Kyrgyz Fast Food

On days when I have to work all day and do not have time to go home for lunch I have taken to eating at Shumkar, a chain of cafeterias here in Bishkek. It has the advantage of being fast and cheap. I usually get their manti, a smoked duck salad, and compot. I have taken to calling the place McManti since their manti is the equivalent of a Big Mac in the US, tasty and filling, but very high in fat. On days when I tire of manti I get their plov. It is not quite the Golden Arches, but it is close enough on most days.