Best Restaurants in Uzbekistan 2026

Plov (Osh)

The national dish cooked in a massive iron kazan (cauldron) with lamb, yellow carrots, chickpeas, raisins, and garlic. Tashkent-style uses cottonseed oil and is more oily; Fergana-style is lighter. Traditionally eaten from a communal dish on Fridays and at celebrations.

Where to try: Central Asian Plov Center (Besh Qozon), any oshxona in Tashkent

Price: $2-5

Samsa

Triangular flaky pastries filled with minced lamb and onion, baked directly in tandoor clay ovens until the dough puffs and chars slightly on the bottom. Best eaten immediately from the oven, burning hot.

Where to try: Chorsu Bazaar samsa vendors, Siab Bazaar Samarkand, street vendors citywide

Price: $0.40-0.80

Lagman

Hearty noodle dish with thick hand-pulled noodles, lamb or beef, tomatoes, peppers, and spices. Served as a soup (suyuq lagman) or stir-fried (qovurma lagman). Fergana Valley versions are particularly celebrated for their hand-pulling technique.

Where to try: Uyghur restaurants in Tashkent, any traditional oshxona

Price: $3-7

Manti

Large steamed dumplings filled with minced lamb and onion, sometimes pumpkin, served with sour cream or yogurt. Larger than the Mongolian version and distinct from Chinese dumplings in seasoning.

Where to try: Caravan Restaurant, traditional oshxonas, Samarkand's old-town restaurants

Price: $4-8

Shashlik

Grilled meat skewers (lamb, beef, or chicken) marinated and cooked over charcoal. The most beloved street food and restaurant staple in Uzbekistan, with the aroma filling every city's evening streets.

Where to try: Street stalls and chaikhanas throughout all cities, particularly around bazaars and evening markets

Price: $2-5/skewer

Afsona Restaurant

Upscale restaurant offering refined Uzbek cuisine in elegant surroundings with traditional decor and live music. Known for beautifully presented dishes using premium ingredients and authentic recipes elevated to fine dining standards.

Afrosiab Street 2, Tashkent 100015, Uzbekistan

Central Asian Plov Center (Besh Qozon)

Tashkent's most famous plov destination serving around 6,000 portions daily from enormous wood-fired cauldrons. Photogenic setting, authentic atmosphere, and the city's best traditional plov. A must-visit culinary landmark.

Milliy Bog, Tashkent 100011, Uzbekistan

Sim-Sim Cafe Tashkent

Popular casual chain serving reliable Uzbek dishes in modern comfortable setting. Quick service, clean environment, and consistent quality. Good option for casual meals and local favorites at reasonable prices.

Multiple locations in Tashkent

Siab Bazaar Food Stalls

Vibrant market food stalls near Bibi-Khanym Mosque offering fresh samsa, kebabs, bread, and local snacks. Ultra-authentic atmosphere with locals shopping and eating. Rock-bottom prices and fascinating cultural experience.

Siab Bazaar, Tashkent Street, Samarkand 140100, Uzbekistan

Book Cafe Tashkent

Cozy bookshop cafe with excellent coffee, pastries, and light meals. Free WiFi, comfortable seating, and English books available. Popular with students, digital nomads, and travelers seeking Western-style cafe atmosphere.

Bobur Street 12, Tashkent 100084, Uzbekistan

Navat Restaurant

Sophisticated dining experience featuring traditional Uzbek dishes with contemporary presentation in beautiful garden setting. Extensive wine list, attentive service, and live traditional music performances create memorable evenings.

Mustaqillik Avenue 87, Tashkent 100000, Uzbekistan

Caravan Restaurant

Popular restaurant serving hearty Uzbek dishes in atmospheric setting with traditional decor and nightly music performances. Large portions, friendly service, and excellent value. Great introduction to Uzbek cuisine.

Buyuk Turon Street 80, Tashkent 100000, Uzbekistan

Chorsu Osh Markazi

No-frills plov center at Chorsu Bazaar serving authentic local plov to market workers and visitors. Ultra-cheap, ultra-fresh, ultra-authentic. The real deal for those wanting genuine local food experience.

Chorsu Bazaar, Eski Juva, Tashkent 100011, Uzbekistan

Non Bread

Round flatbread baked in tandoor ovens, stamped with decorative patterns, and sold still warm from the oven. The smell of freshly baked non is ubiquitous in Uzbekistan's bazaars. Prices range from $0.20-0.50.

Find it at: Every bazaar and neighborhood bakery throughout the country

Chuchvara

Small boiled dumplings similar to Russian pelmeni but seasoned with Uzbek spices, served in broth or with sour cream. A winter comfort food sold at bazaar canteens and street stalls for $1-2 per bowl.

Find it at: Chorsu Bazaar canteen, bazaar food stalls in all cities

Shurpa Soup

Rich lamb bone soup with potato, carrot, and onion, simmered for hours. The quintessential Uzbek winter street food sold from enormous pots at chaikhanas for $1-2 per bowl.

Find it at: Morning markets and chaikhanas throughout the country, especially cold months

Dried Fruit and Nut Mix

Freshly dried Uzbek apricots, figs, white raisins, walnuts, and pistachios are some of the finest in the world due to Uzbekistan's ideal growing conditions. Sold by weight at every bazaar.

Find it at: Siab Bazaar Samarkand, Chorsu Bazaar Tashkent, Lyab-i-Hauz market Bukhara

Central Asian Plov Center (Besh Qozon)

The most famous plov destination in Tashkent, serving up to 6,000 portions daily from 10 giant kazan cauldrons by skilled ustalar (master cooks). The photogenic setting and authentic atmosphere make it a pilgrimage for food lovers.

Hours: 12PM-4PM (until sold out)

Siab Bazaar Samarkand

Uzbekistan's most atmospheric food market stretching along Tashkent Street near Bibi-Khanym Mosque. Spectacular non bread displays stacked to the ceiling, spice mounds, fresh fruit towers, and the city's best produce.

Hours: 7AM-5PM daily

Chorsu Bazaar Food Hall, Tashkent

The enormous Soviet-era domed bazaar with dedicated sections for spices, dried fruits, meat, dairy, and fresh produce. The basement level is particularly atmospheric with its warren of vendors selling everything from sesame oil to sheep's tail fat.

Hours: 7AM-7PM daily