By: ERKIN ESENGELDIEV

Staff Writer

Located at the crossroads of Central Asia, the city of Karakol in eastern Kyrgyzstan is a fascinating gateway to the region’s diverse history, cuisine, and nature. Many unique cultures contribute to the town’s culinary history and cultural heritage: Kyrgyz, Tatar, Russian, Dungan, Uighur, Kalmyk, Uzbek, and more. Karakol is often called a cultural center of Kyrgyzstan – much like California, the true Kyrgyz spirit can be experienced here. with both the Tian Shan Mountains and Lake Issyk-Kul nearby, you’ll discover limitless outdoor adventure opportunities, too. Whether you’re visiting for the trekking, the food, or just pure relaxation, you’ll find it here.

In today’s article I am going to expose you to the rich and astounding cuisine of Karakol, probably my favorite aspect of the region.

Ashlan-Fu

If Karakol had an official dish, this would be it. This spicy, cold, Dungan soup plays with texture and taste by using two kinds of noodles — thick rice noodles and thinner wheat noodles — mixed with a vinegar chili sauce and topped with a heaping spoonful of chopped herbs. To balance the flavor, tone down the spice, and mop up all that delicious broth, order a side of piroshky (fried bread stuffed with potatoes). You can find this dish over town, from restaurants to stand-up stalls.

Local’s Tip: Look out for the alleyway at Karakol’s Small Bazaar entirely dedicated to ashlan-fu, or sign up for the Dungan Family Dinner tour to make your own!

Laghman

These hand-pulled noodles are found all across Central Asia, but Karakol is a great place to learn about and sample the three main styles of noodles. Traditional laghman noodles are quite soupy, boso laghman noodles are fried, and guyru laghman noodles are boiled and less soupy. You can sample a range of versions from different ethnic groups — Uighur, Uzbek, and Dungan people all have their own signature styles paired with different ingredients and herbs.

Note: Several restaurants in Karakol will serve a vegetarian version of laghman if you request it.