Food in Kazan: What to try from the national cuisine

Tickets to Kazan are already bought, but your gastronomic route around the city isn't planned yet? Read our guide to national Tatar dishes, where we share the peculiarities of the cuisine and the best establishments. Alga!  

Origins of Tatar Cuisine

Since Tatars were originally a nomadic people and spent most of their lives on campaigns, meat was their most important food ingredient. They boiled it in cauldrons, smoked it, and salted it. This is how broths, meat, and kazy appeared in their diet. 

When Tatars transitioned to a settled way of life, they began with cattle breeding: they domesticated cows and sheep. Now, in addition to meat, sour milk products began to appear: cottage cheese and salted kurt cheese. 

Around the 19th century, the era of agriculture began for the Tatars. They started growing wheat and rye, making cereals from them, and later baking bread. Among vegetable crops, only potatoes took root here. This is how peremyachi, echpochmaki, and kaymaki appeared. During the beginning of active trade, rice and dried fruits were imported into Tatarstan, which also diversified their food. Based on these products, local residents began to prepare their traditional dishes, most of which you can try only here.

By the way, Tatars profess Islam, so you won't find pork dishes here. It's also unlikely that you'll be allowed to drink alcoholic beverages here. Please respect the culture when visiting other regions and countries. 

Echpochmak

Perhaps the most popular dish in Tatarstan. It's no coincidence that a monument to it has been erected in the national complex «Tugan Avylym»! 

Echpochmak — a rosy, triangular-shaped pastry made from unleavened dough, filled with potatoes, onions, and meat. The best versions are served in the restaurants «Tyubetey», «Rubai» and the cafe «Dom Chaya». 

Kystybyy

Kystybyy — a fried flatbread made from unleavened dough, filled with mashed potatoes or millet porridge. Outwardly, the dish resembles a cheburek. 

We recommend visiting Kazan for the weekend and trying the best kystybyy at cafe KSTB, «Ash Babay» or in the restaurant «Artel». The latter establishment, by the way, will appeal to those who like cafes like those on Pinterest — the interior here is very aesthetic. 

Kazy

This dish is not exclusively Tatar. You can also try it when traveling through Central Asia. But Tatarstan is one of the few regions in Russia where you can try kazy — a tender horse sausage. 

The most delicious kazy is served in the restaurants «Dom Tatarskoy Kulinarii» and «Tatarskaya Usadba». Both establishments are very authentic, so visit each if possible. 

Tokmach

Thinly sliced noodles, broth, herbs in one plate, and nothing superfluous. Often, pieces of various meats are served separately with tokmach, which can be added to the soup if desired. 

Be sure to try tokmach in the restaurants of updated Tatar cuisine «Chirem» and «Katyk». For those looking for a budget option, — go to the canteen «Tokmach» opposite GUM: here the average bill for dishes is 200 rubles. 

Shurpa

Let's continue the parade of delicious broths! Shurpa — a soup made with meat broth, onions, potatoes, and herbs. It is usually called an «appetizer to meat», as the broth is served with boiled meat: lamb or beef. 

The richest broth is at «Drevnyaya Bukhara», «Syuyumbike» and «Sultan Suleiman». 

Beshbarmak

Beshbarmak consists of boiled potatoes, meat, and noodles. It is eaten poured with broth, and also separately as a main dish. Usually, the main meat option for beshbarmak is lamb. 

We recommend trying the most delicious versions of the dish at «Bilyar» and «Lagmania».

Azu (Tatar-style)

Azu — fried meat with tomatoes, carrots, onions, and potatoes. The dish resembles goulash, but Tatars choose lamb or horse meat for their traditional azu, and also add pickled cucumbers. 

Upon arrival in Kazan, be sure to try azu in the restaurants «Pir» and «Priyut Kholostyaka». 

Chak-chak

If echpochmak — is the most famous Tatar pastry, then chak-chak leads as a popular dessert. These are pieces of deep-fried dough, drizzled with honey or syrup. 

If you want to drink tea with milk and eat delicious chak-chak, go to «Chaynaya Istoriya» or «Sultan Suleiman». For a gift to friends, buy the dessert in «Bakhetle» stores — locals say it's the best there. 

Gubadiya

The next gastronomic delight is gubadiya. This is a national closed pie with a multi-layered filling. There are variations with meat, but we will talk about the dessert version. It is prepared with cottage cheese, boiled egg, rice, and raisins. Sometimes juicy fruits are also added. 

We recommend trying the sweet variation of the pie at the restaurant «Tyubetey». 

Talkysh kaleve

We conclude the parade of sweets with talkysh kaleve. It consists of cones made from flour and caramelized honey, stretched into threads. You definitely won't try such a delicious dessert anywhere else. 

We recommend trying talkysh at the establishments «Tatarskaya Usadba» and «Tyubetey». 

You can find flights to Kazan on Kupi.com to visit Tatarstan and try all the best dishes. We wish you a great trip and bon appétit!