Cities Where Street Food is Better Than Any Michelin Restaurant

41. Almaty, Kazakhstan: Nomadic Nourishment Meets Soviet Soul

Almaty’s street food draws from its steppe heritage and Soviet-era heartiness. Start with baursaki, pillowy fried dough balls often served warm with jam or sour cream. Craving something heartier? Try laghman noodles stir-fried with lamb and vegetables, or manty—large steamed dumplings stuffed with spiced meat and onions. Street-side shashlik skewers sizzle beside pots of shorpa, a meaty broth perfect for cold evenings. Don’t miss kurt, salty dried cheese balls, sold by the bag for snacking on the go. Street food here reflects resilience—made to fill you up, warm your bones, and carry you across miles of silence and sky.