Chaykhana leads Pittsburgh's Uzbek food explosion
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Samsa pastries beckon you with their flaky and buttery crusts. Photo: Ryan Deto/Axios
Even though small in number, immigrants from Uzbekistan love to cook in Pittsburgh, and they are sharing their culinary delights with everyone.
Why it matters: Uzbek food is booming right now in Pittsburgh, so picking can be difficult. Chaykhana in the city's West End is a good first choice thanks to its traditional flavors, comfortable setting and reasonable prices.
Context: The large Central Asian country is home to over 37 million people, and its cuisine is heavy on grains, with several delicious bread and noodle dishes, as well as an admiration for lamb and mutton.
- There were 832 Uzbek immigrants living in the Pittsburgh area as of 2023, according to census data, but their numbers have been increasing over the past decade.
Dig in: I started with two samsas ($4 each), buttery and flaky pastries stuffed with savory fillings: one spinach and another pumpkin. A herby tomato sauce complemented them perfectly, adding enough brightness to the warm flavors.
- A pelmeni soup ($15) was light but earthy with the delicate beef dumplings surrounded by an herby broth.
- Get the plov, Uzbekistan's national dish of lamb over rice, sweet carrots and subtle spices that is slow-cooked to absorb all the juices. Chaykhana's version ($17) is a perfect dish, packed with flavor and balance in every bite.
Wash it down with a glass of kompot ($4), a semi-sweet beverage made by steeping stone fruits.
The vibe: Casual table dining and take-out available. Television screens show Uzbek cultural happenings, and waitstaff speak English as well as Uzbek for the large number of international patrons.
- The main dining room is small, but another dining area is used when that fills up.
If you go: Chaykhana is located at 410 S. Main St. in the West End.
- Open Monday-Thursday 10am-11pm, Friday-Saturday 10am-midnight, and Sunday 11am-10pm
Zoom out: Other Uzbek restaurants in the area include Kavsar in Mt. Washington, Piyola in Mt. Lebanon, and Caravan Halal Restaurant in Downtown, among others.
Go deeper: Read more on Pittsburgh's growing number of Uzbek restaurants in this WESA feature.