Almaty is steadily emerging as Central Asia's premier food destination. The city has been named to Eater's "Where to Eat 2026" list, according to infohub.kz.
The list's editors highlighted that over the past few years, Almaty hosted the first Almaty Food Fest, which brought together regional chefs, and the city released its first gastronomic guide.
According to the publication, thanks to hearty beshbarmak with plenty of noodles, classic kazy, meat samsa, fried baursaks, and fried laghman, travelers can experience the heritage of local nomadic traditions as well as influences from Uyghur, Russian, Uzbek, Korean, Turkish, and Indian cuisines. Traditional flavors are still widely available at the Green Bazaar, while modern neo-nomadic restaurants offer them in contemporary interpretations.
"In choosing the best destinations for food travel this year, we looked not only for the best restaurants but also for the people who represent them with all their hearts. Our writers included places they know well (many consider these places home), and chefs and restaurateurs recommended delicious establishments from around the world that inspire them. Kazakhstan's neo-nomadic festive dastarkhan this year undoubtedly promises a wonderful culinary journey," the publication writes.
It is worth noting that Eater is one of the world's most influential publications dedicated to restaurants and gastronomy. Being included in its list boosts the city's international profile and positively impacts the development of culinary tourism.