The Host - Tashkent

To begin, I want to share a caution with vegans (and those who cannot consume dairy products): There is a section of the menu labeled as "vegan," but unfortunately, the accuracy of this label is questionable as some dishes are actually lacto-vegetarian, not vegan (and the staff seems unaware of the distinction). I ordered the Pindi channa from the "vegan" section and made it clear to the waiter that I cannot consume milk products. However, the dish was served with paneer (cheese), which was not mentioned in the menu description. Similarly, the dal makhani contained butter and cream (also not stated on the menu). The only potentially vegan dish on the menu is the dal tadka, if it is cooked in oil instead of ghee. When I discovered the paneer in my dish, I asked the waiter about it, and he confirmed it was indeed paneer. He offered to replace it, but the replacement was rushed (cooked for only a fraction of the original time), leaving me unsure if they simply removed the paneer and reheated the dish. Despite this, the food quality was acceptable. The atmosphere was centered around a cricket match on TV. Overall, I cannot recommend this restaurant for vegans based on my experience, but it is just one visit. It is possible that my visit coincided with a bad day, and others may have better luck. Lacto-vegetarians may appreciate the wider selection of dishes available compared to other Uzbek restaurants.

First and foremost, a warning to all vegans (and those who avoid dairy products): Be cautious when ordering from the menu at this restaurant. While there is a section labeled "vegan," some dishes are actually lacto-vegetarian. I ordered a Pindi channa from the "vegan" section and specifically mentioned to the waiter that I could not consume any dairy. Unfortunately, the dish was served with cheese, which was not specified on the menu. The dal makhani also contained butter and cream, undisclosed on the menu. The only truly vegan option seems to be the dal tadka, when cooked in oil instead of ghee. When my dish arrived with paneer (cheese), I asked the waiter to confirm if it was actually vegan or not. He apologized and offered to replace it, but the replacement arrived too quickly, raising suspicions about the dish being reheated instead of freshly prepared. Despite this, the food quality was excellent and the atmosphere was lively with a cricket game on TV. In conclusion, I cannot recommend this place for vegans based on my experience, but it may vary for others. Lacto-vegetarians, however, will find a good selection of dishes to enjoy from the menu.

After some explanation, the staff finally understood what vegan means and we were able to enjoy a delicious vegan meal. It turns out that all four lentil dishes mentioned on the menu as vegan are actually vegan. They were also able to make naan bread without butter, which was a pleasant surprise. Although we initially had trouble finding the restaurant, it is actually quite easy to spot - it is located in the glassy building by the small river behind the fancy stone building.

This restaurant offers excellent Indian cuisine and it was the first time in over a month that I had seen the word "vegan" on a menu. The restaurant is gorgeous and I am thrilled to have found this hidden gem.

The Indian food at this restaurant is excellent and I was pleasantly surprised to see the word "vegan" on the menu for the first time in over a month. The restaurant is also beautifully decorated. I am thrilled to have discovered this gem.