I tried the pan-seared pierogi on my last United Airlines flight and found it one of the most indulgent airline meals I’ve ever had.
Taste Test: Pan-Seared Pierogi On United Airlines
United offers a special dish in domestic first class from each hub, which tends to rotate every two months. Typically, it is associated with the cuisine of that city. For example, this month the choices are:
- Chicago Signature Dish – pan-seared pierogi with caramelized onion cream sauce, bacon lardons and scallions
- Denver Signature Dish – grilled sirloin steak with horseradish cowboy butter, twice-baked potato, haricot vert and roasted tomatoes
- Houston Signature Dish – grilled sirloin steak with chimichurri sauce, spiced fingerling potatoes, charred asparagus and tomatoes
- Los Angeles Signature Dish – shrimp with miso sesame glazed sweet potatoes, shiitake mushrooms, snow peas, tri-colored quinoa and shishito pepper pesto
- Newark Signature Dish – Mimi Chengs seared dumplings with asian sesame slaw and chili crunch dumpling sauce
- San Francisco Signature Dish – seared salmon with chowder sauce, polenta cake, haricot vert and sourdough croutons
- Washington Dulles Signature Dish – shawarma chicken breast with spicy lemon tahini sauce, yellow rice and roasted chickpea, zucchini and tomato blend
As I was flying out of Chicago, I pre-ordered the signature dish, which was pierogi.
Confession. I had no idea what pierogi was…I had to Google it. Apparently, pierogi are traditional Eastern European filled dumplings, popular in Poland, made from unleavened dough wrapped around various savory or sweet fillings, then boiled and often pan-fried, as in this case. Common fillings include potato and cheese, sauerkraut, ground meat, mushrooms, or fruits like berries, with variations in dough and preparation across regions.
Here, the dumplings were filled with caramelized onion cream sauce, bacon lardons (essentially bacon fat…), and scallions. While it sounded dreadfully unhealthy, I had to try it…something new and different.
You know something? It was pretty good. I don’t think I’d ever had an airline meal that unhealthy. It was literally dripping in fat. Still, not bad and something quite unique. I won’t order it again because it does not help me achieve the health and physical fitness goals I am seeking, but it was nice to try and if you’re in the mood for some utterly indulgent food, this is it.
(The side salad was appreciated, while I skipped the bread roll and the deplorable banana pudding from Mangolia Bakery that I wish United would just get rid of…)
Have you tried the pierogi on United?
Each week, my Meal of the Week feature examines an airline meal from my travels over the years. This may be a meal from earlier in the week or it may be a meal served over two decades ago.
I’m surprised that, having such strong links to Germany, you’d never even heard of pierogi. They aren’t always that indulgent/unhealthy, they are often served boiled or steamed.
The crab cakes and the pierogi are the two best meals United has served in some time.
The banana pudding from Magnolia is the worst dessert I’ve had in a while at the time it served warm or room temperature. Gross.
I didn’t even attempt to eat it.
Ditto on that awful pudding. Does United purposely look for the worst dessert? Simple vanilla ice cream would be 100 % better.
On the other hand, one shouldn’t forget to give credit to the iconic fresh Banana Pudding that can be eaten at a Magnolia Bakery store…
How you have avoided hearing about Pierogi in Pittsburgh? The ethnic churches used to sell them. Only once I was fortunate to get a red plum Pierogi ( unsweetened fresh fruit steamed ) . No butter, sugar or sauce, just a delightful fruit. Sadly starchy potato verisions have edged out the beautiful fruit in popularity. Oh well.
The pierogi is now on my must-try list. On Tuesday (Dec. 16, 2025), I flew IAD-LAX in F. I didn’t see the chicken shawarma on the menu. The Beef Sirloin I had was OK. I wish I’d tried the tacos al pastor offered in coach.
I tried the tacos. Report coming! 😉
Looking forward it! I travel back to Massachusetts several times/year to see my 90-something parents. When I’m there for a month at a time, the two things from SoCal I miss are In ‘n Out Burgers and street tacos. Having some available on the plane would be nice.
Health and physical fitness? Nothing on a plane will help you with that. You’d need to bring your own food that you prepare at home. Everything onboard down to the cheese plate and crackers is classified as ultra-processed, and therefore is carcinogenic. Even the Dasani water has a ridiculous amount of microplastics. If you’re really concerned about health and fitness, you’d need to bring your own food, and a water bottle that filters out microplastics, such as the ones from LifeStraw.
It is Magnolia (not Mangolia) Bakery…
Yea, you eat any more of that stuff and you can forget about shirtless selfies.
Let’s note that the dumplings, including the precursors to pierogi, most likely originated in Asia and came to Europe via trade in the Middle Ages. Pierogi are also popular in modern-day Canadian and American cuisines.
Güntürk, would you try Pierogi?
Pittsburgh Pierogies are a real treat.