If you're craving to transport yourself to Central Asia, to imagine the ancient world of the Great Silk Road, and to taste what kind of food Aladdin would eat, then "Samarkand" restaurant is your must go destination. The traditional Uzbek plov is highly praised throughout Central Asia. You will not be disappointed here. I also highly recommend their tamdori samsa. The owners are ethic Uzbek family from the ancient city of Samarkand. Hence the restaurant name. The restaurant is cozy and yet spacious enough to host special events. This restaurant is a genuine representation of the Uzbek culture Central Asian hospitality. Everyone is welcome! read more

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Loved their mantis! They were quick to get my order and take out some. The soup inside was warm and the mantis went well with the sour cream they came with. Definitely reminiscent of lamb meat noodle soup and dishes I got to try in Xinjiang. Would be curious to try more of Uzbek cuisine in the future. The restaurant was nicely decorated with a market next door. read more

Samarkand Restaurant - Mantu with meat 3 Pieces - Uzbek Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

I was excited to try this place as it is one of the only known Uzbek food in MN and I wish I could give this a higher rating. There was a problem with one of the dishes, so that's why it's only at a 3. My friend and I got the lagman, tandoori bread, assorted shish kebabs , and small plov to share. Overall, the food was flavorful and portions were generous. We really enjoyed the lagman's deep flavor. The bread was just okay, as well as the plov. We got a small size, but it was still pretty big. The assorted shish kebabs came with lula, lamb, and chicken. The lula and lamb were great! However, I took a bite of the chicken skewer and it was cold and ended up being raw. We checked the rest of the chicken kebab and found that while the middle pieces were cooked, then ends weren't. We brought this to the server's attention and he was very apologetic and immediately took it away for us. It was not the server's fault for sure. He informed us that he would let the cooks know and offered some alternatives (1. they remake the chicken skewers, 2. remake the whole dish (and I guess we would still be charged?), or 3. just remove it from our check). We chose the third option. Overall, service was friendly and nice. They were just swamped because there was also a banquet that was going on. I wonder if that also contributed to what happened with our food. While I was disappointed, I am willing to give this another try some time later. I would just be hyperaware of how meats are cooked. read more

Samarkand Restaurant - plov, assorted, shish kebabs, lagman, bread - Uzbek Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Heard very good things about this place and it lived up to all the hype! Kind of an awkward table layout in a large room so it doesn't feel like a classic restaurant but that didn't take away from the experience really. The server was exceptionally nice and helped us pick out everything we ordered. No regrets on anything, it was all amazing! Will definitely be back to try some different options. read more

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Nice cozy place good for romantic night or large party event. The ethnic Uzbekistan food has a very distinct west Asian aromatic spices to their food and they are delicious. Portion is quite large though the price is a little bit on the high side. We like our choices of Plov Samarkand and Qovurma Lagman read more

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Since I have never had Uzbeki food before, I was excited to come here to try whatever they had, and I was not disappointed. With a bit of research online beforehand, I decided to order some of the most common dishes in Uzbeki culture, and ended up getting quite a few dishes so I could try a bit of everything. I enjoyed pretty much all the food that I tried. My favorite dish was the samsa because the beef and lamb were seasoned very well, the puff pastry was crispy, and the sauce added a very flavorful layer of succulence. The mantu also had very seasoned meat and tasted like a bigger version of Chinese soup dumplings. I dipped some of it in the chili pepper flakes that my server gave me and it tasted amazing. The lagman soup was also extremely flavorful. It had a good amount of vegetables and very tender beef and hand pulled noodles in bone broth. I also absolutely loved the plav which had super tender and flavorful beef, and carrots, pilaf rice, and chickpeas that were seasoned very well. The amount of oil in the dish also provided a layer of flavor I believe. My friends ordered the khasip and the kebabs and I tasted some of the meat, which was not as tender but still very flavorful, especially the kebabs. The sausage, which contained minced beef, heart, lungs, and rice, resembled what I had in Northern China when I lived there. The nostalgic factor made me enjoy the sausage a lot as well. After lunch, I went next door to the Samarkand Market, and was pleasantly surprised to find many Russian products including chocolate, kvas, pelmeni, and more. I even spoke to the store owners in Russian and picked up their newspaper. The entire restaurant and market experience made me super happy and I will definitely return. read more

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I asked the hotel for restaurant recommendations that provided complimentary shuttles. I choose this restaurant from the list provided by the hotel because I am not familiar with Uzbek cuisine even though I traveled to the Silk Road via Uzbekistan. This restaurant is located in a tiny unassuming strip mall consisting of other restaurants that provided other cuisines. When I entered the restaurant, it looked barren. It was not until I entered the dining room that it came alive with colorful murals, colorful walls and two televisions streaming non-stop pictures of Uzbekistan. It felt like I was back on the Silk Road. The menu was strange because I did not recognize anything on the menu. I asked the waiter to order for me. I must say, the bread is a "must". It was so interesting to look at. When it was served, it was a big gigantic deep fried ball. As it cooled down, it shrunk to a flat looking tortilla or pita bread. It was so delicious that I ordered another for dinner and another to take back to my hotel. I had no idea what I was eating. The food looked like any other recognizable dish except that it was cooked with different spices, herbs, etc. The clientele did not speak English. I am assuming they spoke Uzbek. The table next to me ordered a set menu that was served in tiers. That looked really good and yummy looking. It was an interesting experience for me. There was only one person working in the dining area. He did everything from taking orders, cleaning tables to serving food. He worked efficiently and fast with a nice attitude. read more

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Love coming here! Immediately noticed the new decor and the mirror subway tiles (gorgeous!). We were greeted upon entry and seated right away during dinner time. On this visit, we chose to enjoy the Meat Paradise -- has a variety of items that stood out on the menu. Started with a bowl of Lagman Soup because it was so delicious on a previous visit! Now to the Meat Paradise -- - chalagach (lamb chops) - absolutely perfect cook and flavor! - Cornish game hen - so juicy and loved every bite! - skewers - Lula, Chicken, and Beef. All are addicting! Don't make me pick a favorite! - Khasip (sausage) - very good texture and flavor. Reminded me of my mom's porcupine meatballs (meatball mixture with rice) and brought me back to memories with my family. Highly recommend everything at Samarkand and recommend my friends often to come try! Thank you for another great experience and look forward to seeing you again! read more

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In town for business and stop here on my last night for dinner. They provided sauce for the lamb chops, and though it made it better, the lamb was fine by itself. I'll need to stop by next time I'm in the neighborhood. read more

Samarkand Restaurant - Lamb chops - Uzbek Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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I recently visited Minneapolis (Early August 2025) and my Uber Driver, who was from Tajikistan told me about this hidden gem. The last thing I would have fathomed was getting a taste of Rego Park or Uzbekistan in the middle of Minneapolis. So to be fair, this gem of a restaurant is located outside of Minneapolis. If you have tried Bukharian and/or Uzbeki food don't be a fool. The food from this part of the world is truly magnificent. Try the Lagman Soup, it's absolutely to die for. The Uzbeki bread was OK - not bad; However - not like you can get in Rego Park. Meats are incredible clean, which is not a surprise - because everything is Halal. I prefer Kosher, so this is the next best thing. Wait staff are incredible courteous, polite and patient. Plenty of parking; - I traveled by Uber and it was easy to find and easy to get an Uber out back to my hotel. Steak Skewers were amazing and served over a bed of delicious rice. I really enjoyed the Fresh Salad. Seating was comfortable. Wait staff speaks English; - typically in restaurants like this - good luck, you are on your own. - Thank you for truly a wonderful evening. A+ read more

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Highlights: Exquisite Uzbeki decor makes for a great ambiance Mantu (like dumplings) and Chuchvara (like wonton soup) recommended Food: Plov Samarkand (small) Mantu Chuchvara The chuchvara soup is similar to wonton soup though it has a distinctly Uzbeki flavor. There was some subtle spicing, and what I appreciated was that it was appropriately salted (in contrast to some wonton soups which can seem salty). Mantu was my favorite! These are similar to dumplings though this, too, had a unique set of spices/flavors. It was NOT spicy hot. Anyway the meat filling was tender and it was very delicious. Plov Samarkand When I asked the server what was the most uniquely Uzbeki dish, this is what he pointed to. I ordered the small. Perhaps because I had already eaten the mantu and chuchvara, I still had leftover plov. I found the flavor to be blander for the plov than the mantu/chuchvara. Also some of the rice seemed especially chewy, slightly less cooked than what I am used to (which could be my own preconceptions). I don't know if it was because I was full or maybe I don't know what the authentic taste is. I am glad I tried the plov (because it's as well-known an Uzbeki dish as can be said for Uzbeki cuisine in the US), though i preferred the Mantu (my #1) and the chuchvara (#2) over the plov. Service: The service was good, though they only had one server for the whole restaurant so he was understandably busy as more patrons arrived. I arrived around 6:00 on a Tuesday and there was only one other table. Though by the time I left it was at least half full. Ambiance: The decor was exquisite (see pictures and videos), seemingly matching some of the famous mosques of Samarkand, Uzbekistan. There was also a stage for live music. There wasn't any the Tuesday night I was there (not that I was expecting any). read more

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Had a wonderful dinner here with some friends. We got the Meat Paradise platter, Tandoori Bread and Chuchvara soup to share. Everything was so flavorful, cooked fresh and piping hot served quickly to us. The waiter was extremely helpful and kind to us as it was our first time here. I can't wait to go back! 10/10, cheers! read more

Samarkand Restaurant - Meat Paradise - Uzbek Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

A delightful restaurant hidden in a suburban strip mall. It's an Uzbek restaurant with some Russian flairs. When we walked in, it's as if we were transported somewhere else with the decor from floor to ceiling. We stopped by after a hike and I felt underdressed, though the wait staff did not blink. Even though I am a vegetarian I found plenty to eat, making a meal primarily out of starters An excellent lentil soup to start. The potato and mushroom dish was out of this world. The beet salad was an unexpected take -with a creamy dressing. The avocado salad was refreshing. My companion enjoyed the meat buns. The wait staff was attentive without being overbearing. I really liked this place. read more

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I want to love this place so much but the food is very mediocre. We tried a lot of the offerings and I will start with the items I liked: Mantu - the dough was delicate and the meat filling was well seasoned and tasty. The Lagman was also pretty good - it is unexpected and unique and flavorful. My kids had the Chuchvara, which is similar to Russian pelmeni. Here is what I would stay away from: Plov - we had suck high expectations for this dish because it is an Uzbek staple but it was so bland! My husband got the large portion of the plov and it only had two edible pieces of beef, the rest was all grizzle. I would also steer clear of the desserts, we tried the Napoleon and the Medovik (honey cake) and they were both clearly store bought and awful. Do yourself a favor, skip the dessert. There is an Eastern European market (Fruit and Fish) two doors down that has much better desserts for sale. read more

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Central Asian & East European fusion cuisine This place is located in a sleepy suburban mall But don't let that fools you. As soon as you stepped into the dining room, you are transported to the exotic Samarkand. The decor are just sublime, Service are amazing like you're in a palace The foods!!! We started with a pickle plates, I don't know how those pickles can be that cunchy Tabaka - Broiled Cornish Hen. I've heard about this dish but have never tried it. It is marinated and fried under a brick. It is so juicy and crispy in all the right places. The marination is heavenly. Liver Kabob - This kebab is cooked perfectly, at this time...This can easily be the best cooked "liver" in town Chalagach - Grilled lamb chop, This again was seasoned so perfectly. I can't find any flaws some of this dish came with French fries which is good, but please order Rice on the side. There is a really humble dish of "Potatoes with Mushrooms" (appetizers). But is just so good. The potato were sliced thinly and crispy on edges, topped with sauteed onion and mushrooms. It is just flavor bomb. Also please order the bread. So My recommendation is order everything! HIghly recommend this place. Looks like great place for party too. read more

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Amazing cuisine. Everyone's cooked and season perfection . We will def be back in the fire

I enjoyed an excellent weekend lunch. Spiced rice with beef and carrots (plov) was excellent, accompanied by their delicious beet salad. My companions enjoyed lentil soup, grilled shrimp skewers, and ground beef/lamb skewers with good french fries. Service was great and nice ambiance. I look forward to returning for the same unique meal. read more

Great food! Great service! Perfect for family and big gatherings! Definitely a hidden gem!

Amazing food that this restaurant make from their home country! If you wanna listen from delicate high-quality food, this is the spot!

This place is a trip. It's def worth going for the experience. Whether that's the kitschy music or decor, it leans in. The food was simple but good. Would recommend for a group of friends wanting to venture out to the burbs and do something different. read more

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Excellent good, except for the Samarkand bread, we had authentic one near Philly so this doesn't match up. Their hospitality and vibes in the restaurant were great, little hidden gem in the back of the strip mall. read more

Samarkand Restaurant - Uzbek Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

I finally made it to Samarkand! I have a friend that always talks about this gem and finally found the day to come check it out. We ordered the assorted shish kebab, delicious and well seasoned meats. The Qovurma Lagman, noodley delicious meat and well seasoned with veggies-- guys this was really good! I will order this again next time I visit. I also ordered myself a soup chuchvara, dumpling soup and was perfect. Lightly salted and tasted like vegetable broth-- simple yet hearty with the delicious meat-filled dumplings. For drink, we got ourselves some tea and afterwards the pahlava which is like baklava but slightly different. Our favorite was the napoleon cake. Napoleon was crispy, sweet but not overpoweringly sweet-- so it went perfect with our tea. I recommend this restaurant, the seasonings are gentle and just right. Initially I was afraid it would be too seasoned for me but it was perfect. I heard on Fridays and Saturdays they have music and live shows, I need to come back for that! read more

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For a foodie, I'm pretty picky. I was dreading coming to Samarkand because I was worried I wouldn't be able to find anything that I like on the menu. As per usual, I was wrong. I ended up ordering a Caesar Salad and Steak Shawarma Wrap. I feel like I need new adjectives to describe how good they were. I was blown away by how savory the wrap was and how well it heated up for lunch the next day. The salad? Couldn't put it down. I would definitely come back for the food alone. What really solidified the experience, however, was our server. First of all, he was fluent in English and Russian which was convenient considering we were celebrating someone's 25th year in the United States from Russia. He was also incredibly patient, kind, and skilled in the wine department! It's tough for me to find red wines I like, but he took my preferences into account and brought me the sweetest red they had which was super yummy. I would bump my four star review to a five star review had the environment been a little more "dinner-like." I would love a more dim lighting choice in the evenings. That being said, for a tiny Uzbek restaurant in the middle of a strip mall, I was incredibly impressed. Definitely a hidden gem! P.S. I totally forgot we got dessert as well! The Napoleon Puff Pastry with buttercream is to die for. So good. read more

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Great Uzbek gem hidden in a strip mall. Really enjoyed the beet salad, trio of meat buns (samsa), potatoes and mushrooms (a simple dish that's full of flavor - a must-try!) and avocado salad. They also have stuffed cabbage, grilled meats and kebabs and other Russian and Uzbeki dishes. All in a quaint and cozy space. read more

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Tried this on a whim because I was very curious about cuisine from Uzbekistan. It was very good. I had beef/lamb shawarma, some fantastic dumplings as an appetizer and a good quality bottle of wine. My waiter was very friendly and professional. The prices were reasonable and the ambiance was warm, relatively quiet and inviting. I highly recommend this restaurant. It exceeded my expectations. I would definitely revisit and bring friends/family. read more

I spent 10 days in Uzbekistan a few years ago, and I've been craving some real Uzbek food ever since. Imagine my surprise when I found out that there's actually an Uzbek restaurant in the Twin Cities! I ordered a sampling of food from their super convenient website (carrot salad, tomato salad, plov, manti, and of course, traditional Uzbek bread). The food was fairly good...maybe not quite as good as the Plov Center in Tashkent, but it definitely brought me back to my travels! The salads were both tasty, the manti was good, and the plov was maybe a bit small (for a large size) but also tasted good (although the meat was a bit dry). The one thing we really didn't care for was the bread...I have fond memories of eating a TON of traditional bread in Uzbekistan, and it was always so fresh and soft inside. While the bread at "Samarkand" looks a lot like the bread I had in Uzbekistan, it tasted a bit stale and was very hard too. My food was ready when I arrived to pick it up. The staff was friendly, although no one was wearing a mask. read more

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Delicious salads and kabobs, the bread was warm and yummy...lovely restaurant. We came in right before closing and they were welcoming to our large outdoor of town group. read more

It doesn't look like the pictures anymore, they took out all the decor that made it special. Kind of boring now. Had the plov, it was ok. The tomato and onion salad was delicious and of course the bread! The service was great read more

Excellent and fresh authentic food! Highly recommended!!! Great service, clean place, will define come back again read more

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We went to Samarkand for lunch over the weekend. The vibe was so cute, and at the time we went the restaurant was almost full of people who's culture the food was from. The staff were friendly and kind. The soup was phenomenal, hearty and healthy. We loved the Turkish coffee-- not bitter and slightly sweet. The samsa was pretty good, but definitely was elevated by the sauce it was served with-- garlicky and umami. The mains is where we had trouble-- both were very very oily, and the Plov was good but we wished there was more meat. The noodles had incredible flavor, but were so oily that we didn't want to take home leftovers. All in all I would recommend this restaurant. I want to try the kebab next time. read more

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I grabbed a shawarma with fries ($15) to go via Uber Eats. While the shawarma was pretty good (I really enjoyed the Russian dressing they put on there) and had fresh vegetables in there. Fries were clearly frozen and had no seasoning on them whatsoever. Per the pictures, it looks like it could be a pretty nice spot with more of an experience when dining in. Overall, won't order to-go from again. You're paying white table cloth prices for food to go and enjoying none of the ambiance for slightly above average food. Perhaps if I'm in the suburbs, I'll sit down for a meal there. read more

Samarkand Restaurant - Uzbek Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Enjoyed what I had, it was fun to try something different!! I tried some of my friends lentil soup and it was delicious!! The server was friendly and helpful and recommended the garden salad which had a bright fresh flavor and the restaurant has beautiful decor and pictures of Uzbekistan. We had to go shortly after eating so had to flag down the waiter and they got us out nice and quickly. I'd go back to try the lagman and shawarma read more

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Guys, if u are a foodie and have never been here, u are missing out ! This restaurant is nestled in an assuming shop lot, but man, the food is AMAZING !! The interior is cozy, semi formal. The food feels like u have a private chef cooking for you. The details in flavour... Even their Cesar salad, is so good that I am ordering it as a dish. I mean, if u know me, I never order salads. There is something about the salad dressing that is creamy but not overly done, super yummy. Their mantou- really good The lamb kebab- really good Their rice on the lunch special menu- amazing. U just have to come and try out the food read more

Samarkand Restaurant - Caesar Salad - Uzbek Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Fun novel place to get some halal Central Asian cuisine. Ordered takeaway after work on a whim and enjoyed the experience. The meat was tasty, beef was my favorite of the trio. It was served with a tomato sauce similar to a gazpacho; very refreshing. Would love to stop by again and try some of the other Slavic inspired menu items. read more

Samarkand Restaurant - The bar - Uzbek Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Uzbek food is not something I had ever happened upon before moving to Minneapolis. I found out about this place as I work nearby and drive past it sometimes. I did a bit of reading on Uzbek cuisine and learned that it sort of sits somewhere between Russian, Chinese and Middle Eastern cuisines. These influences definitely intrigued me, so off to Samarkand it was! We had a soup with dumplings in it which felt very Chinese. It was simple but comforting fare. We also had the stuffed cabbage rolls, which were good (though I prefer the ones from Moscow on the Hill). The fried potatoes with mushrooms were absolutely divine, and suited for sharing. We also ordered a salad constituted of mayonnaise, croutons, tomatoes and mozzarella cheese. The mozzarella wasn't really mozzarella, but I still enjoyed it. The waiters were nice and attentive when we needed them, courtesy of this cool device on the table that is reminiscent of the call button you use on airplanes to summon flight attendants. I've never been to Uzbekistan, but I felt the ambiance and decor in the restaurant would be an accurate representation of that country, going off what I know of it as a remote post-Soviet state in central Asia. They had a little stage for intimate performances, though it wasn't in use during our dinner. I liked this place a lot and would definitely come back! read more

YUM! My headband and i needed to be in the area for the evening, and were looking for some non-American fare after a summer in northern MN. We'd never been to an Uzbek restaurant and thought it would be a tasty adventure. It was! We started with mantu (beef dumplings) and samsa (a pastry-like bun with beef inside), followed by borscht soup (beets, beef, onions, carrots, potato, dill). For entrees we chose a lamb kebab and Plov Samarkand (a traditional dish of beef, carrots, rice, chickpeas). And for "dessert," we had a glass of a sweet but light Georgian wine, Kindzmarauli. Our server, Victoria, was sweet and attentive - and also Ukrainian, and grateful to have escaped the war and be in the US. We also chatted with Aziz, who's from Samarkand, Uzbekistan, and whose family runs the restaurant; he was wonderful and happy to share insights from his home town. Delicious food Prepared with love and pride Served by interesting, charming people In a place that gave a sense of what Samarkand might be like And cost around $100 for so much food we couldn't finish it and plenty of wine. read more

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Samarkand specializes in food from its namesake in Uzbekistan. If you aren't familiar with Central Asian food, it is an interesting mix of east and west that developed along side trade on the Silk Road between Asia and Europe. This place doesn't look like much from the outside, but don't let that dissuade you. The dining area is clean and nicely decorated. They have about a dozen tables and a full bar near the entrance. We started with tea, Achchik-chuchuk (tomato and onion salad), Mantu (big steamed dumplings), and Cheburek (deep fried pastry filled with lamb and beef). The first was just straight-forward sliced tomatoes and onions. The others were quite different and really tasty - particularly the Cheburek. We followed that with A chicken Shish Kebab and the Plov Samarkand. The Kebab was perfect and the Plov was authentic, meaning it was a little heavy. The Plov is made with rice, lamb, currants, garlic, onions, carrots, and spices. We liked everything and will definitely be back! read more

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Truly a hidden gem of a restaurant! It is family owned and everyone is very nice. They also have some very cool devour that sets the vibe. The food was all so good and tasted very authentic. Maybe not the best place for vegetarians or picky eaters. If you are an adventurous eater and like different cuisines you need to check this place out. read more

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Food was good albeit a bit overpriced. We should have gone with many appetizers than get entree. Pluses- bread was fantastic so was the tea. Fish and chicken were so so. Dessert was okay too. Service was sufficient but could be more attentive. Inside decor is fantastic. Well maintained and clean. read more

Classy, excellent service and food. Real Uzbek cuisine. Will definitely be back again.