Veselka
Ukrainian Restaurant and Eastern European Restaurant$$$$
East Village, New York
The experts at The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal recommend this place
"Pierogies duh! Get the mixed plate and sample all the specials."(241 Tips)
"The Beef Stroganoff and Borscht soup is amazing too!"(111 Tips)"The potato pancake is great and so is the Blintzes!"(27 Tips)
"Try the Ukranian Meatballs, Potato Pancake & Perogies"(29 Tips)
627 Tips and reviewsFilter:
- pierogies
- blintzes
- good for a late night
- breakfast food
- potato pancakes
- (15 more)
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Jodi Dorfman-SiegelJanuary 5, 2020Great pierogies, beef stroganoff over potato pancakes, raspberry lemonade. Lots of tasty choices. The chocolate custard for dessert was delicious.
Jamie Dubs WSeptember 22, 2018Borscht, pierogies (potato and short rib are my favorite), mixed Ukrainian grill
Michelle CheungApril 26, 2013Veggie combo with borscht and apple sauce (instead of sour cream) 4eva! Their veggie stuffed cabbage smothered with umami-laden mushroom sauce (part of the combo) is the highlight.
Tec GoblinSeptember 5, 2017The cold borscht is really good and great value, refreshing and surprisingly filling. The rest of the cuisine is good but heavy, as expected from Ukrainian
Niki Katherine HolmesJuly 16, 2015Get a variety of pierogi and an ice-cold cherry lime rickey. The little cup of grilled onions and sour cream are heaven!
Corey BayneMarch 23, 2019The pancakes are what does it. The dumplings are grandiose and egg Benedict’s are amazing. Great house coffee w/ free refills too (can’t forget that)
Noelle QuanciApril 18, 2013Famous for its perogies... The East Village location is open 24 hours a day, so it's great for late-night dining. Also does amazing breakfast food. The blintz are super good for breakfast.
Kristina RudicMay 7, 2017This place is great for groups! The food is hearty, yummy, and easy to share if you choose to do so!
Michael CottrellFebruary 14, 2015Short rib pierogi's were great, potato pancake was the sweet cousin of hash browns with apple sauce on top. GRITS/POACHED EGGS WAS OFF THE FIGURATIVE CHAIN. Coffee was eh, bacon was gooooooood.
I'm such a sucker for Stuffed Cabbage, with Mushroom Gravy, of course, and a nice side of Kasha (not Kasha Varnishkes, sadly) also w/gravy =-D Awesome Pierogi, nice people, try the Borscht already!
Jason PastoreNovember 10, 2016Corned beef hash, potato pancake, and shirt rib pierogis for breakfast was amazing!!
Tim MosbackAugust 8, 2012The best every day restaurant burger in New York City. The bun is a light, fluffy seeded roll from Amy's, and the patty is made from lean, ground chuck that's delivered fresh six days a week.- Katrina KildareJune 27, 2016Best borscht in town. Great late night eatery, always busy, much fun. Great service
Giulia MJuly 24, 2020Latkes. Matzah ball soup. Fast and friendly service. Good for late night food too (open 24 hours).
Both Stage's and Veselka's Borscht are delicious, but Veselka edges slightly ahead with their pork infused broth
Cesar RazuriApril 13, 2013The meatballs. Get the meatballs, and a side of mashed potatoes. Best quick meal you'll ever have in life.
Food NetworkAugust 17, 2011Ted Allen pops in at Veselka, in New York, NY, a great spot for breakfast or a late-night snack on Food Network's The Best Thing I Ever Ate. We recommend Ukranian Borscht. Find more tips at FN Local. Read more- Marcelo FleitasNovember 19, 2010Pierogies here are amazing - fried (with sour cream & apple sauce). The Beef Stroganoff and Borscht soup is amazing too! - open 24/7 for those that are out drinking and need a bite before going home -
If you're hungry, get the Deluxe Meat Plate. Excellent pierogi, kielbasa, and stuffed cabbage.
Roniel TesslerAugust 22, 2018The stuffed cabbage is the best you'll ever have. Obviously get pierogies. Beet horseradish and sauerkraut, also 💯
Ms HeleneSeptember 1, 2015Vegetable soup was served lukewarm and bland aside from dill freshness. The small size was large enough for one, $7. Goats cheese and arugula pierogi & sauerkraut with mushrooms best. Latke reheated
Although likely overlooked, the 3-bean chili is bomb. My favorite in the city. Make sure you get onions on top!
The New York TimesAugust 27, 2010Velselka is one of the NYT restaurant critic Sam Sifton’s 50 favorite NYC restaurants. To see the full list, get The Scoop iPhone app, an inside guide to New York: NYTimes.com/thescoop
This institution, appreciated by locals is worth returning to, so when you've had the salmon bagel, make sure you tick off all the Ukrainian specials - with beetroot horseradish!
GNTLMNJuly 22, 201224 hour Ukrainian inspired breakfast in East Village. The original restaurant started back in 1954. Definetly get at least one side of pierogis! - Brice Pattison
Nicholas PoonJune 19, 2017Loved the sausage plate! Along with dumplings makes for a huge satisfying dinner.
Roger RabbitDecember 29, 2019Had the pierogies- pretty solid but not amazing. Love the stuffed cabbage blitzes is solid
The pierogies are to die for. (And they got a couple Gossip Girl shout outs over the years). This location's vibe is way more fun than the Bowery one.
HashtagNYUAugust 29, 2014Perfect for any meal at any time of day. Next time you’re at this pierogi paradise, don’t forget to try their matzo ball soup! Read more
Alex PriceDecember 28, 2017Vegetarian? 1. Get the deluxe platter with borscht as your soup. 2. Wait a few minutes. 3. Thank me through heaping mouthfuls of outstandingly-delicious food.
Chris GampatNovember 26, 2017The burger is beautiful. The hot apple cider is dope. Their pierogis are fantastic. Also super nice staff.
Nir BanchikFebruary 18, 2018Amazing food with a taste of east Europe. If you coming originally from that area you will feel like home
Beware the cold borscht, in which a hard-boiled egg often lurks beneath the surface! The hot borscht is safe. A side of beet and horseradish salad (really, more of a relish) is safest.
Donna JaronczykDecember 27, 2017We had ukrainian borscht, stuffed cabbage, cheese pierogies and lakes. Everything was scrumptious! Highly recommend.
Get the arugula and goat cheese pierogies. They are the best. And the blintzes are legit. Just like my grandmother used to make.
Great, big, bustling, late-night diner. Vast menu. A must-go NYC spot.
Marie La RueMarch 26, 2023East Village institution. The matzo ball soup is excellent. Pierogies are a must.
Beth McMahonDecember 26, 2015Amazing home cooked real food with an authentic European touch. It's a small space so be willing to wait and go hungry!
Jonathan CourtneyMay 3, 2015Excellent breakfast and brunch. Amazingly friendly and charming service. Go for the pancakes with eggs and corned beef.
Fried potato pierogi and a side of kielbasa = perfect breakfast or post-drinking meal. Seasonal short-rib pierogi are also very tasty.
New York HabitatNovember 11, 2011On those days when you're craving Ukranian food, come here. Potato pancakes and stuffed cabbage, oh my. Get the borscht too, it's as authentic as it gets.
Susan S.August 30, 2015Classic NYC spot - open late with great pierogies and potato pancakes. The beef stroganoff was excellent as well!
Bond StreetOctober 3, 2016"A place that remains utterly dependable, and stand as the last bastion of a rapidly vanishing Ukrainian heritage — that’s as meaningful as it is complex to me." - Anil Dash, tech entrepreneur Read more
MarcApril 26, 2013The Cheeseburger is featured on Eater's 2013 Ultimate Burger Bracket, Budget Burger Division; Pierogies made Buzzfeed 31 Delicious Things You Need To Eat In NYC This Winter
Damian BayonaApril 23, 2016Borsct is delish. Pierogis are a must. Dope breakfast. Great for late nights. This place has it all.
Eyal GantzJanuary 21, 2018Even though it is SO BUSY. It is def worth the wait as the food is just perfect.
Jenna SJuly 5, 2017their pierogis are dope. this was a regular haunt when i lived in the east village. Fried are better than boiled.
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Foursquare © 2025 Lovingly made in NYC, CHI, SEA & LA
For sixty-seven years, customers have crowded into Veselka, a cozy Ukrainian coffee shop in New York City's East Village, to enjoy pierogi, borscht, goulash, and many other unpretentious favorites. Veselka (rainbow in Ukrainian) has grown up from a simple newsstand serving soup and sandwiches int...
Open until 11:00 PM (Show more)
- Mon–Sat
- 8:00 AM–Midnight
- Sun
- 8:00 AM–11:00 PM
(212) 228-9682
Features
Reservations
No
Credit Cards
Yes (incl. Discover & Visa)
Wi-Fi
Yes
Outdoor Seating
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible
Yes
Parking
Street
Restroom
Yes
Food & Drink
Menus
Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch, Dinner
Drinks
Beer, Wine, Cocktails
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Wejdan ✨ - 8.9
"Cash only! Super cozy space with tasty food at affordable prices. Coffee is delicious!!"
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