Under the great blue dome of a Central Asian bazaar, traders call out and hold out samples: a dried apricot, a sugared almond, a sliver of melon on the point of a knife. Pyramids of spices, stacks of round bread and sacks of raisins stretch in every direction. Nobody minds if you taste before you buy. In fact, they insist.
Central Asia’s bazaars are the best places to eat and shop in Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan: dried fruit and nuts, tandir bread, samsa, fresh melons and pomegranates, spices, sweets and hot food stalls selling plov, lagman and shashlik. The most famous include Chorsu Bazaar in Tashkent, Siab Bazaar in Samarkand, Osh Bazaar in Bishkek and the Green Bazaar in Almaty. Food in these Muslim-majority countries is halal as standard, with a few exceptions in Kazakhstan noted below. Prices are low and bargaining is expected for larger purchases.
This guide covers what to eat and buy, the major bazaars, how to bargain, halal points and useful phrases.
What to eat
| Food | What it is |
|---|---|
| Samsa | Tandir-baked pastries with meat or pumpkin; see Uzbek samsa |
| Non | Round tandir bread; see Uzbek bread |
| Plov | Rice with meat and carrots from huge cauldrons at lunchtime; see plov in Samarkand |
| Lagman | Hand-pulled noodles with meat and vegetables |
| Shashlik | Skewers of lamb, beef or chicken grilled over charcoal |
| Manty | Large steamed dumplings |
What to buy
- Dried fruit – apricots (with and without stones), raisins in many colours, figs, mulberries.
- Nuts – almonds, walnuts, pistachios, apricot kernels, often roasted with salt.
- Melons – famous Uzbek melons in late summer and autumn.
- Spices – cumin, coriander, red pepper, and plov spice mixes.
- Navat – crystallised sugar, dissolved in tea.
- Halva and sweets – sesame halva, nut brittles and parvarda (pulled sugar sweets).
- Kurt – salty dried yoghurt balls, a Kazakh and Kyrgyz snack.
The great bazaars
- Chorsu Bazaar, Tashkent – a huge blue-domed market hall with spices, bread and dried fruit, and food stalls outside.
- Siab Bazaar, Samarkand – next to the Bibi-Khanym Mosque; famous for Samarkand bread and dried fruit.
- Bukhara’s trading domes – historic covered markets in the old town, better for crafts, with food nearby.
- Osh Bazaar, Bishkek – a sprawling, lively market for food and goods.
- Green Bazaar, Almaty – a large covered market with dried fruit, dairy, meat and prepared foods.
Halal note: Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan are Muslim-majority, and bazaar food is halal as standard. In Kazakhstan, some large markets, such as Almaty’s Green Bazaar, have separate sections selling pork and horse meat; buy meat from stalls marked halal. Horse meat is common across the region; the Hanafi school traditionally regards it as disliked. See our halal food travel guide.
How to shop
- Taste first. Traders expect it.
- Ask the price per kilo, then agree on the weight before they bag it.
- Bargain politely for bigger purchases; smile, and walk away if the price does not suit you.
- Carry small notes; many traders do not have change.
- Go in the morning for fresh bread and the best produce.
- Watch your belongings in crowded areas.
Packing food to take home
Dried fruit, nuts, spices and sweets travel well and make excellent gifts. Ask traders to vacuum-pack or double-bag them, and check your destination’s customs rules for plant and food products.
Useful phrases
| Say | Language | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Qancha? / Kancha? | Uzbek / Kyrgyz | How much? |
| Sko’lko stoit? | Russian (widely spoken) | How much is it? |
| Bir kilo | Uzbek | One kilo |
| Halol mi? | Uzbek | Is it halal? |
| Rahmat / Rakhmet | Uzbek / Kazakh | Thank you |
Frequently asked questions
What is the best bazaar in Central Asia?
Chorsu in Tashkent, Siab in Samarkand, Osh Bazaar in Bishkek and the Green Bazaar in Almaty are the best known.
Is bazaar food halal?
In Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, yes as standard. In Kazakhstan some markets sell pork in separate sections; buy from halal stalls.
What should I buy at a Central Asian bazaar?
Dried fruit, nuts, spices, bread, halva and, in season, melons.
More from the region: beshbarmak and plov in Baku. See all Uzbekistan food guides.
Sources
- Uzbekistan Travel – official tourism site.
- Chorsu Bazaar.
