Dungan family restaurant

Not far from Karakol is the idyllic village of Yrdyk, which is rich in history. The inhabitants of the village, the Dungans, maintain their old traditions here and allow tourists to taste their unique cuisine. Every day there is a dinner with a Dungan family in their home, where delicious specialties are served. Guests have the opportunity to learn how to prepare Ashlan Fu - a nationally famous traditional Dungan dish.

Originally, the Dungans, a Muslim-Chinese minority, came from the eastern part of China. However, at the end of the 19th century, due to the uprising against the Qing Dynasty, they were forced to leave their homeland and flee to eastern territories of the then Russian Empire. As a result, numerous communities emerged in Central Asia and so did Yrdyk. Although the culture of the Dungans, like so many others, was suppressed during the times of communism in the Soviet Union, their cuisine gradually achieved nationwide fame and is still a favorite today.

Visitors from all over the world can get acquainted with the history, traditions and, of course, the delicious food of the Dungans in Yrdyk. On a tour of the village and its local museum, Luke Lee, one of Yrdyk's residents, tells the tragic story of his ancestors, as well as their legends and traditions. Afterwards, the guests are invited to a family dinner, where they can taste a variety of dishes and even prepare them themselves. The focus is on "Ashlan Fu", a spicy glass noodle soup with meat and vegetables, which is eaten cold. This dish is said to help with a variety of problems, such as the occasional hangover, and because of its low price (at local markets, you can buy a bowl for as little as 50 cents), it is regularly on the menu of students and even entire families. Ashlan Fu is eaten at any time of day and sometimes even several times a day. In Karakol there is even a market street called "Ashlan fu Alley", which testifies to the popularity of the noodle soup.

The three-hour tour of Yrdyk, including a meal with the local Dungan family, takes place every day of the year in all weather conditions. Places can be booked through the Karakol City Visitor Center which also takes care of transportation between Karakol and Yrdyk.

Have we whetted your appetite? On our Kyrgyzstan trip you have the opportunity to discover the diverse cuisine of the country!