Tashkent is the capital and largest city of Uzbekistan, a green, modern Central Asian metropolis with a medieval Old City, Soviet-era monuments, a space-themed metro and some of the best plov in the world. It is the usual arrival point for the Silk Road cities of Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva.
Tashkent's food is Uzbek at its core: plov (rice cooked with lamb or beef, carrot and chickpeas in a kazan), samsa baked in a tandir, steamed manty, hand-pulled lagman and charcoal shashlik, all eaten with flatbread (non) and green tea. Plov is a midday dish, so the best halls run out by mid-afternoon. As the capital it also has Russian, Korean, Turkish, Italian and Georgian restaurants, and hotel restaurants with international menus.
Must-try dishes
Iconic dishes that define Tashkent.
Plov (osh)
Rice cooked in a kazan with lamb or beef, yellow carrots, onion and chickpeas; the Tashkent style is often served with horse sausage (kazy) and a boiled egg
Where to try: Besh Qozon Central Asian Plov Center, 1 Iftihor Street
Price: 60,000-120,000 UZS (about $5-10)
Samsa
Pastry baked on the wall of a tandir oven with minced beef or lamb and onion
Where to try: Minor Somsa, Chorsu Bazaar and Alay Bazaar stalls
Price: 12,000-20,000 UZS each (about $1-1.70)
Manty
Large steamed dumplings with spiced meat and onion, sometimes filled with pumpkin
Where to try: Afsona and Caravan
Price: 50,000-90,000 UZS (about $4-7.50)
Lagman
Hand-pulled noodles in a meat and vegetable sauce or soup
Where to try: Rayhon, Navvat and Bon! Cafe
Price: 45,000-80,000 UZS (about $4-6.50)
Shashlik
Lamb or beef skewers grilled over charcoal and served with onions and flatbread
Where to try: Caravan and Afsona
Price: 25,000-50,000 UZS per skewer (about $2-4)
Shurpa
Clear lamb and vegetable soup with large pieces of potato, carrot and meat
Where to try: Rayhon and Navvat
Price: 45,000-80,000 UZS (about $4-6.50)
Non (Tashkent bread)
Round tandir-baked flatbread, stamped with a pattern; the Tashkent style is wide and lightly crisp
Where to try: Chorsu Bazaar bread rows
Price: 4,000-10,000 UZS (about $0.35-0.85)
Top restaurants
Handpicked picks for the best dining experiences.
Restaurants by cuisine
Browse picks grouped by cuisine type.
Food tours & tastings in Tashkent
Eat your way through Tashkent with a guide.
Browse food experiences in TashkentWe may earn a commission from bookings made through these links.
Street food
Local flavours at affordable prices.
Samsa from tandir ovens
Fresh pastries sold hot by weight or piece at bakeries and bazaar stalls
Non and sweets at Chorsu Bazaar
Bread, halva, dried apricots, nuts and sweets sold from the domed hall and the surrounding stalls
Lavash wraps
Chicken or beef wrapped in lavash flatbread, sold late into the night at chain stalls such as Oqtepa Lavash
Food markets
Where locals shop and graze.
Chorsu Bazaar
The domed central market for bread, spices, dried fruit and meat; the standard first stop for tasting
Hours: Daily from about 05:00-08:00 to 18:00-21:00
Alay (Oloy) Bazaar
Local fruit, nut and vegetable market with samsa and lagman stalls
Hours: Daily, early morning to late afternoon
Mirobod Bazaar
Neighbourhood bazaar with fresh produce and bread
Hours: Daily, morning to late afternoon
Dining etiquette & tips
Navigate the local food scene confidently.
Eat plov at lunch: plov halls cook in the morning and often run out by 14:00-15:00.
Bread (non) is placed on the table first; break it by hand and never place it upside down.
Tea is poured in small bowls (piyola); the host may pour only half a bowl as a gesture of respect.
Most restaurants add a 10-15 percent service charge; if not, round up the bill or leave about 10 percent in cash.
Cards are accepted at hotel and chain restaurants; carry so'm cash for bazaar stalls and small cafes.
Order a few dishes to share: portions are large and meant for the table.
- Vegetarian
- Uzbek cooking is meat-heavy, but salads (achichuk), lentil and vegetable soups, pumpkin manty, samsa with pumpkin, bread and fruit are widely available. Say 'go'sht yo'q' (no meat) and check broth.
- Vegan
- Possible but limited: salads, vegetable soups, bread, nuts, dried fruit and fresh produce at bazaars. A vegan food tour of Chorsu, Alay and Mirobod bazaars is listed on visittashkent.uz.
- Halal
- Most Uzbek restaurants serve halal-style meat (lamb, beef, chicken); pork is rare outside international hotels and Russian or Korean restaurants. Alcohol is sold in many restaurants, but not all.
Food budget guide
What to expect at different price points.
| Level | Price | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | 60,000-150,000 UZS per day (about $5-12.50): samsa, lavash, bazaar meals and one cheap plov lunch | Street food, local eateries, and simple restaurants. |
| Mid-range | $15-40/meal | Sit-down restaurants with good service and varied menus. |
| Upscale | $40+/meal | Fine dining, international cuisine, and premium experiences. |