Tashkent Food Guide: Where To Eat & Drink (2027)

TASHKENT | Before visiting Tashkent, I had little first-hand experience with Uzbek cuisine. I knew it was shaped by its position in Central Asia and the many people who travelled through and settled along the old Silk Road. Actually being there and experiencing Uzbek food for myself was an eye-opening, delicious experience.

Grains form a large part of Uzbekistan’s agriculture, making bread and rice essential to the cuisine. Even when a dish comes with bread or is already carb-heavy, you’ll be asked if you want more. Carbs on carbs is the norm here. Uzbek food is also very meat-heavy, with lamb and mutton being the most common, followed closely by beef. Pork is a no-go given the country’s majority Muslim population. Rendered sheep tail fat, taken from the large rears of specially bred sheep, is a primary cooking fat. While vegetarian and vegan options have become easier to find in recent years, they are still uncommon.

Plov, a rich rice pilaf, is Uzbekistan’s national dish and the one thing you must try when you visit. Beyond plov, charcoal-grilled meats and baked pastries are staples. Many of the dishes reminded me of Turkish, Persian, Indian, and North-western Chinese food, offering a mix of flavours both excitingly new yet familiar. Somsa, for example, are baked pastries stuffed with spiced meat or vegetables, with a shell that recalls a samosa and a filling that feels close to burek.

Beyond traditional Uzbek food, you’ll find plenty of restaurants serving dishes from Central Asian neighbours like Tajikistan and Kazakhstan, alongside nearby countries like Georgia. Uyghur food is common, as is Soviet-Korean (Koryo-saram) food, owing to Tashkent’s sizeable Korean population. You’ll also find international options, but this guide focuses primarily on Uzbek fare and regional classics. Winemaking also has a long history here, with Uzbekistan being the largest producer of wine in Central Asia.

In this Tashkent Food Guide, I’ll tell you the places to visit if you want to experience the best food and drink in Tashkent. Are any of your favourites listed below?

Planning a trip to Uzbekistan? Check out my guide to Things To Know Before Visiting Uzbekistan for practical travel tips, logistical advice, and essential insights before you go.

At-A-Glance: Tashkent’s Best Food & Drink

Yunusabad & Northern Tashkent

Besh Qozon

One of the most popular places to eat plov in Tashkent is Besh Qozon. Founded in 1999 at its Yunusabad location near the Tashkent TV Tower, Besh Qozon now has four locations around town, and cooks up over 4 million serves of plov each year. It’s cooked traditionally, over an open flame in large cast iron cauldrons (kazan). At the original location, you can walk through the open kitchen and watch the action take place.

I opted for the classic “wedding plov” set. Grains of laser rice coated with the lamb fat it’s cooked in, along with tender chunks of lamb and beef, carrots, peas, raisins, black pepper, and spices. The set is served with kazi (horse meat cured sausage), quail egg, and dolma.

Yes, Besh Qozon is “the one” that all the tourists go to, and it’s not strictly the best plov in town, but you know what, it’s still worth visiting. The plov is tasty, and it’s fascinating and impressive watching the kitchen do their thing. Be warned, the classic plov is a heavy, oily dish, thanks to that lamb fat. Make sure you’re hungry when you arrive. If you want something a bit lighter, there’s a version on the menu that substitutes lamb fat for olive oil.

1 Guards Colonel Khodjaev Street, Yunusabad District, 100057, Tashkent

Ishtixon Zig’ir plov

If you want to experience Samarkand-style plov without leaving the capital, Ishtixon Zig’ir plov is a must. The focus is on dark, fragrant plov cooked using zig’ir-yog’i, a traditional unrefined flaxseed and dark sesame oil blend characteristic of the Samarkand region.

The dark oil infuses the rice with an earthy, nutty richness that sets it apart from standard tallow-based plov. It’s topped with generous portions of slow-cooked beef, shredded yellow carrots, and cloves of whole garlic cooked directly in the rice.

14A Kushbegi Street, Yakkasaray District, 100022, Tashkent

Minor Somsa

Samsa (savoury filled pastry pockets baked in a clay tandoor oven) are everywhere in Tashkent. You can find some of the city’s best at Minor Somsa. Located near the Minor Mosque, it’s a busy local spot that serves up freshly baked samsa continuously throughout the day.

The pastry is exceptionally flaky, with fillings like hand-chopped beef or lamb, onions, black pepper, and rendered fat.

27 Minor Street, Yunusabad District, 100084, Tashkent

Mirobod District

Pro.Khinkali

If you want to try Georgian food in Tashkent, Pro.Khinkali is the place to go. It’s actually a regional chain, owned by the behemoth Novikov Group, with two locations in Tashkent. I enjoyed my first meal here so much that I made an effort to visit both locations.

It’s an assortment of traditional Georgian dishes that showcases the diversity of Georgia’s cuisine. The only notable divergence from tradition is that there’s no pork on the menu. The restaurant’s namesake, large dumplings known as khinkali, feature dough that’s rolled, folded, filled, and steamed to order. They’re a must try.

Other highlights include things like baked pasty boats, Adjarian khachapuri, filled with cheeses, egg, and butter; shashlik & lyulya kebab; dolma; zhangalov (greens stuffed and grilled flatbread); ojakhuri (a pan fried lamb, potato, and veg dish), and mixed pickles. It’s all very good.

22A/1 Shota Rustaveli Street, Yakkasaray District, 100070, Tashkent (also at 1 Abdullah Qadiri Street, Yunusabad District)

Afsona

For a refined, contemporary take on traditional Uzbek cooking, Afsona is a great option if you’re looking for a contemporary take on Uzbek food. The menu features lighter, modernised interpretations of classic dishes while staying true to authentic flavours. Highlights include delicately rolled manti (steamed dumplings), soups, and regional dishes like naryn (shredded horse meat with this noodles, served with broth).

28 Taras Shevchenko Street, Mirobod District, 100060, Tashkent

Beerkovich Uno

The cosy sister venue to Beerkovich Avenue, Beerkovich Uno offers an intimate neighbourhood craft beer bar feel. Tucked away in Mirobod, it’s an ideal spot for a quiet drink after a day exploring the city. Staff are knowledgeable about the tap list and happy to recommend local craft releases alongside imported IPAs, stouts, and sours.

8 Taras Shevchenko Street, Mirobod District, 100060, Tashkent

Coffee Nation

Coffee Nation is a specialty coffee spot in Tashkent, known for its excellent coffee beans roasted on site. They serve a wide range of espresso and filter options, alongside creative, experimental drinks like nitro coffee and batch brews infused with spices and chilli pepper. There’s also tea, and a small selection of fresh pastries.

14/1 Afrosiab Street, Mirobod District, 100000, Tashkent

Efendi

Efendi is a charming Turkish option with a warm, classic dining atmosphere and outdoor seating during warmer months. The menu features traditional breakfast spreads, rich iskender kebab served over buttered bread with yoghurt, and freshly baked baklava paired with strong Turkish tea and coffee.

79A Sadik Azimov Street, Mirobod District, 100060, Tashkent

Just Wine Bar & Store

Uzbekistan has a long winemaking history that is undergoing a modern revival. Just Wine Bar & Store functions as both a boutique wine shop and bar where you can enjoy quality local wines alongside international bottles.

There’s also food options like cheese platters, charcuterie, and light European bar snacks.

17 Matbuotchilar Street, Mirobod District, 100000, Tashkent

Köşebaşı Turk Restorani

Köşebaşı might be a Turkish-based chain, but that doesn’t change the fact that the food here is very good. In the morning, you can enjoy their generous breakfast spread (which I did). For lunch and dinner, it’s a larger menu featuring things like fresh mezze (such as smoked eggplant dip and spicy tomato ezme), spicy Adana kebab, lamb chops, and thinly stretched pide.

“Boulevard” Residential Complex, Furqat Street, Shaykhontohur District, 100021, Tashkent

Raspberry Coffee Roasters

Raspberry Coffee Roasters is at the forefront of Tashkent’s rapidly growing third-wave specialty coffee scene. This minimalist, light-filled roastery and cafe takes its coffee seriously, sourcing high-grade beans and roasting them in-house.

Whether you order a double espresso, batch brew, or V60 pour-over, the quality is exceptional. They also serve excellent house-baked pastries and light breakfasts.

Nest One Lobby, 49A Uzbekistan Avenue, Shaykhontohur District, 100000, Tashkent

Rassvet

Rassvet is a specialty coffee shop and popular daytime cafe, famous for its all-day breakfast, specialty filter brews, house-baked pastries (like cinnamon buns and seasonal pies), and laid back vibe. There’s a wide selection of coffee beans from some of Uzbekistan and Russian best roasteries, brewed any way you like.

17 Chimkent Street, Mirobod District, 100029, Tashkent

Yakkasaray District

Beerkovich Avenue

Tashkent’s craft beer scene has been steadily expanding, and Beerkovich Avenue is a great place to get acquainted with it. Featuring a spacious pub setup, it’s a popular hangout for local craft enthusiasts and expats alike.

The bar offers a wide range of rotating taps alongside bottle fridges stocked with local Uzbek microbrews, Russian craft imports, and European classics. There’s also a very decent wine selection, and a food menu filled with Uzbek and Western pub classics.

9A Mirobod Street, Yakkasaray District, 100000, Tashkent

BOBOY

BOBOY is a lavishly fit out restaurant featuring refined versions of traditional Uzbek dishes. Order a platter of their mixed shashlik, tender lamb, beef, and ground-meat lyulya kebab cooked over charcoal, alongside hot tandoor bread, pickled onions, and fresh tomato salad.

38A Taras Shevchenko Street, Yakkasaray District, 100047, Tashkent

DIYAR UYGHUR FOOD

Uzbekistan has a sizeable Uyghur community, and their cuisine is well represented in Tashkent. DIYAR UYGHUR FOOD is a great place to try it. The kitchen specialises in lagman, thick, springy wheat noodles stretched and pulled to order.

Highlights include the guiru lagman (hand-pulled noodles topped with wok-fried stir-fried beef, peppers, celery, and garlic sauce) or dapanji (“big plate chicken” served over flat wide noodles with potatoes and chilli oil).

42 Chekhov Street, Yakkasaray District, 100000, Tashkent

Khan Chapan

Khan Chapan is a grand, elaborately decorated restaurant designed like a traditional Uzbek palace, complete with hand-carved pillars, ornate tilework, and private dining rooms. If you can, take a walk through the many rooms and spaces that show the history of the building.

The extensive menu covers the diversity of Uzbek cuisine. Think mixed charcoal grill platters, slow-roasted lamb shanks, and aromatic soups. It’s a great destination if you want to sample a wide array of regional dishes in a festive setting, complete with live traditional music in the evenings.

5 Usta Olim Lane, Sagban Street, Olmazor District, 100019, Tashkent

Lali Restaurant

Lali offers an elegant dining setting combining Uzbek hospitality with broader Middle Eastern and Silk Road culinary influences. The dining room features comfortable lounge seating and stylish decor, making it ideal for a relaxed dinner.

Their menu features excellent charcoal-grilled meats, aromatic rice dishes, fresh mezze plates, and house-baked pastries.

57B Kiyot Housing Estate, Yunusabad District, 100000, Tashkent

MAHALLA90

Situated in a quiet neighbourhood pocket, MAHALLA90 blends traditional mahalla (community neighbourhood) hospitality and modern dining. The menu features classic comfort foods served alongside contemporary salads and grilled specialties.

32 Inzhobod Street, Yakkasaray District, 100084, Tashkent

Zigir Osh Payshanba

Thursdays (“Payshanba”) hold a special cultural significance in Uzbekistan as the traditional day for gathering with friends and family to eat plov. Zigir Osh Payshanba honours this tradition daily, specialising in heavy, aromatic zig’ir oil plov cooked fresh every morning.

The plov here is rich and flavoursome, served alongside fresh achichuk (sliced tomato and onion salad) to cut through the richness of the oil. Aim to arrive around midday when the kazans are freshly opened for the lunch rush.

12 Kushbegi Street, Yakkasaray District, 100022, Tashkent

Old City & Bazaars

Chorsu Bozor

Crowned by its iconic blue turquoise dome, Chorsu Bozor is the beating heart of Old Tashkent and an essential stop for all visitors. Inside the central dome, you’ll find countless vendors selling things like spices, dried fruits, nuts, and fragrant teas. Outside, you’ll find entire lanes dedicated to bread, non-food items, and more.

Head to the open-air food court area (the “Obshor”) right next to the main market structure. Here, long benches line smoke-filled stalls serving classic Uzbek dishes in a lively environment.

57 Tafakkur Street, Shaykhontohur District, 100021, Tashkent

Qoʻyliq Farmers’ Market

Located on the southeastern edge of Tashkent, Qoʻyliq Farmers’ Market offers a vibrant look at daily market life that contrasts with the more central, and popular with tourists, Chorsu Bozor. Beyond the rows of fresh seasonal fruit, vegetables, and herbs brought in from surrounding farms, Qoʻyliq is one of the best places to sample Koryo-saram cuisine, the distinct fusion culinary tradition created by ethnic Koreans who were deported to Central Asia in the 1930s.

Look out for stallholders selling spicy Korean-style carrot salads (morkovcha), marinated spicy ferns, cold noodle soups (kuksi), and steamed meat buns (pyanse).

17/10 Tashkent Ring Automobile Road, Bektemir District, 100182, Tashkent

Yangiobod Bozor

Yangiobod Bozor is Tashkent’s legendary weekend flea market, a sprawling expanse of vintage Soviet relics, tools, antiques, and oddities. It’s an adventure in itself, but it also features rustic food stalls catering to early-morning bargain hunters, selling street food items like hot tea, grilled sashlik, and samsa.

1 Kuyi Talarik Street, Yashnobod District, 100155, Tashkent

Keep an eye out for my upcoming guide on What To Eat In Uzbekistan for deep-dives into the origins and regional varieties of plov, samsa, lagman, and more.