Kachka Reviews

Absolutely great dinner. We grabbed a few small bites and an amazing Armenian wine. Lovely evening. I recommend the pickles, bread, and dumplings.

Kachka is casual, funky, and just fun. I went with a group, we had the "experience" for 25 bucks each, but for me the highlight was the caviar. Is that expensive? Boy, howdy. Yes. Go to Kachka. Eat caviar. Drink vodka. Laugh with friends.

My wife and I recently had dinner at Kachka and really enjoyed the experience. We had a variety of their foods, all of which were extremely tasty. I think it is hard to go wrong with anything on their menu as we sampled a number of different dishes that were all very tasty. The service was wonderful. Our server guided us through the menu and made a number of suggestions, which we came to appreciate. They have a fairly robust vodka menu and she helped me select a vodka (a Swedish one) that I really enjoyed. I would definitely return to this restaurant.

I'm a non-drinker, so maybe the alcoholic beverages were really good, but I do not recommend this restaurant for anyone unless you want to pay too much money for terrible food and poor service. The food was bland, and many of the offerings I saw on reviews were not choices on the menu. The menu is also unwelcoming to people who eat no or limited amounts of meat. There were NO chicken dishes the night we went. I had a fish dish in which the fish was clearly not fresh. I was unable to eat it. For food safety reasons, I didn't even try the bread that had a raw egg on top that was supposedly cooked to proper temperature because of the melted cheese on top of the bread. The service was awful. All of our food (for a party of 6) came out separately so we could "share" everything. We sat for over an hour just waiting for food to be served a little at a time. We were also told that all things served at the table had to go on one ticket, even though we had 3 families eating together. It was vastly overpriced, and I can understand why they've built the tips into the prices. If not for that, I doubt there would be very many tips given. It's also very loud and not conducive to conversation.

You must have a flight of vodkas with your meal here; it’s simply a must. The restaurant is adorable with its photos, old school wallpaper, plastic tablecloths and ordinary stoneware. Ambiance is casual but the food is anything but. I would suggest trying caviar and a fish board. We tried the saffron cured whitefish roe and hot smoked black cod. Their homemade butter is sublime! The herring “under a fur coat” is a beautiful tasty salad. We splurged on the potato vareniki (worth it to me!) and ended our meal with the sour cherry vareniki. There was one dish that didn’t wow me, the beef tongue. It was just ok for me. I will definitely be back.

Amazing traditional Russian food, with folk decor. Definitely get the cold platter of salads, herring and other fish, cold meats, pickles, and other delicacies (highlight is the seven layer herring). The pelmeni were also good. Sample the many infused vodka flavors like caraway and horseradish.

So we took a tip and came for happy hour, sat at the bar. Happy hour prices and it was phenomenal. Save the cherry dumplings for dessert - do not miss those. Try many vodkas cuz they are amazing. My favs are the Marigold, Zubrovka (Buffalo Grass - but it tastes like the Oregon countryside smells in the summer - think vanilla, lavender, and grass), Get Slava's Drinking board also a must. There was literally nothing that we didn't love. I can't wait to get back here!

Fantastic choices of small plates - be sure to get the Pelmini, then choose from amongst many. And unless you really know your vodka, let server choose a nice selection, they picked really interesting and different ones for me. Beware if your with someone under 21, they have to leave by 10:30 due to liquor laws

This restaurant has it's soul, everything, the interior, menu, food itself is so much in sync that I'm was in awe the whole time. The place is popular as within an hour after the opening every single table was taken and a line started to form outside, and it was Monday! The food is very much authentic. I had Sprat Snack, Golubtsi, Sour Cherry Vareniki, and Oreshki. Everything tasted just as I remembered it and even better, some of the dishes had a nice twist to it, which only added to it. So I highly recommend the place.

Fantastic meal with my son while visiting Portland. Superb and warm service. Every dish was superb: bread, pickles, herring under furry coat, lamb tartare, dumplings, cabbage rolls, dessert, vodka, and tea. We loved everything here.

Went for the first time with three friends, had no problem getting a reservation for later on Thursday night. We split the pickle appetizer, which was interesting but nothing mind blowing, we then also split a salted herring appetizer, which was very mild, the farmers cheese with paprika, which reminded me, in a good way, of nacho cheese, and the salted fish jerky, the latter of which is certainly an acquired taste. We all go different mains due to different level of hunger. Two got dumplings, which are the archetypical Russian style small dumpling you would except. Tried the cheese ones, which were good. Comes with sour cream. I got the stroganoff, which was by far the best stroganoff I've ever had, the tongue is very good. Also tried the clay pot rabbit, which was great, very tender, with nice sized latkes and a good sauce. Overall good service. Huge vodka selection, we got beer, which had a small but good selection.

I thought I was traveling behind the iron curtain. Great flavors and presentation. The soviet cocktails were flavorful and potent. We prepared ourselves for the amazing rabbit in the pot stew. We also had the best cabbage rolls I’ve ever eaten.

This was my first visit to a Russian restaurant. The server was very helpful. He explained the dishes, and helped us with our pronunciation. He was great! The food was even better. I recommend the cheese dumplings and a vodka flight. The rabbit was good, but the dumplings really did steal the show. We had a fabulous time and hope to go back soon.

I loved the food but what I didn’t love was the portions. I think the portions were pretty small for what we paid for. 14$ for about 10 small dumplings. Never the less, it was delicious.

There's a dubious appeal to authenticity in online ratings where reviewers say "I'm a real Italian and this is food like my family made"-- well, I'm really Eastern European and our food was . . . er . . . burnt pot roast. No one at home ever said "let's eat food like the old country" -- we went to Sammy's Roumanian (NYC) once for my Dad's birthday, potatoes and schmaltz reminding us of what we'd like not to eat in the future, and then gave up. Way better to eat food from someone else's "old country" than ours-- or so I thought till I got to Kachka. Kachka is redemption for those who despaired that great food would come from the lands of our heritage. The restaurant was terrific and popular when it opened, but visiting their new location by the Goat Blocks, I can say they've improved on an already very high standard. Gotta love pickled everything, wonderful dumplings (pelmeni), delicious blini. At a recent brunch, everything was very fresh and tasty, the atmosphere mellow and friendly-- can't say enough good things about Kachka, and more than just a good restaurant, they changed the way I thought of Eastern European food. That warrants five stars . . . I'll be back. [NB . . . there's a lot of grade inflation on Tripadvisor-- my ratings compare only to my other ratings. Five stars from me means "great, top %5 of restaurants in town. I _will_ be going back, and I'd recommend to any visitor", rather than just "I liked it".]

We visited on a Wednesday evening at about 5:30pm. Fortunately we'd made reservations as the place was packed with a line. We didn't have to wait at all and were shown right to a small table. The inside is quite crowded with a long line of tables parallel to the bar. The ceilings are high and between the Russian music and general noise, it was hard to hear conversation. There appears to be a room in the back that is a bit less crowded and is separate enough to be a little less loud. We were seated across from the kitchen entrance which is also near the bathrooms and hallway to the back room. There was a lot of traffic and people standing nearby. The music was right on the border of being too loud, but we may have been nearer a speaker than other tables. The ambiance is OK, lots of Russian posters and art on the walls, high open ceilings exposing ductwork. The place is clean and pleasant overall. Service was very prompt and friendly. Items explained as necessary. The menu has a lot of options, but is well presented. We tried the Siberian Pelmini dumplings, they were very good and in a light cream and vinegar sauce that cut the heaviness of the cream nicely. They were about the size of tortellini and a nice amount for two people. We changed our minds on the drinks after looking at the menu again. The drinks are interesting with an obvious Russian spin. The two we tried were strong and intensely flavored. Prices are reasonable. We had the Golubstsi cabbage rolls and Rabbit in a Clay Pot. Both were nicely presented and well plated. The cabbage rolls were good, but I didn't find them as outstanding as the rabbit. There was a good amount of rabbit on the hindquarter. The cream sauce was nicely offset by the sour cherries. What isn't mentioned on the menu is the four outstanding fried potato cakes that were perfect with the rich sauce. The prices were not unreasonable considering the quality of the food, but it is easy to get upwards of $70 for two people if you have an appetizer, drinks, mains and dessert. We were too full for dessert, but will be back to eat again and try the other tempting items on the menu.

This place is amazing. It is small on the outside but big on the inside. I will start with the vodka, amazang as it seems the house specialty is horseradish infused vodka. I mean it is truly awesome. The flavor is pure horseradish. How do they do it. The food is very ethnic and homemade. from the bitter to the recipe for the cabbage rolls. I did not write down what we ordered and will not embarrass myself by trying to recreate the names. But the food is wonderful. The waitstaff was ever so helpful. They steered us in the right direction and we had the right amount of food. We loved the dumplings and the cabbage rolls. The pickled platter was amazingly good. If you want to try some food from the old country this is the place. My grandparents and best friend's parents were from this area and there food stays with me. Eating here makes me think that the memories of the meals that I had in their places were real......

Came for my friend 60th birthday party waited 20 minutes for drink orders to be taken and another 25 minutes for beverages to be brought out we had a party of 12 approximately and paid around $700 it was hands down the absolute worst service I've ever experienced I'm 42 and have waitressed bartended and then in the restaurant business for 20 years I understand this was the day after Thanksgiving and a Friday but having made reservations as long as we did in advance I find the service absolutely unacceptable I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone the food was okay and the atmosphere very cool and hipster like for the area but there was nothing there that could excuse the service and literally waiting 40 minutes for beverages I would love to hear from the management for $700 I would have expected so much more

This is apparently the "It" place on any night in Portland, and with good reason. We ordered a good quarter of the menu of zakuski, after all, they're small plates and we were sharing. Trusting to Yelp reviewers, we ordered "Herring Under a Fur Coat". Bizarre as the name is, the dish itself is more so. It arrives as a cylindrical, free-standing, stratified tower with only its own top layer for garnish. It needs no more dressing than that, though. A creamy base of Yukon Gold potatoes supports a glossy, silver and green bar of herring with parsley, topped in turn with a brilliant orange layer of shredded carrot, over which rests a rosy round of beets. Then comes the pretty pink layer of beet mayonnaise, and finally concentric rings of egg white and egg yolk dotted with dill. I made strange faces when I first read the description, too. As I said, we ordered this only because so many reviewers insisted on trying it. I was completely expecting to be Tom Sawyered at the collective amusement of all Yelp readers. After all, I actually hate the fishy taste of most fish, and herring is a particularly fishy fish. The young man bringing the dish from the kitchen advised us that the best way to eat it was to make sure and get all the layers in each bite, and so I did. Magic happened then, and despite the incongruous ingredients, the result was an inexplicably perfect balance of flavor and texture. It is a testimonial to how much I love R. that I restrained myself to finishing only half of the dish. The assorted pickles were only sort-of a hit with R. He found the beets and green tomatoes too sweet/not pickled enough. The cucumbers were just not his style at all, which was fine, because these were all precisely to my liking. I was so-so about the cabbage and the mushrooms (a bit on the sharp/sour side for me), but R. thought they were awesome, and so the plate was cleaned. The charcuterie sent R. on a joyful reminiscence about the salami of his youth. Russian style is very similar to Romanian it seems. He passed over the rye bread. Again, too sweet for him made perfection for me. The most impressive part of the meat and cheese board, however, was the mustard that packed more punch than even most wasabi I've tried. The server was understating when he warned about its potency! We continued with a rabbit sausage with raisins and walnut served with an incredible nut sauce, pickled fennel, and tiny slices of grapefruit that the menu described it as a "galantine". I am not certain whether that was accurate about the presentation, all I know was I've never had anything like it, which was an unforgivable lapse on my part that has fortunately been remedied. We rounded the feast of zakuski out with Cauliflower Schnitzel and Sour Cherry Vareniki. I've never before considered breading and frying steamed cauliflower or imagined what happens if you serve it with mayo mixed with turmeric and black sesame seeds. Turns out this combination is glorious. Vareniki are the Russian equivalent of uszka or ravioli or mini-dumplings depending on your native tongue. The tart cherries were real vişine (a tart cherry variety I have never actually seen grown in America, and often a little too tart for our sweet-heavy palates), and the dish was topped with sour cream, so it was an awesome bridge between savory and sweet before we moved to dessert. "Plombir Sandwiches" is what they call the slices of almond and grapefruit ice cream cake wedged between crispy almond-lace-waffle wafers. "Earl Grey tea milk caramel" is how they described the accompanying sauce that I am pretty sure is actually what the mythical nectar of the gods must have been. This may be due to Earl Grey and caramel both being on my short list of favorite things in the entire world, but I know full well that not everything blends. There is definitely some unknown magic going on in the kitchen at Kachka, and it's worth the 1,400-some-odd-mile trip from Albuquerque to Portland just to eat there.

My husband and I came in on a 6:45 pm reservation on a Friday and there weren't many people, but it was very crowded by the time we left. Make a reservation to be safe and avoid the long waits. The place reeks of dill when you walk in, which is nice if you like dill. The service is courteous but slow. As the restaurant filled up, the waitress in our section could not keep up. A hostess finally came over and took our dessert menu order after about a 15-minute wait. They definitely needed another server to keep things flowing nicely. I was just blown away by the heirloom tomato salat. The flavors were so vibrant and fresh. I had the "tabaka" (Georgian brick chicken, potatoes, and green beans) and my husband had the beef/pork dumplings. We had the sour cherry dumplings for dessert. It was an overall solid meal, but nothing amazing. I'd go back.

Visiting Kachka was like taking a trip to mother russia, for people who have never known that they wanted to have such a trip, or are pretty sure they would dislike such a trip. This was one of my favorite parts of my Portland trip, and would 10/10 recommend everyone experience it for themselves with friends! The food: Was super interesting and unique with bold (often fishy or beet-y or dill-y) flavors. Having not tried Russian food before, I can't comment to how authentically Russian it is -- but I can definitely comment to how authentically not-American it was! Highlights were: caviar (it's served with butter, breads, and eggs - a super unique and totally worthwhile experience!), baltic sprat (fish toast - sounds weird but yummy), herring under a fur coat (russian "salad" with beets fish and eggs.. also weird but yummy), and the halibut 'fishwich'! Every plate had us tasting unique and interesting flavors that we hadn't tried before or thought we'd like, but we ended up loving it! The drinks: were AMAZING!!! We tried a ton of the vodka infusions - our favorites were the horseradish (we ordered several..), grass, cacao, and boysonberry. The jewish rye cocktail was very good. The beet fernet was absolutely terrible in my opinion but if you're going to order fernet, then you probably already knew that. The space and staff: both committed to the whole Russian theme they had going on. I imagine if I had recognized anyone in any of their pictures, they would have been Russian. Our server was incredibly helpful in his honest takes on what we should order, and we had terrific advice: which is to order for variety, rather than for item popularity. Book your reservation (a rarity for Portland) in advance so that you don't miss out!!!

We were a party of eight for happy hour. We started with the $5 Moscow Mules and those of us who love Ginger were not disappointed. The nibbles offered for Happy Hour were different and uniformly good. Lots of beets, stuffed cabbage, pillows of pasta in a sauce, and a board with all kinds of unique charcuterie. I moved on to a house red wine from Macedonia which was a perfect match for some main menu dishes involving Baltic Sprat and a fun concoction called "Herring under a fur coat". This place is small and fun and different. It really is in the spirit of the Portland that I love.

What a diverse and delicious dinner -- we had seen an interview with Kachka's owner, Bonnie, on PBS that made us want to eat here when we visited Portland. We knew nothing of the food, and we had not tasted vodkas before, beyond the occasional dirty martini. The wait staff was extremely helpful explaining cold and hot zuzski (small plates) and helping us gauge how much food to order (e.g., the full Russian experience is for parties of 4-6 or more, not for one couple). The infused vodkas were lip-smacking good -- our favorites were tarragon, horseradish, caraway, and Mt. Hood strawberry, in that order. The latter is only available for a short time each year. The pastrami-smoked trout was delicious, as was the wild Atlantic salmon roe, sumac-smoked beet salad, and the steak kabobs. We found the mixed-meat dumplings too rich and would not order those again. But all this food was more than enough for two people to share. Each dish was from a different part of the world -- and we tasted many new flavors that we hope to encounter again!

A chance to visit a Russian Restaurant while going no further than SE Morrison and Grand, and what an culinary education. We sampled the "Zakuski Experience" a six or seven course sampling of their cold plates. Many of the tastes were new to us, and some absolutely wonderful. Anastasia, our waitress, led us through the trip, explaining each serving with knowledge and humor. The cost was a well spent $25.00 each, while the total bill with one glass of wine and two pilsners and tip came to $90.00. We plan on going again to try their hot dishes.

Having recently moved to the Pacific Northwest, we’ve ventured out to Portland on a few occasions. On our last trip we ran into a real gem of a restaurant, Kachka. I’m not to familiar with Russian cuisine, so I don’t have much to compare too, but if this is what Russia has to offer, boy have I been missing out! Kachka is a bit out of the way of the more touristy part of Portland, but it was definitely worth the hike! We came in early for lunch, it wasn’t too busy but we had made a reservation. The restaurant isn’t huge, but has a very open atmosphere and reminded me of my Great-Grandma’s kitchen (mostly from the way it was decorated, but had a very nice charm to it). The staff was friendly and attentive (the staff plopped a bottle of water down for us to pour ourselves – which I know sounds stupid to ding someone for, but it’s the little things that differentiate truly great service). The cocktails all looked awesome, but we ended up ordering a glass of their sparking rose (so good). We ordered the farmer’s cheese and green onion dumpling and cherry dumpling. Both we’re so good! They were soaked in butter and sour cream that’s added to the flavor. You can also order them fancy with extra juice, but we didn’t try that. Additionally we ordered the vitamin salad (cabbage delicious-ness covered in a great dressing with fennel and dill). My husband ordered one of their salmon boards which looked simple and good. I ordered one of their crepes with cheese and veal breast. Overall, it was delicious and would definitely recommend! We’ll definitely be back!

What a fun place! I haven't sampled everything, but loved everything I had. Including the horseradish infused vodka, which I wouldn't expect to have liked (not liking vodka) but in fact loved. You just can't go wrong here, and it's a pretty unique experience.

If your live in Portland or are visiting and want to try Russian cuisine you can't do better than Kachka. From the moment you walk in you feel like you're in Moscow. Great ambience, great service and excellent food. My grandmother wasn't Russian but the taste of everything is delicious. If you want to sample go for the "Eat Like A Russian" sampler. Great for everyone in a group to sample a little of everything. Ok, with you appetizer, be sure to get a taste selection of Russian vodkas. The Beet Pkhali and Crab Rasstegai are wonderful but you can't beat the dumplings. Favorite entrees are the Mushroom Stroganoff and Golubtsi (cabbage rolls}. Just for fun add the associated pickles. Be sure to try a Russian beer. They have a nice selection of Eastern European wines including some from Georgia where wine making began Save room for dessert. We hd the sunflower ice cream and top off your evening with 60cc of Krambambulya. This is a homemade honey and herb infused vodka which is delicious. The fun of eating here is sharing to expand the culinary experience.. This is a restaurant not to be missed. Be sure to make a reservation.

Okay, this is one of those rare occasions that I give a high score. This place was amazing and really enjoyed all aspects of our meal there. From the moment you walk in the door, you know you are in a different kind of restaurant and that it is something special. You are warmly greeted and pleasantly served the rest of your dining experience. Everything is carefully explained on how to eat and what to eat to make for a comfortable and very enjoyable dining experience. The décor is amazing. Everything looks like it is out of the USSR era or out of a Russian fable book. It is about as authentic as you can get except there were no Babushkas guilt tripping you to eat more, just very friendly hosts and servers. The Duck Olivier was amazing. It was such a simple dish, yet prepared so nicely and full of flavor. The cold sour cream soup was another stunner. So simple again, but complex from it's gently combined ingredients. Then there is the quintessential Herring in a Fur Coat. You can't get more Russian then this dish. It isn't for everyone, but it is a must just to say that you have tried it. Another great dish was the beef tongue. Really rich with flavor. Finally the Lamb Lyulya Kebab was over the top with flavor from both the herbs as well as the grilling. Make sure to get it with the flat bread to finish off the full flavor effect of this dish. Eating here is really meant to be done family style and share your dishes. I would say best in groups of 4 to be able to order a good sampling of items, but a party of 2 can get by. I really regret not ordering desert there. Took a look at the menu and there were some amazing looking after dinner treats to choose from. Now you must no that I am not Russian, but married to one. My partner confirmed that everything was pretty much authentic about this place. He got a little tinkle in his eye when he was there and I could tell get got nostalgic being there. If I get back to Portland, this will be a must revisit place. I recommend it highly.

Kachka took the country by storm a few years ago, earning accolades and awards. All the acclaim allowed them to move into a larger space, and we were able to procure a reservation. Kachka is all about having a rollicking good time while enjoying a variety of vodkas and wonderful Russian/Eastern European food. Growing up Jewish in NYC, I used to laugh and scoff at this cooking. However, coming from the deft kitchen at Kachka, this food takes on a gourmet, creative flair. Our server recommended a variety of dishes, and we dined family style. I guess this is called small plate dining these days, but there is nothing small about Kachka’s portions. We devoured everything, and it was all delicious. The space reverberates with laughter and ribaldry, and if you leave Kachka unhappy, go get therapy.

We chose to dine at Kachka, while in Portland for only 48 hours, based on previous reviews. We are so glad we did! What a fantastic experience!! The Ruskie Zakuski experience is an absolute must! The quality and quantity of the food, in addition to the fantastic service, guarantees a return on our part in addition to numerous recommendations. Well done Kachka. Keep it up!

Visser's endives, zucchini oladi, tvorog vereniki, khachapuri schashlik (!!!), brindza and lepyoshka, and consider, perhaps: vodka....

This was a fun, different and delicious dining experience. We started with Vodka infusions (Rhubarb, Sea Buck Thornberry, English Pea) and finished the meal with Russian Tea (7 Herb & Nostalgia). Then we thoroughly enjoyed a procession of small, delectable plates. A variety of foods and flavors included Beet King Salmon, Herring Under a Fur Coat, Seal Trout Roe, Matzo Ball Soup, Beef Tongue, Dacha Salad, Siberian Pelmeni, Quail Shashlik Solo, Halibut Shashlik and Zapekanka. The meal and restaurant were a sensory delight. The Herring Under a Fur Coat was a table favorite but everything was great. We highly recommend this restaurant during your visit to Portland.

Fine cuisine! Good mix of traditional russian or eastern european specialties presented in a new ways. Menu choice is huge, drinks are great. Service is both professional, simple and enjoyable at the same time. Ambiance is kind of busy, sound Wise but OK overall. Each and evry plates served were absolutely unique.

Tried this restaurant for the first time during Portland's annual dining month. Had heard good things. Found it delightful. Interesting twist on food items, little bites to try. The Sour Cherry dumplings were amazing. Excellent light dessert.

If I could I’d give the new location a 3.5 stars. They lose 1/2 a point each for noise level, lost Russian ambiance compared to original location and 1/2 for attention to detail on the service. The food was excellent as before. So if you love their food and don’t mind a sterile loud environment you will still be very pleased. In the original location you could listen to the Russian music, not here. I did speak to one of the servers and she said they are getting an acoustic specialist to help. We will be visiting the original location next time, or at least until we hear they have gotten the noise/ambiance corrected.

Amazing meal and excellent service! We had a huge group, with many people that aren't familiar with Russian food. The service staff answered all of our questions graciously. The rabbit stew was one of the best meals ever!!! Other top dishes were the dumplings, the bread that came with the Borcht (unfortunately I didn't get a chance to try the Borcht), the potato pancake, fermented veggies and of course the unique horseradish vodka. I've lived in Portland since they opened and this was my first time, but it will definitely not be my last. It is also a beautiful space.

Had a nice to-go order recently. What a luxury! Lots of love put into this food for sure! Flavors, textures and from scratch! We are having our Thanksgiving dinner from them this year 2020! Can hardly wait! Yum!

I was a bit apprehensive when I heard we were dining at a Russian restaurant. I've never heard anyone speak highly of Russian food. I would like to change that narrative. Kachka is amazing. I had no idea how delicious Russian food can be. We shared multiple appetizers and entrées among the four of us. The Golubtsi (stuffed cabbage rolls) were our favorite. So much so we ordered a second entrée to share among the table. Try the sour cherry dumplings, one of the fish boards, or the Herring Under a Fur Coat (a seven layer dip of deliciousness). Try Kachka. It's now on our list of favorite restaurants in Portland along with Pok Pok.

I'm sad to say that it took me so long to visit Kacha. With too many great restaurants to visit during our short weekend stays, Kacha was always on my list. Sorry it took me so long because it was one of the most memorable meals I've had in a while. Who knew Russian food could be so imaginative and delicious. We had an amazing vinaigrette salad with smoked beets and potatoes, beef pelemni with homemade sour cream, braised rabbit, and pumpernickel toast with smoked fish. In addition to the food the service is amazing. Our server Robert was the best! Will definitely go back!

Kachka came recommended to us by a friend and we couldn't have been more pleased with the suggestion. Neither of us had much exposure to Russian cuisine and were pleasantly surprised by the variety of menu options- especially given we are vegetarian. We also don't drink much vodka, but the wait staff chose a flight of vodka for us that we thoroughly enjoyed. There was a really nice vibrant atmosphere considering it was a Wednesday night and we're considering buying the cookbook.

This place was top-notch. One of the best meals I've had in Portland (and I live here). Service was spectacular. We had a great waitress - -she was patient, didn't rush us, and recommended items (and told us not to order too much food, which I appreciate!!) The dumplings were amazing (in fact, I'll be dreaming of them regularly). The cabbage rolls were the best I've ever had. The infused vodkas were awesome. Best of all, we had a large meal, plenty of food and drinks for four, and our tab was only about $60 per person.

Fun, unique (to a typical american diet) foods that are really good. loved the sour cherry dumpling. they have a beautiful store too

This was a fun, energetic and unique dining experience... that gets all the stars! Don't be intimidated by the unfamiliar menu... order anything and you will be amazed! I loved the dumplings... obvi. And, GET THE RABBIT! One of my favorite dishes ever! Oh... and order all the vodka shots. You won't be dissapointed.

Be sure and take advantage of the $25 a person offer for what amounts to what seems like an endless supply of cold hors d’oeuvres. Your whole table has to sign up for this. You really feel special, like the cook is working hard on course after course just for you. You have to be sure everyone can handle fishy taste. The waitress recommended one hot course for every two people after that, and it was just perfect. The restaurant had a really good feel for a crowd enjoying the place. I was surprised my hearing handled it so well, there must have been some good sound insulation. This is one of those places where all the staff is working together to bring you good food that they are proud of. My group of four really enjoyed it. I hope you remembered to make a reservation.

Reservations are highly recommended. We arrived and we were told we had to wait 45 min. We were told by the hostess that "reservations are recommend" however, they texted us 15 minutes later that our table was ready. We asked to wait at the bar and they told us there was no room. When we were seated there were quite a few other tables open. The tables are really small and the music is really loud. The food is good. A little pricey for what you get.

The atmosphere isn’t great. The tables are covered in vinyl tablecloths. However the food is pretty good and they will make adjustments for gluten free customers. Lots of different vodkas and caviar. We enjoyed everything except the first sheep cheese and beets dish. The caviar was good. They made special buckwheat blini for me. We loved the pickles. The lamb kabob was nice. Etc. Would return.

This small Russian restaurant had a separate menu for vodka along with a diverse ethnic menu. For starters I ordered an Astrakhan Widow, another diner at our table ordered a Moscow Mule, and 2 others enjoyed flights and infusions of various vodkas. For appetizers, our friends (who have been to Kachka before and made great recommendations) suggested 'Herring under a Fur Coat' and Sweet Potato Cepelinai and they were totally delicious! Next we ordered 3 different dumpling plates (we asked for the sour cherry vareniki fried) and all 3 were divine. The dumpling dough was perfectly cooked and wasn't mushy. The Golubtsi was as good as my grandmother's homemade and very similar in taste and texture. We finished with a lamb kebab and veggie shashlik. Each dish ordered was shared 4 ways so that we could sample a greater variety of menu items. **Call ahead at least a day ahead for a reservation. We had a 2-year old with our group, and a high chair and glass of milk was available, but bring crayons or other quiet entertainment while eating.

Location is changed. 960 SE 11th. Old location is now Kachinka. New location is bigger with same good food. We usually get the zakuski and then an entree or two (or dumplings) plus dessert. Everything is good.

Our dinner club recently chose to try out Kachka in SE Portland. Portland as many know is a Mecca for foodies. Kachka adds the Russian cuisine to our menu. Make sure you call for reservations because this place is pretty popular. Our group of 8 dined on a Sunday evening and it was crowded. The staff were all very friendly and helpful. Some folks order family style others like their own meals. February they included a few Hungarian options and I had a Fish Stew with a large piece of Rye harvest toast. It was very delicious. The most popular item ordered at our table were the dumplings(several different options) ours was the Siberian Pelmeni very very tasty!! I think next time we should go at Happy Hour and try several dishes especially the stuffed cabbage rolls!!

My sister and I tried this place for something different and had a wonderful time. Staff was very friendly, drinks were tasty and food was delicious. I would defenitely go back on my next visit.

Great Russian food! Came here on a recommendation and it didn’t disappoint. The staff were fantastic as was the food. The Herring Under a Fur Coat was as good as advertised. The sour cherry dumplings were a great mix of tart and savory. And, the swordfish skewer was great!

We had fun here. The wait staff was very good (although their idea of enough food is pretty over the top) the atmosphere is very cool, and 2 of our 8 plates were excellent! The other 6 were just good. Not mad, but I doubt we'll go back unless we have a visitor who craves Russian food. The 22 percent mandatory tip is weird...why not 20?

Isn't it a delight when you go to a restaurant and not only have great food but also have a wonderful time? Kachka is loud, boisterous, and a blast. The food is delicious, with many familiar dishes, such as borscht and beef stroganoff, and many more that were adventures to be discovered, such as the various dumplings. Much has been made of the wide vodka choices, but the wine list is a wonder of Eastern European wines that don't show up in restaurants very often. Warning: portions are large, so plan on sharing dishes; you can always order more if you're still hungry. My wife and I visit our adult son in Portland 2-3 times a year, and this place has become a fixture in our dining plans.

We ordered an extensive sample option from the menu... And glad we did. Everything was excellent. The vodka selection is amazing and the service is some of the best I've had in Portland.

Kachka lived up to our expectations based on various articles and reviews. The food was authentic but with some very good creativity. The service was excellent and knowledgeable. We also tried a few infused vodkas....very nice. We highly recommend sharing from the various sections of the menu to get the best sampling of the tastes.

I wanted to like it better than I did. Cute, kitsch interior. Nice vibe. Good crowd. Service was nice but...off. We asked for advice on how much to order and got bad advice; the out of food for two was absurd. Way too much. Felt like a bit of a con or someone who just didn't really know the menu. Pacing of the plates was poor. There was an onslaught of food at the beginning followed by a nearly 45 minute wait! So much for "I'll course it out for you." Our server sort of disappeared as the meal continued. We had to ask others for water and the bill. The food was...okay. Certainly some interesting flavors, but a lot of stuff that was bland, heavy, and one note.

My partner and I come here for our anniversary every year. This is the first time we’ve been to the new location since it moved last July. It’s a much bigger place and you feel like you have more room, but it wasn’t a problem with the old location for us. The food is so great here. We tend to sample a bit. Always get the fish board with a bit of everything, and it’s always amazing. The cocktails are always strong and everything is always great. The people are so nice. This is probably our favorite restaurant and we’ll be back next year. I love that the menu changes a bit every year but a lot of my favorites are always there.

This restaurant is very unique. We brought a group from work here last week and enjoyed the private space in the back. We pre-arranged a menu that included charcuterie, herring under a fur coat, perlovka, cabbage rolls, pickled vegetables and pacific herring. Many of us enjoyed the flavoured vodkas and even the Slovenian Riesling. Definitely a place for adventurous eaters.

Came highly recommended from some friends. The four of us had several nice small plate sampling’s. All very good. Wine selection includes several from Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, Bosnia. The two we tried were ok. Worth trying but not something I’d get again. Am spoiled by our amazing Oregon and California wines.

Wonderful Russian restaurant. Started with Caraway infused vodka, which was great, and I don't even like vodka. Proceeded to order the mak-a-rita cocktail, which was a perfect sip along drink throughout the meal. Dinner consisted of heirloom tomato salat, herring under a fur coat (couldn't resist that), sour cherry dumplings and stuffed pork cabbage rolls. A perfect combination of tasty foods. We'll be back next time we are in town.

Haven't been since the bar moved from Grand to 11th Avenue to its new digs. It's a little bit confusing. There's a deli upstairs that's open most of the day. The bar itself opens at 4:00 pm and is oddly divided into the stark "Happy Hour" section and the more plush "Regular menu" area, which is much more appealing. Even though I knew it would mean spending more per drink, I wanted to spend time in the fancy section. It's beautiful in there! The mixture of old world kitsch and contemporary elegance works well. Once we were seated by a nice host the server herself was totally mediocre. My friend's drink was not what he wanted, and in most places they would offer to remake the drink, but not here. The server kind of just blew him off. Overall, she was "business only" -- abrupt and chilly. Thankfully, the drinks I had were wonderful. The clientele the night we went was pretty boring. Would I go back? Yep, but not any time soon. Four drinks with tips cost us 50.00 bucks. Just so you're prepared.

I have no idea if this is typical Russian food, but what I do know is that it is delicious. It’s a better experience if you have several diners so you can sample more dishes. We chose 10 dishes and they were delivered in small groupings. Empty dishes were cleared in a timely manner and were replaced with clean place settings as needed. There was enough to share in each dish. There was only one that didn’t thrill us. By sharing, we also were able to sample dessert. We chose 2, and again there was plenty to share. There are also some very nice tea selections on the dessert menu. Be adventurous and try something new. Enjoy!

This place basically demands family style eating and that is the best way to experience the menu. So 4+ in your party can help too. Dumplings were delicious as was the salad. Love the unique things to try.

We went for happy hour and had 4 flights of vodka and 4 glasses of wine. The Russian board of assorted meat and cheeses, breads smoked sardines etc. 2 orders of Russian dumplings. The waiters were great. The location is on a busy thoroughfare (Grand Ave). We took the trolley but parking isn't an issue. The whole experience was delicious and a lot of fun. About 115.00 for the four of us

Having bought their cookbook, I was so excited to finally get in to this place, before covid it was very hard to get a table. So many things were disappointing. I don't have a problem paying 22% for service, but our service was truly bad, so we couldn't "insure proper service" since it was mandatory...We waited at least 40 minutes from one course to the next but most importantly, the food was lacking. Nothing was great. Somethings like the mushrooms in aspic were very unappealing. The herring in the fur jacket was overly salty, unpleasantly so as was a salad with crispy shallots, and the seasoning levels were very off on many other dishes. I'll bet the owner chef wasn't around. The dumplings of which they have fame were also just ok. The presentations were pretty but the portions were small. This place is way too expensive for the size/quality/service experience. I'm sure the pandemic didn't help them, but this particular experience was underwhelming and I've heard nice people own the place, I'd like to root for them but I wouldn't return soon, and I certainly hope they don't disappoint others.

Went here on request of a friend who wanted to dine on some authentic Eastern Bloc food. The steelhead platter came with some bread and a couple toasts which paired well with the steelhead. Unfortunately the steel had had absolutely no taste but the texture was delicious. Second course was the short rib borscht which lacked short rib. The chicken thigh kabob with plum sauce was also short on taste and short on serving. For the price of these dishes should have been twice the amount of food. Although the food was okay the tables are very small, crowded and chairs uncomfortable. There was absolutely no vibe the evening we dined and service was slow. Overall, if you have the appetite of a bird and the wallet of Warren Buffett you will love this place.

Go for late night happy hour, selected cocktails $5 and great dishes at a great price such as cabbage rolls, pelmini, and dumplings. We ate and drank to our hearts content for $50. It was pretty amazing. Service wasn't top but does it matter for great quality food at a great price?

This is the best Russian restaurant that I have been to in America. It felt like I was at my Russian grandma’s house for an elaborate Sunday feast. Absolutely everything tasted perfect. I would not make it any better. It felt like my grandma cooked a celebration dinner where I was a guest and didn’t have to clean up, this is the best part. From Russian treats to all the Decor and even great selection of Russian music, I just love this place. I cannot wait to be back. This is a must place to visit every time I am in Portland. Love it!!!!

We travel frequently to Portland, and try always to stop in at Kachka. Not only is their horseradish vodka addictive, but the food it terrific. The only downside is that frequently the waitstaff makes it seem that they are doing you a favor by serving you; perhaps that is to add authenticity to the experience?

Yummy! Loved trying the appitzers, very creative pairings! All the food was delicious. Try "Herring Under a Fur Coat". Lots of choices, including an extensive vodka & caviar selection.

Kachka has a new place, and it is spectacular. They have always (for the last several years, at least) had the best Russian food, and it is authentic. I should know - made over 100 trips to Russia over the last 30 years. There were 3 of us, and everything we had measured up, so can't think of anything to criticise! The new place even has parking And, their service is up to the high level of the food - very friendly, and rapid. Go - you wont regret it.

First, you can't go wrong with a visit to Kachka. The food is perfectly executed. So why not 5 bullets? That's what I kept asking myself as I drove home. It was the service. While very efficient, I wouldn't call it friendly. Of course, you probably want both, but if I had to pick one, I'd go with friendly interaction. Ok that's enough...go for the food

The establishment attitude was horrible. This is on of those places that does everything for their convenience and not yours! We arrived on time for our reservation and with the place half empty, we had to wait twenty minutes to be seated. The food was good, if boring. The wine, not so much! The best thing was they add five percent to your bill to cover employee health care costs! Great! If they are happy with five percent, there is no need to leave twenty percent. Saving money already!!

Sat on the reservation side (which if you want back support you want to make a reservation, as the walk in side is bar seats). Server was great, food was great, drinks were great (they have things other than Vodka which is nice). Did the cold appetizer taster, which included about 8 different dishes, and some dumplings. Everything was great. Highly recommend.

It was our anniversary and we were away from home in Portland, Or. where our family lives. We asked where we should all go to celebrate and the answer was this lovely Russian restaurant where they flood your table with appetizers and vodka. The appetizers were all delicious and varied. Then we had pelmini ( dumplings), and roasted lamb on sticks and pickles and tiny fish on toast and more and each thing was better than the last. Maybe it was the vodka ( you can get flights or cocktails like the From Russia With Love). Go, eat, drink, toast, try not to dance on the table. You will have the celebration you were looking forward to and it is not even that expensive. Happy whatever.

We are originally from Russia, so it was a treat to find authentic food with Soviet decor and music. It was like being dipped into our past. Great selection of vodka. Borscht coming this summer. Overall we had 6-7 items on the menu and all were quality and great! It was my birthday and a great night. Service was excellent too. In San Francisco they should go there for training. Btw the owners are sending all staff to Russia and Beloruss for trading on culture . What a place to work !

Went here for the first time for Christmas Eve lunch with our daughter. Service top notch, professional and friendly. Drinks were 5 star. Cool vodkas. We plan on returning soon to try the dinner menu..

Second visit, this time with family. Outstanding dinner. Getting reservations, even for mid-week, is tough. We reserved two weeks ago. Service was excellent -- good explanations on all dishes. Dishes were creative and tasty. We had fried sprats, herring under a "fur coat," vetchina, both meat dumplings, and the cabbage rolls. All great.

This was recommended by a colleague and on every best restaurant list. We went not sure what to expect. It was completely unique to any restaurant and delicious. A terrific experience. We shared (2 of us) the herring in a fur coat (sublime) the chicken handheld pie, the cauliflower schnitzel, the meat dumpling and sour cherry dumplings. So shared a lot of small plates which was really fun. A ton of food. Did not order a main dish. Also had a flight of vodka tastings which was fun, and a glass of Georgian red wine which was surprisingly really good. Terrific staff explain it all and clearly enjoy doing that. Highly recommend for a delicious unique experience.

I went here after looking at recommended restaurants on tripadvisor, and I was not dissappointed. I am not familiar at all with russian cuisine but everything was delicious. I had the sour cherry varenki. That's small dumplings with sour cherries inside, and it was served with some sort of cheese sauce and mint. The flavors really worked well together and this was my favorite dish of the night. Then I had some sort of marinated beef dish with apples that was a special that night. It was very well presented and while not as good as the varenki was still enjoyable. For dessert I had a plum lazy sonker which was outstanding. It was fruity and flavorful without being overly sweet, and the rye mixed well with the plums. All of this while sipping vodka from their extensive vodka menu. Also worth mentioning is that the service is great. My server was happy to take a moment to explain some of the foods to me which I greatly appreciated. Highly recommended.

What went well: By far the best Russian/Eastern European food I’ve had on the west coat. I am still thinking about the Ukrainian dumplings. Every dish and cocktail (tried a couple) I had was exceptional. I can’t wait to come back. Where they could improve: Service. The restaurant imposes an automatic tip 20+% to cover health care and service compensation, which is AWESOME, I’d the service were good. I found the service to be cold, had to find my waiter when I wanted to order another drink and felt judged my his facial expression when I asked for a straw for my drink.

We celebrated my daughter's birthday in Kachka. We definitely loved the food and the selection of vodka. I can attest to the food being quite authentic. We tried herring under fur coat (my personal favorite), vinagret salad, rabbit satsivi, ajvar (my daughter's favorite), siberian pelmeni, golubtsi and sour cherry vareniki as a dessert. All was just sooooooo tasty. Everybody is super friendly. I would really like to go there again next time we are visiting Portland.

I had no idea what to expect so I let other folks order. there were marinated fish dishes, stuffed cabbages something called herring under a fur coat and potted rabbit three kinds of dumpling, caviar, vodka. It was busy but we were not rushed. there were 7 of us including a 2 year old and we all had a great time

Awesome restaurant and a non stop ironic journey with soviet propaganda a ambience. It’s loud and cramped but the food is authentic and the vodka selection is impressive. Kinda sad no Russian speaking workers

At the recommendation of my daughter and son-in-law, we ate at Kachka. The restaurant's décor was amazing. But the food was even better. My stuffed cabbage went beyond the memory of my grandmother's and the dumplings were superb. They also have a great cocktail and wine list and, of course, vodka.

This restaurant presents a mainly Russian menu, which means the dishes are a bit different than what you probably are used to. I found the dishes a bit varying, some were very good, and some were not. That’s interesting to be honest. But the place is very fun and different, plus the horseradish vodka was fun.

I was first introduced to this restaurant by a "Food and Wine" review. Adoring Russian fare and all that it has to offer, it was a must try on a recent trip to Portland. Upon entering, it is like going back to your grandmother's kitchen, any grandmother's! Full of warmth and hospitality. The vodka drinks were perfect and even though my husband prefers scotch, he found the ideal cocktail. The difficulty is how much and what to order. Everything is fabulous. We settled on the appetizer of the day, a savory turnover, if you will. Then went on to sablefish, an absolute delight, the borscht, pickles, the cheese-filled Russian equivalent to pasta and cabbage rolls. Everything is meant to be shared. The only comment we had was that the chairs are a bit hard. When asked why, it was explained that in Russia, everything is a bit hard. Perhaps a bit "tongue-in cheek!". This was truly our favorite place in Portland.

Unique and surprising food! I live in NYC so I have plenty of hip eateries and different ethnic food all around me so it takes a little more than average to really surprise me, food wise. But YUM! Kachka was really unique and different, I have never had Russian food treated this way- upscale, so much care taken with the ingredients and yet it was homey and welcoming at the same time. I sat at the bar and the staff was very helpful and welcoming. Highlight of the meal was a fab cold trout salad which was the perfect on a hot summer day.

So the food is really great and tasty but the amount of it is ridiculously small. We are two slender people and it’s not difficult for us to get full, in fact very often we just take out the left overs as we cannot finish. Well not here... we ordered A LOT of things totaling close to $150 as we wanted to try as much as possible. We even wanted to try more but I was genuinely worried we just gonna get embarrassed by being swamped with food we are not able to eat.. Couldn’t be farther from true.. the meals were minuscule.. good but tiny. After spending $150 we left feeing like if we just went through an appetizer alone. Disappointing!

This was day three while in Portland for a seminar. First night we had Mediterranean, second we had Argentinian so why not try Russian. None of us are familiar with Russian cuisine so we had to rely on the waitress to guide us. Figured we would start with a flight of vodka. They offer some great vodkas that are chilled and reasonably priced. For a starter she recommended something that had pickled herring and a slice of a hard boiled egg on a slice of Russian bread. It was the perfect size to pop in your mouth. Not a fan of herring, but all the flavors blended well. We wanted to try a dumpling, but I cannot remember if one came to the table. Apparently the vodka kicked in. For main courses we had the cabbage rolls along with the rabbit. Both were outstanding. The rabbit was so tender and that sauce ahhhmazing. Cabbage rolls were delicious. Remember talk about the short ribs, but again don't remember them on the table. Given how wonderful the other two dishes were I'm certain they were just as fabulous lol. The restaurant was adorable. Tablecloths looked as though they were hand sewn and had a plastic covering to keep them intact. Something you would expect in grandma's house. Very comforting. Atmosphere was lively and people seemed to be enjoying the food. Overall a wonderful, unique dining experience.

Overpriced Russian food. The food is good, but it's basic food you can get in Eastern Europe. Needs some local competition.

I am so happy to have found this place. I used to go to a little Russian restaurant in the Brighton Beach neighborhood of Brooklyn, and Kachka just too me right back there! The food is just delicious. Flavorful, hearty, and beautifully presented. But most importantly, the horseradish vodka! Don't skip the vodka!

Order a lot and try everything. Save the cherry dumplings for dessert. Vodka too if you are into that sort of thing. Reservations is a must.

When in Portland on business, I came to Kachka on an acquaintance's recommendation. I was a little nervous having never had Russian food, but I was pleasantly surprised! Kachka has quite a quaint and cosy atmosphere, and I'd say it makes for a good date venue. The cocktail menu was extensive and tempting, and the ones we sampled were delicious. The food was fantastic. Much to my scepticism, we had the 7-layered salad and I was shocked how tasty it was. The highlight, however, were the dumplings. We shared two lots, which was about right. If you're looking for something a little different, then I strongly recommend Kachka.

I was in Portland for work and meeting friends for dinner; we picked Kachka because they had heard great things, and were were all intrigued by the menu, which is Russian. It was a really fun meal in the sense that it was totally different--while the food was not unrecognizable (especially once explained), it was also unusual and different and its presentation and flavor. I would not go here with people whose palettes are not at least a little open to different things; thankfully, my whole party was open to almost anything. That made ordering fun, and we all agreed there was way more on the menu we wanted to try than we had space to try. Our server was cool and did a nice job answering questions about the menu items once asked. In an ideal world, we would have been given a bit more upfront guidance and perhaps offered some advice on 'don't miss' items, but it was a pleasant service experience overall. It's a 'small plates' concept; while all of the food was good, I thought that the coursing was a bit odd--it seemed driven by the kitchen's needs more than a particularly thoughtful pace/order of the food. It was also a little feast-or-famine--a whole bunch of stuff delivered really quickly, followed by longer waits. Highlights from the menu: smoked fish, farmer's cheese dumplings, lamb/bulgur meatball. Also, we started with cocktails, and they were all really good. Space was fine--a little on the noisy side, relatively standard modern interior. Cool evening! Wouldn't make it a regular place but would also happily return. A fun culinary adventure.

From the folksy Russian decor to the amazing array of tasty foods and vodkas - a totally wonderful experience. And reasonably priced, to boot. What's there not to like?!

If you haven't experienced Kachka, make a reservation. Now. Highly recommended by a fellow foodie, we were not disappointed. We are grazers, so the selection of multiple zakuskis - little bites - fit perfectly to spotlight each dish. You can order as much or as little as you like. If you are not familiar with Russian cuisine, the wait staff is very knowledgeable and can make recommendations. If you are familiar, you will find old favorites and soon-to-be new favorites. Don't miss the Siberian pelmeni (little cheese-stuffed puffs, similar to ravioli) in a rich-but-light house-made sour cream sauce. Just wonderful, even if a classic - blini - we absent. And don't forget to include a vodka flight - superb!

The space is funky. The food is delicious. The staff is fun and friendly. The vodka list is extensive. Grab all your fun friends and head over. It is small so make a reservation and make an entire night of it. Such a yummy joyful place. ENJOY!

Vodka flights were fine, but it was difficult to select something that sounded appetizing from the menu for me. I did have the dumplings with beef and pork in them and they were excellent. We also try the smoked fish. I wouldn’t bother with that particular order again. The herring in a blanket didn’t seem to have enough herring in it. It is quite a quart the atmosphere though, so it’s probably worth at least trying once.

We had a concert to go to at Revolution Hall down the street so I thought this was a unique place to try while we were in the area. So we went to the SE 11th Avenue location. I thought the ambiance was on point with the lace table cloths and the glass pitchers. It felt like a Russian dining room....well.....a large noisy dining room anyway. I had the Evening In Kursk Cocktail - very good. We ordered the Siberian Dumplings with the fancy broth and the Imerulian Khachapuri. Both were delicious and my husband took the bowl of broth and drank the remaining broth right from the bowl. We also ordered the chicken thigh kabob and the stuffed pepper. Both were very good and not very large so you didn't feel too full. Plenty of room for dessert. I noticed that some people just ordered a bunch of appetizers and shared all around the table. So however you like to eat - works for them. I ordered the Bird's Milk Cake and the Honey Linden Tea. Both were very good. The cake was just the right size and not overly sweet. A great way to end the evening. Of course we indulged in our fair share of vodka. We treated ourselves to quite a few ounces of the Beluga Gold and then just 2 oz. of the Skip Rock (from Oregon).....trust me there is a difference.....we finished up with a couple of more ounces of Beluga Gold!! Let's put it this way....half our bill was clear liquid!! Not open for lunch but I think the Grand Street location may be open for lunch. Looking forward to bringing our sons here when they visit. They love trying out new cuisine.

I try to go there every time I am in Portland. The food is perfect. It feels like I am visiting my Russian grandma's house for dinner. You must get zackuski experience and of course dumplings. Russian vodka shots flights are perfect. They even have Russian beer and Kvas if you would like. The interior makes you feel like you teleported into Soviet Union. I will be back most definitely the next time I am in Portland. Absolutely love this place.

I read other reviews and so I thought the food sounded great. However we started with assorted pickles plate. Goodness, three different pickled items. The tomatoes were bland with a chaser of vinegar taste. The slaw in a bowl was a bit sour funk for me. They also had pickled watermelon on the plate--the only thing on the plate that wasn't so overpowering vinegar tasting. Now the caviar was the best plate of our meal. However, 12 grams for $54 isn't that filling as we rolled to the Siberian dumplings. My husband liked them a lot more than me. I just wasn't enjoying the spices. We had read about the dish, Herring in a fur coat, and tried. I wasn't a fan and was consoled by the table next to us who were from Russia. Anyway for me this just wasn't my speed, food wise, but the staff were very nice!!

Wonderful experience! LOVED the dumplings! The flight of vodka was fun to try! Where else can you do such a thing?! Caviar! Yay! The waitstaff were ROCKSTARS they were attentive, timely and caring. They worked as a team and never once did I have to ask for anything. Never once did a waitress say "I'll get your waitress." Nope - they worked as a team! Nice!

Love this place, I have never really had Russian food before but the food here was delicious. I had the Pork Filled Pelmeni Dumplings, also a good selection of different Vodkas to choose from.

Our daughter took my wife and me to Kachka for dinner one evening during our visit to Portland this past September. I had the grilled sturgeon and my wife and daughter split three or four vegetable dishes, because my daughter is a vegetarian. My wife is not into Eastern European or Russian food, so she went with the vegetables to be safe. The food was interesting although not necessarily to our liking, but I doubt if we return when we visit Portland in the future.

Diverse offerings...excellent service to guide you...affordable...large banquet room available (on SE 11th St.)...fun to experiment...love the dumplings!!!

Wow. And I mean WOW! Kachka was a great experience from start to finish. The Sour Cherry Vareniki was one of the best things I have ever tasted EVER! My dining partner loved his Rabbit in a Clay Pot (also with sour cherries) to the point that he was making embarrassing noises. I had the Odin be with you Vodka flight - Finlandia, Karlsson's Gold and Reyka (filtered through lava rock in Iceland) and rassoul (pickle juice chaser). They all tasted very different. Service was attentive and informative.We will definitely go back the next time we are Portland!

I didn't know I liked Russian food, but apparently I LOVE it. Kachka epitomizes the 'you don't know you like XX until you have a good XX' experience. (Insert 'vodka', 'pickled things', herring', etc. as appropriate) It's a charming restaurant with a great, warm atmosphere and fresh, high-quality food. The waitstaff is knowledgeable and very helpful in advising you on how much and what to order. The zakuski menu is fantastic and a fun dining experience with a group. Great food to share and enjoy. The vodka flights are worth it, too, obviously. Make your reservation now!

For two years, I served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Khabarovsk, Russia (coincidentally a sister city to Portland) and was immersed in Russian culture and cuisine. I've been to Russian Restaurants before, but never have I had an experience that causes such an overflow of nostalgia. The setting, between the Cold War-era posters, the tablecloths and the music combining folk music, Vladimir Vysotskiy and other bards, and pop music (which made me cringe during those two years, but makes me smile to remember it), was phenomenal. And that doesn't capture the food. It was extraordinarily difficult to pare down the choices, as almost everything provoked a memory or feeling. But I also wanted to introduce my wife to the cuisine I experienced while there. In the end, we ordered the salyodka pod shuboi (herring under a fur coat), pelmenyi, stuffed lavash and golubtsi (stuffed cabbage). Plus a flight of vodka (a mixed drink for my wife) and some bread and pickles as chasers. Everything tasted just as I remembered. The only nitpick is that they pelmenyi weren't handfolded, but I imagine they'd have to hire an additional person just to do that alone. Without consciously realizing it, I ended up eating "a la Russe" with a fork in my right hand and a slice of bread in my left. To finish it off, we had the oreshki (cookies in the shape of a nut filled with caramel) and the chocolate kolbasa along with a glass of tea. The tea glasses were exactly the same as in Russia, nestled in a metallic holder. And the tea made with black currant was common as well. In short, everything here is as authentic a Russian experience as you can get on this side of the Pacific. Just make sure to make plans three weeks ahead of time to get a table!

It was our first time at this Russian restaurant and we will definitely be back. We were unfamiliar with Russian food but the waiter was so helpful and made suggestions for us. They were all very good.

I have been wanting to go here for a year and finally got to Portland. Had a delicious lunch of marinated apples, Siberian pelmeni dumplings in garlic broth, 2 types of bread with whipped salo (pork fat) spread, linden honey tea, and a ginger cookie for dessert. I also got 2 items to take home: sour cherry vareneky and smoked fish butterbrodi. I would recommend everything that I tried. Would be a great place to go with a group to share plates and be able to try more items.

My wife and I had dinner here with a friend and it was excellent. Having been to Russia twice I can vouch for the authenticity of the food. Enjoy!!!!

Visited here upon a recommendation from friends, and it instantly became my favorite place in all of Portland. We went back again the night before departing. While the food choice can be overwhelming, the staff were quick to help and provide recommendations. The Khachapuri is a must-have as well as trying some dumplings. Also couldn’t visit without trying a Moscow Mule and a White Russian. I’ll have to say this was one of the deciding factors for a return visit. Also the little dessert cookies were amazing, and the Russian beer choice. If I lived in the Portland area, I could see this as my nightly hangout.

We flew to Portland to visit our kids and had an amazing dinner experience here. The staff work well together as a team and each course we ordered came out perfectly timed one after another. We ordered four of the colds; the meat and cheese assort, bread board, herring under a fur coat, pickle board. HIGHLY RECOMMEND the pelmeni and vareniki dumplings as your hot course, followed by the rabbit and cabbage rolls as main dishes. We tried a couple of the different vodkas and loved them too… the berry and another one that had a chocolate flavor to it. If you’re looking to try something new and enjoy a really good meal, we recommend trying them!

Cute restaurant, great food. I also haven't had Russian food before so this was interesting. Herring under a fur coat is great. We also had rabbit in a clay pot and lamb shashnik (which is like a kebab). Both are very good. The side of latkes is also great - hot, fresh and perfectly seasoned. I highly recommend sour cherry vareniki (which is a plate of small dumplings with sour cherries inside) for dessert.

Russian food and tapas might appear like a contradiction in terms, but given the rich tradition of zakuski or appetizers in Russian cuisine, the two are actually surprisingly close in both body and spirit. For those new to Russian cooking, Kachka makes it very accessible, serving a well-composed menu of small plates, focused on smoked fish, cold cuts and pickles, all framed with freshly baked artisanal bread and generously lubricated with dozens of vodka varieties, from regionally distilled in the Pacific Northwest to the legendary Stoli, and some capable newcomers like Russian Jewel and Beluga, along with many other local favorites from all over the world. To overcome the intimidation factor, Kachka offers vodka flights, pre-selected by the staff, but my advice would be to stick to top shelf brands, because with vodka, price = purity, which assures you won't need the hair-of-the-dog the morning after. We tried almost everything on the menu and enjoyed every single dish, all of which came arranged in clean modern presentation, each with a brief footnote from the wait staff, smartly profiling the ingredients. Among the favorites were the fish board and pelmeni, a Siberian take on the venerable dumpling, a Chinese import into Russia by way of the Mongol hordes. The wait staff was slightly aloof, but incredibly efficient and mistake-free, perhaps an unintended tribute to Russia's five-year plan legacy. The cultural legacy is even more pronounced in the décor, which is kitschy, but not over the top, and 80s Russian pop favorites, whose predictable synthesizer beats and lighthearted lyrics round out a perfect bistro ambiance.

My wife and I took a quick trip up to Portland without the kids and Kachka was the first place we went to (for lunch) after the airport. She is more of a Russian food fan than I but Kachka had me hooked from the first bite. We started with the tsar nicoulai roe which was buttery and delicious. Don't miss the amazing dumplings - we had the Pelmeni and the Cherry Vareniki which were really juicy. The Veal and Litovsky blini (similar to a crepe) was also excellent and made sure we left feeling full. We didn't have enough room for dessert but we ended up stopping back for a second meal on our way out to the airport heading home! P.S. The 80s Soviet decor is really out of this world and make sure to read about the history of the restaurant and the harrowing origin of the restaurant's name.

Until my visit to Kachka, I agreed with Ron Swanson that "clear alcohols are for rich women on diets". I have never enjoyed vodka in particular, but the onsite-infused vanilla bean offering was not only surprisingly drinkable, it was really good. The happy hour menu is also remarkable. Looking forward to going back.

I was taken to Kachka by my son for their "happy hour" and was delightfully impressed. The food on the happy hour menu is a great deal and a good way to sample their unusual Russian tastes. The beet cavier with rye crisps was tastily different. We had a horseradish vodka and beet juice drink that was deliciously different than ANY bar cocktail I've even had. The other zakuski ( tapas-like small plates) were awesome. We even ordered 2 additional plates to share off the main menu. The Golubtsi was like a dish my Russian bubble used to make, sweet and sour stuffed cabbage rolls but with pork -- exceptional flavor. And, the sour cherry vareniki, (a Ukrainian speciality) were like a mini-sweet dumpling -- VERY tasty. Everything about this little SE located eatery was a pleasant surprise - the ambience , the plating, the service and most importantly, the flavors in their food. An example off the menu – pan roasted trout stuffed with walnut, dried fig, leek and buckwheat kasha stuffing and cauliflower. Kachka deserves it's over 70% of TripAdvisor 5* reviews If you are adventurous in your ordering and eating -- give Kachka a try.

Great food, excellent service, good experience. Don't expect ordinary, I didn't expect the food I used to from my childhood can be presented in this way. Very creative, tasting good with good presentation. Pleasantly surprised. Will definitely come back

Funny restaurant long and skinny so one table against a wall and the bar and then the kitchen. Had reservations. Good appetizers with the real taste of Eastern Europe. Good bread and salted butter. For an entree, we had trout with potatoes and pickles and then cabbage rolls that were scrumptious. Haven't been able to make or find any nearly as good. Good Moscow mules. The problem is the parking we ate at 7, prime time, grand Avenue has challenging parking we ended up walking 8 blocks past 2 homeless shelters. I have a heartfelt sympathy for the homeless but I do not want to chat with them on a street in the dark.

There are a lot of great choices on the menu. We love the dumplings. The wedge salad was great too. We shared some infused vodkas that went really well with some pickle juice. Make a reservation if you can. We managed to get in pretty easily on a weeknight without a reservation.

Poor place ,nothing fancy,in industrial area,the tables covered with plastic in different Color,food was limited I tried the lamb rib it was ok,service is ok.

My wife and I started out with sharing the vinagret salad consisting of smoked beets, potatoes and sauerkraut — very tasty! For main courses, my wife had the golubtsi (stuffed cabbage rolls) and I the sturgeon shashlik (charcoal grilled fish on a skewer), both excellent. We finally shared a nice dessert of pan fried sour cherry vareniki (dumplings). With beverages, the tab was $100 before tip.

1. Food: we ordered multiple cold dishes, some first and second courses. Dishes were seriously hit or miss. Green salad was good, while other dishes were either seriously under seasoned or so basic that it was not even worth it to get them. Order of pickles that contained different veggies was just ok, or meh. Borsch was good but little pelmeny were not great. They arrived cool, it was supposed to be hot. Our borsch arrived super late, we were even thinking of canceling. 2 Service: neglectful and unwelcoming. I would say bordering with unprofessional. There was nothing about our experience that would make us consider going back. There are so many excellent restaurants in Portland, Kachka can be very easily forgotten.

I visit Portland once a year and for several years I wanted to try Kachka after reading a very positive review in the New York Times.Our party of four was not disappointed.From the moment we arrived the experience was perfect. Our server saw that we were first-timers to Kachka and proceeded to describe the best way to order. With his help, we ordered just the right amount of appetizers, dumplings and main dishes so that we had plenty, but not too much, to eat. Everything we tried was outstanding and very shareable. Two cold appetizers in particular, the herring and Vetchina, stood out as exceptional. The dumplings were superb and the main dish of rabbit in a clay pot was truly outstanding. The shared desserts of lava cake and sour cherry Vareniki were perfect toppings to the whole experience. Oh yes, the cocktails and vodkas were outstanding. All was completed by the extraordinary service. We will return and we recommend Kachka to everyone.

While here in Portland for work, I was delighted to have dinner with my nephew and his wife at this quaint Russian restaurant. I know nothing about Russian food so my nephew chose the menu- even the vodka! We had From the Dacha, - a salad, Siberian Pelemeni, a meat dumpling in an absolutely delicious broth, and the best dish- Halibut Shashlik- perfectly prepared Zubruvka- a vodka with a cinnamon flavor and I had a cocktail called From Russia with Love- a vodka drink with a touch of orange- wonderful!

Dinner at Kachka is an excellent experience. The food is all so different yet so delicious. Try the horseradish vodka, it’s excellent.

... on a Friday afternoon. My friend arrived there early to snag a table when they opened, and I arrived soon after. It filled up rather quickly. (I knew this would happen, which is why I sent him ahead of me to arrive at 4:00 p.m.) The happy hour food we got was small in portion, pretty tasty, but the booze was excellent. Service was efficient, professional and warm. The decor is probably my favorite part of the place. We chatted and left by 5:30 p.m. and had a wonderful time. I'd go back again in a flash.

Vodka cocktails and infusions a nice start to the party. Shared small plates of dumplings, cheese withe sourcream and chives, simple and good. Entrees tried: Rabbit, Trout and Cabbage Rolls. All good. Service was slow, but no problems with orders.

A very authentic Russian restaurant. Delicious dumplings, rabbit and salad. Appreciate that the restaurant takes care of its staff

consistently a delicious experience over many years - inspiring, vivifying, satisfying, and dare I add intoxicating....

Expectations met completely. Presentation A+, service A+, taste A+. We had the $30 per person cold plate tasting menu and an order of dumplings and there is no other way to do it when you are first timers . Tasted about 10 dishes thereabouts off the menu and felt satisfied. Would eat here again. Ask for table in main area.

Service was excellent, food was outstanding, brought my brother and his son from out of town and had a memorable experience. Would recommend and come back! Great segue into Russian cuisine!

Never will understand restaurants in Portland, they constantly turn people away. They won't let you in unless you make reservation, even if there are half dozen open tables. Heard nothing but good things about Kachka. Last Saturday around 515pm decided to stop by and try it for dinner. Empty tables, but wait, do they tell us come on in, just the 2 of you? Nope, it will be a 20-30 minute wait. We decide to go next door have a few drinks and eat some appetizers. Walk by Kachka 45 minutes later, look in the window even more open tables. Make a reservation, apparently walking by wont get you a table.

Kachka is a very popular Russian restaurant, in downtown Portland. If you are looking for a quiet night on the town; forget it. Some of the Baltic appetizers of fish are very good. The herring under a fur blanket and rabbit in a clay pot were very good. The halibut on a skewer was excellent. Needless to say, various types of vodka are available, along with a bull bar. The horseradish vodka, was particularly refreshing.

Never been to the new location on 11th, so we made a reservation and waited a week or so... POPULAR PLACE. Started with flight of Russian Vodkas which hit the spot. Wife had red wine which wasn't russian- maybe other 'eastern block' country? don't recall. we order several small plates- Beet Pkhali Rolls- look like sushi but even better! I like smoke fish and had the Baltic Sprat which was good, but nothing too special (salty fish like sardine). Pickled Cauliflower was good side dish. Order side of bread and butter, but wasn't really needed-- but it was eaten! Oh the Short Ribs Borsch-- unique and outstanding. The sweet and sour cabbage roll with lamb had the best tomato based sauce ever. the sweet was just right with sour when needed. very filling dish. Oh the dumplings- Tvorog Vareniki- cream filled heaven. perfect. just so great. Need to go back just to try the other dumplings on the menu. that was plenty food, but we did have the Buckwheat Custard dessert which was good but we were so full that maybe it wasn't fully loved. Very surprised that the bill was pretty moderate- about $55 each (includes 5% health and wellness 'tax' for the staff) & all our many drinks and dessert (no tax in Oregon of course). Staff was helpful and quick and everything was served in a timely and orderly fashion. Note- 2 hour free parking next door or on the street. AND DO RESERVE!

This was my 2nd dining here . The restaurant is located in a new place now . The ambience is much better than the old location. Food taste still the same m. Amazing dumplings, zucchini packages which both are a must. They have wide range of drinks too . Will come back again .

Saw it as one of the restaurant places for March, So glad we found it. GOURMET Russian food, BRAVO. The horseradish infused vodka is to die for!

We loved the food but the noise level was so awful I can’t see returning. And this was for an early 5:30 reservation. Our server couldn’t hear us nor could we hear her or each other. Why must music be played this loud? When combined with the hard surfaces it was way over the top.

We had dinner at Kachka last night and it was superb. We ordered several small plates and 1 entree and split among 3 people. I tried some things that I would not normally eat like chicken heart and truly enjoyed it. There is really something for everyone. There is also a huge selection of Vodka that adults can enjoy...and the service was outstanding..

Very interesting menu of foods I'd never eaten. Appetizers were excellent as were he dumplings with garlic broth. They have an extensive vodka menu - although as we were there in the middle of the day, we didn't partake. The ambiance is somewhat utilitarian.

I love the gummy bears that fall from I don’t know where and the little pancakes This place is worth way over 5 stars definitely infinite or more. :) —Sebastian S.

Amazing once again! We went last year for a birthday dinner and this year for our wedding dinner following our ceremony. Despite being NYE, the owner came to our table with champagne to congratulate us and thank us for spending this important occasion at his restaurant. The paprika cheese with bread is amazing! Everything is family style so we ordered several items and the waitress paces the meal for you. The vodka flights are also a great way to really taste the differences in the brands and distillation process. Will be back soon!

Visited this restaurant both for lunch and dinner. Overall food was tasty and well presented. Service was slightly disjointed but when we accidentally spilled a drink they were very quick to replace free of charge. Vodka menu is fun with three sizes on offer! Russian pickle selection were good at my first visit but a let down on my second time. Dumplings are great and the salads were good. Atmosphere in evening was fun and lively... lunch was a bit quiet. I could recommend more comfortable tables and chairs. I cannot give 5 star as some items were ok but nothing fabulous... however overall fun and interesting place to dine. I would go back. Too bad they did not offer a classic borscht!

Kachka is the place we always go for a special occasion or when we need a pick me up. It continues to be my favorite restaurant in Portland and it's the place I always recommend for friends and family to go when they come visit. Sumptuous food from amazing dumplings to my personal favorite, rabbit in a clay pot. Professional and personable staff and a lengthy drinks menu help too. Plus the casual and comfy setting always makes for a relaxing meal. Can't recommend enough.

The food was fun and tasty. Great little plates of all kinds of treats. The vodka was wonderful and the service attentive.

A year ago we visited Moscow and were excited when our daughter suggested this restaurant. We loved all the food and the portions were perfect for sharing and tasting. Most importantly, we learned about some tasty infused vodkas and much to our surprise, especially loved the horseradish vodka!

I was very exited to go to that restaurant, but few hours later I was not very happy. We came with party of 6 order several dishes. Small portions, not tasty at all, poor quality.

A very eclectic menu offering for those of us used to other cuisines. We started with Moscow Mules and the Kachka with Love drinks. which were enjoyable. We had the lamb leg shashlik, rabbit in a clay pot and golubtsi along with the kubdari and Grechka and Tvorog Vareniki. All were well prepared and tasty, however, the dumplings were a delicious highlight. On our visit the place was packed but the staff tag teamed successfully on service. All in all a very enjoyable evening.

There are two locations for this restaurant. The location given here on Trip Advisor -- 720 SE Grand Ave, Portland, OR 97214 -- is actually the physical location for Kachinka, which emphasizes the bar more than the restaurant (though it has the same menu). Kachka proper is located at 960 SE 11th Ave, Portland, OR 97214, which is some blocks away, but still in the same part of town, so if you get confused with your reservations, you can easily make it from one to the other in the few minutes. At the Kachka location you can only order from the happy hour menu if you are seated on the bar side, but you can still order from the full restaurant menu from the bar side. However, my date and I were initially seated in the dining area, but we wanted to try items from the happy hour menu and so had to be re-seated in the bar area. There are several items on the happy hour menu that are not available on the regular menu, so it is definitely worth considering sitting on the bar side. The menu is all Russian, including an extensive selection of infused vodkas. Almost everything was unfamiliar to me, but I found things to enjoy, and a few surprises. I had a plate of meats with a small dab of mustard. I thought there should have been more mustard until I tried it, and even that small dab was the strongest mustard I've ever tried. Powerful stuff. If you are unfamiliar with Russian food this is a great place to try it.

We all ordered assorted vodka flights to try and share, as well as delicious plates. Different flavorful dishes of all types, be prepared to try new things, but if someone in your group has a more conservative palate, that can be accommodated as well. Service was very good, great experience overall. Read the story of the owner's grandmother who provided the recipes to the restaurant and you will cry.

We always love to come here for unusual taste treats. They have moved to a new building and it’s even better than before!

Some very interesting flavors and a notably 'hipster' feeling. A trendy, 'cool kids' hang-out. Would we got back? If in the area, but not cross town.

If you are looking for a unique and fun dining experience for a group, here it is. Try happy hour, when you can get flights of various flavored and infused vodkas that will yield four shots, with rassol (like pickle juice) to clear your palate in between. Some of the infused flavors are Earl Grey, rhubarb, honey pepper, currant, and my favorite, horseradish,. We enjoyed caviar, dumplings, stuffed cabbage, Armenian lamb tartare and some pretty tasty nachos carnitas, as the Russian owner’s husband is Mexican. The food was delicious, service attentive and we had a wonderful time. Highly recommend.

The noise from the music was deafening which was disappointing because the food was very good. The restaurant was packed and there really was no reason for the volume of the music. It simply made conversation Impossible.

I'd never tried Russian food before, so this was a first! I'll be back. The flavors were excellent and the meal was delightful.

Celebrated my birthday with family, I think we must have ordered everything on the menu and we ate for 3 hours. The cabbage rolls brought tears to my eyes because this is exactly how I remembered my grandma’s galoushti. Beautiful presentations, fresh ingredients, what an experience! I don’t drink therefore i can’t speak for the Wodka, but my husband was quite pleased with the choices. All in all a wonderful night out with exceptional food and service, thank you.

This fun restaurant reminds me of a couple of places I have dined in Russia--only the food here was far better. We were here for Portland Dining Month and the pris fixe menu was excellent. It was fun to try the shots of vodka and Eastern European wines. The service was fantastic.

I did not know what to expect when my host said we were having Russian cuisine for dinner. But this place was a marvel. great service, great food, the dumplings and charcuterie plate were a stand out, and lashings of ice cold vodka, made for an amazing and entertaining evening!!

Don't miss the Moscow mule, herring under a fur coat!, beef tongue, and dumplings...or the stroganoff. It was all sooo good!!

Every dish here felt special, from the delicate salo board to the unforgettable vareniki to the beautiful herring 'under a fur coat'. The food delighted me and truly impressed my Soviet-raised foodie husband! And we thoroughly enjoyed the unique wine list and vodka infusions as well! We're from out of state, but will probably be back in Portland again soon for more Kachka...and Kachinka...and the Kachka Deli (coming soon!). Can't wait!

Place is cool but the food was not I've ordered a $16 stuffed pepper, no sides, nothing just the pepper with NO TASTE we also had the caviar and it was bad too! I don't recommend this place

The staff is super friendly and knowledgeable (although not actually Russian). The place was very clean and cozy and food was yummy, if a little pricey.

We needed a reservation on a Tuesday night. It's a very popular spot with a younger crowd and has a lively bar. Our borscht with pork was superb. The other dishes were good, but not worth putting up with the high noise level, frantic activity, and lack of street parking. We were placed near the kitchen, which is a relatively quiet area with some tables for two, so at least we could hear each other talk. Servers were attentive and pleasant. Chairs were uncomfortable flat metal.