Ukraine Flag - Restaurants in Ukraine Everything about Ukraine
Google
 

Our Top Ukraine Pages

Lvov
Souvenirs
What to Eat
Finding Good Coffee
Where to Stay
Finding an Apartment
Internet Access
Getting Around
Sights
Side Trips
Traveling with Kids
Telephone Calls
Souvenirs
Money
Easter
Poland

Restaurants in Ukraine

Restaurants in Ukraine
Some of the wholesome and delicious breads of Ukraine.

The Secret to Eating in Ukraine

Americans tend to call any kind of eating establishment a "restaurant." Here's an important tip when asking for a place to eat in Ukraine. Don't ask for a "restaurant." The word restaurant has a different connotation in Ukraine. The Ukrainian word "restaran" implies a high-class, elegant dining experience, often with live music. They are mostly used for weddings, banquets and big celebrations. For a delicious, inexpensive meal in Ukraine, ask for a cafe. These are the standard places for everyday dining in Ukraine.

Restaurants in Kiev

Kiev has a number of chain restaurants (cafes) that are delicious and inexpensive. Here are a few:
  • Trali-Vali
  • Shvydko
  • Pechena Kartoplya ("Baked Potato")
  • Domashnaya Kukhnya ("Home Cooking")

    There are several locations. One is near the Kontraktova Plosha metro station.

  • Puzata Khata ("Chubby Cottage")

    They have several locations, in Kiev and in other cities. One is near the Kontraktova Plosha metro station. From the second floor dining area, you have a nice view of a the historic Gostinny Dvor and a park, with trams and trollies always coming and going. Another location is right downtown on the famous Khreshatyk street, between the Maidan Nezelezhnosti and the Khreshatyk metro stations.

    This chain has vry reasonable prices. For example, a bowl of borsh coss only 3.90 UAH ($0.75) and Chicken Kiev will cost you around 8 UAH ($2.50). The staff in this chain are dressed in Ukrainian costumes, and the decor is nice.

  • Dva Guzya ("Two Geese")
  • Velikaya Lozhka ("The Great Spoon")
  • McDonalds

    At the present, this seems to be the only American/Eurpopean chain that is widespread in Ukraine. Their menu is pretty much the same as everywhere. The names of the burgers and other sandwiches are even the same as in English. INstead of being translated into Ukrainian, the English names are just written with Cyrillic characters. So, you can just order in English and they'll know what you mean. Yes, they have Happy Meals, complete with a toy, for the kids.

    Most McDonalds in Kiev have playlands for kids (some are even located indoors). These are smaller versions of the large structures you may be used to in yuor home country. But fun for the young ones nonetheless. And they often pass out balloons to kids. Restrooms are very clean and have Westernized fixtures.

    Places to Eat in Kiev Ukraine

    A meal at the Puzata Khata restaurant in Kiev
    A meal for around $6 at the Puzata Khata cafeteria style restaurant in Kiev

    One of our favorite places to eat is at the chain called Puzata Khata. The food is served cafeteria style, so you can see what looks good before you order it. It is also means no waiting to prepare your meal. They serve a variety of delicious homemade soups, various salad, main courses of fish, chicken and meat, side dishes, etc.

    Want to eat outdoors? There is a nice cafeteria style cafe called Ukrainska Kukhnya at 34 Vasilivski, right across from one campus of the Terasa Shevchenkio University. Soups cost around 5 UAH, salads about 6 UAH and a meat course from 6 to 10 UAH. Coffee that you make in there expresso machine costs about 2UAH. After paying for your food, find a place to sit indoors, or during the warmer months in one of their two outdoor patios.

    Looking for something familiar to eat in Lvov? There\'s a McDonald's right downtown across from the central square. Enjoy your meal by their second floor windows and watch the heart of the city and all the people walking by you.

    For the economy minded, try a "pig in a blanket" from a street vendor. These are tasty hot dog wieners wrapped in breading. You can get a fried or a baked version for around 50 cents.

    Or for around $1.50, get a shaurma from any of the many shaurma stands. This is similar to a Greek giro, except the meat is usually chicken, and usually includes cabbage slaw and mayonnaise.

    Chinese Restaurants in Kiev

    They're not as popular here as in many parts of the US, but we found a couple of places to eat Chinese food in Kiev. One is near the University metro station. Walk down the hill from the station and a small cafeteria style chinese will be on your right, near the bottom of the hill. Behind it (through a driveway in the apartment building) is a more fancy, expensive Chinese restaurant.

    Another Chinese restaurant is located at 47 Vasilkivska street, a couple of block from the ExpoCenter Ukraine in southern Kiev. You'll have to take a marshrutny from the Lybidska metro station to get there.

    Text and Photographs Copyright 2007 by pacsys.com. All Rights Reserved. Digg This