Hidden Gems (Where the Locals Go)

Baker, @breadbymuslim

Start your food tour with Minor Somsa to try the best samsa in town. For plov, head to Abdujalil Osh Markazi on Nurafshon, and for juicy, meaty shashlik, go straight to Chig’atoy Art. If you’re craving a rich, hearty shurpa, Sho’rva № 1 is your spot. And for delicious beshbarmak, I drive to Yangibazar, not far from Tashkent. If you still have energy at the end of the day, I recommend Gravity Bar at the Sapiens hotel for amazing cocktails.

Editor-in-Chief, Afisha.uz

Caravan is a must-visit for anyone coming to Tashkent: Uzbek cuisine, carpets, and a cozy atmosphere. For something more adventurous, there’s a legendary milliy taomlar (national food spot) to the left of the circus, next to a pharmacy. They serve a gumma that you absolutely have to try. For tandir samsa, Minor Somsa is the go-to spot. And when it comes to casual city dining, Chaykof is consistently delicious.

Пирожки и сосиски в тесте у ЦУМа

Food blogger, @xochupiwo, CEO of Pelican beer stores

There’s a tiny market in the 4th district where an elderly woman sells pigodi. She’s been there for as long as I can remember, sitting with her cart, selling hot, fresh pigodi. People come from all over the city just for them. There’s also a small stand at TSUM that sells fried pastries like gumma, chebureki, sausage rolls, and other guilty pleasures. Many locals know about it, so there’s a constant flow of customers, and the pastries are often served straight from the fryer.

Head chef at 12, @cheff_kurbonov

I mostly eat at home or at work, but I never pass up a good plate of plov at the Plov Center under the TV tower. I can always count on the quality and hygiene standards there, which is especially important for someone in my profession. As Tashkent’s main culinary attraction, it’s best to get there by noon to join the line of hungry customers. By 2:30 PM, the place shuts down, and the oshpaz (plov masters) head home.

Founder of Qand Chocolate House, @said_qand

Once a month, I meet up with other boxers at a choyxona that’s located inside a house. It’s in the Archa Kucha district in the old city, near some car service shops. You’ll need to book a table a month in advance.

I also love the samsa at the intersection near Minor Mosque. The place doesn’t look like much, but the samsa is incredible. At Alay Bazaar, I always get shashlik from the spot to the right of the dairy pavilion. The best mastava is at Shashleek, and their Napoleon kebab—well, it’s the emperor of all kebabs. When I want quality European cuisine, I always go to Café Café (Loft).

Foodie, founder of BeFlex Studio, @milk_amilova

The Korean café Mannam is a special place for me. It doesn’t advertise much, but it’s a hidden gem for food lovers. I go there for three main reasons:  a) To satisfy all kinds of cravings. Korean cuisine is an explosion of flavors, with spicy, salty, and sweet all in one dish.  b) To recover from a hangover. Just order any Korean soup, and it’ll warm you right up.  c) To impress guests from abroad. Everyone I bring here ends up loving it and adding it to their list of favorite spots.