Meals of the Day in Russia (2024)

Borshch, the first course for lunch

Breakfast - The first meal

Russians usually have an early breakfast at about seven or eight in the morning right before leaving to work. It is very common for Russian families to have kasha (a type of porridge made from different grains), butterbrots (a kind of sandwich made of a single slice of bread and one topping such as butter or ham), boiled or fried eggs, tvorog (similar to cottage cheese) or cereal for breakfast. Coffee or tea is an essential drink for many Russians. Many people eat a toast with cheese and drink juice for breakfast.

Russian lunch - The main meal

Traditionally, lunch (обе́д) is the main meal of the day in Russia. During working days, Russians usually have a one-hour lunch break (обе́денный переры́в) somewhere between 1 and 3 p.m. This is the time when lots of cafés and restaurants offer lunch specials (ко́мплексный обе́д or би́знес-ланч) where people can buy an inexpensive meal for less than US $10.

Dinner - The third meal

Dinner (у́жин) is another important meal in Russia. It is the second largest meal after lunch. The whole family eats dinner together after everyone returns home from work and school, which is usually around 7 or 8 p.m. For many Russians, dinner is the only time when the whole family can interact with each other. Families commonly watch TV together during dinner to keep track of the latest news. A typical Russian dinner consists of one or two appetizers and a hot main dish, which might be potatoes, meat, or fish. After dinner, Russians like to drink tea with sugar or jam.

A few peculiarities of Russian cuisine

In Russia, there is always bread on the table. There are special feelings that Russians have towards rye bread (ржано́й хлеб), also known as "black" bread (чёрный хлеб) because of its dark color. "Black" bread is considered a traditional food in Russian homes and every foreigner absolutely needs to try it.

Another traditional food is kvass (квас) -- a fermented beverage made from rye bread. Kvass has very low alcohol content not exceeding 1% and therefore it is enjoyed by people of all ages including children. This carbonated drink is best consumed cold to help the hot summer days pass by. It is also used as ingredient in the traditional cold soup called okroshka (окро́шка).

Russian vodka (во́дка) is usually drunk on holidays in the circle of family and friends. A good occasion to drink vodka are official holidays like the New Year's Day, birthdays and weddings.

Russian Meals Vocabulary

за́втрак - breakfast
обе́д - lunch or dinner
у́жин - dinner or supper
обе́денный переры́в - lunch break
ко́мплексный обе́д - set lunch, lunch special, prix fixe
би́знес-ланч - lunch special, prix fixe
пе́рвое блю́до - first course (full name)
пе́рвое - first course (short name)
второ́е - second course (short name)
тре́тье - third course (short name)
ржано́й хлеб - rye bread
чёрный хлеб - rye bread, brown bread, "black" bread
квас - kvass
окро́шка - okroshka
во́дка - vodka

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FAQs

What is the daily meal in Russia? ›

Usually Russians eat three times a day and prefer potatoes, which are eaten almost daily. The three meals of the day in Russia are zavtrak, obed and uzhin. With the exception of zavtrak, there are no exact English translations for these daily meals.

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What is a Russian meal schedule? ›

Generally, Russian people have three meals a day: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. In Russia, it doesn't take much time to cook breakfast or to eat it. As a matter of fact, Russians aren't used to eating a lot in the morning.

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What food is eaten in Russia Day? ›

This is not the case and Russia Day is a good opportunity to learn about this unique cuisine. Stroganoff is well-known and easily made with chicken or beef. Borsch is a well-known comfort food made with beef and cabbage. Desserts are also available as shortbread cookies or honey cakes.

What do Russians eat in a day? ›

For breakfast, Russians almost always drink tea with a sandwich with meat (kolbasa), or fried eggs or omelets (but without bacon). Sometimes they make blini. Lunch always features soups and Russian dinners are similar to any Western cuisine, featuring a variety of fried meats and fish.

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What is a full Russian breakfast? ›

A typical Russian breakfast consists of kasha, which can be porridge, buckwheat, semolina and so on. In most cases some milk or butter will be added to kasha. Sometimes kasha can be replaced by bliny (Russian pancakes) with jam, but this would happen only on holidays and/or if your wife really wants to please you.

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What is the main Russian diet? ›

Crops of rye, wheat, barley and millet provided the ingredients for a plethora of breads, pancakes, pies, cereals, beer and vodka. Soups and stews are centered on seasonal or storable produce, fish and meats. Such food remained the staple for the vast majority of Russians well into the 20th century.

What is the eating culture in Russia? ›

Typical dishes are hearty and substantial, based around meat, fish and carbohydrates. However, Russians also like to fish, forage, and grow their own food, so expect pickles and preserves, home-grown vegetables, and fresh or dried and salted fish. They also have a sweet tooth and love cakes, sweets, and ice cream.

What's the most expensive food in Russia? ›

Caviar. The luxury food most closely associated with the Russian aristocracy's love of decadence, high-grade caviar (eekra) is the world's most expensive food item, with the most exclusive varieties costing several thousand dollars for a single teaspoon's worth.

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What do they drink in Russia? ›

Almost all traditional Russian drinks are original and not found in other places. Sbiten, kvass, mead, and mors are traditional drinks that are unfortunately less popular today. Sbiten, for example, was popular until tea was introduced in Russia.

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What food does Russia consume the most? ›

The most popular food among Russians

According to a sociological study by the Analytical Center and the Roscongress Foundation, the most common foods in the diet of Russians are vegetables. 46% of Russian citizens eat them almost daily.

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What is the average meal in Russia? ›

An average meal at a modest restaurant should cost around 500 roubles (just over $8), with a three-course meal at a mid-range establishment costing 2,000 roubles ($30). But of course, this varies enormously depending on the city, cuisine, and even the time of day.

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Why do Russians love mayonnaise? ›

Why is it that mayonnaise enjoys such great popularity among Russians? The main reasons for this are certainly the deep-rooted, traditional use of this product and its convenience; moreover, it is a very special and, for many Russians, unforgettable taste from the times of the Soviet Union.