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Indian Mess Facilities in Uzbekistan Medical Universities

EOCL India
January 13, 2026
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Maintaining a home link has always been important for students studying abroad. For thousands of Indian students studying MBBS in Uzbekistan, one of the biggest comforts offered by campus life has been the availability of meal options from “Indian messes.” This is because food is a universal language, making it easier for students to adapt to a foreign culture.

Currently, there are approximately 8,000 to 10,000 Indian students enrolled in various medical universities located in Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, and Fergana, and as the demand for culturally appropriate food options increases, so too does the demand for more Indian messes, either operated by the schools themselves or through partner vendors that provide catering service for Indian students.

Aside from providing nourishment, Indian mess facilities have become social focal points where students from diverse backgrounds congregate, socialize, study, and form lasting friendships. They also provide a connection to home by giving new students who are experiencing homesickness the opportunity to enjoy the smells of the foods they grew up on, like dal and roti, during the early months of their studies while they are still adjusting to their new environment.

What Makes Indian Mess Facilities Essential

Studying medicine is a rigorous task for students, requiring them to maintain both their Physical Health (well-being) & Mental Well-being to the highest possible standard, with good nutrition being a major factor in maintaining a balance.

Indian students who have been used to their own food habits and tastes for many years are likely to find it difficult at first to adapt to the local Uzbekistan cuisine, and the flavor profiles, spice levels, and preparation methods will be significantly different from what they are accustomed to eating at home.

Indian mess facilities provide Indian students with

The composition of an Indian meal usually provides a combination of protein, carbohydrates, and Essential Nutrients and is typically comprised of a variety of foods like dal produced from pulses or beans, rice, vegetables, and a dairy item called yoghurt, which creates a nutritionally balanced meal that assists Indian students in maintaining their health and providing them with the energy necessary to pursue their studies through an intense academic schedule.

Many Indian students have either a Vegetarian or other Religious Dietary Requirement. Indian mess facilities understand this requirement and provide students with a broad selection of vegetarian-based meals and provide students with a separate cooking area for Vegetarian Food Preparation so they know which area to use to avoid cross-contamination.

There is a well-known link between food and the emotional health of a person. When Indian students are provided with food similar to their home cooking, it will reduce their level of Homesickness therefore allowing them to maintain a better mental state to perform academically well.

Typical Menu and Meal Structure

The Indian messes at medical universities in Uzbekistan typically operate on a monthly or daily subscription basis.

Typically, students will receive 3 main meals daily with a variety of choices to keep things interesting. The breakfast may include different types of paratha, poha, upma, idli, dosa, bread with butter and jam, and Indian-style prepared egg dishes. Beverages will include chai (tea) and coffee. The breakfast menu changes weekly to provide variety.

Lunch and dinner usually consist of rice, chapatti, dal (a lentil-based dish), 2-3 different dishes of vegetables, pickle, papad, and curd as staples. Non-veg options (chicken curry, egg curry, or fish) will be available at least once or twice per week.

The mess facilities will provide students with a mixed variety of dishes to satisfy both North and South Indian preferences, to accommodate the broad-based mixture of the Indian student body. Mess facilities will provide elaborate meals during special occasions, such as Diwali, Holi, and Eid, to help connect students back to their cultural heritage while creating a sense of community while they are in a foreign place.

Quality Standards and Hygiene

Uzbekistan’s leading medical universities are committed to maintaining a safe and sanitary environment for their students by implementing policies that ensure students’ health affects their educational success. Typically, Indian mess facilities meet the following criteria: The majority of Indian mess facilities hire qualified Indian cooks who know how to prepare true Indian cuisine using traditional cooking methods and the regional differences of Indian Cuisine. The cooks bring knowledge of large-volume production for mass consumption, and they are trained to ensure that the food produced is of consistent taste and quality.

To ensure a safe environment, Indian mess facilities implement a variety of hygiene procedures, such as the enforcement of daily inspections of the kitchen, appropriate temperature for proper storage of food, producing food using clean drinking water (filtered or boiled), and continuous medical evaluations of all kitchen staff during their employment with the mess. They also implement waste management systems that meet the requirements of local laws.

Furthermore, several of the medical universities have established committees that oversee the operation of the Indian messes with input from students. This approach to oversight allows for the continuous improvement and immediate communication of any issues that arise in relation to food quality, taste, variety, etc.

Cost Considerations and Affordability

An advantage of studying MBBS in Uzbekistan is affordability; living expenses, including food, are generally affordable for students. The Indian messes located in Uzbekistan are very reasonably priced, allowing most of the students to budget for the cost of living expenses.

Some universities will include monthly mess charges as part of the overall hostel fee, while others will charge for these separately. For those who wish, students can select a full meal plan or partial meal plans (e.g., lunch and dinner) depending on their own preferences and budgets.

Challenges and Common Concerns

Students from India should know the challenges of leveraging Indian-style mess facilities in Uzbekistan, as they are somewhat limited.

The availability of Indian spices and ingredients should be considered, as many times they may not be readily available. However, most Indian-style mess facilities have a high enough inventory of spices through importers and Indian grocery stores located in larger metropolitan areas.

When you prepare meals for a large number of students with a limited budget, you will often end up with the same types of meals every week. Many progressive Indian-style mess facilities have solved this problem by introducing theme days and/or special menus every so often.

There are large differences between universities regarding both the quality and flavor of Indian-style mess facilities, and there will also be large differences between Indian-style mess facilities located in the same area. Therefore, students must take the time to get feedback from other students (especially from upperclassmen) before deciding on a university that has an Indian-style mess facility.

The first time an Indian student arrives in an Indian-style mess facility, they may not be able to tell the difference between the food offered at the Indian-style mess facility and that of a home-cooked meal. The difference is a small amount, so most students will be able to adjust in a short time period (2-3 weeks).

EOCL India

EOCL India is a company that provides guidance with Indian student placement in foreign medical schools and assists with MBBS placement for students who would like to study outside of their home country. We help students identify the appropriate university, provide application support, assist with admission letters, and prepare students for the academic transition to their new university.

Come and meet our experts for a more detailed guide.

Indian Mess Facilities in Uzbekistan Medical Universities

What Makes Indian Mess Facilities Essential

Indian mess facilities provide Indian students with

Typical Menu and Meal Structure

Quality Standards and Hygiene

Cost Considerations and Affordability

Challenges and Common Concerns

EOCL India

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