Let us continue our journey across the dining scene of Tashkent this week, with a look at its more Asian offerings. There is a surprisingly wide selection of cuisines that hail from the Far East in this admittedly huge Central Asian capital, so buckle up for an exciting ride!
Restaurant Halal Nur Malaysia – https://maps.app.goo.gl/qcQ8XtXLot3HdEdN7
I had my first encounter with Malaysian food many years ago at another Halal Nur Malaysia, this time in Istanbul. Call it coincidence or fate, it just so happened that the owner of that branch has a father (shocker, I know), who happens to run the branch in Tashkent! It was not just family ties that made me shocked here though, it was also the quality of the food. Rotis had an amazing flavour of their own, but that lentil-based sauce certainly enhanced it, and the nasi goreng tom yum hit all the right notes and was made (actually) spicy on my request. The most memorable part of the whole dining experience, other than that amazing coincidence and food itself was their special tea, which had an amazing foam and a mesmerizing flavour. This is a must visit for anyone passing through Tashkent.
The Host Indian Restaurant – https://maps.app.goo.gl/zMuM9RoPBk1Wx4CNA
Unfortunately, I cannot praise what some refer to as the best Indian restaurant in town to the same degree… Despite having an amazing curry, the actual “kofta” part of malai kofta lacked a lot, both in flavour and in texture. Jeera rice was okay but nothing to write home about, and the breadbasket saved the day though it was missing a potato stuffed paratha as it was written on the menu. Despite this and some other miscommunication along the line, we were charged with an exorbitant 20% service fee, which does leave a bad taste in one’s mouth. After some improvements this place could be something, but as it stands now, I cannot really recommend it.
Furusato – https://maps.app.goo.gl/MazuC7ieQZRoHqDMA
What I can recommend, however, especially if you have some cash to spend, is Furusato. This is, by far, the most expensive meal I had during this trip, but even then, it ceased to amaze me with just how much it deserved every single sum of it. Being so far away from any big body of water, eating this fresh seafood was not something I expected and yet it was a reality thanks to the excellent staff at Furusato. Every single piece of rice tasted as amazing as the next, and the fish topped it all off so perfectly. The miso soup was full of fish, and the sides were quite decent as well. Sure, the price is high, but it is well worth it. I also appreciated the little gesture at the end with a tiny slice of dessert brought for me to taste. Certainly visit this establishment if you like sushi, or Japanese food in general!
Alfa Bonjuk – https://maps.app.goo.gl/Z3MMmxMj3yr56Hg66
If you prefer the Korean peninsula’s food offerings over the Japanese archipelago, then you may be better off visiting Alfa Bonjuk, or ordering from them as I did. This is yet another expensive restaurant, which is quite uncharacteristic of Uzbekistan. However, you will be paying for real authentic food made by actual Korean people here, as it was the case in Furusato. Everything tasted divine, and their gesture with some free dessert certainly won my heart. Much recommend, to say the least.
Yapona Mama
Uzbekistan has a surprisingly developed franchise scene when it comes to its food industry, and quite a good chunk of them offer some decent eats as well. Yapona Mama is one of them. If you want to get some sushi on the cheaper side of the spectrum (though still definitely not cheap, remember, this country has no access to sea), it cannot hurt to order some from Yapona Mama. I especially appreciated their tightly packed soy sauce and wasabi, as well as pickled ginger, which all complemented the sushi well. Sushi itself is good, but the rice game could be improved.
Wok
Last but not least, if you are in the mood for something cheap and filling, and frankly mediocre, you can never go wrong with some noodle delivery. Wok serves a huge variety of fried noodles, and some start as low as around 2 USD per serving. If you want something a bit “extra” and without the usual suspects like beef and chicken, then you will pay around 4 USD but even then, it is a pretty decent deal. Keep that in mind if you want to change up your meals a bit when you are visiting Tashkent.
