As the capital of Kyrgyzstan and an evergrowing city, Bishkek has a multitude of places for eating, drinking, relaxing, working and, and, and. We are happy to lend you a hand when looking for the right place at the right times.
On this site you will find a list of recommendations for restaurants. We have been to all these places, or at least some of them when it comes to chains like Navat, and can without a doubt tell you: go there! Let’s check them out.
Local cuisine
Navat – one of, if not the major local food chains in Bishkek. They have a dozen restaurants, some bigger, some smaller, all of them with a cozy vibe and great food. You can ask for an english menu. Prices are a bit higher but still very reasonable. They also offer some western(ized) options and food from the greater Asian region. Make sure to come around noon if you want to eat Plov, since it is only cooked once and not available the whole day once gone. Link to Google Maps
Mubarak – there a two of them in the city centre. They offer all the usual local dishes as well as some good (ice) coffee! Their menu is a bit smaller than Navat’s but punches in the same weight class. It is also an explicitly Halal place. To top it off, they propose to give 10% of their earnings to charity. A bunch of reasons to check this place out! Link to Google Maps
Omar ne Hayam – another ethnic stylized restaurant. The decoration is beautiful and vibes of the old silk road, Samarkand and Bukhara (Uzbekistan). They offer a a considerable amount of the local cuisine and some additions from the greater region. Ask for an english menu. In the outside seating area you can also smoke Shisha after 6 p.m. Link to Google Maps
Apamdyn Kattamasy – a truly local, ethnic food place, situated between new, high-rising buildings. You will sit on tapchans or inside Yurths, in a backyard that takes you out of the city and into a small oasis. They have a small menu but you will be satisfied with the usual suspects of Lagman, Manti, Link to Google Maps
Fakir – Lagman? Anyone want Lagman? Then visit Fakir! It is in a back alley and a truly local place, buzzing with people at most times throughout the day. The different variations of Lagman are equally delicious, make sure to try several! They also have other options, but Lagman is the major food to grab here. Prices are very good. Link to Google Maps
Vkus Vostovka – One more place to enjoy central asian cuisine, well frequented and stuffed with locals, a good indicator. The prices are very good and the food simply delicious. The menu is not too big and you can’t go wrong with any of the typical dishes. Link to Google Maps
Authentic non-local food
Potayski Friends & Izakaya – breaking with the local cuisine, but not moving far, we have this Thai place that is really good. A compact selection of well known Thai dishes that offer a nice option to step out of the wheel of central asian food. They have an english menu and the prices are good. Last time we checked, they also offered “business lunch” options. Link to Google Maps
Emperor Cafe – Another flavorful restaurant and a great place to visit as a group, since they have the typical rotating tables. You can expect a great variety of authentic chinese meals, like da pan ji (Great Plate Chicken) as seen on the picture. Link to Google Maps
Furusato – A bit more on the expensive side for Kyrgyzstan but very much worth it is this beautiful japanese restaurant. Authentic food and a pleasent atmosphere draw locals and foreigners alike to this place. The menu is in english, too. Link to Google Maps
Chicken Star – Korea is not that far away and some Korean places can be found around the city. One of them is this small establishment, situated right at Erkendik park. If you are craving Fried Chicken and KFC is “too basic”, look no further. Additionally, they offer a nice selection of typical dishes. There is an english menu available. Link to Google Maps
Of course there are many more restaurants spread all over Bishkek. We will frequently update this post, as we visit more and more places that we would like to share with you. So don’t miss out and check back!