Many of Khiva’s most atmospheric cafés and restaurants are located in the historic centre, within Ichan-Kala itself. Most of these establishments specialise in Uzbek cuisine, which visitors can enjoy on an open-air terrace or in a cosy courtyard overlooking centuries-old madrasas, mosques and minarets.
Alongside classic Uzbek dishes such as lagman, samsa and shashlik, local restaurants also offer a variety of traditional Khorezm specialities. Among the best known are shivit oshi, green noodles served with meat and vegetables, and tukhum barak, small parcels of dough filled with an egg mixture.
Khorezm-style plov is also well worth trying. The meat is only lightly browned, spices are used sparingly, and the rice usually remains pale in colour. The result is a lighter, more delicately flavoured plov than many other varieties.
