Fat Thursday (Tłusty Czwartek) falls on February 12, 2026 - and for Polish community in Southern California, it's the most delicious day of the year! Here's where to get authentic Polish pączki.
WHAT IS FAT THURSDAY?
Tłusty Czwartek (literally "Fat Thursday") is a Polish tradition dating back to the Middle Ages. It's the last Thursday before Lent - the final day to indulge in sweets before 40 days of fasting begins.
In Poland, people consume approximately 100 MILLION pączki on this single day! The average Pole eats 2.5 pączki on Fat Thursday.
The tradition says that anyone who doesn't eat at least one pączek on this day will have bad luck for the entire year!
WHERE TO BUY PĄCZKI IN SOCAL
We found TWO places offering authentic Polish pączki for Fat Thursday 2026:
POLKA DELI (Orange County)
The only Polish deli in Orange County - making pączki since 1995!
• Price: $3.99 each or $38 per dozen
• Fillings: Raspberry, Plum, Sour Cherry, Rose, Vanilla Custard, Lemon, Multi-Fruit
• Sale Dates:
- Thursday 2/12 (order by 2/9)
- Saturday 2/14 (order by 2/11)
- Tuesday 2/17 (order by 2/13)
• Address: 1710 N Tustin St, Orange, CA 92865
• Phone: (714) 941-9460
• Website: polkadeli.com/food/paczki
Note: Dozen must be ordered with the same filling!
THE BEST DONUTS (San Diego & Irvine)
Premium handmade pączki since 1989!
• Price: $7 each or $70 for 12 (buy 10, get 2 FREE!)
• Fillings: Chocolate, Black Currant, Strawberry, Raspberry, Rose, Plum, Blueberry, Bavarian Cream
• Pre-orders: Open until February 10
• Pick-up: February 12 in San Diego or Irvine
• Phone: (619) 675-5151
• Email: sandiego@thebest-donuts.com
These are LARGE pączki - handmade with authentic Polish recipe!
U BABCI POLISH KITCHEN (Lake Forest) 🆕
Authentic Polish home cooking - and pączki for Fat Thursday!
• Fresh, handmade pączki with traditional fillings
• Also serving full Polish menu - pierogi, bigos, kotlet schabowy and more!
• Address: Lake Forest, CA
• Phone: (949) 229-2984
Call ahead to check availability and pre-order your pączki!
PRICE COMPARISON: SOCAL VS POLAND
Ever wonder why pączki are so expensive here? Let's compare:
POLAND (2026 prices)
• Discount stores: $0.50-0.75 (2-3 zł)
• Bakeries: $1.00-1.50 (4-6 zł)
• Premium shops: $2.50-4.00 (10-15 zł)
• Celebrity bakeries (like Magda Gessler): $6.50 (25 zł)
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
• Polka Deli: $3.99
• The Best Donuts: $7.00
Why the difference? In SoCal we don't have many Polish bakeries, ingredients are imported, and everything is handmade in small batches. The $3.99 at Polka Deli is actually a great deal!
WHAT MAKES PĄCZKI SPECIAL?
Pączki are NOT regular donuts! Here's what makes them different:
• DOUGH: Enriched with eggs, butter, milk, and sometimes alcohol (rum or spirit)
• TEXTURE: Much fluffier and lighter than American donuts
• FILLING: Traditional rose hip jam (powidła różane), but also plum, raspberry, or custard
• TOPPING: Glazed with icing or dusted with powdered sugar
• SIZE: Bigger and heavier than typical donuts
The name "pączek" literally means "bud" (like a flower bud) - referring to their round, plump shape before they "bloom" when fried!
FAWORKI - THE OTHER FAT THURSDAY TREAT
Don't forget about faworki (also called chrust or "angel wings")! These are delicate, crispy pastries twisted into ribbon shapes and dusted with powdered sugar.
While pączki are the stars, faworki are the traditional sidekick. Ask at Polka Deli if they're making them too!
PRO TIPS FOR FAT THURSDAY
- ORDER EARLY - Pączki sell out fast! Don't wait until the last minute.
- PICK UP FRESH - Pączki are best eaten the same day. The dough dries out quickly.
- SHARE THE TRADITION - Bring pączki to work! Americans love them and it's a great way to share Polish culture.
- DON'T REFRIGERATE - Store at room temperature and eat within 24 hours.
- WARM THEM UP - If they're a day old, 10 seconds in microwave brings back the fresh taste.
CELEBRATE WITH US!
Will you be celebrating Tłusty Czwartek? Share your pączki photos with us on social media!
And remember the old Polish saying: "Kto w tłusty czwartek pączka nie zje, temu się przez cały rok nie powiedzie!" (Whoever doesn't eat a pączek on Fat Thursday will have bad luck all year!)
Smacznego! Enjoy!
Sources: Polka Deli, The Best Donuts, Polish Cultural Institute
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