
Veselka
Veselka is a legendary Ukrainian eatery in NYC's East Village, serving authentic comfort food and diner classics since 1954. A local institution with ...

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Veselka

Highlights
Must-see attractions
Veselka is a legendary Ukrainian eatery in NYC's East Village, serving authentic comfort food and diner classics since 1954. A local institution with a rustic vibe and murals.
Reservations Recommended
Consider making a reservation to avoid long waits, especially during peak hours. Visit at different times to experience all offerings.
Must-Try Ukrainian Dishes
Don't miss the authentic borscht, pierogis (especially the sauerkraut and mushroom!), and stuffed cabbage.

Quick Facts
Cuisine
Ukrainian
Price
Mid-range
Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Authentic Ukrainian Comfort Food
Savor traditional Ukrainian dishes like pierogis and borscht, served with warm hospitality in a cozy, rustic setting.

All-Day Breakfast and Diner Classics
Enjoy a diverse menu offering everything from hearty breakfast favorites like pancakes and eggs benedict to comforting diner staples.

Old Lower East Side Charm
Experience the authentic vibe of the East Village with murals, friendly service, and a cozy atmosphere that feels like home.
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Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Reservations Recommended
Consider making a reservation to avoid long waits, especially during peak hours. Visit at different times to experience all offerings.
Must-Try Ukrainian Dishes
Don't miss the authentic borscht, pierogis (especially the sauerkraut and mushroom!), and stuffed cabbage.
Save Room for Dessert
Save room for dessert; try the kompot for a sweet treat or opt for their delicious blintzes.
Explore GF and Vegan Options
The menu clearly labels gluten-free and vegetarian options, making it easy to find suitable dishes.
Tips
from all over the internet
Reservations Recommended
Consider making a reservation to avoid long waits, especially during peak hours. Visit at different times to experience all offerings.
Must-Try Ukrainian Dishes
Don't miss the authentic borscht, pierogis (especially the sauerkraut and mushroom!), and stuffed cabbage.
Save Room for Dessert
Save room for dessert; try the kompot for a sweet treat or opt for their delicious blintzes.
Explore GF and Vegan Options
The menu clearly labels gluten-free and vegetarian options, making it easy to find suitable dishes.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Veselka is a beloved Ukrainian institution known for its authentic comfort food and lively East Village atmosphere. Diners rave about the flavorful borscht, delicious pierogis, and all-day breakfast options. While the food is generally praised, some reviews note occasional issues like oily potato pancakes or a lack of fermentation taste in sauerkraut, though these are generally outweighed by the overwhelmingly positive experiences.
"Our second time here, and this time was for dinner. A short line but wait was not bad. Menu has gf and v labels, so that was helpful. Food seems to be simply prepared and arrives very quickly. One gf dessert, which was a cherry and chocolate flourless cake. Friendly staff."
TK
"My wife was thrilled with her cold borsht (on a hot August day), and her pierogis were excellent, too.
I had Ukrainian Mixed Grill with three different sausages. One was excellent, and the other two somehow managed to overshadow it. The sauerkraut was wonderful, even the mashed potatoes were great.
And dessert…maybe even better."
Kent Borg
"I will say it again if it's this popular it cannot be that good. Go here with someone who has never had Ukrainian food before and they will love it, very good intro to Ukrainian food for newbie. the meats should have had more flavor. Sauerkraut was lacking fermentation taste. I enjoyed the borscht and the mushroom sauce."
Emily dorothy
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
Veselka is most famous for its authentic Ukrainian dishes like borscht and pierogis. They also offer a full diner menu with all-day breakfast favorites.
Veselka was historically known for being open 24 hours, though current operating hours should be confirmed. It's a popular spot for late-night eats.
It's recommended to consider making a reservation, especially during peak dining hours, to avoid potential wait times.
Veselka clearly labels gluten-free (GF) and vegetarian (V) options on their menu, making it easy for diners with dietary restrictions.
The restaurant has a lively, rustic vibe with murals on the walls, offering a cozy and welcoming atmosphere that feels like home.
Yes, Veselka serves breakfast all day, featuring classics like pancakes, French toast, and eggs benedict.
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The Best Brunch Restaurants In New York City
This Ukrainian comfort food paradise is open 24 hours a day – meaning you can order cheese-stuffed pierogi at 2pm or 2am and you’ll be equally rewarded with delightfully boiled or fried dough. The long-running institution has garnered newcomers and regulars from far and wide for brunch, withstanding long waits for blintzes, soaring stacks of pancakes, and eggs just about every way. Grab a seat at the counter or wait it out for a booth in the cavernous dining room, which is rife with platters of plump pierogi and raucous laughter.
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The experience: Hungover pierogi brunchThe vibe in NYC’s East Village is chill, bohemian, punk, and basic, all at the same time. And as a host to so many different types of restaurants and bars, no matter your age, drink preference, or scene, the neighborhood has long been a melting pot for some of the city's best nightlife. While weekend nights have revelers boozing it up in all different places, weekend mornings have everyone converging at a single destination: Veselka.
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Why we love it: This Ukrainian restaurant first opened in 1954, and today it's still one of New York City's favorite spots. Breakfast is served all day, including a Monday through Friday only special with four pierogi topped with two eggs any way and a choice of bacon, sausage, kielbasa or avocado, plus a side of beet and horseradish salad and coffee or tea for $18. Time Out tip: If the original outpost is too busy, the Williamburg location is always an option.
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Since its opening in 1954, Veselka has been slinging Ukrainian dishes such as pierogies and borscht alongside diner favorites like stacks of pancakes and enormous omelets. It's an East Village institution, as popular with college kids as with people who've been in the neighborhood for decades, and the long lines on weekends attest to this. Must order: Pierogies
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In the early 20th Century, the East Village was largely made up of Ukrainian, Slovak, Hungarian, and Polish immigrants, but there are only a few remnants of that history left. One landmark that's still around is Veselka, a well-known Ukrainian diner that opened in 1954. Despite its crowds, Veselka somehow retains the magic of an old-school neighborhood joint.
Just back from NYC -- a great neighborhood to stay in, inexpensive eats and bargain shopping on upper west side, and more cheap eats on lower east side...
For brunch Sunday morning I headed down to the lower east side to meet another friend of mine at one of our favorite restaurants, Veselka. This is a FANTASTIC Ukranian-Polish-eastern European diner, with incredible food and ridiculously low prices. I have eaten here three times now and all three times it has been outstanding.
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If you are in the East Village you can also have inexpensive Eastern European cooking at Veselka, Filipino at Elvie’s, comfort food at Mama’s.
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Beloved Ukrainian restaurant Veselka has been feeding East Village party people (and just regular locals looking for a bowl of borscht and a platter of perogies) for some 70 years now, but this summer the Birchard family finally brought their legendary varenyky and holubtsi to the County of Kings with a glorious new location in Williamsburg. “One of the most important things to us when designing and building the new place was that, as soon as you walk in, you should feel like you’re at Veselka,” third-generation co-owner Justin Birchard told BKMAG on opening day.
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Offering traditional Ukrainian food at the corner of Second Avenue and Ninth Street in the East Village since 1954, Veselka’s brunch menu features homemade pierogi (dumplings with scrambled eggs, bacon, potato, and cheddar), eggs Benedict served with salmon and potato pancakes, and waffles made with fresh fruit, whipped cream, and maple syrup. If you’ve worked up an appetite, order the Kozak Bowl, which comes with four pierogi, two eggs, and either bacon, sausage, or kielbasa. Veselka, by the way, translates to “rainbow” in Ukrainian.
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Ever since Vladimir Putin’s “special military operation” in Ukraine started in February 2022, diners in New York have been flocking to Veselka, a long-time Ukrainian-flavored restaurant in the East Village to support Ukraine. (The restaurant regularly gives a portion of profits to relief efforts in Ukraine.) But you should go here anyway for the eatery’s delicious pierogies which come stuffed with short rib or bacon and eggs or sauerkraut and mushrooms. Veselka has been serving up some of the best dumplings in NYC since 1954.
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More a restaurant than a diner, I had spotted Veselka on my walk towards GEM in 2018; of course since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, this historic restaurant has become even more worthy of a visit if only for the wish most of us have to support Ukrainians. It opened in NYC in the 50s and when we visited, over lunch, was very busy. The menu offers diners’ American classics (think burgers) but also a ton of Ukrainians specialties, which we tried: pierogi, latkes (delicious), beetroot dishes like borscht, and more.
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There are plenty of old-school cafés serving up hearty Eastern European fare in the East Village, but none are quite as popular as Veselka — a 24-hour institution known for their handmade pierogi which are lauded as some of the best dumplings in NYC. Veselka offers several varieties of pierogi — potato, cheese, meat, sauerkraut and mushroom, spinach, and even arugula and goat cheese — which can come either steamed or fried. The end-of-the-night (or hungover morning) move is the classic potato, fried.
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This 24-hour East Village eatery boasts Ukrainian-inspired specialties like varenyky/pierogi with an extensive selection of fillings (plump, handmade dumplings, boiled or fried), hearty bigos hunters’ stew, veal goulash, and the ‘Kozak’ bowl that includes grilled kielbasa sausage. Ukrainian cuisine certainly can be a meaty affair, but there are plenty of vegetarian options, like the mushroom and sauerkraut pierogi and meatless borscht. A copious brunch is served on weekends and holidays.
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An East Village mainstay, Veselka on 144 2nd Avenue has been serving traditional Ukrainian food since 1954, when it was established by post- World War II Ukrainian refugees, Wolodymyr and Olha Darmochawal. The cozy coffee shop, whose name translates to “rainbow” in Ukrainian, began as a simple candy store and newsstand that offered sandwiches and soup. Today, it’s evolved into an institution, slinging out “unpretentious” favorites like pierogi, potato pancakes, borscht and goulash.
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If you’re looking for a late night alternative to $1 pizza, look no further than this Ukranian hotspot, Veselka. Open 24 hours a day, and located in one of Manhattan’s fun neighborhoods for nightlife, this East Village eatery features some of the best Ukrainian food you’ll find outside of the heartland. It’s been around since the 1950’s, where they’ve been serving up Ukranian-style dumplings (Pieorgies), meatballs, and amazing beef stroganoff just to name a few.
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What to Order: Buttermilk Waffles, Veselka’s Special Fried Egg Sandwich, Fried Egg With the Works Sandwich, Pierogi, Deluxe Meat Plate, and Housemade Soups. Veselka during NYC’s pride month. For over 60 years, since 1954, patrons have crowded into Veselka, a cozy Ukrainian cafe in East Village, for borscht, kielbasa, and pierogi and house-made treats like blintzes, rugelach, poppy-seed bread, and wheatberry pudding that will satisfy any sweet tooth!
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An ode to Ukrainian cuisine with a few American twists, Veselka's menu is packed with traditional staples from the old country, but the pierogies are undoubtedly our go-to. In addition to the traditional potato and cheese fillings, they also have a few modern options, including braised beef and arugula and goat cheese. A plate of four is $9, but we recommend the eight dumpling option for $17 to get a little more bang for your dumpling buck.
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Cuisine: Ukrainian, Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch, Dinner, Dessert. Veselka is a Ukrainian restaurant that first opened in 1954, and today it’s still one of New York City’s most popular spots for breakfast, brunch, lunch, and even dinner!. Step inside and you’ll be greeted with Ukrainian artwork, trinkets, and artifacts, which truly celebrate America’s melting pot experience and encourage visitors to enjoy the Ukrainian culture!
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For a more traditional approach, be sure to check out the Classic Fried Egg Sandwich at Veselka. This old-school Ukrainian coffee shop opened its doors in 1954 and has been satiating East Village breakfast crowds ever since. You can take your pick between bacon, kielbasa, or sausage on your sandwich and even snag a piece of delicious medovyk sour cream and honey cake on your way out.
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The East Village Ukrainian diner, which has now been a landmark for more than 70 years, recently opened their newest location in Williamsburg. Come for classic Veselka favorites like pierogi, beef stroganoff, Ukrainian meatballs, stuffed cabbage, schnitzel, and borscht. The cozy interior channels the original’s retro vibe, with exposed brick, wood paneling, and vintage touches.
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Whenever I find myself in the East Village without a reservation or two hours to wait, Veselka is there for me, just as it’s there for the totally random assortment of party kids, Eastern European grandpas, and tourists. Get the short rib pierogis, duh, but don’t forget a bowl of borscht. It’s true healthyish comfort food, especially splooshed with a dollop of sour cream.
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Address: 144 2nd Ave, East Village, ManhattanA beloved Ukrainian-American diner serving breakfast all day since 1954. Expect hearty pierogi breakfast plates, borscht, and eggs in a vibrant dinery space—perfect for those craving American best breakfast near me with Eastern-European soul.Key offerings: Pierogi & eggs, borscht, kielbasa, mushroom barley soup.
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An East Village institution, Veselka has been serving up traditional Ukrainian food since 1954. You can sample a plate of Ukrainian-style dumplings (served with sautéed onions and sour cream) for $9USD, or if you’re extra hungry and feel like sharing, opt for a deluxe platter of specialty dishes served with soup or salad for as little as $19.
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144 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003Phone: 212-228-9682 Visit Website. Veselka is a Ukrainian restaurant in the heart of the East Village that’s been serving up deliciously authentic food since 1954. With wooden accents, neon lighting, and tight bar seating, Veselka is the perfect place for smaller parties who want to get together for a chat.
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Veselka, a charming diner serving up delectable Ukrainian cuisine, is a must-visit for any food lover. Its inviting and cozy atmosphere makes it an ideal spot for a casual dining experience. The pierogies and borscht are just a few of the mouth-watering dishes that have earned Veselka a beloved reputation among locals and tourists alike.
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Veselka is an iconic 24-hour Ukrainian diner in the East Village that has been serving authentic food since the 50s. The brand now also has a venue in Essex Market on the Lower East Side. The diner on Second Avenue has outdoor dining but does not take reservations so it’s recommended to arrive early if you’d like to eat in for breakfast.
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Website: VeselkaNeighborhood: East VillageAddress:144 Second Ave, New York, NY. Opened in 1954, Veselka has been a steadfast East Village institution in the ever-changing neighborhood. A byproduct of the thriving Ukrainian community, the restaurant introduced generations of New Yorkers to Eastern European cuisine.
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Since 1954, Veselka has been serving up delicious Ukrainian food in the East Village. Their gorgeous sidewalk seating makes for an excellent space to enjoy the afternoon with friends, both human and canine alike. Their weekend brunch is particularly delicious, but be sure to arrive early to nab a table.
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If you’ve seen “Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist”, then you already know Veselka. In the movie, the characters played by Kat Dennings and Michael Cera spend a crazy night in New York and meet up around 4am in this diner. Yep, Veselka is opne 24 hours, with a varied menu served all day.
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This is one of the most popular places to get borscht, pierogi, and other authentic Ukrainian/Polish dishes — and they’re open 24-hours a day. The prices are affordable — an order of 8 pierogi is $12. These guys have been around since 1954 so they’ve been a local favorite for ages.
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It’s not easy to find a matzo ball soup recipe as good as your bubbe’s version, but Veselka’s comes very close. A cup of chicken soup with a fluffy matzo ball only costs $6. This Second Ave institution is open late—because you never know when that craving for comfort might strike.
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A popular spot for East Village hipsters, Goth guys and gals, families, businesspeople, and anybody who’s ever had a deep need for cold borscht at 3am in the morning. When Veselka debuted in 1954 the area was awash in Ukrainian diners, but most have since gone belly-up (or have…
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I LOVE coming here to get my Ukranian-style pierogis since they are light, crispy, and cooked to perfection. However, don’t take my word for it. After all, this place has been around since 1954 and always has a line around the block that snakes through the East Village.
Highest-rated Brunch Restaurants in New York City, According to Tripadvisor
- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (1,045 reviews)- Detailed ratings: Food (4.5/5), Service (4.0/5), Value (4.5/5), Atmosphere (4.0/5)- Type of cuisine: European, Russian- Price: $$ - $$$- Address: 144 2nd Avenue at East 9th St., New York City, NY 10003- Read more on Tripadvisor
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This is a Ukrainian coffee shop that has been serving the public since 1954. Veselka has grown from a simple newsstand that serves soup and sandwiches to a 24-hour restaurant. It has become a popular gathering place for many.
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144 2nd AveNew York, NY 10003(212) 228-9682 Visit Website See Menu Open in Google Maps. Veselka, a no-frills Ukrainian eatery, has been serving Ukrainian food since 1954, with borscht and pierogi being the highlights.
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And then there is Veselka’s borscht, the borschtiest borscht of them all, made with beef stock and pork butt, and designed to lift your spirits even at 3 a.m. ($4.50; 144 Second Ave., at 9th St.; 212-228-9682).
New restaurants, bars, and cafes opening in our neighborhoods in May ’24 | Brooklyn Bridge Parents
Veselka, the legendary Ukranian diner in the East Village, will open a new location near the BQE in Williamsburg. This will be the first location in Brooklyn; Veselka has another location in Grand Central.
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The Blueberry Pancakes and Blintzes are breakfast staples you won’t want to miss. Their efficient takeout service ensures you can enjoy these delightful dishes on the go.
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