A Long-Awaited Opening

The excitement is palpable as Tashkent Supermarket, a beloved grocery store known for its extensive hot bar in Brighton Beach, has finally opened its first Manhattan location. Situated in the West Village at 378 Sixth Avenue, this new store has been highly anticipated since it was first announced. Misa Khayriddinova, a member of Tashkent’s operations team, expressed the team’s enthusiasm, stating,

“Having a location in Manhattan has always been a dream of ours.”

The journey to this opening began in 2019, but the team faced numerous challenges, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Journey to Manhattan

For nearly three years, the storefront remained covered, teasing commuters who passed by the Waverly Place exit of the West Fourth Street subway station. Frustration grew among locals, with one Reddit user humorously lamenting,

“It feels like it’s been there forever, promising to open but never doing so, taunting me every day as I leave and enter the subway on the way to work.”

But now, the wait is over, and the tantalizing offerings inside are drawing in curious customers.

A Feast for the Senses

Upon entering Tashkent Supermarket, visitors are greeted by an open kitchen where the signature dish, plov, is served from large, drum-like basins. This Samarkand-style plov is a delightful mix of rice, tender meat (lamb, beef, or chicken), chickpeas, and raisins, all infused with aromatic spices. The plov station is flanked by a bakery counter and a made-to-order kebab bar, where chefs skillfully prepare shawarma, slicing juicy meat into warm lavash bread.

Throughout the day, staff members navigate the bustling aisles, balancing steaming trays of food as they replenish the hot bar, ensuring that customers always have access to fresh, delicious meals.

A Culinary Wonderland Below

Beneath the retail floor lies a spacious commissary where a variety of traditional dishes are crafted. Here, pelmeni and varenyky—dumplings filled with potato and topped with caramelized onions—are made fresh. Stock pots simmer with vibrant borscht and Uyghur lagman, while softball-sized manti, filled with pumpkin, spinach, or beef, are seasoned to perfection. A colorful array of salads, some featuring pickled fish and others brimming with fresh vegetables, adds to the culinary diversity.

Grocery Goodies Galore

While the hot bar is a major draw, Tashkent’s grocery section is equally impressive. The meat counter showcases a variety of cuts, including goat ribs sourced from Tashkent’s own halal, USDA-certified slaughterhouse in New Jersey. Nearby, cold cases display an assortment of smoked and cured sausages from Tashkent’s private label, Baht.

Fresh produce is artfully arranged throughout the store, and familiar grocery items like Tate’s organic chocolate chip cookies sit alongside Eastern European specialties, such as kompot (fruit juice) and candies with Russian packaging.

A Taste of Home and Discovery

Tashkent Supermarket is the first of five locations, with its largest store opening in 2012 on Coney Island Avenue in Sheepshead Bay. The Brighton Beach location has become a staple for the local community, often referred to as “Little Odessa.” In contrast, the West Village location offers a new culinary experience for Manhattanites, making it an ideal spot for a quick lunch in Washington Square Park, especially for students looking for affordable meals.

Open daily from 6am to 11pm, Tashkent Supermarket features a breakfast rotation of hot bar items, including syrniki—coin-like quark pancakes—available around 9am, transitioning to lunch offerings by noon. With its diverse menu and vibrant atmosphere, Tashkent Supermarket is set to become a cherished destination for food lovers in Manhattan.

Original Article:

Eater NY. (2025, April 23). Tashkent opening West Village market, buffet near Brighton Beach. Eater New York. https://ny.eater.com/2025/3/6/24378629/tashkent-west-village-manhattan-opening-new-supermarket-brighton-beach-buffet-finally-awaited