Vancouver’s food scene just got a unique new addition and it’s unlike anything else in the city.
Tashkent, the first and only Uzbek eatery in Vancouver, quietly opened inside the International Village Mall food court back in late March.
Here they offer locals a rare chance to taste the bold and comforting flavours of Central Asia.
If you’ve never tried Uzbek food before, you’re not alone.
Until now, there wasn’t really an Uzbek restaurant in Vancouver.
So when owner Andrey Osinin, who immigrated from that part of the world, saw the growing immigrant population from the post-Soviet region settle in Vancouver, he noticed something missing.
“There was a clear gap in the market,” Andrey told Noms Magazine. “Uzbek cuisine is incredibly popular and beloved across the entire post-Soviet region.”
Andrey noted that in those regions, Uzbek food is as common as sushi or pizza in Vancouver.
Tashkent first began as a commissary kitchen in 2023, but with growing demand and positive feedback, they’ve just opened their first physical storefront inside the mall’s food court.
The menu at Tashkent brings together the best of both Asian and Middle Eastern influences.
Their signature dish is the Uzbek Plov, a hearty, fragrant rice dish traditionally cooked rice mixed with pieces of beef, vibrant carrots, and fragrant spices.
They also offer manti (Uzbek-style steamed dumplings), lagman (hand-pulled noodle soup with meat and vegetables), and chak-chak (stir-fried noodles with vegetables and beef, seasoned with Eastern spices).
Oh, and for those who eat halal, everything at Tashkent is fully halal-certified.
And with no other spots like it in town, it’s also a big win for the growing Central Asian community in the city.
Tashkent is now open at International Village Mall (near Rogers Arena and Costco) and the parade also have 2 hour free parking available.
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Address: International Village Mall Food Court, Vancouver BC