After a series of scandals and closures, the Ukrainian cuisine restaurant Bitanga has reopened its doors to guests. The establishment now operates at a single location in Kazakhstan — in the Dostyk Plaza shopping and entertainment center, reports infohub.kz.
The new branch occupies two floors and offers guests two summer terraces. The menu retains familiar Ukrainian dishes, but with a modern twist. The restaurant is open daily from 10:00 AM to midnight. If the new venue proves as popular as the first restaurant, it's wise to book tables in advance.
Bitanga drew attention not only for its dishes and word-of-mouth but also for several high-profile conflicts. In April 2025, the establishment, like other restaurants on Panfilov Street pedestrian area, closed for several days. The restaurant's founder, Yermek Smailov, explained that the ground-floor landlord failed to fulfill promises to residents of the building housing the venues. After a wave of complaints, the businesses had their electricity and water cut off.
Two months later, after obtaining consent from two-thirds of the residents, the restaurant resumed operations on June 3, 2025. However, it eventually closed again, as did a separate delivery point in Almaty. In August, a branch opened in the capital's Mega Silk Way shopping center but ceased operations less than a year later.
After the closure of the capital's branch, a new scandal erupted: former employees began posting messages on the social network Threads about unpaid wages. According to them, more than 20 workers were left without money, and the total debt in Astana alone amounts to about 19 million tenge. One account shows correspondence with a chef who promised payments after the opening at Dostyk Plaza, but employees ultimately went without salaries for three months.
The Bitanga Dostyk Plaza team published an official statement explaining that the venue is not affiliated with the activities of previous branches. The current owner acquired the business before the opening at Dostyk Plaza, and Smailov sold his stake. The statement emphasizes that the new owner does not endorse the mistakes and decisions of Yermek Smailov and cannot be held responsible for his labor and financial obligations.
The restaurant's founder, Yermek Smailov, commented on the situation, noting that financial problems began after the opening of the restaurant in Astana. The venue proved unprofitable due to an unfortunate location, and soon the Almaty restaurant also closed. "Unfortunately, our group could not withstand such a double blow. Cash flow gaps meant that at the time of closure, we were unable to settle wage debts. I am deeply pained and saddened by this situation; we carefully built this project for over five years and came to such a sad end," the restaurateur said.
Despite criticism on social media, such stories rarely affect the operations of establishments. On Threads, brands are "canceled" and boycotted daily, but forgotten within a couple of days. Meanwhile, the issue of unpaid wages should be resolved within the legal framework. The restaurant still serves what locals consider the best chicken Kyiv, craft dumplings, borscht, and homemade-style liqueurs. The taste remains unaffected by yet another wave of cancellations.