Bishkek
The full range of Central Asian favourites is on offer here but the real standout is the selection of 20 different varieties of laghman, including several…
Must-see restaurants in Central Asia
Almaty
Cheerful Uzbek cheapie near the Green Market, with heaped helpings of manty (steamed dumplings), plov (pilaf), noodle dishes and chorba (stew). Popular…
Kazakhstan
The succulent grilled meats, boat-shaped manty (steamed dumplings), dolma (stuffed peppers), hearty soups and other Armenian dishes have won this…
Samarkand
This low-key traditional place is a great spot for plov (pilaf), chicken kebab or manty (steamed dumplings). There's beer on tap, a fridge full of cold…
Nukus
This self-service restaurant isn't exactly haute cuisine but it's cheap and easy, with good salads, pleasant outdoor seating and no pesky Cyrillic menus…
Kazakhstan
Some of the best shashlyk in town – tender lamb, pork or sturgeon – are grilled up at this place with no sign but recognisable by the trees lining its…
Uzbekistan
This friendly place is worth the detour from the centre of town; its staff are charmingly friendly, there's beer on tap and the menu of grilled meat and…
Nur-Sultan (Astana)
The menu at this friendly Turkish eatery has a series of lamb/chicken/beef kebabs and shashlyk, as well as pide (Turkish pizza), steak and hearty soups…
Khiva
The Malika Kheivak hotel has a pleasant sun-dappled courtyard covered with traditional tapchan and tables. It's a very handy spot for lunch in the Ichon…
Bukhara
It’s known more for its fabulous view of the Mir-i-Arab and Kalon Mosque than for its home-cooked food, but you can still eat passably here, though you…
Bishkek
A little bit boulangerie, patisserie, and cafe, the menu here is limited but authentic French flavours and quality sweets and baked goods on a screened…
Kazakhstan
In front of the market, this popular establishment with swing-like seats suspended from the ceiling is a solid choice if you're looking for some…
Issyk-Köl Oblast
As one might expect from a place called 'the fisherman', seafood is the highlight of the menu as this local favourite. Both the ground floor tables and…
Dushanbe
This fun little venue, designed as an odd combination of stalactite-filled cavern with covered tables and cloth serviettes, provides a cool spot on a hot…
Chimgan & Ugam-Chatkal National Park
This lovely restaurant, just before Charvak village, is a popular stop en route to Chimgan. You can relax on tea-beds surrounded by ancient chinor (plane)…
Tashkent
The comfort food at this diminutive eatery, kitted out like a French country kitchen, is as perfect as the handwriting on the menus – on homemade paper,…
Dushanbe
Local fabrics and piled cushions lend an exotic aura to this trend-setting restaurant, with its intimate booths and hubble-bubble bar. The tablet menus…
Issyk-Köl Oblast
The Cholpon-Ata branch of this popular Bishkek restaurant serves up reliable local dishes and hit-or-miss European favourites. It's also one of the few in…
Nur-Sultan (Astana)
The relaxed cafe at this friendly English bookshop, a bit of an expat hang-out, does a very welcome range of homemade quiches, pies, cheesecakes and…
Bishkek
European classics and Caucasian favourites, with a special focus on the cuisine of Azerbaijan, make this a solid choice in the centre of Bishkek. The…
Bishkek
Genuinely good Georgian food - including some of the best khinkali (Georgian dumplings) in town - complements a fairly standard sports bar theme, but the…
Karakol
Slightly classier than the competition – the modern styling complement an English menu with a wide range of usually reliable options. Sadly the summer…
Bishkek
Authentic Chinese hotpot, down to the yin-yang style split pots filled with fiery red broth. Order the fatty lamb meat for a Kyrgyz touch, or stick with…
Kazakhstan
The vast triangular bar in the centre of this hangar-like space serves sangrias and imaginative cocktails, but the main draw here is the meat. Ribeyes,…
Kyrgyzstan
Beside the highway in the northernmost settlement before the climb towards Bishkek, this 2nd-floor cafe prepares surprisingly good local dishes and has a…
Khiva
The best place for a chaikhana-style meal of freshly grilled kebabs and beer on tap is this laid-back spot just northwest of the Ichan Qala. The giant…
Kyrgyzstan
Open-air seating over the Alamedin river and gorgeous mountain views make this a favoured escape from Bishkek, about half an hour south of town. The small…
Fergana Valley
This popular canteen-style chaikhana, also known as Jahon Chaikhana, tends to close earlier than advertised, but during daylight hours it’s the best…
Bukhara
This large chaikhana in the park opposite the Ark is an ideal place for a cheap and simple meal of Uzbek salads, soups, plov (pilaf) or noodles. There's…
Bishkek
We won't go quite so far as to say it's as good as the New York namesake, but it's certainly tasty pizza. They'll even deliver it to your hotel after a…
Bishkek
A surprisingly wide range of excellent-value Central Asian classics are available 'round the clock at this joint just off the main square. Things get…
Kazakhstan
Teplitsa (Greenhouse) is a stylish update on the old stolovaya (cafeteria) concept. There’s plenty of freshly prepared food to choose from, and it’s hard…
Almaty
This fashionable coffee house with a relaxed atmosphere, fabulous cakes and pastries and good coffees, teas, juices and breakfasts is an evergreen chart…
Kazakhstan
Views of the Chagan River complement a hearty menu of Ukrainian dishes - large bowls of borsch, vareniki (dumplings) stuffed with cherries, draniki …
Bishkek
Set amidst Turkish rugs and Azeri tunes, this little Azerbaijani restaurant off Bishkek’s main square is something of an underrated gem, particularly for…
Tashkent
When the urge for a vegetable jalfrezi or chicken tikka masala becomes unbearable, head to this Pakistan-run place. Everything is authentic, from the nan…
Issyk-Köl Oblast
With more atmosphere than most and open year-round, this low-lit, green-decor pub-restaurant with heavy wooden tables and a partially covered summer…
Bishkek
There may be other restaurants that claim to serve Tex-Mex in Bishkek, but none do it as deliciously as here. Quesadillas, burritos, and even a decent…
Kazakhstan
Set in a stone-walled basement not unlike a castle cellar, with high-back wooden booths, Pivovaroff is a good choice for dining on salads and grills …
Kazakhstan
Fusion is exactly that: a melange of sushi, pan-Asian noodle dishes, salads, shashlyk and vaguely international meat and fish dishes. It's a bit of a…
