Dolan Uyghur Restaurant

Asian restaurant · Cleveland Park

Dolan Uyghur Restaurant

Asian restaurant · Cleveland Park

3

3518 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008

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Dolan Uyghur Restaurant by null
Dolan Uyghur Restaurant by Dolan Uyghur Restaurant
Dolan Uyghur Restaurant by null
Dolan Uyghur Restaurant by null
Dolan Uyghur Restaurant by null
Dolan Uyghur Restaurant by null
Dolan Uyghur Restaurant by null
Dolan Uyghur Restaurant by null
Dolan Uyghur Restaurant by null
Dolan Uyghur Restaurant by null
Dolan Uyghur Restaurant by null
Dolan Uyghur Restaurant by null
Dolan Uyghur Restaurant by null
Dolan Uyghur Restaurant by null
Dolan Uyghur Restaurant by null
Dolan Uyghur Restaurant by null
Dolan Uyghur Restaurant by null
Dolan Uyghur Restaurant by null
Dolan Uyghur Restaurant by null
Dolan Uyghur Restaurant by null
Dolan Uyghur Restaurant by null
Dolan Uyghur Restaurant by null
Dolan Uyghur Restaurant by null
Dolan Uyghur Restaurant by null
Dolan Uyghur Restaurant by null
Dolan Uyghur Restaurant by null
Dolan Uyghur Restaurant by null
Dolan Uyghur Restaurant by null
Dolan Uyghur Restaurant by null
Dolan Uyghur Restaurant by null
Dolan Uyghur Restaurant by null
Dolan Uyghur Restaurant by null
Dolan Uyghur Restaurant by null
Dolan Uyghur Restaurant by null
Dolan Uyghur Restaurant by null
Dolan Uyghur Restaurant by null
Dolan Uyghur Restaurant by null
Dolan Uyghur Restaurant by null
Dolan Uyghur Restaurant by null
Dolan Uyghur Restaurant by null
Dolan Uyghur Restaurant by null
Dolan Uyghur Restaurant by null
Dolan Uyghur Restaurant by null
Dolan Uyghur Restaurant by null
Dolan Uyghur Restaurant by null

Highlights

Uyghur cuisine featuring hand-pulled noodles, kebabs, & dumplings  

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3518 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008 Get directions

dolanuyghur.com
@dolan_dc

$$ · Menu

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3518 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008 Get directions

+1 202 968 2010
dolanuyghur.com
@dolan_dc
𝕏
@UyghurDolan

$$ · Menu

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Last updated

Aug 24, 2025

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@eater

15 Best Restaurants and Bars Near the National Zoo, According to Eater Editors | Eater DC

"Uyghur cuisine is hard to come by in D.C., but Dolan provides a critically acclaimed taste of the culture with hand-pulled noodles called laghman, meat kebabs, dumplings dubbed manti and goshnan, a pan-fried pastry stuffed with ground beef, peppers, and sweet onions. Distance from zoo: 0.5 miles." - Tierney Plumb

https://dc.eater.com/maps/best-restaurant-bar-guide-national-zoo-woodley-park-dc
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@eater

Where to Eat and Drink Near the National Zoo

"Uyghur cuisine is hard to come by in D.C., but Dolan provides a critically acclaimed taste of the culture with hand-pulled noodles called laghman, meat kebabs, dumplings dubbed manti and goshnan, a pan-fried pastry stuffed with ground beef, peppers, and sweet onions. Distance from zoo: 0.5 miles." - Adele Chapin, Kalina Newman

https://dc.eater.com/maps/national-zoo-restaurant-bar-guide-dc
View Postcard for Dolan Uyghur Restaurant
@eater

Where to Eat and Drink in Cleveland Park | Eater DC

"Dolan specializes in Uyghur cuisine, food from Northwestern China that incorporates a range of Middle Eastern influences. Find dishes ranging from kebabs to stir-fries to goshnan, a Uyghur-style pizza. Dolan’s menu reflects the diversity of this Central Asian community’s role as culinary melting pot." - Jamie Liu

https://dc.eater.com/maps/cleveland-park-restaurant-bar-dining-guide
View Postcard for Dolan Uyghur Restaurant

David Joe

Google
Bad service, decent food. I don't want to conflate Chinese with Uyghyr but the service here is what you would expect from a Chinese restaurant - pretty bad. We had a reservation for 2 at 6pm on a Saturday. We got seated upstairs in a corner and was forgotten for about 30 min. We finally ordered and the food came another 30 min later, so an hour after we got seated. We ordered: 1) Fried eggplant (10/10) which was pretty amazing and cooked perfectly. 2) Signature rice noodle with beef (8/10) which tasted good, but the rice noodles were slightly overcooked and broke apart too easily making it annoying to eat. 3) Dry pot (6/10) which was a touch too salty - we prefer the Chinese style dry-pot more. Our water cups were not refilled in a timely manner which is unfortunate because the dry pot was kinda spicy in addition to being too salty. The worst part of the dinner for me was the fact that this rude family was standint and loitering (it's not that spacious upstairs) for at least 30 minutes. Since we were in the corner, I could literally feel their body heat as they hovered inches away from me. After about 30 minutes, someone finally asked them to leave. Overall an unpleasant experience.

Katherine Melnyk

Google
Such an incredible restaurant! The food was absolutely delicious and the service was amazing. We felt really well taken care of the whole time. We tried Chuchura, Samsa, Piter Manta, Royal Laghman, and Lamb Kebab, and honestly, everything was so flavorful and well made. If you're going, definitely try the Chuchura. It’s a comforting soup with dumplings and was one of our favorites. The Laghman was also amazing: tender meat, plenty of veggies, and the mushrooms gave it such a nice texture. The service was fantastic. Everyone was so friendly and attentive, which really made the whole experience even more enjoyable. The desserts really hit the spot. If you like honey cake, chocolate honey cake Spartak, or Napoleon, you’ve got to try them. They were all just the right amount of sweet. We loved every single one. Highly recommend this restaurant!

Margaret Sullivan

Google
We planned our dinner before we even arrived in DC. We planned a trip to the National Zoo followed by a relaxing dinner at Dolan Uyghur Restaurant right down the street. The staff was very welcoming. We were seated immediately. I love the QR scan for the menu, because I’d rather look at the menu on my phone than on a cumbersome menu touched by so many others. We didn’t get photos of all of our appetizers because we just dug in as everything smelled so delicious. The beverage selection was wonderful, I often feel halal restaurants just do the basic sodas a tea. We had a Mojito and a Peach Bellini, delicious and refreshing. (Non alcoholic of course) The food was fresh, service was perfectly timed, and everything was delicious. After a long day, it was great to step outside of the restaurant and enter the Cleveland Park Station! Perfect location! I always love when my daughter plans our trips because we get to see the best sites and the best restaurants.

Sawsan Fathma

Google
This is a cute Chinese restaurant right next to the metro. Sitting arrangements are cute so nice for dates or girls' brunch. Menu had a lot to offer. Tried their chicken fried rice and beef korma chop, both mild. May be will go little bit more spicier next time. Fried rice was stickier than regular ones but tasted good with chili oil. Korma chop is a must try! Chewy noodles with stir fried beef, garlicky, with lots of spring onions and sesame seeds. Very flavorful. Will be ordering it again and can't wait to try more of the items from their menu. HALAL! Yogurt drinks are nice too.

Mackenzie Lawler

Google
I'm really glad we tried it out! Our meal was so warming and filling. There was plenty spice and attention to detail. And lots of leftovers lol First thing I wanted to try was Chuchura, a soup with small dumplings. It was herby and had a nice peppery taste, and the dumplings were really good! We also got Mongolian Beef and the Dolan Laghman. The beef was thin and tender, the sauce flavorful. I loved the noodles, they were very warming and chewy and the sauce was spicy and bright! There were a lot of other dishes I'd have loved to try~

Rory G

Google
Wow!! The service here was amazing! The servers here really went out of their way to accommodate me & the food was excellent. I really cannot thank the server enough for his kindness. Definitely recommend if you're in Washington DC!

Anna

Google
A Hidden Gem for Uyghur Cuisine If you’re looking for authentic and delicious Uyghur food, this place is a true hidden gem. Everything we ordered was flavorful and perfectly prepared. Our server, Belge, made the experience even better — she was incredibly kind, attentive, and thoughtful throughout our meal. I’ll definitely be coming back next time I’m in Washington!

Shadia Suzuk

Google
The service at the Dolan Uyghur restaurant is excellent! The manager Nurmemet and staff were attentive, ensuring everything was perfect without being overbearing. Their attention to detail made me feel like a VIP!

Nadia K.

Yelp
The service was lacking for sure. We have ordered Plov and it was very dry. It felt like they warmed it up in microwave before serving and it just got dried up
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Ben D.

Yelp
This was great restaurant with great food and service. We started with the samsa it was great. It the puff pastry was perfectly made. It was warm and flaky. The meat inside was perfectly seasoned. Also we got the UYGHUR SALAD it has tomato, onion, blueberry, feta, white vinegar, and sesame oil. Tasted fresh and crisp. The dressing added great flavor with acidity cut by the sweetness of the blueberries. Was a perfect appetizer. For entrees we got the MOM'S LAGHMAN and rib kebab. Both were very good laghman is noodle dish served with lamb. It was very good spicy but you can choose your spice level. I like it hot so it was perfect for me. The noodles were nice and tender. The vegetables were perfectly cooked as well as the lamb. The lamb ribs were perfectly cooked as well as being well seasoned. The vegetables were perfectly cooked. It was a nice level of spice. Inside it has nice home ambience to it. We also got their uyghur tea. It was nice and floral tasting. Overall a great experience would go back.
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Jennifer H.

Yelp
I love their tea Service and staff are always so sweet and kind. Their food is Devine !!! I love the lamb and beef~ Their dry soman is not my favorite compared to Bostan, I'd give Dolan dry soman a 8.5-9 out of 10. Which is still good. It's a great little date night spot! Been here about 3-4 times after finding this place out couples months back and will continue to return. Wonderful service and staff~~~~
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Kevin W.

Yelp
Came here on a Saturday night, food was excellent but pricey for what it was. Maybe it's because I've been to many mom and pop spots in Queens NY with just as delicious food for half the price nevertheless its a great spot. Highlights include the soup, dumplings, and any of the hand pulled noodle dishes.
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Deniece W.

Yelp
When I used to live in China, there was a Uyghur restaurant in my apartment complex that I ate at all the time. This place took me back to that. The restaurant was packed when I ate here. Thankfully, they have 2 floors of seating. For as busy as the restaurant was, they definitely have a system down, because our food came out very quickly. Everything was insanely delicious. If you're in DC, you should definitely try this place.
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Vinay V.

Yelp
A great cafe and restaurant. They not only have quick and easy coffee and sweets area but is also a full blown restaurant where you can have Uyghur food. I tried 3 different types of baklava (comes as a plate) and a pot of caffeine free tea. Mideye Baklava was great as it was not very sweet. One of the best baklavas I have had in this area. This is a nice spot to read a book and eat some great food. Next time I will try a full meal.
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Kathryn J.

Yelp
Korma chop, how are you so delicious and perfect? Your thick chewy laghman noodles are fresh and tasty. Your grilled vegetables are perfectly cooked and help me think I'm "eating healthy". Your lamb, tender and rich, fills my belly with happiness. And your amazing spices and seasonings tie everything together. In all seriousness, Dolan Uyghur is a great restaurant with friendly staff, a welcoming atmosphere, and really delicious food. Their hearty dishes were great for a cold winter night. I'm so glad that our neighborhood has a Uyghur restaurant, especially one as great as Dolan.
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Isaac W.

Yelp
Overall, I thought the food was pretty good. Service was fine. If you've never had Uyghur food, definitely try it. It's almost like having Chinese flavors mixed with Middle Eastern flavors.
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Simon L.

Yelp
Maybe closer to a 3.5. Walked in for lunch on a Saturday and was seated immediately. I had: - Korma chop - The noodles had a great, springy texture, and the sauce was fine. - Lamb kebabs - These were large and juicy, although I would have loved even heavier seasoning. I definitely want to come back here to try their other noodle dishes.
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alexandra k.

Yelp
There's nice outdoor seating with umbrellas. We ordered mushroom salad, Mom's Laghman, and the Kawa goshan for my sister, myself, and 4 year old nephew. The mushroom salad is served cold, it has a vinegary sauce with pickled sweet peppers and onions. The mushrooms themselves do not absorb the sauce/flavor well, so make sure to get everything in each bite. I probably wouldn't order again. Mom's Laghman was spicy (very spicy to my nephew -- he was pounding the water). Very flavorful, heat was there, but not overpowering. The noodles were soft, slightly chewy. I enjoyed this and it was a nice foil to the Kawa Goshan, which was slightly sweet with the pumpkin, and the cooking yogurt dip. These were both delicious and I recommend ordering them (or variations of) as a pair. Service was attentive. I actually had issues with the yelp app and purchasing their $5 off $20 Yelp coupon, but they still honored it. This was my first time trying Uyghur food, and it was delightful. Please consider supporting them!
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Lisa L.

Yelp
This was our first visit to this restaurant that is located near Cleveland Park Metro Station. It is a two story restaurant. We sat on the second floor since we needed a large table. The menu must be retrieved on your cell phone. The waiter took our order within 10 minutes and entrees were served within 10-20 minutes. Water bottles are left at the table for refills. We tried fried calamari as an appetizer, which was tasty and looked like French fries. For entrees, we had Hot Chicken Stew, Beef Katlima, Korma Chop Noodles, and Fried Eggplant. All the entrees were large. They looked spicy, but weren't. Lots of garlic added for flavoring. Service was slow after we finished eating. Our waiter was gone and didn't tell us. We had to find someone else to give us our check. There should be more wait staff to help on the second floor.
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Daniel R.

Yelp
Yum! It's amazing to have a Uyghur restaurant in Cleveland Park. Now more than ever, it's so important to support marginalized communities. It doesn't hurt that the food is amazing! A cold winter night is the PERFECT setting for this hearty and rich meal. The desserts are the perfect way to end a great night. Service is quick and kind. This is a wonderful community asset!
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Holly R.

Yelp
Wowwww. This meal was excellent. I didn't take any photos of what my dining companions got, but we all thought this was an excellent meal. Service was excellent, and we sat at a table in the front by the window which was cozy and good for people watching. I will absolutely come back if I'm in DC again.
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Kristen H.

Yelp
Really great gem in Cleveland park! The staff are always so kind and the favors are great! Always remember to leave room for dessert. I never had Uyghur food before but the flavors were bold and the dishes filling. The price is also good for the portions. Just make sure to get there early because the dining room is small and it can get crowded on the weekend!

Francis A P.

Yelp
Food was great as always at Dolan Uyghur in DC. The staff is absolutely the best. Our waiter made our Father's Day meal one to remember.
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K N.

Yelp
I had bookmarked this place based on someone else's recommendation. I went with the Yelp review and ordered Honey chicken and Korma. The food came out fast however this was the most bland food I've ever eaten! There couldn't have been a touch of salt or pepper added to these dishes. The Korma was made with chili paste but you couldn't tell outside of the noodles being oily. The restaurant was empty, we made reservations but there was not a real need for them. The server was nice and welcoming but the food completely missed the mark.
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Johnnie C.

Yelp
On recommendation of my DC Daughter, I took a walk to Dolan on Connecticut in the Cathedral Heights area of DC. As soon as I walked in I was impressed with how beautiful and welcoming this place was and my expectations of the food were raised immediately! The menu was huge but not overwhelming and with the variety, you are sure to connect with flavors and heat levels that appeal to you. We ordered a few entrees to share and the same with desserts. Everything was fantastic and disappeared quickly! As we lingered over deserts, Dolan hot tea, and conversation, we knew we had made a great choice for our experience in choosing Dolan. I would easily recommend this as a place
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Anna X.

Yelp
A few friends and I went to Dolan Uyghur for dinner on a Friday night and we had a pleasant experience overall. The restaurant is decorated nicely and brightly lit inside. We ordered noodle dishes-- korma chop, and shrimp & tofu laghman. The noodles were fresh and chewy, and the meat and vegetables were tasty as well. The dish felt light and healthy, not oily or salty. My only complaint is that I felt the dish lacked spiciness-- I asked for medium but tasted no spice. The service was okay, a little slow but not too bad. Overall we had a good time.
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Leslie A.

Yelp
First, its different. Small elegance. As elegant as the people that work there. Its no cheap but is valuable. And a nice experience. Highly recommended
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Alexis B.

Yelp
I had lunch at Dolan with a friend today, and it was a good experience and I'd like to go back. Dolan is a Uyghur restaurant. FYI: Uyghurs are a Central/East Asian ethnic group native to Northwest China and one of China's 55 officially recognized ethnic minorities. It was my first time eating at an Uyghur restaurant, but the cuisine was very similar to what I've eaten at Uzbek restaurants I've eaten at (and enjoyed)! If this still isn't helpful, think Middle Eastern food and Chinese food together - there are noodles, kofta, stuffed bread/meat pies, jeweled rice, stir fries, kebabs, lots of lamb, dumplings, baklava, and tea! We ordered two bowls of Chuchura, but I think we got two bowls of lamb soup with dumplings added instead (the broth color wasn't what pictured for the Chuchura and it had cubed lamb rather than minced beef and lamb). We also ordered the steamed pumpkin dumplings (kawa manta) but got the beef dumplings (piter manta) instead. I guess maybe they were out of a few things today? Still, the food was good, and I enjoyed what we were brought even if it wasn't exactly what we had ordered. The service was a little slow (maybe due to their running out of a few things just as we arrived), but everyone was very friendly. And the restaurant is very nice - comfortable and well decorated. The location is convenient if you come by metro - practically just above the Cleveland Park metro station - but not so great if you drive (parking is rough and they do not validate for the very expensive lot across the street that is used for people shopping at Target). This is definitely a restaurant I want to return to - preferably with a really large group so we can try a lot of their dishes at once! If you haven't tried Uyghur cuisine, I recommend it!
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Mark Allan J.

Yelp
yo If you've got an adventurous tonguey tongue and haven't tried Uyghur food before - bro just go right ahead, try out this place and talk to your friends about it. Uyghur food can be savory and can satiate a starving lion if given a proper Uyghur meal. but bruh, I wish I can speak higher praise beyond the novelty of Uyghur food. With each bite I took, I felt an immense cultural pain in which I prayed that it wasn't the food - but me. But no, the food itself did not burst with flavor or change my life's experience - it was just food. One aspect that especially irked me was the fact that it was not spicy at all. Granted, my background comes from eating spicy dishes growing up, the spiciest level given to use ranked at a tacobell mild sauce packet. The portion sizes were minimal to say the least - perhaps that's just a me problem though. The dessert is what really pulled through to be quite frank - their chocolate baklava is pretty good all things considered. this place isn't bad but it isn't spectacular. Their food leaves a lot to be desired and I sincerely hope the flavor profiles improve the next time I visit.
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Solongo Nicole E.

Yelp
I hesitated coming here because I was unsure what Uyghur food was, but boy was I missing out. This place was clean, beautiful, and delicious! Our waiter was very kind and helped us order. We went with the hand-pulled noodle dishes, mantas, and kabobs. The kabobs were a generous portion for only $6 a piece (I wish I ordered more...) The mantas take a while to make in the kitchen, so I suggest putting your order in early. We wanted to try both flavors and our waiter said he can do half, half. Thank you!!! The noodles were interesting, dense, and hearty. They look similar to udon noodles, but much chewier. I only wished my tofu noodle dish came with more tofu! I was too stuffed for dessert but I'll be back, the tea selection looked amazing and so did all the desserts. Overall it was a great dining experience!

Sya A.

Yelp
We had really liked this restaurant last year so we were looking forward to going again. But this time the helpings were much smaller, like half of what we had last time. It appears that they are using shallower plates with much less food, even for the vegetarian dishes which should not even cost that much. We were disappointed and are unlikely to go back. On the plus side, the service was very good, our waitress was super nice and efficient and the food was tasty.
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Timo F.

Yelp
I have a feeling this will be another "growing" review. This is a place that sticks with you and grows on you and calls you back to experience this really special ethnic cuisine. In many ways, this place feels like Middle East meets Far East. It's lovingly hand made homestyle comfort food that's exciting in the way it blends and remixes both familiar and unfamiliar flavors from east Asian/Chinese cuisine with a decidedly Middle Eastern roots. The plate-sized pies filled with mildly sweet squash and pumpkin or lamb, the hand shaved-pulled noodles with hearty sauces balance the sweet, heat, and savory elements in a way I rarely experience. The Dolan Cake is delicious, esp. for those of us who enjoy European style torts with a dessert coffee or chai . I can't wait to come back for a third time to try more of the desserts!
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Jinny Y.

Yelp
Amazing calamari, best we have had especially for the value. The lamb meat in our meat pie was perfectly aromatic and our noodles were perfectly al dented. Sitting upstairs was very pleasant, there even seems to be outdoor seating for 2 on the patio. Perfectly convenient next to the metro and service was great.
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Lei D.

Yelp
If you want an experience and is not looking for authentic Uyghur food, this place might be the one for you. However, the food was disappointing considering that I had Uyghur friends from Xinjiang and had tasted their food before, which are far more delicious than what I had in this restaurant. They've used less seasoning in this restaurant compared to the ones in Xinjiang. Here's my opinion on each one of the food items: 1. Dolan Tea: pretty decent and standard. Taste similar to chamomile tea with dates, but instead, this uses roses, which might not have the same calm flavor as chrysanthemum. 5/10, not filtered properly. 2. Samsa: Possibly one of my favorites besides baklava, though I would say that the beef lacked more spice, and most of it is just the outer crust. 7/10. 3. Korma Chop: I think this is where things fall short. There's a high noodle to protein ratio, and the taste is quite bland and lacking in flavor. It is similar to any Chinese noodle cuisine and there's just nothing special about the noodle. 5/10 4. Fried Green Beans: beans are dry, and I know that it's dry-fried, but it doesn't have to taste similar to the proteins from the fried rice. Since it's a separate dish, at least it should differentiate itself from Korma Chop and Fried Rice. 4/10 5. Hot Chicken Stew: For some reason, the chicken just isn't cooked right. The seasoning combination doesn't go well together. 2/10 6. Fried Rice: bland, not a lot of proteins are in the fried rice, and the proteins lack their own flavor despite being added into the dish. 5/10. 7. Spicy Sour Tofu: Tofu is dry, which paired with the spicy sour tomato paste makes the focus on the paste and not on the tofu. Tofu should be smoother, and the paste lack proper seasoning. 3/10 8. Baklava: A pretty sweet crusty dessert, similar to a mini cake. 8/10. Overall, the food is at most 5/10. At this price point, I don't think the value's there.
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Talgat T.

Yelp
Best food, takes a little bit of time to come but it's freshly cooked. A waiter came to our table 2-3 times to make sure we are all good. My wife also likes the place, and the management is on point. Definetly recommend this place, and come back for sure.
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Mark O.

Yelp
I went to Dolan again for the second time with a close friend. What stuck out to me the most about this restaurant was their authenticity. The food is fresh, their ambience is homie, and their staff is polite. My friend and I tried the fried rice and the Korma Chop. Both of the dishes are so flavorful and delicious. The fried rice is definitely a top fried rice. I plan to take my fiancé there soon. I am a huge fan.
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Tahini R.

Yelp
Amazing Central Asian spot in DC! Highly recommend checking out this underrated cuisine. This place is right off the Connecticut Ave metro station which makes the location of this place super convenient. We sat in the upstairs portion of the restaurant which was decorated with alot or really nice Central Asian art. We started our meal with a large Dolan Chay which was delicious and refreshing. I love so I could drink that tea all day long! We also got the Goshnan for our appetizer and the Polow and the Kazan kebab for our entrees. The Kazan Kebab was our favorite but the other two dishes were good as well. We had to also try the dessert so we got the chocolate baklava and the honey cake. Both were delicious but the honey cake just hit the spot for me! Really enjoyed the meal, the attentive and friendly servers, and definitely had a good coma by the end of it. Will definitely come back here the next time I'm in DC!
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Vanitha S.

Yelp
What a beautiful restaurant with a meaningful and important mission to educate how the Uyghur people are being treated in China. I went on MLK day in the afternoon and it was a quiet peaceful but cold day with not many other patrons. We were seated downstairs but asked if we could go upstairs, and it was really a nice space there where we were seated by the window and could see the snow coming down. I love the staircase that led to the top floor, and the decor of the whole restaurant was just really pretty and peaceful. It was tough deciding what to eat but we chose the samsa--reminded me of a samosa, although we opted the one with sweet potato inside. We also got the korma chop, fried noodles with chicken, and goshnan, a meat pie with beef and lamb. Baklava for dessert. The goshnan and the samsa were great! The korma chop tasted ok, but kind of bland. It seemed like it could have had more flavor to it somehow. But it was still tasty. I would love to come back here to try other dishes and support this cute restaurant. It would also be great to check out the one in Chantilly!
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Suri M.

Yelp
New menu as of March 2023, has way more vegetarian options! There's a section of specifically vegetarian entrees, as well as notes in other places that a vegetarian version of the meat dish is available. We tried all of the pumpkin stuffed breads; our favorite is the Kawa samsa, because it's baked. The fried ones are also great but the grease does add up. Those come with a yogurt dipping sauce. The blended lentil soup is a hearty starter or a main dish for someone with a smaller appetite. Definitely order the dolan chay; it's a pot of herbal tea that makes six glasses. Rose is present but not overpowering. They make entrees with spice level to order. My dining companions enjoyed the tender lamb kebabs, chicken soup, and various other meat dishes. There's something for everyone here! Don't forget to leave room for dessert, everything in the display case is delicious. It's also a beautiful restaurant to sit and enjoy; especially if you can walk upstairs to the balcony level. Restrooms on the ground floor. Service is friendly; they're happy to explain things, and you won't be waiting long (unless you order one of the menu options that specifies a 25 minute wait!) Would absolutely come back here.
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Kirk S.

Yelp
Fantastic. I've only tried Uyghur food a few times, but this was by far my best experience. The noodles and other dishes are fantastic, and not what you might expect - this particular region has some unique cooking styles and dishes that are quite different from equivalent dishes from other countries. That said, don't worry - the tastes here are quite refined and mild, nothing is too unusual or unexpected.
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Jackie W.

Yelp
Things I loved: Dolan tea Kawa Sansa- the butternut squash is so much better than beef version Korma chop- love the thick noodles Hot chicken stew- the chicken is so tender and just rolls off the bone Things that are good: Fried green beans- reminds me of the Chinese fried green beans which are delicious Fried rice- feels like an Indian Chinese fried rice fusion Spicy sour tofu- reminds me of mapo tofu but not super spicy
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Karen T.

Yelp
Came here after the embassy tours on a whim as we don't usually come to this part of town. Would have liked to try more on this menu, but ended up with the beef samsa and hot chicken stew. A regular is a 2 person portion, which worked out well. Very flavorful and interesting spices. The food was served piping hot. It wasn't very crowded when we came and we didn't make a reservation. But once we sat down., there were a lot of reserved parties. Service was good and the dessert was interesting as well.

Elizabeth K.

Yelp
Delicious Uyghur food in a lovely setting. The staff were so nice. I would definitely visit again.
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Gabriel C.

Yelp
First or second time having Uyghur food, definitely really enjoyed it. Came by on a whim to try a few items Samsa ($5) 4/5 - baked "bun" (similar to empanada? think crispy bun and not fluffy like a char siu bao) filled with beef and onions. Not quite a puff pastry style shell, but not quite like an empanada shell. Korma chop ($18) 5/5 - different noodles than I'm used to having, but tasted like a stir fried noodle dish with lots of onions and beef! Would definitely get this again, glad it showed up as a special so I knew to give this one a try Goshnan ($22) 5/5 - seems like it has a lot of similarities to the samsa, though perhaps I just wasn't able to discern the difference. I think the flatter thinner formatting of this and the addition of the sauce on the side (no idea what it was though) really sealed the deal.
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Brian M.

Yelp
what we ordered: korma chop, chocolate baklava our thoughts: the service and food were great! dolan has a cozy vibe, with the food to match. the korma chop was filling, delicious, and abundant. it likens to a nice chilli oil noodle. the chocolate baklava was the STAR!!! 10/10 would get again (and it was on the house!) final words: come visit dolan! it's tucked away in the quaint cleveland park :)
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Ayah S.

Yelp
Such a cute spot!! I was walking the neighborhood and passed by this restaurant and thought to give it a try. I was immediately seated and was able to order. The ambience is cozzyy and chill. Food was delicious and comes in huge portions. I was barely able to finish half my plate. I also wanted to try the chocolate baklava and it did NOT disappoint. So delicious. Highly recommend!!!
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Jessica O.

Yelp
The location is SO great - you walk out of the metro and it's RIGHT there. Sadly that's the best part for me. I came here with a group of 7 on a Friday night - we had reservations and were seated right away. We've never had Uyghur food so we were excited to try this out! The food options were okay. They didn't seem like Uyghur food, but I also don't know Uyghur food. The reason I say it didn't seem like it is because I'm ethnically Chinese and I grew up partly in China and it tasted just like Chinese food. Not to say Chinese food is bad (because Chinese food can be awesome, but my expectation was that it would be different from Chinese food. But if you don't have that expectation then the food is pretty good. Their veggie samsa (like Indian samosas) were well-flavored - the meat one was good too according to the others, but I didn't have them bc of the lamb. A little pricey (to me) for one samsa per order $5!! The lamb is definitely gamey - so I don't eat lamb actually - but another person in my group ordered the same dish with lamb and they confused the order so when I bit into my dish (which was actually someone else's), I had to reorder (the Royal Laghman). They apologized and remade the dish for me. It was at times difficult to understand my server but I know he was trying. We did have to keep asking for water though, but Friday night - bigger group - can be understandable. Both the samsa and Royal Laghman is like a 3.8-4/5 - Would eat them again, but didn't feel like I was experiencing anything really new. The ambiance is nice, but not like fancy or anything over the top. A lot of people seemed like they were here on date nights, but you could also be like us with a group and come to hang out and chat over food. Other things: The bathroom is downstairs - clean and accessible. Parking is hard - it's DC and it's street parking, but it's right off the metro - literally 5 steps (10-20 if you're like 5 years old?) and you're at their door, but I read from other Yelpers that Target across the street would validate if you buy something!! I don't know for how long though. Overall, I wouldn't be strongly opposed to eating here if and only if out of convenience (like I'm in the area and feeling like Asian food). I don't think I would recommend this place for those looking for an authentic food experience, but it's definitely not bad. I think the mix-up in order left a bad taste in my mouth (pun intended) as did the waiting for water, so I'm not rushing back anytime soon.
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Burcin D.

Yelp
Dolan is a gem of a place! We had a great time ! Make sure to reserve space for dessert because that chocolate baklava is life changing!!!!! from the mains and apps I really liked the samsa filled with beef the best! It comes only 1 per portion so definitely order 2! Also the lamb skewers were so tender , if you are a meat lover that is a must! There is parking right across . If you go in to Target and buy something (small) they do validate!
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AN D.

Yelp
Absolutely delicious food- highly recommend the korma chop. So glad this restaurant is in our neighborhood!
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Sang Eun O.

Yelp
First time visiting different areas of DC away from downtown, and I really did not expect to find this little gem. This was also our first time trying Uyghur cuisine, but it was everything we wanted! The hot chicken stew was full of fragrant and savory flavors (if you like five spice you would like a lot of the dishes), and it comes with hand-pulled noodles at the bottom of the bowl. We ordered the large portion which was way too much for two people lol Large portion is probably good to share between three or even four people. Butter naan was like a fluffy bagel, served with honey. Really lovely spot with a lot of charm and culture, delicious and new flavors, clean dining experience and wonderful service. Hope to come back here very soon.
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Ellen K.

Yelp
This is a favorite spot for locals in the area for authentic Central Asian food. If you're like me and have never tried this cuisine before, it's definitely worth the try. Uyghur food does use a lot of lamb meat but you can easily swap meats for beef or chicken if you don't like lamb. You can also choose your level of spiciness but I suggest getting the spicy version, which isn't all that spicy for my Asian tastebuds. Service was quick and friendly.
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Stephanie S.

Yelp
First time trying Uyghur cuisine and we were completely thrilled with the whole experience! Would come again. The food was very flavorful overall and saucy. All the dishes were fantastic. We got the Naan which came with honey and was very flavorful. Our favorite was the Kawa Goshnan, the crust was very flaky and buttery and the pumpkin was cooked to perfection. We also recommend the signature rice noodle and the Korma chop. For dessert: we recommend the honey cake, so yum! Spicy level advice: Their spicy mild is almost no spicy. If you want any spicy I would go for the medium. Service was good, we went for lunch on a Saturday which was busy but food came out quickly and staff were great! The area was small, seating was a little tight but did not bother us. We came as a group of 5 and we're very comfy.
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Mariana M.

Yelp
Really nice service staff and the food is delicious. Really recommend their Samsa's and the Korma beef chop is a safe choice for picky eaters.
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Priyanka D.

Yelp
This was my first time trying Uyghur cuisine and it was such a pleasant experience! The decor inside was also very beautiful. The portions here are very large - my friend and I ordered these two dishes and we each got takeout containers for lunch next day too! So while the price might look a little steep, you get a lot of food for what you are paying for! The food as also super super yummy and I would highly recommend you try it if you're into spicy food! I loved the chicken and potato dish that is shown, but I forgot it's name
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Lashawndra G.

Yelp
Very lovely experience! It's located right outside Cleveland park metro station. Our server was great, the food was delicious and very flavorful!! I got the honey chicken with spring rolls and naan bread, and baklava for dessert. I highly recommend the orange tea, it's delicious and light. Would definitely go again.
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Anna L.

Yelp
I love going to Uyghur restaurants when I find them. It's one of my favorite cuisines. So I was excited to go to this one and it didn't disappoint. The restaurant was fantastic! The decor is very nice, featuring Uyghur art. We sat on the second level, which I recommend. It has a nice atmosphere and is very cozy. During lunch time there were not many people and the second floor offered a more quiet and private atmosphere. There is also a table for two on tiny balcony. The only con about eating on the second floor is that it is harder to get the waiter's attention. Food here was delicious but pricy. I highly recommend the samsa. Best samsa I've had! The pastry crust was very soft and flaky and the filling was juicy and flavorful! We ordered it again for dinner later that day. We also had the sui rou laghman, chuchura soup, pitir manta, chocolate baklava, and later for dinner the polow and mushroom salad. Everything we had for lunch was great. The chuchura soup is a ravioli and meat soup with celery. I recommend sharing it. The laghman was delicious and we used the remaining sauce on the manta. The manta was good but not for the price, it was expensive. It would have been better with sone sauce or sour cream. I wasn't too fond of the mushroom salad which includes wood ear fungus, red bell peppers, onions, and a vinegary dressing. The polow was decent, much better than what I had at some places but nit great. The rice was clumpy. We also ordered a cup tea but they forgot about it until we reminded them about it at the end of our meal. However, they brought a whole pot instead which costs more. Service could be improved.
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Roxy A.

Yelp
Trying Uyghur food was something I was very curious about and this was my first time trying it. The portions here are huge, so try to share with someone. I shared 2 entrees with 3 people, but could definitely share one entree with one other person. This cuisine is not something most people have tried, so the reviews can be hit or miss. I have learned there are different types of Uyghur food and so I consider that when I review a restaurant. I'd say it's. mix of comfort food and flavor, but not exactly typical Chinese food that we are used to having.
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Kenneth K.

Yelp
Ordered from here on DoorDash in August 2020 and got the Lamb Kabob, Pumpkin Manta, Royal Laghman, and Uyghur Butter Naan Bread and loved it. Our friend from New Jersey was looking for a place on OpenTable for us a few other friends to eat on a Saturday night a couple weeks ago and found this place, so we finally got to dine in person. My wife and I shared both a Kawa and regular Samsa for our appetizers and the Mom's Laghman with Lamb and Kawa Goshnan (Pumpkin) for our entrees. The food was wonderful and the service was amazing. We were all very impressed. My friend even told the waitress they should open up one of these by him in New Jersey.