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Where to Eat in 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 more of a high-level, 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 place for everyday dining in Ukraine.Ukrainian Soups
Most meals in Ukraine start with a "first course," which always means a soup. Examples of the soups you will find in Ukraine are:- Borsh. This is classic and famous Ukrainian soup. A beautiful red soup made from beets, potatoes, cabbage, and often meat.
- Bean soup. This soup is a thinner than its counterpart in the USA. It is often topped with black bread croutons.
Places to Eat in Kiev Ukraine
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.
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 sharma from any of the many sharma stands. This is similar to a Greek giro, except the meat is usually chicken, and it is usually stuffed with cabbage slaw.
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 less expensive place for Chinese food is on Vasilkivska street, a couple of block from the ExpoCenter Ukraine in southern Kiev. You'll have to take a from the Lybidska metro station to get there.