Khabarovsk has a surprisingly varied eating scene for a remote city. The riverside location means fresh Amur fish — crucian carp, pike perch, taimen — features heavily on menus, and the proximity to China and Japan has influenced local cuisine in ways not found further west.
Ulitsa Muravyova-Amurskogo and the streets around it have the most restaurant choices: Russian staples (borscht, pelmeni, bliny), sushi and Japanese-influenced dishes (more common here than anywhere else in Russia except Vladivostok), and a handful of Korean restaurants serving the Koryo-saram community. Korean food — in particular Korean barbecue and cold noodles — is authentic and well worth seeking out.
For budget eating, the city's market on Lenina Street has food stalls and a canteen selling traditional Russian cafeteria food cheaply. Fresh bread, smoked fish, and local honey are good things to buy and eat in the room.