Ryan Ettenfield

An unpretentious dining hall with only one main meal on the menu, and that's half of a young roast chicken, more commonly known here as tsiplyata tabaka.

Are these tired-looking blue-tiled buildings a relic of Soviet art and construction? Or an eyesore on the horizon of a fast-developing city?

Glancing at their shashlik window, you’ll spot all the usual Uzbek favourites. Skewered beef chunks, ground beef, mutton & liver are all very popular here.

Arrive there early to choose from beef, lamb, potato, or pumpkin-filled somsa. Uzbek-style samosas are eaten with a mildly spicy thin tomato sauce...

Bibigon in a nutshell? Hotdogs, salads, burgers, pizza, breakfasts, desserts, coffee, tea, beer, vodka, and cigarettes.

Just behind the statue is a small green area, not quite large enough to be considered a park but big enough to draw all kinds of of people passing by.

Whilst its competitors offer a one-size-fits-all flavour of coffee, Beanberry offers a variety. Brazil is my favourite for its tangy taste.

They take pride in serving customers quickly, and their pizzas take no longer than 90 seconds to cook in their authentic wood-burning ovens.