It has a pleasant decked area to sit outside, with a great view of the mosque. As well as these stand out vegetarian versions of traditionally meat dishes, we enjoyed a wide variety of delicious, fresh salads. Despite being a predominantly Muslim country, Uzbekistan is not dry and we enjoyed some delicious local wines and beers! Suzanna Fatyan, one of Uzbekistan's finest tour guides, takes up the challenge of exploring vegetarian options in Uzbekistan - a cuisine dominated by meat. That included wine, mains, sides, bread and a soft drinks. It was nice to have the opportunity to eat a slightly wider variety of dishes. Your email address will not be published. In Tashkent, a city described as one of the best places to eat in Central Asia, finding vegetarian food was tough. Tukhumbarak – This is a kind of dumpling, with egg filling (in case anyone does takes eggs, but not meat – like me). Looks like your browser doesn't support JavaScript. ‘Eating vegetarian doesn’t mean you have to eat boring, humdrum dishes.’ – Marcus Samuelsson. To add variety to my meal selections, I ate pizza a couple of times. Answer : Absolutely YES! You can read more about my trip to Uzbekistan here. Secondly, Uzbekistan is really cheap and if you are in a group, the cost of eating out becomes for cheaper…On an average I would say around INR 1000-2000. I absolutely loved the pumpkin filling samsa. I ate these a couple of times. It is located a little out of the way from the tourist trail in Samarkand. I was overjoyed to discover that there wasn’t only meat-free food available, there were actually many wonderful and delicious dishes that I could enjoy! not instant) and we were pleased to find cheap wine and beer available in most restaurants. The food options for vegetarians are likely to only improve as Uzbekistan becomes a more popular travel destination, but I think it’s better to go now, while it is still relatively unknown. She also revisits Samarkand and Tashkent restaurants and caf. Served into small china bowls from a teapot, it came with every meal and welcomed us at every guesthouse and B&B we stayed at. It was not the greatest meal we ate, but the staff were incredibly friendly, spoke impeccable English and it was insanely cheap. Question 4 – What is the cost of food/eating out in Uzbekistan ? There were salads made of pickled vegetables and coleslaw type mixes. Read my #travelogues on #uzbekistan at www.myunfinishedlife.com —————————————————- #instatravel #foodietravel #eatingout #travelfoodfinds #uzbekifood #UNESCOworldheritagesite #foodandtravel #traveleats #culture #foodheritage #welivetoexplore #discoverfood #bread #explorer #travelersnotebook #centralasia #Khiva #foodjournal #travellingthroughtheworld #journey #livetoexplore #travelphotography #eatandtravel #pumpkinsoup #loveuzbekistan #uzbekistanfood, A post shared by my unfinished life (@myunfinishedlyf) on Sep 1, 2017 at 7:42am PDT. On the first night we headed to a restaurant called Jumanjii which had a zillion veggie-friendly items, but for Uzbekistan it was startlingly pricy. The article has truly peaked my interest. “Sounds like I’m in for a hard time,” I said, “Listen.”, ‘Bread, noodles and mutton all feature heavily in Uzbek cuisine, and vegetarians are in for a tough time. Everything was invariably delicious and I found myself eating things I’d never normally try, such as semolina! Soups – I absolutely loved the soups I had in Uzbekistan – Pumpkin Soup, Potato Soup and another soup I forget! For a really cheap meal that is still pretty tasty, head to Ресторан Besh Chinor. I reassured myself as much as possible that I’d been to other countries where vegetarians were supposedly not catered for. Uzbekistan is changing massively. So, as others, I recommend going to bozors or (in Tashkent) supermarkets, as there are a wide variety of fruits and vegetables available. Pilaf  – Now Pilaf is Uzbeki version of Biryani and Samarkand pilaf is very famous. Uzbeki cuisine has a diverse variety of vegetarian recipes, comprising of soups, salads, breads and snacks. Surprisingly, this cafe does not pop up on Google Maps. We were often so full after breakfast that we didn’t eat lunch, preferring to have a snack and have dinner later in the evening. Mum drank copious amounts of it and even I had warmed to it a little by the end of our trip! Our website use cookies. None of them blew me away, but they were better than some other pizzas I’ve eaten in the past! I suspect fresh salad dishes may be harder to come by during the long winter months. Like!! They all spoke reasonably good English and gave us excellent service. However, upon arrival, I’d found that people definitely did understand the concept of vegetarianism. For me, the best meal of the day throughout our trip was breakfast. ), and if you have been looking to get off the beaten track, now is the time to go. Oh, the bread! We did not eat a full meal here but snacked. It is perfect for vegetarians since it means we can avoid meat and eat the other delicious options! Mum tried several throughout the trip and enjoyed them, usually finding the meat tender and well cooked. There are excellent views and despite the chill, we sat out both evenings, huddled into blankets supplied by staff. However, I was grateful to always have a backup plan whenever we ate out if nothing else was available. Stuff your face – it’s delicious! We only visited as it was the closest place to eat near the first B&B we stayed at. Question 1 – Is Vegetarian food available in Uzbekistan ? I also ate chips reasonably frequently, and bread too. With a touch of jam, it really wasn’t that bad either. If you’re wondering what to eat in Uzbekistan, you’re in luck. What Our (Outdated) Guidebook Said. I have attempted to write this ‘Vegetarian Travellers’ Guide to Uzbekistan’ in a FAQ type format, so that all the different types of queries regarding what to eat when in Uzbekistan for vegetarian travellers, are answered. Khiva was the smallest of the four cities we visited, with fewer options for eating out. I scanned the section titled ‘Eating and Drinking’ and sighed as I looked up at Mum. Read Top 10 Reasons to visit Uzbekistan here. Answer :  Since I went on a curated group tour, my breakfasts and dinners were already pre-booked at designated restaurants, so mostly I do not remember the names. UNESCO - Samarkand – Crossroads of Cultures, Sundar Nursery – Delhi’s Heritage Nursey and Park | Delhi’s Parks and Gardens, Top Things to do in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, India, Top Things to do in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India, Rajasthan Road Trip through Marwar region – Self-Driving family holidays in Rajasthan, India, Mandawa in Shekhawati, Rajasthan – How to Reach and What to See | Travel Guide to Mandawa in Shekhawati, Rajasthan. Therefore, vegetarian travellers wonder about Vegetarian food options when planning on a trip to Uzbekistan. I would highly recommend an experience like this if you get the opportunity. It was such a treat not to have far to walk home! During the last three years, as more tourists begin to arrive in Uzbekistan, the country has undergone changes. They’re known as ‘non’ and each region in Uzbekistan has a different style of baking the bread. Therefore, vegetarian travellers wonder about Vegetarian food options when planning on a trip to Uzbekistan. Traditionally, the bread is cooked in a clay oven and is served with every meal. They were incredibly moreish! The best ones we ate were in a small guesthouse in Nurota, where we stopped for lunch on our way to the yurt camp we stayed at in the Kyzylkum Desert. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with this. I had it a few times throughout our trip and will admit it grew a little tiresome by the end of our stay. Our budget for Uzbekistan When we were… Read more, ‘The gladdest moment in human life is a departure into unknown lands.’ – Sir Richard Burton. Just after the publication of the 2nd edition Brandt guidebook, a new president, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who was elected in Uzbekistan. HappyCow may not work without JavaScript enabled. They are similar to pasties in the UK, usually baked in a special clay oven named a tandoor. Recommended Read : Uzbekistan Trip : Journey to heart of the Great Silk Road. I hope I have answered all the potential queries for vegetarian travelers to Uzbekistan. The next day we nursed coffee and tea as we whiled away time before catching our train back to Tashkent. It is available in both non-vegetarian and vegetarian filling options. ‘Eating vegetarian doesn’t mean you have to eat boring, humdrum dishes.’ – Marcus Samuelsson. Answer : Salads  – Salads are a big  thing in Uzbekistan and the variety of vegetarian salads available is mind boggling. Vegetarian Food in Uzbekistan Cafes & Restaurants There has not been a vegetarian food culture in Uzbekistan historically; many dishes contain boiled or fried beef or lamb. I also drank coffee, which was remarkably good (e.g. In fact, we never struggled to find fresh vegetables or salad, no matter where we travelled in the country. Your email address will not be published. But while you are journeying along the Silk Road, you should embrace the local Uzbek cuisine. Piroshki – Another popular snack available with vegetarian filling of potato, pumpkin and other vegetarian options. s, this time checking out the vegetarian dishes. It is next to a tea house named Bibikhanum Teahouse. It’s perhaps the closest that visitors to Uzbekistan will get to proper home cooking. I suspect these will be the last couple of years of ‘quiet’ before tourism explodes in this incredible country. In all the restaurants we ate at throughout our trip, vegetable shashlik were also available. She also revisits Samarkand and Tashkent restaurants and caf é s, this time checking out the vegetarian dishes. The food was delicious and the small meal we shared cost around £10. The concept is little understood, and even less frequently catered for.’. We were treated to salads, soup and dumplings, along with wine and followed by green tea and cake. A Great Walk: Hiking the Abel Tasman Track. Breads – Uzbekistan had a rich tradition of baking breads and each region (rather each big city) has its characteristic breads. Answer : First of all, Uzbek currency scores very much low in conversion to Indian currency (and to many other currencies). Most of the food I had in Uzbekistan was tasty, menus had at least a full page dedicated vegetarian options, and many of the restaurants understood the concept of … Before I continue, I should caveat this with an acknowledgment that we were travelling in Uzbekistan shortly after harvest season. Uzbekistan was by far the most accessible place to vegetarian, and it set my expectations a little too high. Not only do they serve delicious food, but there is also a beautiful roof top terrace where you can sit out and enjoy your meal. Our 2nd edition Brandt guidebook, published in August 2016, painted a bleak picture for vegetarians looking to visit Uzbekistan. Both Mum and I were exceptionally grateful that we did, since the food was delicious and plentiful. The noodles were usually varying widths and lengths (hand pulled?) Question 3 – What are the good restaurants in the cities of Khiva, Bukhara, Samarkand or Tashkent for vegetarian travellers ? On all occasions, I’d survived and even sometimes thrived! Only a month or so ago, Lonely Planet announced the Central Asian Silk Road region had been given the top spot in it’s ‘Best in Travel 2020 Top 10 Regions‘. However, please feel free to ask any questions ( in the comments section). “Basically, I’m going to starve!” I wailed plaintively. Similar to a kebab, the meat shashlik we encountered throughout Uzbekistan usually consisted of chicken or lamb cooked over hot coals. Also the lunches we took at the places recommended and lead by local guides, so cannot recommend good restaurants.