Borscht, deruny and more: Central KY is getting its first Ukrainian restaurant
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Taste of Ukraine, founded by Ukrainian refugees, will open at 106 E Maple.
- Menu features borscht, varenyky, holubtsi and deruny served homemade daily.
- Owners plan to hire 10+ Ukrainian refugees and open breakfast to dinner.
A Ukrainian refugee couple will soon be serving authentic meals to Kentucky diners.
Taste of Ukraine plans to open in the next two months in the former Downtown Dogs Spa at 106 E Maple Street in downtown Nicholasville.
Co-owner Tetiana Soloshchuk said it will be Kentucky’s first authentic Ukrainian restaurant.
“We’re very proud to represent Ukrainian cuisine here,” said Soloshchuk, who fled the war with Russia three years ago, coming to America with her husband and three small children. “It’s both a great responsibility and an emotional moment for us — but we truly believe we can do it.”
Soloshchuk said when they left Ukraine, they lost everything they had in a single day, including their restaurant. After renovations to their new Nicholasville restaurant, they plan to hire more than 10 Ukrainian refugees.
“We’re opening this restaurant not only to introduce Americans to Ukrainian cuisine, but also to give Ukrainians who were forced to leave their homeland a sense of comfort and belonging,” said Soloshchuk. “We hope this place becomes a small piece of Ukraine in America.”
What type of food does a Ukrainian restaurant serve?
Taste of Ukraine’s menu will feature traditional Ukrainian dishes known around the world, Soloshchuk said.
There will be two signature dishes served daily, borscht and varenyky. Borscht, a sour soup, is made with red beetroots, giving it a distinctive color. Varenyky are traditional Ukrainian dumplings with either sweet or savory fillings. They are a close relative of the Polish pierogi.
Other menu highlights include holubtsi (stuffed cabbage rolls), pelmeni dumplings, potato pancakes (deruny) and more.
Soloshchuk says all the menu items will be homemade using natural ingredients.
The restaurant will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, said Soloshchuk, adding she hopes the restaurant will unite the Ukrainian community, which she says is growing in Lexington and Central Kentucky.
“I want to thank all Americans and the United States as a whole for your incredible support of Ukraine,” said Soloshchuk. “You are truly our strongest allies, and your help means the world to us. Your support is priceless and will never be forgotten. Thank you to everyone who stands with us and shares our pain.”
Taste of Ukraine
Where: 106 E Maple Street, Nicholasville
Opening: In the next two months after renovations are complete
Hours: 6:30 a.m.- 10 p.m. daily
This story was originally published October 8, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
