Shashlik!

Shashlik! This delicious dish, beloved all over Central Asia, is an Osh specialty for good reason. Almost every cafe offers many kinds of shashlik. There are lamb ribs, pieces of lamb with tail fat, lamb liver, tender pieces of beef, seasoned chicken, and several kinds of lula kebab.

Lula kebab is the most popular type of local shashlik. It is made from minced meat seasoned with spices and salt. There are two kinds: the first is made from meat by-products, with the lamb head meat used to make it stickier and is cheaper. The second is made from pure fillet of meat; it is more expensive than the first kind. Both are incredibly tasty and juicy! Aside from these classic kebabs, there is also a variety wrapped in caul fat, which gives a special, rich flavor.

Thanks to the imagination of Osh chefs, the shashlik offerings in local cafes change almost every season. They come up with different recipes, different presentations and even different names! For instance, there is shashlik with the mysterious moniker “Napoleon,” and “besh manja,” which resembles five fingers and is served on several skewers. Though meat can also be cooked in a tandoor, in Osh, shashlik is cooked exclusively over charcoal. Be sure to try lula kebab in Osh cafes!

All types of shashlik are served with generous amounts of finely chopped onions seasoned with tangy table vinegar. Though more expensive than in the bazaar, cafes serve shashlik with vegetables, crunchy salad greens and potato fries. There is always fresh flatbread, hot from the tandoor, nearby. Make sure you order a pot of green tea with your meal and enjoy some of the best shashlik that Kyrgyzstan has to offer!