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What to eat in Russia? Top 61 Russian Foods

Last update: Thu Mar 20 2025
Top 61 Russian Foods
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Best Russian Foods

01
Shashlik
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Shashlik is the name for a traditional Central and West Asian barbecue consisting of marinated, skewered, and grilled chunks of meat such as lamb, beef, or pork, depending on regional and religious preferences. Lamb, beef, or pork is usually combined with chunks of vegetables such as bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, or tomatoes.


The meat is typically marinated overnight in vinegar, herbs, spices, and dry wine. In Russia, barbecue is traditionally reserved for men, who are in charge of the whole grilling process, while the women are usually busy slicing vegetables and setting the tables. 

MOST ICONIC Shashlik

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02
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These traditional Russian pancakes are prepared with flour, eggs, milk, yeast, and a pinch of salt. What distinguishes them from other pancakes is the addition of yeast, since similar equivalents mostly do not add any leavening agents. The batter is poured over a hot pan, shaped into a circle, and fried for a couple of minutes on both sides.


The tradition of preparing this traditional Russian dish originates from ancient times: it was a ceremonial dish, served during the pagan holiday called Maslenitsa – a week-long festivity praising the end of winter and the celebration of spring. 

MOST ICONIC Blini

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03

Cake

RUSSIA
4.4
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Medovik is a popular Russian layered honey cake consisting of honey-infused, almost biscuit-like sponges that are coated with thin layers of cream. Although there are numerous variations of the cake, the custard is usually prepared with whipped cream or various combinations of condensed milk and butter.


It is believed that the cake first appeared in the 1820s and was initially created for the wife of Alexander I of Russia. The addition of condensed milk probably originates from the Soviet era, while modern variations may include berries or even chocolate. 

MOST ICONIC Medovik

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04

Pancake

RUSSIA and  4 more regions
4.4
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Syrniki is a dessert consisting of fried cottage cheese pancakes that are usually garnished with honey, fruit jam, sour cream, or applesauce. It is part of the Russian (where it's sometimes also called tvorozhniki), Belarusian, Ukrainian, Latvian and Lithuanian cuisine.


Cottage cheese is traditionally first swetened with sugar, then combined with flour into a dough which is fried in hot oil until it develops a golden-brown color. Syrniki can be served for breakfast or consumed as a tasty dessert after a large meal.

MOST ICONIC Syrniki

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05

Flatbread

KABARDINO-BALKARIA, Russia and  one more region
4.4
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Khychin is a traditional filled flatbread originating from the regions of Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachay-Cherkessia. This thin flatbread is made from unleavened dough and it's filled with boiled potatoes, local cheese, or meat with fresh herbs.


The dough is usually made with a combination of flour, salt, and kefir or ayran, while the filling can contain soft cheese, potatoes, butter, veal or lamb, garlic, onions, coriander, and mint. Once assembled, khychin is fried in butter until it's slightly browned and crispy.


The dish is prepared for all special occasions such as weddings, childbirth, funerals, or visiting guests. It is believed that khychin symbolizes the Sun, wealth, and hospitality.

06
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Varenye is a traditional dessert consisting of various fruits and berries cooked together with sugar. The ingredients should not lose their shape, dissolve, or overcook in order for varenye to be properly prepared. Originally, varenye was cooked with honey before 1801 because Russia didn't produce its own sugar, and imported sugar was too expensive.


Today, varenye is traditionally served at Russian tea parties, and the most popular varieties are prepared with strawberries, apricots, blueberries, and cherries. There are also some exotic varieties made with dandelion, tangerine, and rose petals.


It can be consumed on its own, used as a topping for pancakes, or as a filling for various cookies and pies. 

MOST ICONIC Varenye

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07
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Tvorog is a traditional white fermented milk product in Eastern, Northern, and Central Europe. It's crafted by fermenting milk and then removing the whey, yielding a thick, creamy consistency similar to cottage cheese but with a notably tangier taste.


This dairy product is often classified based on its fat content into categories such as fat-free, low-fat, classic, and fatty. Moreover, the methods of producing tvorog are distinguished into simple, soft, and grained types, with grained tvorog typically being a low-fat variant known for its textured consistency. 
08
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Pirozhki is one of the most popular Russian dishes, often sold as street food, although it can also be made at home. The pocket-sized, oval-shaped pirozhki are yeast dough buns stuffed with a variety of ingredients such as fresh fruits, jams, and cottage cheese for the sweet varieties, or meat, eggs, vegetables, fish, and rice for the savory versions.


They can be either baked or fried. The name pirozhki can be literally translated to little pies. Pirozhki are commonly consumed as a snack, and today, they are prepared in numerous versions throughout the world.

MOST ICONIC Pirozhki

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09
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Mushroom julienne is a Russian appetizer consisting of thinly sliced mushrooms, onions, cream, cheese, and sour cream. The dish is often flavored with white wine, nutmeg, and ground pepper. Although it is traditionally served as an appetizer in small ceramic or metal dishes, it can also be used as a topping for meat.


It is recommended to serve mushroom julienne with toasted breadsticks or sliced bread on the side.

MOST ICONIC Mushroom Julienne

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When it first appeared in the mid-19th-century Russia, beef Stroganoff was a dish made out of lightly floured beef cubes that have been sautéed and cooked in a simple sauce made from stock and mustard with only a small amount of sour cream.


The origin of the dish is unclear, but it is most likely linked to a French chef—or a French-trained chef—working for the Stroganoff family. Although Russian in origin, the dish is strongly influenced by the French style of cooking—this is most obviously seen in the way the beef is cut, in either cubes or strips.


The first known recipe appeared in Elena Molokhovets’s A Gift to Young Housewives, published in 1871. 

MOST ICONIC Beef Stroganoff

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11
Pancake
RUSSIA  and  one more region
4.2
12
13
14
Dumplings
BURYATIA, Russia  and  one more country
4.2
15
16
Cake
MOSCOW, Russia
4.1
17
Appetizer
REPUBLIC OF SAKHA (YAKUTIA), Russia
4.1
18
Savory Pastry
TATARSTAN, Russia
4.1
19
Salad
MOSCOW, Russia  and  one more region
4.0
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
Dessert
KOLOMNA, Russia
3.9
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
Dessert
TATARSTAN, Russia
3.7
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
Pudding
RUSSIA  and  3 more regions
3.3
48
49
Salad
REPUBLIC OF SAKHA (YAKUTIA), Russia
2.8
50
Flatbread
UDMURTIA, Russia
n/a
51
52
Fried Dough
KALMYKIA, Russia
n/a
53
54
Dumplings
DAGESTAN, Russia
4.4
55
Dumplings
DAGESTAN, Russia
4.2
56
Savory Pastry
TATARSTAN, Russia
4.1
57
Savory Pie
UDMURTIA, Russia
4.0
58
59
Cake
SAINT PETERSBURG, Russia
3.9
60
Dessert
TATARSTAN, Russia
3.6
61
Fish Dish
REPUBLIC OF SAKHA (YAKUTIA), Russia
n/a
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Best Russian Food Producers

01

Spirit

RUSSIA, Eastern Europe
4.7
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AWARDS

ISC-International Spirits Challenge - Double Gold

2022

BEST Niva Distillery Spirits
02

Spirit

RUSSIA, Eastern Europe
4.5
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AWARDS

IWSC- International wine & spirit competition - Spirit Gold

2022

BEST Itkul Distillery Spirits
03

Spirit

SAINT PETERSBURG, Russia
4.5
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AWARDS

IWSC- International wine & spirit competition - Spirit Gold

2021

BEST Ladoga Group Spirits
04

Spirit

MOSCOW, Russia
4.5
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AWARDS

IWSC- International wine & spirit competition - Spirit Gold

2021

ISC-International Spirits Challenge - Gold trophy

2021

BEST Permalko JSC Spirits
05
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AWARDS

IWSC- International wine & spirit competition - Spirit Gold

2020

BEST Saranskiy Distillers Spirits
06

Wine

KRASNODAR KRAI, Russia
4.5
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AWARDS

Decanter World Wine Awards - Platinum

2021

BEST Shumrinka Wines
07

Spirit

MOSCOW, Russia
4.5
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AWARDS

ISC-International Spirits Challenge - Gold trophy

2014, 2011

08

Wine

KRASNODAR KRAI, Russia
4.5
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AWARDS

Decanter World Wine Awards - Platinum

2017

BEST Fanagoria Wines
09

Wine

KRASNODAR KRAI, Russia
4.5
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AWARDS

IWSC- International wine & spirit competition - Gold

2021

10
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AWARDS

IWSC- International wine & spirit competition - Gold

2019

BEST Limited Liability Company «DIVNOMORE» Wines
11
Chocolate
MOSCOW, Russia
4.4
12
Beer
MOSCOW OBLAST, Russia
4.4
13
Chocolate
ZAKHAROVO, Russia
4.3
14
15
Chocolate
RUSSIA, Eastern Europe
4.3
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Best Russian Food Products

01

Spirit

RUSSIA, Eastern Europe
5.0
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AWARDS

ISC-International Spirits Challenge - Double Gold

2022

02

Beer

MOSCOW OBLAST, Russia
4.9
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AWARDS

Barcelona Beer Challenge - Gold

2020

03
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AWARDS

Barcelona Beer Challenge - Gold

2020

04
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AWARDS

IWSC- International wine & spirit competition - Spirit Gold

2022

05
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AWARDS

IWSC- International wine & spirit competition - Spirit Gold

2021

06
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AWARDS

IWSC- International wine & spirit competition - Spirit Gold

2021

07
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AWARDS

IWSC- International wine & spirit competition - Spirit Gold

2020

08
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AWARDS

ISC-International Spirits Challenge - Gold trophy

2021

09
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AWARDS

Decanter World Wine Awards - Platinum

2021

10
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AWARDS

ISC-International Spirits Challenge - Gold trophy

2011

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TasteAtlas food rankings are based on the ratings of the TasteAtlas audience, with a series of mechanisms that recognize real users and that ignore bot, nationalist or local patriotic ratings, and give additional value to the ratings of users that the system recognizes as knowledgeable. For the “Top 61 Russian Foods” list until March 20, 2025, 7,167 ratings were recorded, of which 5,080 were recognized by the system as legitimate. TasteAtlas Rankings should not be seen as the final global conclusion about food. Their purpose is to promote excellent local foods, instill pride in traditional dishes, and arouse curiosity about dishes you haven’t tried.

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