Vegetarian Food in Kyrgyzstan: 15 Must-Eats!

When you think of Central Asian food or food of nomadic people, ‘vegetarian’ likely isn’t your first guess. Which is well and truly correct!

Kyrgyz food is very meaty and carby and it has to have been one of the most difficult cuisines we have navigated as vegetarians.

Did we manage it? No, actually we didn’t.

We spent six weeks in Kyrgyzstan and ended up having to eat some meat. Honestly, it’s just not feasible everywhere, particularly when you leave the larger cities and head to remote parts of the country.

Finding vegetarian food in Kyrgyzstan is a challenge but there are several traditional dishes that are naturally vegetarian, so keep an eye out for these dishes below!

And in the larger cities, you’ll find restaurants that serve vegetarian versions of the meaty classics that you just won’t be able to try elsewhere in the country.

My advice to fellow vegetarians travelling Kyrgyzstan (or elsewhere in Central Asia), stay flexible and pre-empt any rural stays by bringing loads of snacks!

And search for these traditional dishes when you go out for meals👇

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Dishes

1. Ashlyan Fu

If you’re heading over to Karakol, you are in for a treat! This is where you’ll find Kyrgyzstan’s tastiest food and the most vegetarian options thanks to the Dungan and Uyghur influences from Western China.

Ashlan fu is definitely an acquired taste; it’s a cold and vinegary soup with thick starchy noodles, and topped with scrambled egg and some chill. It wasn’t my fave, but it’s an experience!

And I’m down for giving anything vegetarian a try once.

Find the very best at Ashlyan-Fu Alley in Karakol. Yes, there is an entire alley of vendors selling the cold and sour noodle soup!

There are some variations that have meat on top, so just double-check before ordering.

2. Wood Ear Mushroom Salads

Again very much a Karakol classic, cold salads of crunchy wood ear mushrooms, soy sauce, chilli, garlic.

Divine.

Honestly, so delicious and fresh. Our favourite was from Altyn Kumara in Karakol.

3. Salat Shirin

Cubes of aubergine are deep-fried in a light batter until crispy and then tossed in what seemed very similar to a sticky sweet chilli sauce.

Perfection.

You can find this at several restaurants around the country. Altyn Kumara and Dastorkon in Karakol, as well as Navat a chain in Osh and Bishkek.

4. Shaqarap

This fresh and simple salad, popular in both Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, consists of sliced tomatoes and pickled onions. It’s great as a fresh addition to the rest of the meal.

5. Vegetarian Lagman

Lagman is a quintessential Central Asian dish that is popular across all the Stans but originates from the Uyghurs in Xinjiang in Western China.

It mas much more punchy flavours than your classic Central Asian rice dishes. It is usually a meaty dish, but some larger restaurants also serve vegetarian versions.

You can order it wet or dry – so the chewy noodles will either come in a soup or will be fried up – and it is mixed with vegetables and a spiced sauce. Sometimes, it is served with a fried egg which is delicious too!

We had a really tasty vegetarian lagman at Duet Coffee Shop, but you can find it in several restaurants around the country.

6. Manti

These Central Asian dumplings are usually filled with meat, but there are variations with onion and pumpkin which are pretty good. They’re often served with sour cream and sprinkled with dill.

They are generally steamed, but I saw some spots serving them fried too.

Bread & Snacks

7. Qurut

Now this is another food that has an ‘acquired taste’, that didn’t really float my boat, but it is so unique that you just have to try it.

Qurut is made by fermenting and drying yoghurt. It is usually shaped into balls, and has a very deep and salty flavour similar to that of mature cheeses.

You’ll see them being sold all over Kyrgyzstan, but the largest variety we saw was in the market in Osh (not Osh Market in Bishkek).

You can eat them as a snack (I would advise only a little nibble for a first timer – definitely do not just chuck the whole ball in your mouth!) or mix them into dishes to give a deep rich flavour.

8. Boorsok

Boorsok are small pieces of savoury fried dough. It is often served with kaimak which is a thick sour cream/clotted cream.

9. Kattama

This fried and layered bread reminded me of a Keralan paratha – crispy and flaky and chewy. Also similar to a Taiwanese scallion pancake, just minus the spring onions!

10. Chebureki

Chebureki originate from Tatar cuisine, but are prominent in many ex-Soviet republics. It is a thin pastry parcel stuffed usually with meat, and then fried. But you’ll find these filled with potato, greens, maybe even cheese.

11. Potato Pie

Now, I tried really hard to find out what these were, but when translating the Russian signs, it just said ‘potato pie’. You’ll find these at service stations, markets etc. and it’s essentially a big savoury doughnut filled mashed potato!

12. Samsa

A classic across all of Central Asia, samsa or somsa are pastry pockets (again usually filled with meat) that are cooked in a traditional tandyr oven.

The parcels are slapped up against the inside of the oven until crisp. You can sometimes find pumpkin or potato or greens stuffed inside instead of the meaty options.

Unique Drinks

13. Kymyz/Kumys

Another acquired taste that is very difficult for a western palate, kumys is fermented mare’s milk.

Yep, the horse milk is left to ferment to create a sour and fizzy milky drink.

It’s a challenge.

But it is really popular in Kyrgyzstan. Vendors in Osh and Bishkek sell it at the side of the street, and there are always locals buying it. Kumys vendors also often sell maksym.

14. Maksym

Maksym is made from boiling and fermenting wheat, barley and other grains.

The result is a thick, viscous brown drink that you kind of have to chew.

It’s, erm, not my fave, but definitely worth trying.

Sweets

15. Chak Chak

Chak chak is a mixture of small pieces of crisp fried dough with raisins and nuts, and then drenched in condensed milk.

None of this sound like your cup of tea?

Well, if you’re not convinced by the vegetarian Kyrgyz options, you’ll likely be able to find other cuisines in the big cities, such at Middle Eastern, South Korean, Georgian, and you’ll always find a spot selling pizzas.

If you’re travelling to the capital, check out our blog post on all the best restaurants in Bishkek for vegetarians!

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