Almaty is a paradise for food lovers, offering a diverse culinary scene with something to satisfy every palate. From Kazakh to European, Japanese, and other international cuisines, the city’s restaurants, cafes, and eateries cater to all tastes, budgets, and even time preferences—some places operate 24/7. Whether you’re dining at the upscale and atmospheric “Alasha” restaurant or a budget-friendly chain like “Kaganat,” you’ll always find popular Kazakh dishes on the menu.
Almaty is the perfect destination to experience the traditional cuisine of the nomads. Here, you can savor delicacies made from horse meat or camel meat, try kumis (fermented mare’s milk), or sample shubat (fermented camel milk). Kazakh cuisine is rich in hearty meat dishes, predominantly made from lamb and beef, offering a feast of flavors deeply rooted in the nomadic way of life.
Some must-try dishes include authentic Kazakh beshbarmak, manty with various fillings (pumpkin and meat being a local specialty), kuyrdak (offal stew), palao (Kazakh pilaf), and the ever-popular horsemeat sausage known as kazy. You can also enjoy koktal, a smoked fish dish, or taste kurt, a type of cheese made from sheep or mare’s milk. Instead of bread, try traditional shelpek flatbreads. For dessert, indulge in tea with the unique sweetness of zhent or grab some fried dough balls called baursaki.
First on your list should be beshbarmak, a dish of finely chopped boiled meat served with noodles and a rich broth. Try ak-sorpa, a milk-based soup with meat, or the boiled or fried dumplings known as tushpara. Kazakh palao is similar to Uzbek pilaf but contains more meat, often lamb, and sometimes dried apricots for a sweet and tangy twist. A special treat is palao made with smoked horsemeat. Fish lovers can order koktal, a dish of carp or sazan smoked with potatoes and vegetables. No Kazakh meal is complete without fermented dairy products like kumis, ayran, or the tangy sheep cheese irimshik. For a quick bite, grab a traditional shawarma, pies, stuffed pancakes, hot dogs, or burgers.
When planning a dinner at an upscale restaurant, keep in mind that the service can be notably slow, a common feature in local dining culture. Also, don’t be surprised if alcohol is absent from the menu, reflecting the region’s Islamic traditions.
Kazakh cuisine is built on hearty meat dishes, designed to fuel nomads for long journeys. Lamb, beef, and horse meat are the most common, with camel meat used more sparingly. Poultry was rarely raised by nomads, who relied instead on game caught by hunters. Alongside the variety of meat dishes, Kazakh cuisine features a range of dairy products, including the famed kumis, ayran (a local version of kefir), and shubat, made from camel milk.
While many Kazakh dishes are rich and satisfying, some are also quite fatty. Portions in most establishments are generous, often enough for a full meal from one dish. In Almaty’s eateries, the following are worth sampling:
Kazakhstan’s traditional breads come in three varieties: tandir flatbreads, shelpek flatbreads fried in hot oil, and baursaki, small, deep-fried dough pieces shaped into squares or circles.
Almaty is home to a wide variety of dining establishments for every taste and budget. For authentic Kazakh cuisine, head to the “Zheti Kazyna” restaurant. The menu includes traditional Kazakh and Central Asian dishes, and the beshbarmak here is legendary. The restaurant’s interior, filled with exquisite oriental decor, enhances the experience. For laghman lovers, “Orgilay” serves 10 varieties of this noodle dish, each with a unique sauce. They also make manty with zhusay, a seasonal herb that combines the flavors of onion and garlic.
The “Gakku” restaurant, designed to look like a traditional nomad’s yurt, offers simple but hearty nomadic fare. “Tubeteika” is renowned for its horsemeat medallions and surpa, a Kazakh version of shurpa. At the “Abay” restaurant, located on the slopes of Kok-Tobe mountain, you can try the city’s finest baursaki while enjoying panoramic views of Almaty. For a historical culinary experience, visit the “Tandyr” restaurant-museum, which recreates the ambiance of a centuries-old caravanserai. Their signature dish is lamb saddle cooked in a tandir oven.
For fine dining with a view, visit “Seven Bar and Restaurant” on the 28th floor of Esentai Tower. Another option is “Vista,” located on the 30th floor of the Ritz Carlton, which specializes in Mediterranean cuisine. The “Inzhu” restaurant in Kok-Tobe Park offers European dishes with a minimalist twist, while “East” is known for authentic pan-Asian cuisine, including grilled prawns with tom yum sauce, lobsters, and oysters. For traditional Chinese dishes, “Peking Duck” restaurant is the place to go, offering an array of authentic recipes.
Explore historic Panfilov Park
Visit Almaty’s vibrant Green Bazaar
Discover scenic Ili Alatau Mountains
Cable car ride to Kok Tobe
Trek through Charyn Canyon’s canyons
Immerse in Kazakh nomadic traditions