I have no idea how many decades it's been since I last ate as Veselka but it is even better than I remember - and that is rare! Other than some new kitchen fixtures, the interior feels exactly the same as those 3 am meals after a show. Service was spectacular and lets talk about the food... I've had a lot of vegetarian attempts at stuffed cabbage but this was beyond amazing. The perogies were a great start and my son said his borscht was amazing. We barely even tapped the menu but we were just minutes from closing! Glad to support them these past few years of the war on Ukraine and happy to get my fix again! Highly recommended and a (now) touristy place that lives up to and beyond the memories! read more

Veselka - Deluxe Vegetarian Combo - Ukrainian Near Me - New York, New York

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Veselka is a very popular brunch option, so beware - there might be a long wait. I walked in with a party of 5 around noon on a Saturday and we were seated immediately. I can say that by the time we walked out, there was a line almost around the corner. Whole party does have to be present to be seated. We were given a 4-top with a 5th chair so tight squeeze but we were just happy to be seated after trying a couple other places around with no luck. Because the place is so busy, It did take about 30 minutes to get our food, which we were heavily anticipating because we were so hungry. All their breakfast options look so good and we might have gotten a little over eager with ordering, so be mindful or maybe split a couple plates with your party. I got their two egg breakfast with latkes and added kielbasa. Perfect. That potato pancake is heaven. I did also get the blintzes but I will say I wish I ate them when they were a little warmer. They're not too sweet and are such a yummy treat. I recently heard that breakfast culture in New York is dying and I can't say I disagree, but it seems that the Eastern European options I have tried recently have some of my consistently favorite options. If you haven't been here, please check it out! read more

Veselka - Classic Blintzes with raspberry sauce - Ukrainian Near Me - New York, New York

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A Ukrainian restaurant that has been a mainstay in the community for multiple generations. Veselka features all the Ukrainian hits such as borscht, pirogies, and beef stroganoff. Service is warm and friendly. Veselka is open late, and at times the vibe feels like a classic diner. On the food, I think it's all solid. My favorite is the stuffed cabbage, but the pirogies, soups, and other dishes are all very comforting. read more

Veselka - Matzoh Ball cup - Ukrainian Near Me - New York, New York

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Very friendly service and yummy pierogi. I prefer the boiled ones over fried cuz I feel like you can taste the filling better. You can't really taste the filling in the fried ones because it just tastes a bit more oily.. might be just me though. The sweet onions were so yummy too. read more

Veselka - Classic Pierogi 8* with beef short rib and sauerkraut & mushroom - Ukrainian Near Me - New York, New York

Though we'd recently been, it was my idea to return to Veselka after a show at Astor Place. While Veselka's stuffed cabbage was over 4-stars-good, it fell short of what I grew up with. (A tip-off of the difference from Jewish cabbage was the stuffing, made with pork at Veselka.) My plate came with two portions -- ah! one will be dinner this Monday! -- a ramekin of beets and a small salad. My husband went with the deluxe meat combo. It was on my radar, but I chose to pass it up after reading a review on this site. T agreed with what I read; the kielbasa was merely all right. Without a point of reference, he thoroughly enjoyed his stuffed cabbage. I grew up with Eastern European cuisine. He grew up with sweet tea and fried chicken. My friend was pleased with her marinated grilled chicken, and the three of us loved our soup. Veselka does it right; their Ukrainian borscht and mushroom barley is delish. read more

Never a bad meal! The best spot for Ukrainian and a favorite before the orpheum theatre! read more

Veselka - Chicken Kyiv - Ukrainian Near Me - New York, New York

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I hadn't been to Veselka in a while, but my wife was craving it last night so we decided to swing by. We were greeted at the door by who I believe was the owner, who was incredibly friendly and welcoming. He checked in on us throughout the meal, which really added a personal touch. My wife ordered the potato pancake combo and chose matzo ball soup and beef stroganoff as her sides. I went with the Ukrainian meatballs with mushroom gravy. We also shared a side of four steamed pierogies (short rib and potato), plus an extra side of beets and horseradish, although we later realized both of our entrees already came with that. Everything came out promptly and was absolutely delicious. My meatballs reminded me of an elevated Salisbury steak, in the best way possible, and we even had leftovers to take home. There is a reason this place is an East Village staple: the food is excellent and the hospitality makes you feel like you are eating at grandma's house. read more

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Proud Ukrainian establishment with a hearty menu. Interior has classic New York diner vibes. Pierogis are delicious, both boiled and fried. All of the fillings we tried were good, it's hard to pick favorites. Servers are friendly and food is quick to come out. read more

Veselka - Boiled Classic Pierogi 4* - Ukrainian Near Me - New York, New York

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Delicious food, fast friendly service. Positive energy and although no reservations accepted, staff attentive to move things along. Tables are a bit tight so the wait staff repeatedly bumped my chair on a busy Sunday night. According to fans, this place is always full - at all hours. Not surprisingly. Blintzes cooked and filled to perfection. Matzah ball soup more stuff than broth so hard to judge flavor yet matzah ball adequately fluffy. Schnitzel almost paper thin - a style and technique that leaves more crisp crunch than taste of chicken. Latkes were also crisp and quite thick - more texture than taste. Looking forward to a return visit to explore further. read more

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I came here last weekend for breakfast. It was my first time. It is a Ukrainian place so they are known for alot of specialities but just to name one they are known for their pierogis. I did not have any but I did have their potato latke. Wow delicious and I had an egg sandwich with cheese and bacon. The Sandwich was ok nothing special at all. I also had an iced cappuccino which was pretty tasty I must say. I would come back here to try more items and for sure get another latke. The ambiance is fine they also have outdoor seating. Service was a bit slow but it was pretty crowded too. read more

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How could you go here without having the borscht? It's been a few years but it's just as I remembered- warm, cozy, quick and friendly service. Along with the borscht, we also had some potato pierogies. Make sure your party is all together- the party won't be seated until everyone is there. read more

Veselka - Ukrainian Borscht - Quart - Ukrainian Near Me - New York, New York

Veselka is returning to 24-hour service on Fridays and Saturdays, as of April 17. They were open 24 hours/day since way back in 1990, but they had to cut back their hours when the covid pandemic arose. They're also hoping to eventually return to 24 hours/day on the other five days. read more

Came here without a reservation on a Friday early evening around 6pm with a party of 4 and didn't have to wait too long. When we left around 7:30pm though, there was a line around the block! We got beef stroganoff x 2, stand with ukraine bowl, and a vegetarian plate. All the food was really good! Might be slightly on the pricier side for what you get but the pierogies were excellent and the beef in the stroganoff was pretty tender. Would recommend! read more

Veselka - Stand with Ukraine Bowl - Ukrainian Near Me - New York, New York

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We ordered both the meat and the deluxe vegetarian combination plates. The meat plate included beef and potato pierogi, a meat stuffed cabbage, and a variety of sides. The deluxe vegetarian plate came with cheese, potato and mushroom pierogi, a vegetarian stuffed cabbage and sides as well. Each combination plate also comes with a cup of soup or salad. My favorites were the pierogi and the borscht soup. They were so delicious! The service was prompt and attentive. read more

Veselka - Ukrainian Near Me - New York, New York

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Some of the best pierogie I've ever had. Great service and great vibe. My only complaint is that they won't seat you until your entire party is present, but I feel like they are so busy that it justifies that. We shared a couple of desserts and those were amazing, too. A++ would eat here again. read more

Every dish was good! Very popular busy spot. You wait in line for a table. It moves quick. Food comes out of the kitchen very fast so tables move fast. Loved it! read more

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Walked by this Ukrainian restaurant numerous times and finally took the time to try this spot out. I've always seen a massive line wrapped around their shop on the weekends, so looks like it's a popular spot. The Pierogis are probably the most popular thing to order here. We got the 8 pc plate ($20), which we mixed a matched between Potato, Meat, BEC, and Short Rib. You can just order this and have it be your meal or treat it as an appetizer like we did. We got all of the pierogis fried. To try a variety of dishes, we ordered the Potato Pancake Combo Plate ($23) which we chose the Beef Stroganoff and the Ukrainian Borscht as our choices. Loved the Beef Stroganoff due to its tenderness which they slow cooked. Goes great over the potato pancakes. The Ukrainian Borscht is a classic Ukrainian soup worth trying. We also ordered the Veselka's Reuben ($19), which consisted of Sliced Krakovska ham, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, Ukrainian dressing, dijon mustard and pickles on rye bread. This was delicious, even as leftovers after heating it up in a convection oven. Lastly, we tried their signature dessert: Single Cheese Blintz ($10). This is a Ukrainian-style crepes filled with lightly sweetened farmer's cheese. This was something I wasn't too fond of, probably mainly because of the cheese. Maybe adding raspberry sauce would have helped to add more flavor to it, but I feel like this wasn't for me. read more

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The best of the best for a reason! Comforting, homemade feeling food but with the most flavorful high quality ingredients, just knocks it out of the park each time and I miss it the most every time I have to leave NYC. The cabbage roll, Ukrainian borscht and pierogis are MUST haves! I dream of the borscht, seriously. Service is just the nicest, like being at a dear friend's house. read more

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Iconic spot still serving up Ukrainian classics after several decades! Love coming here for a bowl of soup and pierogi read more

Veselka - Boiled pierogi - Ukrainian Near Me - New York, New York

Have been here several times and always excited to come back Authentic food and great portions read more

Veselka - Ukrainian Near Me - New York, New York

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We've been coming here for over 15 years, long before that mess going on. There is a ton of outdoor seating so if you can't get inside you can definitely snap up a spot on the sidewalk or in the street shed. The goulash was great but that's off menu now so I have to resort myself to the BIGOS or the Mixed Ukrainian grille, both great dishes. Service is expeditious, with their friendly staff. The prices are worth it with the portions and quality they serve. The dining area is a good size inside, can get chatty which is why we like the outdoor dining. It's a jewel in the East Village and a mainstay, if you're in the area please check it out as you won't be disappointed. read more

Veselka - Olas Famous Veal Goulash - Ukrainian Near Me - New York, New York

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My favorite place to eat in NYC when I visit. Excellent and unique cuisine, excellent service every time I have visited (this time Tanya L). And now they have liquor license with interesting cocktails and Ukrainian beer. We always try to get a seat outside but the ambiance inside is great too. Highly recommend! read more

Everything we ordered was delicious and made-to-order. Would recommend the savory Classic Pierogis and the juicy, crisp Chicken Schnitzel. Customer service was kind and efficient with taking our order and bringing out our food promptly. Would definitely come back if in this area next time I'm in NY! read more

Veselka - Classic Pierogi 8* and Chicken Schnitzel Dinner. - Ukrainian Near Me - New York, New York

I had such a great experience at Veselka. A good friend highly recommended it to me, and I'm so glad we went. The service was super fast, and everything we tried was really delicious. We ordered the Ukrainian borscht, chicken paprikash, and the Stand With Ukraine bowl, and all of it was comforting, flavorful, and clearly made with care. The borscht was especially cozy, and the chicken paprikash was hearty and satisfying. Overall, great food, quick service, and a chill, welcoming vibe. Totally lives up to the recommendation. I'd definitely come back. read more

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UKRAINIAN FARE IN EAST VILLAGE. It may not look like a fancy restaurant, but you will find it is packed. The service is reasonably fast considering the place Is full. The food is Eastern European. Perogis borscht etc. They also bre their own beer. Food is great and one of the best restaurants in the east village. Cheers read more

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We stood in line only for 5 minutes around 4:45 for an early dinner. The staff is very courteous and service is fast. The restaurant was full and noisy but we were still able to hear each other talk at the table. The cup of Matzo ball soup was fine. The chicken broth was rather bland but the Mateo ball was light and fluffy. We couldn't decide on whether to have boiled or fried pierogies but opted for the traditional boiled style. You can mix and match the fillings. They were all good but the chicken vegetable and the short rib fillings were especially flavorful. The chicken schnitzel was moist with a crisp coating. We also tried a classic NYC chocolate egg cream soda..it was not too sweet with a fizzy taste. read more

Veselka - 8 pierogie order and chicken schnitzel. - Ukrainian Near Me - New York, New York

It was a popular spot for me and my friends when I lived on Ave A mahy years ago. We could always count on tasty borscht and yummy pierogies. I stopped here after walking through the recent snow for a bit of nostalgia. I was surprised to get my fried pierogies deep fried. Ask for an order of boiled pierogies. The borscht warmed me up immediately. I asked the waiter about pan fried with onions. It's been years since I was last at Velselka. read more

Veselka - borscht like i remember - Ukrainian Near Me - New York, New York

Had a late lunch here and it was before 5 so we were able to get their 4 pierogies and cup of soup for $16. Their food is hearty but delicious and their soup cut into the grease. Their dish with different sausages was great and flavorful. There was no wait getting in as well and service was efficient. read more

Veselka - Chicken Noodle Soup Christmas Borscht - Ukrainian Near Me - New York, New York

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All we want is peace in Ukraine and more Borscht! This was a delicious meal and the staff is efficient in this bustling restaurant in the east village! We stopped in on a rainy day and it really hit the spot. Enjoy your pierogis fried if you want the crunch or boiled if you like the dough. Don't forget the borscht! read more

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An institution and always worth the trip. Pierogis, latkes, keilbasa, what's not to love? Everything is fantastic and service is great in a happy corner in the east village. Don't have enough good things to say, it's worth it. Go get your fix! read more

Veselka - Ukrainian Near Me - New York, New York

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Can't get this place off my mind. The vegetarian Ruben latkes were so good I got the cookbook to try making them back home in California, since I probably won't get a chance to have them in the restaurant again any time soon. Also highly recommend the cookbook- so many fascinating stories about the people & work that goes into making this place so special. Have stuff in my fridge to try to make the spinach pierogis this week! read more

Food (5/5): Absolutely delicious food and I particularly like the Ukrainian spin on sausages, shortrib pierogi, pancakes, and goulash. The applesauce and other sauces are fun and unique too. Service (4/5): Been here several times and most of the servers are very helpful and friendly while also getting the food out fast. A couple servers were a bit more cold and say me raise a hand for help but blatantly ignored me but on average they are great. Ambiance (5/5): Nice shop with plenty of seating and great indoor decor. read more

Veselka - Ukrainian Near Me - New York, New York

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No criticism, but Veselka is my 2nd favorite Polish/Eastern European place in the East Village, but a very close 2nd, and now probably my go-to, because my favorite, Polonia on 1st Ave, closed in 2011. Veselka is the real deal. read more

Loved my Veselka experience! The dumplings, as expected, were really amazing. Also the chicken soup was delicious and warming. The sauerkraut was actually one of my favorite items, as were the caramelized onions. Definitely see why it's such an institution! read more

My boyfriend used to frequent Velselka back in the day and enjoyed it, and we decided to stop by for brunch. It had a fun, bright atmosphere. We tried to order a variety of things including the Benedict on potato pancakes, the pierogies with poached eggs and bacon, and a buckwheat pancake. I thought the portions were good, and the pierogies were definitely tasty. Overall the food was a little monotonous and heavy, but I suspect that may just be Ukrainian food overall. read more

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Walked past this place and decided to stop in with a friend for lunch. It is famous and had been on my list if in the area, so we went. Charming inside. Actual retro. We only had a light lunch; warm borscht, tuna salad and a Ukrainian veal hot dog with carrot salad. All were good and now we want to come back to try everything. read more

Veselka - Counter. 70 years. - Ukrainian Near Me - New York, New York

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This was my second time here in about 15 years so let's say it was a new experience. Don't be swayed by the waiting line as it goes fast. The menu can be a bit overwhelming as it all looks good. The combination plate was perfect because you get a little of many items along with soup or salad. A friend said that I had to have an egg cream and pirogues so that led me to the vegetarian combo with mushroom gravy and the vegetarian borscht. The egg cream is not so dandy for me but hey, I tried it. Now the star of the show was not one item but everything else! The soup is delicious and even more so with the addition of sour cream. The soup is tangy and refreshing at the same time. I could eat lots of it alone! Two cheese pirogues, two potato and a stuffed cabbage. All good with my favorite going to the cheese. The cabbage is stuffed with rice and is so full of flavor. There is so much food that I will be having a pirogue and cabbage for dinner tomorrow. The pirogues were perfectly boiled, tender and full of filling. Look, be open to different foods and support this amazing Ukrainian run business that has been around for 70 years! They are doing it right! read more

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If a restaurant has a Netflix documentary based off of its creator's, I think the story speaks for itself. Unapologetically decorated with Ukrainian memorabilia and decor, including certain menu items (Veselka Lager) completely dedicated to send proceeds to Ukrainian relief efforts displays the type of passion that Veselka brings to each plate to deliver authentic Ukrainian cuisine. Make sure to come with a large appetite, because you'll need to try multiple staple items for a full grasp of the experience. I left with a full stomach filled with potato pancakes, multiple pierogi's (braised rib was delicious), Veselka Lager, Paprikash chicken, and to top it off, a raspberry Blintz. read more

The food was amazing! Looked appetizing and looks definitely matched the taste. Service was also wonderful. My server John was very attentive and gracious. Sweet man. Food was aptly timed. Ambiance was hip and fresh, busy even on a rainy Sunday night. I felt the tables were kinda close- but hey NYC and space and all that. Overall, totally enjoyed my meal and would try again. read more

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Outstanding dining experience! came here for dinnewith my family for the holidays, food was incredible, great atmosphere but service was the best part of our night! our servers Anya and Bogdan took great care care of us siggeating the best dishes, drinks and desserts plus teaching me and my family some words in Ukrainian. if I could give this place 10 stars, I would.will definitely be back soon! read more

Veselka - Classic Pierogi 8*, Bigos, Matzoh Ball - Pint, Ukrainian Meatballs - Ukrainian Near Me - New York, New York