Loved the food and decor; clearly a place committed to its love of its home country. The Putin in the men's washroom was a nice touch. I had the potato and cheese pierogis. Phenomenal. Also tried my friend's pork borscht and chicken Kiev, which were tasty as well. The house Ukrainian beer was a surprise hit too. read more

Went to Kozak on a Tuesday evening. It was packed but we were seated right away. They gave us complimentary appetizer which disappeared in no time at all. Every component worked so well together in one cohesive bite. A friend recommended borscht here. Usually I don't order soup but my beef borscht was amazing! So filling and still think about it to this day. We ordered the napoleon cake and also enjoyed every single bite of this huge slice! It was enough to share between 3 girls. I think it would be too much for one person. Enjoyed everything we ordered and will definitely return for the borscht and more! read more

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I've been to the Kozak cafe in New West, but this is a totally different experience. There's a bakery and you can still get food/drinks to go, but there's also a full restaurant and bar at this location. All the staff were incredibly friendly. From the hostess to waitress, bartender dropping off drinks, manager coming to ask how everything was. They even gave us a complimentary charcuterie plate for no reason. It was heavy bread, pork, pickles, and beet horseradish spread. Very tasty. We happened to be there on a Thursday evening, so all cocktails were $10 (some are normally $18 or more). Creative ingredients - from beets, Ukrainian liqueurs, pear puree, figs... Even the ice cubes had the Tryzub Ukrainian symbol frozen into them. Clearly they put effort into every detail. Food was homely, filling, and delicious. Cabbage rolls, perogies, borcht soup, breads, house-made meats. Ambiance is lovely. It's dark but strategically lit. Wide open but feels cozy. read more

Another amazing visit to Kozak! This time we tried the pork cabbage rolls, beef and cheese sauce crepes, mixed latkes and perogies! Everything was super fresh and we would definitely revisit! Highly recommend grabbing some pastries to go! The chocolate babka is amazing read more

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A rare 5 and here is why. In addition to the nice setting for a winter-time dinner with your friends, there is a store for cheaper soups, breads and baking that doesn't take away from the high quality vibe. Amazing service from a pleasant and "on it" young woman that clearly has heritage associated with these meal items. We had the platter and liked it all, I think that is the way to go. I've heard the beers are amazing - mostly collabs with local breweries using Ukranian recipes. read more

Kozak Ukrainian Restaurant - The platter! - Ukrainian Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

What an awesome find . We don't live in the area, but glad we stumbled on it . Delicious

I stumbled onto this place in Gastown when my original lunch choice was packed. It was pouring and cold outside and I happened to look up and see Kozak and their signage for Pierogis. Inside, it's rustic and cozy and I was seated immediately. It was fairly quiet for the lunch hour but it was perfect. I have no negative critiques on anything I ordered. The staff was super friendly and I loved the variety of patrons in the space. Cozy feel-good food with big portions. I'll be back next time I venture into the area :) read more

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Been here multiple times. Love the atmosphere , not super loud can easily talk. Came for dinner and tried the Aurora drink , this was super tasty and refreshing. Also tried a couple mocktails , lemonade and tea. The sourdough board was amazing , also had the salo board. The chicken skewer was a huge portion and all came with tasty side + sauces. Dill perogies were tasty and plated nicely. Our server was friendly and food was very quick to come out once we ordered , we were seated straight away on a weekend night. read more

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My work ordered catering here for us and it was SOOOO GOOD! We got 2 different kinds of pierogies (dill and potato/cheese and another with bacon). i love the sour cream that they use and the caramelized onions were so amazing. I love how you can see that the pierogies were handmade the way that they fold it. I really want to check out the restaurant in person now read more

Excellent Ukrainian food in Gastown area of Vancouver. The entrance is hard to find with the barriers and constructions and located in the not so great part of town, but you really can't judge a book by its cover - the moment you enter, the ambience is nice and spacious, and a good dining experience begins. We got the Kozak lunch which feature pork borscht, beef cabbage rolls, and wild boar pierogi. You get to pick and choose the latter 2 to whatever you want, with Nalysnyky as another option. We opted to get Nalysnyky (crepes) with chicken a la carte as it works better pricing wise. We also got Ukrainian latte that's amazing - something with baked milk made the latte have a very creamy and slightly tangy kick in a good way. For alcohol we tried the Ukrainian living beer and flight of Ukranian vodka that's infused with flavors like honey pepper, beet, lemon, and horseradish. All of these were phenomenal, and beer and vodka are things I don't like generally, but this changed my mind. Borscht was very hearty and refreshing. It came with sourdough bread and garlic and salt, and they were nice to include a small piece of paper showing you how to eat borscht. Cabbage rolls were solid, just a bit small. Despite it being the more popular dish, I didn't like it as much since the tomato sauce was not up to my preferences Wild boar pierogi was amazing and well worth the $3 surcharge. It gives a nice twist to the typical filings. Nalysnyky with chicken is very hearty with the creamy sauce base but it was a good round of savory dishes. At this point we were super full so we opted out of dessert, but it was a great experience overall. Service can be better as it was a bit hands off and they initially seated me in a dirty chair but the food itself overshadows these flaws. read more

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I have been this restaurant and bakery several times. Especially, their bakery offer variety of baking goods, such as cube croissant, babka, croissant and more.. This time, I got their special items, fluff, flat croissant style danish, I chose apricot and Mango coconuts, The filling was cream cheese type of texture and flavor and it matched with apricot, it was very good. Mango one had sago inside! Nice surprise! I like both of them. I also got Trubochka - wafer with condense milk. This one was so good. Condense milk was not soft, hard type. The hard type condense milk was rolled up by wafer. I am addicted to this item. Very good. I got Pork filling piroshki. This one was just ok. Ukraine style is a bit different from Russian version. Filling was ground pork with spice which was good. Overall, I am satisfied with their bakery items. I wouldvisit their restaurant read more

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This cozy homely but loud and busy place is one of my favourites. Its wooden dark hues give off NY pub vibes. Consistently pumps out traditional Ukrainian food, its not the cheapest on the block but it serves good food. Wild boar perogies are more of an appetizer size with 5 small-ish bites, beef borsch came out with a huge piece of sourdough, the cabbage rolls melts in your mouth and then the pork sashlik came out of on a bed of pickled onions on a mini sword. Their bakery section is also a hidden gem and their chocolate babka is worth every penny. read more

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My favourite gastown restaurant especially with a group of 4+. The restaurant is well styled, with comfortable tables and booths spaced evenly enough for privacy. Later in the evening music gets quite loud though regarding dinner conversation. The service experienced here is always impeccable. Our server was really nice and helpful with deciding our desserts, and we ended up getting both cakes to share at the table. Can never go wrong with the platter it's honestly all so delicious. I say best for 4+ because this platter is huuuge! The special was wild boar pirogies which were incredible in flavour. Loved the cabbage rolls too, even if you're not that into cabbage they are impeccable! Highly recommend this spot for anyone. read more

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I got beef tongue, pierogies, napoleon cake, and lamb stew. This is my first time trying Ukranian food and I love it. Everything is so delicious. The atmosphere is nice, and I love the decor. They also have a bar inside. The servers are really nice and accomodating. The pierogies with potato and cheese tasted like mac and cheese in a good way. The lamb stew is heartwarming and even though it comes in a small bowl, I'm surprisingly full by it. It's also interesting that they recommend me to eat the green onion as the whole stalk. It's kind of spicy and interesting with the soup. For dessert, I got the napoleon cake and my friend described it as soggy cereal, but I don't think it does justice to how good it is. The cake is quite big and it's good to share with friends. They also have a lot of ukranian pastries that I got to try. I like the poppy seed bun as recommend by the server. Overall, this is a really nice experience and I hope to visit and try more pastries next time. read more

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It was my friend's birthday and we came here for Kozak's happy hour. The interior of the restaurant was really well done and the mirrors on the wall really opened up the space! Our server was very energetic and even introduced us to our new server (as his shift was ending). We were a group of four and we shared the housemade sourdough, which came with sour cherry butter and garlic confit butter, the salo board with smoked and roasted pork, as well as an order of pierogis and cabbage rolls. Overall, the food was decent and I think it's worth a try if you've never had Ukranian food before. My favourite was definitely the pierogis because the skin was SO SOFT and the filling was nice and warm. I do wish that the orders came with more food (there were only two cabbage rolls and three pierogis). When I told one of the staff members that it was my friend's birthday, she was super nice and brought out a plate with four pieces of dessert (topped with ice cream) and a candle. The dessert was very delicious, but I did not get the name of it! It tasted like a cream puff in cake form, and the milky ice cream paired really well with it. Great service and great atmosphere! read more

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Kozak's is one of our 'go to' restaurants in Gastown...maybe our favourite. Everything is great from the minute you walk in. Make sure go iin at the bakery entrance, so you can eye up what you plan to take home. I highly recommend the Babka ( chocolate bread ). This visit, we were 5 and our server, Olivia, was fantastic. She had lots of patience with us and was very knowledgeable about each dish. Everything from the vegetarian borscht to the ubiquitous perogies were delicious, as always. We split 2 desserts and left with happy tummies and smiles on our faces. Oh, and of course we took home Babka, split into half to share with all. We shall return...again and again and again. read more

Had a wildly great time at Kozak and cannot wait to bring so many more guests. The atmosphere was lively and fun, the food mouthwatering and the service very good. Comfortable seating and good features, some great decor as well. The share platter was all you could ask for and more with house made everything down to the mustard. The server explained each component thoroughly and there was not a speck left when we were done. Pierogis, beet horseradish, pork belly and sauerkraut were to die for. If I had to say anything remotely negative, it would be that the latke didn't have a great texture and the Kielbasa was a bit chicken-y (still so flavourful and delicious). Also, the bacon they use is so so tasty and high quality and the house made sourdough rye was perfect. Again, can't wait to go back!!! read more

Kozak Ukrainian Restaurant - Ukrainian Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

This place is a homage to the food grandma used to make. They elevate every dish and yet it still has all the flavors that trigger your childhood memories. The staff acts as an wonderful host, making sure you're taken care of. They're beautiful atmosphere and kerosene lanterns make you feel nice and cozy as you sip your mulled wine in the winter. This was our second time coming here since our last trip and we will always make sure to visit when we're in town. From dinner to dessert, you won't want to stop eating. read more

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Amazing food, excellent customer service and friendly atmosphere. We had a large group of 10 people and we were seated quickly and served fast. All dishes were very tasty and delicious. read more

I had a fantastic experience at Kozak! Everything from the vibe, to the service, and to the food was excellent. I felt well taken care of by the staff and I left with a belly full of deliciousness. would recommend! read more

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Based on all the raving reviews, I am so glad I decided to visit Kozak while in Vancouver. It definitely exceeding my expectations. They do have a small store with some souvenirs as well as sweet and savory food to go (cakes, salads, etc.) The food was delicious, and I loved the fact that they had plenty of vegetarian substitutes (which is usually not typical for the Eastern European food). For an example, I was able to get staffed cabbage rolls with beans instead of meat. You can also get borsch with beans. It gets pretty busy so if you want to get a spot, reservation is highly recommended. read more

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As a first timer to Kozak, I am thoroughly impressed with the food, displays, decor and service! They have a bakery part to the restaurant that I can't wait to return to try, because they baked goods look scrumptious. I took the train and from waterfront, it's not too far of a venture to Gastown for this lovely spot. I wanted to try a few things and they conveniently had a lunch option that allowed you to try 3-4 of their dishes! Great option for someone who likes variety in their meal, and for first timers to Ukrainian food. I also asked the waiter for drink choices as I was unfamiliar with it and he did not disappoint with his recommendations! Thank you! read more

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Disappointing pork cabbage rolls that have an overkill amount of carrots in them! Expensive ... about $5 each ... and not tasty! Chocolate ball just bland, sorry! read more

I am a 3rd generation Ukrainian American (on both sides of my family). Sadly, I enjoy very few Ukrainian foods. Subsequently, I wasn't too eager to eat at Kozak Ukrainian Restaurant. Boy, if I hadn't, I would have missed out! This was one of the best meals I've eaten in my entire life! Since I was traveling with a group of 9 friends, we ordered many different items, enjoyed all of them and then ordered more. I began with the borscht which was a huge portion. It was phenomenal! The Varenyky options were diverse and each one we tried was better than the next. My Chicken Kiev was enjoyed by everyone at our table! The drink as well as the service were also outstanding! If you're in Vancouver, run to Kozak Ukrainian Restaurant! If you don't, you're missing out! read more

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Kozak is a fun restaurant with friendly staff. The restaurant itself is very cute as well- with fun things to look at everywhere but not over done. As for the food I really enjoyed the Nalysnyky with mushroom cream- mightve been my favorite thing i had. The sausage is great too. As for Varenyky- the boar, the cheese and potato, and dill and potato are the ones worth getting in my opinion. If one person in your party gets a combo like the mama's combo then id suggest another person gets something completely different like the giant meat skewer. read more

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Vancouver has a great comfort food restaurant with Kozak. The pork borsch was delicious and I loved the instruction card on how to enjoy the dish as a Ukrainian would. House flavored vodkas took the meal to another level. The taste of each vodka was clean and crisp with the base flavors front a center. Potato and cheese pierogi were light and melted in my mouth. They were served in a tasty peppered sauce. Overall a great meal. The staff was very helpful and would answer any questions we had. They also provided us with some great suggestions. I would to eat here again. The vibe was relaxing. I loved listening to Ukrainian tunes that were being played. Well done! read more

Had one last night in Vancouver and needed a place for Christmas Dinner, this was one of the few restaurants taking reservations. Ordered Borsche with salt, Perogies, Chicken kabob, Cabbage Roll. Frankly all food tasted good, the salt level was fine- the food flavours were there. It was my first time experiencing Ukrainian food and the server Sophia provided recommendations throughout the evening. We did experience an unfortunate undercooked chicken kabob, but Sophia replaced it in 30min and provided a complimentary dessert to make the outcome right. Many of the staff also tended to tables replenishing water regularly. From reading the website, I had expected a more homey establishment but it was more of a posh evening place to hangout with servers armed with tablets to relay orders to the kitchen. Service was moderate to slow- but the restaurant was quite busy and in merit a restaurant that makes food authentically would take time. Washroom is decorated- check it out. I am definitely returning to this restaurant, despite the undercooked chicken- the restaurant had great vibes, some Ukrainian music played in the evening- there's ample of support servers to assist the main servers. Washroom is clean. Don't forget to visit the bakery! read more

Kozak Ukrainian Restaurant - Perogies boiled - Ukrainian Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Creative and great food and cocktails. Most of the items we ordered were fantastic. The special wild boar pierogies were excellent and the boar flavor was complemented by a raspberry style compote. Tried a beet juice citrus cocktail that was also excellent. The only minor fail was the salo, which was just a case of us not being fans of salted bacon with a lot of fat (but that's the whole idea). Staff were attentive but not overly so. Noise levels are medium on a weekend night. read more

So good! Even the sour cream was like a heavenly cloud! Service was spot on. Authentic foods with a fantastic pastry shop to go. read more

Kozak Ukrainian Restaurant - Pickle plate - Ukrainian Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

I am still dreaming about my croissant from Kozak and it will haunt me until I go again. First, this restaurant is a full fledged bakery with the most incredibly pastries, why has it taken me so long to go here in Vancouver?? The cube croissant is insane. Incredibly flavors, fresh pastry, and perfect design. The dinner is lively, entertaining, and above all delicious. I haven't had much Eastern European cuisine, so wasn't sure what to order. The cocktails are incredible. As a pickle lover, the twin pickle made the whole table giggle with excitement as I ordered it, and it was perfect! Everyone else loved their drinks. We got the duck pierogies in addition to the ones that came with the monstrous Kozak board. The board was perfect for our group of six, had enough for everyone to try what they wanted! We added the lamb stew and the butter board and it was fantastic. read more

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Back again!! Didnt expect to be back so soon but had to visit kozak again to get some delicious kvass and homemade Ukrainian food. Unfortunately they were out of the break I wanted and again no Kiev cake :( I love the ambiance in this place, it's lively with conversation. We enjoyed some latkes with mushrooms and bacon. We also had some duck vareniki. First, I have to compliment the server, she was just the friendliest person ever and I love how excited she was describing dishes and making recommendations. Duck vareniki were very good but I wish I got them fried. They come with interesting mildly spicy apple pieces, almost jam like. Latkes didn't disappoint once again. Taking some frozen vareniki and cake home :) Anyone coming to visit Vancouver should come try some delicious Ukrainian food!! read more

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Love this place for dinner when in Vancouver BC. My son loved the wild boar varenyki. I love everything. read more

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Exceptional food and service! We had the borscht and bean soup, bread w flavored butters and potato and cheese pierogies. Everything was super delicious, filling and comforting! read more

Kozak Ukrainian Restaurant - Borscht and bean soup and bread w flavored butters - Ukrainian Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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Kozak is a Ukrainian restaurant located in Gastown. Their story is interesting as they immigrated to Vancouver from Ukraine. They started off small with rented spots in bakeries and eventually opening this restaurant. What a great successful story! The front of the restaurant you can purchase baked goods to go or dine in for some authentic Ukrainian food. The service was good as recommendations were made there my very first time trying this. I got the lunch combo for variety of dishes to try. The first dish was a soup followed by two tasting entrées. Overall a fabulous experience. read more

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Super unique restaurant! Everything was delicious from the borsch to the mains like the cabbage rolls and pierogis. A highlight is their bakery - all the breads and desserts are well curated, wholesome, and delicious. The service is impeccable- the staff are super nice and accommodating. Beautiful restaurant and very underrated! read more

Dark and calming atmosphere, they've filled the place with lovely art. It really sets the mood. The servers were kind and attentive. I came by myself, and ordered the signature Lamb & Cilantro perogies. They were covered in a beet sauce that I couldn't get enough of. A beautiful pink color that was surprising but lovely in this dish. The Kompot was made from simmering apple, plum, berries with sugar. Kvas has a kombucha type flavor, wasn't a fan but I think it just wasn't suited to my palette. Couldn't recommend this place more. read more

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My experience was more of a 4.5. We got the Kozak Board and beef tongue appetizer to share among 4 people and the quantity of food was just right. The platter was beautifully presented and everything was well seasoned and cooked. I did find that the 3 types of pierogies all tasted the same and the deruny latkes were too oily for my liking. The platter also took an hour to arrive although the menu warns it will take 35 minutes. I got the La Femme drink which was refreshing and we shared the napolean and Kyiv cake. The kyiv cake turned out to be a mini cake! It was too much dessert for us but it was delicious (tasted like a ferrero roche) and I would get it again. The restaurant didn't have AC and it was very stuffy and hot dining inside when it was 27 degrees outside. Otherwise the service was very friendly and didn't give us too much pressure to leave/pay when we were still there past their 9pm closing time. read more

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My BF and I happened to walk past here while exploring the area near our Airbnb and ended up coming here three times during our three days in Vancouver, BC. My BF, being Ukrainian, was transported back home (we live somewhere there are no good Ukrainian places) instantly. Over those three visits, we ordered the salo board, potato and dill varenyky, sour cherry varenyky (for dessert), Napoleon cake (also for dessert), holubtsi cabbage rolls, deruny latkes, beef tongue, chicken kyiv, "Glechyk" Lamb Stew in a Clay Pot, and "Shashlyk" Huge Meat Skewer. Everything is made in-house and fresh and it really shows! Ukrainian food is definitely comfort food, and Kozak's options reflect that. As a non-Eastern European, I thought everything was delicious (the salo and beef tongue are definitely acquired tastes for those not familiar), especially the potato and dill varenyky, chicken kyiv, and lamb stew. The shashlyk is indeed huge and enough for two people. I recommend you share everything family style. Service was very warm and fast. We had Alexander as our server twice and even though he was the only server for the whole restaurant, he treated every table with care. Our food came out relatively quickly and in a manner so that we didn't have more than two plates on our small table. He also changed out our plates, cutlery, and napkins periodically throughout our meal. They have specials every day of the week. If you can, go on Tuesdays when they have Georgian and natural wines 40% off. This was my first time trying Georgian wine and I will definitely try to find it again. Overall, 10/10. You will definitely leave full but happy. Decor is homey and rustic, and they play Ukrainian music on a good volume. read more

Great food and service with a nice atmosphere. I really enjoyed their Ukrainian Golden Wheat beer and pierogies.

Absolutely Wonderful We have eaten in a lot of great restaurants on our 4-week odyssey to the west coast, Alaska and Hawaii; and Kozak was the best of them all. The ambiance is inviting, the wait staff attentive, friendly and helpful, portions are plentiful; and the food is simple delicious. From the Wild Boar Pierogies to the Stuffed Cabbage to the Borsht - everything was so good. Be sure to try the locally brewed Ukrainian Pilsner - if you enjoy a flavorful, crisp beer; you won't be disappointed. If you find yourself anywhere close to downtown Vancouver, make your way to Kozak - you will be glad you did. read more