To my surprise, Samarkand seemed to be the more touristic of the two when compared to a gem like Bukhara. This automatically translates to it having more visitors, which almost inevitably means having more of a variety when it comes to its dining scene. This is then reinforced by the fact that simply put, this is the bigger of the two cities, which just adds to the numbers. All of this is not to say that Samarkand has a better dining scene than Bukhara. In my view, the latter excels in that with a classic case of quality defeating quantity. However, there are some interesting things to note about Samarkand’s gastronomical value as well, as it certainly provides enough food and entertainment to last a few days even for the pickiest of eaters. Let us now dive right into them!
Old City Restaurant – https://maps.app.goo.gl/bJSLG1ZqWiPyn8GKA
Uzbek cuisine is not very vegetarian-friendly, to put it lightly. Meat is at the center of almost all dishes, which makes it nigh impossible to try this cuisine for those that do not eat meat. This issue is mitigated to a certain degree thanks to the Old City Restaurant found in Samarkand. Now, a fair warning to all that wish to go there. For Uzbek standards, this a rather expensive place to eat at, its portions sizes are small, and the food is good but lacks protein and is certainly not excellent. I can think of many different ways to cook these dishes meat free and yet make them full of protein and tastier, such as using some eggs and more nuts for the Samarkand Pilaf. With that being said, if you want to try Uzbek dishes minus the meat, do pay this establishment a visit. It will be an experience for sure.
Café Punjab – https://maps.app.goo.gl/b9JHNpcjq2L49tYs7
I do not know whether it is coming here after enjoying the best Indian food of my life in Bukhara, or the fact that it took them fifty minutes to bring my food, but Café Punjab simply did not live up to my standards at the time of eating there. It was not bad per se, I mean everything tasted fine, it is just it was not some place I would return to. Service definitely needs to be improved, and the rice can use some more work as well. Kadhai paneer did taste quite amazing though, so kudos for that!
Pizza UZ – https://maps.app.goo.gl/b1qkNj2kxfhgAVPw9
Perhaps the most interesting part of my trip down south was visiting this tiny pizza joint in Samarkand. The owner turned out to have worked in a pizzeria I once visited in St. Petersburg, when he was still working there himself! I guess we do live in a small world. All those years of experience culminated in this unassuming little spot, where I had the best pizza I had in Uzbekistan. The dough was so airy and tasty that it is hard to top. Do not let its exterior fool you, give this place a chance and you will see why I praise it so much. Oh also, though I did not ask if it was homemade, the garlic sauce served here tastes better than the one Papa John’s is known for so make sure to order one of that as well!
Shikugyong – https://maps.app.goo.gl/4GZAPVzxCWdCGySj7
When I arrived at Samarkand, it was pretty cold. Couple that with the fact that I was staying in a tiny hotel room with little to no means to heat it up, I was in no mood to go out and look for some food. It just so happened that this joint was delivering spicy calamari stew straight to your doorstep, and what a stew it was! It is apparently run by some Koreans, as some comments suggest, and if I may say so myself, as the quality of the food shows. It is a must try if you are into Korean cuisine and are in Samarkand. I suppose all those Korean tourists must have eventually demanded a proper Korean place in town, and this seems to be it.
Arba Istanbul Restaurant – https://maps.app.goo.gl/Ek633NCybWixyrjA8
Some superb Korean food was not the only thing I ordered to my hotel in Samarkand. I also ordered some subpar but still tasty Turkish food from a newly opened restaurant. Though their cheese pide could use some more work, the ezogelin soup tasted as it should, and the pistachio baklava certainly was top notch. It can be visited, especially if you are craving some Turkish food.
