Words by Aude Camus
I have to admit, I'm not particularly proud of how long it took me to finally make it to Yurt. A few months ago, Xeniya, the restaurant's co-founder, reached out to me on Instagram to introduce me to Hong Kong's first modern Central Asian restaurant. And while I was genuinely excited about the invitation, somehow finding an evening to visit kept getting pushed down my never-ending to-do list.
Not because I wasn't interested, nor because I had to travel halfway across Hong Kong for dinner. Quite the opposite, actually: I live barely five minutes away. But life has a funny way of getting so busy that even a good meal, right on your doorstep, sometimes has to wait.
Thankfully, Xeniya's gentle reminders eventually did the trick. A date was finally put in the diary, and there I was, ready for my very first Central Asian dining experience.
Expectations? None. Not in a bad way, mind you. I simply had absolutely no idea what to expect. So I did what I usually do before visiting a new restaurant: a little Instagram stalking followed by a thorough look at the online menu.
The Instagram account immediately caught my attention. Its warm colours and inviting imagery seemed to convey that very particular sense of Central Asian hospitality that Xeniya would later bring to life throughout dinner.
The menu, however, came with one little surprise: horse meat. Served as a sausage or dry-aged, it is one of the restaurant's specialities. Now, I consider myself a rather adventurous and open-minded foodie, but having practised horse riding for over 20 years, there's something about eating horse that my brain simply cannot get on board with.
And this isn't a criticism of the speciality, quite the opposite. I actually find it rather beautiful that Yurt has chosen to introduce it, staying true to Central Asian culinary traditions rather than adapting everything to suit foreign palates. I was also fascinated to hear from Xeniya that their horse meat comes from a single farm near Almaty, Kazakhstan, and to learn about the logistical challenge of bringing it all the way to Hong Kong, with the overland route through mainland China proving more practical than flying.
Once reassured that I could still enjoy a proper Central Asian feast without having to overcome my personal horse-meat barrier, I relaxed and was more than happy to let Xeniya introduce me to her world.
More family home than nomadic tent
First things first: if you're expecting a restaurant designed to look like a traditional yurt, complete with all the nomadic tent clichés, that's not quite what you'll find.
Instead, Yurt takes inspiration from the warmth of a Central Asian family home. Set on Elgin Street, the restaurant is easy to spot thanks to its bright white façade, large windows and welcoming glow. Inside, sturdy dark wooden tables and chairs, rounded corners, warm lighting and thoughtfully placed decorative objects create an atmosphere that feels both unfamiliar and strangely comforting.
A bookshelf displays a tubeteika (a traditional Central Asian hat), alongside books, decorative bowls, vases and a lamp. Nothing feels overdone or like a cultural theme park. It's understated, considered and, above all, homely.
I couldn't help feeling that I was somewhere I'd never been before, yet somehow recognised. Perhaps that's precisely the feeling Yurt wants to recreate: the experience of being welcomed into someone's home, rather than simply sitting down for dinner.
And that feeling isn't just down to the décor. The entire team comes from Central Asia, mostly Kazakhstan, with some of the front-of-house staff being students living in Hong Kong who work at the restaurant alongside their studies.
I don't know about you, but I always find it a little odd when you visit a restaurant and can tell that the person taking your order has no idea how to pronounce the dish you're asking about, let alone what actually goes into it. (French restaurants, I'm looking at you!)
Here, it's quite the opposite. If you're unfamiliar with the menu, and chances are you will be, the team is genuinely equipped to guide you through it, not just recite a description.
Our waitress was particularly lovely, sharing why a certain dish held a special place in her heart, explaining why the Almaty Nights drink features apple cider vinegar, and happily answering all our questions.
And speaking of Almaty, here's a little history nugget for you: the city is often nicknamed the City of Apples, with its name linked to the Kazakh word for apple, alma. The region is also closely associated with the origins of the modern cultivated apple. The history nerd in me absolutely loves a little fun fact like this. One minute you're having dinner, the next you're going down an internet rabbit hole about the origins of fruit. You know how it goes.
A feast of flavours, with a little bit of everything
Right, onto the food. And if there's one thing you should know before visiting Yurt, it's that this is very much a place to come hungry.
We kicked things off with two comforting introductions to the menu: baursak, homemade fried dough served with sour cream and honey, and achichuk, a fresh Uzbek salad of tomatoes, quinoa and red onions.
The presentation is contemporary, but the flavours feel wonderfully rooted in tradition. The baursak is the kind of comforting, moreish bite that makes you immediately understand why homemade food is such an important part of hospitality.
Next came the beef tongue, considered a delicacy in Kazakhstan and traditionally served alongside horse meat during celebratory feasts. Probably one of my favourite dishes of the evening, it was accompanied by onion naan and chickpea and sesame hummus. A rich and comforting combination that was entirely new to me, yet felt strangely familiar.
The pumpkin soup followed, and if comfort food had a personality, this would be it. Smooth and velvety, almost like a little edible pillow, its richness was beautifully balanced by the tanginess of qurt cheese, a traditional fermented cheese made from milk, in this case camel milk.
Then came the mains, and Yurt certainly doesn't shy away from bold flavours.
The lamb shank was probably the punchiest dish of the evening. Familiar in concept, perhaps, but with a much more pronounced flavour profile than what I'm used to. Not in an overpowering way, but enough to remind you that you're exploring a different culinary tradition.
Alongside it, we had the Balkhash perch, a fish native to Kazakhstan's Lake Balkhash and surrounding watershed. A more delicate proposition, served with silky roasted eggplant and corn purée. Subtle, beautifully balanced and a lovely contrast to the lamb.
And because Xeniya was clearly determined to make sure we experienced a little bit of everything, a vegetarian main also made its way to the table: dolma, with baked eggplant, carrot purée and qurt cheese foam.
I'm particularly glad this one did, because I probably wouldn't have ordered it myself. A good reminder, if ever one was needed, that sometimes it's worth letting someone else do the choosing.
To say we still had room for dessert would be a little dishonest. But imagine sitting at a Kazakh mum's table and telling her you're too full to try the food she's lovingly prepared for you. Not really an option, is it?
So we happily made room for the grape cheesecake. Grape, incidentally, being another fruit grown in Kazakhstan. And while we're on the subject of fruit, did you know that Kazakhstan has a wine-making tradition too? Another little discovery to add to my ever-growing list of things I didn't know before dinner.
One thing worth noting: Yurt is a strictly alcohol-free and halal-certified establishment. Instead, you'll find a selection of thoughtfully crafted non-alcoholic drinks, including some rather intriguing flavour combinations.
A little taste of somewhere else
What I particularly enjoyed about Yurt is that it doesn't try too hard to explain itself or make Central Asian cuisine more familiar than it actually is. It simply invites you to discover it, one dish and one story at a time.
Interestingly, it seemed we weren't the only ones in the mood for a little culinary exploration that evening. The restaurant welcomed quite an eclectic mix of guests, from Hong Kong couples making the most of its intimate atmosphere for a date night, to a Central Asian family enjoying a taste of home, and, perhaps most surprisingly, a table of four French guys. I couldn't help wondering what had brought them here, but I rather liked seeing such different crowds sharing the same table of curiosity.
And perhaps that's what made the evening so enjoyable. Beyond the food itself, it was the people, the stories behind the ingredients, the little cultural details and that genuine feeling of being welcomed around someone's family table that made the experience memorable.
I arrived knowing virtually nothing about Central Asian cuisine. I left with a new appreciation for its flavours, a few fun facts to share (and inevitably research further), and a much better idea of what makes Kazakh hospitality so special.
So, have I been converted into a horse-meat enthusiast? Not quite. But have I discovered a new spot worth venturing into for an evening of culinary exploration? Absolutely.
And next time, I promise I won't wait quite so long to accept the invitation.
32 Elgin Street, Central, Hong Kong
Website: yurthk.com
Instagram: @yurt.hk
I have to admit, I'm not particularly proud of how long it took me to finally make it to Yurt. A few months ago, Xeniya, the restaurant's co-founder, reached out to me on Instagram to introduce me to Hong Kong's first modern Central Asian restaurant. And while I was genuinely excited about the invitation, somehow finding an evening to visit kept getting pushed down my never-ending to-do list.
Not because I wasn't interested, nor because I had to travel halfway across Hong Kong for dinner. Quite the opposite, actually: I live barely five minutes away. But life has a funny way of getting so busy that even a good meal, right on your doorstep, sometimes has to wait.
Thankfully, Xeniya's gentle reminders eventually did the trick. A date was finally put in the diary, and there I was, ready for my very first Central Asian dining experience.
Expectations? None. Not in a bad way, mind you. I simply had absolutely no idea what to expect. So I did what I usually do before visiting a new restaurant: a little Instagram stalking followed by a thorough look at the online menu.
The Instagram account immediately caught my attention. Its warm colours and inviting imagery seemed to convey that very particular sense of Central Asian hospitality that Xeniya would later bring to life throughout dinner.
The menu, however, came with one little surprise: horse meat. Served as a sausage or dry-aged, it is one of the restaurant's specialities. Now, I consider myself a rather adventurous and open-minded foodie, but having practised horse riding for over 20 years, there's something about eating horse that my brain simply cannot get on board with.
And this isn't a criticism of the speciality, quite the opposite. I actually find it rather beautiful that Yurt has chosen to introduce it, staying true to Central Asian culinary traditions rather than adapting everything to suit foreign palates. I was also fascinated to hear from Xeniya that their horse meat comes from a single farm near Almaty, Kazakhstan, and to learn about the logistical challenge of bringing it all the way to Hong Kong, with the overland route through mainland China proving more practical than flying.
Once reassured that I could still enjoy a proper Central Asian feast without having to overcome my personal horse-meat barrier, I relaxed and was more than happy to let Xeniya introduce me to her world.
More family home than nomadic tent
First things first: if you're expecting a restaurant designed to look like a traditional yurt, complete with all the nomadic tent clichés, that's not quite what you'll find.
Instead, Yurt takes inspiration from the warmth of a Central Asian family home. Set on Elgin Street, the restaurant is easy to spot thanks to its bright white façade, large windows and welcoming glow. Inside, sturdy dark wooden tables and chairs, rounded corners, warm lighting and thoughtfully placed decorative objects create an atmosphere that feels both unfamiliar and strangely comforting.
A bookshelf displays a tubeteika (a traditional Central Asian hat), alongside books, decorative bowls, vases and a lamp. Nothing feels overdone or like a cultural theme park. It's understated, considered and, above all, homely.
I couldn't help feeling that I was somewhere I'd never been before, yet somehow recognised. Perhaps that's precisely the feeling Yurt wants to recreate: the experience of being welcomed into someone's home, rather than simply sitting down for dinner.
And that feeling isn't just down to the décor. The entire team comes from Central Asia, mostly Kazakhstan, with some of the front-of-house staff being students living in Hong Kong who work at the restaurant alongside their studies.
I don't know about you, but I always find it a little odd when you visit a restaurant and can tell that the person taking your order has no idea how to pronounce the dish you're asking about, let alone what actually goes into it. (French restaurants, I'm looking at you!)
Here, it's quite the opposite. If you're unfamiliar with the menu, and chances are you will be, the team is genuinely equipped to guide you through it, not just recite a description.
Our waitress was particularly lovely, sharing why a certain dish held a special place in her heart, explaining why the Almaty Nights drink features apple cider vinegar, and happily answering all our questions.
And speaking of Almaty, here's a little history nugget for you: the city is often nicknamed the City of Apples, with its name linked to the Kazakh word for apple, alma. The region is also closely associated with the origins of the modern cultivated apple. The history nerd in me absolutely loves a little fun fact like this. One minute you're having dinner, the next you're going down an internet rabbit hole about the origins of fruit. You know how it goes.
A feast of flavours, with a little bit of everything
Right, onto the food. And if there's one thing you should know before visiting Yurt, it's that this is very much a place to come hungry.
We kicked things off with two comforting introductions to the menu: baursak, homemade fried dough served with sour cream and honey, and achichuk, a fresh Uzbek salad of tomatoes, quinoa and red onions.
The presentation is contemporary, but the flavours feel wonderfully rooted in tradition. The baursak is the kind of comforting, moreish bite that makes you immediately understand why homemade food is such an important part of hospitality.
Next came the beef tongue, considered a delicacy in Kazakhstan and traditionally served alongside horse meat during celebratory feasts. Probably one of my favourite dishes of the evening, it was accompanied by onion naan and chickpea and sesame hummus. A rich and comforting combination that was entirely new to me, yet felt strangely familiar.
The pumpkin soup followed, and if comfort food had a personality, this would be it. Smooth and velvety, almost like a little edible pillow, its richness was beautifully balanced by the tanginess of qurt cheese, a traditional fermented cheese made from milk, in this case camel milk.
Then came the mains, and Yurt certainly doesn't shy away from bold flavours.
The lamb shank was probably the punchiest dish of the evening. Familiar in concept, perhaps, but with a much more pronounced flavour profile than what I'm used to. Not in an overpowering way, but enough to remind you that you're exploring a different culinary tradition.
Alongside it, we had the Balkhash perch, a fish native to Kazakhstan's Lake Balkhash and surrounding watershed. A more delicate proposition, served with silky roasted eggplant and corn purée. Subtle, beautifully balanced and a lovely contrast to the lamb.
And because Xeniya was clearly determined to make sure we experienced a little bit of everything, a vegetarian main also made its way to the table: dolma, with baked eggplant, carrot purée and qurt cheese foam.
I'm particularly glad this one did, because I probably wouldn't have ordered it myself. A good reminder, if ever one was needed, that sometimes it's worth letting someone else do the choosing.
To say we still had room for dessert would be a little dishonest. But imagine sitting at a Kazakh mum's table and telling her you're too full to try the food she's lovingly prepared for you. Not really an option, is it?
So we happily made room for the grape cheesecake. Grape, incidentally, being another fruit grown in Kazakhstan. And while we're on the subject of fruit, did you know that Kazakhstan has a wine-making tradition too? Another little discovery to add to my ever-growing list of things I didn't know before dinner.
One thing worth noting: Yurt is a strictly alcohol-free and halal-certified establishment. Instead, you'll find a selection of thoughtfully crafted non-alcoholic drinks, including some rather intriguing flavour combinations.
A little taste of somewhere else
What I particularly enjoyed about Yurt is that it doesn't try too hard to explain itself or make Central Asian cuisine more familiar than it actually is. It simply invites you to discover it, one dish and one story at a time.
Interestingly, it seemed we weren't the only ones in the mood for a little culinary exploration that evening. The restaurant welcomed quite an eclectic mix of guests, from Hong Kong couples making the most of its intimate atmosphere for a date night, to a Central Asian family enjoying a taste of home, and, perhaps most surprisingly, a table of four French guys. I couldn't help wondering what had brought them here, but I rather liked seeing such different crowds sharing the same table of curiosity.
And perhaps that's what made the evening so enjoyable. Beyond the food itself, it was the people, the stories behind the ingredients, the little cultural details and that genuine feeling of being welcomed around someone's family table that made the experience memorable.
I arrived knowing virtually nothing about Central Asian cuisine. I left with a new appreciation for its flavours, a few fun facts to share (and inevitably research further), and a much better idea of what makes Kazakh hospitality so special.
So, have I been converted into a horse-meat enthusiast? Not quite. But have I discovered a new spot worth venturing into for an evening of culinary exploration? Absolutely.
And next time, I promise I won't wait quite so long to accept the invitation.
32 Elgin Street, Central, Hong Kong
Website: yurthk.com
Instagram: @yurt.hk
Hong Kong Madame was invited to dine at Yurt. As always, all opinions and impressions are my own.
