McDonald’s first Soviet restaurant, opened in 1990, was located in Moscow.
The restaurant opened on January 31, 1990, at Pushkin Square. It became a major branding event because McDonald’s entered the Soviet Union near the end of the Cold War, making the familiar golden arches visible in a landmark new market.
The opening required extensive preparation, including local sourcing and supply arrangements designed to meet McDonald’s standards. Thousands of customers reportedly attended, turning the launch into a widely reported public spectacle.
Moscow is the correct city, not a broader label such as Russia or the Soviet Union. The restaurant opened before the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, which is why historical accounts describe it as the first McDonald’s in the Soviet Union.