Discovering Giant Pigodis in Nukus

We had an unexpected culinary experience at a restaurant in Nukus, Uzbekistan, when we ordered dumplings called pigodi and were surprised.

Last year was full of adventures for us, as we had the opportunity to delve deep into Central Asia and explore its beautiful nature, culture, history, and cuisine. During our journey, we encountered many interesting and amusing situations. One of them was at the restaurant Slatko in Nukus, the Autonomous Republic of Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan.

One beautiful day, we decided to have lunch and visited a local restaurant. The interior of the restaurant was beautifully decorated, and the atmosphere was amazing, offering a variety of local and Korean dishes. So, we sat down and looked at the menu. I wanted to try Korean dumplings called Pigodis, which are known in all countries of the former Soviet Union.

A waitress came up to us and took our orders. When I said I would like to try three pieces of this pigodi, she suggested that I take two pigodis instead of three. I thought, “Am I too fat that she is recommending that I eat less?” No, she actually said that the dumplings were very large. I said, “Okay, let’s take two pigodis.” We additionally ordered different types of dishes, which sounded interesting.

I thought that the pigodi would be about 10 cm in diameter because that’s how they are always sized in Kazakhstan. But my expectations were not met when the pigodis were brought in, as they were larger than I had anticipated. They were bigger than my hand! “Wow!” was all me and my husband could say. They looked amazing and were very, very big, and of course, they were very tasty! The food was also reasonably priced. If I were to return to Nukus, I would definitely want to visit the restaurant Sladko again. I can’t forget those delicious pigodis.

• Read more articles: Our 3 months journey through Central Asia