Zakopane's food has a strong Góral (highlander) character — heavy, warming, and built around smoked meats, sheep's cheese, and hearty soups. The signature local product is oscypek, a smoked sheep's-milk cheese formed into a spindle shape and traditionally grilled over charcoal. Sold at stalls along Krupówki Street, it comes hot with cranberry jam and is best eaten standing outside.
For a sit-down meal, Karczma Młodych Górali (Tetmajera 5) is one of the better traditional restaurants, serving żurek (sour rye soup with white sausage and egg), bigos (hunter's stew), and grilled meats in a timber interior with folk decoration. Stara Chata serves similar food with a good view of the mountains from its terrace. Neither is cheap by Polish standards, but portions are generous.
For lunch on the mountain, the PTTK refuge at Morskie Oko serves good żurek and gołąbki (stuffed cabbage) at prices that are reasonable given the altitude and the walk to get there. Most hikers carry their own food — the trails are long enough that doing so is worth the weight.