There are a lot of choices when you enter any university. You have to pick your classes, you have to pick your friends, and you have to pick where you are going to eat.
Almaty has much to offer when it comes to good food. And if you’re in a rush, you can always grab something filling at the Canteen, The Hub, or any of the coffee shops on campus.
However, there is a lot more choices as soon as you step off campus. So if you have an hour between classes and want to venture across Abay Avenue or down Dostyk Street, here are some places to consider that have good food for under 5,000 KZT.
Nedelka
This place is great for students to grab lunch for less than 5,000 KZT and spend only 30 to 40 minutes there break between classes. Serving European cuisine, the restaurant has a welcoming Almaty vibe to it with lots of people sipping coffee and chatting. Be careful, though, time can quickly pass while you enjoy a meal with a friend.
Time to get there: 8 minutes
Time for waiting: under 20 minutes.
Budget: 4,000 KZT per person
Location: Abay Ave. 19
Food: Great food options: Pizza Lucia (2,900 KZT), Ginger Chicken with Sweet Potato and Feta Mousse (3,200 KZT), Spaghetti Carbonara (2,500 KZT). For a quick lunch try the BBQ Chicken Panini (1,800 KZT). For the drinks, they have a free water option, and their tea options are all under 1,000 KZT (400 ml). Which wraps everything for a tasty and filling lunch under 5,000 KZT.
Noodles
This large restaurant just across Dostyk is known to be a favorite hangout of KIMEP’s Provost and Deputy General to the President Dr. Timothy Barnett. Around lunchtime, you’re bound to see lots of suits and ties as it is a magnet for business lunches. Despite offering a large dining space, Noodles does a good job of compartmentalizing the space so you can sit in the back and enjoy the view of the fountain or up front and watch people walk by. Many meals are under 5,000 KZT.
Time to get there: 5 minutes
Time for waiting: 15 minutes is the maximum
Budget: 3,000 KZT
Location: Dostyk Ave 52/2
Food: Noodles post its business lunch menu every week on Instagram (@noodles.almaty) with all of the options. Most often, a business lunch includes soup as the first course and a filling second course (such as, pasta, chicken with mashed potatoes or beef with rice), as well as a salad, compote or tea and a basket of free white and whole grain bread.
Vanilla
A popular hangout, many people say Vanilla has the “Almaty vibe.” It features a wide variety of fresh coffee and a number of breakfast and lunch options. The food is usually under 5,000 KZT. Vanilla would be a good option to run in and grab a bagel and cup of coffee before heading to campus. If you have time, grab a booth with a friend and chat the afternoon away. The tall windows draw in lots of sunlight to add to the coziness.
Time to get there: 15 minutes
Time for waiting: under 20 minutes
Budget: 4,000 KZT per person
Location: Kunaev St 130
Food: bagel with chicken (3,200 KZT), fresh pasta alfredo (3,200 KZT), poke with salmon (3,500 KZT), if you choose among breakfasts, then the “hearty breakfast” for 3,300 KZT will be a good option. For drinks, they have free filtered water, or berry mors for 800 Tenge (380 ml) which is very tasty.
Doner Na Abaya
Sometimes having fast food for lunch is the best option. Doner Na Abaya will serve up cheap, delicious eats quick. The budget-friendly doners are fresh and savory and just the right amount of sauce. The menu, the price, and the fast service make this place a sure spot to find KIMEP students. A good eatery knows when it has a good dish. Here, there aren’t a lot of options on the menu — just choices for your doner. There’s not a lot of room to sit, but it’s great to grab a doner and go outside and enjoy some quiet before coming back to class.
Time to get there: 4 minutes
Time for waiting: under 15 minutes
Budget: 2,000-4,000 KZT per person
Location: Abay Ave 15
Food: It is worth trying a doner in lavash with a choice of meat (chicken, beef, and two types of meats combined). They also have different sizes of doners (1-2 size). The price depends on the meat choice and on the size (1,496-2,695 KZT). For the drinks, they have Ayran for 395 KZT which is very tasty with a doner.
Harissa
This Middle Eastern cafe offers may not be the best stop for a quick lunch, but it is fantastic at the end of the day if you want to sit with friends, drink tea and dip warm bread in bowls of humus. Middle Eastern music plays quietly in the background as friendly waiters shuffle between tables serving food. The prices at Harissa can quickly climb above 5,000 KZT, but it is a very good place if you have a longer break or you want to eat after your classes with friends. Walking 1 km to Harissa and seeing a little part of the city can be very calming after a long day in the university.
Time to get there: 15 minutes
Time for waiting: under 20 minutes
Budget: 2,000-4,000 KZT per person
Location: Kabanbay Batyr St 68а
Food: It is worth trying falafel in pita (1,800 KZT), red lentil soup (1,700 KZT), pide with chicken (2,300 KZT), schnitzel with salad (2,300 KZT). For drinks, they have free filtered water and lemonades for 1,400 KZT (500 ml). One of the big pluses is that their menu is in Russian, English, and Kazakh.