Pannonia Smokehouse

When I was deployed to Sadr City, Iraq in 2008, the owner of a shop called Carpatia Sausages, a former US Marine named Jan, was kind enough to send my comrades and I some sausages. After months of eating army rations, they were a godsend. Jan’s sausages taste amazing, and are so well cured that they are capable of standing up to even the 140 degree heat of Iraq in the height of summer. I am happy to hear that Jan’s business has expanded, and the Pannonia Smokehouse that he started is doing well. Buying sausages from his shop means not just buying an excellent product, but also supporting the veteran community.

This place is great! The store is loaded with smoked meats of every imaginable kind– sausages, whole hams, bacon, etc. The owner is always happy to answer questions, offer suggestions and let you taste things. There are also tons of condiments, snacks and even imported beer from Central Europe!
I have ordered bacon here and many kinds of fully cooked smoked sausages. Everything has been great, and the prices are reasonable. A couple of links of the Hunter or Devil Dog sausages last me a couple of weeks and are under $ 10. The bacon is super-​smoky and not fatty or overly salty like the typical supermarket nitrate slab-​meat.
The only frustrations I have had are 1) knowing what to order, since there are a zillion choices, and it all looks great; and 2) the owner sometimes keeps odd hours, and has in the past closed up the shop for days at a time while out of town. If you’re driving out of your way to get here, I suggest giving the store a call or checking the facebook page. Otherwise, if you love smoked meats, this place is perfect!

Everything we have had from the smokehouse is simply delicious. The weisswurst are fantastic! Tender, great flavor. Join his Facebook club, so you can get announcements about what is fresh and recently made. Each kind of sauces has own character, and tastes different. If you are looking for something low-​fat, the smoked pork tenderloin is awesome. You should go in the springs just for how good it smells!

If only they had better hours

Pannonia is the rebranded Carpatia Smokehouse. It’s the genuine article — a butcher shop with some extras. Jan Urbancic is the owner and Croatian music plays in the background, since Jan is part of the Croatian minority stranded in Slovakia, Austria, Hungary. .. His training was in Bratislava and Austria, so the sausages reflect the related food cultures. Jan makes his own prosciutto (preorder well in advance; they go quickly). His Leberkäse is the best and most authentic in Seattle. It has a little spice and is served hot on a Fri/​Sat special of $ 5/​lb! Sausages include many Hungarian and Slovak smoked favorites. Beware of the Devil’s Sausage — it is the hottest I have ever tasted. He also makes authentic Bratwurst and other fresh sausages that deserve tasting. A small selection of beer, wine, and condiments complements this very authentic Central European butcher shop.