Traktir Restaurant Valley — Restaurant in Los Angeles

This restaurant is expensive, and we did not order entrees. However, it was well worth the splurge. I am a gourmet cook & Foodie of Ukrainian heritage, so I was familar with much of the cuisine. The atmosphere decorated in a cross-beamed room with overhanging ferns & flowers & a harth, as well as lines of charming Matroishka nesting dolls, & lovely lace curtains was transportive! We were a party of two who decided to order a selection of small dishes. We ordered a cold, meatless Borscht which was very refreshing. Next time we plan to try the hot Borscht & a smoked soup. The Beef Pellmeni were served with Sour Cream, & they were delicious. My husband enjoyed the Kachipuri more than I as (rather than Cheesiness) it felt a bit like an Omelette in texture, & I am not fond of Eggs. The Cheesy toast (Gruyere?) alongside the Borscht was devine, & the Kachipuri would do well to be less Eggy & more richly Cheesy in taste & Texture. The Peiroshki were small & okay, but I was expecting more of the Bready type of Piroshki which I'd traditionally enjoyed before. Of the three types, we enjoyed the more seasoned Cabbage variety the most. The drink made from boiling dried fruits called "Compote" was a standout for us both. It was fruity without being too sweet, & it was addictive. We were surprised to see a Seafood salad made with imitation Krab & Asian seasonings as it seemed really out of place & unneccesary on a Ukrainian Menu. The dessert choices seemed meager & limited. It seemed that that list would benefit from perhaps two more desserts featuring fruit. Apfel Shtrudel for one with Freshly-Whipped Cream. We will absolutely come again & try things we did not order the...

Came in for dinner with friends to this place back in late August. Not sure if this was an off day but the experience was rather disappointing.

The decor and organization of the restaurant was nice with the outdoor patio being a nice touch but this is where it ended. Took us about 10 minutes to get the menus. Ok. Fine. It happens. The menu is pretty standard nothing particularly standing out. So we weren't looking for a big meal so ordered Solyanka, Pelmeni, a Salad, and a main to share.

Can't say anything particularly bad to say about Salad or the mains. They were solidly done but somewhat blandish but Solyanka was so salty that my wife, who puts salt on everything, already seasoned or not, sent the dish back saying that it was way to salty, not spicy but salty. Pelmeni also tasted like they were bought in the store and set in the freezer for some time.

I would have...

If I told you this is the best Russian food I’ve ever had, it would insult all of my aunts and grandmothers; but if they could cook like Traktir cooks, I wouldn’t have to offend them. At the risk of hurting all of their feelings, let me tell you. This is the best Russian food I have ever had in my life. The service is amazing. The atmosphere is cozy and fun. We tasted like 14 different offerings. The challenge is to not eat a lot. Hahaha! The sides are all insanely good. Whoever took that time to ensure everything served tastes like how it tastes, takes food seriously. They should be really proud. Thank you for one of, if not the best, nights of my life feasting like a tsar. Even the cakes and espresso are the highest quality. Inspiringly delicious food....