Around the World in Kazakhstan: My Restaurant Adventures in Almaty and Astana

Spending the summer in Almaty has been a transformative experience for me as a professional traveler and writer. It’s given me a deep dive into what it’s like to live abroad, and now, I want to take you on a journey through the vibrant restaurant scene in Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan offers a diverse culinary landscape with international cuisines at every turn. This was my chance to savor the rich flavors of Central Asia, the Caucasus, Europe, and North America—all in one place.

In this article, I'll share some of the best international cuisines Kazakhstan has to offer, focusing on my personal experiences in Almaty.

Note: These are my personal assessments based on my experiences and may differ from others who’ve dined at these restaurants in Almaty or elsewhere.

Kazakh Cuisine

As Central Asia’s largest city, Almaty is a perfect place to start exploring Kazakh cuisine. My first taste of traditional Kazakh dishes, like horsemeat in beshbarmak and baursak (a round, often cheese-filled bread), was in Astana last year. However, in Almaty, I revisited these dishes at Vechnoe Nebo, a chain originating from Astana. The experience at Saksaul Kazakh Restaurant in Astana had already set the bar high, immersing me in Kazakh food and culture, but Vechno Nebo in Almaty didn’t disappoint.

***Beshbarmak is a traditional Kazakh dish featuring tender horse meat served with carrots, potatoes, and a savory broth.***

Uzbek Cuisine

Uzbek cuisine is probably the most popular—and my favorite—in Central Asia. Plov (or pilaf), a hearty dish of beef, rice, apricots, carrots, and raisins, is widely available across Kazakhstan. I had the best plov in Almaty at Kishlak Uzbek Restaurant and also enjoyed it at Ali Baba Restaurant in Astana with a local friend. No meal is complete without the traditional naan bread, baked in a wood oven, which pairs perfectly with plov. I also recommend Shafran and Navat for their plov dishes. If you’re a dessert lover, try the honey cake, and don’t miss the Tashkent tea, originating from the Uzbek capital.

Note: Plov is a heavy dish and can sometimes raise your blood pressure. I recommend having it for lunch, as it can keep you full for the rest of the day. Also, be mindful that the rich oil and sometimes less-than-ideal hygiene standards might not agree with everyone’s digestive system. I personally experienced some issues and had to take Tylenol afterward.

Uzbek pilaf, or plov, is Central Asia's most beloved dish, made with beef, rice, apricots, carrots, and hard-boiled eggs. It’s one of my favorites and always leaves me feeling satisfied for the entire day.

Georgian Cuisine

Georgian food has gone from being something I’d never heard of to becoming my absolute favorite. Since discovering it two years ago, I’ve tasted Georgian dishes in nine countries, including Georgia itself. I can confidently say that Almaty hosts some of the best Georgian restaurants outside of Georgia. During my time in Almaty, I visited Daredzvani three times, an authentic chain of Georgian restaurants. Each time, the experience was so fulfilling that I stayed full for the entire day. The must-try dish for first-timers is the Adjarian Khachapuri, a boat-shaped pastry filled with wood-oven bread, melted cheese, egg yolk, and butter. The khinkali dumplings and shishlak lamb completed my Georgian tasting experience, especially after a day at Shymbulak Mountain.

Turkish Cuisine

From Central Asia to Turkey, I had the pleasure of indulging in some of my favorite dishes, like Adana Kebap and cheese pide, at Mr. Doner, a Turkish-themed chain with locations across Almaty, including one just across the street from my apartment. My other Turkish dining experience was at Digermen, where I enjoyed my favorite Turkish dish, the Iskender Kebap. This dish, featuring beef topped with a savory sauce over bread and served with yogurt, left me happily full for the day. No Turkish meal is complete without chai tea—a staple in Turkish culture and my go-to for relieving anxiety after a long day. For coffee lovers, I highly recommend the Turkish coffee at Digermen; it’s the perfect end to a satisfying meal.

Iskender Kebap is the most flavorful of all Turkish kebabs and a dish that never fails to satisfy. With tender beef, creamy yogurt, and a bed of bread underneath, it's guaranteed to keep you full for the entire day.

Italian Cuisine

Living in a relatively unknown destination like Kazakhstan can make you crave familiar comforts. Thankfully, Almaty has plenty of Italian restaurant options. One evening, I found myself at Del Papa in Mega Mall. This authentic Italian chain has been around since 2010, and I was delighted by their wood-oven Margherita pizza and cappuccino. I enjoyed it so much that I returned to their Gogol Street location to try the spaghetti bolognese, which filled me up nicely for the following day’s trip.

Coffee Boom

Coffee Boom is Kazakhstan’s most famous coffee chain, with locations in all the major cities, from Astana to Almaty. It’s a fantastic place to meet friends, grab a morning coffee, or get some work done. I spent a lot of time here, tasting different coffees and sampling their diverse food offerings. From comfort foods like hamburgers, pizza, and chicken wings to Georgian dishes and protein smoothies, Coffee Boom has something for everyone, and they offer free Wi-Fi, making it a haven for both travelers and locals. I can’t recommend Coffee Boom enough; it felt like home, and the service was top-notch. If you visit, I suggest trying the Boom large-sized coffee and the beef and chicken sandwich wraps.

Conclusion

My food experiences in Kazakhstan have been nothing short of spectacular. Despite a few digestive issues with the plov, I embraced the international cuisines and enriched my travel experience during my time abroad.

Whether you’re traveling in Kazakhstan or anywhere else in the world, I encourage you to step out of your comfort zone and explore the wide range of international cuisines, just as I did in Almaty.