Trains in Russia: what food is available onboard?

One question that often arises among tourists on a Russian railroad trip is what to eat onboard their train. There are many options to satisfy every palate – from a feast in the onboard restaurant, to complimentary lunches delivered hot to your cabin, to regional delicacies peddled by babushkas at the station.

Complimentary meals

Some Russian train tickets include a free meal, shown by an “У” printed on your ticket that indicates the word «услуги» – “services”. For 2nd class passengers this is usually a cold sandwich and a bottle of water, but 1st class travellers on high-speed trains or those on luxury services like the Grand Express will be treated to multiple course hot meals. If the train tickets you purchase through the official Russian Railways (RZD) website include a free meal, then you can select your preferred meal through the site. If you’re travelling on the Trans-Siberian (Transsib), you should know that an “У” entitles you to one meal per ticket and not per day!

Restaurant car

Most intercity and night trains in Russia have a restaurant car where you can enjoy a meal en route.

• Trans-Siberian train: the Trans-Siberian restaurant serves Russian and European cuisine, the Trans-Mongolian express offers Mongolian food, and the Trans-Manchurian sells Chinese dishes as you make your way from Moscow to Beijing!
• High-speed: the Sapsan restaurant car which covers the Moscow – St. Petersburg route and Moscow to Nizhny Novgorod route offers a wide variety of hot and cold meals and beverages, and you can actually buy a Dining Class ticket which allocates a deposit for refreshments and a table for the duration of the trip. The Strizh service has a restaurant car and a snack buffet car.

Order meals

If you’re not entitled to a complimentary meal and you are reluctant to abandon your bags and visit the buffet car, don’t worry – you won’t starve en route. On some services there is a seat buffet service where you can order meals and drinks which will be delivered to you.

This at-seat ordering service is available on the Sapsan, Strizh and Lastochka high-speed trains. The #061/062 Trans-Siberian train has an on-board entertainment facility which includes a special meal-ordering application.

Beverages on board

At the end of each Russian night train carriage, you will find a large kettle known as a samovar, which dispenses free and unlimited hot water to all passengers – ideal for making your morning cup of coffee! Please bear in mind that cold water is not free of charge on the trains. For passengers who want something a bit stronger, you can head to the restaurant car (or even the private bar if you’re travelling VIP on a luxury train!)

Order food from nearby restaurants

If you’re a fussy eater or just prefer pizza to the standard train fare, then you will enjoy Russian Railways’ latest stroke of genius: an Uber Eats-style service which delivers food from local restaurants directly to your train. This service is currently available in over four dozen cities including the two capitals. For example, if you buy St Petersburg to Moscow train tickets, then you would create an account on the Russian Railways website, add ‘Deliver Food’ as an additional ticket service, select the Moskovsky Station in St Petersburg, and choose the restaurant which catches your eye.

Bring a picnic

We’d always recommend visiting the supermarket before boarding the train, especially if you’re embarking on a long-distance journey. Popular snacks to pick up include tea bags or instant coffee sachets, instant porridge, fruit, sweets, biscuits, crackers and cured meats. All the better if you’ve got something to share with your fellow passengers!

Buy refreshments en route

For those who want to sample the local cuisine, station platforms along your way provide ample opportunity. Just some of the snacks you might come across include: small pies with sweet or savoury fillings, pancakes, dumplings, fruit and vegetables, ready-to-eat hot meals, and even local delicacies like the smoked fish from Lake Baikal, omul. Just be careful when buying fresh produce – it’s best to follow where the Russian passengers are going.