I'm planning to spend a few days in Tashkent and would like to try the local cuisine—not in expensive restaurants, but in places with a mid-range budget where locals prefer to eat. I’d greatly appreciate any recommendations!
Besh Qozon - A Central Asian pilaf hub. To see all five kazan (cauldrons) in action, visit between 11 AM and 3 PM. I arrived at 6 PM when only one kazan was still operating, but what a kazan! The wedding-style (Tashkent) pilaf with chickpeas, dolma, pickles, quail eggs, sweet carrots, raisins, and a blend of spices beyond the usual cumin was an absolute must-try—an explosion of flavors.
Pub Kebab - A spacious venue with a view of the river during the day and a multi-level interior. At night, it transforms into a disco with Russian pop hits. You can sit indoors or outdoors.
Navvat - A teahouse tucked away in a courtyard near "Broadway." The kebabs are phenomenal, the summer seating is lovely, and the hookah experience is top-notch. It’s the perfect spot to relax with tea and a hookah. They even have a play area for kids. The pumpkin manty (dumplings) are divine.
Steam - A spot for meat and beer with an intriguing interior design.
Chorsu Bazaar - In the depths of the market, there’s a section where fresh food is prepared. You can try everything from beshbarmak and horsemeat sausage to a local version of okroshka. I had okroshka and kebabs and lived to tell the tale—highly recommended!
Olot Samsa - Enjoy this savory pastry from one of the many street stalls scattered around the city.
I enjoyed visiting a local teahouse in Tashkent near the Museum of Arts, located at 41.304214, 69.280541, called Plov Poytaxt. It’s a popular spot with a constant flow of people. Everything is fresh, very affordable, and served in a spacious hall. They offer several varieties of plov and samsa, including meat, chicken, mushroom, and herb options—four types in total. It fits perfectly into a day of city exploration: visit the museum in the morning, have lunch at the teahouse, and then walk to the city center and Timur's monument.
In Samarkand, there’s a nice, budget-friendly café near the Siab Bazaar called Bobur Café. It fits well into a walking tour of the city. Go through the market to the round pavilion, and you’ll find a small gate in the fence behind it (39.660742, 66.979081). The café specializes in kebabs, but they also serve other dishes.
In Bukhara, I recommend the plov center called The Plov. It’s open until 3 PM, but it’s best to arrive before 2 PM as they might stop serving later. Coordinates: 39.783502, 64.425673.
In Khiva, the only budget-friendly option I found was the plov center Palov1. It’s open until the evening, but it’s better to call ahead and order plov for a specific time. Coordinates: 41.386183, 60.352353, phone: +998 91 275 08 46. I called about an hour before arriving. You can walk there from Ichan-Kala in about 20 minutes.
Those interested in trying plov in Tashkent many people advise to visit Besh Qozon. This is a good touristy place, indeed, with many locals also liking this place. But Tashkent has a number of other place where one can try Uzbek pilaff. Each place has its own charm, own unique taste of plov and more authentity if one can say so.
There is a YouTube channel called “Plov Patrol” (it shows up immediately in Google). Local Tashkent residents, including oshpaz (plov chefs), visit different plov spots around Tashkent and taste the dishes. The internet can’t convey the flavor, of course, but you can see what’s what — the atmosphere, the presentation, and how the plov looks. Worth seeing, definitely.
You can check Besh Qozon site for types of plov they offer and see what is the difference between them. Also enclose they price menu
Unlike in many other places the plov there is on offer all day. I was really surprised how tasty it was.
You can try visiting the Pilaf Museum, the former Caravan restaurant — easy to find on Google. It’s not exactly in the center, but quite close, about 5–10 minutes by car. They offer many types of plov, a very atmospheric setting, you can watch how they bake bread and cook plov, there’s a river flowing through, and you can also buy various Uzbek delicacies there.
