The UK capital city is truly a global culinary hub, but among so many available options, one surely stands out: Ukrainian cuisine. If you are in the mood for an authentic homemade meal, look no further than a Ukrainian restaurant in London. Each of the establishments listed below is a happy place for gourmets. You are guaranteed to enjoy your meal immensely – and perhaps realise how much you miss your family back home. But don’t be sad; instead, share with them the pictures of your food and ‘invite’ them to eat out too, with a money gift sent via Profee.
Check the UK bank holidays list to plan your next dinner out in advance.
Mriya | Ukrainian Neo Bistro
275 Old Brompton Rd, SW5 9JA
Mon closed, Tue-Thu, Sun 12-10 pm, Fri-Sat 12-11 pm
Opened as recently as 2022, Mriya, meaning ‘dream’ in Ukrainian, has become a benchmark for modern Ukrainian cuisine and was highlighted by the GQ Food & Drink Awards in 2023. This Ukrainian restaurant in London is run by Yurii Kovryzhenko, a ‘culinary ambassador’ for Ukraine, and is a wonderful example of ‘culinary diplomacy’, presenting the country in the most appealing way: through food. Kovryzhenko is a celebrity chef back home where he leads the slow food movement and participated in several TV shows.
The menu offers traditional Ukrainian food such as borsch with garlic pampushky (buns) and salo (fatty bacon) but with a twist, as in kabachkovy oladky (courgette pancakes) served with stracciatella and smoked trout. There are homemade seasonal fruit compotes and lemonades or, if you need something stronger, khrenovukha (horseradish vodka infusion) that goes exceptionally well with slightly salted cucumbers, again, both homemade – but this is the norm for Ukrainian restaurants.
Besides the famous Ukrainian food, the space itself is amazing. There is a dedicated fermentation room and a secret garden “with a touch of magic” while the interior comes from Ukrainian designers. Mriya is also one of the few restaurants in London that occasionally runs tasting sessions for Ukrainian wines.
Dnister
300 Romford Road, Forest Gate, E7 9HD
Mon closed, Tue-Thu 3-10 pm, Fri 3-11 pm, Sat 1 pm-12 am, Sun 1-11 pm
One of the oldest Ukrainian restaurants in London, Dnister has been around for almost 20 years, since 2005! This alone is evidence of its quality and the dedication of its staff. Thanks to the authentic Ukrainian cuisine recipes used here, this is the go-to place if you want to try traditional Ukrainian food. Everything is as it should be, from borsch with salo and smalec (spicy lard) sandwiches to holubtsy (stuffed cabbage leaves) and deruny (potato pancakes). In addition to popular Ukrainian food, Dnister also offers a unique selection of Ukrainian wines, beers and horilkas (vodkas).
XIX Nineteen
369 High St, E15 4QZ
Mon-Sun 9-1 am
This Ukrainian restaurant in London is an ideal place to bring your local friends because it also offers English cuisine – think of a full English breakfast with homemade sausage. Open daily from early morning till after midnight, XIX Nineteen serves popular Ukrainian food: shashlyk (skewered and grilled cubes of meat) “like Dad’s”, salads “like Mum’s”, and cold summer borsch among others. Its well-deserved pride is in homemade dumplings with various fillings, including vegetarian ones. Keep in mind that in the Ukrainian tradition, singing after a meal is more than welcome, so at XIX Nineteen, there is karaoke with Ukrainian songs.
Before going to a Ukrainian restaurant, do not forget to sort out your finances. Read our guide to get a UK payroll nimber.
Ole Kyiv
47 High St BR7 5AF
Mon-Wed 12-10 pm, Thu-Fri 12-11.30 pm, Sat 9 am-11.30 pm, Sun 9 am-10 pm
Like any other Ukrainian restaurant in London, Ole Kyiv takes enormous pride in its food. Borsch, kholodets (aspic), varenyky, deruny, benderyky (minced meat wrapped in crepes and fried) – literally anything and everything you might expect of Ukrainian cuisine. There are special nights such as steak Wednesdays, cocktail Thursdays, or live music on Saturdays. In addition to its famous Ukrainian food, Ole Kyiv boasts a wide selection of Ukrainian wines and offers aromatic shishas for a unique, relaxing experience. The restaurant is pet friendly and, as a truly family place, organises culinary workshops for kids. Speaking of family, don’t forget to call yours back home and cheer them up with a money gift. Send the funds via Profee for an experience as rewarding as has been your meal at Ole Kyiv.
Albina
239 Barking Road E13 8EQ
Mon-Wed closed, Thu, Sun 3-11 pm, Fri-Sat 3 pm-1.30am Another veteran among the Ukrainian restaurants in London, Albina opened its doors back in 2007. Since then, it has earned its reputation as a culinary paradise offering the best of Ukrainian cuisine. Borsch and solyanka (vegetable soup), a selection of meats including the famous beef tongue, homemade dumplings with various fillings, and mamalyga (maise flour polenta) with cheese, a beloved Eastern European dish. Albina is also one of the few restaurants in London where you can enjoy authentic charcoal-grilled shashlyk. Complementing famous Ukrainian food, the meticulously decorated traditional interior adds to the experience, and live music is played on Saturday nights.
Ukrainian takeaway: Olenka Ukrainian Kitchen
Brick Lane 84 E3 4UR
Not a dine-in restaurant but a go-to takeaway service for Ukrainian cuisine. Operating on-site, it is also available on all major delivery platforms and runs its own app. Orders can be made directly through their social media as well. A hungry client can find all the main Ukrainian delicacies here, from borsch to Chicken Kiev, and even order prepackaged frozen homemade dumplings sold under the Olenka Ukrainian Kitchen brand.
When it is time to cook them at home, call your Mum to share your impressions and use a chance to show your support by sending her a money transfer. Do it with Profee to save time, money, and effort and get the best offer on the market. Visit our website or get the app on Google Play or the Apple Store to always be there for your loved ones.
