I go to this place all the time during lunch and I love their borsch. Affordable cost and always good quality food.

This was my first time ever trying Ukrainian food. We ordered the beets salad and dumplings. It looked and tasted like the polish pierogi. My co-worker and I enjoyed the food. The owners were very nice and the restaurant was clean. read more

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Dumplings from ukraine Support these guys Eat tasty dumplings And definitively in the broth !! JYW heartedly recommends read more

Leleka - Ukrainian Near Me - San Francisco, California

The food is amazing! Service is quick and super friendly! Dumplings and meat pies were top notch! Don't miss out on Kiev cake.

delicious homey ukranian food in fidi area! the dumplings are a must try here. they come with 20 pieces but they are small, i think it's a good portion for even one person! the hand pies are also quite good, i tried both the beef and cabbage and the stuffings were very flavorful. the exterior could be a little more crunchy but otherwise delicious. service was friendly/standard and ambiance is casual. the restaurant is located in an alleyway next to an italian restaurant, i got confused which place was leleka when approaching. overall, would highly recommend and i love supporting local businesses! read more

Leleka - Beef Hand Pie, Cabbage Hand Pie, Chicken Dumplings 20pcs - Ukrainian Near Me - San Francisco, California

My first time trying Ukrainian food and wow it was such a good experience! This restaurant is located in a lowkey, quiet alley so I almost missed the entrance but the inside is very clean, simple and minimalistic. There were so many types of fillings for the dumplings that I struggled to narrow down which ones to order, but the staff was very kind and said I could order multiple types of dumpling fillings in my bowl. I got the dumplings with beef, chicken, and pork fillings in the chicken broth. So simple, but very comforting and homey. The soup was hot and rich, while the dumplings had great flavor and texture. The dough wasn't too thick, and I liked how each filling was distinct enough that you could taste the difference between each one. It reminded me of my grandma's wonton soup and it was perfect for a cold fall day. Service was very fast and the food was very affordable. read more

Leleka - Beef, chicken, pork dumplings in chicken broth - Ukrainian Near Me - San Francisco, California

The beef and Gouda dumplings are so good with the garlic and spicy sauce! I also really liked the chicken dumplings and plov. The beef hand pies are another favorite. With all that said, you absolutely must try the Kyiv cake- I'm not normally one for cakes, but this is so good I ordered one for my birthday this year. Great food, friendly staff- Slava Ukraini! read more

Came here for lunch during work because I was curious about Ukrainian food and wanted more than a sandwich to fill me up. I was eyeing both the dumplings and the cabbage rolls, but opted for dumplings because I learned you can mix and match (would be helpful if that tip was on the menu). I ordered the chicken dumplings and beef gouda dumplings, and I also got the spinach hand pie. While I wouldn't really recommend the spinach pie, I did like the flavors of my dumplings! The chicken one tasted like classic pasta because of its classic Italian ingredients, and the beef gouda had a strong gouda flavor. The beef filling itself was a bit dry, though, so I couldn't fully enjoy it. I feel this would've been better if I had added on the chicken broth because then it would've felt more nourishing. Otherwise, it was a pretty comforting meal, and service was good as well. Would come back again to try some veggie dumplings. read more

Leleka - Chicken and beef gouda dumplings - Ukrainian Near Me - San Francisco, California

I've been experimenting with cooking, and wanted to improve my borscht recipe I had theirs, and it was delicious. Absolute worth the 2 hour drive. read more

At this point in my life it's hard to find food I've never tried before, so I was pleasantly surprised to find this place next to my hotel. The food was perfect and hit the spot. As I'm Korean and have had plenty of dumplings, I wasn't expecting anything that different but I liked that the flavors were very balanced and the wrapper had a nice bite to it. Make sure to experiment with the different sauces to see what tastes best to your liking. I'm also glad I got it in the chicken broth- it had a deep, comforting flavor and the sprinkling of dill gave it a fresh contrast. Never had food made from a Ukrainian grandma but it tastes like this food was made by a Ukrainian grandma. I'd come back for the food alone but also want to give a shoutout to the server (manager?) who was very kind. Highly recommend if you're looking for something comforting! read more

Delicious food and friendly staff! Food came out quickly, and portions were huge. Don't skip out on the sauces on the side counter read more

Leleka - Beef Gouda Dumplings 20pcs, Borsh, Pickles 3oz - Ukrainian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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My fiancé and my mother went here on 4/18/25 and it was fantastic! See, my fiancé is from Romania and I have gone to visit him there multiple times and we both agree that the cabbage rolls taste exactly like the sarmale from Transylvania, minus the tomato sauce over it. It was nice to get a taste of my home away from home in LITERAL San Francisco! The atmosphere was wonderful as well, it really did remind us of Romania and or Italy due to the little alleyway it was tucked in. I had looked up good eastern european restaurants in San Francisco and this is a great start to them -- one down and three to go, now. I think this is in my top favorite restaurants in California! The service was kind and always smiling and or laughing. Everything about this place is welcoming and homey. This really is a hidden gem and we will be coming back again soon! read more

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It's probably not a coincidence that my only two Ukrainian dining experiences happened in just the past few months. The first was breakfast at the highly popular Vaselka in NYC's East Village back in October (review: https://bit.ly/3IU7TEo), and the second was here when I had supper in the middle of Belden Place. I had heard about this spot when the war first broke out in Ukraine since it's the only Ukrainian eatery in town. Last year, owner Sergei Shukailo wisely changed the name from the decidedly Russian name of Pushkin to the Ukrainian word for a native stork. It's a straightforward order counter cafe serving dumplings and piroshki as well as a borsh, a couple of salads, and a cabbage roll house special. Since it was my virginal visit, I felt a need to try the Boiled Dumplings of which they offered five different kinds in batches of 13 and 26. Even thirteen sounded like a lot, to me but they were much smaller than their dim sum cousins, and they were color coded to indicate what filling was inside. For $11, I was able to mix and match Lamb (pink), Chicken (green), and Beef Gouda (yellow) (photo: https://bit.ly/3Xlqiy4). The pink came from a tomato dough filled with ground lamb, mint, ginger, and beets. The green came from a spinach dough filled with chicken, basil, and parmesan cheese. The yellow came from a turmeric dough filled with beef and smoked gouda cheese. They were all pretty tasty bitefuls especially dipped in the dollop of sour cream provided with them. An $8 bowl of Borsh was a hearty accompaniment consisting of beef, cabbage, potato, onion, carrot, dill, and the beets that gave the soup its deep purple color (photo: https://bit.ly/3ZBuQlw). Pretty satisfying and not nearly as heavy as I was expecting. Definitely worth a return trip especially for those dumplings. FOOD - 4 stars...tasty boiled dumplings and borsh fit for any comfort food craving AMBIANCE - 4 stars...casual and spacious with a big patio SERVICE - 4 stars...helpful in explaining the dumpling colors and Ukrainian cuisine in general TOTAL - 4 stars...support Ukraine! RELATED - Exploring the FiDi? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: http://bit.ly/2F02OZN read more

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Stayed in the area for a week and ended up here 3 times. Can't say I've had Ukrainian food before so this was a first for me. I enjoyed the salmon dumplings, chicken hand pie, and Kyiv cake. Also had a beer that was good. Prices are fair and they have plenty of self serving sauce to go with your food. Plenty of tables each time I went and if you're not familiar with Belden lane there are plenty of other options if it's not your cup of tea. read more

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Awesome fresh vareniki/pirogies with multiple different flavors and fillings cooked to perfection If you never tried this yummy dish you absolutely have to read more

Leleka - Mixed flavors - Ukrainian Near Me - San Francisco, California

I was excited to try this Ukrainian spot since I realized it's the only Ukrainian restaurant in SF. And even though the interior and vibe of this place is very simple (I'd say it's more like an eatery) the food is really good and authentic. Our party of 5 was interested in trying everything they have to offer and it seemed to be feasible because the menu is not large. The only option we skipped was pelmeny (as their origin isn't really Ukrainian). So the summary is: - Borscht 5/5 Very rich taste, tender vegetables and good amount of meat - Cabbage rolls 5/5 My personal favorite! Very juicy, good quality of meat in the filling and well cooked cabbage leaves - Vareniky (dumplings) 5/5 We got vegetarian versions (potato and potato with cheese) and love them. Delicate dough, well balanced filling. - Hand roll with mushrooms 5/5 Lots of filling, good thin crust - Beets salad 5/5 Fresh and zesty! - Syrniky (cheese pancakes) 5/5 Delicate and fluffy. Raspberry jam matched perfectly for them. - Honey cake 5/5 Moist and creamy. With the honey taste in layers. - Kompot 5/5 Bright fruits flavor, not too sweet - Beer good but nothing special The service was fast and friendly and prices are more than reasonable. Definitely recommend this place for the quick intro to traditional Ukrainian food. read more

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Stopped by for a quick lunch and such a satisfying meal. I tried their boiled dumplings and my brother tried their pan fried. Both taste really nice. My favorite was the beef as the boiled dumplings have a little bit of soup in them. They have a couple sauces for you to mix with including sour cream. You get to choose between small or large but you can let them know if you want to mix two flavors. Walk in and order at the counter type of place. They'll bring out your food for you and service was pretty quick. Need another visit to try their borsh and hand pies! read more

Leleka - Chicken and beef dumpling. Potato cheese and potato dumplings - Ukrainian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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When it's cold and muggy out, this place makes it all better with their borsh and dumplings. Since it was my first visit at Leleka, I was not sure which dumplings I'd like better. I'm glad they allowed me to get a mix of different dumplings. It's hard to choose a favorite dumpling, but I liked the beef one best. The borsh was so flavorful and paired well with the dumplings. Last but not lease, the staff was also very friendly. I'd definitely return! read more

Leleka - Borsh and assortment of dumplings - Ukrainian Near Me - San Francisco, California

the honey cake was the driest thing I've ever eaten- actually shocked that honey and caramel could ever produce something so dry!!!! Must have been a bad batch. Tasted like sandpaper. Other than that the dumplings were yummy and good read more

This is an order at the counter joint. Service is very fast. We got our food within 10 minutes of ordering. We ordered cabbage rolls and borsch. Both were delicious but the highlight was definitely the borsch. It's sweet and savory from the beets and broth but a bit tart as well. I'm addicted! It reminds me of a Vietnamese soup -- Canh Củ Dền. Awesome find while visiting the city. Hope to be back in the future. read more

Leleka - Cabbage rolls - Ukrainian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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A coworker suggested dumplings, Ukrainian dumplings, to be exact for lunch and I had no idea what to expect! Such a simple lunch and tasted so good! The dough is a bit more doughy unlike Asian dumplings which are a lot thinner almost translucent. Seems like more of an Italian-like dough. I ordered the butternut squash and the beef gouda dumplings--13 bite sized pieces each to share was plenty for 2 people. We also ordered chicken broth to go with it. The broth is served on the side, the dumplings are not swimming in it. Bite of the dumpling and a spoonful of broth, felt like comfort food to me. The butternut squash was delicious...creamy, sweet and a little nutty flavor. The beef was a nugget sized meatball with gouda, although the gouda flavor was very subtle. I enjoyed my meal so much that I ordered another full order (26 pcs) of beef dumplings and piroshki's to take home for dinner. I got the beef and the sausage piroshki's and an apple one. These were baked and not deep fried. I really like the baked version over the deep fried version--doesn't seem as greasy and I really like the crust--reminded me of hand pies. I preferred the sausage over the beef, but both were delicious. The apple was a nice ending...not too sweet and great apple flavor. The staff behind the counter were helpful with the descriptions and really friendly! I would definitely come back and I highly recommend this place to anyone who hasn't tried Ukrainian dumplings! read more

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Came here for lunch because this spot is close to my office. Maybe I'm not too knowledgeable about Ukrainian food, this was good but not out of this world. The dough was soft and the meat filling good. I got the Beef Gouda + Lamb Pelmeni (you can mix and match, I couldn't tell them apart too much), and the sauces were tasty but it was best with sour cream. They were empty at 11:30am on a Thursday, had a few more customers by 12:15pm or so. The staff was nice and our food came out quickly. read more

Leleka - Beef Gouda + Lamb Pelmeni (mixed). Soft dough and good meat. I liked this, but wasn't out of this world. Thu lunch 2023-03-23 - Ukrainian Near Me - San Francisco, California

For many years I've attended a medical conference every February at the Ritz, and take the opportunity to discover new restaurants. The pandemic resulted in two years of virtual conferences, but this year I was able to return for an in-person event - and to see what new places might have sprung up in the meantime. I reached out to a prolific Yelper for suggestions, and she suggested this place. Leleka is located on Belden Place, one of my favorite little alleys in the city. There used to be a great place for mussels here - Plouf - but that has since closed up shop. If I'm not mistaken, this restaurant now occupies the same location. Anyways, I was on my own for lunch today; normally I'd be here with a companion but she had other plans for today. So, I was only able to sample a small part of the traditional Ukrainian fare. Nevertheless, it was excellent. The menu here is simple - a variety of boiled or pan fried dumplings, a couple soups, and piroshki, which look like a kind of empanada. Based on Yelp photos, it appears they recently added a new specialty item, holubtsi, cabbage rolls stuffed with beef and rice. For my lunch I feasted on: Beef gouda boiled dumplings - this comes in two sizes, either 13 or 26 dumplings. This was a little daunting to me as it seemed like a lot, but the people behind the counter assured me that this was manageable for one person. Indeed, it was. These were fantastic little flavor bombs of beef and cheese, nicely seasoned and encased in a dough not dissimilar in consistency to a Chinese potsticker. I believe it was boiled in a chicken broth, which added to the flavor. Eaten with just a touch of sour cream, this was really enjoyable. And yes, 13 was not excessive for one person. Borsh - a traditional Ukrainian beet soup with vegetables and small bits of tender beef. I was a little apprehensive about getting this, because while I like beets they are sometimes just a little too earthy. Fortunately, that was not the case. This, too, was very tasty with a hearty flavor, delicately seasoned with salt and spices. I liked this a lot more than expected. The rye bread provided was good for dipping, but it seemed a little dry and I could have used a little more. I was tempted to get a piroshki - the people at the table next to me were downing them in great quantities - but by the time I had finished my two dishes I was beyond satisfied and I still had to stay awake for three more hours of the conference. I do hope this place sticks around for a while because I'm looking forward to a return visit. (BTW thanks Cherylynn for the tip!) read more

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I really wanted to support a Ukrainian-owned business after seeing all the good reviews, but the experience was awful. The borscht tasted like red water, no bread was served, and the chicken dumplings were terrible. Tried the beef ones -- even worse. The $6 compote wasn't worth it either. I didn't eat anything, my mood was ruined, and they refused a refund. For a place serving Ukrainian food, you'd expect at least one person in the kitchen familiar with Slavic cuisine I didn't see anyone from our (Russian-speaking) countries. Never again. read more

Tasty borsch that comes with a very good rye bread. Make sure to get the marinated carrots they are bursting with flavor and only $1.50. The large borscht ($16), marinated carrots ($1.50) and a few extra pieces of bread (.25 ea) is enough for 2 meals for me. read more

Another favorite lunch spot prepandemic. Since then, they moved their location from the underground food court to the food alley nearby. I always get the lamb dumpling with soup and load it up with the different sour cream and sauces. I just love dumping the dumpling with the different sauce. However, I think the soup recipe changed slightly where is it more cilantro heavy so knocking down one star since I'm not a fan of cilantro. read more

I did not know this alley of food paradise existed in San Francisco! Dropped by LELEKA on a Monday night and it was pretty quiet. Plenty of tables inside and outside and there were heat lamps and overhead cover if you sat outside. My table decided to share and got a bunch of different dumplings. Got the lamb, chicken, cabbage, and potato. Added mushroom piroshki and honey cake. I'm partial to the lamb as I like the gaminess but in my table I know two who really loved the chicken. The piroshki was really pillowy on the outside and was flavorful inside. My only slight issue would be that the piroshki was a bit cold as I was expecting it to be hot. The honey cake. I could wax poetic about the honey cake. It was surprisingly filling for something so fluffy. It had just the right amount of sweetness and I liked that there were different textures (from the crumb top to the fluffy sour cream filling and the gooey tart sauce on the bottom). I would buy a whole cake. Service was great! You can either order from the front or if you were seated they came to you. My only note is that they don't ask for a tip when they charge your card on the square app (and I definitely checked the receipt) so bring a small amount of cash if you want to tip. read more

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Came to Leleka right at opening and really enjoyed my meal! I opted for the beef and gouda pelmeni and WOW. That smoked gouda within was a showstopper and made the bites so much fun! I opted to add chicken broth to the dish which was perfect during this breezy SF lunchtime. It was soul warming and just a giant bowl of happiness! I also got an apple pirojki for later :) Portion size, the small is definitely very filling for smaller appetites especially if you get broth with it. I would definitely recommend a try at Leleka! Belden Place, in general, is just a fun street to explore! read more

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We ordered this on Uber Eats and got the beef/gouda and chicken dumplings combo with organic chicken bone broth, bacon and beef hand pies, and some marinated cabbage and pickles on the side. All were very good, but the meat pies and bone broth were especially awesome. My husband is Midwestern and these were just like the pasties he remembers from out there. The filling is savory and flavorful and it's wrapped in a buttery pillowy dough similar to a croissant. The best part? They use organic wheat flour and grass fed beef, and do not use seed oils! That alone makes my heart sing. The bone broth being organic was a plus, it was so flavorful and had delicately sliced scallions in it for the perfect touch. I will definitely be back to try the borscht and the lamb dumplings! read more

Politics are not my thing. But this is now a social and human decency issue that we are facing these days when talking about Ukraine. On a recent Saturday in the Ferry Building, a pop-up appeared at the former space of the Prather Ranch Meat Company's stand. They were still setting up when I stopped by with the gentleman telling me that they will at 10 am. I continued my shopping and returned about 10:15 am as there were several people hovering around the space. I walked up to the counter after studying the menu and ordered two menu items. As I read the menu, the cashier left the register to hand write the available meat options for the piroshky and dumplings (mostly beef, chicken, and a third option that I can't remember). When I got home after shopping and running more errands, I was famished. I started with the borsch (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=3R7vQA1GquOsOrBkEP1AdA&userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q), Ukrainian traditional soup with beets, cabbage, and beef; what's not to like about a still warm bowl of soup (12 oz.) packed with ingredients on a cool and windy Saturday. The color fooled me a bit as I worried that it would be on the sweet side but it was just right. Later in the week, I reheated a chicken piroshky (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=iaKhCnWID50_12GQaL_1nQ&userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q) for breakfast, individually baked; I liked that it was not the least bit oily and the filling was plentiful and overly saucy (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=SL0nezoc_9GFENvb7DN2FA&userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q). For a pop-up, it looked to be a sucess as I saw some waiting customers holding miniature Ukraine flags which I saw sitting next to the pay pad. I didn't take one as I didn't know the policy on that. The cashier was efficient and knew what he was doing while the young man expediting the orders had some difficulties communicating with the waiting customers and putting the food together. Coincidentally, I had a business lunch on the following Wednesday just up the block from the restaurant. It'd been a while since I walked through Belden Place and, boy, was it hopping during the lunch hour. Being a curious George, I peeked over and saw a server deliver a couple bowls of dumplings to outdoor diners. Guess I know what I'll be trying next time. read more

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This is a hidden gem and the only Ukrainian restaurant in the city. Located in an alley filled with restaurants and halfway down the block, is Leleka. They have both indoor and outdoor seating. Once you walk in, you are greeted with an ordering counter with an open kitchen behind it, high ceilings, and industrial look with wooden chairs and tables. I pre-ordered on their website in advance with a 545pm pick up. My order was not finished until 6pm as they had a group of 20 guests they were serving. I ordered 3 plates: Potato Onion Vareniki, Organic Chicken Pelmeni, and Beef Piroshki. The chicken pelmeni was the winner of the night! Over 10 pieces of spinach colored dumplings wrapped inside was 100% organic chicken, basil, and parmesan. You can eat it by itself which is good enough but with the dipping sauce its even better! I had their garlic ranch sauce and the spicy mayo, blown away by the intensity of the flavors. The potato onion dumplings was also good, much larger size and the dip works well with the too. The Piroshki is different than the ones I have tried in the past (soft, oily dough wrapped with beef inside). This one is a hard shell baked bun filled with ground beef and onion, topped with black sesame seeds. Delicious ethnic food and trying a new cuisine I have not tried before. If you order food online, you can also make a donation to help with the war in Ukraine before you check out. There is also a "Stand with Ukraine! Donate here" button for those that just want to help with the war efforts. Please support this local, delicious restaurant! read more

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I was passing by and wanted to support a Ukrainian family business. I've never had Ukrainian food so I read the glowing reviews on yelp to find out what the best items to order are. Pushkin is at 40 Belden Place with outdoor seating. You order inside and they bring your food out to you. I was hungry and wanted to try a few dishes but being a solo diner it was hard not to try everything. I still couldn't make up my mind with the yelp reviews and asked the woman who took my order for recommendations and this is what she suggested: Chicken pirojki (piroshki): This was a good size filled with flavorful chicken, cabbage and I think other veggies. I can see how people would order many more of these like the beef and mushroom. I had a late lunch and unfortunately they ran out of other pirojki. Sample pelmeni (beef, chicken, salmon and lamb 13 pcs): This came piping hot in chicken soup and I loved every single one of the dumplings. This is definitely a hearty meal for someone who is hungry. It's definitely comfort food on a chilly day. Honey Cake: I really liked this! This cake had a slight sweetness of honey and 5 layers of sour cream frosting to keep it from getting too sweet. It was such a good way to end the meal. I enjoyed my meal here. There are other items on the menu I want to try (Beef Gouda Pelmeni and Potato Onion Vereniki) so next time I'm in the area I'll be sure to pay Pushkin a visit. Highly Recommended! read more

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Because of the war against Ukraine, I decided to support Pushkin during this special Instagram event. This entire proceeds of the sales will go directly to Ukraine so the owner of Pushkin has a vested interest in helping the people in Ukraine. This was a preset menu where you could only order fried piroshki's of potato or cabbage. The fried piroshki's were very crispy, fresh & had a good amount of filling. The additional order of piroshki's consisted of beef & chicken. Both meats were generous in their portion size & had enough flavor, but the outer dough was a little dry. So out of the 2 piroshki's I would choose the fried version. read more

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If you ever: - miss Ukranian or east-europe cuisine - want to eat something really tasty and delicious - tired of over-fried and/or over-sugared American food Then you must visit Leleka! Their interior might look not like top-fashion restaurant, but believe me - you'll get really tasty and healthy food. Additional star for marking gluten-free food. read more

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I never once had Ukrainian food until I tried piroshki and kvass several years ago. I'll be expecting more of what's Ukrainian. The former bakery and restaurant that was once called Pushkin has been renamed as LELEKA. I have yet to dine at LELEKA someday; for now, I only go for takeout. Since I have a big dinner at home, I buy the soup, dessert, and a special drink. What do I think about the Ukrainian Borscht? Two words, authentic and hearty. Aside from the tomato soup base, there's beet strips and shredded beef settled on the bottom when I stir them. The apple piroshki is as good as an apple pie. Just like empanadas, not all piroshki are savory. There's fruit filled to make it as a dessert. There's no non-alcoholic beverage better than the bread kvass. Its dark rye flavor is a middle between the buzz of the kombucha and the booze of the beer. Doesn't have to be strong, which is a perfect beverage for me. There are not enough customers ever since I come to LELEKA for the first time. Its male server is soft spoken while two of the female chefs are doing a modest job prepping my takeout. Be sure to swing by their bakery & restaurant with kindness. They'll deserve it. read more

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I truly wish I liked this place more! Got the potato dumplings w sour cream and garlic Mayo sauce on side and I was a bit underwhelmed compared to previous pierogis I've had. The dumplings were a bit undercooked and I felt like it was pretty small for the price. The inside was good but I felt like there was too much dough to potato ratio. The place is very spacious and the service was quick. They weren't the friendliest people in the world but it was nothing deal breaking . read more

Leleka - Potato dumpling - Ukrainian Near Me - San Francisco, California

Ordered takeout after traveling all day. Our meals were delicious. Fast service. We had the meat, chicken, mushroom, and apple. All were fantastic. read more

I've been to Leleka multiple times and tried cabbage, potato, and salmon pelmeni, as well as mushroom and cabbage baked pierogis. Salmon pelmeni will always have a special place in my heart because it's truly the best pelmeni I've ever tried in my life and trust me I tried lots of them. I would highly recommend this restaurant and it's also I great another way to support Ukraine. read more

Leleka - Salmon pelmeni - Ukrainian Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Love this place so much! If I can't get to Ukraine, this is the next best option. Highly recommend!

Sweet, simple cafe spot with a fair amount of indoor and outdoor seating, located in the little international food alley in the FiDi district in SF. Hearty yet not heavy spot to try Ukrainian food. While I'm decidedly no expert in Eastern European food in general, I must say the dumplings were all uniquely flavored and delicious! I got a small mixed combo of the boiled dumplings and a small mixed combo of the fried ones too. The mixed option isn't explicitly listed on the menu but the same price as choosing one flavor so why not try them all lol. Glad I did because they were all tasty in their own way, each protein was seasoned with different herbs, the skin wasn't too thick and each dumpling was a nice bite sized amount. I got the boiled dumplings in chicken broth and that was light and flavorful and gladly not too salty. The kompot--which was a juice pressed from tart cherry, sea buckthorn, black currant, and apple juices--was lightly sweet as it's description but also had an interesting tinge of briny tartness, weird to describe, but it was refreshing. The borsh was decent too, the flavor is good and I like beets, tho this soup is not one of my personal favorites it tastes very homey and comforting so I can see why others enjoy it. read more

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