A "instant snow scene" from Ukraine has appeared in Hong Kong — would you wear fur and eat rabbit meat while enjoying it?

Reported and photographed by Reporter You Ru / Hong Kong

Apart from Cantonese cuisine, what other dishes are worth trying in Hong Kong? Located in Central, "Ivan The Kozak" is the only Eastern European restaurant in Hong Kong. This restaurant not only offers delicious food, but also features a mysterious "ice cellar" glowing with blue light, allowing guests to enjoy Eastern European cuisine while stepping into an ice cellar snow room, donning fur, sipping Ukrainian drinks, and admiring an "Ukraine-inspired" instant snow scene.


▲%Ji Fu Sun Dou Hu's Naxie selected preserved,? leg selected guarantee? leg selected Xuanxuan sub invitation ghost side,? Fan selected "Lun selected Ghost" of Ci Na Xian A.


Located in the exotic Central district, "Ivan The Kozak" is a pioneer among all foreign cuisine establishments. As one of the first foreign restaurants to set up in Central, "Ivan The Kozak" is also the only Eastern European restaurant in Hong Kong. Not only does it employ professional chefs from Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, but over 70% of its dishes are also personally supervised by chefs from Ukraine. Wang Rongzhao (Ivan) said that this shop, which focuses entirely on Eastern European cuisine, is the lovechild of his and his wife’s international romance.

Wang Rongzhao (Ivan) and his Ukrainian wife Olena met while he was operating a karaoke and hotel business in Lanzhou, in northwestern China. Over 20 years ago, Olena stayed at Wang’s hotel for work, and the two fell in love and got married. Later, due to poor investment conditions, Wang decided to return to Hong Kong with Olena to seek new opportunities. Homesick, Olena worked at a Russian restaurant in Hong Kong and, during her time there, tasted versions of her hometown cuisine that didn’t quite hit the mark. So, the couple decided to open a real Eastern European restaurant that could introduce Hong Kong to their native food culture while also easing their homesickness. And thus, "Ivan The Kozak" was born.


               ▲"Ivan The Kozak" is the only Eastern European restaurant in Hong Kong.


▲%The family uses traditional flavors as the main theme, and the waiters serve dishes paired with drinks from Ukraine and Russia.




▲Diners who visit during lunch can enjoy unlimited salads and soups after ordering a main course.

Located down a narrow lane in Central, "Ivan The Kozak" requires guests to walk down several hidden steps before entering, creating a somewhat time-travel-like atmosphere. With a rustic countryside style as its main theme, Wang Rongzhao hired chefs from Ukraine and Russia to prepare homestyle dishes, and asked friends to help fine-tune the flavors to something "acceptable to Hong Kong palates." Fully retaining the taste of Ukraine while incorporating the fresh experience Hong Kongers have with foreign cuisine, "Ivan The Kozak" officially launched its menu.

The restaurant’s signature dishes include Russian stewed rabbit, Russian beef strips, q beef tongue, and borscht, all emphasizing 100% authentic flavor. Wang Rongzhao said every dish is a chef’s memory of home cooking, and only by hiring chefs truly from the region can the local flavors be fully preserved. The current head chef, Kateryna, graduated from a professional culinary academy and has over 20 years of rich cooking experience, having won numerous awards in Ukraine. Being a good friend of Olena, she has traveled to Hong Kong twice in the 12 years since "Ivan The Kozak" opened, solely to bring authentic Eastern European cuisine to the city.


▲Russian stewed rabbit.


▲Russian beef strips have a springy texture, served with a side that looks like rice but is actually mashed potatoes.

The Russian stewed rabbit has a rich, creamy broth with hints of spices, and the rabbit meat is chewy; the Russian beef strips are springy and served with mashed potatoes that resemble rice and melt in your mouth; the q beef tongue is creamy and roasted with mushrooms; the borscht is refreshing and emits the sweetness of vegetables. The Eastern European cooking style, so different from Chinese tastes, offers a surprisingly delightful experience. If you’re in Hong Kong and looking to try "flavors you can’t get in Taiwan," "Ivan The Kozak," tucked away in a Central alleyway, is a great choice.

【Ivan The Kozak】
Address: G/F Lower Level, 46-48 Kennedy Street, Central, Hong Kong Island
Phone: (852)2851-1193