Tygyn Darkhan (21st Century) by Tygyn DarkhanFederal Agency for Tourism
Innokenty Tarbakhov and Tygyn Darkhan
Tarbakhov, Yakutia’s most celebrated chef, began collecting and promoting recipes and foods as early as the 1960s. He is believed to have originated the famous Indigirka salad with cold fish cut in cubes and dressed with salt, pepper and onion, with caviar topping on a special occasion. Tarbakhov says that Indigirka is based on the ethnic siikei hors d’oeuvre that is made with fresh broad whitefish.
Indigirka variations have been making rounds across the country, but the original dish can be found at Tygyn Darkhan in central Yakutsk. Tarbakhov has been the chef of the restaurant for years bringing together almost the entirety of Yakutia’s culinary epic.
Indigirka salad by Lyubov OrlovaFederal Agency for Tourism
Indigirka variations have been making rounds across the country, but the original dish can be found at Tygyn Darkhan in central Yakutsk. Tarbakhov has been the chef of the restaurant for years bringing together almost the entirety of Yakutia’s culinary epic.
Mahtal restaurant (21st Century) by Mahtal restaurantFederal Agency for Tourism
Makhtal
A hub of Yakutian cuisine, this place is considered one of Yakutia’s best restaurants. Translated as “gratitude” or “praise” from Yakutian, Makhtal offers an indigenous setting and a menu with local dishes and products.
Mahtal restaurant (21st Century) by Mahtal restaurantFederal Agency for Tourism
The star of the hour is foal meat cooked in all kinds of ways including those that are typical of this region.
Cocktail serving by RustourismFederal Agency for Tourism
The dining capital of the Russian Far East has a place for anyone from classic sweet shops to hipster cafes, and from west-influenced bars to dive cafes boasting their 90s setting. Here are the top 4 of diners that you just must drop by.
Zuma restaurant (21st Century) by RustourismFederal Agency for Tourism
Zuma
One of the best nationally, and the best-known Vladivostok restaurant is a must for travellers. Locals love Zuma turning up in flocks for its rolls, wok, cocktails and crabs. Excellent seafood and a huge Pan-Asian menu complement its drive to popularise local foods.
Zuma restaurant (21st Century) by RustourismFederal Agency for Tourism
The owners launched a number of festivals, including King Crab and the Scallops Festival, to promote local tastes, and on top of that — Zuma Kitchen Profi — a competition for Far Eastern chefs.
Zuma’s chef Yegor Anisimov has been sharing his experience with interns and through food tours across Russia.
Millionka (21st Century) by MillionkaFederal Agency for Tourism
Millionka
A place featuring both Russian and Pan-Asian cuisine making heavy use of Far Eastern foods opened just recently in 2019, but has since made a name for itself nationally when its founders brought together the best of the best.
Situated in the historical quarter, Russia’s 19th-century first Chinatown, the restaurant is named after the three-storey communal house that was home to numerous Chinese immigrants, while its interior is an evocation of all shades of the word ‘Million’ at once.
Anton Tihiy (21st Century) by MillionkaFederal Agency for Tourism
Helped by food advice from the iconic Russian chef Anatoly Komm with Anton Tikhy, another Muscovite, at the kitchen’s helm, the restaurant is built on an urban legend unearthed by its founder, the Khabarovsk restaurateur Roman Rakus.
Roman Rakysa (21st Century) by MillionkaFederal Agency for Tourism
Helped by food advice from the iconic Russian chef Anatoly Komm with Anton Tikhy, another Muscovite, at the kitchen’s helm, the restaurant is built on an urban legend unearthed by its founder, the Khabarovsk restaurateur Roman Rakus.
Millionka (21st Century) by MillionkaFederal Agency for Tourism
To stay true to the story, Millionka added a cocktail bar with a menu by Artyom Peruk and Igor Zernov from St. Petersburg’s legendary El Copitas, and a wine room with 1500 wine varieties.
Pickles (21st Century) by RustourismFederal Agency for Tourism
Korea House
A traditional Korean place with Seoul chefs has been active since, incredibly, 1995. Unlike Panasia, which is so much in vogue in today’s Vladivostok, Korea House has a true ethnic offer to match its ethnic setting with real Koren-style kimchi, pork and exemplar squid, octopus, salmon or aubergine hoe.
Chifanki (21st Century) by RustourismFederal Agency for Tourism
Chifanki
These cheap eaters with makeshift interiors, friendly waiters and more or less authentic Chinese cooking are a new and essential symbol of Vladivostok’s dining scene.
Food - Chinese (1967) by Michael RougierLIFE Photo Collection
The iconic cafes are to be found in the Sportivnaya Street market offering a popular choice of Harbin salad and sweet-and-sour sauce meat.
Travellers enjoy weird Chinese translations into Russian, while the price of a rice bowl is an exact indicator of the state of the economy in Russia and the world.
Сhief Сonsultant — Ekaterina Drozdova, restaurateur, gastronomic entrepreneur, food and social activist, Contributors — Natalia Savinskaya, Proximity Russia, Denis Yershov, Ekaterina Pugacheva, Igor Kacevich, Lyubov Orlova
