What Soviet-era street food has held its own against multi-national opposition?

Should you have visited Russia during the Soviet-era, you may have noticed that "street food" as we know it in the west was few and far between in Moscow, Leningrad and other cities. What you may have seen were kiosks selling "pyshki". These round doughnut-type balls are deep-fried then covered in granulated sugar. A piece of greaseproof paper was rolled into a cone, the pyshki dropped into the cone, sugar sprinkled liberally on top and the paper folded over to keep them warm.

The Pyshechnaya Cafe in Saint Petersburg (formerly Leningrad) has been serving pyshki for over 50 years using the same recipe since opening in 1958. The dough itself is not sweet. The sweetness comes from the dusting of sugar.

The fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 and the arrival of Krispy Kreme Doughnuts has in no way diminished local appetites for pyshki. Pyshechnaya Cafe is a busy cafe only serving pyshki with tea or coffee. Not too expensive one pyshki costs 70-90₽ (US$1-US$1.45).