Discover Ukrainian Cuisine: How to Order Food & Drinks with Confidence

To order food and drinks in a Ukrainian restaurant, it helps to know some basic phrases and etiquette.

How to Order Food and Drinks

• When you arrive, wait to be seated or approach the counter if it’s a casual place.
• To get the waiter’s attention, say “Будь ласка” (Budʹ laska) meaning “Please.”
• To ask for the menu, say “Можна меню?” (Mozhna menyu?) meaning “Can I have the menu?”
• When ready to order, say “Я хочу…” (Ya khochu…) meaning “I want…” followed by the dish or drink name.
• To ask about recommendations or specialties, say “Що ви рекомендуєте?” (Shcho vy rekomenduyete?) meaning “What do you recommend?”

Common Ukrainian Food and Drink Names

• Борщ (Borshch) – Beetroot soup, a classic Ukrainian dish.
• Вареники (Varenyky) – Dumplings with various fillings like potatoes or cheese.
• Голубці (Holubtsi) – Stuffed cabbage rolls.
• Квас (Kvas) – Traditional fermented drink, mildly alcoholic and refreshing.
• Узвар (Uzvar) – Dried fruit compote, a common non-alcoholic drink.

Ukrainian Restaurant Etiquette

• It is polite to greet the staff with “Добрий день” (Dobryi denʹ) meaning “Good day.”
• Saying “Дякую” (Dyakuyu) means “Thank you” and is appreciated.
• Tipping is customary, around 10% of the bill.
• Be patient, as service can sometimes be slower than in Western countries but is usually very polite.

These tips should help anyone navigate ordering food and drinks in a Ukrainian restaurant confidently. If needed, the waiter is often happy to help with translations or suggestions.