It's Time You Knew About Ulster County's Outstanding Hidden Gem

I'm done gatekeeping... it's time that I shared one of Ulster County's best-kept secrets with the world.

To be fair, I'm not the first person to try and spread the word about this phenomenal hidden gem. After all, how could a business survive for nearly 30 years if they didn't have customers? Still, it's time everybody knew about the pride of Kerhonkson.

There's a phenomenal business hiding in plain sight in Ulster County (Google Maps)

It's always fun when a random moment brings back a childhood memory, and that's exactly what happened when I logged onto Facebook yesterday.

The Best Pierogies in the Hudson Valley

"I just drove 37 miles each way [just to get] pierogies!", the post began. Of course they were talking about what many call the best pierogies in the Hudson Valley: Helena's Specialty Pierogies in Kerhonkson, NY (below), where I loved to go as a kid decades ago.

Helena's Specialty Pierogies in Kerhonkson, NY

In 2025, Helena's has expanded both physically and economically. Not only do they now have a dining area (I still remember the walk-up window where we would place our to-go order in the 1990s), but they can now be found in select stores as well (below).

Local Businesses Succeeding in the Hudson Valley

The business' success seems to have been a hard-won battle. They have a blink-and-you'll-miss-it location on Route 209 in Kerhonkson, and it feels like their success is largely due to word-of-mouth from happy customers (and their stellar 4.9-star Google rating).

The place is so special that some residents even get bent out of shape if something comes in between them and their pierogies. It's a comforting feeling to know that a local business has survived for decades almost solely based on their talent.

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So, this is me doing my duty: spreading the word about a place I loved to order from as a kid that has survived (and thrived) into my adulthood. Visit them at 5754 Route 209 in Kerhonkson, NY... and yes, like the original Facebook post said, it is worth the drive to experience what Helena's has to offer.