Ukrainian cuisine
Traditional Ukrainian dishes and more!
This week, I’ll focus on a lighter topic. Ukrainian cuisine may not be as famous or celebrated worldwide as Italian cuisine, but it is nonetheless rich in hearty and delicious dishes. And in big cities like Kyiv, alongside traditional meals, you can find virtually any type of international cuisine.
Borscht
The quintessential Ukrainian dish, recognized by UNESCO in 2022 as part of the world’s intangible cultural heritage, is borscht—a vibrant beet soup made with cabbage, potatoes, and carrots, instantly recognizable by its deep red color. There are also other versions, such as green borscht, which swaps beets for leafy greens. Borscht can include pork or beef and is also popular in other Eastern European countries like Poland and Latvia, each with their own variations. Once served, it’s often finished with a dollop of sour cream, along with onion and garlic for extra flavor. Traditionally, it’s enjoyed with pampushky, soft Ukrainian rolls that can be sweet or savory—perfect for soaking up the bright red broth.
Salo
Another traditional Ukrainian dish is salo—cured pork fat, usually salted and sometimes smoked. It’s often seasoned with garlic, pepper, and other spices, then eaten cold, sliced thick, and served with bread. Salo is commonly paired with pickled vegetables, onions, and, for the full experience, a shot of horilka, Ukraine’s version of vodka.
Deruny
Deruny are Ukrainian potato pancakes, typically served with sour cream. They’re made by grating raw potatoes and mixing them with onions, eggs, flour, salt, and pepper before frying them to a golden crisp. Deruny make an excellent side dish to meat, but they’re just as delicious enjoyed on their own.
Holodets
Holodets is a traditional meat jelly made with pork or chicken. Its preparation is quite lengthy—sometimes up to 48 hours—since it needs to be chilled in the fridge until the gelatin fully sets. Personally, it’s one of the few Ukrainian dishes I can’t get myself to enjoy, both because of the taste and, especially, the jelly-like texture.
Okroshka
Another dish I personally don’t enjoy is okroshka, a cold soup made with kefir and a mix of fresh vegetables. Hard-boiled eggs and different kinds of cold cuts are often added as well. It’s especially popular in Ukraine during the summer months, when people appreciate it as a refreshing meal.
Chicken Kyiv
The origins of Chicken Kyiv are debated, but it remains a dish you can order in almost any Ukrainian restaurant. The chicken is breaded and fried, with a juicy center filled with garlic and parsley butter.
Pyrozhky
Another popular dish is piroshky — small stuffed buns that can be either sweet or savory, depending on the filling. Savory versions are often filled with meat, such as beef, while the sweet ones might include cooked fruit like apples or poppy seeds.
Restaurants and fast-food
Beyond all that, Kyiv offers cuisines of every kind and for every taste. There are even restaurants run by Italians, where you can enjoy pizza and other traditional Italian dishes whenever the nostalgia for home kicks in. Sushi restaurants are also plentiful.
You’ll also find a wide range of fast-food chains, from international names like McDonald’s, KFC, and Domino’s Pizza to local favorites such as Puzata Hata (a self-service chain serving Ukrainian dishes) and Mafia (known for pizza, sushi, and cocktails).