DOLAN, a restaurant serving exquisite Uighur cuisine that opened in April 2023, is a rare find even in Tokyo.
DOLAN, a Uyghur restaurant located a two-minute walk from Exit 4 of Hongo-Sanchome Station, serves Uyghur cuisine. Uyghur cuisine is said to have originated in the Uyghur region of Central Asia (northwest China), primarily using lamb and wheat. As a center of the Silk Road, Uyghur cuisine is characterized by a fusion of Eastern and Western culinary cultures, with various ingredients, spices, and cooking methods introduced by traveling merchants.
Restaurant exterior
“Lagumen,” said to be the world’s oldest noodle dish, is a signature dish of Uyghur cuisine. Handmade noodles are made by kneading wheat by hand, stretching and pounding it, and then rolling it into one or two long, thin noodles without cutting them, resulting in very long noodles. Since the noodles are not prepared in advance but are hand-stretched and then boiled, they retain their firmness even though they are thin. DOLAN’s homemade Uyghur Lagumen is a recommended dish! Enjoy the noodles coated in a tomato-flavored sauce packed with lamb and vegetables.
Homemade Uyghur Ramen (Homemade Noodles)
In addition to traditional Uyghur cuisine, our restaurant also offers popular Chinese dishes, all of which are Halal.
Chicken with Japanese Pepper Sauce
Liangpi (Chinese Spicy Noodles) with smooth, silky noodles in a spicy sauce, perfect for summer.
Liangpi (Chinese Spicy Noodles)
Even in Tokyo, a city of exquisite cuisine that brings together exquisite delicacies from around the world, Uyghur cuisine remains a rare find. Be sure to try the rich flavors handed down from the Silk Road.
Enjoy Uyghur cuisine in a more casual setting! DOLAN’s fast and delicious lamb menu with 3 carefully selected dishes
Uighur restaurants in Tokyo often serve elaborate dishes, such as handmade noodles and dumplings, which often take a long time to prepare. What’s particularly noteworthy about DOLAN is its fast turnaround time from order to serving. This isn’t because they prepare food in advance. They carefully select and serve only popular items, which increases efficiency. While the menu is smaller than other Uighur restaurants, the food is fast, delicious, and the atmosphere is welcoming, even for solo diners. DOLAN offers a casual, fast-food-like experience, allowing you to enjoy Uighur cuisine. If you’re trying Uighur cuisine for the first time and aren’t sure what to order, we recommend the classic lamb noodles. Uighur homemade lamb noodles use lamb, while over-oiled lamb noodles use beef.
Uighur Over-oiled Lamb Noodles
This is polo, a Uighur-style pilaf. Originally a popular traditional dish, it was an essential “hospitality dish” for weddings and other celebrations. The set menu with lamb skewers and yogurt is highly recommended, as the combination of meat and polo is delicious and reasonably priced.
Uyghur Polo Set
The natural sweetness of carrots perfectly matches with lamb, creating a gentle flavor beloved by Japanese people.
This is “grilled lamb skewers.” Lamb rubbed with spices like cumin and grilled on a skewer is a classic lamb dish enjoyed widely throughout Asia, including the Middle East. The skewers come in two varieties: lamb heart and lamb meat.
Grilled Lamb Skewers
The chewy meat and spicy aroma are mouthwatering, making this a delicious accompaniment to any dish. DOLAN’s skewers are simply exquisite, with a perfect balance of spices blended in-house, no odor at all, and perfectly cooked to perfection. The simplicity of the skewers allows the quality of the ingredients to shine through, allowing you to directly savor the umami of the meat. You’ll find yourself eating countless skewers, hooked once you try them, and coming back for more! This is a masterpiece that will make you reaffirm your belief that lamb is truly delicious.
Grilled Lamb Skewers
DOLAN was originally a famous Uighur restaurant in Kawaguchi, Saitama Prefecture. It relocated to Tokyo in April 2023 and opened in Hongo. DOLAN is owned by a Muslim of Uighur origin. There are no pork dishes on the menu, and all ingredients are halal.
Pearl Noodles
Interior
DOLAN apparently means “gathering together in a flock” in ancient Uighur. Please enjoy the nostalgic and gentle flavors of Uighur cuisine, a dish that originated along the Silk Road.
Supervisor / Recommender
- Halal Supervisor and Foreigner Food Coordinator (Cooking, Consulting, Public Relations)
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Click here for introduction
I currently work as an editor, but my previous job was as a chef, with many years of experience working in hospitals, restaurants, and the food service industry. Looking back, I think my connection to halal may have already been there.
Decades ago, I once worked in a cafeteria at an auction venue. Over 60% of the visitors were foreigners. Many Muslims were present, and the venue had a mosque-like prayer space. I remember being frequently asked questions about whether the meat was halal and what kind of meat it was. At certain times, the cafeteria would become as lively as a festival. The Indian restaurant next door would generously serve free biryani, curry, and sweet drinks to everyone who came. Over 100 people, including people wearing bright red turbans, galabeyas, and traditional attire, gathered in the cafeteria, all sitting around the same table and enjoying a truly enjoyable time. Looking back, it was iftar, the end of fasting, and I understand the significance of sharing, but at the time I was ignorant of halal and Islam, and didn't even consider how to respond. They only ate the curry made by the Indians in the restaurant. As I studied halal, I realized, "I wanted to eat Japanese food, but I couldn't." I regret not doing anything even though there was something I could have done.
If only it didn't contain pork! If only it didn't contain wheat or buckwheat! I could eat it... Food insecurity is different for each person.
That's why I think it's important to learn about the differences in culture, religion, and lifestyle that underlie it, and to create an environment where everyone can enjoy delicious meals in comfort.
The desire for delicious, safe, and secure food is universal. The times are calling for people to live in new ways that transcend borders and religions. I hope that halal can be a gateway to eliminating food insecurity, contributing even in some small way to a society where people can coexist and prosper with more liberal thinking, and to global harmony beyond.
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