I visited around 1 pm on Saturday. The place was a bit hard to find but almost full. The interior was lovely and I felt excited as soon as I walked in. Since it was my first time, I ordered the recommended set menu called "Prof." Prof is a dish like pilaf. The carrots were subtly sweet and soft, complementing the rice well. The meat in the center was tender with a taste of herbs, not spicy but flavorful. It was so delicious that I wanted more. The salad in the set was refreshing with herbs adding a nice touch. I also tried the Uzbekistan tea, which was a delicious tea without any strong flavors. I also had a cake called Medovik, which had honey in it. It had a rich sweetness like black sugar, a chewy texture, and reminded me a bit of my favorite black sugar steamed bun. I'm interested in trying other items on the menu and would love to go back again.

Uzbekistan national dish profile. Recommended by the staff as the must-try dish for first-time visitors. It was a mix of beef and lamb, with a strong lamb flavor that spread throughout. The portion was quite generous and satisfying. The large amount of carrots added a nice taste. It felt slightly on the salty side, but it was very delicious.

Next week, I'm going to Uzbekistan, so I went to an Uzbekistan restaurant to get a feel for the cuisine. The interior of the restaurant is stylish, with Suzani (Uzbek embroidery) cushions as accents. There are Uzbek-style pottery and tiles, making it a fun place to look around. The lunch menu has 4 options: Plov, Lagman, Soup, and Kebab. I was torn between which set to choose, but I decided to go with the famous local dish, Plov. When the Plov arrived, it had chunks of meat, carrots, beans, and raisins. The meat had a good chew to it and the sweetness of the carrots and raisins balanced well with the spices. It was slightly oily compared to typical pilaf. On top of the rice, there was unexpectedly bread, which also had a good chew to it and tasted delicious. I'm not sure if you're supposed to eat the bread with the Plov, so I tried it separately. It had a local feel and was very tasty, leaving me completely satisfied. When I asked the staff for recommendations since I'm going to Uzbekistan soon, they suggested Plov Center. I had already done some research, but it seems like a restaurant where they make Plov in a huge oven. With this local recommendation, I'm even more excited for my trip.

The interior is stylish, new, and bright, very lovely. There is also a terrace seat. It was my first time here, and I was recommended the Proff set without hesitation. I saw a juice jar over there, so I decided to order an additional one. Today, I was told about Raspberry juice and Apricot juice, and I chose Apricot juice. I imagined it would be quite sweet, but it was subtly sweet and elegant. While I was enjoying the juice, the Proff set was served. I love lamb, and this one had tender chunks of it. The carrots were sweet and soft, almost like glazed carrots. The taste was subtle with spices like cumin seeds, not too spicy. This flavor would be liked by everyone! The salad was refreshing, with a hint of herbs, complementing the Proff perfectly. Two slices of simple bread were served, so I used a spoon in my right hand and bread in my left to enjoy the Proff. It was so delicious that I bought some dumpling-like snacks and a Danish dessert with cheese, meat, and vegetables inside, similar to a cake with nuts, as souvenirs. I was advised that the snacks taste better when heated. There are still many other dishes I want to try, so I look forward to visiting again for a tea party or dinner with a group of friends! Thank you for the delicious meal!

This is the second most stylish restaurant in Takada no Baba. I was captivated by the beautiful halva displayed in the showcase. I wanted to enjoy it with tea at the store, but I ran out of time so I had to take it out. It tasted as elegant and refined as it looked. I had it with Lawson coffee, but I wish they had flavored tea or spiced tea. For lunch today, I had the soup set. The lamb was cooked tenderly in a spiced pot-au-feu style. Everyone was ordering the hearty prof, but I passed on it as I thought I might get sleepy after finishing it, but next time for sure!

The ramen set (1,500 yen) I ordered had so many toppings that I thought it was a soup set at first because I couldn't see the noodles. The noodles were thin and quite delicious. The set also came with a salad, bread, and a sandwich with cheese. The manti (400 yen), Uzbek-style dumplings, were nothing special but surprisingly delicious.

I found this restaurant while looking for Baklava in Tokyo, as one of the places recommended by Elegourmet. It is an Uzbekistan cuisine restaurant with a stylish cafe-like interior. I tried the Pilaf set, which was delicious, especially the lamb. The standout dish was the carrot salad, which was shiny and sweet, but not overpowering. It had a unique flavor that was hard to pinpoint. The salad had a subtle spiciness that was not overwhelming. The Baklava was not the typical Turkish style, more like a pie or tart. It was just okay. Next time, I want to try the Laghman set, as I am a fan of Uyghur noodles.

I visited "Samarkand Terrace" in Takadanobaba to try Uzbek cuisine for the first time. The interior of the restaurant is bright and stylish, with a cafe-like atmosphere and even terrace seating. They have original desserts in glass cases and dishes displayed in the kitchen. I started with lamb kebab and grilled dumplings, which were different from the Chinese dumplings I usually eat. The filling inside the dumplings contained lamb meat, similar to soup dumplings, and the lamb kebab had a satisfying texture. Next, I ordered the Pilaf Set from the lunch menu board, which is a rice dish with lamb meat, carrots, quail eggs, and beans. It resembles pilaf and has a rich flavor, making it delicious and easy to eat. Uzbek cuisine, similar to Middle Eastern cuisine, is quite tasty.

I used it for lunch on a holiday. I shared the Proff set and the Lagmen set with my friend. The Lagmen was tasty with a tomato-flavored soup base, but the noodles were a bit lacking... It would be great if they offered a larger portion. The Proff had a good amount of food, not too oily, and tasted elegant and delicious. I'm curious about the other bread and kebab options, but I think I'll go for the Proff again next time.

Set menu for 1300 yen includes salad, spicy yogurt, and naan. The naan has a chewy and unique texture. Chicken kebab for 400 yen comes with bone-in or boneless options, I chose bone-in and received 3 chicken wings skewered with a light tomato sauce. Manti for 300 yen is steamed dumplings served with yogurt sauce. Apricot juice for 200 yen was slightly more flavorful than last time but still tasted like water. Napoleon and Paflova desserts for 500 yen each were firm and not too sweet. Black tea for 500 yen is Uzbekistan's black tea (Karachai) with a light taste similar to Japanese hojicha. The menu is displayed on a blackboard with set names, but the contents are not clearly explained, so it may be confusing for some customers. However, I recommend looking into the showcase, choosing what you want to eat, and informing the staff. They will accommodate items in the set and explain if something needs to be ordered separately.

Visited a new Uzbekistan restaurant in Takadanobaba for lunch. They offer several lunch sets with Pilaf, Laghman, Kebab, and Soup as the main dishes. I decided to try the Pilaf set as it seemed like a good choice for a first visit. The Pilaf is a rice dish with lots of carrots, giving it an authentic touch. However, it is quite oily as they use a lot of oil to stir-fry the ingredients. On top, there is lamb meat, quail egg, and a wheat-based bread similar to Naan. The salad was a surprise with coriander mixed in, which I didn't expect as I didn't come across coriander in Uzbekistan during my travels there. The tea served was a light brew, similar to Japanese green tea. Overall, I'm curious to try other dishes on the menu in the future. Thank you for the meal.

A rare Uzbekistan cuisine restaurant. Uzbek men are very good at Japanese, almost like they have studied at a Japanese school. The atmosphere is like a cafe with high ceilings and a showcase displaying light meals and sweets. It is quite busy with customers coming and going, mostly women. The key factor that attracts these women may be the "cleanliness" as an image of that region or style, not actual cleanliness. While chatting about a friend studying Arabic, everyone enjoys the meal with thoughts like "So this is what they eat in Central Asia!" Samarkand seems to appeal to these women. I chose the Plov set meal for 1,200 yen, with sweet pilaf where the carrots are cooked until soft, and the chickpeas and mutton are added later. It was delicious, with a clean and cafe-like feel. Of course, I added dessert and tea from the showcase after the meal. The tea was a regular green tea in a pot for 500 yen. The Medovik (honey cake) had a strong butter aroma and was moist, while the Baklava had thick layers of pastry providing a delightful texture. The impression was more about the high quality of the sweets themselves rather than Central Asia. My wife, who rarely praises food, exclaimed, "Delicious!"

I've been curious about this restaurant for a while. I had some business in Shinjuku, so I decided to stop by for lunch. The interior of the restaurant had about 7 tables, which is standard size for the 23 wards. The counter displayed samosas, bread, and the showcase had baklava and some cakes that I had never seen before, all looking delicious. The lunch menu consisted of 3 main dishes written on a blackboard. Even though I didn't know much, the staff explained everything and showed me the cooking process. I was intrigued by the laghman, but ended up ordering the plov set. Plov (which originated from Central Asia and is the source of the word "pilaf") is something I have tried at Mongolian restaurants before, but this place served the most delicious plov I've ever had! The flavors were rich, and the meat was generous in size. The salad had cilantro in it and was well seasoned. I wanted to try the dessert and other bread items, but the lunch set was surprisingly filling, so I'll save it for next time. I look forward to trying more dishes here in the future!

Visited around 2:00 PM on Saturday. It's about a 3-minute walk from Takadanobaba Station. Be careful not to overlook the sign on the 3rd floor of the building. When you open the door after getting off the elevator, you will find a small but stylish restaurant. The seats were about half full. There was no menu, and the staff told us to choose from 3 lunch sets, so we ordered Plov and Laghman. Uzbek pop music was playing in the restaurant, but it felt a bit too lively. It was hard to hear conversations. The Plov set came with yogurt and cucumber soup. The soup was refreshing and perfect for summer. It reminded me of a dish I had in Bulgaria. The Plov was delicious with a perfect seasoning. It had a hint of spice, but it seemed to be adjusted for Japanese taste. I have had Laghman in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in China, and it was like a stir-fried noodle dish, but here the hand-pulled noodles were in the soup, which was a bit surprising. The noodles were similar to Japanese udon, making it easy to eat. It was packed with vegetables and meat. Although it wasn't very spicy, I found it quite salty. Besides Laghman, there were also pies and dumplings served, and they were delicious too. There were samosas and dessert options at the counter, and you can easily order by looking at them. There were 4 dessert options, and when I asked the staff, they explained in simple Japanese. I decided to try Baklava as it was different from the ones I knew. It was like a walnut and dried fruit pie. It was a bit hard compared to the Baklava I knew (a bit difficult to eat with just a fork).

I was drawn to visit a restaurant after seeing its visual in some media. The restaurant's specialty is mixed rice, but the appearance of carb-on-carb didn't quite appeal to me, so I felt like trying something else and chose the laghman. I have had laghman before at a place called Urumqi Laghman in Takada Baba, where they served freshly made laghman along with pomegranate juice. The laghman was wide and chewy, similar to kishimen, and it was stir-fried with ingredients like yakisoba and served on a flat plate. It was simple yet delicious. On the other hand, the laghman here was also hand-pulled but thin and soft, resembling Inaniwa udon. It was served in a tomato-based soup, with the udon sinking in the brownish soup. The complex blend of spices created a delicate yet rich flavor. I loved it just as much as the one from Urumqi. The interior of the restaurant had a monochrome base with a linear industrial design focused on the open kitchen, adding accents with dishes, food, and seasonings, exuding a stylishness not seen in other ethnic restaurants in the area. The taste of the food was also refined. Sometimes, it can be a bit confusing to place an order, but the friendly staff will kindly explain everything if you ask. I might follow their recommendation and try the proff (mixed rice) next time.

Visited an Uzbekistan cuisine restaurant that recently opened in Takadanobaba. They use halal ingredients, which are items that meet the requirements allowed by Islamic law and are considered permissible for Muslims to consume. However, in recent years, there has been a growing trend in European countries to ban the slaughtering methods used for halal meat due to their perceived cruelty. The UK, Australia, and Germany are among those opposing this practice. I tried their Plov (1,100 yen tax included), which is essentially a pilaf dish made with halal beef, carrots, and California rice cooked simply with a salty flavor. According to research by Mahmud from Uzbekistan, the origin of the word "pilaf" comes from PALOV OŠ, representing onions, carrots, meat, fat, salt, water, and rice. The Plov served at this restaurant was exactly as Mahmud's recipe described. Pilaf has a long history with various theories, but it is believed to have originated from Uzbekistan's Plov and spread to Europe as France's Piraf. Some argue that Pilav, the oldest rice dish of Persian origin, is the root of pilaf. The oldest written record of Pilav can be found in the history of Alexander the Great, served in the region that is now Uzbekistan. I also tried their Nohot Shorba (600 yen tax included), a chickpea and beef soup with a simple salt-based seasoning that had a strong animal scent. The Barak (250 yen tax included), Uzbekistan's version of fried dumplings, was disappointingly hard and meaty, with a simple tomato sauce. For dessert, I had the Pahrlava (Baklava) (500 yen tax included), a crispy nutty pastry with a simple flavor profile. While the dishes seemed a bit rough, it might be the norm in Uzbekistan. The restaurant caters to Muslims, so no alcohol is served, only soft drinks like coffee, tea, plum juice, and Coca-Cola. It's worth noting the past uproar among Muslims over rumors of pig blood in Coca-Cola's ingredients. A nostalgic tale indeed.

The atmosphere inside the restaurant made me feel like I had truly come to Samarkand. The lunch had a common Central Asian flavor, with an option to enjoy lamb meat. I also ordered a bean soup, which was exquisite. The salad made me wonder if this flavor could be recreated in Japan. The restaurant seems to be popular among Uzbek people in Tokyo, and the portions are quite generous. I left feeling full.

Had dinner in Takadanobaba, then strolled around the night streets looking for a place to have tea. Ended up at a friend-recommended spot, "SAMARKAND TERRACE," a newly opened restaurant serving Uzbek cuisine. Though we were already full, we decided to order a mandarin cake and tea to share. The tea options were black and green tea, while the mandarin cake was simple yet delicious, with a strong egg-flavored sponge, cream, mandarin, and chocolate. It wasn't overly sweet, with a refreshing tang from the mandarin. As closing time approached, a new cake was prepared, tempting us with its luxurious appearance. We couldn't resist trying the Uzbekistan melon, which was sweet and luscious, different from Japanese melons. We also took home some bread, with a chewy texture and a hint of salt, generously topped with sesame seeds. Takadanobaba has truly become an Asian ethnic food hub.

On November 21, 2021 (Sunday), a new Uzbekistan cuisine restaurant opened in Takadanobaba. The restaurant has a sign outside, but if you don't look closely, you might not know what kind of restaurant it is. When I went up to the 3rd floor, I was surprised to see a bigger crowd than I had imagined. I thought only locals would be there, but surprisingly, there were also Japanese people (laughs). For lunch, they offer PROV SET, Kebab Set, and Soup Set, all priced at 1100 yen. I chose the PROV SET, which I heard is pilaf. The set included a salad, pilaf, and a small piece of naan. The salad had a lot of cucumbers, which I don't like, but with tomatoes mixed in, I managed to finish it. The pilaf was delicious, especially when wrapped in naan! It was full of carrots and healthy. I haven't eaten this many carrots in a while. The sweets in the showcase looked delicious, so I ordered an additional Biscuit Cake (500 yen) and a hot tea (250 yen). The Biscuit Cake was very sweet, even surprising to Indian people, but as a sweet tooth, I liked it. I enjoyed the tea and left leisurely. It was cold and overcast that day, so no one was using the terrace, but it could be a romantic spot to enjoy in the summer. [Rating] ★★★★★★★ 7/10

Had lunch at Samarkand Terrace, a new Uzbekistan cuisine restaurant in Takadanobaba. It was located on the 3rd floor of the same building where I recently visited Tanishi noodles. The outside sign only had the name of the restaurant, so I wasn't sure about the price range. Dishes like Manty (dumplings) and Plov (pilaf) may not be familiar to the average Japanese person. Looking at the opening hours, I thought they might be serious Muslims. The interior of the restaurant was surprisingly spacious, with an open kitchen, large windows, and a terrace that created a lovely and airy atmosphere. I was expecting a more cafeteria-like vibe, so I was pleasantly surprised by the stylish decor. The terrace was especially beautiful. I saw someone praying, but I wondered what other purposes the terrace served. It seemed like there was no alcohol available, so it didn't seem like a beer garden. The menu inside was a bit confusing, and the prices were not clear. When I approached, I could faintly see that everything was priced at 1100 yen. There were only three menu items, but there were various options at the deli counter. When I asked (and Japanese was spoken), I learned that you could choose between Plov or Kebab (2 types) and Soup (2 types) as the main dish, with 2 side dishes of your choice included. The kebab was not the typical skewered or shawarma style, but on this day, it was chicken stew and stuffed bell pepper. The soup options were lamb or meatball. For side dishes, you could choose from 3 options. I felt like trying the Plov, but seeing someone eating a huge portion made me hesitant, so I opted for the lamb soup, which was recommended if you like lamb. It had potatoes and carrots, both soft and flavorful, with lamb fat floating on top. The lamb meat was tender and delicious, with a rich broth. It had been a while since I had Manty, with a proper yogurt sauce. The pastry-like Quesadilla had plenty of tomatoes and cheese, which was also tasty. The bread was a bit tough and not the best. Overall, it was a good variety of dishes, with just the right amount. The Plov seemed unnecessarily large. I wonder if it was a special order. When asked about drinks, I thought Uzbekistan would have tea, so I ordered a hot tea, which turned out to be an additional charge. In Uzbekistan, tea was free, so I had forgotten. The tea was plentiful and very delicious. There were also salads and desserts not on the menu. The bill came to 1350 yen. The ambiance was fantastic, but upon reflection, it was a bit pricey for a solo lunch. Also, the cash-only payment was a downside.

Tonight, I visited the newly opened "Samarkand Terrace" in Takadanobaba. Located in the back of Sakae Street, near the Kanda River on the third floor of a building, I was able to see the sunset over the river. I had heard it was Uzbekistan cuisine, but in reality, it was a mix of Central Asian cuisines. They offered a set menu where you could choose three dishes from options like soup, kebab, and pilaf. I chose two plates of the three-dish set. The lamb and bean soup had a rich lamb broth and was delicious. The beef lagman soup had just the right amount of spices and was also tasty. The meat dishes like kebabs and meatballs were flavorful without being too spicy. The two desserts were sweet and sticky with honey, a nice way to end the Central Asian meal. And all this for just around 2000 yen, which was a pleasant surprise. Since it's a new restaurant, now might be a good time to try it out. There were many Central Asian customers enjoying meat dishes not on the menu, which made me a bit envious.