Tubatay is a Kazan fast-food chain whose menu is built on Tatar cooking, and the brand states that all its products are halal. The name comes from the tubeteika (Russian: Тюбетей), the embroidered Tatar skullcap, which the brand uses as its emblem. The first restaurant opened in December 2017 on Kremlevskaya Street, close to the Kazan Kremlin but outside its walls.
This is counter service, not a sit-down restaurant. You order, collect your food and eat in a compact room or take it away. It works as a quick lunch between sights in the centre and as an easy first introduction to Tatar flavours: pastries, pies and a Tatar take on the burger. Some branches are ground-floor street units and some are inside shopping malls.
Quick Facts
| Russian name | Тюбетей |
|---|---|
| Address | ул. Кремлёвская, 21, Казань, 420111 OpenStreetMap · Google Maps |
| District | Vakhitovsky |
| Metro | Kremlyovskaya (Line 1, about 10 minutes on foot) |
| Admission | Free entry; no tickets needed. Pay at the counter, a self-order kiosk or in the brand app. |
| Best time to visit | Tubatay works all year, because the food suits any season. In warm months a kystyburger or pastry is easy to eat on the way to the Kremlin. In winter a hot soup or pie makes more sense.
Branches open early, and listings show morning opening at around 8:00, so breakfast items such as porridge or pancakes are possible before sightseeing. Closing times vary by branch, mostly between about 21:00 and 23:00, and they are often later on Friday and Saturday. Check the official website or the map listing for the branch you plan to visit. I could not verify exact crowd patterns. As with most counter-service places in city centres, mid-morning and mid-afternoon are the easiest times if you want a quieter table. |
| Recommended duration | 30–45 minutes |
| Cuisine | Modern Tatar fast food, halal |
| Price level | ₽ · budget |
| Reservations | Tubatay is a walk-in counter-service chain, so table booking is not normally needed. You order at the till, at a self-order kiosk or in the brand's app, and takeaway and delivery are offered.
The flagship is at Kremlevskaya 21, on the street leading to the Kazan Kremlin. The chain has several other branches in Kazan, some on street frontages and some in malls. The official website lists them, and hours differ by branch. |
| Website | tubatay.com |
| Last updated | October 18, 2026 |
| Operating status confirmed | October 2026 |
Why Visit Tubatay, Kazan?
The reason to come is the food, which is Tatar rather than generic fast food, and it is served quickly at budget prices.
- A signature dish you will not find elsewhere: the kystyburger, a Tatar flatbread folded around fillings such as slow-cooked horse meat, duck breast or sweet potato.
- Tatar classics in easy form: triangular echpochmak pastries, small and large pies, and sweets such as chak-chak.
- Halal throughout: the brand states that its products are halal and come from local suppliers.
- Location: the flagship is a short walk from the Kremlin, so it fits a sightseeing day without a detour.
- Low commitment: no reservation and no long meal. Thirty to forty-five minutes is enough.
Highlights of Tubatay, Kazan
Kystyburger, the Tatar burger
The kystyburger is the dish the brand is known for, created by co-founder Sultan Safin. Instead of a bun it uses a wheat flatbread folded around the filling, in the spirit of kystyby, a traditional Tatar flatbread.
Fillings listed for it include slow-cooked horse meat, duck breast, baked chicken with mango sauce and sweet potato. Horse meat is a long-standing part of Tatar cuisine, so it is the most local choice. The burger comes handheld and wrapped, so you can eat it on the walk to the Kremlin.
Tip: If you are unsure about horse meat, the chicken with mango sauce or the sweet potato version is a safe way to try the format. Ask which fillings are available at that branch, as menus can differ.
Echpochmak and echpochmak fries
Echpochmak is the triangular Tatar pastry, traditionally filled with meat and potato, and a staple of home cooking across Tatarstan. Tubatay serves it as a quick hot item, which is the easiest way to taste what Tatar baking is about.
The chain's own twist is echpochmak fries, an idea credited to partner Ainur Kamaliev. It is a fast-food reworking of the pastry that you will not find in a traditional Tatar kitchen. Order both to compare the classic and the modern version side by side.
Tip: Eat the classic echpochmak while it is hot. It is much less appealing after sitting in a takeaway bag.
Belesh and elesh pies
Belesh is the large round Tatar pie, usually filled with meat and potato, and elesh is its smaller cousin. Both are on the menu and show another side of Tatar baking besides the triangular echpochmak.
These are filling items, closer to a proper lunch than a snack. A slice or a small pie with a soup or a drink makes a complete meal, and they suit anyone who wants something less novel than the burger.
Tip: Not everything on the menu is vegetarian, and these pies are meat-based by tradition. Ask at the counter if you need a meat-free option.
Tatar-style solyanka
Solyanka is a thick, tangy soup found across Russia, and Tubatay offers a Tatar-style version in the soup section of its menu.
This is the dish for a warm lunch rather than a handheld item. Kazan winters are long and cold, and a bowl of hot soup after walking around the Kremlin hill is a practical choice. It also lets you compare a familiar Russian soup with a local variation.
Tip: Pair the soup with a pie such as elesh instead of a burger for a more traditional Tatar meal.
Chak-chak and gubadia for dessert
Chak-chak is the best-known Tatar sweet: small strips of fried dough bound with honey and piled into a mound. Gubadia is a layered Tatar pie that appears among the desserts.
Both are traditional treats at Tatar celebrations and family tables. A portion of chak-chak with tea or coffee is the simplest way to end the meal.
Tip: Chak-chak is very sweet. One portion is enough to share between two people.
The flagship on Kremlevskaya Street
The original branch at Kremlevskaya 21 was the first Tubatay restaurant and covers roughly 350 square metres, big by the standards of a counter-service place. It sits on the ground floor of the building, on the street that leads to the Kazan Kremlin.
It is outside the Kremlin walls, not inside them. Other Kazan branches include Bauman 47/9, near Tukay Square metro, and several inside malls.
Tip: Hours differ between branches and between sources, so check the official website or the map listing for the branch you plan to visit.
The tubeteika concept
The brand takes its name and its look from the tubeteika, the embroidered skullcap worn by Tatars. In 2015, when Kazan hosted the World Aquatics Championships, the founders' first sales points were small pavilions shaped like a tubeteika.
Look for the skullcap motif in the logo and branding at each branch. It helps you spot the real chain among several Tatar-themed places in the centre. The chain's music project, Tubatay Beats, supplies the soundtrack in its venues.
Tip: If a place with a similar name has table service and a higher bill, it is probably Tatar by Tubatay, described in the next section.
Tatar by Tubatay: a different restaurant
Tatar by Tubatay is a separate, more upscale sit-down project from the same founders, not one of the fast-food counters. It has three venues: Musina 1, Shigabutdina Marjani 4, and a cafe-museum in the Kremlin's Prisutstvennye Mesta building, at the third entrance.
The brand chef is Alexey Chernov. Expect table service, a longer meal and a higher bill. It is the better choice if you want to sit down with a fuller range of Tatar dishes, and the only one of the two brands inside the Kremlin.
Tip: Plan this as a proper meal. Booking numbers are listed on the official Kazan tourism portal.
What to Order
- Kystyburger: the signature Tatar burger in a folded flatbread, with fillings such as slow-cooked horse meat, duck breast or baked chicken with mango sauce.
- Echpochmak: the triangular Tatar pastry, best eaten hot.
- Echpochmak fries: the chain's own fast-food take on the pastry.
- Belesh or elesh: the large and small Tatar pies, for a more filling meal.
- Tatar-style solyanka: a thick, tangy hot soup for cold days.
- Chak-chak: honey-bound fried dough, the classic Tatar sweet.
Atmosphere
Tubatay is a quick, practical place, not a room to linger in. Most branches are small ground-floor units or mall counters, and seating is limited: one listing gives room for only about thirty guests.
The tubeteika skullcap is the recurring motif in the branding, and the chain’s own music project, Tubatay Beats, plays in the venues, so the soundtrack is part of the brand.
The mix of guests is local: office workers and students at lunch, families with children, and sightseers dropping in from the Kremlin.
History of Tubatay, Kazan
The idea (2007–2015). The brand grew out of one person’s project. Founder Sultan Safin entered Kazan Federal University in 2007 and began developing a fast-food format built on Tatar cuisine rather than on burgers and fried chicken. The first brand book was created in 2014 and a project team formed in 2015. The name and visual identity came from the tubeteika, a familiar symbol of Tatar culture.
The 2015 pavilions. Kazan hosted the World Aquatics Championships in 2015. The team presented its concept and received an order to place six tubeteika-shaped pavilions around the city. These were the first Tubatay sales points and let the founders test the idea with a real public.
The first restaurant (2017). The first restaurant opened in December 2017 on Kremlevskaya Street, a short walk from the Kazan Kremlin, with the backing of investor Irek Salikhov.
The menu takes shape. Safin created the signature kystyburger, which reworks the Tatar flatbread into a handheld meal. Partner Ainur Kamaliev is credited with echpochmak fries. Traditional items such as echpochmak, belesh, elesh, gubadia and chak-chak stayed on the menu alongside them.
Franchise and growth. The company later launched a franchise. According to the founder, early franchisees ran into supply and regulation problems. Around 2020 the brand was reported to operate through partners in several other cities in Russia and in Kazakhstan, but their current status is unconfirmed, so this guide treats Tubatay as a Kazan chain.
Recent years. New branches on Moskovskaya Street and in KazanMall were reported in December 2024. Sources differ on the total number of branches, so use the official website or a map search to find the nearest one. The same founders also run Tatar by Tubatay, the sit-down project described above.
Reservations and Ordering at Tubatay, Kazan
No tickets and no table booking: this is walk-in counter service. You order at the till, at a self-order kiosk or tablet, or in the brand’s app. Takeaway is available, and home delivery is mentioned in directory listings, so check the official website for current delivery options.
Price level: ₽ at the fast-food branches. Tatar by Tubatay is more upscale (₽₽) and is booked by phone, with numbers on the official Kazan tourism portal.
Find and Order: Tubatay, Kazan
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How to Get to Tubatay, Kazan
The flagship is at Kremlevskaya 21 (ул. Кремлёвская, 21), on the street leading to the Kazan Kremlin, on the ground floor of the building.
- Metro: Kazan has a single metro line. Get off at Kremlyovskaya station and walk about 700 m (roughly 10 minutes) towards the Kremlin and Kremlevskaya Street. Follow the exit signs towards the Kremlin and check a map app for the final stretch.
- Bauman branch: Bauman 47/9 is near Tukay Square metro station, a good option if you are walking along Bauman Street.
- Taxi: a ride-hailing taxi to the address above drops you close to the door. Show the driver the address in Russian script.
- Mall branches: others are in malls such as KazanMall and MEGA. Check the branch list on the official website before choosing one.
Accessibility
The flagship at Kremlevskaya 21 is on the ground floor, so there is no staircase to the counter. Some directory listings mention a ramp, a toilet and a staff call button at the entrance, but these are not confirmed on the official website.
Branches differ. Some are street-level units and some are in malls. Check the specific branch with the venue before you go if step-free access matters to you.
Food Nearby
Kremlevskaya Street and the streets around it have plenty of cafes and restaurants, since it is the main route to the Kremlin. Choices range from quick coffee and pastry stops to full sit-down meals.
For a proper table-service Tatar meal, look at Tatar by Tubatay, a separate and more upscale restaurant project from the same founders. It has venues at Musina 1 and Shigabutdina Marjani 4, and a cafe-museum inside the Kazan Kremlin in the Presentstvennye Mesta building, at the third entrance.
Bauman Street, a pedestrian street near Tukay Square, has many more cafes and bakeries. I have not listed other venues by name, because I could not verify their current status.
What to Bring
Bring weather-appropriate clothing. The walk from Kremlyovskaya metro to Kremlevskaya Street is outdoors, and Kazan winters are cold. In summer, a hat and water are useful if you are continuing to the Kremlin.
Bring a phone with a map app and, if you want to use it, the brand's app for ordering. Carry a bank card and some cash as a backup. Card and QR payment is reported at some branches but is not confirmed everywhere. If you plan to use a foreign-issued card, check with your bank beforehand, as it may not work in Russia.
There are no known special bag rules at the counter. Check separately if you continue to the Kremlin.
Bring a small bag or wet wipes if you are eating a handheld kystyburger or pastry on the go.
Photography Rules
I found no official photography rules for Tubatay. It is an ordinary counter-service restaurant, so photographing your food and the branded interior is normally fine. Be considerate of other guests, and ask staff before filming them. Tripods and drones are not practical here.
Family Suitability
The menu includes a section of kids' sets, and the quick counter service suits children who do not want a long meal. Seating is limited at some branches, so a small group is easier than a large one. Mild options such as the chicken with mango sauce or a plain pie are easier for young eaters than horse meat.
Russia Vibes Tips
- The brand appears under several spellings: Tubatay, Tubetey, Tyubetey and Тюбетей. Try them all when searching on a map app, and check that the listing is not marked closed. Older entries exist for Bauman 11 and a kiosk on Tatarstan Street, but the current Bauman branch is 47/9.
- Payment options vary by branch, and directories mention cash, cards and QR codes without official confirmation. Sanctions rules of your own country may restrict the use of Russian payment services, so check before you travel and carry a backup way to pay.
Make an Outing of Your Visit to Tubatay, Kazan
Tubatay, Kazan is within walking distance of places that pair well with a meal. A simple way to build the outing:
Before or after your meal
Bauman Street, Kazan – about 350 m away (~5 min walk) · typical visit: 1.5–3 hours7 min on foot from Kremlyovskaya, Kazan metro, Open 24 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Kazan Kremlin – about 600 m away (~10 min walk) · typical visit: 2–4 hours2 min on foot from Kremlyovskaya, Kazan metro, Open 24 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Kul Sharif Mosque, Kazan – about 900 m away (~15 min walk) · typical visit: 1–2 hours6 min on foot from Kremlyovskaya, Kazan metro, Open daily 08:00–20:00Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Time needed: plan about 6–11 hours for the whole outing, including the meal (roughly 1–1.5 hours), the places above and the walking between them.
Explore Nearby Tubatay, Kazan
Metro stations near Tubatay, Kazan
Kremlyovskaya, Kazan – about 600 m away (~10 min walk)Open daily 06:00–00:00Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Ploshchad Tukaya, Kazan – about 800 m away (~13 min walk)Open daily 06:00–00:00Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Restaurants and cafes near Tubatay, Kazan
Dobraya Stolovaya, Kazan – about 350 m away (~5 min walk)9 min on foot from Ploshchad Tukaya, Kazan metroMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Nightlife near Tubatay, Kazan
Nashe Mesto, Kazan – about 400 m away (~6 min walk)10 min on foot from Ploshchad Tukaya, Kazan metroMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Tangiers Lounge, Kazan – about 450 m away (~7 min walk)14 min on foot from Ploshchad Tukaya, Kazan metroMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Hotels near Tubatay, Kazan
DoubleTree by Hilton Kazan City Centerabout 450 m away (~8 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Azimut Hotel Bauman Kazanabout 600 m away (~10 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Green Point Hostel, Kazanabout 650 m away (~11 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Train stations and river piers near Tubatay, Kazan
Kazan Railway Station, Kazanabout 1.2 km away (~19 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Related guides
- Kazan Kremlin: Free Entry, Museum Tickets and What to See2 min on foot from Kremlyovskaya, Kazan metro, Open 24 hours
Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Korston Royal Hotel, Kazan: Luxury Accommodation with On-Site Shopping and SpaMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Kazan Palace by Tasigo: Luxury Hotel in a 1910 Heritage BuildingMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Ramada by Wyndham Kazan City Centre: Reliable Midrange Hotel Near the Railway StationMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Ramada Kazan City Centre: Central Hotel Near Railway Station and KremlinMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Browse more: More in Vakhitovsky · All Chains and Fast Food · All Kazan · All Restaurants · All Restaurants in Kazan
FAQ: Tubatay, Kazan
Is Tubatay inside the Kazan Kremlin?
No. The flagship on Kremlevskaya Street is outside the walls, and the other branches are elsewhere in the city centre and in malls. The only venue of the founders inside the Kremlin is the Tatar by Tubatay cafe-museum.
How many branches does Tubatay have?
Sources disagree, with figures from about eight to fourteen in Kazan, and some outlets in other cities have been reported in the past. The official website or a map search is the reliable way to find a branch that is open now.
Russia Vibes is a one-person project. A coffee keeps it going
Last updated: October 18, 2026.
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