When in Uzbekistan: 11 Traditional Dishes to Eat in Khiva, Bukhara, Samarkand, and Tashkent

Food is often closely tied with a country’s geographical makeup and history, and nowhere did I find that to be more true than when I was traveling across Uzbekistan. The land-locked territory, known for her ties with the historic Silk Road, boasts an eclectic cuisine that is heavily influenced by Turkic culinary traditions across Central Asia.

Here are 11 traditional Uzbek dishes I sampled during my one-week trip across Khiva, Bukhara, Samarkand, and Tashkent, that you shouldn’t miss if you’re in any of these cities!

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When in Uzbekistan: Museum of Wine-Making Named After Khovrenko @ Samarkand – Sample 10 Soviet Wines for US $10 In A Room With Wes Anderson Vibes

Mention Samarkand, and the first image that springs to mind is the iconic Registan and Street of Masoleums. But did you know this city is also home to her own Museum of Wine-Making?

Thanks to Uzbekistan’s strategic location along the historic Silk Road, wine has evolved from an item of trade, to a fixture in her local gastronomic offerings, passed down from generation to generation in vineyards scattered across the country. Today, visitors to the Museum of Wine-Making Named After Khovrenko.

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While wine connoisseurs typically flock to the likes of France and Australia, this historic building with a turquoise exterior is worth checking out if you’re killing time before boarding your next inter-city train… which is exactly what we did!

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When in Uzbekistan: 6 Tips for Travelling to Uzbekistan

It seems like only yesterday that I embarked on my virgin trip to Uzbekistan in Central Asia. Yet, looking back on the dates of my backlog of unedited travel photos has served as a stark reminder of how much time has passed since my first (yes, first!) backpacking trip and the quagmire of work and distractions got in the way.

But as they say, better late than never. So I’m back to revisit old memories and hopefully, shed some light on this unexplored part of the world!

But first things first… where is Uzbekistan?! 

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