Dushanbe's restaurant scene has developed considerably since the 2000s. Traditional Tajik food — plov (rice cooked in lamb fat with carrots and onion), shashlik (grilled meat skewers), lagman (pulled noodle soup), samsa (baked pastries stuffed with lamb and onion), and non (flatbread) — is available everywhere. For a good introduction, the Rokhat Teahouse is the classic choice.
Several restaurants around the city center serve Russian and European food alongside Tajik dishes. The area around Rudaki Avenue has a growing number of cafes and restaurants pitched at the international NGO and diplomat community, with Western-style menus and reliable standards. Prices are low by any international comparison.