The bazaar is one of the most authentic in southern Kazakhstan and the best single place in Kyzylorda to absorb local life. Stalls sell everything from dried apricots and sheep fat to Chinese electronics and Soviet-era kitchenware. The food section is particularly interesting — you'll find qurt (dried sour-milk balls), baursak (fried dough), and vendors selling horsemeat sausage alongside fresh produce.
Come in the morning when the crowd is thickest and the produce freshest. The mix of Kazakh, Uzbek, Russian, and Korean vendors reflects the diverse population that Stalin-era deportations and oil-industry migrations brought to this remote city. Bring cash in small denominations, and a phrase or two of Russian will go a long way.