Spoko — Restaurant in Chicago

Judging by all the positive the reviews, maybe I went to a different restaurant because that Spoko we went to on Armitage failed all the expectations. As a native of Poland, I was excited to try some Polish food in the city but here is what happened: Food: Besides beer made in Poland and Zurek that was actually good, everything else was terrible. Pierogi came cold with some tasteless filling. I know pierogi tends to be a mild dish, but this was meant for a 3yo. We ordered two beef kebabs. Meat came dry with a muddy taste. Polish version of kebab tends to have a lot of sauce. Those had almost none. My son ordered the BBQ, sausage and brisket plate that came missing brisket. Sausage was the cheapest one available at a Polish store. You can save yourself a trip and go to Gene's Sausage for something actually homemade. Cole slaw had a bitter after taste. Decor: This is a restaurant that just theoretically just opened now however tiles are falling from the walls. Walls and ceiling was never painted since it looks like last years water damage is still there. Uncomfortable sitting on benches made of 2"/4"s that were not even sanded. Slapped some signs over old restaurant's logo. Service: Would be nice to actually have someone who knows what Polish food is or at least train them. Someone who will circle back and ask how your food is or if you need anything. Very sad waitress messed up the BBQ, Brisket & sausage order. Proceeded to bring the rest of the food after we ate and have asked for the check. Ownership: Take some pride. Just because you keep opening places doesn't mean you should stop caring about your clients.

I know this is a step away from fast food, but save yourself $100 and go...

I was really excited to try Spoko, a Polish-owned business, especially since their menu promised a taste of my favorite Krakow street foods. Having fond memories of doner kebabs from my travels, I came with high expectations. Unfortunately, the kebab I ordered didn't quite hit the mark. The meat, while decent, lacked the salty, greasy shawarma flavor characteristic of authentic Polish kebabs. I was particularly disappointed that it wasn't the thin strips of meat shaved from a rotating spit, like real shawarma. The tortilla wrap also seemed off, oddly rolled and not the long, thin style I remember, resulting in the first few bites being mostly just bread. While the fries were excellent, I wished they were included inside the wrap for a more genuine street food experience. I'm curious if Spoko is aiming for a healthier, elevated take on Polish street food. If so, it might explain the differences, but it didn't satisfy my craving for a traditional doner. I'm still eager to return and try their zapiekanki, which look promising in photos. However, if you're specifically looking for a true Polish doner kebab with real shawarma, this might not be the place. I genuinely hope this business thrives, and I'm optimistic that their other dishes will live up to my...

Good to have more Polish restaurant options near the east side of Chicago, but Spoko is decent just not mind-blowing as all the other reviews would lead you to believe. I've tried a sampling of items and everything was just fine. Their zapiekanki use Swiss cheese rather than something like Edam, which melts a bit more liquidy than how the cheese should traditionally be firmer. This just makes the whole sandwich not as crispy as how it should be. The beet one was unique but again soggy and soft with way too many greens packed on top. Potato pancakes were odd and not really traditional, even down to the way they were shredded. Not sure why a kotlet is on the menu for street food - maybe because it's served with fries to keep it "street food esque" where it's really more fitting for it to be served with mashed potatoes? Also the cucumber salad ("mizeria") never has the cucumber skins left on.

It was interesting to see some unique menu items but again everything is just average and not really worth 5 stars as most people so generously leave on reviews nowadays. I think sister restaurant Pierogi Kitchen is a better dining experience overall with better atmosphere, the sandwich options here don't really necessitate visiting Spoko over that unless it's due...