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    Magic Jug

    4.4 (88 reviews)
    ModerateUkrainian
    Closed 11:00 am - 5:00 pm

    Order Magic Jug Takeout or Delivery

    Magic Jug Ukrainian Restaurant Photos

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    MAGIC JUG ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Quiet
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Magic Jug

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    Olesia D.

    I had an amazing meal at this Ukrainian restaurant! The borshch was rich and flavorful, the varenyky with meat were delicious, and the blinchiki with cheese were just as good. Everything tasted homemade and authentic. Highly recommend! ! , ' -- , ! !

    Ambience
    Art J.

    So I finally got the opportunity to try the Ukrainian restaurant that I kept seeing. Originally I was going to go for Chinese but I'm getting tired and I was going to eat Piece Pizza in Bucktown but the weather is just not good on a snowy day. I just came from my job and luckily I was at O'Hare and decided to think of this place and looked up to find out if they were open. So far everything was delicious and unique compared to other Eastern European cuisines I tried.The Ukrainian borscht beet soup had a herbal earthy taste that was pleasant it wasn't as rich strong taste as Polish or German Borsch soup where they don't use Red Beets. Especially when they added I think sour cream on top with the beets. Their version of mashed potatoes surprisingly is not so starchy and heavy.It's very light and I guess they sprinkle chives?I kind of compare it to Polish Mashed potatoes but there is a little thicker and heavier. They're Apple Crepes was not like American or thick crepes at American restaurants. It had a unique, sweet taste with confection sugar and it was not full of sauce or apple filing. They had two bread rolls they gave me and I like the second one. It was very hot and light and not too heavy. The other one was more like a pumpernickel or barley bread which is okay to but I felt like heavy stiff bread. The stewed liver with the beets as a side dish was very delicious and not made like liver and onions I noticed Red Beets is a staple in Ukraine just like Russia. Surprisingly delicious. Ambience is quaint and small. Service from the staff on the other hand was good on what they made and cooked but they were terrible on explaining all the different dishes for somebody who's not Ukrainian. I just kept getting a lot of head nods of "Yes" or "No" and no explanation of the food or how it's cooked or what's the ingredients? They didn't seem enthusiastic to explain. That is my only disappointment because if I want to order something in the menu I don't want to risk ordering something I don't like or can get sick. Which they should be considerate if they want other customers to come in that are non Ukrainian or other ethnic background willing to try their food or cuisine. I would come back but it's just that was my only dislike or disappointment thus four out of five stars. Otherwise, it's kind of like a combination of a Polish cuisine too and other Eastern European dishes like Hungarian or Bulgarian cuisine.

    The pretty bread basket they give
    Fiana S.

    I am really into finding international cuisines I've never tried and having a unique, memorable, flavorful experience at a new restaurant trying a taste of a new country. This restaurant really fit the bill. I visited in 2019. The restaurant is nicely decorated with wood and other natural materials, nice natural light, and a quaint feel that is different than American restaurants and feels like an idea of what it might be like to eat at a place in Ukraine. As a vegetarian, I was pleased with the variety of options available to me. However, I'm not sure how much a vegan could eat, as much of it has cream, butter, and cheese. I got the hot cereal with mushrooms I believe, homemade compote, and dumplings, and it was all good rich comfort food.

    Banish, Halushky, Cheburek.
    Vlad C.

    The best ukrainian food and very friendly. I'm eating banush and halushky only at this place in Chicago area. Thk.

    Pelmeni (Meat Dumplings)
    Ali S.

    I'm Visiting from Detroit, MI, and I was so excited to check this place out. I came here with a Ukrainian friend Volodymyr Dolynka who gave me a menu tour. It was my first time visiting the place and I had an excellent experience. Super fast service! The food was tasty, quick, and hot! I'm definitely going back for more!

    karina k.

    The food is authentic and really really good. Not fatty and not salty and great quality food. The beef goulash was better than the ones I had in Hungary with shredded well done beef with no fat and the sauce was perfect and thick. The campote is a juice made of orange, berries, and apple. It was very good. The ambience is quiet and quaint and there is free parking across the street from Burger King and Jewel Osco right behind the restaurant. I would definitely come back.

    Dining area
    Sharon A.

    I wanted to try something different on my last visit to Chicago and the place looked cute and clean. I'd never had Ukrainian food before. The waitress explained the options and I ordered the #3 lunch special. I don't remember the names but the food was delicious. The soup was tomato based and tasty. The meat dumplings were filled with pork, I think and were tender with wonderful seasoning. I had plenty to eat but couldn't resist the cherry and cheese crepes. There's even free parking in back.

    · I had a lovely lunch at a Ukrainian restaurant called Magic Jug. The staff had limited English proficiency, but we communicated well enough. The food is great! I recommend it.

    Emily S.

    With the recent current events, my boyfriend and I decided to try out Ukrainian food and support a local business. Neither of us had had Ukrainian before, and overall were very pleased. We ended up ordering carry-out, and our expectations were more than met. Not knowing what exactly to order, we ended up sticking with the "most popular" dishes. We shared the beef pelmeni, potato & cheese varenyky, potato pancakes, and beef goulash. Our food arrived hot, well arranged, and decent in serving, especially for the very fair prices. The food items were very rich and filling. We ended up having some leftovers. Food was flavorful, and fresh. For anyone looking to try Ukrainian food, I would highly recommend. While I do not have other Ukrainian restaurants to compare it to, I was very pleased, and will for sure order again!

    Bortsch and Kvass

    What a great little place. I happened across it while sitting at the red light right in front of the establishment and decided to drop in for a light lunch. I got a bowl of bortsch and a kvass drink. It was my first experience with Ukrainian food. The bortsch was delicious and came with a couple pieces of really good garlic bread rolls. The price wasn't bad either; all together I paid $13. I will 100% come back to try an entree. You never know what little gems you'll come across while sitting at a red light in Chicago.

    Solyanka

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    Dishes authentic and delicious, great service good atmosphere. I will be a regular there

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    Super authentic Ukraine food. Everything is made fresh and taste delicious. I went with my Russian wife and we will be back again soon

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    7 years ago

    This restaurant is fantastic! Authentic Ukrainian food at its best. Would highly recommend it.

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    9 years ago

    Food was delicious! Very authentic and yummy! Had the pelmeni and goulash and salad olivie.

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    8 years ago

    A bit expensive but still good place, food looks like homemade. They did some remodelling recently so they place looks great.

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    Tryzub Ukrainian Kitchen - Stuffed Cabbage w bison meat, wild rice mix, roasted red pepper sauce

    Tryzub Ukrainian Kitchen

    4.4(370 reviews)
    6.7 miUkrainian Village, West Town
    $$

    For a unique dining experience in a beautifully decorated restaurant look no further than Tryzub…read moreUkrainian Kitchen. The staff is incredible and fun, the food is delicious, and the ambiance is quite pleasant. In terms of dishes, we tried the Carpathian wild mushroom soup with black truffle oil, cabbage rolls, crispy potato pancakes, and the colorful party platter, which comes with an assortment of pierogis. The party platter was my personal favorite. They have many tasty cocktails, infused spirits, and mocktails to choose from. The Glory to Ukraine shot is delicious and highly recommended. The restaurant has plenty of seating indoors and an outdoor patio that is perfect for enjoying nice weather.

    Updated review! Came for our anniversary and had a delightfully delicious time!…read more I don't drink alcohol but I was supremely excited when I convinced our waiter, Dima, to serve us the wheel of fun with berry compote and uzvar -- which is a spiced dried fruit juice that tastes like a campfire. It's cold but intriguing. Though I might not order it a second time, I was glad to try it and a single serving is only $5 that they split into 4 shots. The wheel of fun honestly made my night! And the berry compote carafe is definitely worth $15. We had the party platter of varenyky and substituted the red beef ones for more potato ones. But next time I really want more orange pork varenyky! They're sweet and savory and I was reluctant to share the 4 on the plate! We also had barosh (polenta balls) and the potato pancakes (super circular!), which, much like my previous review, were a hit! The mushroom sauce that comes with both is just soooo good. I love mushrooms, know why? Cause I'm a FUN guy. Circular foods, circular drinks, all come full circle. And I will come again, the next special occasion I have. Quite a delight on a Friday night! And surprisingly they were not too busy and the twinkle lights and the Christmas tree outside really made it feel cozy and special.

    Photos
    Tryzub Ukrainian Kitchen - Dining Room

    Dining Room

    Tryzub Ukrainian Kitchen - Assorted pierogies

    Assorted pierogies

    Tryzub Ukrainian Kitchen - Glory to Ukraine shot

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    Glory to Ukraine shot

    Velour - Ribeye Steak

    Velour

    4.1(34 reviews)
    2.8 miO'Hare

    Food is tasty and the presentation is above and beyond. The service is excellent and they are very…read moreinformative and will offer suggestions for first time customers. This spot feels like walking into a magazine, each corner feels like a photo op. I definitely recommend this spot for a fancy dining experience. It's hidden in this suburban strip but feels like a cute cafe in the city.

    I think "Velour" is the best Ukrainian restaurant in the Chicagoland area nowadays! I discovered…read morethis place when I googled places with the live music for my daughter's big birthday and we decided to stop by for tasting dinner. Born in Ukraine, I can confirm the authenticity of the cuisine. We tried several appetizers and main dishes and every single dish was A+! Fish soup had a wonderful flavor, black cheese Varenyky proved the chef's skill to make an excellent house made pasta , traditional Ukrainian Banosh (a Ukrainian version of Polenta on cream served with feta and pork fried lard) was mouthwatering, Golubci (Stuffed Cabbage) that we ordered as appetizer melted in the mouth and had an absolutely perfect proportion of the meat and rice complimented by a masterfully created sauce. Our main dishes did not disappoint either. My husband's octopus was tender and well seasoned, Kyiv chicken was lightly breaded and was very tasty, beautifully plated duck leg confit was at the level of the best French restaurants , and the roasted rabbit leg in the mushroom sauce , so rarely seen on the other menus, was to die for. We were so full after the dinner that we ordered our desserts to go to enjoy at home. This gem with masterfully crafted cocktails, the unique ambiance and unparalleled service is truly the greatest representation of the exquisite Ukrainian cuisine. The adequate prices and personal attention to each customer makes this restaurant a Must Go! I highly recommend!

    Photos
    Velour
    Velour - Ribeye Steak

    Ribeye Steak

    Velour

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    Shokolad - Mushroom and fennel Ukrainian pierogi

    Shokolad

    4.5(323 reviews)
    6.3 miWest Town, Humboldt Park
    $$

    I love Shokolad so much and it is my #1 underrated restaurant in Chicago for a quaint breakfast and…read morelunch. I've been coming here for the past five years and it absolutely never disappoints. I've had everything from the Ukrainian scrambled eggs, ham and gruyere crepes and the Athena omelette (add chicken!) to the pierogis, paninis, hutsulske pechenya (beef stew--OMG it's so good and only available Saturdays) to the delectable assortment of cookies in the pastry case. The carrot salad the comes with a lot of the dishes is amazing! Everything here tastes homemade, and I really love it because nothing is oversalted or overseasoned, just delicious homey perfection. If you are looking for salty American "home fries" or diner hashbrowns this isn't your place. Potatoes are buttery and have a melt in your mouth consistency, but what I love about Shokolad is that the flavors are subtle, savory, and just right. It feels truly European and authentic, and while I'm no expert at all on Ukrainian cuisine, this place is an absolute gem. My only complaint is that the service can be slow (but always, always kind). As long as you come not in a hurry and are ready to enjoy your meal with patience, you will leave delighted.

    This is one of those bright little unassuming surprises that make Chicago shine. They've got a…read morepastry case full of interesting Eastern European desserts, and some nice simple Ukranian food -- cheese pancakes; a really bright and solid borscht, accompanied by rolls with a biting yet delicious garlic oil; even the simple roast beef sandwich was made with leftover chunks of roast, a tangy horseradish sauce and Publican bread and accompanied by nice scoops of cabbage and carrot salads. The ambience is nice enough that you feel like you've gone out somewhere; but not so nice that you feel like you have to dress up or worry about your kids. And it's just sitting here on west Chicago avenue, waiting patiently for you to discover it one chilly day.

    Photos
    Shokolad - Interior

    Interior

    Shokolad - Borscht

    Borscht

    Shokolad - 1/2 Pelmeni; 1/2 Eggplant, green pea & potato varenyky

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    1/2 Pelmeni; 1/2 Eggplant, green pea & potato varenyky

    Smetana

    Smetana

    4.9(56 reviews)
    8.3 mi

    Fantastic place. One of the best restaurants in the area and Glenview is very lucky to have it…read more It's very neat and classy inside. We ordered pierogi's on a Friday night and they were incredible. We ordered a plate of half potato and cheese and half spinach and mozzarella. They were simply just amazing. If I have to be super super picky, though, the potato and cheese pierogis tasted only a slightly bit doughy, but it was still great and I'm planning on paying Smetana multiple visits in the future.

    Service - 3/5. Can you not see that I'm dying on this date?! Why is service so slow when we're the…read moreonly ones here? Guy said chicken in stuff cabbage which was wrong (date doesn't eat other meats). Missed when we ordered chicken schwarma warp. Mistook 'hot coffee' and somehow brought out raspberry coulis alcoholic drink?! Give that kid a coffee or multivitamins! Food - 5/5 Pierogi plate - selection of different fillings, boiled or pan-fried Polish platter - sausage, perogis, stuffed cabbage roll, potato pancakes with sour cream and mustard, served with creamy tomato-based sauce or the other sauce. Chicken shwarma wrap - delicious. mostly filled with mozzerella cheese and crunchy vegetables, seared in panini press. I would not describe this as schwarma wrap whatsoever. Coffee came out with 3 sugar cubes on the side of the tea cup. The hygienic part of me is screaming. Doesn't it make more sense to use a sugar bowl?

    Photos
    Smetana
    Smetana - Beet Carpaccio

    Beet Carpaccio

    Smetana - Herring Beets Tartare

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    Herring Beets Tartare

    Staropolska Restaurant - Veal Liver with Sauteed Onions

    Staropolska Restaurant

    4.5(665 reviews)
    3.6 miAvondale
    $$

    Ahead of a few rounds at Revolution Brewery, we stopped by this amazing Polish restaurant. The…read moreatmosphere was a classic Eastern European vibe - dark wood, a well stocked bar, plenty of seating and a separate room for larger parties. The food here was excellent. I had the cheese and potato pierogis which were delicious and covered with grilled onions and bacon. My wife got the stuffed cabbage and enjoy equally. Service was top notch. We ate at the bar and were served promptly and with lots of courtesy.

    Absolutely five stars! We stopped by here for a quick lunch after getting some groceries from the…read morePolish supermarket. The food was incredibly authentic and comforting from start to finish. We had the cheese and potato pierogis, Żurek, pickle soup, and the goulash with potato pancakes, and every single dish was packed full of rich, homemade flavor. The goulash and potato pancakes were so good that we honestly wished they gave more than two. Our waitress was amazing as well, super friendly, attentive, and genuinely helpful. The portions were generous, everything arrived hot and fresh, and you can tell a lot of care goes into every recipe. It felt like a true home cooked meal in the best way. We left full, happy, and we're already planning our next visit. Also side note - We've also ordered their food through DoorDash, and it was just as delicious. Some places lose quality when delivered, but not this one, everything still tasted fresh, authentic, and full of flavor.

    Photos
    Staropolska Restaurant - Inside Staropolska(Old Polish Area Milwaukee Ave block from Belmont Ave) Highly Recommended! Great Polish Food!Super inside Decor! Cool!

    Inside Staropolska(Old Polish Area Milwaukee Ave block from Belmont Ave) Highly Recommended! Great Polish Food!Super inside Decor! Cool!

    Staropolska Restaurant
    Staropolska Restaurant - Zywiec O.5L

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    Zywiec O.5L

    Russian Tea Time - 6pcs Genuine Beef Pelmeni

    Russian Tea Time

    4.1(938 reviews)
    9.7 miThe Loop
    $$

    My friend and I have been wanting to try caviar so we decided to check out Russian Tea Time after…read moretaking a look at the menu. We started off with the caviar which came with blintzes on the side, egg salad, chopped onions, and sour cream. We ordered a bottle of champagne that was the perfect combination. We wanted to try a bunch of different items so we decided to split the Russian Tea Time platter for two as we were able to try some appetizers and then the entree plate included beef stroganoff, stuffed cabbage and chicken kebab. Everything was so tasty! My favorite food was the caviar, stuffed cabbage and for dessert we split the honey cake. The inside of the restaurant looked nicer in person than the photos I had seen online. The ambiance was sophisticated and serene. Our server was very attentive and they were quick to clear any dirty plates.

    Great service, atmosphere, clean... But, the food is not good. If you are familiar with real…read moreRussian or Ukrainian food, then you will be extremely disappointed like me. However, if you have never had R/U food before, then give it a try. Perashki had almost no potatoes in them, very small size, not tasty at all. Borsh was okay, not the taste I was hoping to get. Tabule had almost no greens (the traditional tabule is mostly the greens). This was nothing even close to the traditional tabule. 3 out of 10 I would not be back to this place for food.

    Photos
    Russian Tea Time - Beautiful tea service

    Beautiful tea service

    Russian Tea Time - Medovik- honey cake

    Medovik- honey cake

    Russian Tea Time - 403 BTL Saperavi, Veluri

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    403 BTL Saperavi, Veluri

    Magic Jug - ukrainian - Updated May 2026

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