There are a few things you can count on when you eat at Kachka: the room will be lively, a silly amount of vodka will get passed around, and you’ll become a lover of Belarusian food even if you didn’t know your salat from your shila plavi before. This Southeast spot is a great place for groups, so you can order the ruskie zakuski experience (full table participation is required), a bountiful selection of cold apps like smoked fish and little things on toast, ideally paired with a variety of infused vodkas—including birch, sea buckthorn, and matsutake—that are perfect for taking shots with the table next to you.

This Central East Side establishment decorated to resemble a dacha (a Russian country/vacation house) turns out wonderfully creative and often quite light Russian fare, including plenty of shareable small plates, like crispy beef tongue with sweet onion sauce, orange, and pomegranate; panfried sour-cherry vareniki (Ukrainian dumplings), and—of course—caviar with blini and all the usual accompaniments. Another crowd-pleaser on the menu is the classic chicken Kiev, prepared the old-fashioned way, oozing with butter. The owners also run Lavka, a market and deli above the restaurant.

Kachka has been one of the city’s buzziest restaurants since it opened in 2014. Owner Bonnie Morales, the daughter of Soviet immigrants, was nervous about how people would take to foods like salt-cured herring, one of the ingredients she found embarrassing when she was growing up. At Kachka, Morales uses it in a traditional salad made with beets, carrots, and sunflower mayonnaise.

luc lac - vivienne - bullard - XLB - departure - urban farmer - siri indian cuisine - por que no - screen door - sizzle pie - grassa - lardo - bamboo sushi - Santa Fe - imperial - paley’s place - rosa rosa - pepino’s - killer burger - little big burger - garden bar - noraneko - hem 23 - afuri - boxer ramen - poke mon - quickfish - guero no.1 tortas - baan thai - boke bowl - swagat - tusk - cheese & crack - montage - virtuous pie - kachka - hem23 - paadee - shalom y’all - thai peacock - marrakesh - prasad - harlow - montesacro - bunk sandwiches - hat yai - stella taco - the whole bowl - grilled cheese grill - delores - nong’s khao man gai - jackrabbit - sea sweets poke - luce - besaw’s - andina - paragon - pok pok - langbaan

Before lockdown orders forced pretty much everyone to adopt the role of home chef, Bonnie Morales' matriarchal ode to the hearty dishes of her parents' homeland, the former Soviet Union, was already working to meet diners' demand to cook some of her recipes themselves. Lavka, the adorably compact grocery store that opened above Kachka's dining room last year, began selling items like the frequently requested frozen dumplings to go. And happily for novice cooks, they're as simple to prepare as a box of fluorescent orange Kraft pasta, but taste much more sophisticated.

The restaurant that taught America that Soviet-era food could be cool — aspic, bony fish and all — took a few years to settle into its new home. After moving to a standalone building in the Goat Blocks development in 2018, Kachka added more skewers, breads and a few ambitious dishes that felt designed to match the more upscale digs. But the classics were soon gathered under one roof now, including the signature dumplings, flavored vodkas and “seven-layer dip” of herring under a fur coat that had briefly stayed behind at Kachka’s since-closed original location.

Kachka’s boisterous take on Russia’s traditional cuisine, as reimagined by chef Bonnie Morales and her husband, Israel, centers on vodka and all the requisite cured fish, dumplings, and cabbage-wrapped meat that come with the territory. With its small tables groaning under plates of vareniki bulging with tangy farmers cheese and satisfying beef tongue (fried to a crisp but meltingly tender inside), plus seven types of caviar and traditional Soviet sweets, Kachka just might kick-start a homegrown Russian revolution.

I laughed really hard when I read the introduction to Kachka chef, Bonnie Morales’ cookbook, Kachka: A Return to Russian Cooking. She tells the story of when she and her husband Israel were opening Kachka in 2013 and they interfaced with contractors, inspectors, vendors, food writers, banks, potential employees. In short, in every discussion, once she mentioned her restaurant to be would serve food from the former Soviet Union, she was met with blank stares, long pauses and confusion.

There’s something specifically romantic about toasting a flight of specialized vodka over plates of classic, family-recipe Russian dishes at Kachka in the Buckman neighborhood. Maybe it’s the history and tradition you can taste in every bite, maybe it’s the high ceilings and tall, tapestry-covered walls or maybe it’s just the infused spirits, but there’s something uniquely intoxicating about the place. And it’s certainly one of the best romantic restaurants in Portland.

Grab a spot at the bar (or a table in the lounge) and start with infused horseradish or zubrovka vodkas ($9). This will be enough to get your cheeks rosy, so get the assortment of pickles ($6) and play around with their famous dumplings—either the Tvorog Vareniki (scallion, farmer’s cheese, $9) or Siberian Pelmenti (beef, pork, veal, onion, $9). Go for the Russian gold if you can, party for a few hours, and close out the night singing old Communist propaganda songs.

Of all the restaurants I visited in Portland, Kachka surprised me the most. I don’t know what I expected from this established Russian and Eastern European cuisine restaurant, but I left with a love of Ukrainian, Polish, and Russian flavors in my blood. As a child, Bonnie Morales (née Frumkin) grew up with elaborate, traditional dinner parties thanks to a family that emigrated to the United States from the former Soviet Union.

If you’re seeking a Portland birthday dinner with a celebratory vibe and a unique twist, look no further than Kachka. Representing dishes from the former Soviet Union through a Pacific Northwest lens, Kachka will enchant you with its vodka flights and vibrant Soviet décor. Amidst this ambiance, indulge in Russian favorites like pelmeni and vareniki dumplings or whole grilled trout or rabbit in a clay pot.

It is a city that can be overwhelming white, so it is counterintuitive that it has great in its food. If you love Southeast Asian food you would be in the same city as the super-restauratuer Akkapong Earl Ninsom, and eating Southern fried Thai at Hat Yai or drinking something sunny and enlivening the bar at Eem. Everytime I even think cocktails and Thai BBQ I feel something inside!!

Dining at Kachka, one of the country’s top spots for Russian food, is an experience unlike any other in Portland. Its menu features classic Russian dishes, sometimes with a twist—think short rib borsch—as well as specialties from nearby countries like Georgia and Uzbekistan. Don’t miss the vareniki dumplings, particularly the sour cherry variety on offer for dessert.

Kachka has been capturing our hearts with dishes from the former Soviet Union since 2014. This is the place to go if you've been meaning to try a few different vodkas — it has over 50 options, including the horseradish-infused vodka it makes in-house. It's also the ideal place to get quintessential Russian dishes like pelmeni dumplings and rich, flavorful borscht.

Kachka Restaurant is often considered the best Russian restaurant in the county. It has been awarded numerous accolades by numerous press outlets, including GQ, Eater, and more. From the founders of Kachka Restaurant, Kachka vodka is a celebration of the so-called “vodka belt.” Today Kachka pays tribute to this region with their horseradish-infused vodka.

Eastern European-inspired restaurants are one of the city’s strongest culinary trends of late, according to Hibdon, with Rosa Rosa and two other additions: Kachka, which expanded in July 2018 to a larger location, and Delores, which opened in December 2018. Kachka can be credited with introducing Portland to Eastern European cuisine, according to Hibdon.

In a nod to several Kachka staffers' Mexican roots, the so-called "Tekc Mekc" menu (a play on "Tex-Mex" with Cyrillic characters) incorporates Latin influences, resulting in dishes like queso fundido khachapuri (!), Georgian cornbread gorditas, and lavash nachos. Other Kachka classics like vareniki, pelmeni, and Moscow mules also make an appearance.

A post shared by KACHKA (@kachkapdx) on Dec 22, 2019 at 10:39am PST. A meal at Bonnie and Israel Morales' Russian restaurant is enlightening, fun and delicious. Get an education in vodka and caviar (not all of it's super pricey), then taste the difference between Ukranian and Siberian dumplings.

Bonnie Morales’ Kachka is considered one of the best Russian restaurants in the country. So the fact that you can get her famous dumplings for a discount at happy hour is a joyous thing indeed. Order the dumplings filled with pork, beef, veal and onions, or with farmer’s cheese and scallion.

website | Instagram | neighborhood: Buckman, SE Portland ( get directions) |cuisine: Russian | lunch & dinner. A few blocks north on Bake of the Run is Kachka. This is one of the most fun places to eat in Portland, Oregon because it’s as if you stepped into a Russian grandmother’s home.

My life forever changed with one bite of the delectable Russian dumplings from Kachka. Each dumpling is available in the traditional steamed fashion or pan-fried to crispy perfection. The Siberian pelmeni are flavor packed with a meat medley of beef, pork, veal and onion.

If I'm depressed, I usually keep a pack of the frozen ones in my freezer, take those out, and it's just straight up, maybe a little dollop of sour cream or yogurt, a little bit of vinegar, a little bit of butter.

Kachka: Known for its authentic Russian fare, Kachka offers a unique dining experience with dishes such as dumplings and house-made vodkas. The warm decor and friendly service enhance the experience.

If you’ve ever been to Kachka, you’ll probably agree that the U.S. could use a few more Russian restaurants. And how about these captivating orange + white tablecloths?. View this post on Instagram

Chef Bonnie Morales prepares the cuisine of the former Soviet Union — the menu features savory meats, dumplings, cured fish and bright pickled vegetables, plus a selection of more than 50 vodkas.

Don't skip Kachka for a daily happy hour from 4 to 6 PM, where you can indulge in inventive Eastern European cuisine and infused vodkas that will transport you across continents.

This Russian restaurant that stands with Ukraine serves the dumplings my husband grew up with, vareniki and pelmeni, along with other Eastern European specialties.

- Rating: 4.3/5 (1214 reviews)- Price level: $$$- Address: 960 Southeast 11th Ave. Portland, Oregon - Categories: Russian, Georgian, Wine Bars- Read more on Yelp

Recommended dinner option: Katchka (russian) // For Dessert: Petunia’s Pies & Pastries (all 100% vegan!) Day 3: More Waterfalls + More Portland

In most U.S. cities, you can find restaurants that serve a variety of different food from different countries — Italian, Korean, American.

960 SE 11th Ave, Portland, OR 97214Phone: 503-235-0059 Visit Website. View this post on Instagram. A post shared by KACHKA (@kachkapdx)

If your child is open to a lively culinary adventure, Kachka offers skewers and dumplings alongside the more refined Russian fare.