The 12 Best Restaurants in Kiev (2019)
So, you’re looking for the best eats in Kiev? The top restaurants? The chow-down hangs? Good, because that’s exactly what this page is for.
Initially, this was just going to be a section of my Kiev guide. However, as I began to write, I was struck by just how much good food there is in Kiev. So much so, in fact, that leaving it in the guide would mean filling the entire bottom 2/3 with just my descriptions of all the food I ate in Kiev. While admittedly fun for me, that doesn’t really make for good web content.
Kiev’s food scene may be surprise those unfamiliar with Ukraine. It’s true, the country isn’t exactly known for its food scene internationally – New York’s Veselka will have a place in my heart until I die, but looking at the building blocks of Ukrainian cuisine, you would think that the food would mainly be sustenance, simple meals just to get you through the day.
You would be wrong. Oh boy, you would be wrong.
Ukraine is home to an eclectic mix of flavors sure to please any palette. Hosting a range of local specialties, Kiev also welcomes food from around the world, including top restaurants serving dishes born in neighboring countries and absolutely unreal cuisine from East Asia.
Enough chit-chat. Let’s talk food!
WELCOME TO I AM HERE TOO
Hi there. My name is Braden. Here I am squatting in front of a Ukrainian tank looking serious. Isn’t that fun.
I started I Am Here Too as a way to share stories, guides, and more from Eastern Europe.
If you enjoyed my Kyiv restaurant guide, check out the other guides on the site, or click here to find out more about me.
PERVAK Rohnidynska St 2, Kyiv, Ukraine, 01004 (Map it on Google Maps)
Pervak is an admittedly touristy but fun place to eat Ukrainian food. If you’re looking to try some Ukrainian food in a novel environment, this place is a good time. Prices are steep, even by American/Western Europe standards, so I would suggest loading up on dumplings.
LYUBIMY DYADYA (LOVELY UNCLE) Pankivska St 20, Kyiv, Ukraine, 01033 (Map it on Google Maps)
As I said in my guide, Lovely Uncle is the best restaurant in Kiev, hands down. Do I really need to write a description beyond that? Go there for breakfast, stay for lunch, then come back for dinner.
KYTAYSʹKYY PRYVIT (Китайський Привіт) / CHINA HI Ivana Franka St, 7, Kyiv, Ukraine, 02000 (Map it on Google Maps)
Kytaysʹkyy Pryvit (Китайський Привіт) is a Chinese restaurant that takes a unique approach to both its food and dining experience. The restaurant is set like the streets of China; neon lights flood the eating area, and dishes range from your typical beef, duck, pork, chicken and lamb offerings to snake soup, which must be ordered a day in advance. Everything here is delicious, and it’s no surprise that the restaurant consistently ranks as one of the best Chinese restaurants in Kiev.
SORRY VEGANS 161-a Sadova St, 78, Kyiv, Ukraine, 02000 (Map it on Google Maps)
There’s a pervasive stereotype about Eastern Europe that it’s not a very vegetarian place. Sorry Vegans is… well, at least they’re apologizing about it. A steak house and general meatery, walking into Sorry Vegans means being greeted with a place to eat a bunch of meat and drink gallons of wine.
TIN TIN Vulytsya V’yacheslava Lypynsʹkoho, 15, Kyiv, Ukraine, 02000 (Map it on Google Maps)
Tin Tin is the best Vietnamese restaurant in Kiev, featuring a great cocktail bar and chic decor. If you’ve got a pho craving, Tin Tin is the place for you.
PUZATA HATA (Multiple locations)
If Pervak is the tourist experience, Puzata Hata is the real deal. Don’t expect to hear a lick of English in here; instead, join the locals as you fill up your cafeteria tray with high-grade Ukrainian food for bottom shelf prices. The decor is not glamorous – eating at Puzata Hata is like eating in some sort of alternate, Russo-centric McDonalds – but the food and experience make a stop at Puzata Hata a must-do.
GOGI Lva Tolstoho St, 13, Kyiv, Ukraine, 01034 (Map it on Google Maps)
Kiev has a lot of Georgian food, but the place at the top of my list is Хінкальня Gogi, or, if you’re American like me, simply “Gogi.” The food is uh-MAZ-ing and the cocktails can’t be beat. Order the Khinkali (dumplings); I ordered six, ate them all in a minute, then immediately wished I ordered about 28 more.
MILK BAR Khreschatyk St, Kyiv, Ukraine 02000 (Map it on Google Maps)
If you’re not absolutely STUFFED from the rest of the restaurants on this list, make your way over to Milk Bar. It’s a little pricey for Kiev, but that fact notwithstanding, Milk Bar is great, featuring a wide selection of cakes, ice cream, and typical cafe offerings.
HONEY Yaroslaviv Val St, 20, Kyiv, Ukraine, 01034 (Map it on Google Maps); Multiple locations
Although Honey grew famous for its cakes and pastries, it has since expanded into offering a range of food and coffee, all of which are absolutely delectable.
SMORREBROD Arkhitektora Horodetskoho St, 4, Kyiv, Ukraine, 01001 (Map it on Google Maps)
Named after traditional Scandinavian charcuterie, Smørrebrød goes above and beyond its simple namesake, presenting a collection of cafe offerings as well as delicious, fresh breakfasts. There are plenty of light options at Smørrebrød, including infinite variations on the dish itself, but if you want something a little heartier, Smørrebrød has options.
PODIL EAST INDIA COMPANY Mezhyhirska vul. 9, Kiev 04071, Ukraine (Map it on Google Maps)
Locals tend to think of Podil East India Company as just a cocktail bar. However, their food is also delicious, serving a mix of East Asian cuisines.
RADIO TBILISI Dmytrivska St, 9-11, Kyiv, Ukraine, 01054 (Map it on Google Maps)
Can you tell that I like Georgian food? Big ups to Radio Tbilisi, another place to enjoy Georgian food in Kiev.
BONUS: MEATBUSTERS Yuriya Shums’koho St, 3, Kyiv, Ukraine, 02000 (Map it on Google Maps)
If you told me I could find great barbecue in Kiev, I would probably say “No way,” “Who are you,” “Stop talking to me I’m trying to read.” Great barbecue DOES exist in Kiev, and you can find it at Meatbusters. Meatbusters has it all: brisket, ribs, slaw, everything a barbecue needs. If you want a little taste of America in Ukraine, Meatbusters is the place for you.
I hope you enjoyed this guide!
If you’re going to Kiev, support me by booking through my affiliate links: Booking.com, AirBNB
You can also support me directly via PayPal or Patreon.
Here are other Kiev guides you might enjoy:
WHY ON EARTH SHOULD I GO TO KIEV?
A KIEV, UKRAINE TRAVEL GUIDE (2019)
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