Honestly dont even think about eating around old town square or the castle square area. Places like podwale 25 and those cafe terraces will absolutely rob you - 60-80 pln for mediocre pierogi just because tourists dont know any better. The quality is genuinely terrible and youre paying for location not food.

Walk literally 5 minutes south to nowy świat street and zapiecek does incredible pierogi for 25 pln. Trust me the quality is actually better and locals eat there daily. The pierogi z miesem (meat dumplings) are properly seasoned unlike the bland tourist versions. Also hala koszyki food hall at koszykowa 63 has a zapiecek counter - 18 pln combo meals and seriously the best value pierogi in centrum.

Other nowy świat gems: milk bar prasowy for 12 pln full meals that taste like your polish grandmother made them, and charlotte bakery for proper polish pastries not the stale tourist cafe garbage. Dont be a tourist victim eating overpriced mediocre food when amazing local spots are literally around the corner from all the attractions.