Tashkent is one of the most overwhelming places you can subject yourself to, and it’s also one of the most magical. If you love a good grocery store, you should visit this Uzbek chain—with five locations around the city—at least once. At Brighton Beach, weave your way through locals doing their weekly shop, and head straight for the hot bar and prepared food sections. There, you can stock up on spiced beef manti, pickled cabbage, smoked fish, and borscht—and don’t slow down when you reach the section of golden-brown fried foods. Load your basket with some Georgian-style khachapuri, cigar-like sigara, and lamb samsa, and then take them all home and heat them up until the khachapuri oozes with cheese. Once you think you’ve done enough damage, go for just one more thing. Sushi salad, anyone?