It's been 25 yrs since eating Russian food. I even tried making it only to realize I couldn't remember what borscht tasted like anymore. Yeah, I didn't make it right. How do I know? Cause as soon as I took a spoonful of his borscht I was transported to the middle of Novosibirsk in winter. It was wonderful. It's a bit hard to find. Thank gawd for the photos of the outside. But it's a quaint location on the second floor. I was able to purchase homemade pelmeni too! It was great. Thank you. I wish I took a photo, but I ate it too quickly. Next time. read more

A Hip and humble eatery and deli/grocery store with top notch quality and service. Specializes in Eastern European/Russian Moldovan food with bread from Ukraine, and rare delectable delights. (Vegetarian borscht was AWESOME You always feel welcome when you walk in the door‼ read more

Yes it is definitely a little "hole in the wall" but it is very clean and food is homemade and EXCELLENT!!! We will definitely be back again. We almost had everything on the menu, lol. We left stuffed!!! The owner was very friendly and made us feel at home. read more

Luybochka - The store part. - Grocery Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

Great Kvass selection!! I will be going back for more. Tricky to find but glad I didn't give up. read more

Rather than a full restaurant, Luybochka is more of a deli/grocery. I visited with my sister and her hubby for a Saturday lunch, and we actually ended up getting everything but a sandwich! The owner brought food out as it was ready, which ended up being perfect as we were usually finishing up the last of whatever small dish we'd been served previously. Like Eastern European tapas! We shared a double order of potato salad, one meat and one cabbage pierogy, vareniki with sour cream, pelmeni with butter, a stuffed cabbage roll, a meat blintz, a cheese blintz, and borscht. Phew! It was a glorious feast, and the perfect amount for three. Most dishes benefitted from an additional sprinkling of salt and pepper, but everything was at least good, and I often find Russian or Eastern European foods to be a bit under seasoned for my taste, so I don't think that is the fault of Luybochka. Favorites were the meat blintz, borscht, and vareniki with lots of pepper (and while you can do butter instead, the sour cream is a must!). The potato salad was quite delish, too! After our meal was completed, we wandered around the grocery section, and the owner pointed out these small individually wrapped cheesecake bars twice, so we finally succumbed to temptation and each picked a different variety out (the chocolate was perfect: very rich, but not too sweet. Get some!). There is also prepackaged and fresh cut halva, tons of charcuterie, pickled vegetables, cheeses, and some cool beverages. They offer that amazing bulk candy often found at similar markets, however they had many varieties that I have never seen before (and I've made it a bit of a hobby to hang out at these sorts of stores!). Additionally, there were fresh and boxed cakes, cookies, some liquor filled chocolates.....and honestly half of what was on offer was a sweet, so you know I am LIVING for this store. It was about $30 for our (very satisfying and filling) meal, plus we had leftovers! As we were paying for our purchases, we asked the owner if he was from Russia, to which he exclaimed, "No! Moldova!" My brother in law spent a month or two in Moldova some time back, and it turns out where he stayed was only a few miles from where the owner had lived! Isn't it amazing that we live in this huuuuuge world, but coincidences like that seem to pop up rather often? Hearing them discuss Moldova and their experiences in that country was the cherry on top of an already wonderful visit. I'm so excited to return! read more

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Borscht, cabbage rolls, pirogy and a salami sandwich all very tasty. The raspberry drink tasted like a fresh iced tea. Owner was very friendly. If you're in the mood for delicious Russian food, make sure to stop in! read more

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So glad I found this gem! Great products, reasonable prices, friendly and kind staff. Highly recommend!

Luybochka is my first attempt at Russian food. While I see one or two reviewers heckling it for advertising itself as such, for the uninitiated as I am, I thought to see what was being offered since many have high praise for this eatery. ATMOSPHERE ____________________ Located off 3300 S, don't expect curb appeal at Luybochka. As a matter of fact, don't expect to easily find its curb at all as this small market/diner is nearly imperceptible from the road. Your GPS navigation will get you close enough as you turn into a narrow parking lot of what appears to be a nearly vacant, 2-story building. You may identify a vintage clothing shop on the bottom floor although upon closer inspection, the sign on the door indicates they're no longer at this location. This makes Luybochka the sole occupant (as best as I can tell), being situated on the second floor. You will see a sign on the buildings exterior wall advertising the restaurant as well as a nail salon which once resided here. A stairwell will bring you closer yet make certain to go right when you get to the top. Inside, a pronounced element of the ambience is the loud, buzzing hum of an air conditioner which kept me pleasantly cool. There was no discernible restroom but I didn't ask if one of the three, unlabeled doors harbored one albeit one door was opened to a possible office/storage by view of the stacked boxes inside). The floor is divided into a diner which seats no more than 20 and an equally small (but quite interesting) market/grocery section. The unadorned diner was pleasant enough and it's appearance not unexpected given the aesthetic of the exterior. That said, I didn't find it off-putting and cleanliness was of average rating. FOOD ____________________ In a way that I suppose makes sense, the small diner has a small menu, referring to the selection of foods you'll find here. For what are largely unfamiliar names of the food, the menu offers only what is more or less the English label of the item to guide you. I asked the owner to explain a bit more of what the ingredients were (more on that below). As usual, I asked for water. I was amused to see the waiter turn around to a cooler and retrieve a bottle of purified water. In retrospect, I suppose that's better than what many places do which is likely pour some tap water into a cup with ice. My experience is limited to a single visit and the following items: pelmeni, vareniki, pirogy, stuffed cabbage roll, and blintzes. The pelmeni and vareniki tasted fine, really, but it seemed to me that these were not homemade but taken from a bag and boiled. There was nothing particularly compelling about them. They are dough and a simple filling. Tasty and simple...perhaps too simple. I will add that there was an unpleasant amount of water pooled in the bottom of the bowl for both of these which led me to believe that they could've been strained a bit more in a colander. The pirogy was microwaved. I won't say more except it's taste was fine but much like the aforementioned, rather one note. The stuffed cabbage roll turned out to be a favorite of mine, far more flavorful than the dough-wrapped offerings. Lastly, the blintzes, a desert comparable to a crepe was...interesting. I wish I knew what the ingredients were. There was something odd which I tasted but my online review of the usual ingredients didn't reveal anything peculiar. SERVICE ____________________ Luybochka's owner, cook, and maître d' are all titles belonging to a solitary man. From another review, I'm to understand that this gentleman is from Moldova, a country which shares some history with Russia. His accented voice and pleasant demeanor are quite nice. As previously stated, I had to ask him for a description of what the food was and he patiently explained such. The dishes I ordered were brought to me one at a time with each successive dish being delivered only a moment after I finished the last. That made the experience feel pleasantly personal. Thinking on it now, I'm going to see if there was a camera perched in one of the corners next time I go because it was uncanny how those dishes were timed in coming out. EXTRAS ____________________ None that I know of. RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE OWNER ____________________ A clearly marked restroom (if there is one) and perhaps some window and interior dressing to accent the food/culture. SUMMARY ____________________ As it was the case for me, a foreign food enthusiast, my motivation for trying Luybochka was primarily driven by my curiosity about just what Russian food was like. Still, I suspect that a more robust restaurant would offer a considerably better experience. I would describe the menu and establishment as "lunch, not dinner." Based on the food alone, I score Luybochka as 3 stars which elevates to 3.75 given the scarcity and therefore uniqueness of the cuisine as well as the presence of the market which I intend on sampling on a subsequent visit. read more

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Delicious sandwich! I am having a salami sandwich now and it might be the best I've ever had.

What a great little find. A little bit of Russia here in SLC. Luybochka is both a restaurant and a deli, I visited the deli part of the business and talked a bit with the owner. I was looking for a specific Russian type of rye bread and they have it - flown in from a bakery in NYC. They also have homemade traditional cheese, real sour cream, smoked fish, and other deli delights. The store is on the second story of a non-descript building. But it sure is worth it to check it out. Plus the owners are a hoot to talk with about their native country. read more

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The owner was super nice and helped us pick out a drink since I can't read Russian. I really like the layout of the restaurant. It's very homey and I can tell a lot of love was put into it. I had pirogy and it was really good. The pricing here is amazing. The food was good enough I was surprised by the price. I'll be coming back here again. read more

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quaint little place, friendly, and had exactly what I was looking for. I loved russian chocolate bars when I am in the mood. Thanks

This place sucked the Big One. I initially laughed when someone said it was a front for the Russian Mafia, but when I came with my group, the owner seemed genuinely upset to have customers. I specifically ordered my soup with no sour cream, and when I pointed out that it was incorrect, he had the cook scoop it out, which of course left sour cream flecks The meat and bread were 100% as tough and dry as they look in the pics, and miraculously taste 300% worse than they look read more

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I've never had Russian food before and decided to give this place a shot. I went with my family and the prices are so reasonable to tried a few of each menu item. The food was delicious and the owner was extremely patient and kind. This was a fantastic first experience for someone curious about Russian food. I will definitely be returning soon! read more

We had a variety of different things on the menu, and on the shelf. The gentleman running the place was excellent, as he helped us try a little of Russia. read more

Luybochka - Pomegranate juice and something else. - Grocery Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

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The food was excellent, the owner helped us understand the menu, we got to try everything on the menu, and definitely worth coming back to. It was exactly what we were hoping for from a Russian Deli that is sharing their family recipes. read more

The food was great I got the borscht with bread, pelmini, perogies. I also was able to get some Turkish delight. The person working there was one of the nicest people I have ever met, I want to go back there just cause of him. It is amazingly clean and neat, feels like a nice place just to sit for hours and talk. I was sad when I had to leave I will go back very soon read more

Lovely owner, great market selection, solid dumplings, very reasonable prices, immaculate vibe.

Definitely a hidden gem! I loved the borscht, Olivier salad, and the piroshkis. I'm very happy to see we have a Russian restaurant here in Utah. Very friendly service and would highly recommend! read more

I love this place! The best sandwiches I have ever had. Everything I have tried is great. I especially like the winter salad. I could eat it every day! They have a really nice selection of Russian candies and snacks at good prices. The owners is a wonderful person. The place is a bit camoflaged yes, it is up the stairs on the second floor on the right. read more

Honestly if I could give negative stars I would. The owner was cashing me out, and substantially overcharged me. And automatically charged me for a 20% tip. He got mad for me asking for an itemized list of the food we ate and up priced the things after the menu. Brought us things that we did NOT ask for then charged me for it-and charged more than the menu price. read more

Luybochka - This was his breakdown of our meal. And claimed that come cabbage rolls were more because they were "bigger" -they were all the same size. - Grocery Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

I love this quaint little place. The food is delicious, the service is great and it's not too expensive. The parking is fine, just keep in mind that you have to turn in quickly to the parking lot because it comes up fast when you drive there using the GPS. I highly enjoy their Borsch! Even though it doesn't include meat, they still pull off the authentic taste! I'd also recommend their pelmeni and vareniki. Everything they make and sell is authentic! Amazing place! read more

Amazing spot for authentic Russian groceries/prepared foods. Small business owned by the cutest couple! The best pelmeni and olivier :) I will definitely go back and recommend to friends. read more

Super friendly and very knowledgeable! The shop is really clean and food is very authentic.

I am eating here right now and so impressed with the food, the service, and overall experience. It is easy to miss--tucked away on the second floor of an old building, but you'll be glad you found it. I walk in and see a quaint little seating area for sitting down to eat, and a little grocery store in the back. A Russian woman greeted me and went through the menu with me, explaining what was in each dish. It all sounded so good it was hard to decide what to get, but she was so helpful and kind. I ordered borscht and it was delicious, served with a dollop of sour cream and brown bread on the side for dipping in the soup. She then brought out the cabbage roll. Dang. It was so good. Full, fresh flavors and very filling. For dessert I had a cheese blintze, like a sweet crepe. I then bought a few items from the grocery store, all authentic and at a good price. How cool is it that there's an authentic Russian restaurant and store right here in south SLC? I felt so at home and happy with how warm the woman was and the food could not have been more tasty. What an awesome experience. Highly recommended! read more

Delicious as usual. I've become a regular. It's as authentic or more so than any Russian restaurant I've been to in the US. And the owner is a hoot. Fun to practice my Russian now and again. read more

Luybochka - Grocery Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

The listing says grocery, but there is also a small restaurant inside. I'm by no means an expert on Russian and Eastern European food, but I thought it was really good! As a heads up, this place is tucked away on the 2nd floor of a small shopping complex, above Abode vintage shop. The owner is very friendly (I believe he said he's from Moldova). He was very accommodating, as I am vegetarian. The borscht soup is amazing! (If you're vegan, ask for no sour cream.) The pierogies were handmade and excellent. I also had some kind of veggie bread roll (they have meat ones too), which was good, but I prefer the pierogies. The pierogies normally come with sour cream or something, but the owner offered me some ketchup instead, which was a tasty addition. I also bought some a big bar of Russian dark chocolate for $5. What a steal! And it was seriously some of the best dark chocolate I've had. Definitely check out this local ethnic restaurant. read more

Don't let the building fool you- they have the best piroshkis. Visit them, you won't be disappointed!

Good Russian food. Very authentic. It's nice to try something that hasn't been Americanized read more

Luybochka - Soup and half sandwich. I love borscht! - Grocery Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

Recently learned about this hidden gem and can't get enough. The owners are awesome and the food is super great and authentic. Will be coming back and bringing adventurous friends! :) read more

Luybochka - Borscht and half sandwich. - Grocery Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

We made a huge order for a New Year celebration including Russian traditional salad Olivie and Shuba as well as pirozhki with meat, dumplings with potatoes, smoked salmon, Kvas and plate of cheeses and meats. Food was delicious home made in best Russian tradition. Our guests loved it and party was a huge success. Thank you and we will be ordering again and again. Highly recommend. read more

It's in a very sketchy building, but don't judge the book by the cover. Food is yummy and cheap. Pierogi is amazing: super soft and warm. The menu ris small but they have a very decent selection of deli meat. read more

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Great find! This is the only place that I've found where you can get Good buckwheat to make grechka. The owner is more than happy to answer any questions . read more

I am from Russia, and I absolutely LOVE going to this store! The owners are really friendly, and if you sit down to eat their homemade food is delicious! I always go there to get some of my favorite Russian foods, and get a little taste of home. read more

Awesome hidden gem if you are looking for Russian food. They have a small selection of Russian grocery items (candy, deli meats, drinks, etc.) and they also have a small family ran restaurant operation with Russian staples such as Pierogi and Borscht. The owner was a bit pushy in getting us to purchase additional items but I believe it was because he was excited for us to try new things that we didn't know about, so this wasn't necessarily a negative thing haha. This was the only Russian food we could find throughout the valley so definitely check it out if you are searching. read more

Luybochka has a small menu with items such as pelmeni (meat dumplings), vereniki (potato dumplings), Russian potato salad, pirogi (bread filled with cabbage or meat), stuffed cabbage rolls, borscht and sandwiches. I ordered two pirogis, stuffed cabbage rolls, borscht and a sandwich. With the items priced as low as $1.20, it was easy to indulge. The sandwich had Russian salami, but you can get one with bologna, pork meat, mortadella or veal meat. The cheeses all had names I didn't understand, so I ultimately had Shkrab choose for me. It was a creamy variety like havarti, which made combined deliciously with the spicy salami and rye bread. This was also my first foray into borscht. Luybochka's was loaded with cabbage, carrots, beets and potatoes in a clear broth. Overall, I found it hearty and pretty mild. But the pirogi was amazing. Shkrab makes all the food himself, and the flaky, buttery bread was wonderful. I could eat these pirogi by the pound. read more

Incredible! Great food (I had the blini and the pierogi and both were delicious), super friendly owner, and tons of cool snacks to choose from! Everything was quite cheap for the quality of it and it was such a lovely little place I can't wait to go back!! read more

It's a cute little hole in the wall restaurant. The Russian fellow who runs it is friendly. His thick accent gives the restaurant an authentic feel. I went during a slow time of day and was catered to with just the right amount of attention. I had the borscht soup and half sandwich combo. The borscht was good, but I've had better. The sandwich was fantastic, but didn't have as much foreign flare as I would have liked. It was just a good sandwich. I'm a big boy and hadn't eaten breakfast or lunch by 3:00, so I ordered some pelmeni and a perogi to fill up. I would have been full with just the soup and sandwich on a normal day. Pelmeni and perogi were just mediocre but had the foreign taste I was looking for. The low price and exotic experience was enough to convince me to come back if I'm ever in town again. But just to try something else. If you are looking for a cheap place to eat I recommend it, or if you just want to try Russian food I would give it a go, just realize that there is better Russian food out there. read more

Cute little store. Very friendly and nice owners. They also make homebaked pirogi, homemade cabbage salad, borsh, and other goodies

Went to Ukraine and Russia to teach English. It was so nice to come home to a place where I could still get some of the same groceries. The couple who on the market are so sweet! I try to take as many friends there as I can. read more