You're reading: Vegetarian guide to Kyiv restaurants

It’s not easy to be a vegetarian in Kyiv, or Ukraine in general: Let’s face it, even the country’s most popular “salad” Olivier is laced with lumps of spongey sausage meat. For those averse to consuming the flesh of our fellow creatures, options for eating out in the capital are few. However, the Kyiv Post has tracked down the best vegetarian restaurants in town that offer tasty, healthy and meat-free organic food.

Tri

Tri restaurant is in the city center, not far from St. Sofia Cathedral. It has three dining spaces, one of which doubles as a co-working space where lectures and workshops are also held.

The restaurant offers food made from fresh products only. Strict vegetarians can be assured that none of the restaurant’s foods include meat or fish, or even sugar and milk. For breakfast, Tri offers oat flakes with peanuts (Hr 45), a whole-grain bread sandwich with tofu cheese (Hr 65) or baked apple (Hr 55). The main menu includes a whole wheat risotto with cashew nut cream (Hr 106), lentil soup (Hr 56) and lime dessert (Hr 76). Various vegetable salads go for Hr 98 – 136 here.

Raw food fans can enjoy a mushroom tarte with basil (Hr 156) or raw soup with beets, avocado and mint (Hr 68). The restaurant also offers carrot dessert (Hr 68) and lemon cake (Hr 76) as a sweet course.

15/3 Honchara St. Open daily 8 a.m. – 9 p.m. www.tri.kiev.ua

Imbyr

This stylish Vedic cuisine café is located not far from Olimpiysky Stadium. It is cozy, with lots of book shelves. The owners say they prepare their food with organic components only, without any processed products such as sugar, white rice or refined flour. The menu includes a variety of vegetarian dishes such as beetroot soup with avocado and green peas for Hr 70, or seitan with asparagus in lemon chutney sauce for Hr 104. If you have a sweet tooth, their mint soufflé with coconuts and dates (Hr72) or beet candy with almonds will go down well.

The restaurant has a store that sells organic products, books, and aromatic oils.

7 Zhylyanska St. Open daily 8 a.m. – 10 p.m. www.cafeimbir.com

Eco Buffet café

This spot offers a good choice of dishes for both lacto-vegetarians and vegans. The food is prepared with freshly-farmed products. Try their Dal Indian pea soup for Hr 12 or an Italian dish – broccoli with Bechamel sauce – for Hr 25. Couscous with vegetables prepared according to a Maghribi recipe goes for Hr 20. A soft Austrian apple strudel costs only Hr 14. The eatery offers business lunches for Hr 45 on weekdays.

28 Vasylkivska St. Open Mon. thru Fri. from 9 a.m. – 8.30 p.m. Sat. – Sun. 10.30 – 8 p.m. www.eco-buffet.com

Vegano Hooligano

Vegano Hooligano café is tucked among the numerous stalls inside Besarabsky Market. Vegano Hooligano is both a café and a healthy food store, and prices are quite reasonable. It offers a sandwich with spicy roasted pumpkin for Hr 44, and rolls with grilled tofu cheese for Hr 34. Their trademark falafel is Hr 32. Desserts cost Hr 21 and change daily.

Vegano Hooligano also offers take-away meals and delivery.

Besarabsky Market (2 Bessarabska Square), place 13. Open Mon. thru Sat. 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., Sun. 12 p.m. – 10 p.m. www.veganohooligano.com.ua

Vagabond

The tiny, stylish café sits on a quiet Podil street. The choice here is limited, but prices are quite reasonable. Vagabond offers vegan and vegetarian wraps and soups for Hr 35. As for the dessert options, there is granola (Hr 35) and fruit salad (Hr 35). Drink-wise, the café offers espresso (Hr 15), lemonade (Hr 25) or milkshake (Hr 30), and other beverages, made with soy milk.

7 Skovorody St. Open Mon. – Fri. 7 a.m. – 11 p.m., Sat.-Sun. 10 a.m. – 11 p.m. www.facebook.com/vagabondvintagecoffeecorner

Ukrop

Only fresh products are used for cooking dishes in the Ukrop (Dill) café. The café says that the chef uses spices and herbs that have a favorable effect on the digestive system. Ukrop is probably the cheapest vegetarian eatery in Kyiv. A beetroot and walnut salad goes for Hr 11, creamy soup costs Hr 12, while Sabji baked vegetables is Hr 20, and a carrot rissole just Hr 10. The cafe also conducts workshops and music evenings.