Good food does not immediately come to one’s mind when one thinks about Karaganda. In fact, it is often the images of chimneys blasting toxic fumes that come to mind, which is, in a manner of speaking, the opposite of good food… Good news is, the food scene in Karaganda will surprise you for the better, as even for vegetarians there is a lot to eat and enjoy in this unassuming little town in the middle of nowhere. Read on to find out where I had the opportunity to dine in during my short weekend getaway in Karaganda.
Napo Pizza – https://go.2gis.com/pdo2gc
Being so close to Nappo Pizza in its naming, which used to be my favourite pizzeria in Istanbul, I had great expectations from Napo Pizza. Were those expectations met? I think so. It was not the best dough I had, but the sauce and the cheese more than made up for it. The price tag (coming to around 6 USD at the time) was justifiable, and staff was friendly. The menu was huge, though there is not much to write home about when it comes to their vegetarian pies. I will certainly eat here again if I go back to Karaganda though, so this should be on your list.
Rada and Krishan – https://go.2gis.com/wklgo
It is hard to explain just how good I feel about Rada and Krishan, as it is an oasis of sorts for vegetarians in the middle of the steppes that are full of meat-eaters. You can enjoy some tasty home cooking here, and everything that is on display is vegetarian or vegan so no need to worry about any of that jazz! My only criticism is that they microwave everything before they serve it, if there was a system to keep the food on heaters, I am sure that most would not mind the increase in prices to offer such a better service to their customers. At least that is my two cents on the issue.
Tochka Cheburekov – https://go.2gis.com/plqtx
Tochka Cheburekov specializes in chebureks, which should be clear from its name… This Crimean Tatar dish is often made with minced meat but here even vegetarians can taste it thanks to an amazing spinach variety that they dish out. Pair that with their “Tashkent tea” (full of lemon and honey) and you will be on your way to an excellent dinner. Things could have been perfect if I did not decide to pig out and also order a cheese and potato mini cheburek set, which were both unsatisfactory due to their less-than-ideal filling, quantity, and quality wise. Nevertheless, order wisely, and you will leave this establishment quite happy.
Korean Street Food – https://go.2gis.com/esfhtj
Karaganda is home to a plethora of different ethnicities, and you will see that quite clearly thanks to the vast number of cuisines available in town. Koreans are not an exception to this, and Korean eateries are somewhat common for a city of its size. The Korean Street Food does an exceptionally good job at welcoming and farewelling its visitors, all the while making sure that they come and stay for a good food, and not just for the amicable staff! I think their gimbap needs some work, but the ramen was quite easy on the stomach and the prices were easy on my wallet.
