Kukhnya

Oh m G. My balls are hanging lower because I just ate a sumptuous meal at the Siberia Kitchen pronounced
(cook-​Née-​ya) spelled kukhnya
Slavic food with altitude.
We Hit AllWays lounge for comedia nd supped at Siberia. A 5+ star Saturday night. Yes!!!

Food was good. Especially since it’s rare to find pierogies in New Orleans, I was pleased with this place. Now the atmosphere my seem a little skiddish but don’t let it steer you away from some good eating.

Great food, fast and cheap with huge portions.
Home cooked food, too!

Er. Ma. Hawd. Cheeseburger blini.
It’s in the back of a death metal club.
The sign is in Cyrillic.
Don’t be afraid. Just walk up to the menu and order something. Anything. It will blow your tastebuds. Especially if it’s in a crêpe.
I happened upon here during Monday open mic comedy. I was hamgry. Humgry. Hungry. And scared. The menu is big. Intimidating. Where can you get Beef Stroganoff from a window!!! But I ordered the cheeseburger blini. And I am now awake. It was too
Dark to take a picture. I was a little freaked out because it looked like a crêpe on steroids. But grab your knife and fork and dig in. And douse it liberally with the sweet nectar of their Russian dressing. Or just call it take out ambrosia. Because this is unlike any burger you have ever had. Didn’t come with sides. Didn’t need any.
Grab a tasty brew at the bar and go mad. Did I mention all the staff was super friendly?
Three thumbs up

This place is amazing. It is in the back of a bar, but they have a little dining room away from the crowd. We ordered pierogis and a beet reuben. Service was fast. You place your order thru a window in the wall, and they only accept cash. The food was some of the best I have ever had. Everything is made fresh to order. We paused from chewing only to talk about how good the food was. I really think you should go here and experience this food. It is amazing, and very inexpensive. I wish I was eating it right now.

This place it the most amazing value in all of New Orleans.

You might not expect a metal bar to have tasty food and you might not necessarily expect Russian food to blow your mind, but you’d be wrong! After sitting at the bar and devouring my pierogi and golumphi all I can say is: Aw man, that’s some good food! And there are great options for both meat eaters and vegetarians — even better!

This food is too good and the prices are very reasonable. It’s even more enjoyable now that Siberia is smoke free. Frequently, you’ll have to wade through a loud metal show to get to the little window that houses this delicious Polish food. But that just adds to the adventure! Let the door guy know you’re just there to eat and you won’t get charged cover. You will need to be of age though. If you like the show (they often have comedy, burlesque, and many other types of music aside from metal) then stick around and have a drink with your grub (but go pay the cover if there is one. Don’t be «that guy».). Try the pierogis!

This place is amazing. Every time I hear of a new show coming up at Siberia my mouth starts watering like one of Pavlov’s dogs. I honestly wish I could try everything on the menu, but when it comes down to it I can’t stop myself from ordering that beet burger with goat cheese EVERY time. The fries with dill are the perfect accompaniment. When I’m not in the mood for a whole meal I can still get down with a cheese blini. They’ll put any mixture of cheeses you want in it!
Basically, food from the gods.

Friends, countrymen, Unilocalers! Lets clear things up– this is bar food inside… wait for it… a bar! Yes, they have a back seating area, but for the love of god please don’t think this is some hidden Russian ruble you should take your parents to on their anniversary. This is inside a music venue of the punk/​metal/​hardcore persuasion and odds are there will be a show on, or about to go on, when you visit.
Kukhnya is best when you visit with an understanding of what you’re getting yourself into. I came to see a hardcore show, and even if I hadn’t I would be super happy enjoying my pierogi in the black on black bar with the rest of the locals– which is exactly what we did. We ordered from the pick up window and had insanely tasty pierogi (they were out of the golumpki, wahhh). The food is no joke delicious and its such a huge added bonus if you’re there for a show.
We didn’t go into the back restaurant area, it seemed to be a green room the night we were there, but really I think Kukhnya is best enjoyed hand in hand with Siberia. If that thought scares you, I’m sure you can find another place to get your foodie on.

Salad and cheese blitz was amazing! My gf loved their borsch and Spinage and mushroom blintz. The Ukrainian cook was really nice as well. Great Ukrainian soul food for great price. Check it out! Highly recommend!

Often times you must step out of your comfort zone to achieve greatness…
While «achieving greatness» may be slightly hyperbolic when describing the act of eating pierogies and beef stroganoff — I maintain the analogy is valid.
This string of consonants which I cannot pronounce represents easily the best Eastern European establishment I have found in the Crescent City. Actually, it may be the only. Facts aside, it is actually really quite good. Having lived in Chicago once and being fed by a significant other who has an Eastern European heritage, I have a decent reference point for this cuisine. I would say this place is decidedly above average. Not the most amazing, but certainly well executed. The stroganoff and pierogies were well executed, but the stroganoff sauce was a little thin and bland — this can be fixed. Perhaps it was a lack of vinegar. The service is friendly, and I suppose the dark interior of the Siberia bar is a fitting residence for this restaurant.
Portions are huge, and it’s a pretty excellent value– especially if you have been hopping along the clubs and bars on this stretch of St. Claude.
Certainly worth the trip if you are scared off by the neighborhood. I think it would be pretty great if the restaurant takes off and they can open a spot of their own one day soon.

The beet burger is as phenomenal as everyone says! I always get this but am usually hard pressed choosing between fries or the yummy potato n cheese perogis. I like to peek my head in the kitchen because the cooks are real friendly and everything always looks fresh n tasty! If you don’t want to sit in the smoke-​filled room to wait for your food, I suggest that you call in your order 15min ahead. No seating as far as I know.

Hubby and I have a new favorite here in New Orleans. Comfort food at its finest. Yes, its a bit divey but thats perfectly fine. The staff here is wonderful, everything is clean and comfortable, and the food is simply amazing! We shared thr beef stroganoff, perogies, and galumpkis. Hubby had the hamburger too. This was all new food for us and we are in love. It’s hard to get Hubby to try anything new or even slightly adventurous; I tease that he has the palate of a toddler. Not only did he try everything but he loved it! I can already tell we are going to become regulars.

I love this sort of food. It’s the food of my people. But some of it doesn’t measure up.
The pierogis are on the bland side (I know, they’re bland food, but the potato filling needs something, at least salt and pepper, maybe a little hard cheese) but nicely done. Might also want to try some other fillings (grandma used to use dried prunes). Also, salt the sautéed onions a little.
I also had borscht (hot) which was also lacking in seasoning. the flavor was decent, but I tend to prefer borscht that has been blended (or the clear kind with tiny dumplings). This was left with whole pieces of shredded beet, which makes the texture a little odd. The green salad I had was good, the dressing was flavorful and nicely done.
I did taste my friend’s stroganoff, and it was really nice. Clearly the best thing on the menu.
Try to get there earlier unless you don’t mind really loud music playing in the front bar.
A decent meal, especially for the price, but I’ve had better Polish/​Eastern European food.

Kukhnya
Man, such a beautiful place, a true «Hidden Gem».
Across from another hidden gem, the Always Lounge, this area has so much of my heart
I would love to live here if circumstances would allow.
But for now, on to the review.
Kuknya (Pronounced Cook-​Née-​Ya) such sweetly sublime, traditional, and yet soul satisfying Slavic comfort food.
Pierogi, Oh, the pierogi.
Beef Stroganoff with meat so tender and sauce so savory you’ll lick the plate, the table, the busser.
Alright, I suggest you stop at the table.
I truly love these genres of restaurant, tucked away, hidden in a small bar kitchen, and yet still turning out some of the most sweetly sublime and awe inspiring gastronomic miracles.
The dining room in the back is non-​smoking, the music is apropos, and they only take cash.
Will I be back?
What part of GASTROGASM did you not get here sparky?
I will be back with my lovely bride to sample their wares as often as sitting arrangements can be made.
Come check it out, you’ll be glad you did.

Kukhnya is my favorite bar food. It’s filling and soaks up the alcohol, but it’s not full of grease. I’ve tried the chicken paprikash with buttered egg noodles and asparagus, and it was a steal. It was very hearty comfort food and tasted fresh and homemade. I have also tried the pierogies, which are filling yet you don’t feel gross after eating them, like you would if you ate a boat of cheese fries.
I tried a friend’s beet burger and cabbage rolls. Pretty tasty! I have liked everything I tried so I will keep working my way down the menu.

I hesitate to write this review. It’s that situation where you fear the word getting out about your favorite, secret food location — because everyone might just figure it out. Maybe the locale will keep them at arm’s length? Truth is, this is an area outside of The Quarter that’s likely just as safe as being in The Quarter, but this is where the local scene is emerging and taking hold.
Tucked away in the back of Siberia, this small kitchen makes the best food I have had in New Orleans, hands down. I’ve not tasted a better burger, or veggie (beet) burger, ever! I look forward all day to concerts at Siberia, and half og the reason for my excitement is the food at Kukhyna. All of the food is fresh, cooked to perfection, and served by a friendly staff. There is a non-​smoking area at the back of Siberia if you prefer, but it’s awesome to enjoy your meal during a show as well.
Pick up orders are available, and necessary if there’s a cover that night, unless you pay for the show.

So I’m the pooper who gives this stellar place its first 2-​star review. Well, I stand by it, and maybe by the end of the review, you will too (or at least understand).
So Kukhnya was one of two places I found on Unilocal that I forced Hubbs to go to on our trip there. Our hotel was about a mile walk from the French Quarter and most of our vacation revolved around that area, so you can imagine a confused husband driving his Unilocal-​crazed wife at 10pm to some dark, ghetto area of New Orleans where neither of them had been for second dinner when neither of them are even hungry. As we kept driving, each minute made me feel more and more nervous as the buildings got more and more ghetto and spray-​painted and dilapidated. I immediately felt like we were in a sketchy Oakland neighborhood. But hey, where there’s sketchiness, there’s usually good food, right?
So we park on the street and walk a block or so looking for it. Then I realized (the hard way) that Kukhnya is actually a tiny kitchenette hidden in the back of a dive bar called Siberia. The moment we walked in, a girl at the front asked if we were there for the concert. I explained I was just there for Russian food, and she pointed me to the back. As we were walking through, I started to realize how out-​of-​place Hubbs and I were, as we were the only Asian, un-​tatted and un-​dyed-​of-​hair people in the whole venue. We made a beeline to the red neon sign and my eyes widened as I looked at all of the different options of Russian and Polish treats.
Pause. So I lived with a Russian woman 30 years older than me for about 2 years. She used to cook me Russian food every once in a while, and I, in turn, would cook her Korean food. She was a phenomenal cook, making things from scratch and introducing me to Russian traditions, flavors and treats. So it’s not like I have an unrealistic idea of what Russian food should taste like. She was kind of like my Russian mom for that time period (until she became crazy and I moved out). Unpause.
Since Hubbs wasn’t that hungry and was already kind of uncomfortable about the whole situation and cranky, I decided to order a Side Pierogi (two dumplings) and two Side Mushroom Golumpkis (cabbage rolls). The total was $ 8, and I decided to give him a $ 10 and let him keep the change since he was really nice. We waited for a while (maybe 10 minutes), and I was so giddy as I got my brown paper bag with white small boxes filled with hot, steamy treats. Hubbs and I left promptly and decided to eat it in the car on the way back to the hotel.
Okay first off, we only received one Golumpki. Well, that sucks. I stab it with a plastic fork and feed it to driving Hubbs, and he was silent. I knew something was wrong. It was weirdly sweet and actually pretty bland. And kind of weird. Like,… cinnamony. What? I thought it was savory with a sweet sauce, not a sweet roll with tiny amounts of sauce. That was pretty disappointing.
So then I put all of my hopes (and memories of delicious food from my Russian roommate) into the pieroges. I stabbed one, dipped it in sour cream and fed to Hubbs. Again, silence. This time my hope completely deflated. «It’s not BAD… It’s just… bland.» I took a bite, and it was true. I took several more bites in hopes that I could find some flavor in each following bite,… alas, flavor eluded me. I already felt cheated from my missing Golumpki (which I didn’t like, anyway). Even a little bit of salt could’ve rectified it (a little). But to be disappointed in BOTH? I closed the box in disappointed crankiness.
All to say, driving out of our way for a really weird and bizarre experience for naught. Sorry Kykhnya… must’ve caught you on an off night.

This place is awesome! When I describe it as a random window in a bar serving Eastern European food in New Orleans, I get the strangest looks. I’m a strict credit card points guy. But the food is so good, this is one of the few cash only places I’ll frequent. And I try to come at least once every time I’m in New Orleans.
This was the first place I ever had Eastern European food a year or so ago. Ever since that day, I’ve put this random window in a bar on St. Claude up against Russian places all over the country. This place is normally just as good (or better) while half the cost. This bar window has made me question if I should instead live in Eastern Europe.

I’ve never eaten inside Siberia because they allow smoking in here, but I do enjoy my food to go.
So far, I’ve had the beet burger, fries, ham and cheese crêpe, cheese perogis, and the beet salad. They were all delicious comfort food and I plan on coming back many times. And its affordable too!

So like a silly girl, I started drinking at 3 pm and ate a few snacks and was STARVING. My time was limited and I had to pick up the lovely Lindsay A. I started Unilocaling for a nearby foodtruck and instead saw Kukhnya which I’ve been wanting to go to for months. Last time I stopped by they were closed. So I crossed my fingers and prayed to the Slavic Mary and YAY!
I ordered the pierogies and an asparagus polboy (for me and Miss Lindsay). OMG delicious. Seriously those pickled onions on the sammich were AMAZING, sliced thin and piled on… It ended up being so much food that Joi was gifted ½ of our polboy.
Definitely will be back soon. I can’t wait to have my Polish co-​worker experience the yumminess… plus there’s the entertainment in seeing her inside Siberia.