Central Food

Dacha Restaurant & Bar: A family-run Eastern European restaurant in Hong Kong

September 25, 2017

I grew up eating my Nana’s homemade pierogi and potato pancakes, and my mom’s homemade cabbage rolls, among other Eastern European dishes. Since it was always so readily available, I never realized how much I would miss Ukrainian food or how difficult it would be to find authentic dishes after I moved abroad. Dacha is one of the only Eastern European restaurants in Hong Kong, and although I’ve walked by it almost every day since it opened more than a year ago, it wasn’t until recently that I went in to try the food. Whether you’ve never tried Eastern European food before or are simply craving a bowl of borscht, Dacha’s comforting, homemade dishes are well worth a try.

Vibe at Dacha

Cozy dining area

Bar

Unlike the majority of new restaurants in Hong Kong, the interior at Dacha isn’t modern and sleek. Instead, the vibe is very homey and retro. When I first stepped inside the restaurant, it was as though I was walking into my Nana’s house; doilies on dark wooden tables, black and white framed family photos on the walls, and Ukrainian/Russian floral decor. While some people may not fully appreciate this type of restaurant style, I found it comforting; a little piece of home.

Starters

Herring Under A Fur Coat “Shuba” (HK$130)

Herring Under A Fur Coat “Shuba” (HK$130)

Beetroot Fries (HK$128)

I had originally wanted to order the Baltic herring,  but our waitress recommended the Herring Under A Fur Coat “Shuba” (HK$130). She said it was a special dish comprised of layers of herring, potato, carrot, and beetroot, and was a must try. While I prefer my herring to taste more salty, this dish is perfect for those who aren’t quite used to such a salty fish. Although not exactly Eastern European, we couldn’t resist ordering the Beetroot Fries (HK$128) coated in sea salt and rosemary. Our favorite part was the parmesan and goat cheese dip, which we were tempted to smother over everything else we ordered.

Mains

Khachapuri (HK$125)

Dacha Combo Platter – Polish sausage, cabbage rolls, pierogi, potato pancake (HK$245)

I tried Khachapuri (HK$125) for the first time at Dacha, and I absolutely fell in love with it. This Georgian dish is comprised of cheese, butter, and a runny egg in a “bread boat”. Although it may sound simple enough, I can’t describe how satisfying this dish was. Since so much of Dacha’s menu was nostalgic for me, I wanted to try a bit of everything. The Dacha Combo Platter (HK$245) came with Polish sausage, cabbage rolls, pierogi, and potato pancake, and was a perfect way to sample a variety of my favorite foods. The pierogi were surprisingly similar to the ones my Nana makes. For the cabbage rolls, I prefer a more balanced mix between rice (which there wasn’t much of) and meat. The potato pancake and sausage were also good, although at this point I was falling into a carb-induced coma.

Dessert

Homemade infused vodka (HK$85)

Honey Cake “Medovik” (HK$85)

To wrap up our meal, we were encouraged to try Dacha’s homemade Infused Vodka (HK$85/shot). We ordered the raspberry & jalapeno and mango & chili and I really did love both. Each shot, which is meant to be sipped, had a bit of a kick without being painfully spicy. I had also read about Dacha’s well known Honey Cake ‘Medovik’ (HK$85), so we ordered a slice to share. After biting into a spoonful of this delicate cake, I was surprised at how smooth the texture was and how the sweetness from the honey was more subtle than expected. I was tempted by the other desserts on the menu, like the cheese and vanilla or very berry pierogi, but I’m glad I tried this cute cake instead.

Verdict

Dacha is a unique, cozy restaurant that does a great job in bringing a variety of Eastern European food to Hong Kong. I do find the price to be a bit high for some of the dishes, but I realize rent and prep time (making pierogi from scratch is a time-consuming, monotonous process) plays a huge factor. Because I grew up eating these dishes at home, I’m partial to the way my mom and Nana make them. That being said, I think the atmosphere and food are quite authentic, and I would definitely go to Dacha when I’m craving a home cooked meal and am missing my babushka.

Dacha Restaurant & Bar
G/F, 38-40 Hollywood Road
Central

Tel: 2420 3555

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