More Than Food: The Soul of Chorsu

The food row at Chorsu Bazaar — the beating heart of Tashkent’s street food scene — is filled with smoke from the kebabs, the scent of fresh samsa, the voices of vendors echoing like a song from long ago. Behind each dish is someone who’s been standing at a hot tandoor since morning, flipping, stirring, serving with practiced hands and tired eyes. It’s not an easy job — the heat, the rush, the repetition — but many of them carry a quiet pride, a rhythm passed down, as if each meal served is more than food: it’s connection, tradition, and a small act of dignity in the chaos of the day. Shot on an iPhone at Chorsu Bazaar in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, in May 2024.