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Best Food in Tashkent (2026)
Begin your food journey at Chorsu Bazaar, the city's historic market in the old town. The central dome houses dozens of stalls selling fresh produce, dried fruits, and spices, whβ¦ π½οΈ Where to Start
Begin your food journey at Chorsu Bazaar, the city's historic market in the old town. The central dome houses dozens of stalls selling fresh produce, dried fruits, and spices, while the surrounding area is packed with casual eateries serving plov and shashlik. Arrive early in the morning for the best selection and a lively atmosphere.
π² Must-Try Plov
No trip to Tashkent is complete without plov, the national dish of rice, carrots, and meat. Head to Central Asian Plov Center (1 Amir Temur Avenue), a massive restaurant that serves only plov, with portions starting at 30,000 som. For a more intimate setting, try Plov House (17 Navoi Street), where the chef's special includes chickpeas and quail eggs.
π₯ Manti and Dumplings
Sample handmade manti (steamed dumplings) at Jumanji (45 Pushkin Street), a cozy spot where a plate of six costs around 25,000 som. For a variety of dumplings, visit Besh Qozon (12 Shota Rustaveli Street), which also offers lagman noodles and samsa. Both are open daily from 10 AM to 10 PM.
π₯© Shashlik and Grilled Meats
For the best shashlik in town, go to Shashlik House (34 Amir Temur Avenue), where skewers of lamb, beef, and chicken are grilled over charcoal and served with fresh flatbread. Prices range from 15,000 to 30,000 som per skewer. Another popular spot is Karavan (8 Babur Street), known for its juicy lamb chops and outdoor seating.
π₯ Street Food Finds
Don't miss the samsa stalls near Chorsu Bazaar, where flaky pastry filled with meat or pumpkin costs just 5,000 som each. For a quick snack, try non (Uzbek bread) from any roadside tandoor oven, often sold for 2,000 som. Look for vendors selling fresh-squeezed pomegranate juice in season, usually 10,000 som per glass.
π° Sweet Treats and Tea
End your meal with traditional sweets at Cafe 1991 (15 Mustaqillik Square), which serves halva, baklava, and green tea in a cozy setting. For a modern twist, visit Bon! (22 Amir Temur Avenue), a patisserie offering cakes and pastries from 15,000 som. Both are popular with locals and open until late evening.
π Getting Around for Food
Tashkent's metro system is efficient and cheap, with a single ride costing 1,400 som. The Chorsu station is directly connected to the bazaar, while Amir Temur Square station puts you near many restaurants. Taxis via Yandex Go are also affordable, with most short trips under 10,000 som.
π΅ Budget and Tipping
A meal at a mid-range restaurant costs around 50,000 to 80,000 som per person, while street food can be as low as 10,000 som. Tipping is not mandatory but rounding up the bill or leaving 10% is appreciated. Most places accept cash, though some upscale restaurants take cards.
appreciate the guide, especially the samsa tip at chorsu. one thing i'd add is the non (bread) situation at the bazaar itself - there's a specific tandoor just inside the main entrance on the right where they sell it fresh from the oven for 2,000 som but it's gone by 9am so get there early. also the plov center is fine for tourists but if you want the real deal there's a tiny place on khamza street near the circus that does nothing but plov from 11am until they run out, usually around 1pm, and it's maybe 25,000 som with a side of kazi (horse sausage) which is a local specialty the guide skipped entirely. try that if you want something a bit more adventurous
the guide's right about chorsu but honestly the real gem is the korean influence in tashkent food. head to koryo restaurant on shota rustaveli street, their morkovcha (korean carrot salad) is the best i've had outside of korea itself, around 15,000 som for a big bowl. also the lagman at the little korean-run place on pushkin street near the university is a solid alternative if you want something spicier than the usual broth version. the guide misses that a lot of the best food is in these korean-uzbek fusion spots, not just the traditional ones
solid guide, really covers the essentials. one thing i'd add is to check out the lagman at Besh Qozon, they do a great version with hand-pulled noodles and lamb broth, it's around 20,000 som and perfect for a cold day. also, for a late night snack, the noni tandir near Chorsu metro exit 2 usually has fresh bread coming out of the oven until 10pm, smells incredible and costs 2,000 som. i'd also say the plov at Central Asian Plov Center is good but can be a bit tourist-heavy, if you want a quieter spot try the plov at the little place behind the bazaar, no name in English but locals queue there for lunch
3 Days in Tashkent: Itinerary 2026
Base yourself near Amir Timur Square for easy access to major sights and the metro. The area is walkable and well-connected by bus and metro lines. Hotels like the Hyatt Regencyβ¦ πΊοΈ Where to Start
Base yourself near Amir Timur Square for easy access to major sights and the metro. The area is walkable and well-connected by bus and metro lines. Hotels like the Hyatt Regency Tashkent or budget-friendly Art Hostel are good options.
π Getting Around
Tashkent's metro is efficient, cheap (1,400 som per ride in 2026), and each station is a work of art. Buy a reusable plastic token at the counter. For longer distances, use Yandex Go app for taxis; a ride across town costs around 30,000-50,000 som.
ποΈ Day 1: Old City
Start at Khast Imam Complex, home to the world's oldest Quran. Then walk to Chorsu Bazaar for a sensory overload of spices, dried fruits, and handicrafts. End at Minor Mosque, a modern architectural gem, and have dinner at nearby plov center Besh Qozon.
π² Day 2: Soviet Heritage
Visit the Museum of Applied Arts (10,000 som) to see intricate Uzbek crafts. Then explore the monumental Hotel Uzbekistan and the nearby Navoi Opera Theater. For lunch, try the lagman at Central Asian Plov Center on Shota Rustaveli Street.
π³ Day 2 Evening: Parks
Spend sunset at the Tashkent TV Tower observation deck (30,000 som) for panoramic views. Then stroll through the adjacent Japanese Garden, a peaceful oasis. Dinner at the nearby Afsona Restaurant offers traditional Uzbek dishes with a modern twist.
π Day 3: Day Trip
Take a 30-minute bus (10,000 som) or taxi (80,000 som) to the Chimgan Mountains for hiking and fresh air. Alternatively, visit the Charvak Reservoir for water activities. Return by late afternoon for a final walk along Broadway Street, lined with cafes and souvenir stalls.
π‘ Local Tips
Carry cash (som) as many smaller shops and taxis don't accept cards. Learn a few Uzbek phrases like 'Rahmat' (thank you) and 'Assalomu alaykum' (hello). Avoid tap water; buy bottled water from supermarkets for 2,000 som.
Your metro tip is spot on, but one thing I'd add is that the Kosmonavtlar station is worth a dedicated stop even if you're not going anywhere near it. The entire ceiling is a space-age tribute with blue mosaics and portraits of cosmonauts, and it's probably the most visually stunning station on the line. It's just a few stops from Amir Timur, so you can hop off for five minutes without losing much time.
For the Japanese Garden, go on a weekday morning if you can. On weekends it gets crowded with families and couples taking wedding photos, which breaks the calm a bit. The carp in the pond are huge and will swarm the edge if you lean near the railing.
If you do the Chimgan day trip, bring a jacket even in summer. The temperature drops noticeably once you get into the mountains, and the wind at the Charvak lookout can catch you off guard. The bus from the main station near the TV tower is reliable but fills up fast, so get there by 8am.
honestly this is a solid itinerary, i lived near amir timur for a few months and you've nailed the walkability thing. one thing i'd add is that the chorsu bazaar dome itself is worth climbing up for the view, there's a little staircase on the side that tourists usually miss. the rooftop gives you this insane 360 of the old city with the blue dome and the tv tower in the distance
for the museum of applied arts, don't skip the courtyard. there's a small tea house tucked in the back that does fresh noni bread and rose petal jam for like 5,000 som. way better than the overpriced stuff at the afsona place tbh
also if you're doing the chimgan trip, skip the bus and just negotiate a yandex driver for the day. i paid about 120,000 som last spring and he waited while i hiked then drove me to charvak after. way more flexible than the bus schedule and the drivers usually know good spots off the main trail
solid itinerary for sure, i'd just add that the navoi opera theater does guided tours in russian and uzbek during the day for like 15,000 som and you get to see the backstage area and the old soviet machinery. the interior is way more impressive than the outside suggests, all gold leaf and red velvet
for food near amir timur, skip the hotel restaurants and walk to the little lagman spot on Buyuk Turon street, it's called Osh Markazi or something similar. they do a lamb shurpa that's thick and sour and costs like 12,000 som, best meal i had in the city honestly
one thing nobody mentions is that the metro tokens are good for one ride only but you can buy a stack and use them later, no expiration. i keep a few in my bag so i don't have to queue at the counter every time