"Veselka could sell two things, and we’d be there at least once a month. Their pierogi and borscht are two of the best versions of either dish you’ll find anywhere in New York: the pierogi chewy and perfectly boiled, the borscht savory and bright. The East Village institution has been a late-night and breakfast mainstay since it opened in 1954 (adding a Williamsburg location in 2024), with the balance tipping towards daylight hours in recent years. And while not everything on the large menu is better than your average diner, the Ukrainian food in particular is as reliably comforting as it's ever been. photo credit: Kate Previte photo credit: Kate Previte photo credit: Kate Previte The last time we reviewed Veselka, before the pandemic, they still had the 24-hour open door policy. Other guests included a couple who “looked like they’d just left a CBGB show in 1980” making out in a booth. Now, Veselka closes at midnight most days (2am on Friday and Saturday), and that frantic, last-stop-before-bed energy is much harder to find. When we recently stopped by at around 11pm, the most exciting thing was a man reading a bible, next to a table of NYU students splitting one comically large beer. photo credit: Kate Previte photo credit: Kate Previte photo credit: Kate Previte These days, Veselka is at its best and most bustling before noon, especially on weekends, when there’s often a short line out front. Someone sits at the counter, narrowly avoiding getting borscht stains on their book. Someone else eats chocolate cake for lunch. When you visit, don’t let whoever you’re with tell you that you can’t eat eight pierogi for breakfast. At Veselka, you do you. Food Rundown photo credit: Kate Previte Pierogi Pierogi are peak comfort food, and Veselka’s are some of the best. Get a variety—we love all the fillings, from sauerkraut and mushroom to stewed beef. Boiled or fried is purely up to your preference. photo credit: Kate Previte Borscht Try as you might, it’s really hard to eat this hot-pink soup slowly and without clothes-destroying splashes—it’s that good. Mix in some sour cream as you get towards the end of your cup. photo credit: Kate Previte Breakfast Combo Veselka’s pancakes are just about fine. But we are huge fans of their kielbasa, with picture-perfect grill marks. It’s a firm, smoky sausage that makes any meal here better, so just order it by itself. photo credit: Kate Previte Bigos Stew Warming and cozy, this hunter’s stew is especially good on a cold winter night. A mix of stewed pork, kielbasa, sauerkraut, and onions in a tomato-based broth, this’ll warm you right up. photo credit: Kate Previte Beef Stroganoff Stewed in a mushroom gravy, Veselka’s beef stroganoff is rich, homey, and worth an order—though the bigos stew is a bit harder to find, so we go for it more often." - Will Hartman
