Reviews & Ratings for Traktir

Citysearch Editorial Review

by Charlie Amter

Since the early 1990s, this West Hollywood restaurant has been drawing Russian ex-pats to their West Hollywood location for a taste of home. A young, hip crowd comes for dishes like Traktir's authentic kharcho (lamb soup), which exudes a complex combination of spices and herbs (yet is hearty enough to eat like a meal). Other winning dishes include the Armenian-style lula kebab or any of the large fish dishes (which come as a whole fish with a generous side order of potatoes). The patio here takes up the entire front portion of the restaurant looking over Santa Monica Blvd. and is always busy with chain-smoking ex-pats from Moscow. A solid choice for anyone looking to try Russian food in an atmosphere that is far from intimidating.

04/17/10

Fantastic food

by weho333

Amazing food here--very authentic. You will not and cannot go wrong at Traktir.

Great service, but sometime slow. But who cares? They are very friendly here, a rarity at Russian restaurants in LA.

Also, they make their own vodka here. No surprise, they are crowded often on weekends.

• Pros: Everything on the menu works well
• Cons: Sometimes slow service, but that's just their way

12/14/08

Get Take Out

by duckamok

Excellent food. The borscht, dumplings, pork chops and stroganoff --right down to the pickles--were all excellent. The flavored vodkad all tasted "stale", if that's possible, with the exception of the hot pepper vodka, which was really great once you got past the fire.

The service was horribly slow, but at least friendly and the restaurant itself was chilly and too brightly lit. The restroom consists of a single employee restroom within the kitchen. I recommend not drinking a lot. Better yet, forego the uncomfortable bathroom situation and the terrible service, just get your food to go...

• Pros: Food
• Cons: Ambiance

10/20/08

great russian restaurant

by Maya

great russian restaurant, as authentic as they come, service was excellent, weather permitting outside sitting is the best

03/06/08

Went with a Russian: He loved it

by KariMcShorty

I went on Wednesday night to Traktir. The waiter was very nice. We drank the compote, which was very refreshing. We ordered the trio of those dumplings, then the chicken in crepes with mushroom cream sauce. Both plates were very tasty (I think they both had the same sauce). I guess Russian food is on the heavier side but it was a fun experience. Traktir is one of those ethnic experiences where the many of the diners are from the country. Most people there seemed Russian. That's a good sign, right?

• Pros: Affordable, diner style Russian restaurant with yummy, satisfying food
• Cons: Service is kind of slow but not a big deal, still check it out

08/21/07

great service. delicious food.

by mandys57

I can always go here with my friends and family, whenever. We always enjoy eating here. It gives us a taste of babushka's homecooked meals. haha. =) Highly recommend to come and try it out for yourself. Take my word, it will not be time wasted and you may in fact end up coming more than once.

08/13/07

Best SERVICE Back again on weekends!!!

by blackelvis

I didn't like to invite my friends on weekends cause of SLOW SERVICE,but my last visit on this weekend was unbelievable, excellent food ( like always) and best service I've ever had . New stuff is really friendly and doing their best . Now you can visit this awesome place seven days a week for sure :)!!!

• Pros: great food
• Cons: friendly service

07/14/07

Below expectations

by veramalinina

On my recent visit to Traktir I found a cheaply decorated eatery with plastic plates and no tableclothes. All entrees had the same side of potatoes and cabbage, a sort of what one could see in a Russian diner 20-30 years ago. It was sad to see those served on all plates around. Dumplings were really good. Harcho was OK, but far from the real deal. The service was quite indifferent. Meal for two cost us about $50. I had 250 g. of Vodka that raised my bill by another $40 (!). Overall impression is that of a rip-off.

• Pros: Good dumplings
• Cons: Service

05/22/07

Russian cafe with great food and flavored vodka

by paulka26

I just had the best meal ever. Located in west hollywood this charming restaurant delivers great tasting russian food. I started with the borscht it was very good, then the trio vereniki (Russian style dumplings), chicken blintzes very good and tasty, for main dish we ordered chicken tabaka (pressed cornish hen in garlic wine sauce so so delicious. My friend ordered lula kebab and he said it was the best he has ever had. I can't wait to go again, but I was told to make reservation on the weekend, because it is small and fills up fast. Highly recommended restaurant.

• Pros: fresh food, parking, outside patio
• Cons: make reservations on weekends

05/22/07

best soups ever, nice Russian restaurant fresh food

by paulka26

I just had the best meal ever. Located in west hollywood this charming restaurant delivers great tasting russian food. I started with the borscht it was very good, then the trio vereniki (Russian style dumplings), chicken blintzes very good and tasty, for main dish we ordered chicken tabaka (pressed cornish hen in garlic wine sauce so so delicious. My friend ordered lula kebab and he said it was the best he has ever had. I can't wait to go again, but I was told to make reservation on the weekend, because it is small and fills up fast. Highly recommended restaurant.

• Pros: fresh food, parking, outside patio
• Cons: make reservations on weekends