Injis, Injis restaurant, Injis Tashkent, Olay, Olay Bazaar, Alay, Alai Bazaar, Bazaar, Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Central Asia

The Best Restaurants In Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Updated October 2024, The Best Restaurants In Tashkent, Uzbekistan was originally published in July 2020

Headed to Uzbekistan and not sure where to eat in Tashkent?

I’ve been to Tashkent now a few times and have sniffed out quite a bit of good food on my visits to the city.

Tashkent doesn’t get a lot of love as far as Uzbekistan is concerned, as most travelers tend to leave the capital for the blue tile-clad Silk Road cities of Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva, but Tashkent, in my opinion, has a lot to offer visitors (and I have an entire blog post dedicated to it here).

Tashkent is a modern city, with museums, mosques, one of the most beautiful metro systems in the world, and an array of the best restaurants in Uzbekistan including both Uzbek and international fare.

It goes without saying that the decor and atmosphere are also very important. So before I get too carried away, here are the best restaurants in Tashkent, separated by category (Uzbek, international, coffee, and cheap eats), and their nearest metro station stops.

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Best Restaurants in Tashkent Table of Contents

The Best Restaurants In Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Best Restaurants In Tashkent: Uzbek Cuisine

Plov Center, Central Asian plov center, Tashkent plov, plov, Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Central Asia

Best Plov

Besh Qozon (formerly Central Asian Plov Center)

Home to the world’s largest qazan (the wok that plov is fried up in), Besh Qozon is touted as serving up the best plov around (the lunchtime line of locals with bowls from home and even plastic bags waiting to gran plov to-go should be a testament).

If Tashkent is your gateway to Central Asia then Besh Qozon is for sure a must-visit to dip your toes into a hot, steaming, greasy bowl of plov.

A bowl of plov, salad, a slice of qazi (house sausage), and a glass of compote (juice) will cost you about 32,000 UZS.

Metro stop: Bodomzor or Shahriston

Grab a copy of Bradt Uzbekistan and start planning your trip to Tashkent and beyond!

Best All-Around Central Asian Fare

Afsona

As I figured out when I turned up at Afsona around 8 pm one night, Afsona is a popular restaurant, so reservations in advance are recommended, especially if you’re with a group.

Afsona cooks up delicious and flavorful modern twists on classic Uzbek and Central Asian favorites. A plate of laghman, salad, samsa, and chai set me back 80,000 UZS.

Metro stop: Oybek or Ming Orik

Navat

Navat is a Central Asia chain that has sprung up in other major cities such as Almaty and Bishkek. Navat offers modern twists on many traditional Central Asian dishes. You can expect to pay about 100,000 UZS for a meal, appetizers, and drink.

Metro stop: Mustaqillik Maydoni

Take a virtual tour of the gorgeous Tashkent Metro System

Chorsu, Chorsu Bazaar, Bazaar, Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Central Asia

Best Uzbek Cheap Eats In Tashkent

Ovqat Bozori at Chorsu Bazaar

Outside in an alley between the colorful blue domes of the Chorsu Bazaar, you’ll find the Oqvat Bozori stalls draped in the ubiquitous Uzbek ikat fabric with local men and women cooking up cheap Central Asian dishes such as plov, shashlik, naryn, and more.

Metro stop: Chorsu

National Food

National Food is located next to the old circus on Sabzar Ko’chasi and dishes up several Uzbek and Central Asian staples, such as plov, naryn, dimlama, and more.

Metro stop: Gafur Gulom

Master Food

Master Food offers up cheap fast food, think hamburgers, döner kabab, lavash, etc. This place is packed with locals in the evenings and is located right next to the roundabout on Shota Rustaveli Ko’chasi, out front of the Grand Mir Hotel.

Metro stop: Oybek or Ming Orik

Start plotting out your Uzbek itinerary: The Uzbekistan Travel Guide

Best Restaurants In Tashkent: International Cuisine

Khinkali, Gruzinkski Dvorik, Georgian food, Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Central Asia

Best Georgian

Gruzinski Dvorik

After a couple of months traveling in Central Asia, you’ll understand the love many of us share for Georgian cuisine.

See, the thing is, Central Asian cuisine can be a bit bland and muttony after a while (especially if you’ve been exploring some real remote and backwater-type locations in the region).

Gruzinski Dvorik offers up numerous Georgian dishes, but do note the prices are fairly expensive for Uzbekistan (but still worth it to me).

The fried Sulguni, Badrijani Nigvzit (eggplant rolls stuffed with garlic, pomegranate, and walnut), and khinkali are great items on the menu. Don’t forget to pair dinner with Georgian wine.

This scattering of dishes with a glass of wine will cost you about 170,000 UZS.

Metro stop: Oybek or Ming Orik

Best Italian

Affresco

Affresco is probably the best Italian restaurant in all of Tashkent serving up an array of dishes from all over Italy. The pizzas and pasta are excellent and they have a selection of good wines on offer.

Metro stop: Kosmonavatlar

Best Lebanese

Forn Lebnen

Newer to the Tashkent food scene, Forn Lebnen opened in 2020, serving up excellent Lebanese and Middle Eastern cuisine.

We ended up ordering such a giant spread of food when we visited that the entire table was completely covered by the end of the meal, so I can say that the hummus, labneh, baba ghanoush, pita, tabbouleh, chicken shwarma, falafel, and baklava are all well worth ordering.

As with most all international restaurants in Tashkent, you can expect prices to be a bit on the higher side so plan to spend about 100,000 UZS per person if ordering full on meals with drinks.

Metro stop: Oybek or Ming Orik

Cafe 1991

Cafe 1991 serves up Lebanese as well as other dishes from the greater Middle East and Central Asia.

This is a good option for vegetarians, but prices are a bit expensive for the region. Expect to pay around 100,000 UZS for a spread of mezze-type dishes.

Metro stop: Amir Timur Hiyobuni or Yunus Rajabiy

Off to Tajikistan too? Check out the 10 day Uzbekistan & Tajikistan itinerary

Best Mexican

Tacos Mexican Cuisine

We found this hidden gem by accident while making our way to Shota Rustaveli Ko’chasi looking for somewhere to have dinner.

When I saw a little sign outside that said tacos, I knew we had to go in. Their chicken and beef tacos are excellent given the distance from Mexico and the staff was very welcoming.

Metro stop: Kosmonavatlar

Best Pakistani

Shalimar Restaurant

If you’re looking for flavorful Pakistani food this is a great place to go. The jalfrezi curry and the tikka masala are good bets and don’t forget an order of paratha too. A curry, bread, and chai should cost about 50,000 UZS.

Metro stop: Amir Timur Hiyobuni or Yunus Rajabiy

Best Afghan

Afghan Pudding

Most people seem to call in orders and pick up based on my observation having dinner here (I was the only patron inside), as I lost count of how many people popped in to pick up. If you’re looking for bulani, Qabuli palau, kebab, doogh, or other delicious Afghan dishes this is a good place to head. Expect a dish and drink to set you back about 30,000 UZS.

Metro stop: Minor

Unfortunately I was told by a traveler that Afghan Pudding was closed as of 2023. I haven’t been back to Tashkent yet this year to verify myself but it sounds like the restaurant is no longer there.

Best Chinese

Jumanji

If you’re looking for some good Chinese dishes and hip bar atmosphere then Junamji is where you’ll want to head. Prices are a bit on the spendy side as with most trendy international restaurants in Tashkent.

Metro stop: Kosmonavatlar

Not sure where to start: Check out my two week Uzbekistan itinerary

Best Coffee In Tashkent

Blackbear Kofi

Blackbear Kofi is a local chain, one of which is located right on Shota Rustaveli Ko’chasi (just a couple minutes walk from the Rooms Stay Boutique Hotel that I like to stay in) offers up good espresso and coffee as well as pastries. A flat white and a samsa set me back 25,000 UZS.

Metro stop: Oybek or Ming Orik

Black bear Kofi, samsa, Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Central Asia

B&B Coffeehouse

On Shota Rustaveli Ko’chasi this western-style coffee shop offers up decent coffee and snacks. Definitely try the french toast. A coffee and snack or pastry will cost around 35,000 UZS.

Metro stop: Oybek or Ming Orik

French Boulangerie & Patisserie

Just a couple of minutes’ walking time from Novza Station, the French Boulangerie & Patisserie is a great place to pop in to grab breakfast, coffee, or just a little treat. They have all kinds of cool confections on display, but the chicken croissant is honestly what I am there for every time. They whip up pretty decent lattes and cappuccinos too.

Metro stop: Novza