Zheti Kazyna

Zheti Kazyna is a Kazakh and Central Asian restaurant on Makatayev Street in Almaty's Almaly District, behind the Green Bazaar. The name translates roughly as seven treasures, and the venue is known for halls decorated with Uyghur, Uzbek, Kyrgyz, Chinese and Kazakh elements, which reflects the many cultures that meet in the Green Bazaar area. Prices are moderate, with a typical meal costing about KZT 6,000-12,000 per person. The kitchen serves Kazakh and Uyghur dishes, and locals rate its beshbarmak highly. Beshbarmak, the national dish of boiled meat served over wide noodles with onion broth, is the main reason many diners visit, and the Uyghur dishes add noodle and meat preparations that are characteristic of Almaty's large Uyghur community. The restaurant has large halls that are suited to group meals, which makes it a popular choice for family gatherings and celebrations. Groups are encouraged to book through the 2GIS listing. Opening hours are not listed in the available data, so visitors should check before going. The location behind the Green Bazaar places it close to one of Almaty's best-known markets, where visitors can browse fruit, spices, dried goods and local products before or after a meal. This makes the restaurant easy to include in a half-day itinerary that begins at the bazaar. The atmosphere is traditional and busy, with decor that mixes regional motifs, and noise levels can be high when large groups are present. Visitors who prefer a quieter meal may choose an early lunch. The mix of Kazakh and Uyghur cooking gives travellers a chance to try more than one tradition within a single meal, at prices well below those of the city's modern Kazakh restaurants.