This is a non-exhaustive list of food establishments I've recommended to friends visiting Tashkent. Originally compiled from a Telegram chat with a friend, I've decided to publish it to share my perspective and help others discover some great dining spots in my favorite city.
If an establishment is on the list, it means it's a decent place, but please note that personal experiences may vary.
The establishments are listed alphabetically within each category; this is not an order based on quality or strength of recommendation:
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Abdujalil Osh ($)
a traditional osh place, on the cheaper side, but quite clean and tidy on the inside. Currently one of the better osh places in town. Service can be hit or miss; you have to fight for the attention a bit.
Anor ($)
Excellent Uyghur-style food. Great lagman. My favorite dish is sunboro, which is meat marinated with onions. Excellent quality throughout the years. I usually go to the branch next to Gospitalka (Mirobod Bozori).
Beshyog’och - kafe ($) the place (location) doesn’t have a name. So I’m calling it Beshyog’och as a code name, it is right behind the Beshyog’och bozor. Get their moshxo’rda and eggplant ikra. Their kabobs are excellent too. I think they are only open during the lunchtime.
Komolon Osh ($)
a popular spot for osh, with a few branches across town, all of which are good. Consistent quality, service is above average for their category. Try their Choyxona Osh.
Ko'kcha Oqtepa Bazaar ($)
not a single food establishment but a place to have breakfast that's worth experiencing at least once if you're in Tashkent. The bazaar operates only in the mornings—the best time to go is around 7 am. Though it's quite small, it offers a variety of local delights. I usually start by picking up qaymoq (clotted cream) and tvorog (curd cheese) and trying it out before buying. Then I try the breads which are usually amazing— always freshly baked and full of flavor. Then, I grab some seasonal fruits like grapes, pears, or nectarines. After that, I head to the kebab place. The kebabs are cooked outdoors in a teppanyaki-style setup, where you'll be seated in a communal table, often next to strangers. The kebab chef continuously serves you hot kebabs until you're done. It's a communal and authentic dining experience, but keep in mind that seating is outdoors, so dress appropriately. The kebab makers, as I've heard, have been doing this for generations even when the bazaar used to be located on the opposite side of Ko'kcha Mosque. I also recommend getting some khonim (with sauce) to take home for lunch.
Lagman 24 ($)
a small chain for lagman and other Uyghur-style dishes. You can order online. Quite affordable and very good quality. Always order “ayrim-say” in lagman places.
Lagman House ($)
an old and quite famous place for lagman and Uyghur-style foods, near Chorsu. The quality is extremely consistent. They have quite a following and loyal patronage. It used to be called “Halol-food” when I was a kid; some people still call it that. Sokoro is a must try.
Mannop Kabob ($)
a charming hole-in-the-wall eatery located right next to Ko'kcha Mosque. Location here. It operates from morning prayer for a few hours, catering to early risers. The place is very low-key, with a strong focus on the quality of the food. While the ambiance might feel a bit unpolished, I assure you it's quite good. If you're looking for an authentic dining experience with delicious dishes, this spot is worth a visit.
Minor Somsa ($)
Super good somsa. Probably the best in town. Not a lot of seating available, many people take it to go. Sauce is ordinary. It's a place worth a trip.
Muborak ($)
Old-school “stolovaya” near the Amir Temur museum. The food is decent, on a cheaper side for central Tashkent. Drop by if yuo are
Osh Amiri ($) A Bukhara-style osh made in a copper qozon. It’s a pretty interesting dish to try if you haven’t. They also serve Olot-style somsa.
Parmuda.uz ($)
A chain with a few branches that offers parmuda somsa (four stitched together). It's quite an interesting thing to try; I would recommend dropping by.
Qorasaroy Lag’mon ($) quite famous and old lagman place. I’d say it has been the benchmark for lagman quality for all other places in town. Almost always freshly cooked noodles and “the say” - the meat stir fry on top. Get the “ayrim say”, and ask for two servings of the meat, if you order the default way their meat-to-noodles ratio is not ideal: too much dough.
Qo’shtut Sho’rva ($) this hidden gem is a true "hole in the wall" with no signage—you'll need the location pin to find it. Located next to the Hasti Imom Mosque in an old Eski Shahar style hovli (traditional courtyard house), it serves exceptional traditional cuisine like sho’rva and various kebabs. The thinly sliced liver kebabs (jigar) are outstanding and are often served over hot coals at your table. While the setting is modest and could use some upkeep—it's essentially someone's home and passion project—the excellent food makes it worth a visit. Name is made up.
Raykhon Milliy Taomlar ($)
Excellent quality of national food. Their branch near Samarkand Darvoza is where I go. The place is quite popular during lunchtime, so it gets quite loud. But if you want your fix of authentic Uzbek food—this place gets the job done. Try their assorti.
Salima Ona Somsalari ($)
A somsa place that has quite good pumpkin somsa and yupqa. If that’s your thing, I'd recommend trying it.
SamOsh (near Parkent Street) ($)
A very famous and crowded place for Samarkand-style osh. The lunch crowd is usually big, so I recommend going either earlier or later than peak lunch hours.
Sho’rva No.1 ($)
The name is misleading, it is a traditional shashlik/kebab place. Very good food; salads are usually excellent. Service is not that great.
Xadra Milliy Taomlari ($)
The place that is on the opposite side of the Circus. The place is legendary for its national foods and consistent quality over the years. Depending on the season, I’d recommend getting norin (in winter) or halim (early spring). Their sho’rvas in clay pots are also quite nice.
Xo’shang ($)
A place famous for its khoshang, which is basically fried manty. They also serve other excellent dishes. It’s located just across the street from Lagman House. Try their jo’vava.
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Do’stlar ($$)
a very good stolovaya-style (self-service) restaurant. They usually offer a good variety of Soviet-style favorites as well as Uzbek home foods. Cabbage stew is good.
Sazanchik ($$) one-stop shop for a decent Khwarezmian fix. The tuxum baraks are excellent, and the shivit oshi is above average—probably the best in Tashkent. The fish is fine as well. I can't comment much on their other dishes. The service is average by Tashkent standards. But it seems like a well managed place. Recommend going for lunch and not for dinner.
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Chuchvara TSUM ($$$) - quite famous, lowkey and relaxed setting for chuchvara, manty and other types of dumplings. Menu is quite good, quality is good too. Location is next to the alley in TSUM, under the apartment building. Home food in a homey atmosphere. Get 1.5 portion.
Caravan ($$$)
One of the oldest and, I argue, quite important restaurants serving Uzbek food. As a trendsetter, Caravan was among the first to offer Uzbek cuisine in a restaurant setting, and many of today's operational restaurants have staff who once worked there. Although it may not be the trendiest place anymore, its consistency in quality and service is hard to beat. The service is excellent, and the kuksi (a cold noodle soup) is particularly outstanding during the summer months. Caravan has left a lasting imprint on the culinary scene in Tashkent, influencing many of the modern restaurants.
Cinara’s ($$$)
A restaurant in the mountains with many "so’ris" (traditional outdoor tables). The location features a lot of greenery and water. It’s a great place to relax near “Bochka”. The menu items are competitively priced, though some could be more expensive than the competition. Service is good; the food quality is slightly above average. Probably the only nice and clean place near Bochka that I can trust. Taste-wise it is average.
Maqom ($$$)
It is actually a bar, but hear me out. It has amazing food offerings, surprisingly wide menu for a bar. Their mastava is amazing and their “Tashkent” salad is truly good. No exaggeration. I’d go there to eat every day, if I could. Recommend going there for lunch as in the evening it turns into a bar with loud music. Also good coffee.
O’zbegim ($$$)
A good restaurant that serves Uzbek food. The food is good, but prices are higher than average. It’s a good place to bring a tourist or to enjoy good food in a pleasant ambiance. Service is usually good. Try their Ayran.
Shashleek ($$$)
A European-style restaurant that serves really good Uzbek traditional food. The branch in Ecopark is highly recommended. They also have a location in Amirsoy, a mountain resort. It is a bit fancy by Tashkent standards, but very well worth it. Order their Napoleon kabob.
1991 ($$$)
Decent Uzbek food not too good. Their terrace is nice place to hang out and location is excellent. Fine place to chill in the evenings. But I wouldn’t go there for food only.
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Kervan ($$) An unassuming Turkish-style cafe with great lokanta-style food that you can choose over the counter for lunch. It has a large lunch crowd, and the menu changes quite a bit. They also have a la carte kebabs and the traditional Turkish fare on the menu. The ezogelin soup is excellent.
Doner Go’sht ($$)
Not sure it is quite Turkish too. Situated next to Black Star Burger. It is the authentic flavors of early 2000s Tashkent with a modern twist. A perfect spot for those looking to enjoy a familiar flavor in a contemporary setting.
Hamdi Usta ($$)
A very good Turkish food place that only sells doner and its derivatives: Iskender, wrap (durum), and over rice. Consistently good quality of meat, though the service might not always be great—it can be hit or miss, and you might need to be proactive.
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Giotto ($$$)
An Italian-style restaurant that was once famous for their waffles and ice cream. Now it’s a full-fledged restaurant with a quite good menu. Pastas are really quite good.
Go’sht ($$$)
A good restaurant with overall good quality ingredients and steaks. Not my personal favorite, but always pretty good. They also have a branch in Brooklyn, NY.
Pro-Xinkali ($$$)
A place for good Georgian food. As the name suggests, they serve excellent khinkali and other Georgian dishes. You can’t go wrong with a choice. Service is consistently good.
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