WHERE TO EAT The best Shah pilaf in the world (according to food experts)

"Kind of like a huge cupcake, after being sliced, piles of rice mixed with bits of meat, chives and dried apricots are shown inside. Extremely delicious!"

"Faultless Azerbaijani and Persian cuisine in a suave-but-relaxed setting right on the Bulvar. It's one of few places to offer shah plov (a giant ball of mixed-ingredient rice pilaf) by portion."

"This was my favorite restaurant in Baku. Expect rugs hanging from the wall and all of Azerbaijan’s typical dishes on offer including Shah Pilaf which was a fantastic example of the local Azeri cuisine, not to be missed."

"Azerbaijani food is really delicious and comes in large portions. The dish we really enjoyed was Shakh Pilaf, lamb or chicken pilaf cooked inside a pastry. In terms of restaurants, I highly recommend Sumakh."

"This restaurant might be a little bit further from all the main attractions, but the extra distance is worthwhile for the delicious traditional cuisine that they serve. One of the most popular dishes at this restaurant is Shah pilaf."