave. — Stocks Polish meats, such as smoked kielbasa, bacons, Kiszka, liver sausage, headcheeses and hams, and prepared foods.

Satisfy your craving for authentic pierogies, in a variety of flavors, at S&D Polish Deli, an unassuming shop in the Strip District since 2008.