nomadr
Go Back

Food & Dining in Tashkent

Good to know

Good to Know

  • Tashkent's food heritage blends Central Asian, Persian, Russian, Chinese, and Mediterranean influences from centuries on the Silk Road.
  • Plov is available in over 200 varieties in Tashkent—UNESCO recognizes it as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
  • Best street food and traditional meals are found near Chorsu Bazaar and Kukeldash Madrasah in the old city; arrive early (7–10 am) for hot, fresh samsa and non.
  • Tea is offered as a sign of respect in traditional settings; accepting it is courteous and reflects respect for local customs.
  • Modern restaurants have European service standards and English menus available at upscale establishments.
  • Later dining hours are common in modern restaurants; reservations recommended for popular spots on Friday and Saturday.
  • The best plov is typically served during lunch hours (11 am–3 pm); many plov centers close by 1 pm.
  • Vegetarian dining is feasible in Tashkent but becomes significantly more limited outside the capital city.

Supermarkets

  • Korzinka
    Neighborhood
    Multiple locations across Tashkent
    Description
    Major supermarket chain with over 250 stores across Uzbekistan. Wide selection of food and household goods, cashback up to 5%, discounts and promotions.
  • Makro
    Neighborhood
    Multiple locations across Tashkent
    Description
    Uzbekistan's largest food retailer by store count with 108 stores. Commands 20% of market share in Tashkent.

Budget

  • Besh Qozon (Plov Center)
    Price Range
    UZS 20,000
    Neighborhood
    City Center (Beruni Street area)
    Cuisine Or Dish
    Uzbek plov (multiple varieties)
  • Chorsu Bazaar Food Hall
    Price Range
    UZS 22,500
    Neighborhood
    Old City (Chorsu Bazaar)
    Cuisine Or Dish
    Lagman noodles, grilled kebabs, traditional street food
  • Sim Sim
    Price Range
    UZS 30,000
    Neighborhood
    City Center (Sayilgoh Street)
    Cuisine Or Dish
    Samsa (baked dumplings), fresh non bread
  • BESH Café
    Price Range
    UZS 32,500
    Neighborhood
    Multiple locations (Amir Temur and Shakhrisabz streets)
    Cuisine Or Dish
    Kebabs, salads, sandwiches

High End

  • Khiva Restaurant
    Price Range
    UZS 180,000
    Neighborhood
    Hyatt Regency area (City Center)
    Cuisine Or Dish
    Upscale Uzbek and international cuisine with tandir bread and plov
  • Plov Lounge
    Price Range
    UZS 160,000
    Neighborhood
    Navruz Park area (City Center)
    Cuisine Or Dish
    Fine dining Uzbek cuisine (Chaykhansky plov, manti, duck)

Mid Range

  • Afsona
    Price Range
    UZS 70,000
    Neighborhood
    City Center (Taras Shevchenko Street)
    Cuisine Or Dish
    Contemporary Uzbek cuisine (plov, samsa, manti, shashlik)
  • Caravan
    Price Range
    UZS 60,000
    Neighborhood
    City Center
    Cuisine Or Dish
    Traditional Uzbek and international cuisine
  • Bon!
    Price Range
    UZS 95,000
    Neighborhood
    Multiple locations (Furqat Street, Shota Rustaveli)
    Cuisine Or Dish
    French-influenced coffee and pastries, European and Central Asian mains
  • National Food
    Price Range
    UZS 65,000
    Neighborhood
    City Center
    Cuisine Or Dish
    Uzbek specialty dishes (lagman, dolma, dimlama, beshbarmak)

Delivery Services

  • Yandex Food
    Notes
    Popular delivery app used by residents, delivery typically arrives within 30 minutes.
  • Uber Eats
    Notes
    International delivery service available in Tashkent.

Local Must Try Dishes

  • Plov (Osh)
    Description
    Rice dish with lamb or chicken, carrots, chickpeas, and spices. Tashkent plov is distinctive for its yellow color and abundance of carrots compared to other regional varieties.
  • Manti
    Description
    Steamed dumplings stuffed with meat or vegetables, served with cream sauce. A Silk Road staple highly popular in Tashkent.
  • Lagman
    Description
    Hand-pulled noodles with meat and vegetable sauce, a hearty Central Asian specialty.
  • Samsa
    Description
    Flaky layered pastry with minced meat, onion and cumin filling, baked in a tandoor oven. Best found hot and fresh near Chorsu Bazaar early morning.
  • Shashlik
    Description
    Skewered and grilled cubes of lamb or meat, served with pickled onion and fresh flatbread. Besh-Agach market is renowned for quality shashlik.
  • Non
    Description
    Round tandoor bread with stamped center pattern. A staple at every meal, costs 3,000–6,000 UZS.
  • Dolma
    Description
    Vegetables (peppers, tomatoes, eggplants) filled with minced meat and spices; often served in broth (Dolma Shurpa).
  • Dimlama
    Description
    Stew of meat, potatoes, onions, carrots and vegetables, with Turkic origins.

Vegan Vegetarian Dining

Overview
Tashkent is the most vegetarian-friendly city in Uzbekistan. A dedicated fully vegetarian restaurant exists, alongside multiple mid-range options with substantial vegan/vegetarian menus. Traditional Uzbek vegetarian dishes are somewhat limited, so international cuisine options are valuable for plant-based diets.

Venues

  • Eco Cafe
    Neighborhood
    City Center (Eco Art Hotel area)
    Description
    Only fully vegetarian and vegan restaurant in Tashkent and possibly Uzbekistan. Located in basement of Eco Art Boutique Hotel. Offers vegan bowls, vegan breakfasts, vegetable soups, hummus, avocado rolls, and rotating specials. Features vegan versions of traditional Uzbek dishes like plov with dried fruits. Hosts live music, meet-ups, and yoga events.
  • Cafe 1991
    Neighborhood
    City Center
    Description
    Upscale dining with separate vegetarian menu where majority of dishes are also vegan. Offers Uzbek and Lebanese cuisine. English-speaking staff. Open until 1 am.
  • Afsona
    Neighborhood
    City Center (Taras Shevchenko Street)
    Description
    Contemporary Uzbek cuisine adapted to European taste. Offers many authentic Uzbek dishes with vegan twist including fruit plov and spinach khanum. Vegetarian options include potato samsa, samsa with cheese and spinach, manti with pumpkin (seasonal), vegetable khanum, and vegetable shashlik.

Non Local International Cuisine

  • Chinese
    Description
    Multiple Chinese restaurants and fusion spots available, including MYBOX near Yunusobod Park offering Korean-Uzbek fusion.
  • Italian
    Description
    Italian restaurants including pasta and pizza options widely available in modern establishments.
  • Japanese
    Description
    Japanese and pan-Asian restaurants such as Hori (located by Amir Timur square) and Yapona Mama available.
  • Lebanese
    Description
    Lebanese cuisine available, notably at Cafe 1991 which also features Uzbek dishes with vegetarian menu.
  • Indian
    Description
    Indian restaurants including The Curry House and The Host offer vegetarian options including palak paneer and vegetable curries.
  • Russian and Soviet
    Description
    Soviet-style cafeterias still operate, serving dressed salads, pelmeni, and other traditional Russian fare.

Dietary Notes

Meat Free Phrase
Use phrase on phone: 'Men go'shtni yemasam bo'ladimi?' (Can I have this without meat?). Staff may improvise creative options.
Vegetarian Request
Ask explicitly for vegetarian dishes. Dimlama (vegetable stew) and salad plates can be adapted. Mirabad cafés label vegetarian dishes clearly.

Halal Accommodations

Status
Halal is standard in Tashkent. Most meat preparations are halal. Pork is rare. The majority of restaurants serve halal-prepared meat.

Michelin Restaurants

Note
No Michelin-starred restaurants in Tashkent. Uzbekistan does not have a Michelin Guide.
AI-generated estimateData refreshed September 2026

Sources cited for this category

These are the sources cited in this food & dining research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.

  1. 1.eva-darling.com
  2. 2.wanderlog.com
  3. 3.advantour.com
  4. 4.tourcentralasia.com
  5. 5.thingstodointashkent.com
  6. 6.milehacker.com
  7. 7.eurasia.travel
  8. 8.backpackadventures.org
  9. 9.melaniemay.com
  10. 10.hostella.uz
  11. 11.restaurantguru.com
  12. 12.happycow.net
  13. 13.epicureandculture.com
  14. 14.explorewithecokats.com
  15. 15.tourcentralasia.com
  16. 16.advantour.com
  17. 17.laurassuitcase.com
  18. 18.wise.com
  19. 19.riamoneytransfer.com
  20. 20.korzinka.uz
  21. 21.en.wikipedia.org

More About Tashkent

Data last updated September 2026 · Verify anything important.