Eat · Independence Square

Evening shashlik grill near Independence SquareKechki shashlik

A relaxed evening grill after the square: skewers, salads and bread; book a table for groups, expect 19:00–21:00 to be the busiest and ask the price per skewer before you order.A relaxed evening grill after the square: skewers, salads and bread; book a table for groups, expect 7:00 PM–9:00 PM to be the busiest and ask the price per skewer before you order.

last order: unknownmixedUzbekNot field-verified

Key facts

Per person: UZS 90,000–200,000; Uzbek
Hours: unknown; see note below
Walk in: before 19:00; easiest window
Seating: mixed; booking: true
Card: yes
Getting there: Metro to Mustaqillik Maydoni or car; 10 min walk

Go now?

Open?

Usually 17:00–23:00Usually 5:00 PM–11:00 PM

Typical hours: check on the day.

Busy this hour

Estimate by hour below

Easiest walk-in

before 19:00

Reservations

Walk-in, no reservation

Paying

Bring cash

Per person

UZS 90,000–200,0002026 estimate · check

DirectionsWhat to order ↓

Skewers and salads
Evening grill
Order: Shashlik and salads
Tables and stools
Walk-in window: before 19:00
Queue risk: 19:00–21:00
Bring cash
Halal

Highlights come from Voykit's own data and desk notes, not from reviews. Hover a tag to see its source.

Rules in force · 9Land borders between Central Asian states open and shut w…Small guesthouses in the Old City may have no night deskChorsu bazaar and the Old City lanes are crowded and uneven

Central Asia ↗Keep every hotel registration slip or its e-registration record until you leave Uzbekistan and Tajikistan; border officers can ask for proof of where you slept and fine gaps.
Central Asia ↗Land borders between Central Asian states open and shut with politics and demarcation deals; confirm the exact post is open to foreigners the week you cross.
Uzbekistan ↗Check entry rules on the official e-visa portal only; many nationalities enter without a visa for a limited stay, others need an e-visa. Lookalike sites charge extra.
Uzbekistan ↗Foreign visitors are registered by hotels; keep any registration slip you are given and ask for one if you stay in a private home.
Uzbekistan ↗Carry Uzbek soʻm in small notes; bazaars, taxis and small cafés are cash-first, and cards are accepted mainly in hotels and larger shops.
Tashkent Region ↗Jun–Aug in Tashkent is 35–40 °C by day: do outdoor sights before 11:00 and after 17:00.
Tashkent ↗Small guesthouses in the Old City may have no night desk: send your flight number and ask for the door code or a night staff member before you fly.
Tashkent ↗Chorsu bazaar and the Old City lanes are crowded and uneven: large suitcases go from the car to the door, never into the market.
Tashkent ↗The metro is open to photography in most stations; do not photograph turnstiles, guards or military staff, and follow any sign in the station.

Actions

Usually 17:00–23:00

Map & directions

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Directions

From where I am

Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.

Plan

When you can walk in, what to order, how to pay

Walk-in windows

before 19:00: high19:00–21:00: riskyafter 21:30: high

A walk-in lunch is only planned as primary when your arrival lands outside the “impossible” window.

Open grill with outdoor and indoor tables (generic, confirm locally)

When to go, hour by hour

desk estimate · not live

Quietest listed hour: 17:00 (light).

17:00lightlittle or no wait
18:00busya short wait is possible
19:00heavyexpect a line
20:00packedexpect a long linePeak
21:00packedexpect a long linePeak
22:00heavyexpect a line
23:00busya short wait is possible

Desk estimate of crowd on a weekday; weekends and public holidays run one level higher. Not live data. No line length is on file, so waits are in words.

How to order here

The order of play at the counter or table, what to say, how much to order and how to pay.

1Ask the price per skewer if the menu is not clear.
2Wait 15–20 minutes for fresh skewers.

No shared language? Tap dishes in the order builder below and show the waiter the full-screen list in the local script. For a printed menu, translate a photo of it.

What to say

In English	Say or show	Sounds like
Hello (formal)	Assalomu alaykum	ah-sah-LOH-moo ah-LAY-koom
Hi	Salom	sah-LOHM
Thank you	Rahmat	rakh-MAHT

Portions and sharing

Sit and order a skewer count per person, with bread and salad.

Extras, condiments and what costs extra

Weighed meat: Some grills sell by 100 g and the total surprises — Ask the total before grilling.

Paying and tipping

Sit-down restaurants: about 10–15%, close to US habits.

Ask for the bill (hisob) and check it.
Service charge may be added at larger grills; check the bill.
Cash or card; check that the card machine works before you order.
Tipping: Bargain politely at bazaars, not in shops; 10% at a restaurant is welcome.

At the table

Eat plov with the right hand or a spoon; leave a little on the plate to show you are full.
Plov sells out by early afternoon: eat it at lunch, not dinner.
Check bazaar prices per kilo before they weigh.
Tea is often free with a meal; ask for choy.
Pork is rare outside Russian or international restaurants; vegetarians eat well from bread, salads, vegetable samsa and soups, but stocks are usually meat-based.

Menu and prices

2026 estimate

Lamb shashlik, skewerqo'y shashlikAsk for fresh off the grill.UZS 25,000–50,000order
Beef shashlik, skewermol shashlikA cheaper option.UZS 20,000–40,000if hungry
Chicken shashlik, skewertovuq shashlikFor kids and lighter eaters.UZS 15,000–30,000if hungry
Lula kebablyulya kabobMinced meat with onions.UZS 20,000–40,000if hungry
Liver skewerjigarTry one if you like liver.UZS 15,000–30,000if hungry
Tomato and onion saladachichukA cooling side.UZS 15,000–30,000if hungry
Bread, teanon, choyOften included.UZS 0–15,000if hungry

2026 estimate per skewer.

Build your order

Tap + on what you want, or let Voykit suggest a starting order.

2 people

Lamb shashlik, skewerorder
qo'y shashlik
UZS 25,000–50,000
0
Beef shashlik, skewer
mol shashlik
UZS 20,000–40,000
Contains (from menu notes, check): beef
0
Chicken shashlik, skewer
tovuq shashlik
UZS 15,000–30,000
0
Lula kebab
lyulya kabob
UZS 20,000–40,000
0
Liver skewer
jigar
UZS 15,000–30,000
0
Tomato and onion salad
achichuk
UZS 15,000–30,000
0

Food and drink

Nothing picked yet.

Menu prices are 2026 estimates (check the board or menu on the day).

Split the bill 2 ways

Pick dishes to see each person's share.

Sit-down restaurants: about 10–15%, close to US habits. Local custom: A 10–15% service charge is often added; if not, 5–10%. Tipping calculator

Pick at least one dish to make the full-screen list.

Price and paying

Typical spend: UZS 90,000–200,000 per person

Paying

Cashyes

Cash in som is accepted everywhere.

Cardyes

Most grills near the centre take cards (check).

IC cardno

Not applicable.

QR walletsome stalls

Local wallets such as Payme and Click work at some venues; foreign QR wallets do not (check).

Diet and allergies

Yes means there is something for you; ask means possible with care; no means go elsewhere.

Vegetarianask
Salads, bread and vegetable soups; most main dishes use meat or meat stock.
Show: Men go'sht yemayman. Sabzavot bormi?
Veganask
Bread, tomato-cucumber salad, fruit and nuts; ask about butter and stock.
Halalyes
Meat is halal by default in Uzbekistan; pork is rare (check).
Show: Halol go'sht?
Gluten-freeask
Bread, noodles and dumplings contain wheat; plain grilled meat and salad are safer.
Nut allergyask
Nuts and sesame appear in sweets and breads; show a written card in Russian or Uzbek.
Allergynot on file
Show a written allergy card in Uzbek or Russian; cross-contact is high at grills and bakeries.
Show: Menda ___ ga allergiya bor.

What is in the dishes

Beef shashlik, skewermol shashlikbeef

Read from the menu names and notes; recipes vary and cross-contact is not tested. Check with the kitchen.

Make an allergy and diet card for Tashkent →

Who it suits, booking, closures

okSolo — Skewers suit a solo dinner; portions are large.

goodKids — Chicken and bread are easy.

okStroller — Tables outdoors; space at early hours.

goodGroups of 5+ — Book a long table.

okWheelchair — Level tables at most; check the toilet.

How to book: Book by phone or through the hotel; groups and Friday-Saturday evenings should book.
How far ahead: 1 day for groups
No-show / cancel fee: Ask the venue
Dress code: Smart-casual.

When	Status	Note
Late night	check before you go	Most stop serving by 22:00–23:00.Most stop serving by 10:00 PM–11:00 PM.
Ramadan evenings	check before you go	Busy after sunset (iftar).

On the ground

Hygiene and comfort

Restrooms: Restroom on site · accessible restroom: check
Air: Open-air: hot at midday, wet in rain
Seating: Tables and stools
Kids: kids' menu: no · stroller: ok · Chicken skewers and bread
Access: step-free: yes · Level tables at most grills; check the toilet

Hygiene

Eat where turnover is fast and dishes are served hot.
Wash your hands or use gel before eating; many stalls have no sink.
Ice and raw salads in street stalls can upset a stomach: prefer cooked food and peeled fruit.

Facts

Reservations: Taken — Book by phone or through your hotel for groups and weekends.
Capabilities: food · toilet · seated_rest
Getting there: Metro to Mustaqillik Maydoni or car · ~10 min walk

Cons

A generic grill type: names and menus change; confirm locally.
Smoke and noise at peak.
Weekend evenings are full.

Ordering helpDish glossary · Price check2 parts

Dish glossary

On the menu	What it is	Order it how
Shashlik	Grilled skewers of lamb, beef or chicken.	By the skewer; ask for 'qo'y' (lamb) or 'mol' (beef).
Lula kebab	Minced meat skewer.	Ask for 'lyulya'.
Jigar	Liver skewer.	A local favourite.
Non	Bread.	Usually served free or for a small charge.
Hisob	The bill.	Say 'hisob, iltimos'.

Price check

2026 estimate

locals pay: A skewer costs the same for everyone on the menu.
tourist price: Places facing the square may add 30–100% (2026 estimate).
rule: Service charge may be added at larger grills; check the bill.

Extra on the table	Typical charge	What to do
Weighed meat	Some grills sell by 100 g and the total surprises	Ask the total before grilling.

Deep dive

Questions, nearby food and sources

Questions and answers

answered by Voykit editors · dated

Which grill?

Ask your hotel for a current recommendation near the square.

Checked 2026-09-29 · Voykit desk

What is shashlik?

Skewers of grilled meat, usually lamb, beef or chicken, served with onion and bread.

How much does dinner cost?

About UZS 90,000–200,000 per person (2026 estimate).

Do I need to book?

For groups and weekends, yes.

Can I get vegetarian food?

Limited: salads, bread, grilled vegetables at some grills.

Is alcohol served?

Often beer and wine; ask (check).

Answers come from Voykit editors, not from other travellers.

Nearby alternatives

walk minutes · estimate

If it is closed or the line is too long

Go to Lagman and manti canteen near Amir Temur Square, about 25 min on foot; no reservation needed.

Lagman and manti canteen near Amir Temur Square25 min walkA simpler lunch stop.

All places to eat in Tashkent, with filters →

Nearby

Straight-line distance; walk time adds 30% for streets.

Used as a seated rest node in Tashkent in 4 days.

Sources

secondaryWikivoyage — Tashkent (eat)
officialUzbekistan Tourism Committee