Russia is known all over the world for its thinkers and artists, and of course food.
Here are popular Russian street foods you should try soon
Baked potato
This root vegetable is as beloved in Russia as in many other parts of the world, and the fast-food chain “Kroshka-Kartoshka” has capitalized on its popularity.
In contrast to its name, which means “tiny potato,” the cafe offers giant baked potatoes with a variety of fillings, including cheese, butter, pickled mushrooms, salty cheese with dill and salmon.
Chebureki
This pastry is a much-beloved snack across the country. Chebureki are thin triangles of dough stuffed with minced meat and spices and quickly fried in boiling oil.
Chebureki can be bought at special cafes called cheburechnayas that are often associated with the Soviet era.
Shawarma
This sliced meat wrap invaded the country in the 1990s, and stands selling them could quickly be found at every metro station.
At a typical shawarma stand, a huge cut of meat is roasting in an open window.
Sandwiches are sliced to order, then mixed with vegetables, ketchup, and mayonnaise and bound tightly into lavash.
Today shawarma is most beloved by comedians and journalists: the first joke about this ubiquitous street food while the second makes it a point to know the best shawarma stands in the city.
Blin
These thin, crepe-like pancakes have been consumed in Russia for centuries. Today they are the most popular type of Russian street food, and the most popular place to buy them is the “Teremok” chain.
You can add fillings ranging from ham, cheese, or red caviar to honey, jam, or sweetened condensed milk to your blini.
Pirozhki
The word “pirog” (Russian for “pie”) derived from the ancient Russian “pir” (“feast”), clearly demonstrating that no celebration could be had without them.
Today small pies are available in every cafeteria. Stuffed with fish, meat, rice, mushrooms, spring onion and eggs, vegetables, berries, and fruits — you can never have enough of them.
Doughnuts
This sweet street food became popular in the Soviet era.
Unlike American doughnuts, Soviet “ponchiki” are round balls, fried and covered in powdered sugar.
Today this retro-treat can be purchased in paper cones from kiosks in several Moscow parks and in special shops in St. Petersburg called “pyshechniyes.”
Boiled corn
Corn was introduced into Russia by Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev, who called it the “queen of the fields,” in the hope that it could feed the entire country.
Khrushchev’s experiment wasn’t successful, but corn remains a popular street food – many Russians have fond memories of sinking their teeth into an ear dredged from a huge pot of boiling water, covered in butter and salt.
Today, many stands offering boiled corn on a stick can be found in Moscow parks.
