Piroshky Piroshky started with a simple dream: to bring the flavor of Eastern European baking to the Pacific Northwest. We opened our doors in 1992, and from the very beginning, our pies were a hit.
Blending traditional recipes with local flavor, our selection of piroshky offer a wide array of choices, both savory & sweet and are individually made from scratch then hand-molded into their very own unique shapes
People lined up out the door to get their hands on our piroshky, and soon, we started to catch the attention of food critics and pie-lovers from all over. As word of mouth spread, Piroshky Piroshky has become celebrated worldwide.
In the years since, we’ve expanded our operations to include FREE local delivery, locations throughout the PNW, Catering, Food Trucks, and Events across the USA! We’re proud to have become a beloved staple in so many homes, and we can’t wait to see what the next 30 years have in store for us
For now, let’s take a look back on the first 30 years. Thank you for being part of our journey!
Our Roots
Immigrants have always been a vital part of the fabric of America, and the story of Piroshky Piroshky is a perfect example of the American Dream in action.
Vladimir and Zina Kotelnikov were two immigrants from the Soviet Union in their 40s and 50s working their way through entry-level jobs before Piroshky Piroshky first opened its doors in the Pike Place Market in 1992.
The success of Piroshky Piroshky is a testament to the hard work and determination of its founders, and it stands as an inspiration of the American Dream at its best.
Once upon a time…
Our Estonian roots trace back to a bakery named Tallinn, where Vladimir learned the baking trade from his teacher Masha.
Our Beginning
We first opened our doors on October 24th, 1992 in
Seattle’s famous Pike Place Market, started by the Kotelnikov family, with just
$1,200 to invest in the bakery.
The bakery opening was accomplished with the help of friends and strangers many
of whom were immigrants of Russian descent. a very basic business plan –
(see below) and the dream of bringing a taste of Eastern Europe to the Pacific
Northwest.
Our Values
At Piroshky Piroshky, it is our aim to make the highest quality hand-held pastries from scratch with each pastry hand-molded into one of our unique shapes We have cultivated traditional recipes and integrated them with tastes from all over the world.
We embrace diversity, not only in our pastries, but in everything we do – from the vendors we partner with, to the customers we serve, to the employees that support us, and the communities that we help.
We strive to create a transparent environment with honest work and develop a loyal following of customers. Together we create an organization that has something for all tastes.
Our Pies
By blending traditional recipes with local flavor, our selection of piroshky grew to offer a wide array of choices both savory and sweet.
With this simple recipe for success, out of a tiny little bakery and humble beginnings, our oven’s aroma quickly created long lines.
Each of our 32 different piroshky is made fresh by hand every day. From our Smoked Salmon Pate to our Uli’s Jalapeño Cheddar Sausage, from Apple Cinnamon Rolls to Cinnamon Cardamom Braids, every Piroshky we make follows thirty years of tradition.
While a lot has changed since 1992, what hasn’t is our piroshky are still individually made from scratch and hand-molded into their very own unique shapes for you.
Our Bakery
When you’re stopping by Piroshky Piroshky bakery, you can rest assured that you are getting the tastiest piroshky around! After all, we have been serving our original recipes since 1992. Over time, we’ve grown from being a local favorite to a worldwide tourist destination. We’re celebrated among notable Chefs and hungry people alike.
Along the way, we’ve been voted one of “The 20 Most Iconic Food Destinations Across America” by the Smithsonian, and have been featured on several “Best Of” lists for Seattle and the USA as well as features on The Food Network & Travel Channel.
Visitors have included politicians and celebrities. We’ve been interviewed by NPR, Wired, Bake Magazine, NY Times, Washington Post, CNN, Eater, and Fox News just to name a few. Many guests mention that they saw us when we were featured on No Reservations with Anthony Bourdain, The Zimmern List with Andrew Zimmern, America’s Test Kitchen, or Washington Grown.
Our Local Partners
Including a PNW twist in our pies means we’re committed to supporting local businesses and incorporating local flavors into our traditional piroshky.
Many of our piroshky contain seasonings from Market Spice, a world-famous purveyor located in the Pike Place Market for over 100 years! When you’re biting into our Jalapeno Cheese Sausage or Chicken, Curry & Rice piroshky – you will taste the house-blended and handcrafted Uli’s Famous Sausage.
Our best-selling Beef and Cheese piroshky has award-winning, naturally-aged cheddar from Tillamook Cheese and fresh beef from Mondo & Son’s meatpacking. This fourth-generation family-owned butcher shop uses locally sourced and sustainable proteins. Our Spinach, Ham & Cheese Piroshky contains their small-batch artisanal ham.
Whether it is Field Roast, Uli’s Famous Sausage, Tillamook Cheddar, Market Spice, or Mondo & Sons we work together to support and promote other Seattle & Northwest economies.
Learn more about how Piroshky Piroshky works with Small Businesses
Our Ingredients
Piroshky Piroshky shows support for American-made products by purchasing them whenever we can to help create jobs and boost our economy.
In addition to our local partners, we utilize goods that are manufactured right here in the United States whenever possible. From our iconic piroshky to the ingredients that go into them, many of the things we love are made right here at home. 🇺🇸
U.S. Made Items:
- Beef & Ham – Tukwila, WA
- Jalapeno Cheddar Sausage & Chicken Curry Sausage – Seattle, WA
- Cheese – Tillamook, OR
- Seasoning – Seattle, WA
- Chipotle Field Roast Crumble – Seattle, WA
- Salsa – Sumner, WA
- Granny Smith Apples – Yakima, WA
- Spinach & Cilantro – Silinas, CA
- Sweet Cream Butter – Rosemont, IL
- Garlic & Ginger – Gilroy, CA
- Sugar – Boise, ID
- Tomato Paste – Chicago, IL
- White Wine Vinegar – Rancho Cucamonga, CA
- Syrup – Clearwater, FL, San Leandro, CA & Seattle, WA
- Bacon – Houston, TX
- Eggs – Minnetonka, MN
- Black Beans – Knoxville, TN
- Lemon Juice – Huntington Beach, CA
- Chocolate Fillings – Jackson, MI
- Puff Pastry – Rosemont, IL
- Hashbrowns – Houston, TX
- Flour – Chattanooga, TN
- Raisins – Fresno, CA
- Impossible Beef – Redwood City, CA
Our Experiences
A company can’t grow unless its people grow, too. That’s why we empower our team members to do their best work, develop lifelong skills, and have some fun along the way!
“I started in 2005 at Pike Place Market. One day of work entailed a full shift with both owners, Olga cashiering at my side and Oliver in the corner baking away. I never imagined we would grow to the extent that we did.”
– Bryan
“I have great coworkers and customers from all walks of life that make my job an interesting place to work. People from all over the U.S. and the world work and eat at Piroshky Piroshky, so I’m often learning something new every shift.”
– Jesse
“One of my favorite Piroshky memories is probably when Usher tried to cut my line and I told him no!”
– Maryam
“When little kids are up against the outside window, I like to toss a little flour at the glass where their faces are. They usually flinch and then laugh. A few times it has resulted in some tears, but it was never something a puff stick couldn’t remedy.”
Josh
“One evening as we were getting ready to close a large group of sailors came in dressed in uniform, and just about wiped us out of piroshkies. They were so excited and many knew who we were even though they were not from Seattle. It was amazing.”
-Jamie
“We get a lot of tourists passing through to the observation deck from all parts of the world. They always tell me that there needs to be a Piroshky in their town!”
– Beverly
Our Logo
Over the years our logo has changed quite a bit. Luckily, our piroshky have remained the same.
Our Mascot
Say Hello to the Piroshky Piroshky ‘mascot’, Phinn the Salmon Piroshky.
Always ready for adventure on the go, they are the perfect mealtime companion, and on a cold day a great way to keep your hands warm!
Here are some tasty tidbits about this flaky savory little pie of salmon.
Also Known As:
- English Name: Salmon Piroshky (Sam-Un Pee-roash-KEE)
- Russian Name: Пирожки с лососем (Pee-roash-kee s lo-sos-em)
- Chinese Name (simplified): 三文鱼皮罗什基 (Sānwènyú pí luō shén jī)
- Chinese Name (traditional): 三文魚皮羅什基 (Sānwènyú pí luó shén jī)
- Spanish Name: Piroshky de Salmón (Pee-roash-KEE Day Sal-Mon)
- Korean Name: 연어 피로시키 (Yeon-eo Pee-roash-KEE)
- Portuguese Name: Salmão de Piroshki (Pee-roash-Kee day Sal-Moh)
- Ukrainian Name: Пиріжки з Лососем (Py-reezh-kyy z lo-so-sem)
Our Planet
There are many ways we work a difference, from reducing energy consumption to recycling and composting. Piroshky Piroshky works diligently to do our part in preserving our environment for future generations.
- We reduce our emissions by utilizing a digital store presence, hosting virtual meetings, and collaborating with local partners.
- Our kitchen is virtually waste-less as items are made to order. Any remaining materials are composted or recycled. Currently, our garbage is under 10% of our total waste!
- When you visit our stores, you’ll be handed your piroshky in a biodegradable paper bag. This minimal packaging is all you need to enjoy your Piroshky for now or to save for later, no utensils or plates are needed!
- For our shipped products, we send our chilled products with reusable ice packs and use Ingeo biopolymers in our packaging. Ingeo is made from starchy plants like corn and is grown right here in the United States. The starch from corn kernels has the added benefit of being compostable when it is finished being used.
Our Guests
We can give you lots of reasons that people enjoy our pies, but don’t just take our word for it! As passionate as we are about bringing you the best piroshky possible, we are proud to have such a loyal & passionate customer base to spread the word.
Thanks to you, we’re the #1 rated bakery in Seattle on Yelp and accolades on Google reviews & Facebook. Our customers are our Brand Ambassadors sharing #pirsohkylove. If you’ve not tried Piroshky Piroshky, give us a try and we think you’ll agree.
Bonus Facts:
- Piroshky Piroshky owns a trademark on the shape of our Smoked Salmon Pâté Piroshky. Only a few other companies, who were producing salmon piroshky of a similar shape before we secured the trademark, are allowed to duplicate our pattern.
- Piroshky found its way to America with the surge in immigration among Russian Jews escaping religious persecution in the late nineteenth century.
- The phrase on the back of our t-shirts (вот такие пироги) is pronounced “vote teh-KEE-yeh pyer-oh-GHEE” and translates as “These are the pies.” The phrase is colloquial; if declared confidently, it conveys strong confidence in the quality of our product.
- Although potatoes make a satisfying filling for piroshky today, potatoes were not commonplace in Russia until the mid-nineteenth century. Before that, turnips and rutabagas were the primary root vegetables.
