Our Customers

People talk about us:

1. Andrew K.

Super unassuming place from the outside and stumbled across it on Instagram and I am so glad that I did. We were the only ones there as we got there just as it opened on a random weekday, so the service was great, which was helpful as we were a bit overwhelmed by the menu. I personally liked the traditional bread but the baba ganoush with it was not the best we've had. Next came a few of the pastries, including samsa and manti. These were interesting, well-made dough, and a good amount of meat inside each. At the recommendation of the waitress we got kebabs and we were not disappointed- the meat was super tender and juicy. Finally, the Uzbek pilaf is a staple so we felt like we had to get it and it was overall fine but not the best version of this dish we've had. Worth the try and would definitely consider ordering take-out from here in the future.

2. Lexie F.

First time trying Uzbek food! I was so excited to try Taste of Samarakand and it did not disappoint. You can see why it is a community staple! Eating here was quite an experience -- the decor inside is great and the service from the waitress was amazing. We had so many questions for her and she answered all of them and helped direct us to what food we should order. Since it was my friend and I's first time trying Uzbek food-- we went for a bunch of stuff! The lagman soup was our favorite and the meats were great as well. Avocado salad was also perfect! Big portions and took some home for leftovers as well.

3. Jenny L.

The food was phenomenal, the salads, the fresh bread, the soups, the salsa, the kebabs went all in my belly before I could take pics. The service was top notch. The waiters were polite and attentive. The ambiance is so homey and inviting. There is also live music on most nights. They have ample backyard seating warmed by heat lamps. The interiors are cozy. I love the traditional decor. I will be coming again and I will be sure to take pics before eating the amazing delicious food, but I can't make any promises!

4. Jen Z.

My to-go spot for Uzbek food whenever I'm in the area. Service is alright but the food is delicious. Food I usually get... Appetizers: - Samsa - Uzbek Manti - Cheburek with Meat **you will get full if you order these three appetizers Bread: - Lepyoshka with hummus (hummus is separate - additional $) Salad - Samarkand Salad 2 (Winter) Shish Kebabs - delicious/tender - Beef Skirt steak - Lamb I'm not the biggest fan of their Uzbek Pilaf. It's quite bland. Their Jiz-biz with lamb ribs is alright. The Lagman is good on a cold day but I definitely had better beef broth with hand-spun/pulled noodles.

5. Andre C.

We went to Samarkand for lunch and got the complete Uzbek experience. I loved the kebabs and the fact that they serve them by the stick, so you can order exactly how much you want. Fascinating to find the Korean influence in Uzbek food! It is the result of Stalin importing quasi-slave workers from North Korea to the 'Stans. There are significant Korean communities in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan ... the kimchi followed

6. Michael C.

In summary, ambiance here is excellent. Service is kind but scattered. And food is great. The salads here are brilliant. Classic Uzbek salads, made fresh. Bread and hummus were A+. Plov as good as you'll get. As someone who's had plov countless times, this is as good as you can get. Skewers were mostly good. Some came out room temperature as opposed to warm, making me think it's more of a service problem (dishes waiting around to be taken to the table). The flavor was on point. Highlight was chicken luleh, best ive ever had by far. So with some fine tuning on the kebob front, you have what is likely the best Uzbek food in the area (which is saying a lot if you know Queens).

7. david l.

The food here is amazingly delicious. It can get crowded at all hours. The lamb with rice was amazing. You also can't go wrong with the Kebabs. I look forward to my next visit!

8. Joseph T.

Uzbek restaurant with a homey atmosphere. Dishes were prepared and reserved the way I'd imagine it's like at a Uzbek grandma's home. We showed up on a weeknight and we're seated immediately. Tables were set up to host two large groups plus some smaller groups including us. They had a live performer who started setting up as we were leaving around 8. We ate a lot. We shared the home style salad, the assorted Korean salads, the fatir bread, fried potatoes with mushrooms and onions, and manti as the first set of courses. Everything was great but my favorite was the potatoes and mushrooms. For the next course, we shared several different shish kebabs including vegetables, tomatoes, chicken, ground lamb, lamb, and skirt steak. My favorite of the kebabs was the skirt steak. I noticed gender neutral one restroom. I suspect there were more that I didn't see given how big the restaurant was. Note there was a 15% tip required.

9. Jessie L.

Loveeeee the food! Beef and chicken kababs are both very flavorful tendered and melt in your mouth. Borsch is delicious too. Appetizer, soup and kebabs are all relatively small in size so you can order a variety of items without getting super full. We tried most of the traditional meals on the menu and loved every single item! Service is a bit slow but it doesn't bother us too much. It is also BYOB!

10. Abyana F.

My friend from Graduate School recommended this place for our graduation celebration dinner. It's an Uzbek restaurant in Queens that serves the Uzbek classics. It's Kosher! The wait time was 10 mins. Nafisa was our server and she brought the food quickly! We got Samsa, Uzbek pilaf, Lamb + Beef + Chicken kebabs, two kinds of soup. The samsa was really good - it was crispy, flaking with a lot of lamb stuffing. It does have a gamy aftertaste. The Uzbek pilaf was my favorite- the rice was so fluffy and flavorful and the lamb just melted in your mouth. The carrots were sweet and cut through the heaviness of the rice and the lamb. The kebabs were juicy and tender. I will recommend this place if you want to explore Central Asian cuisine.