What are perogies and what do Manitobans call them?

A perogy is a half-moon dumpling of unleavened dough, filled and boiled, then often pan-fried in butter. In Manitoba the spellings range from perogy and pyrohy to pierogi, and the Ukrainian word is varenyky. Classic fillings are potato and cheese, sauerkraut, cottage cheese and mushroom.

What are holubtsi and kubasa in Winnipeg?

Holubtsi are cabbage rolls, cabbage leaves filled with rice and sometimes meat and baked in tomato sauce, and kubasa is a garlic sausage served boiled or fried. A Winnipeg Ukrainian combination plate pairs them with perogies, which makes it the easiest way to taste several dishes.

Where is the Ukrainian district in Winnipeg?

Winnipeg's North End is the historic Ukrainian district, with delis and bakeries that sell perogies, cabbage rolls and baked goods. Small delis may close early or on certain days, so check hours before you go. Other Ukrainian restaurants and delis sit in neighbourhoods such as Corydon and Transcona.

Can I buy frozen perogies in Winnipeg and cook them at home?

Yes. Winnipeg delis often sell frozen perogies by the dozen. Boil them in salted water until they float, drain them and fry them in butter with onions until golden, then serve with sour cream. Fresh perogies should be cooked within a few days of purchase.

What is the best way to keep track of perogy places I want to try in Winnipeg?

Mosey is a food app where you rate places by the dish, keep lists and share them with friends. For Winnipeg perogies, make a list of the delis and cafes you want to try, invite friends to add theirs, rate each plate by the dish and tag the filling. Following friends shows what they rate, which helps at a second visit.

Dish guide

Best Perogies in Winnipeg: Ukrainian Food and Where to Eat

Mosey · November 11, 2026 · 4 min read

The best perogies in Winnipeg are hand-pinched, boiled until tender and served with fried onions and sour cream. Winnipeg has one of the largest Ukrainian communities in Canada, so delis, restaurants and the North End all sell them. Order a plate of potato and cheese first, then add one other filling.

Folklorama, the summer festival of cultures, brings Ukrainian pavilions to the city, and community halls and churches sell perogies as takeout fundraisers through the year.

What are perogies?

A perogy is a half-moon dumpling of unleavened dough, filled and boiled, then often pan-fried in butter. The classic fillings are potato and cheese, sauerkraut, cottage cheese and mushroom. Sweet versions are filled with cherries or berries. They are served with sour cream and fried onions, and sometimes with bacon bits or dill.

In Manitoba you will see many spellings, from perogy and pyrohy to pierogi and varenyky. They all point to the same dish.

Winnipeg Ukrainian food: more than perogies

A Ukrainian meal in Winnipeg often includes cabbage rolls (holubtsi), rolled cabbage leaves filled with rice and sometimes meat, baked in tomato sauce. Kubasa, a garlic sausage, comes boiled or fried. Borscht, a beet soup, is served hot, and nalysnyky are thin crepes filled with cheese. Poppyseed rolls and honey cake appear at holiday tables.

A combination plate is the easiest way to taste several dishes. Ask for one at a restaurant or a deli, and order the cabbage rolls (Winnipeg cabbage rolls are often served with a tomato sauce and sour cream) alongside the perogies. Many delis sell hot plates at lunch and frozen items to take home, so you can eat in and stock the freezer in the same visit. If you are new to the cuisine, ask the person at the counter what they would eat themselves.

Winnipeg Ukrainian restaurants and delis: where to find the best perogies in Winnipeg

Corydon Avenue has Ukrainian home cooking for dine-in and takeout, a deli in Transcona sells perogies, cabbage rolls and varenyky, and Nairn Avenue is another street for traditional Ukrainian comfort food. The best varenyky are soft, generously filled and clearly handmade, so look for edges that have been pinched by hand.

Winnipeg's North End, the historic Ukrainian district, has delis and bakeries too. Check hours before you go, since small delis may close early or on certain days.

How to order perogies

Order a plate of a dozen or a half dozen, depending on appetite. Choose potato and cheese first, which is the classic, and add one other filling. Ask for them boiled, or pan-fried if you want a crisp edge. Request fried onions and sour cream on the side.

Delis often sell frozen perogies by the dozen to take home. They cook from frozen in boiling water in a few minutes.

Manitoba varenyky: how to cook them at home

Boil frozen perogies in salted water until they float, then drain them and fry in butter with onions until golden. Serve with sour cream. Do not crowd the pan, or they will steam rather than brown. A little fresh dill brightens the plate.

If you buy fresh perogies, check the date and cook within a few days.

What toppings go on perogies?

The classic pairing is fried onions and sour cream. Bacon bits, dill, melted butter and cheese sauce are common additions, and some restaurants serve them with kubasa (garlic sausage) or a side of cabbage rolls. In summer, a few cafes top them with fresh herbs and seasonal vegetables.

Try the plain version first, so you can taste the dough and the filling. Add toppings one at a time, so you know what each does.

How are homemade perogies made?

Home cooks make a dough of flour, egg and water, roll it out, cut circles and fill each with a spoonful of mashed potato and cheese or another filling. The edges are pinched shut, and the perogies are boiled until they float. Families often make hundreds at a time, in an afternoon, before Christmas or Easter.

If you ever get an invitation to a perogy-making day, say yes. It is a good way to learn, and everyone takes some home.

Perogies at holidays and festivals

Ukrainian Christmas and Easter bring baskets of food, and perogies are on many tables. Winnipeg has community halls and churches that sell perogies in fundraisers, often as a takeout meal. Look for notices at churches and community centres for dates.

Folklorama, Winnipeg's summer festival of cultures, has pavilions that serve Ukrainian food, with dates that change each year.

What about dietary needs?

Perogies are usually vegetarian, but toppings may include bacon, and the dough may contain egg and wheat. Some delis make gluten-free or vegan versions on request. Ask what the filling and the fat are.

Where should you go next?

For another Prairie dish, read the Saskatchewan food guide and the Edmonton pizza guide. For the East, see the New Brunswick food guide. Every city is on the Canada guides page.

Perogies taste of the hands that pinched them. Rate each plate you try in the Mosey app, and build a Winnipeg list of the delis and cafes worth a second visit.

Questions

Common questions

What are perogies and what do Manitobans call them?
A perogy is a half-moon dumpling of unleavened dough, filled and boiled, then often pan-fried in butter. In Manitoba the spellings range from perogy and pyrohy to pierogi, and the Ukrainian word is varenyky. Classic fillings are potato and cheese, sauerkraut, cottage cheese and mushroom.
What are holubtsi and kubasa in Winnipeg?
Holubtsi are cabbage rolls, cabbage leaves filled with rice and sometimes meat and baked in tomato sauce, and kubasa is a garlic sausage served boiled or fried. A Winnipeg Ukrainian combination plate pairs them with perogies, which makes it the easiest way to taste several dishes.
Where is the Ukrainian district in Winnipeg?
Winnipeg's North End is the historic Ukrainian district, with delis and bakeries that sell perogies, cabbage rolls and baked goods. Small delis may close early or on certain days, so check hours before you go. Other Ukrainian restaurants and delis sit in neighbourhoods such as Corydon and Transcona.
Can I buy frozen perogies in Winnipeg and cook them at home?
Yes. Winnipeg delis often sell frozen perogies by the dozen. Boil them in salted water until they float, drain them and fry them in butter with onions until golden, then serve with sour cream. Fresh perogies should be cooked within a few days of purchase.
What is the best way to keep track of perogy places I want to try in Winnipeg?
Mosey is a food app where you rate places by the dish, keep lists and share them with friends. For Winnipeg perogies, make a list of the delis and cafes you want to try, invite friends to add theirs, rate each plate by the dish and tag the filling. Following friends shows what they rate, which helps at a second visit.