Uzbek food is like East meets West, an amalgam of Turkish and Middle Eastern, Russian, and South Asian/Indian influences. So if you like any of those foods, you'll enjoy the cuisine. Along with familiar items like kebabs, hummus/baba ganoush, and lamb chops, I urge you to try the pelmeni/chochvera/manti (various types of dumplings) and the traditional dishes. We found everything to be delicious, and add this to our growing list of favorites eateries in Boonton! read more

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This is a cute place. The big problem is service. It just takes too long for food to come out. When we got our food, the Kazan chicken was lukewarm and the dish is shallow. The fish kebab was piping hot and tasty. They spread the veggies and carrots out so thinly that there wasn't much. The waitress was lovely. The other reviews about service is very accurate. Hopefully they will fix that. read more

Uzbekistana - Kazan chicken with naan - Uzbek Near Me - Boonton, New Jersey

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Update: Well, as noted in my original review, I did move here to Boonton, and I did return to Uzbekistana. Time and time again. As COVID hit this became part of my regular rotation to visit every few weeks and keep the money coming in. I was sad when they closed, thrilled when they reopened in a new location, and they're still in my rotation, so... that means 5 stars! What's different from my first review? First, the new location is very pretty, since they had a chance to start over from their prior place. Rebuilt in place, lovely tinted mood to the cute and tasteful interior. If you're the first one in, they'll start up the wonderful native music to jive to. Next, I love the dumplings, whether you get the manti or the chochvera or any other kind. If I'm not getting them, whoever I go with (my mom loves this place too) will get them and I'll wish I had. The meat kebabs are wonderfully spiced - recommend go with whole meat vs. chopped, but whatever your call is. When you get dinners, a lot of them now have a package with sides, such as kebab dinner (2 skewers, 2 sides). That'll certainly help you get your fill, and I can tell you the sides are delicious here too. Oh, and I ditched that lady that was weighing down my star rating. That always helps :D So yeah, Uzbekistana is absolutely worth the experience. I will just say you'll want to leave a little extra time - all food is made to order, so it takes some time to appear, the server lady may take some time to get to your table, but judging from the crowds I've seen in the last couple of years, people have accepted that and are willing to be patient for the wonderful feast ahead! So should you! read more

Such delicious food! We ordered several small plates to share. The service was attentive and warm. We will definitely be back to try more plates! read more

My family absolutely loves this place. It's casual with delicious food. We go here all the time and pick up from here as well. I believe it's owned and run by the same family, and they are such nice, friendly people. Well priced! Highly recommend. read more

Dingy little place. Family owned and operated. Service was deadly slow. I asked for ice three times from three different people before someone brought it. Our dining partners raved about the soup. "You have to get this amazing soup!" The soup was cold and too spicey. The lamb chops were wildly overcooked and the lamb shank was gamey. Do not bother to eat here. read more

Can't wait to go back and very excited to try new vegetarian options. I would prefer to have dishes with two or three items instead of so much of one thing. I was able to create that with side dishes but I like when it is planned by the chef instead. Service was a little slow because they were shorthanded, but everyone was very sweet and pleasant. We went with our friend who is a fabulous professional chef (non vegetarian) and he enjoyed every bite too! read more

This establishment had the best baba ghanoush I have ever eaten, and I have had lots of different ones from different places, and I've even made it myself, but not nearly as great! It is a cozy, warm atmosphere with a lovely weight staff read more

it was my birthday dinner and we wanted to have Mediterranean food. we always try new joints (especially those owned by locals). we live nearby and we saw this restaurant whenever we cross Boonton main street. So it was tough finding when we reached there and then we got to know its been moved but same street (like 200-300 feet far) anyway, we reached. it was Thursday evening, the restaurant was almost empty, only 2 tables were occupied. the server came and we placed our order Hummus with pita bread - it was amazing, I would definitely recommend any sort of hummus from their menu, but do try. - 4.5/5 Lamb chops - I asked for well done, but when it came I can say with full confidence, that it was medium rare. I asked the chef, and tell them it was not well done, but as per them, it's Uzbekistani way, and in their cooking style, it's well done. they did mention every spice and all - but I was not satisfied. though I could have asked for a replacement, but I don't believe in wasting food. there was 4 piece that comes with sides. I chose marinated onion and brown rice. after finishing 3 pieces, 4th piece was hard to chew. - 2.5/5 Chicken Kufta Kebab (spicy)- glad my wife enjoyed her meal. The only spice item was this kebab and by my standard it was mild. no worries, it was good, 2 big skewers filled with chicken kebab with fries and brown rice. it was soft-juicy and amazing. 4.5/5 except for the kebab, the meal was great, ambiance (as you can see from my pics) - was soothing and good. yeah, I can recommend this. I would definitely try their local cuisine next time. read more

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Don't be put off by the reviews talking about the wait time, it's not bad at all and the food is absolutely incredible and worth it. The flavors are delicate and rich and leave your body feeling really good, and the restaurant itself is comfortable and pretty and the service is kind. Highly recommend- - Plov with Achichuk - gently spiced, slightly sweet, perfectly balanced with the salty-savory of the lamb. Pairs perfectly with the tomatoes in the Achichuk. - Chicken Kefta Kebab with Grilled Vegetables - Blown away by this one. Chicken is spiced with a bunch of spices including coriander, fenugreek, and chili, and tastes absolutely incredible. Couscous on the side was nice and soft and flavorful too. - Manti is really well-done here too, juicy and well-flavored (better than most manti you'll find) and the wrappers are delicate without falling apart. This is a rare restaurant that I feel genuine gratitude for the fact that it exists. They deserve your business and your support, please go here. read more

This is basically two restaurants in one, serving both Mediterranean and Persian specialties. If you prefer hummus and kebabs, you have plenty of choices. If you prefer Uzbek-style plov and dumplings, they're fantastic. BYO beer and wine! A plov (known elsewhere as polo or polow) is fragrant rice with vegetables and spices, usually paired with slow-cooked meat like a lamb shank, absolutely delicious. We also tried the manti, a huge plate of fat dumplings stuffed with ground lamb in a bit of sauce. Tremendously fair prices, at dinner appetizers were under $10 and entrees about $18-24. The dining room was quiet, easy to hear each other talk, no background music or TVs. Service was friendly but slow. For dessert there's baklava and Turkish coffee. Vegetarians welcome, there are many good choices like the herb and spinach dumplings served in sour cream & tomato sauce (called "aashak"). Unfortunately I have to confirm some rumors about the bathroom, only one was working and it was kinda gross. read more

Uzbekistana - Manti, dumplings with lamb, $19 - Uzbek Near Me - Boonton, New Jersey

Slow service - as there was just 1 waitress a young girl - there is another younger girl around who was helping out on the night we were there When not assisting she was on her cell phone at a bar area near the kitchen. No alcohol beverages, So we had hot tea. Food was ok - small portions The food did not come out at the same time (2 of us) The slow service ruined it for me The bathrooms are right at the hallway of the entrance As I walked in the place a restroom door hit me I don't recommend this place The positive is that the food wasn't bad read more

Service wasn't good, only saw the waiter when we ordered and received our food. It wasn't busy that day... food wasn't good. Everything we ordered that was supposed to be hot came out cold and tasted old (such as the bbq & kebabs) The place seemed semi clean until you visit their restroom & oh my those need some love for sure. They were very dirty, kinda disgusting! Was hoping for a better outcome but definitely won't be back here. read more

the lamb dumpling app was goooooddddd. the kazam lamb (entree) was tasty too. i was surprised that there was no music playing read more

Great food, Love the ambiance and their new location. The jasmine t just accents it all. Go for the Langman Noodle soup Liam and vegetables and noodles. Yup. read more

Second time and even more delicious. Be sure to get a pot of tea for the table! Food is fresh and made to order! read more

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Was very disappointed last night. It used to be one of our favorite spots, but everything changed: service was bad, literally had to wait for an hour to be served appetizers. Saw the server when we ordered and paid. The food was either under or overcooked. So sad to see this great restaurant to become to uninviting. No ambiance to report. read more

The food is very good and most meals are large portions. The service can be slow at times, but most nights it is not that bad. The inside is decorated and has a nice ambiance. read more

Let me just start by saying: I'm so sad it took us until we're moving away to try Uzbekistana! Knowing that this would be our only chance to visit, we decided to focus on traditional dishes and specialties. We ordered the pelmini as an appetizer, and both the bokhara (lamb) plov and kazan chicken with nan as entrees to share. Per another user's recommendation, we ordered a pot of black tea to go with it all. The tea was excellent. Not bitter at all, with a nice fruity rose flavor. They serve it with sugar cubes to sweeten to taste, but I liked it straight. The pelmini were excellent as an appetizer. The only "gripe" we had was that we didn't have a straw to drink the yogurt sauce, haha. So we held onto the bowl of sauce for later. Between the bokhara plov and kazan chicken, it would be impossible to name a favorite. The lamb was fall-off-the-bone tender and the rice with carrots and raisins paired beautifully. The chicken was bright and pleasantly zingy; we were happy to have chosen the nan to go with it so that we could dip it in the sauce (and the leftover sauce from the pelmini). We ordered some baklava to take home for later, since we were totally full after the meal. It was tasty too, but everything else was so good, it would have needed to be actual magic to keep up with dinner. Final review: 5/5 if you have the time to relax and enjoy a meal. If we could take Uzbekistana with us to our new home, we would. read more

I have been in cleaner bathrooms in frat houses and truck stops. I am not even close to exaggerating. Believe the previous reviews. The service was really bad. I'm sorry guys, but bus your tables. No one wants to sit next to tables of dirty dishes from other customers who are long gone. It wasn't busy (at all). No drinks were offered. We had to ask for water. The pretty well decorated tables on the social media don't exist. But seriously, the bathroom says it all. Please clean your bathroom. read more

Very interesting menu, a mix of mideastern and Asian flavors and textures. It's the only Uzbek restaurant near us. Service however is slow. Staff seems inexperienced. Food is good, just don't expect to get in and out quickly. read more

One of the best Uzbek restaurant in NJ. 1) I tried two types of plov. I liked one more than the other. I like the Bokhara plov more than the Taskand plov. 2) Got the Kazan chicken, which is similar to an Indian dish, chicken tikka masala. 3) Must try is the Samsa and Manti. read more

Food 5 stars. Outstanding. We had mint tea, hummus (delicious pita bread), samsa, bokhara plov, and a very flavorful shrimp dish. Service pleasant. My melt off the bone lamb took a while to cook as expected so we were here a while, but food was well worth the wait. Ambiance. Well, not so much, but we were here for the cuisine and were not disappointed. read more

The new venue is wonderful, has plentiful parking at a convenient location opposite Santaland, next to Mikes Auto. The atmosphere is warm and cozy, the decor pleasing and the staff friendly. Now on to the food: absolutely delicious. Everything is prepared fresh so you have to be patient but it is well worth the wait. We started with the humus and a Shepard salad. Without a doubt it was the best humus I have ever tasted: smooth, thick and very tasty. So much so that we were halfway through before I thought to take a pic for this review. We moved into the shrimp skewers with veg and the lamb shank. Again, delicious. The lamb was so soft it fell off the bone, came on a bed of long grain rice that was mixed with carrots, raisins and a lovely flavor. Unsurprisingly we ate half before I snapped pics of that course. I thoroughly recommend you give this restaurant a go at their new location. read more

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First time eating Uzbek cuisine & our family of 4 loved everything so much. Hummus to die for, borscht & lentil soup were also standouts. Best main dish is Bohkra Plav (braised lamb shank over rice, carrots & raisins). Another fun thing to get is a pot of loose tea. They serve it with all the trimmings. Ambiance is a bit severe if I'm being honest. BYOB read more

All I can say is "wow". Food is amazing. The traditional dishes were the stars of the show (lamb shank and pulled lamb dishes) but everything was fantastic. Hummus and baba, salad, kabobs, all great. We will be back. read more

This place is a little gem! Very quaint and ethnic decor. The service was good, but the food was amazing. Everything we had was very flavorful and exotic. I felt transported to their part of the world. The menu had plenty of vegetarian options too. My friend had a butter bean entree that was so tasty! I had their uzbeki noodle bowl. So satisfying! We had three appetizers one better then the other. At one point the owner came out to ask if we were happy with our food and was so touched by our enthusiastic response. Try one their teas for another interesting cultural experience. Can't wait to go back with my whole family! read more

Very calm and peaceful restaurant, nice ambiance, courteous staff. The Chicken Noqrai to me seemed like an Uzbek butter chicken (delicious), the Bolanee seemed like an empanada or samosa, Badamjan was delicious (eggplant with cheese), the soups (Borscht and Shorpa) were delicious. This place looked like BYOB. Its an ideal spot to take your partner and enjoy a nice quiet evening with wonderful food. It hit me yesterday, since India was ruled by Turks and Central Asians for a few hundred years, they may be lots of similarities between the foods? read more

Very nice ambience and fun food options. I need to more choices because I didn't find my favorite yet. Staff was accommodating and courteous. Worth it just for the beautiful decor and chance to try new dishes. BYOB too. read more

What a nice surprise. Nice ambiance but certainly not overly fancy. The 4 appetizer mix, Taug Plov and Kazan chicken were all well seasoned and really tasty. The unique cuisine reminded me of elements of Middle Eastern, Indian and Afghan food. This was a terrific meal and I look forward to my next visit. read more

The food was absolutely amazing! I've traveled a lot and lived in NYC and this was by far some of the best food I've had. Got the Baklajan, chochvera, Laghman, Kazan lamb, and Noqrai chicken. All of the food was so perfectly cooked and amazing flavors! Will definitely be going back! read more

This restaurant is fantastic! The owner welcomes you in and treats you like family. The food is fresh and cooked to order every time. My favorite dishes are the lamb chops and the lamb shank...yummy! We eat here often and you should too! read more

I loved all the food. Some of the dumplings were a bit sweet but everything was great!

Such phenomenal food! So fresh and delicious. The owner/family are SO NICE. This is a relaxed experience, get takeout if you're in a rush. BYO. Out of town friends always beg that we go here when they are visiting. My kids love the food, too. A must try!! read more

Amazing Uzbek food! I love this place- the service is very quick and friendly, and the food is to die for. Every time I go, I enjoy everything we order. My favorite entree is the Lamb Shank Plov, which falls right off the bone! read more

Uzbekistana - Lamb Shank Plov - Uzbek Near Me - Boonton, New Jersey

This rating is not for the food, as the food is good. This rating is low due to the poor hygienic practices of the restaurant. The bathroom is absolutely disgusting! It is down right filthy with human excrement on the toilet seat and the tank! I hope the owner sees this and realizes that children, babies, and toddler visit your restaurant, & the state of your restaurant is heightening the risk and exposure of E.coli. If your bathroom is so gross can't imagine what the kitchen looks like. read more

Food was good, service was pleasant, if not efficient. BYOB. Be prepared to wait for your food, but overall a nice night out.

Service was horrific! Food was ok, but I'm not rushing to come back Ambiance was attempted with one wall.

One of my favorite restaurants in this area! I always pay this place a visit with my family whenever I fly back to Jersey. Food: Fresh and delicious. I love all the lamb dishes and the manti. Environment/Ambience: Its a nice, formal setting. I loved the traditional Uzbeki plate and tea set decorations. It's usually not too busy or crowded either. It's located on a busy street in Boonton so there's only side street parking and no lot :/ Customer Service: The staff is really sweet. The wait is slightly long but the food makes it worth it. read more

Uzbekistana is a pretty authentic Uzbek restaurant and the first of its kind that I personally have ever seen in the area. For those that don't really know what Uzbek food is, the best way that I can think to describe it is a fusion between Russian, Mediterranean, and South Asian (i.e. Indian, etc). Walking into the restaurant, you're greeted with traditional decor and a quaint interior. We were seated immediately with a friendly smile and the night started off really well. Overall, I found this restaurant to be just average in the grand scheme of things. While the experience was unique and interesting, especially if you've never tried this type of food, I found that the cost wasn't worth it. The food was decent but way too expensive for what you get, in my humble opinion. We started out with the hummus and the lentil/vegetable soup. As my main course, I got the Kazan Chicken with naan. At a cost of $17.95 for this dish, I honestly expected way more; it should at least come with more sides or something. It was just more liquidy sauce than anything else and I found that the flavors weren't very enjoyable after a few bites. While I understand that having free-range, non-GMO, etc meat probably adds to the costs of the food, I find it hard to believe that it costs THAT much. As per my observations of the people around me, I got the vibe that this place is better known for their lamb and beef dishes so definitely try those out if you enjoy red meat. As for dessert, we got something that our waitress called "cheese dessert" but it was essentially Ras Malai; definitely really milky and delicious. We got a pot of tea to go along with it and it was a lot of tea for just two people. I thought that the rustic Soviet china that they used was very cute and added to the authenticity of the place. read more

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