Kyrgyz cuisine is hearty and meat-forward, with staples like lamb, beef, and horse meat, often served with noodles, rice, or bread. Meals are influenced by nomadic culture and neighboring Central Asian cuisines.
Here are some traditional Kyrgyz dishes to try:

• Beshbarmak – Boiled meat (often lamb or horse) with wide noodles and onion broth
• Laghman – Hand-pulled noodles in a rich, spicy broth with vegetables and meat
• Plov – Central Asian rice pilaf cooked with carrots, onions, and meat
• Manty – Steamed dumplings filled with meat or sometimes pumpkin
• Samsa – Oven-baked pastries filled with meat, potato, or pumpkin
• Ashlyan-fu – A cold noodle dish with vinegar and chili, often vegetarian (especially in Karakol)
• Shashlik – Skewered grilled meat, commonly served at roadside cafes
• Kuurdak – Fried meat with onions and potatoes
• Boorsok – Fried dough bites, often served with tea
• Chalap – A savory fermented yogurt drink, similar to ayran