Bishkek
Travellers craving American breakfasts or burgers and fries will enjoy this modern dining room in the city centre.
Must-see restaurants in Central Asia
Bishkek
For sheer novelty, seek out this inexpensive cafeteria hidden in the basement of an outwardly drab concrete theatre. The windowless dining room's unique…
Almaty
This superior cafeteria with attractive decor and spacious layout serves up a big choice of well-prepared dishes, from salads, soups and bliny (crepe) to…
Almaty
This catch-all place near Panfilov Park has such a long, varied menu that you can't imagine they'd do it all justice – but the crowds day and night…
Khiva
Opposite Khiva's West Gate and yet remarkably almost tourist free, this unpretentious place has a vaguely Soviet feel. The kebabs are a better choice than…
Shymkent
Karavan offers Uzbek plov, Kazakh beshbarmak, and Russian bifstroganof, but those in the know come for the very tasty Uyghur burro-laghman (fried laghman)…
Kazakhstan
If there's such a thing as a pizza lounge, this is it, with sink-into chairs and elegant but relaxed ambience. The pizzas have thin crusts and successful…
Kazakhstan
The outdoor terrace cafe here has a fun atmosphere in summer and serves reasonable shashlyk, other meat dishes, salads and desserts. The indoor cafeteria…
Tajikistan
Gharm's main restaurant is upstairs beside the Megafon office on the city's central block (diagonally across from the statue of Somoni). Kebabs, delicious…
Kazakhstan
Rational bills itself a 'business-class stolovaya (canteen)' and serves up a range of typical Russian and Central Asian staples that are indeed a cut…
Almaty
Yubileyny is one of the biggest central supermarkets, with a huge wine section, among other temptations. There are several quick-eat and takeaway food…
Samarkand
The clean 'red teahouse' within the confines of Samarkand's main market has pleasant outdoor tapchans, low prices and plenty of local colour. Expect somsa…
Kazakhstan
The house speciality here is ham-and-cheese-stuffed bliny. It’s an informal two-level place, decorated in pine from the counter to the rafters, and offers…
Almaty
Come to this cellar-style restaurant with dark-wood tables and panelling for a meaty feast. The concept is European bistro meets Central Asia, and while…
Shymkent
Large, bright and informal, with efficient service, Eldoro is popular with locals for its pizza, but its other offerings – salads, steaks, shashlyk and…
Kazakhstan
Just east of the Burabay bus stop, Alina is done out in pinks and purples and turns out respectable versions of everything from bliny to kuksi (Korean…
Dushanbe
The smell of garlic hints at the authentic Korean food offered behind the misleadingly dreary facade of Arirang. Ropes, manuscript panelling and bundles…
Kazakhstan
Russian-tavern-style Medved (Bear) is a chain with somewhat confused service and a long list of salads, a few veggie offerings, meat dishes named after…
Dushanbe
This unmarked outdoor eatery with striped awning serves a tasty kurutob and attracts a steady stream of customers. It is tucked round the side of the…
Kyrgyzstan
Specialises in samsa and fresh bread (baked to 7pm), but also serves plov and manty beneath a majestic ancient plane tree. Grab a tapchan and settle in –…
Shymkent
With decor like a kids’ restaurant, this is a central branch of a popular chain of good-value cafeterias where you can get a serve of manty (steamed…
Kazakhstan
Hugely popular with locals, this casual, cheap cafeteria-style place specialises in crepes with various fillings, as well as soups, manty (steamed…
Kyrgyzstan
Air-conditioned cake shop and fast-food restaurant, across from the Hotel Mölmöl. Standard burger and shwarma plus sometimes basic Kyrgyz and Russian…
Kazakhstan
This large, very clean, self-service restaurant does a range of well-priced and decently presented fare from manty (steamed dumplings) and grilled chicken…
Kyrgyzstan
This small cafeteria across from the museum serve up quick versions of Kyrgyz staples, and the small billiards hall in back serves as something of a…
Bishkek
Unlike most inexpensive point-and-microwave cafeterias, Smyak has the bright fresh decor of a real restaurant and big windows overlooking parkland. There…
Tajikistan
This very popular bazaar chaikhana has fine views and specialises in breakfast options. The door directly right of the bazaar's main entrance leads to…
Kyrgyzstan
Fill up for under US$1 at this basic central canteen with a short menu of pre-prepared local standards. It's hard to see from the street, hidden behind a…
Kyrgyzstan
The lighting is somewhat feeble and music might get loud if the place stays open late, but the standards are unexpectedly high. It's one of several cafes…
Khiva
This place serves up homemade Uzbek standards and real coffee on a terrace with superb Kalta Minor minaret views. There's an inside dining room if you're…
Shymkent
Good cafe with excellent breakfasts (stuffed bliny, rice porridge, omelettes), pasta and pizza dishes, tasty cakes, croissants and good coffee, and a…
Kazakhstan
On the main street, near the main square, young waitresses serve you salads, dumpling soup, chicken shashlyk and local takes on pizza in an airless dining…
Kazakhstan
The Tau Dastarkhan complex offers half a dozen midrange and top-end restaurants in a pretty water-garden setting; it’s a good spot for a meal in the…
Tajikistan
For delicious, hot-baked bread straight from the tandor, stop by this unassuming bakery on the scenic way out of town (following the Isfara River along…
Kyrgyzstan
Kochkor's grandest venue is primarily a banquet hall but serves an á la carte menu when no parties are planned. It's reliably clean, but the food is so-so.
Tajikistan
The photographs of kebabs and burgers decorating the outside of this cheerful cafe dispense with the need for English. It's in the heart of the main…
Almaty
Come to this large, bustling restaurant for a filling, good-value Chinese meal. The menu offers a big choice including an excellent chicken, chilli and…
Kazakhstan
Step into this clean, efficient Turkish cafe for pizzalike pide, shashlyk and excellent doner kebabs. Fresh pomegranate juice available sometimes.
Kazakhstan
This bright restaurant on the top floor of City Mall is part of a quality national chain. It’s a fine place for pizzas, pasta, soups, salads and grills.
Shymkent
Popular cafe chain that locals flock to for inexpensive soups, hearty breakfasts, pasta dishes, cakes and coffee. Filling but not hugely memorable.
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