Journey to Ukraine: Discover a Country Through Its Flavours

For many of our guests, Ukrainian cuisine is completely new. No familiar reference point. No expectations. Just curiosity.

That’s exactly why we created Journey to Ukraine — a dining experience designed as a culinary route across the country, from west to east, where every dish tells a story.

Ukraine is vast, diverse, and deeply regional. Food here isn’t just about ingredients — it’s about land, climate, history, and family traditions passed down through generations. At Otakoi, we wanted to honour that richness and make it accessible, especially for those tasting Ukrainian food for the very first time.

A New Way to Experience the Journey

From now on, you can enjoy this story in a more complete way with our Journey to Ukraine degustation set for two — $180*.

*Set menu is available during dinner service only.

To ensure availability and allow our team time to prepare your journey, please book the Journey to Ukraine set in advance through our booking system.

Created as a guided tasting, this set menu takes you through the regions of Ukraine from west to east, bringing together a selection of dishes that best represent the flavours, traditions, and spirit of our cuisine.

It’s designed to be shared, discovered slowly, and enjoyed together — especially for those trying Ukrainian food for the first time, or for anyone who wants to experience the journey as we imagined it.

A Culinary Route Across the Regions

Your journey begins with cold and hot starters from across Ukraine — traditional village-style pickles, hearty meat plates inspired by Galicia and Volyn, and comforting classics like deruny (crispy potato pancakes) or chebureky from Crimea.

From there, you arrive in Central Ukraine — the heart of the country, with our iconic Borshch. Slow-cooked beetroot and beef broth, cabbage, potato, sour cream, and rye bread — a dish recognised by UNESCO as part of Ukraine’s Intangible Cultural Heritage.

The main route continues through village kitchens and Cossack heritage, where you’ll choose between dishes like holubtsi (stuffed cabbage rolls from Zakarpattia) or shpundra with buckwheat, a historic Poltava-style dish once beloved by Cossacks.

To bring the whole country together, we serve a Varenyky Tasting Plate — Ukrainian dumplings enjoyed in every region, every home, and every celebration.

And finally, the journey ends with a sweet Ukrainian farewell: traditional desserts that carry nostalgia, warmth, and memories of home.

Photo credits by Darlan

Drinks Along the Way

No journey is complete without something to drink. Along the route, we invite you to try traditional Ukrainian soft drinks like uzvar and compot, or explore Ukrainian spirits, beers, and sparkling wine from regions such as Bakhmut and the Black Sea coast.

Photo credits by Darlan 

For coffee lovers, our signature Ukrainian coffee drinks — including Flat Red, Flat Cherry, and Bumble Coffee — offer a modern taste of Ukraine, inspired by award-winning Ukrainian barista traditions.

More Than a Meal

So we invite you to our restaurant not only to taste something new, but to truly immerse yourself in Ukrainian character.

To experience the flavours and traditions, the warmth of hospitality, and the feeling of being welcomed at the table.

And, of course, to discover a little of the Ukrainian soul through food.

Whether this is your first time trying Ukrainian cuisine or you’re reconnecting with something familiar, we’re happy to have you here — and to share this journey with you.

Otakoï Family