Born and raised in the former Soviet republic of Kazakhstan, Elena DeYoung has been bringing Russian food to the Treasure Valley since 2005. As one of the original founders of the Russian Food Festival, she served her incredible food to thousands of visitors every year. And each year she was asked the same question, “Where is the place where we can eat food like this year round?” And so – in 2019 – the time was right for Elena to open her restaurant!

Alyonka Russia Cuisine is a small but mighty restaurant, serving up comforting classics like beef stroganoff, Russian crepes, and Pelmeni dumplings. Everything in our kitchen is made from scratch – with the highest quality ingredients. Elena is also known for her incredible desserts, from the Honey Cake to the Pavlova. When asked where the inspiration for her dishes came from, Elena says, “Where I grew up, my neighborhood was diverse and multicultural. We had Germans, Armenians, Koreans, Ukrainians, Kazakhs, Uzbeks, Russians, etc. all living next to each other. So the entire menu reflects the diverse heritage of my childhood. Each menu item has a special story with fond memories of my friends and family.”

When you visit Alyonka, you’ll feel right at home among our warm hospitality. Elena and staff love each customer and treat them like family. Elena is often heard saying, “I absolutely love to feed people. It brings me such joy to watch people get happiness from eating my food. When someone tries something new… something they’ve never tried before and loves it? That’s an amazing feeling.”

“Delicious!”

“Fabulous food & flawless service”

“Creative Cuisine”