Pilgrimage site · Samarkand District
Khoja Ahrar Complex
A Sufi master's shrine and the 'mirror of Sher-Dor'
Plov centre · Samarkand District
Qamchinon Osh
A no-frills plov centre in Qavchinoni Bolo village south of the city. It serves only Samarkand plov, ladled from the kazan in turn, and the plov can run out by early afternoon.
Samarkand locals call it Qamchinon osh, while maps list it under the name of its village, Qavchinon. It stands in Qavchinoni Bolo in Samarkand District, about 5.5 km south of the Registan as the crow flies, next to the Qavchinon Mahalla bus stop. This is not a tourist place: the setting is basic and most of the diners are locals.
The kitchen makes nothing but Samarkand plov, served with flatbread, salad, suzma (strained yoghurt) and pickles; reviewers also mention chalop, a chilled yoghurt drink, and ghuraob, salted juice of unripe grapes. One name comes up again and again in reviews — that of the cook, Akobir aka.
At lunchtime a queue forms by the kazan: you are given a number, and the wait can stretch to 20–30 minutes. The plov is dished up right at the kazan, in front of you, and it may be gone by early afternoon, so aim to arrive between 11:00 and 12:00.
Information checked: October 2026. Prices and hours can change — call ahead before you go. We do not take bookings: contact the venue directly.
Sources (3)
Plov centre
Tagi Chinor Osh
Lunchtime plov centre by the Tagi Chinor bus stop
2 km
Plov centre
$$$$
Zokir Osh
Locals' favourite plov centre that opens for just two hours
3.7 km
Café
$$$$
4 Tanur
Samsa house and grill with four tandoor ovens
3.8 km
Plov centre
$$$$
Maruf Osh
South-side plov centre where you can watch the plov being made
3.9 km
Restaurant
Fedya Shashlik No. 1
Locals' favourite shashlik house on Sadriddin Ayni Street
3.9 km
Restaurant
$$$$
Chashma Garden
Garden restaurant among the trees in Samarkand District
3.9 km
+1
Fast food
$$$$
Niyat Somsa
Tandoor-baked somsa a short walk from Gur-e-Amir
4.5 km
Fast food
Sariq Bola Pizza
Pizzeria next to the Zilol-Baxt hotel
4.5 km
Fast food
KFC (Orzu Mahmudov St)
KFC on Orzu Mahmudov Street, open from 6am until 4am
4.7 km
Fast food
$$$$
Oqtepa Lavash (Orzu Mahmudov St)
Round-the-clock branch of a popular lavash chain
4.7 km