Issyk-Köl Oblast
Behind the bus station, this semi-smart if hardly glorious place serves tasty, rapidly prepared local meals plus more exotic zharovnya (sizzler) plates.
Must-see restaurants in Central Asia
Kazakhstan
Step into this clean, efficient Turkish cafe for pizzalike pide, shashlyk and excellent doner kebabs. Fresh pomegranate juice available sometimes.
Kazakhstan
This bright restaurant on the top floor of City Mall is part of a quality national chain. It’s a fine place for pizzas, pasta, soups, salads and grills.
Shymkent
Popular cafe chain that locals flock to for inexpensive soups, hearty breakfasts, pasta dishes, cakes and coffee. Filling but not hugely memorable.
Kazakhstan
Bright, clean and pleasant, and in a new location, Costa's is a sound bet for anything from English breakfast to pancakes, pasta, salads or cakes.
Kyrgyzstan
The only option in town aside from guesthouses, this simple cafe just as the road leaves towards Osh prepares a basic selection of Kyrgyz dishes.
Kyrgyzstan
Reliable national dishes and cold draught beer from this unassuming 2md-floor cafe a block south of Berdik Baatyr at the corner of Turdalieva.
Dushanbe
One of several unassuming venues to try the locally popular dish kurutob and other cheap and cheerful dishes. Closed during Ramadan.
Kazakhstan
Assorti, offering everything from pizza to plov (pilaf) to steaks in a large, semi-lounge-like space, is a reliable bet for lunch.
Kyrgyzstan
Reliable if not inspiring, this large party hall just west of the Gulcha roundabout serves up the standard menu of Kyrgyz dishes.
Kazakhstan
Chin-Son, opposite the Aral Tenizi NGO office, is the best eating option, with Kazakh, Russian and spicy Korean dishes.
Kyrgyzstan
The standard Central-Asia fare is quite good, though service slow and most of the menu unavailable on any given day.
Nur-Sultan (Astana)
The food court includes such favourites as KFC, Burger King, Hardee's, Russian crepes and salads, sushi and more.
The Pamir Highway
At the edge of the bazaar, Aida offers dining in simple curtained booths. The sambusas are recommended.
Almaty
A bright, relaxed, little pizza/pasta/salad house, with efficient service and a good choice of tasty food.
Uzbekistan
Located right next to the Hotel Urgench is this cafe serving shashlyk, laghman and plov.
Kyrgyzstan
Standard menu of Kyrgyz mains, though it's a bigger and cleaner space than many of Chaek's cafes.
The Pamir Highway
This tiny upstairs one-room diner offers an alternative to the meals at nearby Pamir Lodge.
Kyrgyzstan
Serving national cuisine and fast food, this small cafe is a good bet for a quick lunch.
Turkestan
A neat and tranquil spot on the main street, with good salads, soups and meat dishes.
Samarkand
The best of the few unappealing choices across from the Registan, this two-floor restaurant has a breezy upstairs terrace where fairly mediocre Uzbek…
Tajikistan
For those on a very tight budget, the cheap pre-prepared meals being served within the green-and-yellow southern facade of the Panchshanbe Bazaar fill a…
Ashgabat
Now a decade old, this one-time upstart is something of an establishment favourite. Despite its try-hard-and-fail decor, which is just tacky, the service…
Ashgabat
This imaginatively run place set in a charming garden with cabins for private dining, as well as outdoor tables in the shade, is one of Ashgabat's most…
Ashgabat
With its fabulously '90s interior and Yeltsin-era feeling of luxury, Seafood Ayna is one of Ashgabat’s smarter eating options and one of the few places to…
Turkmenistan
The restaurant at the Hotel Turkmenabat is a good choice – its menu takes in Russian, Central Asian and Caucasian cooking, including Georgian chakhokhbili…
Ashgabat
Perhaps the most ambitious of Ashgabat's restaurants in design terms, this surprising find tucked away behind the Nusay Hotel also has some great food and…
Ashgabat
The food is good at this friendly local institution and includes pide (Turkish pizza) and delicious kebabs. The service is attentive and swift, although…
Ashgabat
This cosy and popular place serves up the best pizza in town, though admittedly that’s not a huge culinary achievement. There’s a big non-pizza menu too,…
Ashgabat
This place may be a masterwork of kitsch, but its breakfasts are solid and its coffee is decent, making it a prime hang-out for the foreign community…
Turkmenistan
Travellers report that this restaurant is among Mary's better eating options, with a wide-ranging menu of Central Asian standards and a few western dishes…
Hotel Ýyldyz Panoramic Restaurant
Ashgabat
Perched on the 18th floor of the hotel, this is a popular place for sundowners or a special dinner with great views over Ashgabat. Credit cards are…
Turkmenistan
Travellers report that this restaurant has a menu ranging from game to fish, and a tiny vegetarian section. There's also a bar that's popular with locals.
Ashgabat
This hip cafe gets rave reviews from travellers for its excellent coffee, tasty pizza, crunchy salads and sophisticated decor.
Ashgabat
This is a charming spot for a strong Turkish coffee and a sweet cake or pastry.
