Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Yandex Go’s premium service Ultima has unveiled the long list of restaurants vying for a spot in Tashkent’s first high-tech dining guide, the Ultima Guide.

The preliminary list features 140 establishments, selected by an AI system based on their popularity among guests, originality of concept, and culinary quality. The final guide will include the top 20 restaurants, to be announced at a formal ceremony in May.

Selection will be determined by a vote involving 4,500 Yandex Go users and 39 independent experts — including restaurateurs, chefs, food critics, media professionals, and influencers.

To create the long list, artificial intelligence analyzed over 3,000 Tashkent restaurants, evaluating criteria such as order volume, user reviews on Yandex Maps, and more than 100 additional metrics.

The list features both well-known names and small local favorites. Excluded from consideration were establishments opened less than three months before voting began, as well as bars, coffee shops, food halls, and chain restaurants with more than three locations. Participation in the Yandex Go program was not required for eligibility.

The full list of shortlisted restaurants is available on the official project website. Both the long list and final guide are presented in alphabetical order and do not rank the venues.

The Ultima Guide aims to simplify the search for top dining spots in Tashkent for locals and visitors alike, while offering new promotional opportunities for participating restaurants.