Donuts have a long history in Russia, and were one of the few fast-food offerings available in the Soviet Union. A combination of nostalgia and the current fashion for all types of street food has brought donuts back into the spotlight, and there are now plenty of outlets in the city where you can enjoy this sticky snack.
The word for donut in Russian is ponchik - except in St. Petersburg, where they are referred to as pyshki. It's one of the minor linguistic differences that delight locals and fuel the (mostly) friendly rivalry between Russia's current and former capitals. The classic pyshka is a simple ring of deep-fried dough dusted with sugar, and it's this type of donut that played a key part in the childhood of anyone over 35 in Russia. The traditional pyshechnye ("donut shops") serving this type of donut are usually easily recognized as they follow the Soviet command economy trend of no branding or signage except the type of establishment or wares on offer - pyshki or pyshecnye - above the door. Alongside these nostalgia-rich outlets, there are also chains and individual shops offering Western-style donuts with fillings and frostings of all varieties.
