Where to Eat in Uzbekistan & Kazakhstan: Restaurants We Actually Tried

When we travelled through Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, I wasn’t setting out to create a restaurant guide.

We were simply hungry.

Sometimes we were looking for somewhere special. Sometimes we followed a recommendation. Sometimes we wandered into somewhere because it looked good. And sometimes, after walking around all day, we were so exhausted that we ordered food to our hotel and called it a night.

Which, honestly, is probably a much more realistic way to experience restaurants in Central Asia.

Check out what to eat while in Central Asia. 

During our trip, we ate at rooftop restaurants in ancient cities, tiny local eateries, hotel restaurants, Turkish restaurants, food courts, markets, and places we discovered completely by accident.

Some meals were genuinely fantastic. Some were just okay. And one restaurant in Bukhara gave us an experience I absolutely would not repeat.

So if you’re wondering where to eat in Uzbekistan, where to eat in Kazakhstan, which restaurants are worth trying in Khiva, Samarkand, Bukhara, Tashkent and Almaty, and what I actually ordered, this is my very personal Central Asia restaurant guide.

Quick Guide: Where to Eat in Uzbekistan & Kazakhstan

If you only have time to choose five places from this list, I’d start with Cafe Bobur in Samarkand for shashlik and shurpa, Mirzaboshi in Khiva for Shivit Oshi, Terrassa in Khiva for rooftop dining and sunset views, Aladdin’s Lamp in Bukhara for the combination of food and atmosphere, and Degirmen near Green Bazaar in Almaty for a simple, ridiculously cheap local meal.

They were completely different experiences, but together they give you a pretty good taste of the food, atmosphere, and variety we found while travelling through Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.

If you just want the short version, here are the places and food experiences that stood out to us.

And if I had to narrow it down even further, my standout food experiences were the shurpa and shashlik at Cafe Bobur, samsa in Khiva, Shivit Oshi at Mirzaboshi and, unsurprisingly, a lot of the Turkish food we found along the way.

What to Eat in Uzbekistan & Kazakhstan

The food deserves an entire guide of its own, which is exactly why I’ve written one.

During our trip, we tried everything from Shivit Oshi, shashlik, and shurpa to samsa, Khanum, manti, and mountains of fresh bread. Some dishes were completely new to me, while others quickly became things I started actively looking for on menus.

If you’re trying to work out what all these dishes are, which traditional foods you shouldn’t miss, and what I thought was actually worth ordering, head over to my Central Asia Food Guide: What to Eat in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan.

For this guide, I’m sticking to where we actually ate.

Where to Eat in Khiva, Uzbekistan

Khiva was one of my favourite places to eat because so many of our meals came with a side of atmosphere.

You’re eating inside or around the ancient walled city, surrounded by historic buildings, minarets, and those gorgeous old mud-brick streets.

And then there was the food.

Mirzaboshi: Shivit Oshi and Live Music in Khiva

If you’re wondering where to eat in Khiva, Mirzaboshi is one of the places I’d put on your list.

What we ordered: Shivit Oshi and shishlik
Price: Reasonably priced compared with some of the more tourist-focused restaurants we visited
Best for: Traditional Khiva food with atmosphere
Would we return? Absolutely

We went for lunch, and I ordered the famous Shivit Oshi, those brilliant green dill noodles that Khiva is known for.

I loved it.

Ahmet ordered shishlik, and we both enjoyed the meal. The service was friendly, there was live music, and the whole experience just felt very Khiva.

For me, this was one of those meals where the food, location, and atmosphere all worked together.

If you’re visiting Khiva and want to try Shivit Oshi, this is a place I’d happily return to.

Terrassa Cafe & Restaurant: Rooftop Dining in Khiva

Terrassa was a completely different experience.

What we ordered: Uzbekistan tasting plate
Price: More expensive than many of our local meals, but worth it for the setting
Best for: Rooftop views, sunset, and atmosphere
Would we return? Yes, particularly for sunset

We went in the evening and had one of those meals where you want to stay longer because the atmosphere is half the reason you’re there.

We ordered an Uzbekistan tasting plate, and there were dancers and singers creating a really fun atmosphere.

The rooftop setting is gorgeous, and my biggest tip would be to go before sunset.

That way you get to see Khiva in daylight, watch the sunset, and then see the old city lit up at night.

It was a little more expensive than some of the other places we ate, but for the setting and experience, I thought it was worth doing.

Restaurant Tandiriy: The Turkish Music Surprise

This was one of those completely random travel moments that you can’t plan.

What we ordered: Strawberry mojito and other mocktails
Best for: Live music and a spontaneous night out
Would we return? Yes, and next time I’d actually eat there

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Ahmet and I were walking back after dinner when we heard Turkish music.

Naturally, Ahmet recognised it immediately.

We followed the music and discovered Restaurant Tandiriy, just outside the old city.

There was a Turkish singer performing, and he was fantastic.

There was no alcohol, but they had some seriously good mocktails. I had a strawberry mojito, and we ended up staying for several drinks, listening to the music.

We hadn’t planned to go there.

We hadn’t planned to stay.

And I really wished we’d actually eaten there because the atmosphere was so good.

Sometimes the best travel nights are the ones you never planned.

Where to Eat in Samarkand, Uzbekistan

Samarkand was another city where we ate well, although our approach was very much based on where we happened to be and how hungry we were.

Cafe Bobur: Shashlik, Shurpa and Fresh Bread

Cafe Bobur was one of our standout meals in Samarkand.

What we ordered: Shashlik, grilled vegetables, potatoes, fresh bread, and shurpa
Price: Excellent value. One substantial meal for two cost under $30
Best for: Shashlik, traditional food and value
Would we return? We already did

We originally wanted to find some street food around the bazaar, but couldn’t quite find what we were looking for.

So we ended up here.

We went for the shashlik, and it was fantastic.

The meat came with raw onions and parsley, and those onions were somehow so delicious that I kept eating them.

We also had grilled vegetables, potatoes, fresh bread, and a meat and vegetable stew that the staff recommended.

I’m pretty sure it was shurpa, and whatever it was, I loved it.

It was a clear, hearty broth with meat and vegetables, and after all the heavier meals we’d been eating, it was exactly what I wanted.

The fresh bread was also fantastic.

We liked Cafe Bobur so much that we went back a second time.

One meal included four drinks, around six sticks of meat, vegetables, the stew, and bread, and came in at under $30.

That’s pretty hard to complain about.

If you’re searching for where to eat in Samarkand, Cafe Bobur would be high on my personal list.

The Exhausted Traveller’s Dinner

One night in Samarkand, we were absolutely exhausted.

So instead of going out, we ordered Yandex food delivery from a Turkish restaurant.

We had çorba, and it was delicious.

The bread was stale, though, so I’m not going to name the restaurant and send you there based on one tired-night delivery.

But it does highlight something I really loved about travelling through Central Asia. YandexGo and the fact that there was no need to eat the same cuisine every day.

If we wanted Uzbek food, we could have Uzbek food.

If we wanted Turkish food, we could find Turkish food.

And after weeks of travel, sometimes you just want a bowl of familiar soup delivered to your hotel.

Where to Eat in Bukhara, Uzbekistan

Bukhara had some lovely dining experiences, but it also gave us one of the most disappointing restaurant experiences of the entire trip.

So this section comes with a little more honesty.

Aladdin’s Lamp: Live Music and Good Food in Bukhara

Aladdin’s Lamp was one of my favourite places to eat in Bukhara.

What we ordered: Shashlik with sides
Price: Better value than Minora
Best for: Dinner, live music and a relaxed atmosphere
Would we return? Yes

There was live music, comfortable couches, and a really lovely atmosphere.

The food was also good without feeling ridiculously expensive.

We had shashlik, and unlike some of the other places, it came with sides, which I appreciated.

For me, this was a much better overall dinner experience than Minora.

Minora Rooftop: Go for the View

Minora was lovely.

But I wouldn’t necessarily choose it for the food.

What we ordered: Shashlik
Price: Expensive compared with many of our other meals
Best for: Rooftop views
Would we return? For a drink and the view, yes. For dinner, probably not

The big draw is the rooftop view.

 

We had shashlik, but it was sold by the individual stick and didn’t come with sides. It was also considerably more expensive than some of the other places we’d eaten.

So my advice?

Go to Minora for a drink and the view.

If you want a proper dinner with better value, I’d choose somewhere like Aladdin’s Lamp instead.

Old House: The Restaurant I Would Skip in Bukhara

This is where I’m going to be very honest.

What we ordered: Bread, salad, and beef for our meal
Price: One of the most expensive meals of our trip
Best for: Based on our experience, I wouldn’t recommend it
Would we return? No

We originally wanted to eat at Joy Gastro, because we’d heard it was very good.

Unfortunately, it was fully booked.

So we walked a little further and ended up at Old House.

The restaurant itself had a gorgeous little garden area. Unfortunately, we couldn’t sit outside and had to eat inside, which made the whole experience considerably less atmospheric.

The food was mixed.

The bread was dry.

My fried eggplant salad was AMAZING.

The beef, however, was tough as nails.

But the biggest issue wasn’t even the food.

When we got back to our accommodation and checked the bill properly, we realised we’d been charged for substantially more food than we’d actually eaten.

It ended up being one of the most expensive meals of our trip, and we absolutely had not ordered everything we’d been charged for.

That left a really sour taste in our mouths.

So while I normally try to give restaurants a fair bit of grace when travelling, I would not recommend Old House in Bukhara based on our experience.

And that’s exactly why I think honest travel food guides matter.

Not every restaurant you visit is going to be amazing.

Where to Eat in Tashkent, Uzbekistan

We didn’t have a huge amount of time in Tashkent, so our food experiences were a mixture of markets, hotel dining, shopping centres, and Turkish food.

Chorsu Bazaar: Khanum, Cherry Juice and Fresh Bread

If you’re looking for where to eat in Tashkent, Chorsu Bazaar should absolutely be part of the experience.

What we tried: Khanum, fresh bread and cherry juice
Price: Great for inexpensive local food
Best for: Trying local food while exploring one of Tashkent’s most famous markets
Would we return? Yes

We wandered through the bazaar and tried Khanum, which had already become one of my favourite Uzbek foods.

We also had fresh bread and cherry juice.

Chorsu isn’t really about sitting down to a fancy restaurant.

It’s about wandering, looking at what people are eating, seeing the produce and trying things as you go.

And that’s exactly what we did.

Farovon Tashkent: Excellent Hotel Dining

We stayed at Farovon Tashkent, and the food was genuinely impressive.

What we ate: Breakfast, steak and a range of lunch dishes
Best for: A Tashkent hotel where the food is genuinely worth staying in for
Would we return? Yes

The breakfast was incredible.

Lunch was also excellent.

We ate steak and a whole range of other dishes, and everything was delicious.

Sometimes hotel restaurants are the meal you eat because you’re too tired to go somewhere else.

This was not one of those situations.

I’d happily recommend Farovon if you’re looking for a hotel in Tashkent where the food is actually worth talking about.

Hamdizade: Turkish Sweets

On our final day in Tashkent, we went to a shopping mall and found Hamdizade, a Turkish sweets spot.

And yes, we had multiple desserts.

Because obviously.

The sweets were delicious, and it was another reminder of just how easy it was to find Turkish food throughout this part of the world.

Sheikh Qassob Turkish Restaurant: Turkish Döner

We also found Sheikh Qassob Turkish Restaurant in the mall and grabbed Turkish döner.

It was inexpensive, filling, and exactly what we wanted.

If you’ve been travelling for days and suddenly realise you desperately want a döner, Central Asia has you covered.

One of Those Beautiful Travel Moments

This was actually one of my favourite moments in Tashkent, and it had nothing to do with a restaurant.

At the food court, three boys who looked around 13 were sitting nearby eating pizza.

I said to Ahmet, “Oh, I’d really love a pizza right now.”

One of the boys spoke English and heard me.

He offered Ahmet a slice.

I was off getting our kebabs at the time, so Ahmet messaged me to tell me what had happened.

The boys were looking for money for drinks. They had paper cups and seemed to be sharing one drink between them.

So when I got back, I bought them all a Coke.

They were absolutely delighted.

And then they offered me another slice of their pizza.

Those are the moments I love about travel.

Not the fancy restaurants.

Not the Instagram photos.

Just a random interaction with strangers that you remember years later.

Where to Eat in Almaty, Kazakhstan

Almaty was a completely different food experience again.

We were there partly for TBEX, so quite a few of our meals were conference-related, but we also made time for markets, Turkish food, coffee and some very cheap local eats.

Green Bazaar: Fresh Produce and Local Food

The Green Bazaar was one of my favourite food stops in Almaty.

The produce was colourful, fresh and abundant.

Ahmet became particularly obsessed with the tomatoes.

He kept talking about how juicy and sweet the red tomatoes were.

The cucumbers were crisp, the fruit was fantastic and we ended up buying far more than we probably needed.

After so many heavy meat-based meals, the fresh fruit and vegetables were a very welcome change.

Degirmen: Cheap Eats Near Green Bazaar

We wanted to eat at the Green Bazaar itself, but the little food stalls weren’t quite what we’d imagined.

Just outside, though, there were a bunch of tiny eateries.

We ended up at Degirmen.

What we ordered: Kebabs, ayran and other inexpensive local food
Price: Around $7 for two people
Best for: Cheap, simple food near Green Bazaar
Would we return? Yes

There were kebabs and other inexpensive local foods.

Ahmet had ayran, and we both ate very well.

The whole meal came to around $7 for the two of us.

It was simple, cheap, and exactly the kind of local food experience I enjoy while travelling.

Cicek Magal: Turkish Food in Almaty

We also ate at Cicek Magal, a Turkish restaurant in Almaty.

What we ordered: Meze, sigara börek, manti, and kunafa
Best for: Turkish food and dessert
Would we return? Yes, particularly for the kunafa

There was Turkish food, including meze and sigara börek, and we also had manti.

The manti was very different from the tiny Turkish manti we might eat in Türkiye. It was much more in keeping with the large Central Asian style.

And the kunafa was excellent.

In fact, it was one of the better kunafas I’ve ever had.

For two people who already love Turkish food, this was a very welcome find.

Usta Turkish Restaurant: Excellent Manti and Iskender

We also ate at Usta Turkish Restaurant, also known as Turkish Kafesi, where we had manti, iskender, and salad. The manti was absolutely awesome. It was another great Turkish food find in Almaty and definitely one of the meals that stood out for us.

What we ordered: iskender, manti, salad
Best for: Turkish food
Would we return? Yes, particularly for the manti

Ritz-Carlton Almaty: Our TBEX Dining Base

Because we were attending TBEX, we ate at the Ritz-Carlton Almaty several times.

The opening-night dinner was fantastic.

It was genuinely one of the standout meals we had in Almaty.

The conference lunches were more typical conference food, so they weren’t quite as memorable, but the opening dinner definitely deserves a mention.

ProCoffee: Our Favourite Coffee in Almaty

Now, let’s talk about coffee.

What we ordered: Two lattes, an iced coffee, and two fruit tarts
Price: Around $40 for everything, so definitely not cheap
Best for: The best coffee we found in Almaty
Would we return? Yes

Central Asia is not Australia when it comes to coffee culture.

They have coffee.

They are absolutely developing their coffee scene.

But if you’re an Australian coffee snob, don’t arrive expecting Melbourne-level coffee on every corner.

In Almaty, though, we found ProCoffee.

It was expensive. We paid around $40 for two lattes, an iced coffee, and two fruit tarts.

But it was hands-down the best coffee we had in Almaty.

So yes, expensive.

But also very good.

Starbucks Near the Ritz-Carlton

And then there was Starbucks.

We found one near the Ritz-Carlton and, honestly, it was overpriced, and the coffee was terrible.

There are plenty of other places I’d choose before going back there.

Forum Shopping Centre: An Easy Dinner

One evening we ended up at a shopping centre near the Holiday Inn Express Almaty.

Ahmet wanted fried chicken, so he found a local fried chicken place.

I had manti.

It wasn’t a life-changing meal, but sometimes that’s not what you’re looking for.

Sometimes you just want something easy, inexpensive, and filling after a long day.

And it did exactly that.

Eating Near Lake Kolsai

We also ate at a restaurant near Lake Kolsai.

Like most restaurants serving tourists in spectacular destinations, I wasn’t expecting Michelin-level dining.

But it was actually pretty good.

The servings were enormous, and the food was delicious. The lamb and potatoes were a stand out dish! 

After a long day out exploring, a giant meal was exactly what we needed.

What About Coffee in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan?

If you’re wondering whether you’ll find coffee in Central Asia, the answer is yes.

If you’re wondering whether it will be Australian coffee culture, the answer is absolutely not.

We tried coffee in several places, particularly in Bukhara and Almaty.

Some was perfectly drinkable.

Nothing in Bukhara really made me want to shout from the rooftops about it.

ProCoffee in Almaty was the standout for us.

I think the coffee culture is still developing, and that’s part of the fun of travelling somewhere where tourism is still relatively young.

So if you’re a serious coffee person, adjust your expectations.

And maybe bring a backup plan.

How Much Does It Cost to Eat in Central Asia?

One thing we noticed throughout our trip was just how varied restaurant prices could be.

You could eat very cheaply at local eateries, markets, and small food stalls.

Our Degirmen meal in Almaty was around $7 for two people.

Cafe Bobur in Samarkand was also excellent value, with a substantial meal for two coming in under $30.

Then you could turn around and spend considerably more at a rooftop restaurant or hotel, with our biggest bill around $70 for 3.

So don’t assume Central Asia is automatically expensive or automatically cheap.

Where you eat makes a huge difference.

Is Turkish Food Easy to Find in Central Asia?

Yes.

And this made Ahmet very happy.

We found Turkish food in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, from döner and Turkish sweets to manti, kunafa, and other familiar dishes.

Considering how much we both love Turkish food, it was a nice little comfort blanket when we’d been eating unfamiliar foods for days.

And honestly, some of it was excellent.

Our Favourite Restaurant Experiences in Central Asia

After eating our way through Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, these were the experiences that stayed with me.

Favourite meal: Cafe Bobur in Samarkand

Favourite dish: Shivit Oshi at Mirzaboshi in Khiva

Favourite soup/stew: The shurpa at Cafe Bobur

Favourite cheap meal: Degirmen near the Green Bazaar in Almaty

Favourite rooftop experience: Terrassa in Khiva

Favourite Turkish food: We had several winners, but the kunafa at Cicek Magal in Almaty was exceptional

Favourite coffee: ProCoffee in Almaty

Best food atmosphere: Aladdin’s Lamp in Bukhara

Best unexpected night: Finding Restaurant Tandiriy because we heard Turkish music

Restaurant I would skip: Old House in Bukhara

Hotel Breakfast in Central Asia: An Unexpected Highlight

One thing that really surprised me during our Central Asia trip was how many of our hotels included breakfast.

Even the hotel in Tashkent that cost us only around $39 a night included breakfast, and it was actually pretty good. Across Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, the breakfasts were generally plentiful and varied, with a mix of local and familiar options.

But the standout was definitely Farovon Tashkent.

The breakfast there was incredible. There was a huge selection, everything was fresh and well presented, and it was easily one of the hotel breakfasts that stayed in my memory.

So if you’re booking accommodation in Central Asia, I’d definitely check whether breakfast is included. In our experience, it often was, and it was usually worth getting up for.

Central Asia Restaurant Guide FAQs

Where should I eat in Khiva?

For a traditional Uzbek food experience in Khiva, we loved Mirzaboshi for Shivit Oshi and shishlik. Terrassa is a great choice for rooftop dining, views, and atmosphere, while Restaurant Tandiriy was our unexpected find for Turkish music and mocktails.

Where should I eat in Samarkand?

Cafe Bobur was our standout restaurant in Samarkand. We particularly enjoyed the shashlik, shurpa, fresh bread, and grilled vegetables. We liked it enough to return for a second meal.

Where should I eat in Bukhara?

We enjoyed Aladdin’s Lamp for its food, live music, comfortable setting, and better value. Minora is worth considering for the rooftop views, although we found it expensive. We would not recommend Old House based on our experience.

Where should I eat in Tashkent?

Chorsu Bazaar is a great place to experience local food, including Khanum, fresh bread, and fruit juice. We also had excellent meals at Farovon Tashkent. For Turkish food, Hamdizade and Sheikh Qassob Turkish Restaurant were both worth trying.

Where should I eat in Almaty?

For local food and markets, head to the Green Bazaar area. We had a very cheap meal nearby at Degirmen. For Turkish food, we enjoyed Cicek Magal. For coffee, ProCoffee was our standout.

Is food expensive in Uzbekistan?

It doesn’t have to be. Local restaurants, markets, and small eateries can be very inexpensive, while rooftop restaurants and hotel dining can cost considerably more. Our experience ranged from very cheap local meals to more expensive tourist-oriented restaurants.

Is food expensive in Kazakhstan?

Again, it depends where you eat. Almaty has everything from inexpensive local eateries and market food to higher-end hotel restaurants. We found some excellent cheap meals, particularly around the Green Bazaar.

Is Central Asian food spicy?

Generally, Central Asian food isn’t particularly spicy in the way some Southeast Asian or Indian cuisines can be. You’ll find plenty of herbs, spices, meat, vegetables, noodles and rich flavours, but usually not a huge amount of chilli heat.

Can you find Turkish food in Central Asia?

Yes. We found Turkish restaurants and Turkish food in both Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. For us, this included döner, Turkish sweets, manti, kunafa and other familiar dishes.

Are there English menus in Central Asian restaurants?

Sometimes, particularly in restaurants used to international tourists.

But we also came across places without English menus, particularly smaller local establishments. Google Translate became a very useful travel companion.

Explore With Erin Wrap Up

I didn’t arrive in Central Asia expecting to become obsessed with the food.

I knew about plov.

I knew there would be plenty of meat.

That was about the extent of my preparation.

Instead, I discovered giant dumplings, brilliant green noodles, fantastic shashlik, fresh bread, delicious samsa, unexpected Turkish food, and some genuinely memorable restaurant experiences.

And then there were the meals that weren’t so great.

That’s travel.

You don’t always find a five-star meal. Sometimes you find a tiny local restaurant for $7. Sometimes you find the best shurpa of your life. Sometimes you overpay for a rooftop view. And sometimes you get charged for food you didn’t actually eat.

But that’s exactly why I like writing about where we actually ate rather than pretending every restaurant we visited was amazing.

If you’re heading to Uzbekistan or Kazakhstan, arrive hungry.

Try the local food.

Eat the bread.

Order the shashlik.

Try the Shivit Oshi in Khiva.

And if you see Turkish food on the menu, well…

You already know where Ahmet and I were sitting.