Sandyq
A restaurant-museum designed with the help of historians and
ethnographers, Sandyq takes authenticity seriously. Their «қазақ ет» (known
as beshbarmak) follows every traditional rule—so much so that you could
confidently bring both your grandmother and a UNESCO culinary heritage expert.
And that’s just the beginning: the menu includes baursaks (stuffed with
irimshik), kuyrdak, kazy, köje, and more. Basically, it’s everything you’ve
heard about Kazakh cuisine and always wanted to try in its most authentic form.
Here, you can forget the usual bar menu. Instead, Sandyq offers a
«kumys bar,» offering the rare opportunity to sample different
varieties of kumys, shubat, and shalap. It’s a true cultural time capsule, set
to a unique musical backdrop.
Auyl
A neo-nomadic dining experience in the Medeu mountains, Auyl has been
featured in Condé Nast Traveller and
ranks among the top 16 most beautiful restaurants in the world, according to
Prix Versailles. Think of it as a living exhibition of nomadic culture and
cuisine—except instead of an audio guide, you get expert servers who can spend
a good 20 minutes telling you about the historic building, the reimagined
shanyrak (yurt dome), the dombra collection, the intricate textile patterns,
and the unique dishware.
The open kitchen is pure culinary theater, with flames roaring,
hand-pulled Dungan noodles stretching meters long, and a massive kazan of plov.
For the full experience, grab a seat in the tapchan (low seating area). After
all, eating on the floor and then lying down to digest is the true nomadic way.
We recommend booking your table in advance, preferably around sunset, so
you can enjoy both the daylight views and the sunset behind the mountains.
Tör
The name Tör translates to «a place for honored guests,» and
it more than lives up to the name. Located in Esentai, Almaty’s sleekest
district (think Prada, Ritz, and Starbucks), the contrast between its modern
luxury and deep cultural roots makes the experience even more striking.
Tör’s aesthetics fall somewhere between a stylish Pinterest board and a
Kinfolk magazine. These aren’t your typical yurt-style decorations. Here,
everything is elevated to contemporary perfection.
The menu doesn’t try to be a rigid encyclopedia of Kazakh cuisine.
Instead, it’s a modern retelling, blending tradition with cutting-edge culinary
techniques. Expect dishes like tartar made from kazy with sweet potato and
onion chips or lagman served with a machete steak. Who says national dishes
can’t have a little reinvention?
Abay
Take the cable car up to Kok Tobe, one of Almaty’s most iconic spots,
soak in the panoramic city views, and stay for lunch at Abay. The dining hall
is shaped like a yurt, with a glass shanyrak (central dome) and walls decorated
with scenes from Kazakh traditions, like a bride’s farewell (uzatu) or the
ancient horseback game kokpar.
The menu highlights regional specialties, including horsemeat
delicacies, a variety of kebabs, sorpa, four kinds of lagman, five kinds of
samsa, AND six kinds of cheburek. For something more modern, try the kazy
carpaccio or kuyrdak salad. In the evenings, an ethno-ensemble performs
traditional Kazakh music.
Alma
If you’re planning a shopping spree at Mega Alma-Ata, the city’s largest
mall, finish it off with a meal at Alma, a French bistro with true Almaty
spirit (yes, that’s a thing!).
The interior blends Soviet constructivism, a tribute to the Green
Bazaar’s tiled floor, and contemporary art by local painters. The menu offers
comfort food made from local products, like our favorites, the niçoise salad
with Almaty-raised shrimp (the city may not have a sea, but it does have a
shrimp farm), sweet potato fries with kurt (Kazakhstan’s umami-rich answer to
Parmesan), horsemeat tartare, lamb burger with adjika, and fettuccine with
chicken and smoked chechil cheese.
Kese
Housed in the historic Alma-Ata restaurant building, Kese is a great
place to experience Kazakh cuisine while exploring Kazakhstan’s first food
hall.
At the Kese counter, the baursaks and three types of manty—beef, chives,
and pumpkin—are crowd favorites. But true foodies come for the side-by-side
tasting of classic and Southern-style beshbarmak. The first is tender and
comforting, the second is bolder, spicier, and full of character. Of course,
the only way to pick a favorite is to try them both.
«Урiмшi»
A no-frills lagman joint with a simple interior, average service, and…
probably the best lagman in town. Just ask the crowds waiting outside and the
variety of customers inside, from taxi drivers to sophisticated magazine
editors.
One hearty portion is enough to keep you full all day, and the average
check of 2,000 tenge is the cherry on top of this comfort-food paradise.