9 Foods To Eat In Central Asia

There are many destinations in the world that people travel to purely to try their famous and delicious food.

Think pasta in Italy, pad thai in Thailand, pho in Vietnam.

But Central Asia isn’t that high on many foodies wishlist, despite having another famous dish that begins wiht ‘p’! Whilst the region may not be known for it’s food, it doesn’t mean that there isn’t anything to eat when you travel the region. There are actually a lot of local foods that will make you drool as you head from country to country.

Many of these are little known or variations on another dish you may be familiar with from elsewhere, but the Central Asian twist will keep your bellies full and tastebuds happy!

The Top Foods in Central Asia You Must Try!

Plov

Plov is a staple of the region and may go by the name pilaf. It is a rice dish, cooked in animal fat and spices which give it a deep, rich flavour. Carrots and peppers are normally cooked along with it and it is served with meat on top,

The meat can be anything from lamb to beef or even horse and is probably the top food you should try in Central Asia.

Breads

Central Asia is known for its bread, with Uzbekistan and the Fergana Valley being especially famous for them. Although nothing unique in taste or flavour, the decorations of these breads is what makes them stand out.

Bread is a staple and is served with almost every meal but especially kebab type dishes with shashlik. All of the old ladies on the trains have bags full of bread to enjoy. But get some breads from the markets to know that they are freshly made and your money going to local people.

Samsa

Samsa, like its namesake samosa, is a pastry filled with meat or veg. They are sold everywhere as starters in main restaurants to stalls and bakeries on the side of the road. I’ve had a real mixed experience with these with some being absolutely incredible with the filling of beef and onions making me want more, as well as having one that had hard pastry and lumps of chicken that wasn’t appetising at all.

If you find a small restaurant or hole in the wall that does a good one, please share!

Lagman

Lagman is a type of noodle soup that traditionally comes from the Uyghur people. The fresh hand pulled noodles are served with meat and vegetables in a mildly spicy broth.

There are many different types of lagman (or laghman) depending on where you are in Central Asia and is probably the dish you have to eat in Kyrgyzstan.

Ashlan Fu

Ashlan Fu is a dish you will probably only find in Karakol in Kyrgyzstan. The dish that comes from the Uighur community that is predominately in the xinjiang province of China is cold noodles with a sour sauce made of vinegar.

It is a unique flavour I haven’t really tasted before. There are numerous restaurants in Karakol that sell it and so proud of it, they often have it on signs outside their restaurant.

The cold and sour wasn’t my favourite flavour, although I probably would have liked them if they were warm.

Manti

Manti are small dumplings made of dough and often filled with meat, normally lamb or beef.

They are a bit like ravioli (if you like Italian food) and can also be found in Turkey and are similar to Khinkali in Georgia.

The size varies in every restaurant you go in and can be as small as 1cm across to as large as 5cm where you will only be served a couple as part of your meal.

They are always delicious though!

Shashlik

Shashlik is found mostly in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan and it is meat on a stick in it’s simplest form. It is grilled over coals and many places in the Fergana Valley has the smells of meat cooking as you walk down the street, pass through a bus station or stroll through a park.

Shashlik is probably the top food you should try in Uzbekistan.

Beshbarmak

Beshbarmak is a staple across the region and is a dish of noodles and meat.

Depending on where you are will depend on whether the noodles are thin or thick, and the meat lamb, beef or horse.

The dish is normally quite plain and doesn’t have the flavours of noodle dishes in China and south east Asia but then can be served with a type of broth or in one of my cases, a lot of pepper.

Kofta

Koftas are a type of meatball that is flattened and is found not only in Uzbekistan, but also across Turkey, Persia and the rest of the Middle East. They can be served with pretty much anything but this one I had was served with chips and rice!

Drinks in Central Asia

Tea

Consumed all over the region, but especially prevalent in Kazakh and Kyrgyz culture, tea (also spelt chai or çay) is the mainstay of almost any meal. I had countless cups and bowls in Central Asia and is offered with every meal.

Traditionally the tea is poured in bowls in small amounts and topped up often. Pouring too much in is a sign of disrespect and means you want your guest to leave early!

Kymyz

This mildly fermented mares milk (horse milk) has a sour and slightly fizzy taste. It is believed to have healing powers, prevent disease and gives strength to the drinker.

It wasn’t my favourite drink and I’m sure it’s an acquired taste but I managed to drink what I was served.

Summing up the top foods to eat in Central Asia

Central Asia will never be a foodie destination and the lack of vegetables in most dishes can be an issue for long term travellers to the region. Despite this, there are plenty of foods you must try when in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.

Choose locally owned places including on street corners to get the most authentic tastes of the region and enjoy the flavours of the meats, breads and noodles on offer.

Dan

Dan is an avid traveller from London. His first big adventure was in 2010 living in Malaysia for 3 months. He has been on the road almost constantly since 2015 travelling to destinations that aren’t on the mainstream tourist trail and working full time and travelling since 2021.