The small teahouses in Karakol's Dungan quarter are the quietest and most local places to sit with a cup of tea. The Dungan tradition is green tea served in a shallow bowl alongside lepyoshka bread, small fried pastries, and sometimes a plate of kurt. The atmosphere is domestic — these are houses with a few tables rather than commercial establishments — and the welcome is warm.
The best teahouses are in the eastern part of town near the Dungan Mosque, tucked along residential streets. There is no signage to speak of; look for a door propped open and the smell of frying. These places are at their most active in the mid-morning after the morning prayers and in the late afternoon.