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The Best Restaurants In Tashkent, Uzbekistan

The Best Restaurants In Tashkent, Uzbekistan was originally published in July 2020

Headed to Uzbekistan and not sure where to eat in Tashkent?

I’ve been to Tashkent now a few times and have sniffed out quite a bit of good food on my visits to the city. Tashkent doesn’t get a lot of love as far as Uzbekistan is concerned, as most travelers tend to leave the capital for the blue tile-clad Silk Road cities of Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva, but Tashkent, in my opinion, has a lot to offer visitors (and I have an entire blog post dedicated to it here). Tashkent is a modern city, with museums, mosques, one of the most beautiful metro systems in the world, and an array of the best restaurants in Uzbekistan including both Uzbek and international fare.

Now, when you are judging a restaurant, obviously the food is most important – but that doesn’t mean it’s the only thing you have to look out for. Customer service is vital and this comes from the waiters and waitresses who look after you. But as well as that, the general operations and how everything runs also plays into that – things like restaurant pos systems can make the whole process of ordering and paying for your food a lot easier. It goes without saying that the decor and atmosphere are also very important. So before I get to carried away, here are the best restaurants in Tashkent, separated by category (Uzbek, international, coffee, and cheap eats), and their nearest metro station stops.

Plan your visit to the Uzbek capital: The Tashkent Travel Guide

Best Restaurants In Tashkent: Uzbek Cuisine

Best Laghman

Injis Restaurant

Located in the back of Oloy Bazaar, Injis offers up the best laghman I’ve found in Tashkent so far. You can expect to pay 25,000 UZS for a laghman, non, and chai.

Metro stop: Abdulla Qodiri

Best Plov

Central Asian Plov Center

Home to the world’s largest qazan (the wok that plov is fried up in), the Central Asian Plov Center is touted as serving up the best plov around (the lunchtime line of locals with bowls from home and even plastic bags waiting to gran plov to-go should be a testament). If Tashkent is your gateway to Central Asia then the Central Asian Plov Center is for sure a must visit to dip your toes into a hot, steaming, greasy bowl of plov. A bowl of plov, salad, a slice of qazi (house sausage), and a glass of compote (juice) will cost you about 32,000 UZS.

Metro stop: Bodomzor or Shahriston

Grab a copy of Bradt Uzbekistan and start planning your trip to Tashkent and beyond!

Best All-Around Central Asian Fare

Afsona

As I figured out when I turned up at Afsona around 8 pm one night, Afsona is a popular restaurant, so reservations in advance are recommended, especially if you’re with a group. Afsona cooks up delicious and flavorful modern twists on classic Uzbek and Central Asian favorites. A plate of laghman, salad, samsa, and chai set me back 80,000 UZS.

Metro stop: Oybek or Ming Orik

Navat

Navat is a Central Asia chain that has sprung up in other major cities such as Almaty and Bishkek. Navat offers modern twists on many traditional Central Asian dishes. You can expect to pay about 100,000 UZS for a meal, appetizers, and drink.

Metro stop: Mustaqillik Maydoni

Take a virtual tour of the gorgeous Tashkent Metro System

Chorsu, Chorsu Bazaar, Bazaar, Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Central Asia

Best Uzbek Cheap Eats In Tashkent

Ovqat Bozori at Chorsu Bazaar

Outside in an alley between the colorful blue domes of the Chorsu Bazaar, you’ll find the Oqvat Bozori stalls draped in the ubiquitous Uzbek ikat fabric with local men and women cooking up cheap Central Asian dishes such as plov, shashlik, naryn, and more.

Metro stop: Chorsu

National Food

National Food is located next to the old circus on Sabzar Ko’chasi and dishes up several Uzbek and Central Asian staples, such as plov, naryn, dimlama and more.

Metro stop: Gafur Gulom

Master Food

Master Food offers up cheap fast food, think hamburgers, döner kabab, lavash, etc. This place is packed with locals in the evenings and is located right next to the roundabout on Shota Rustaveli Ko’chasi, out front of the Grand Mir Hotel.

Metro stop: Oybek or Ming Orik

Start plotting out your Uzbek itinerary: The Uzbekistan Travel Guide

Best Restaurants In Tashkent: International Cuisine

Khinkali, Gruzinkski Dvorik, Georgian food, Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Central Asia

Best Georgian

Gruzinski Dvorik

After a couple of months traveling in Central Asia, you’ll understand the love many of us share for Georgian cuisine. See, the things is, Central Asian cuisine can be a bit bland and muttony after a while (especially if you’ve been exploring some real remote and backwater type locations in the region). Gruzinski Dvorik offers up numerous Georgian dishes, but do note the prices are fairly expensive for Uzbekistan (but still worth it to me). The fried Sulguni, Badrijani Nigvzit (eggplant rolls stuffed with garlic, pomegranate, and walnut), and khinkali are great items on the menu. Don’t forget to pair dinner with Georgian wine. This scattering of dishes with a glass of wine will cost you about 170,000 UZS.

Metro stop: Oybek or Ming Orik

Best Lebanese

Cafe 1991

Cafe 1991 serves up Lebanese as well as other dishes from the greater Middle East and Central Asia. This is a good option for vegetarians, but prices are a bit expensive for the region. Expect to pay around 100,000 UZS for a spread of mezze type dishes.

Metro stop: Amir Timur Hiyobuni or Yunus Rajabiy

Off to Tajikistan too? Check out the 10 day Uzbekistan & Tajikistan itinerary

Best Pakistani

Shalimar Restaurant

If you’re looking for flavorful Pakistani food this is a great place to go. The jalfrezi curry and the tikka masala are good bets and don’t forget an order of paratha too. A curry, bread, and chai should cost about 50,000 UZS.

Metro stop: Amir Timur Hiyobuni or Yunus Rajabiy

Best Afghan

Afghan Pudding

Most people seem to call in orders and pick up based on my observation having dinner here (I was the only patron inside), as I lost count of how many people popped in to pick up. If you’re looking for bulani, Qabuli palau, kebab, doogh or other delicious Afghan dishes this is a good place to head. Expect a dish an drink to set you back about 30,000 UZS.

Metro stop: Minor

Not sure where to start: Check out my two week Uzbekistan itinerary

Best Coffee In Tashkent

Blackbear Kofi

Blackbear Kofi is a local chain, one of which is located right on Shota Rustaveli Ko’chasi (just a couple minutes walk from the Rooms Stay Boutique Hotel that I like to stay in) offers up good espresso and coffee as well as pastries. A flat white and a samsa set me back 25,000 UZS.

Metro stop: Oybek or Ming Orik

Black bear Kofi, samsa, Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Central Asia

B&B Coffeehouse

On Shota Rustaveli Ko’chasi this western-style coffee shop offers up decent coffee and snacks. Definitely try the french toast. A coffee and snack or pastry will cost around 35,000 UZS.

Metro stop: Oybek or Ming Orik