LOCAL SPECIALTY
Borshch
A beet-based soup with varied family recipes; meat stock may be used.
Check the current menu in UAH
Where to look: Ukrainian restaurants
Food & Drink ↗ / Ukraine
UKRAINE · FOOD & DRINK
Ukrainian cuisine.
Start with a taste.
Explore local specialties here, or go straight to restaurants in your chosen city.
WHAT TO EAT
Local dishes, explained.
These are specialties from our featured city guides. Regional styles and availability vary.
LOCAL SPECIALTY
Varenyky
Filled dumplings, savoury or sweet; ask about fillings and toppings.
Check the current menu in UAH
Where to look: Ukrainian kitchens and cafeteria counters
LOCAL SPECIALTY
Holubtsi
Stuffed cabbage rolls; meat, grain and vegetarian versions differ.
Check the current menu in UAH
Where to look: Traditional Ukrainian menus
LOCAL SPECIALTY
Deruny
Potato pancakes, often served with sour cream.
Check the current menu in UAH
Where to look: Traditional cafés and restaurants
LOCAL SPECIALTY
Syrnyky
Fresh-cheese pancakes, commonly served as breakfast or dessert.
Check the current menu in UAH
Where to look: Breakfast cafés
LOCAL SPECIALTY
Forshmak
A chopped herring preparation associated with Odesa’s Jewish food traditions; recipes may include apple and egg.
Menu-dependent: compare the current posted portion price before ordering.
Where to look: Traditional Odesa kitchens; cultural reference
LOCAL SPECIALTY
Black Sea fish
Local fish traditions include small fish and seasonal preparations; source and current availability must be confirmed.
Menu-dependent: compare the current posted portion price before ordering.
Where to look: Odesa cuisine; cultural reference
GO STRAIGHT TO THE TABLE
Find restaurants by city.
Lviv
This is a food-reference page, not a recommendation to travel. Consult current official Ukraine travel advice; air alerts, curfews, power disruption and closures can override normal service. Lviv’s cafés and Ukrainian/Galician cooking form part of the city’s cultural identity.
Borshch · Varenyky · Holubtsi
Kyiv
This is a food-reference page, not a recommendation to travel. Consult current official Ukraine travel advice; air alerts, curfews, power disruption and closures can override normal service. For people already in the city, cafeteria-style Ukrainian meals and Crimean Tatar kitchens offer different ways to explore its food culture.
Borshch · Varenyky · Holubtsi
Odesa
Cultural food reference only: Odesa’s Ukrainian, Jewish and Black Sea culinary heritage is described here without recommending travel. Wartime opening, access, curfews and operation can change; these venue names are not a confirmation of safe or available service.
Forshmak · Borshch · Varenyky
Different places. Different flavours.
Compare the specialties and food neighbourhoods in our featured destinations. This is a starting selection, rather than a complete map of every regional cuisine.
Flavours around Lviv
Borshch · Varenyky · Holubtsi · Deruny · Syrnyky
Rynok Square · Dudaieva Street · Kurbasa Street
Explore Lviv food neighbourhoods ↗Flavours around Kyiv
Borshch · Varenyky · Holubtsi · Deruny · Syrnyky
Podil · Central Kyiv · Station area
Explore Kyiv food neighbourhoods ↗Flavours around Odesa
Forshmak · Borshch · Varenyky · Black Sea fish · Syrnyky
Deribasivska and City Garden — cultural reference · Pryvoz market district — cultural reference · Frantsuzkyi Boulevard — cultural reference
Explore Odesa food neighbourhoods ↗Plan your food budget.
Examples from the city guides below. Planning estimates are per dish or stated portion, not a full-day allowance. Check service charges, drinks and current menus separately.
| City | Example dish | Price guidance |
|---|---|---|
| Lviv | Borshch | Check the current menu in UAH |
| Lviv | Varenyky | Check the current menu in UAH |
| Kyiv | Borshch | Check the current menu in UAH |
| Kyiv | Varenyky | Check the current menu in UAH |
| Odesa | Forshmak | Menu-dependent: compare the current posted portion price before ordering. |
| Odesa | Borshch | Menu-dependent: compare the current posted portion price before ordering. |
Sources & guide notes
Compiled from our October 2026 city food guides. Sources, exact addresses, current-menu links and photo credits are available in the linked guides. Food photographs illustrate the named dish unless a specific venue is identified; display crops may differ from the original.
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/ukraine
https://lviv.travel/en/places/public-places
https://atb.ua/en_US/page/atb_market
https://wanderlog.com/list/geoCategory/74361/restaurants
https://visitkyiv.com/food-and-drinks/puzata-khata/
https://visitkyiv.com/food-and-drinks/musafir/
https://wanderlog.com/list/geoCategory/74235/where-to-eat-best-restaurants-in-kyiv
https://www.100rokiv.com.ua/uk
https://bao.ua/kyiv?utm_medium=gmb&utm_source=google_my_business&utm_campaign=Mechnykova_Street_14/1