Great food and just wish the service was better. The dumpling selection is great and enjoyed my meal with a a Ukrainian beer. Food was really tasty. The only dissatisfaction was the man of Indian decent at the cash register. He needs customer service skills or get someone else to interact with customers. read more

Leleka - Pelmeni, pickles and Ukrainian beer - Ukrainian Near Me - San Francisco, California

Great Ukrainian spot! It's fun and gets busy during weekday lunches (hey, it is in the Financial District.) I enjoyed Lamb dumplings and my friend enjoyed Salmon dumplings. We also shared Sausage piroshki. Everything was delicious. It tasted fresh and warmed us up. It was not greasy so my stomach was fine! Tables are like communal picnic tables, very friendly. Will be back! read more

I hadn't eaten Pierogi since I was in Poland 3 years ago, thankfully Leleka broke that dry spell! Leleka is Ukrainian, but Ukraine borders on Poland so pierogis are delightfully similar! $17 gets you two kinds of Pierogi, which you can opt for pan fried at no extra charge, which I did twice to the disdain of traditionalists and purists, but pan fried pierogi just taste so much better to me! I ordered two bowls! Lamb: grass fed ground lamb, ginger and mint, and my favorite of them all! The fresh herbs really enhance the succulent gamey lamb meat. Dip in the garlic sauce or sour cream if you'd like, but they're good on their own. Beef: grass fed beef and onion, Ukrainian raviolis? That might be insulting, sorry! But they are my 2nd favorite. Potato Cheese: great whether you're a vegetarian or not! The smooth creamy mash potato blends perfectly the soft melted cheese. Try it with a sauce. 3rd place! Salmon: my least favorite of the pierogis, but still quite delicious! The salmon is mixed with green onion, parmesan, making this lovely creamy texture. Loved the black color! $2: Carrot salad...light, zesty, pickly, and pleasant! $8 Kyiv Cake: lovely, sweet, creamy, and with some nice crunchy cookie-style parts. read more

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My Fiance and I were driving around the city deciding which restaurants we wanted to try and we decided on Leleka because it's never open during the weekends and whenever we want to try they're closed. For this trip we tried the Borsh and the Salmon & Beef/Gouda dumplings. I'll start with the dumplings; super flavorful! The Beef/Gouda was fantastic with the sour cream versus the Garlic sauce and I'd have to say this one was my favorite out of the food we got. 5/5 The salmon one was good, coconut charcoal is what the black color is from, but you can't expect a coconut flavor just because you see the word on there. This one was also very good; I preferred this one with the garlic sauce instead. 4/5* The Borsh unfortunately for me was good, but it came out luke warm at best, not sure how you can serve hot soup, but it was still flavorful and good despite being cold. Make sure to add sour cream to your soup! 3/5* Overall, this place is very good! If they had more accessible hours we'd come on the weekends. It's also downtown and parking on the meters around the restaurant is $4.25/hour for those whom are curious. read more

Leleka - Beef/Gouda, Salmon (black) and Borsh - Ukrainian Near Me - San Francisco, California

Great find in the financial district that would be easily missed walking in the main streets Cozy home-y feeling location that focuses on their specialty, and is always something that's appreciated The dumplings were great at a great price point for the area. $17 for 20 dumplings that felt filling. Best of yet though, they were really juicy! First time having Ukrainian cuisine and happily content. read more

Leleka - Ukrainian Near Me - San Francisco, California

Came here for a dinner after work with some friends. I didn't realize they close at 8, so we definitely had a quick meal, but it was still a good experience. We ordered a bunch of dumplings, hand pies, and beers! The beers were all really good, we all agreed the honey one was by far the best. The hand pie was alright, but I'd stick with the pelmeni: -Beef Gouda - Really tasty and well balanced -Chicken - This was my favorite, I loved the basil -Lamb - I generally don't like lamb much, but this was great -Potato - definitely relied on the sauces for more flavor, but still good The dining area is spacious and comfy, with mostly indoor and some outdoor seating. Service was quick and friendly, and prices were reasonable. Definitely a great unique food option in SF! read more

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Delicious dumplings! You can choose the dumplings to be dry or in a soup (they charge extra for the soup). My favorite is the chicken dumplings. They were so flavorful, each bite was delicious and full of flavors. This is a good spot for lunch in the Financial District. The price is pretty decent. You order first and then sit down somewhere. Everything is self serve so it's a super casual spot. read more

Leleka - Ukrainian Near Me - San Francisco, California

Great no frills Eastern European comfort food. Came here for lunch with my husband. It's located in Belden Pl, an alleyway on Bush St. in FiDi. We ordered the borscht which comes in two sizes. The borscht came out out warm and hot. It was very delicious and nutritious. Rye bread is included with the soup. We also had the beef Gouda dumplings and lamp dumplings. The dumplings are pelmeni which are a little smaller than the traditional vareniki however the filling is very strong and delicious. The condiments to go along with the food were located near their dumpling freezer. Last item was the beef handpie. Pretty good ! But wished it had more filling. Very good with some sour cream. Service is quick. Ordered at the front and picked up order when called. This is a no frills place so it's a quick grab n go lunch or sit down at the restaurant if you please. Would come back ! read more

I was working in the area and yelp led me here for lunch. It can be a little hard to find since it's tucked in an alley, but worth a visit. I had beef and potato cheese dumplings and honey cake. The dumplings were great and more filling than I expected, and the cake was tasty. Plenty of searing both inside and outside. read more

Leleka - Mix 2 Dumplings- beef and potato cheese - Ukrainian Near Me - San Francisco, California

I love Leleka as a quick unique spot to get lunch in the Financial District of San Francisco. A delicious Ukrainian restaurant, I usually get their vereniki (my favorite are the potato ones and the chicken are awesome as well) but recently tried their borscht that was so flavorful and delicious. The service is usually pretty quick, and you can order online from your table which is very convenient for a quick lunch. Will definitely be back ! read more

Chicken dumplings- 6/5 I had the dumplings delivered at work and they were delicious! I had them a bit cold so looking forward to trying the fresh ones at the restaurant! read more

It's my first time having Ukrainian food, and we liked it. It does have similarities with Russian dumplings, yet offers more fresher flavors on the meat. The beef pies are my favorite, also carrying an essence of Chinese beef pancakes. The place is very chill, very self-sufficient and casual. People here are nice, won't interacted that much, but quick to respond. read more

Leleka - Ukrainian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Stopped in the other for a quick, healthy meal. I ordered a bowl of borsh soup and a slice of honey cake. It came out fast and was delicious. The restaurant was clean and there was lots of seating inside and outside. I'd like to come back some time and try the dumplings. read more

Leleka - BORSH - Ukrainian Near Me - San Francisco, California

Unassuming place down an alley with other restaurants, this is like a carry out joint with tables. Order via a QR code or iPad at the counter and food brought to your table faster than most fast food places. I've never had Ukrainian food before so no clue how authentic it is but it was very good regardless. Had the mixed dumplings, beef/gouda and the lamb. Both great but preferred the lamb. Washed it down with Mykhola honey lager. All in all a great meal. If you're in the mood for something different, recommend this place. read more

Leleka - Mykhola honey lager - Ukrainian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I popped in here for lunch - as my good friend is Ukrainian and I've always wanted to try Pelmeni. A Pelmeni is, I would describe, a cross between a chinese dumpling folded like a tortellini. They are delicious and bite sized and perfect for dipping (the restaurant has garlic and spicy sauces, sour cream, hot sauce, and soy sauce you can serve yourself). I love the variety of fillings you can choose from - lamb, salmon, chicken, beef, potato, etc. This time I opted for the Chicken Dumplings ($16 for 20) - they are flavorful and have the perfect soft chew. The Borscht ($10 for small) was also yummy and had shredded brisket in it. I want to come back and try all the flavors, and some of the delicious hand pies and desserts (honey cake? Napolean? yummmm!) It is a casual spot, and there is plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. It is bright and clean as well. Order at the counter and they will bring it out to you :) Bus your own table. read more

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*Note: TDLR at the end of review Salmon Dumplings: 6/10 The salmon wasn't distinct. I was expecting kind of a bite to it, but the salmon was ground and moist. The dumpling wrapper was cooked perfectly. The garlic and spicy sauce were good and low-key carried the dumplings. They weren't bad, but they weren't great. I took a bite and was like, yup, that's a dumpling. I honestly couldn't even tell that it was salmon LOL. Service: 7/10 Honestly, the cashier was rude ASF when I was ordering, but I continued to be polite to him. When he gave me my food, his attitude changed a full 360. Think he was just having a bad day with customers and needed a change of pace. Food service sucks. I've been there. He accommodated me with splitting my dumplings into two containers though. He's a real one for that! Ambiance: 10/10 Outside and inside seating was very aesthetically pleasing. Will say the floors inside look dirty af, but you don't really notice unless you're paying attention. They got some entertainment play for ya inside if you're an eat and watcher. Condiments and to-go utensils are self-serve on the right side of the counter, which I like. TDLR: Paying for ambiance ngl. Salmon dumplings are slightly above average. Wouldn't go out of my way to get them. Service is a hit or miss. Sauces are fire. Somewhat reasonably priced. Would come back to try other things because it looks interesting, but expectations are low. read more

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Loved it!! Would definitely come again. Busy at lunch but food comes out very quickly, and it's clean and spacious inside. Decent price for the portion size as well. Don't forget to get the garlic sauce on the side :) (free!) FOOD: Beef Gouda Dumplings (9/10) - Favorite thing I ordered. The gouda pairs perfectly with the beefiness, and I really couldn't get enough of it. Lamb Dumplings (7/10) - I found these slightly dry but still had a good texture and flavor. I'd stick with the dumplings above next time! Beef Hand Pie (6/10) - Skip this next time. I thought this was slightly dry and not too flavorful. Pickles (7/10) - Good to cut the meatiness, and a lot of pickles for the portion size! read more

Leleka - Ukrainian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Simple but yummy food. The actual storefront is tucked away in a little alley, and you order up at a counter. Have come a few times before and I love the potato dumplings the most, followed by the lamb dumplings and borscht. Pro: tip is you can get the dumplings either pan-seared or boiled. The staff is always nice (though there's usually just one person so you have to get their attention). Not much ambiance, it's more of a self-serve place -- but they also have plenty of outdoor and indoor seating. read more

Leleka - borscht, lamb dumplings, potato dumplings - Ukrainian Near Me - San Francisco, California

Kelsea was everything I was hoping it would be. Well made Ukrainian dumplings full of bursts of flavor in each warm inviting bite. The sauce selection was excellent, and exactly what you would want to complement the assortment of options. The men behind the counter were quick and friendly. The little restaurant was ideally located (despite the hills) for a midday snack or lunch without getting too far from the office. I'd love to return when the weather is nicer to truly enjoy the outdoor space as well. read more

Leleka - Kitchen - Ukrainian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I called to inquire about making a reservation for a group of Ukrainian guests. Since this is a Ukrainian restaurant, I politely asked whether the employee was Ukrainian because I was hoping to ask for recommendations and possibly speak with her in Ukrainian. Instead, she was immediately rude, argumentative, and confrontational. There was absolutely no reason to respond the way she did to a simple, respectful question. When I politely asked to speak with the owner or obtain the owner's name, she refused. I later emailed the restaurant and submitted feedback through their website to give ownership an opportunity to address the situation. No one ever responded. After being treated this way, I honestly wouldn't feel comfortable trusting this establishment with my dining experience. Customer service says a lot about how a business is run, and based on this experience, our group has decided to take our business elsewhere. Very disappointing read more

Maybe it just hit the spot but if I could give rate it higher I would. Best dumplings in the area :::ducks::: Hidden gem.

Fast food style restaurant with good Ukranian food. You order on the screen at the counter and wait for your name to be called. The pierogi/dumplings are fairly small, so 20 are a good portion size for one person. Bottled beer available. Decent bathroom. Food is a little pricey ($18 for 20 dumplings and every little topping is extra, $11 for a small borscht). read more

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I like their beef dumplings over their lamb dumplings! I wish they gave more pickled cabbage in the order. Overall, very delicious!

This was easily one of my favorite meals during my two weeks in San Francisco. I placed a pickup order online, and it was ready promptly at the time I selected, which made the process seamless and convenient. I ordered a combination of half potato and cheese and half plain potato pierogi topped with caramelized onions, along with a side of pickles and cabbage salad. I highly recommend asking for the garlic sauce on the side, it was incredibly flavorful and paired perfectly with the pierogi. Everything was excellent. The pierogi were fresh, tender, and delicious. The cabbage salad and pickles added a refreshing crunch that complemented the richness of the pierogi beautifully. Overall, it was a well-balanced and thoroughly enjoyable meal. read more

Leleka - Ukrainian Near Me - San Francisco, California

Delicious dumplings and sides! Great hidden gem in an alley with other bars. We ordered the potato / potatoes and cheese dumplings, sides of pickled veg, and handpies. If you get a full order of dumplings, you can get two flavors. I loved the potato and cheese especially - the filling was so delicate, perfectly salty, and creamy. The cabbage hand pie was also yummy - thick doughy crust and lightly spiced. Didn't get to try the dessert but it's on the list for next time! read more

Leleka - Pickled veg and Cabbage Hand Pie - Ukrainian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Flavorful Ukrainian dishes and though menu is limited, each item is well executed! We ordered the potato dumplings, Borsch, marinated carrots and beef hand pie. Everything was delicious and rivaled the homemade Ukrainian dishes our friends have made us. The dumplings are a large order of 15-20 and I wish they offered a 6 and 12 order option, as well as the ability to mix and match without having to commit to 30 to 40 dumplings if you want to try two flavors. Friendly service with indoor and outdoor seating located in an alley with a bit of dingy alley vibe. Despite the ambiance flaws, the food is definitely worth the visit. read more

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I have been searching for the Napoeon cake in my childhood memmory forever and Leleka is the best I have had in the states! so creamy and fluffy, delightfuly sweet but not overwhleming The honey cake and Kyiv cake are great too! I can't describe in words but the honey and nutty flavor in them are so rich love the mint seasoning in lamb dumpling (orange ones) and the gouda in the beef dumpling. I brough frozen dumplings for my mom. read more

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In a small back-alley behind Kearny Street, Leleka is one of my favorite dumpling spots in the city and the perfect place to go if you're looking for a comfort meal with a home-cooked atmosphere. When visiting, you have to get the dumplings. While the menu says each comes with 20 pieces, you can mix them (i.e. get 10 beef and 10 chicken). With a slightly thicker dough, each bite is chewy and incredibly satisfying. You can also enjoy them by dipping in the special spicy garlic sauce, giving the dish an extra dimension of flavor. I would recommend the beef, chicken, and potato cheese dumplings in particular. In addition to the dumplings, Leleka has amazing soups. Both the borsch and chicken bone broth are rich in flavor and hearty, a perfect compliment for the dumplings. You can either get the soups on the side or have the dumplings mixed in, both are excellent. Dessert-wise, Leleka has a great Napoleon cake, a classic Ukrainian dessert. The layers of puff pastry are flaky and light while being sandwiched by pastry cream that isn't overly sweet. The flavor is rich while not being too heavy. A perfect post-meal treat. While not one of the most common cuisines in the Bay, Leleka shines a light on classic Ukrainian food and proves that just because it's less well-known, doesn't mean it's any less delicious. read more

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Food: 5/5 - recommended by a person from Ukraine to come try these chicken and beef dumplings. Got 20 dumplings for $16-17, with options to add on bone broth for $2.5. Flavorful and simple dinner. Lots of seating inside and outside. Located in an alley so Uber might drop off and you need to walk a min. Didn't see heaters outside so might be too cold to sit outdoors. Saw lots of people eating solo. Would recommend as a spot for dinner or takeout, especially since it's so warming to the palette in chilly weather. Service: 4/5 - you had to place order on electronic menu by yourself and grab condiments and water by yourself but otherwise food came out fast and they seemed nice! read more

Leleka - Chicken and beef mixed dumplings, one came with $2.5 bone brother as an add on - Ukrainian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Tried the Beef Gouda and the potato cheese dumplings: good, perhaps Very Good even. but I'm not sure I'd go out of my way to eat this even if I was in the neighborhood. read more

I've never had Ukranian food. When I saw this, I didn't think twice about going. Leleka is spacious. It's also almost full self service. You pretty much put your orders on a screen, seat yourself, get your utensils and sauces. Beef dumplings were fine. They were boiled; you have to tell them if you want them pan fried. They have to be dipped in sauce. Soy sauce or spicy mayo are available. The apple pie was good. It was not super sweet; the poppy seeds gave it additional texture. The farmers cheesecake Zapekanka was also not that sweet. Soft but still a little crumbly texture. Goes well with chocolate sauce. Overall experience was good. Giving it a 4/5. read more

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I love borscht, so I always go to this place when I'm around here as there are only a handful of places in the city that have it. The restaurant is convenient if you work in the financial district otherwise there aren't any easy parking options. I'm not sure why it's not open on the weekends but I can only guess it's more for office workers during the day. I've tried the cabbage rolls which are very good, the sauce is not too sweet which I like. Sometimes if you get them in a store there is a more sweet ketchupy taste instead of a savory tomato sauce. I like sitting outside if it's nice enough weather, it' on Belden street so there's always foot traffic. read more

Leleka - Borscht - Ukrainian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I've ordered delivery from here and both times the food was really good! Fast delivery. I got the borsh, small and large portion, it was high quality, not oily and really tasty (coming from someone who grew up eating it!) I also tried their beef hand pie which was flavorful, a bit small, but lots of stuffing inside. My friend recommended their dumplings which I will try next time (they are made with special wheat and apparently taste better than traditional). Looking forward to visiting this place in person to check out the ambience and try more dishes! read more

Walked around SF, looking for a special treat. Oooh, I saw a sign, for excited for something delicious. Found them. Walked in. No greetings. No acknowledgement. Stood at the counter for a few minutes, ready to order Borzhomi and dumplings, plus something else to go. Thought someone would at least acknowledge from the rear of the kitchen, but no, zero attention, they were yelling at each other. Soo - i walked out and $pent my $ elsewhere. read more

Leleka - Ukrainian Near Me - San Francisco, California

Delicious lamb (my favorite) and chicken dumplings! I like that they have a large selection of sauces as well. Recommend the garlic sauce. You can get two different flavors read more

Leleka - Lamb and chicken dumplings - Ukrainian Near Me - San Francisco, California

Do yourself a favor and order the chicken dumplings and dip them into their garlic sauce. Throw in a side of pickles. The restaurant was clean and the servers brought my kids a juice and coloring pages. 5 out of 5, too bad I live 400 miles away. Wonder if they deliver? read more

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A friend took me here and I can't wait to go back! We got the Chicken Hand Pie, beef Borsh , lamb dumplings! It looks basic but I tell you nothing basic about the flavors! We got here a little before noon and glad we did the place filled up! They even have a nice outside patio. Highly recommend read more

Leleka - Borsh, lamb dumplings, chicken hand pies - Ukrainian Near Me - San Francisco, California

The chicken dumplings (20) with chicken broth is amazing and so are the cabbage and Kiev cake. Order at the counter and they bring the food to you. read more

Leleka - Latest menu as of 1/27/2025 - Ukrainian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Sometimes advertising can be misleading online, especially when your favorite restaurant is closed even though its advertising is new and well-invested and accompanied by a tempting video. That's why I recommend adding another $20 and eating at this Eastern European restaurant. They're not always open but they're a better and slightly more expensive alternative to fine gourmet food. I recommend a main course of slow-cooked meat goulash, which gives the meat a really melt-in-your-mouth tenderness. The main course comes with a very respectable weight of meat. I recommend choosing a side of mashed potatoes and paying another $3 for soft-boiled peas. Simply a gastronomic delight that soothes the discomfort read more

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I walk by Leleka, every week. I work close to it. The smells from inside, are so inviting. Exotic is what Ukrainian food is to me. I finally caved in. On a busy Friday evening. People (Locals & Tourists) are flowing in, as large groups. There is plenty of seating. Inside and out. Thankfully. This place is located in a food plaza that is frequented by throngs of people, especially at dinner time. The chairs inside are small and wooden, with magnetized legs. It's tough to move the chairs around. Kinda cool. The legs are almost one with the floor. I spent more money than was intended. Ordered multiple items. Cheese pancakes, that come with a delicious raspberry puree to drizzle over them. A Spinach hand pie. Borsh that was savory and full of stewed beef. Also a slice of Caramel Honey Cake. I read many reviews raving about how fluffy, filling, and flavorful this cake is. I am truly a fan of it. So good. The level of service might suffer a bit, if there are many people here at once. A sense of frustration may arise, if one is new and unfamiliar with the items on the menu. I indulged fully and ordered a drink called Kompot. It was a lovely burgundy color, tasting like a sangria without alcohol. The staff was hard at work making sure the guests were well fed and wanting for nothing. I will return to try the cabbage rolls and potato (or the cherry) dumplings. Maybe a beer too and possibly the beet salad. read more

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