Siberia’s winters can be long, cold, and harsh, but there’s nothing better to warm up than a hearty, steaming bowl of traditional Siberian soup. With its diverse culinary influences, Siberian cuisine offers a variety of rich, flavorful soups made with locally sourced ingredients like wild game, fish from Lake Baikal, and seasonal vegetables. Whether you’re exploring the cities around Lake Baikal, hiking in the wilderness, or staying in a remote village, you’ll find that hot soups are a central part of the region’s winter cuisine.
In this guide, we’ll explore where to find the best hot soups to warm up in Siberian winters and highlight some of the most delicious traditional soups you can try.
1. Irkutsk: The Heart of Siberian Soups
Irkutsk, being the largest city near Lake Baikal, offers a variety of restaurants and cafés that serve traditional Siberian soups. The city’s markets and eateries provide a perfect opportunity to sample a range of comforting, warming soups that reflect the region’s rich culinary heritage.
Best Soup Spots in Irkutsk:
- Siberian Dacha: Known for its hearty Siberian dishes, Siberian Dacha offers a selection of soups that include borscht (a beet soup), solyanka (a sour and spicy soup), and siberian fish soup. The restaurant focuses on traditional, filling soups that are perfect for a cold winter day.
- Vega Café: This vegetarian-friendly café offers plant-based versions of classic Siberian soups. Their mushroom soup made with wild forest mushrooms is especially popular and perfect for vegetarians and vegans looking for a warming, meat-free option.
- Zemlyanka: Offering both traditional Russian and Siberian fare, Zemlyanka serves a variety of soups, including a delicious siberian pelmeni soup, made with dumplings and broth. Their shchi (cabbage soup) is a local favorite, often prepared with meat and served with sour cream.
Must-Try Soups in Irkutsk:
- Borscht: While borscht is known across Russia, the Siberian version tends to be heartier, with additional meat like pork or beef, making it a perfect soup for cold days.
- Solyanka: A sour and savory soup made with a variety of meats, vegetables, and pickles. The flavor profile is complex and warming, and it’s often served with a dollop of sour cream and a slice of lemon.
- Fish Soup: Irkutsk, being close to Lake Baikal, offers fish soups made with fresh fish from the lake, such as omul or grayling. These soups are light yet rich in flavor.
2. Listvyanka: Lakeside Comfort with Traditional Soups
Located on the shores of Lake Baikal, Listvyanka is a small village where you can experience hearty, warming soups made with fresh local ingredients. Whether you’re warming up after a cold day of exploring the lake or simply enjoying the winter landscape, you’ll find plenty of options for satisfying soups.
Best Soup Spots in Listvyanka:
- Baikal Café: A cozy café offering a mix of traditional Russian and Siberian dishes. The omul fish soup, made with Baikal’s signature fish, is particularly popular and warming. It’s made with fresh fish, vegetables, and herbs, providing a comforting, savory broth.
- Vega: Known for its delicious vegan and vegetarian-friendly options, Vega serves a range of plant-based soups. Their lentil soup and tomato-based vegetable soup are both great options for warming up on chilly days.
- Khomutovo Café: A traditional Russian café with a menu that includes solyanka and other regional soups. Their hearty beet soup made with a mix of meats and vegetables is a perfect choice to enjoy by the fire.
Must-Try Soups in Listvyanka:
- Omul Fish Soup: A light, flavorful soup made with the freshwater fish native to Lake Baikal. It’s served with herbs, potatoes, and sometimes a splash of sour cream.
- Siberian Borscht: A hearty version of the classic beet soup, often made with a rich broth of pork or beef, adding to the depth of flavor. It’s served with sour cream and garlic bread.
- Shchi: A traditional cabbage soup that can be served with or without meat. The cabbage gives it a tangy, savory flavor, and it’s the perfect choice for vegetarians looking for a filling soup.
3. Olkhon Island: Rustic Soups in a Remote Setting
Olkhon Island, the largest island on Lake Baikal, is a remote and serene destination, known for its stunning landscapes and traditional Buryat culture. The village of Khuzhir, where most travelers stay, offers cozy local cafés and guesthouses where you can enjoy rustic, warming soups made with local ingredients.
Best Soup Spots on Olkhon Island:
- Khuzhir Café: Located in the island’s main village, this café offers a range of traditional Siberian and Buryat soups. The Buryat-style meat soup is a rich, hearty dish made with lamb or beef, vegetables, and herbs.
- Buryatia Restaurant: Known for its authentic Buryat cuisine, this restaurant serves a variety of traditional soups, including buuz soup (steamed dumplings in broth) and shulun (Buryat-style meat soup), made with local game and meat, perfect for warming up.
- Buryat Yurt: For an immersive experience, Buryat Yurt offers a traditional yurt dining experience, where you can sample soups such as Buryat mutton soup and shulun served in a rustic, authentic environment.
Must-Try Soups on Olkhon Island:
- Shulun: A comforting, slow-cooked meat soup made with lamb or beef and a mix of vegetables, often served with rice or noodles. This soup is a favorite among the Buryat people and provides both warmth and nourishment.
- Buryat Mutton Soup: A traditional Buryat dish made with mutton, potatoes, and cabbage. It’s hearty, flavorful, and perfect for the cold Siberian climate.
- Buuz Soup: A soup made with steamed dumplings filled with minced meat (often lamb or beef) and served in a rich broth, perfect for cold winter days.
4. Barguzin Bay: Remote Soups in Pristine Wilderness
Barguzin Bay, located on the eastern shore of Lake Baikal, is one of the more remote regions around the lake. This area is less visited by tourists, but if you find yourself in this beautiful, isolated part of Siberia, you’ll be able to enjoy simple, rustic soups that are both satisfying and perfect for the cold weather.
Best Soup Spots in Barguzin Bay:
- Barguzin Bay Guesthouses: Many of the guesthouses around Barguzin Bay offer homemade meals, including rich, hearty soups. The most common soups are mushroom soup, made with wild mushrooms, and meat-based soups made from locally sourced ingredients.
- Local Family-Run Restaurants: Small family-run restaurants in the area serve simple yet delicious soups, including wild mushroom soups and beef-based broths that offer the comforting warmth you need during the winter months.
Must-Try Soups in Barguzin Bay:
- Mushroom Soup: Made with wild mushrooms foraged from the surrounding forests, this soup is earthy, flavorful, and perfect for a warming, hearty meal.
- Beef Broth Soup: Made with locally sourced beef, this soup is rich and filling, often served with hearty vegetables like carrots and potatoes.
5. Siberian Street Food: Soup Stalls and Kiosks
In addition to restaurants, you’ll also find street food vendors around Siberian cities and villages serving hot, delicious soups, perfect for warming up as you explore the region. Whether you’re in Irkutsk, Listvyanka, or Khuzhir, you can find small kiosks or stalls offering quick bowls of soup, often made with fresh, local ingredients.
Popular Street Food Soups:
- Solyanka: A rich, sour soup made with a combination of meats (often including sausages), pickles, and vegetables. It’s flavorful and warming, often served in large portions.
- Shchi: Cabbage soup, often served with meat or just vegetables, depending on the vendor. This soup is a staple in many parts of Russia and is a great way to warm up after a day in the cold.
- Pelmeni Soup: Pelmeni (dumplings) in broth is a popular street food dish in Siberia. These dumplings are typically filled with meat and served in a rich, savory broth.
Conclusion: Warming Up with Traditional Siberian Soups
Whether you’re exploring Irkutsk, enjoying the lakeside charm of Listvyanka, venturing into the wilderness of Olkhon Island, or visiting the serene Barguzin Bay, you’ll find plenty of delicious, warming soups that are perfect for Siberian winters. From hearty borscht and solyanka to comforting shulun and pelmeni soup, Siberian cuisine offers a range of soups that are both flavorful and perfect for recharging after a day of outdoor adventure. Don’t miss the chance to try these traditional dishes, which not only warm you up but also provide a true taste of Siberia’s culinary heritage.
