Osh Restaurants, Teahouses and Cafes: Best Places to Enjoy the Local Cuisine
So I wrote and told a lot about Osh being the food capital of Kyrgyzstan. But where can you enjoy the culinary masteries of this city? Of course at local favorite places (People’s places as I call some of them)! Here is my pick of the best spots in different categories. First, you will find the list of true people’s places, where all the food is great and their building is stacked with people. Then you will find the categories by food and special spots for them, but in between you will see the people’s places again in these lists. So without any further due, let’s go and eat some food.
People’s places
Semeyniy (123, Shakirov St.)
Translated as “Familial” this place is worth its name and a true people’s place. Almost all national dishes here are good. Thus you can order here samsa, laghman, manty, and kebab. Interestingly Semeyniy also offers good foreign dishes, but people usually order the local staff there.
Located across the street from Semeyniy this is another pick for the people’s place. It has both national and foreign cuisine. So order anything local or foreign and you won’t be disappointed. On the third floor of Uluk-Ata, you can go for Turkish cuisine. And the cafe to the right belongs to the same owner. It is called Buka (“bull” in Turkic languages) and specializes in meat-based dishes.
Almaz canteen (272/1, Lenin Ave)
People’s favorite canteen that serves dishes of local cuisine and what became local during the Soviet times. You will find carb-heavy dishes such as “Beefshteks”, and Russian dishes such as borsch.
First, this place doesn’t belong to me (having the same name). So don’t count on a discount. Secondly, it is one of the oldest favorite food spots of the people of Osh. Their signature dish is ribs fried and stewed. They also have decent kebabs, good national cuisine, and a variety of European dishes.
Cafe Islambek (143, Lenin Ave)
Located next to Atabek cafe, Islambek is another favorite place of locals with good national and European cuisine.
Overall great restaurant with national and foreign dishes.
Where to Eat Plov?
Plov is a dish made of rice, meat and several vegetables and spices. These ingredients go through frying, boiling and steaming processes. Plov is available throughout Central Asia, and while the ingredients and cooking techniques are all similar for the most part, Osh plov is different and superior to other versions (Yes, I said it!!!).
Serves different types of plov and a few other dishes that require preorder in advance. It is also located not far away from the Dostuk checkpoint. Thus it is a good stop before heading to (or coming from) Uzbekistan.
Farkhad Plov Center (83, Mamyrov St.)
One of the oldest plov favorite places of locals.
Karavan (84a2, Zakirova St.)
Besides great plov, Karavan can offer a table with great views of the city if arranged in advance.
A place where plov comes with an atmosphere as it is located among tall trees and not far away from Osh’s main river Ak-Buura
Semeyniy (123, Shakirov St.)
One of the few places where Osh-style plov is served in portions. While it is not the best way to enjoy it (better to order in kilos), it is still quite decent.
Where to Eat Lagman?
Lagman is a mixture of handmade noodles and hearty soup. The dough for noodles is prepared from flour, vegetable oil, and salt. The soup consists of meat, bell peppers, tomato paste, celery, cabbage, and spices. If you end up sampling Lagman in Osh, I recommend you to try the classic Uygur Lagman. It is a golden middle between all other variants.
The oldest place serving a great lagman
Laghman Padyshasi (165/5, Lenin Ave.)
The name speaks for itself meaning the King of Lagman. They serve different types of this noodle stew. I recommend going after classic Uyghur Lagman.
Gulnaz and Semeyniy (from people’s places)
Simply a good lagman
Address: 21/1a, Masaliev avenue (Gulnaz); 123, Shakirov street (Semeyniy)
Where to Eat Samsa?
Samsa is made of dough stuffed with meat and vegetables. In Osh, you mostly find samosa filled with meat and onion, potato, or pumpkin. However, the cooking technique for Osh samosa is quite different. Nowadays, while most countries use electric ovens, Osh-style samosas are still baked in a tandoor. Tandoor refers to the traditional oven made of clay.
Means “Afghanian”. Not because the founder is of Afghan nationality. But because he is probably the Soviet-Afghan war veteran. It is located on the edge of Osh, but a taxi trip is worth it, as they serve the best MEGA huge samsa. But if it is too big for you, then they also offer smaller ones.
This spot is in the same location as Afghanets and it similarly serves good samsa of different sizes.
With a better location in downtown Osh, Aydar-Ata offers good tandyr samsa and some other national and foreign dishes.
Semeyniy (123, Shakirov St.)
With a better location in downtown Osh, Aydar-Ata offers good tandyr samsa and some other national and foreign dishes.
Where to Eat Manty (Dumplings)?
Manty is a Central Asian variation of dumplings. Their consistency is similar to samosa’s, however they differ in shape and unlike samosa they are steamed on water (and rarely fried). In most cases, manty is served with a tomato-pepper sauce or with sour cream. Depending on the time of the year, you can find different types of Central Asia variations of manty.
Oybek Mantykana (362, Kurmanjan-Datka St.)
The most popular place to enjoy manty, mayda-manty (mini-manty) and green dumplings. The place was a true people’s place, but after expanding the building and switching to self-service, the place lost some of its followers.
Mayda-manty (590, Kurmanjan-Datka St.)
Probably the most welcoming, friendly, and atmospheric cafe for dumplings and some rare dishes like chickpeas stewed in sheep fat (believe, it is delicious).
5-manty (87, Kurmanjan-Datka St.)
Popular among students for serving good dumplings, fast and reasonably priced.
Despite its location, it is a popular place to grab dumplings in bigger amounts.
Where to Eat Shashlyk (kebab on skewer)
Shashlyk will be adored by meat lovers as it is only meat on a skewer. This dish is truly special due to its grilled taste and the tenderness of the meat. The tenderness comes from an overnight marinating process. The meat is cut in cubes and put into a compound made of onions, herbs, and spices. The next day, the marinated meat is threaded onto skewers and grilled over a coal fire.
Kebab-Saray (473, Kurmanjan-Datka St.)
True meat lovers, don’t you dare to miss this place and its kebabs if you are coming to Osh. Lamb, beef, chicken, minced lamb, minced beef, mushroom, liver, and many other types of kebab can be found here. Also, I highly recommend their shakarap (tomato, onion, and basil salad) and suzma (dense strained yogurt).
This people’s spot has great kebabs. Go for them even if you’ve ordered something else already.
Where is the Best Coffee?
Osh is a tea city. But it is also modern and there are true coffee fans here. So here are some options for those who love coffee.
Brio cafe (211, Kurmanjan-Datka St.)
The best coffee in Osh. Approved by my Italian and French guests. You won’t find the national dishes here. But if you are tired of going with Central Asian dishes in a row and want to have a break from local food, then come to Brio.
One of the popular coffee shops in Bishkek has a branch in Osh. Sierra has good coffee and dishes (Mexican for example) which are quite hard to find in other places.
Best Foreign Cuisines
Tsarskiy Dvor (324B/2, Lenin Ave.)
With a great location in the city center under the centuries-old sycamore trees, Tsarskiy Dvor is atmospheric with a decent cuisine.
Dolce-Vita (108a, Shakirov St.)
It is the best Italian restaurant in Osh. Yes, it is the only one, but it is still the best. Try to get a table on their balcony. Very atmospheric, especially during the summer evenings.
Ethno-cafe (212/1, Lenin Ave.)
Perfectly located in downtown Osh, under majestic trees, comfortable tables, great service, and great food. And within walking distance from the best hotels in Osh.
Good cuisine and great design.
Where are the best desserts?
Kulikovskiy (209, Kurmanjan-Datka St.)
It is a nationwide confectionery that usually has tables inside where you can enjoy cakes, pies, and decent coffee.
One of the best cakes in Osh. They usually don’t have tables, so just grab a cake back to your place.
Macaron by Sabina T. (302, Lenin Ave.)
Just give them $17 and get a box full of delicious macaron desserts with different flavors and ingredients. Works well as a truce offer when your significant half is angry at you.