It could have been a great start of the year for Kyiv restaurants: Holidays and cold winter weather push people to spend more time indoors, meet friends and families at favorite eateries, spending time with laughter and joy.
But the time has been overshadowed by the coronavirus pandemic, again. Restaurants and other non-essential businesses throughout the country are set to remain closed from Jan. 8-24 to halt the spread of the virus during the flu season.
The lockdown allows restaurants to provide takeout and delivery, yet it’s not enough. Revenues of local eateries have already fallen by a quarter in the first three days of the new lockdown, according to a recent survey by Poster, a Ukrainian tech firm that develops automatization systems for eateries and shops.
The Kyiv Post has made a list of places offering the best delivery and takeout options.
Street food
Besides burgers and hot dogs, the capital is rich with a variety of unusual street options like Israeli pitas or German-style sandwiches with schnitzel.
Pita Kyiv offers rare street food. The restaurant makes several types of Israeli pita with fillings such as beef, falafel, kebab, plant-based meat and vegetables. There is also hummus, baked cauliflower and other Israeli treats. Pita Kyiv has reasonable prices, Hr 109-189 ($4-7) for one dish, and offers free delivery within three kilometers. It is located between the Teatralna and Lva Tolstoho Square metro stations on Pushkinska Street.
Itzel is another must-try. It serves sandwiches with traditional German schnitzels made of pork, beef, chicken, fish or vegetarian alternatives for Hr 79-115 ($2-4). Apart from sandwiches, Itzel offers hummus, salads, soups and side dishes, making great combos for a lunch break. The takeout and delivery are available daily from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m., with the latest orders taken before 9 p.m. Delivery in Kyiv is Hr 40 (over $1), but the minimum price of the order is Hr 300 ($10).
Those willing to try burgers with unusual flavors can order some at Wurgerburger. It offers six types of burgers with traditional beef, chicken and peanut butter, chicken and pineapple and two vegetarian options. French fries and drinks accompany the main course. Yhe restaurant can transport orders by taxi, but it is also a great place to stop by when strolling around the capital’s historic part near Zoloti Vorota.
Pita Kyiv. 39 Pushkinska St. Mon-Fri. 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. Sat-Sun. 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. Free delivery within 3 kilometers from the restaurant. Hr 40 for delivery within 3-5 kilometers from the restaurant. Delivery by taxi. Order at www.pitakyiv.com or +38063 739 4549
Itzel. 19/21 Nyzhniy Val St. 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. Delivery in Kyiv – Hr 40. Order at www.itzel.com.ua or +38067 475 0047
Wurgerburger. 2 Olesia Honchara St. 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. Delivery by taxi. Order at www.wurgerburger.com.ua or +38050 553 6440
An employee of the Hoo Lee Gang restaurant poses for a photograph as he holds a takeout order at the entrance to the eatery in Kyiv on Jan. 12, 2021. (Volodymyr Petrov)
Asian cuisines
Asian cuisines might be the best pick for delivery because the nutritious and tasty meals aren’t easily damaged on the way. Luckily, Kyiv’s restaurant scene is booming with Chinese, Vietnamese and other Asian cuisines.
Recently-opened restaurant China Ma has already become a sensation in Kyiv. Not only do they serve delicious Chinese food, such as wonton and dim sum dumplings, spring rolls, hot and spicy soups and salads, but also have a special offer for delivery. China Ma delivers across Kyiv for free and doubles every dish ordered via their China Ma application (available for iOS and Android) until the end of January. Another advantage is China Ma’s reasonable prices that range from Hr 100-280 ($3-6) per dish.
Another recently-established restaurant Hoo Lee Gang serves Asian fried rice and noodles with various flavors and toppings, along with soups, salads that will please both vegetarians and meat eaters for Hr 75-230 ($2-8). As for delivery, Hoo Lee Gang features a map on its website, which divides Kyiv into two zones — green one that covers downtown and Podil and orange for uptown neighborhoods — and offers free delivery for orders for over Hr 300 in the green zone and Hr 500 in the orange zone.
Pho People serves traditional Vietnamese pho bo soups, along with banh mi sandwiches, spring rolls, salads, other main courses and more for around Hr 100-130 ($3-4). It is located in Kyiv’s heart, on Bohdana Khmelnytskoho Street, and available for takeout until 9 p.m. every day. They offer free delivery across Kyiv for orders over Hr 400 ($14).
China Ma. 5B Heorhiia Kirpy St. 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. Free delivery in Kyiv. Order by +38068 263 8888
Hoo Lee Gang. 8 Antonovycha St. 12 p.m. – 10 p.m. Free delivery for orders over Hr 300-500 and Hr 40-60 for any order depending on location. Order at www.hooleegang.com or +38073 666 2601
Pho People. 16/22 Bohdana Khmelnytskoho St. Mon-Fri. 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. Sat-Sun. 12 p.m. – 9 p.m. Free delivery for orders over Hr 400 or Hr 40 for less. Order by +38073 013 7713
Pizza, pasta
There is nothing like enjoying fresh Italian pasta or pizza with a glass of decent wine on a cold winter day. To provide an opportunity for a meal like that, Italian restaurants deliver their treats all around Kyiv.
Podil resident Titka Bella (Aunt Bella in English) is an excellent choice for those who want to try delicious pizza and wine for reasonable prices. The restaurant serves pizza and pasta for all tastes and budgets — with meat, seafood, vegetables and cheese. There is also a variety of salads, bruschettas, main courses and desserts on Titka Bella’s menu, as well as their house white and red wine. But what makes the restaurant the real deal during the lockdown is their free delivery across Podil and for orders over Hr 600 to any location.
A chief of Kyiv restaurant T.C. Pizza melts cheese on a pizza with a cooking torch on Jan. 12, 2021. (Volodymyr Petrov)
A new player in the capital’s restaurant industry, T.C. Pizza, offers round and square-shaped pizza with offbeat toppings such as pumpkin puree, broccoli and ricotta cheese, meatballs, mackerel and more, as well as sweet pizza with roasted bananas and chocolate, all for Hr 180-280 ($6-10). Apart from pizza, they also offer salads, main courses and appetizers. Delivery from here costs Hr 40 within three kilometers. They also deliver to uptown neighborhoods by taxi.
Titka Bella. 1/2 Horyva St. 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. Free delivery within 2 kilometers for orders over Hr 300. Free delivery to other locations for orders over Hr 600. Order by +38063 957 0009
TC Pizza. 15/3 Olesia Honchara St. 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. Hr 40 for delivery within 3 kilometers. Delivery by taxi to other locations. Order by +38063 820 7505
Vegan
Kyiv restaurants are not leaving out vegetarian and vegan gourmets.
Das Grün (Green in English) resembles a cafe somewhere in Berlin with its minimalistic design and menu. It serves four types of vegan shawarma with tofu, plant-based meat, eggplant or falafel, vegan fish and chips made of tofu, lentil soup and more courses, for Hr 100-130. Besides takeout, Das Grün delivers its dishes for free within three kilometers, as well as gives 50% discounts for delivery by taxi for orders over Hr 800 ($28). And until the end of January, Das Grün add a free bottle of Coca-Cola to each order.
Another option for those who follow a plant-based diet is recently-opened Sky Garden. The restaurant sells vegan breakfasts such as tofu omelet, chia seeds pudding, tofu pancakes and sandwiches. It also serves vegan soups including ramen and pho bo, burgers, hot-dogs and burritos along with tacos, spring rolls and noodles, for an average of Hr 120-160 per dish ($4-5). Although the restaurant delivers mainly by taxi, it offers free delivery for orders over Hr 500.
Das Grün. 20 Illinska St. 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. Free delivery within 3. Delivery by taxi to other locations. 50% discount for delivery by taxi for orders over Hr 800. Order by +38097 044 0244
Sky Garden. 2 Stanislavskoho St. 8 a.m. – 10 p.m. Free delivery for orders over Hr 500. Delivery by taxi. Order at +38098 022 5252
An employee of the Honey cafe prepares a takeout order in Kyiv on Jan. 7, 2021. The eatery offers both takeout and delivery of their desserts and breakfasts during the January lockdown. (Volodymyr Petrov)
Breakfast, desserts
Kyiv cafes Milk Bar and Honey, famous for making some of the tastiest sweet treats in the city, offer both takeout and delivery of their numerous desserts and breakfasts.
Milk Bar delivers cakes, breakfasts and main courses for Hr 25 within three kilometers, but asks to place orders at least a day prior. The chain of Honey cafes, on the other hand, delivers right away and offers free delivery within two kilometers.
On their breakfast menu, Milk Bar offers various sandwiches, avocado toasts, waffles, syrnyky (Ukrainian cottage cheese pancakes) and omelets, for Hr 160-300 ($6-11) Their dessert menu includes chocolate and fruit cakes, pies, cheesecakes, cookies, puddings and more.
Honey makes bagels with salmon, turkey or tuna, avocado toasts, eggs Benedict, omelets and scrambled eggs, as well as croissants and oatmeal for Hr 105-245 ($4-9). There are also mousse desserts, eclairs, pastry and cookies.
Those who prefer to start the morning with pancakes or syrnyky can order some at the Pancakes cafe. It offers a wide choice of the dish’s variations: sweet pancakes with chocolate, Nutella, strawberries, cream and more, or savory ones with chicken, salmon, cheese and ham. The prices here are low, around Hr 50-80 ($2-3) for one dish. Delivery in Kyiv downtown and Podil is Hr 50, with the minimum price of the order of Hr 150 ($5).
Milk Bar. 16 Shota Rustaveli St. 8 Moskovska St. 9 a.m. – 10 p.m. Delivery – Hr 22 within 3 kilometers, Hr 40 within 5 kilometers, Hr 60 within 10 kilometers, Hr 150 for over 10 kilometers away. Order at www.milkbar.com.ua or +38044 237 09 07
Honey. 19/21 Nyzhniy Val St. 20 Yaroslaviv Val St. Tsum (38 Khreshchatyk St.). 9 a.m. – 10 p.m. Free delivery within 2 kilometers and to any location for orders over Hr 700, Hr 90 – within 11 kilometers. Delivery outside Kyiv – Hr 150-250 depending on the destination. Order at www.honeycafe.com.ua or +38067 127 1921
Pancakes. 35 Nyzhniy Val St. 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. Delivery in downtown and Podil – Hr 50. Delivery by taxi to any location. Order at www.pancakesukraine.com or +38096 633 9131.
