Green borscht, honey-layered medovik cake, and crispy potato pancakes called deruny are all waiting in one little Kentucky downtown. Every plate comes from a Ukrainian family that had to leave home and start over right here.
They make each dish from scratch, using ingredients that have never been frozen. Some recipes take hours, which explains why the food tastes like a grandmother stood guard over the stove.
I love that a place this small carries so much heart. I also love that it sits close enough to Lexington for an easy family day trip.
Ever tasted a cabbage roll that someone called the best of their whole life? This cozy dining room offers a chance to find out what all the fuss is about, one steaming bowl at a time, with the whole family along for the ride.
A Slice Of Ukraine Landed In Downtown Nicholasville
Small-town Kentucky has a way of surprising folks, and this one comes with dumplings. Taste Of Ukraine sits in little downtown Nicholasville, serving traditional Ukrainian dishes in a compact, welcoming space.
The restaurant proudly calls itself the first Ukrainian restaurant in Kentucky. That’s a big title for a modest dining room, but the food backs up the confidence.
It’s a family-owned spot, and that family touch shows up everywhere. You’ll find soups, dumplings, cabbage rolls, hearty entrees, and a dessert lineup worth planning around.
The numbers help tell the story too. Taste Of Ukraine holds a 4.8-star rating on Google across roughly 300 reviews, which is no small feat for a newer restaurant.
Nicholasville sits just south of Lexington in Jessamine County. That makes it an easy hop for families across central Kentucky looking for something new to share at the table.
Plenty of diners arrive having never tried Ukrainian food at all. Others come with Ukrainian roots and leave feeling like they visited home for an afternoon, which might be the sweetest compliment a kitchen can earn.
A Family Recipe Book That Traveled Thousands Of Miles
Behind the menu stands a Ukrainian family who had to leave their home and begin again in a new country. They chose Kentucky, and they brought their traditions with them.
The owners describe the restaurant as much more than a business. They’ve poured their hearts, their customs, and their dream of sharing Ukraine with a new community into every corner.
That dream shapes how the food gets made. Every dish is prepared completely from scratch, with no pre-made shortcuts and no frozen convenience products.
Fresh ingredients get selected carefully, and many recipes take hours of work. Food is prepared the same day it’s served, which is old-fashioned in the best possible way.
Honestly, I find that kind of patience rare and worth celebrating. Plenty of kitchens cut corners, so a team that refuses to feels like a small act of love.
For Kentucky families, there’s something meaningful in welcoming newcomers who simply want to feed people well. Sharing a meal here supports a local family while giving kids a taste of a culture far from Jessamine County.
Borscht Worth Driving Across The County For
Red soup, meet your Kentucky fan club. The borshch at Taste Of Ukraine is the dish that earns the grandma comparison, and it’s a natural first order for curious newcomers.
Borscht is the soul of Ukrainian home cooking. Families there have stirred it for generations, so a from-scratch version carries real weight.
Then there’s a twist many Kentuckians have never met. The menu also features green borscht, a lighter cousin that has picked up its own share of attention.
Soup lovers shouldn’t stop there either. Solyanka, a hearty and tangy Eastern European soup, also appears on the menu and has won over first-time Ukrainian food tasters.
Soup makes a smart opener for families with picky eaters. A shared bowl lets everyone take a cautious spoonful before committing to anything bigger.
Some diners with Ukrainian heritage have said the food tastes just like home. Others who spent time in Eastern Europe compare it to meals cooked by friends there, which tells you plenty about how genuine these flavors are.
Grab extra spoons. Somebody at the table will definitely want a taste.
Potato Lovers Have Officially Found Their Place
Kentucky folks know their way around a potato, so this section of the menu should feel like home turf. Deruny, the crispy Ukrainian potato pancakes, rank among the most talked-about dishes in the whole restaurant.
Potato fans get plenty of other options too. Potato dumplings show up on the menu, and homemade mashed potatoes come alongside several entrees.
Pelmeni deserve their own spotlight. These little meat-filled dumplings earn steady praise and make a great dish to pass around the table.
Then come chebureky, a fried turnover-style pastry with a filling tucked inside. Kids who love anything handheld may claim these before the grown-ups get a chance.
Here’s a fun bit of trivia for the car ride. Deruny are so beloved in Ukraine that they’re often considered one of the country’s signature comfort foods.
Sharing several small plates works beautifully here. One large group ordered a spread to pass around and found every single dish delicious, from soup to dessert.
Fair warning, though. Once someone discovers those crispy pancake edges, negotiations over the last one can get surprisingly intense.
Cabbage Rolls And Stroganoff That Mean Serious Business
One couple called these the best cabbage rolls they had ever eaten. That’s a bold claim, yet it keeps popping up in different words from different tables.
Known in Ukraine as holubtsy, cabbage rolls are a deeply traditional dish. The family makes them with a lot of care, and it shows in how often they get mentioned.
Beef stroganoff might be the quiet champion of the menu. It ranks as one of the most frequently praised dishes, with tender beef that disappears fast.
Chicken Kyiv brings a little drama to the plate. It pairs with mashed potatoes or pasta, and first-timers have found it deeply satisfying.
Pork schnitzel and Ukrainian-style cutlets round out the hearty lineup. Both make friendly picks for diners who are nervous about trying an unfamiliar cuisine.
Portion sizes come up often in conversations about the food. Plates here lean toward filling, home-cooked comfort rather than dainty bites.
For families, these entrees bridge the gap nicely. A kid who loves chicken nuggets might happily tackle Chicken Kyiv, and that feels like a small victory worth celebrating.
Save Room, Because The Desserts Steal The Show
Honey and cake, layered over and over again. Medovik is the dessert star at Taste Of Ukraine, and it gets mentioned more than any other sweet on the menu.
Fans of desserts have a lot to explore beyond that. Kyiv cake, a classic from the Ukrainian capital, earns praise right alongside the medovik.
Chocolate lovers should look for Spartak. It’s a chocolate and honey cake that won over at least one first-time visitor completely.
Nalysnyky offer something different. These Ukrainian crepes make a sweet finish that feels light after a hearty dinner.
Even the macarons have earned compliments. That’s impressive for a restaurant better known for dumplings and soup.
A common theme pops up again and again. People who tried the desserts tend to urge everyone else not to skip them.
One diner left before dessert and clearly regretted it. Learn from that mistake and plan your meal so there’s room at the end.
Desserts make a lovely family ritual too. Ordering a few different cakes to share turns the last course into a tasting party, and everyone gets to pick a favorite.
A Cozy Dining Room Dressed In Ukrainian Art
Lots of cool art from Ukraine lines the space, and the decor gets almost as many compliments as the cabbage rolls. The family put real heart into making the room feel cozy.
Cleanliness stands out too. The dining room is often described as spotless, which parents with little ones will appreciate.
The setup feels laid back but still nice. It’s basically seat-yourself, with ordering at the counter, so there’s no fuss about reservations or formal routines.
Space is on the small side, though. Weekend visits could get busy, while a quiet weekday afternoon may give you the room nearly to yourselves.
Prefer fresh air? An outdoor patio offers seating outside when the Kentucky weather cooperates.
The staff earns warm words for being friendly, patient, and knowledgeable. Servers happily answer questions, which is a big help for anyone new to Ukrainian food.
This place suits curious eaters of all ages. Grandparents, teens, and first-time adventurers can all find something here, and Ukrainian families can find a little taste of home far from home.
Groups have enjoyed sharing big spreads here as well.
Plan Your Nicholasville Food Adventure The Smart Way
Breakfast, lunch, or dinner all work here, which makes planning delightfully easy. Taste Of Ukraine opens at 8 AM Monday through Friday and at 9 AM on weekends.
Every day, the doors stay open until 10 PM. That generous schedule fits after-school outings, Saturday road trips, and late family dinners alike.
You’ll find the restaurant at 106 E Maple St, Nicholasville, KY 40356. It sits right in the small downtown area, an easy drive from Lexington and much of central Kentucky.
Budget-minded families should know prices can run on the higher side. The owners explain that cooking everything from scratch with fresh, never-frozen ingredients takes time and costs more.
Many diners still feel the quality makes it worthwhile. Sharing a few appetizers and a dessert can be a smart way to sample a lot without overdoing it.
So, is the trip worth it? I believe a family-made bowl of borscht in the heart of Kentucky makes a pretty memorable afternoon.
Bring curiosity and friends who like to share. You might leave with a new favorite dish and a story to tell.
