Kazakhstan — Food and Dining
Cuisine
Kazakhstan food is a reflection of the country's unique ethnic and religious composition. Beer, vodka, brandy and sparkling wines are available in many restaurants.
National specialties:
• Kazi and chuzhuk (horsemeat sausages).
• Kaurdak (mutton stew).
• Sheep's head.
• Besbarmak (made from horse meat or mutton and dough).
• Shashlyk (skewered chunks of mutton barbecued over charcoal).
National drinks:
• Kazakh tea or chai is very popular and there are national cafes called Chai-Khana (tea-rooms) where visitors may sip this Kazakh specialty. It is drunk very strong with cream.
• Kumis (fermented mare’s milk). Cafes where this can be ordered are called Kumis-Khana. Refusing it when offered may cause offense.
• In the steppe and desert regions where camels are bred, the camel’s milk, called shubat, is offered to guests.
Tipping: This is not customary at restaurants and cafes, but is increasingly common in international hotels. A service charge is included in hotel and restaurant bills.
Nightlife
There are a number of nightclubs and casinos in Almaty and several other cities. Many restaurants play music after 2000. Kazakhstan’s most reknowned concert halls and theaters are all located in Almaty.
Featured Tours to Kazakhstan
iExplore Central Asia: The Silk Road
The region known loosely as Central Asia is a vast arena of desert, steppe and knotted mountain ranges. For more than 2000 years, this area has…
Route of the Caravans
The routes the caravans took through Central Asia have had an indelible effect on the history and cultures of Asia and the whole world. They…
The Ancient Silk Road
Journey with us on this adventurous expedition along the Great Silk Road. Begin in Beijing with a private rickshaw ride through the old quarters…
