New York Dearest
The guide, $35
A restaurant · East Village · on four of my lists

Veselka.

Worth it, says Antonina. Veselka has been feeding the East Village since 1954, and their pierogies and borscht taste just as good at 11pm as they do at noon.

Antonina Pattiz
Antonina PattizI went myself · from my list Best late-night food in New York
The storefront of Veselka, a Ukrainian diner in the East Village, with its yellow awning and Ukrainian flag displayed in the window.
From Best cheap eats in New York
Address
144 Second Avenue Directions
Subway
L to 3 Av, 4 min
Website
veselka.com
What this page is

Everything I’ve written about Veselka on New York Dearest, in one place. It’s on four of my lists, from Best brunch in Manhattan to Best things to do in the East Village. First what to know and when I go, in my own words from those lists. Then every list it’s on with what I wrote there. At the end, where it is and what’s near.

  1. Best brunch in ManhattanWorth it
  2. Best cheap eats in New YorkWorth it
  3. Best late-night food in New YorkWorth it
  4. Best things to do in the East VillageWorth it

Before you go, in my words

Quoted from my own lists
Good to know

Even on weekends the wait rarely exceeds 20 minutes.

From Best brunch in Manhattan
When to go

Whether it’s a quick bite for a businessman or a late-night meal for college students, Veselka delivers the best late-night food in NYC without breaking the bank.

From Best late-night food in New York
Worth it, says Antonina. Been? Say if you agree.

Where it appears on New York Dearest

Four of my lists

Best brunch in Manhattan

No. 9 on that list
Worth it

The borscht ($8 a bowl) is the best in the city and it’s a totally legitimate brunch food in my opinion.

What I wrote thereFold it away

144 Second Avenue, East Village. A 24-hour Ukrainian diner that’s been on Second Avenue since 1954. The breakfast pierogies ($14, stuffed with potato and cheese, pan-fried until crispy) are extraordinary. The challah French toast ($14) is thick-cut and properly custardy inside. The borscht ($8 a bowl) is the best in the city and it’s a totally legitimate brunch food in my opinion.

No reservations. They turn tables fast. Even on weekends the wait rarely exceeds 20 minutes. This is the best brunch value in Manhattan.

Read it on the list

    Best cheap eats in New York

    No. 14 on that list
    Worth it

    Opened in 1954, Veselka has been a steadfast East Village institution in the ever-changing neighborhood.

    What I wrote thereFold it away

    Opened in 1954, Veselka has been a steadfast East Village institution in the ever-changing neighborhood. A byproduct of the thriving Ukrainian community, the restaurant introduced generations of New Yorkers to Eastern European cuisine.

    With a handful of affordable dishes, Veselka has become a go-to destination for budget-friendly eats in New York City. The Ukrainian borscht (traditional beet soup) seems to be a huge hit at $6 per cup or $11 for a bowl.

    Likewise, the pierogis (dumplings served boiled or fried, topped with sautéed onions and sour cream), priced at $9 for four, are another easy crowd-pleaser.

    Read it on the list
    Worth it

    The space is bright and welcoming even late at night, and watching the mix of people who end up here is half the experience.

    What I wrote thereFold it away

    Veselka has been feeding the East Village since 1954, and their pierogies and borscht taste just as good at 11pm as they do at noon. The space is bright and welcoming even late at night, and watching the mix of people who end up here is half the experience.

    Since 1954, Veselka has been an East Village staple, surviving as “Little Ukraine” faded. It remains a popular spot, embodying the area’s Ukrainian heritage. This diner has introduced Eastern European cuisine to generations of New Yorkers, catering to a diverse clientele.

    Whether it’s a quick bite for a businessman or a late-night meal for college students, Veselka delivers the best late-night food in NYC without breaking the bank. Affordable options include homemade soups like Ukrainian borscht, a renowned beet soup, and pierogis, Ukrainian-style dumplings served with sautéed onions and sour cream.

    Read it on the list
    Worth it

    The restaurant has helped introduce Eastern European cuisine to generations of New Yorkers, especially those in need of sobering up at 2 am.

    What I wrote thereFold it away

    If you’re looking for a traditional meal, I suggest ordering some pierogis (dumplings) and a bowl of borscht (beet soup), considered to be the most iconic Slavic dish. 

    The restaurant has helped introduce Eastern European cuisine to generations of New Yorkers, especially those in need of sobering up at 2 am. With affordable dishes and a welcoming atmosphere, it’s no surprise Veselka is on our list of the best things to do in the East Village.

    Read it on the list

    Where it is, and what’s near

    Worth it, within a ten-minute walk
    Open it on my map
    Nearby, from my lists
    On The Best of New York

    I put Veselka on four of my best lists.

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