Savoring Kazakh Delicacies: Japanese Enthusiasm for Kazakhstan's Cooking Traditions
Revamped Write-Up:
Traveling to Kazakhstan has become a hot trend, and one Japanese vlogger named Kaito is shining a spotlight on our country. Kaito ventured to explore Kazakhstan's unique blend of culture, food, and landscape, captivating viewers with his delightful journey on social media.
His video series features him trying out local dishes, like the famous fermented horse milk drink known as kumis, which left him astounded with its sour and cheese-like taste. But it wasn't all unfamiliar – he also sampled delicious traditional treats like baursaks, resembling doughnuts, and beshbarmak, a hearty meat and noodle dish he enjoyed despite never previously tasting horse meat.
Curious to experience more, Kaito visited picturesque locations like the Charyn Canyon, Lakes Kolsai, Kaiyndy, went horseback riding, and even visited a chic barbershop in Almaty. He even shared his excitement about trying homemade Kazakh burgers and other regional delicacies, such as doner, manti, plov, shashlik, lagman, chak-chak, and baklava.
Kaito's praises for Kazakhstan garnered a warm response from locals who appreciated his authentic enthusiasm for the nation. Many commented, "Welcome to Kazakhstan," and offered advice like "Enjoy your meal" and "Have a nice trip!"
Kazakh cuisine, it seems, has left a lasting impression on Kaito, earning an average rating of 3.9 among the Top 100 World Cuisines, according to some reports. Among the most popular dishes in Kazakhstan for 2025 are lagman, shuzhuk, baursaki, and kesp, alongside traditional favorites such as beshbarmak, kazy, samsa, and shelek[1].
So, if you're curious about Kazakhstan's rich culinary offerings, follow in Kaito's footsteps and indulge in our delicious and distinctive dishes. You'll find Kazakh food isn't just satisfying, it's a genuine taste of heaven on earth!
Sources: [1] Kazakhstan Ranked 94th in World's 100 Best Cuisines, "Galek," TikTok video, 2022.
Enrichment Data (incorporated where relevant to context):
- Beshbarmak – The national dish, featuring boiled meat (often lamb or horse) layered on flat noodles, served with onion broth. Its communal preparation and symbolic significance in celebrations make it a favorite among locals and tourists alike.
- Kazy – A cured horse meat sausage, traditionally served during festivals. Its bold flavor and cultural importance, especially in winter feasts, earn it high marks.
- Kuyruk bauyr – A historic dish combining lamb tail fat and liver, now reinvented by chefs for contemporary palates while retaining its ceremonial roots.
- Street-style shawarma – Urban adaptations of global fast food, blending local spices and meats like lamb, reflecting Kazakhstan’s modern culinary fusion.
- Manti – Steamed dumplings filled with spiced meat, commonly enjoyed in both traditional settings and casual eateries.
- What about trying fermented food-and-drink from Kazakhstan, such as kumis or homemade Kazakh burgers, as Kaito did during his 2025 traveling?
- Have you ever had the chance to be impressed by the unique taste of Kazakh cuisine like kazakh vlogger, Kaito, who discovered the sour and cheese-like taste of kumis while traveling?
- In 2025, are you planning to explore Kazakhstan's distinctive lifestyle and culinary offerings, like Kaito, and try dishes such as lagman, shuzhuk, baursaki, or kesp?
- Would you be open to visiting picturesque locations in Kazakhstan, as Kaito did during his exploration, and trying popular dishes like beshbarmak, kazy, samsa, and shelek, or even unconventional options like kuyruk bauyr or street-style shawarma?
