Dolan’s Uyghur Cuisine

The 20 Best Chinese Restaurants In Los Angeles

"Dolan’s is an exceptional Halal restaurant specializing in cuisine from the Uyghur region in China’s Xinjiang province. Our favorite dishes include goshnaan—a Uyghur-style naan filled with ground beef, lamb, and black pepper sauce—and the Big Plate Chicken, a self-explanatory dish filled with juicy hunks of stir-fried chicken mixed with potatoes, peppers, leeks, and hand-pulled flat noodles. Besides the excellent food, a meal at Dolan’s also goes deeper than what’s on the table. The owners wear shirts that read “Google Uyghurs,” and up at the counter, links are provided to offer more information on the Chinese government’s actions against the Uyghur people. " - sylvio martins, brant cox, garrett snyder

The 17 Best Restaurants In Alhambra

"Dolan’s is an exceptional Halal restaurant specializing in cuisine from the Uyghur region in China’s Xinjiang province. Our favorite dishes include goshnaan—a Uyghur-style naan filled with ground beef, lamb, and black pepper sauce—and the Big Plate Chicken, a self-explanatory dish filled with juicy hunks of stir-fried chicken mixed with potatoes, peppers, leeks, and hand-pulled flat noodles. Besides the excellent food, a meal at Dolan’s also goes deeper than what’s on the table. The owners wear shirts that read “Google Uyghurs,” and up at the counter, links are provided to offer more information on the Chinese government's actions against the Uyghur people." - brant cox, sylvio martins

‘MAMA’ is Helping Immigrant-Run Restaurants Go Viral on TikTok - Eater LA

"In one clip, Dolan’s Uyghur Cuisine owner Bugra Arkin details the plight of the Uyghur people in China who are suffering from a cultural genocide, and how his father’s disappearance led him to open a restaurant preserving his culture’s cuisine." - Jean Trinh

Dolan's Uyghur Cuisine - Review - Alhambra - Los Angeles - The Infatuation

"Dolan’s is an exceptional Halal restaurant specializing in cuisine from the Uyghur region in China’s Xinjiang province. Our favorite dishes include goshnaan—a Uyghur-style naan filled with ground beef, lamb, and black pepper sauce—and the Big Plate Chicken, a self-explanatory dish filled with juicy hunks of stir fried chicken mixed with potatoes, peppers, leeks, and hand-pulled flat noodles. And as great as the food is, a meal at Dolan’s delves deeper than what’s on the table. The owners wear shirts that read “Google Uyghurs,” and up at the counter, links are provided to offer more information on the ongoing genocide being inflicted on the Uyghur people by the Chinese government." - Brant Cox

Alhambra Has a New Uyghur Restaurant, One of LA’s Hard-to-Find Regional Chinese Cuisines - Eater LA

"There aren’t many restaurants serving Uyghur food in the entire United States, but with the opening of Dolan’s Uyghur Cuisine, there are now three in the SGV. Halal lamb and beef are the most common meats, used in a variety of dishes, but there are chicken dishes and fish as well. Also available are manti, Uyghur dumplings filled with beef or pumpkin. The building housed the original location of The Boiling Crab and last housed Crabby Crab." - Jim Thurman

Shawn Sheng

Google

This is a sign for you to try Uyghur cuisine if you have not before. It is like a fusion of Persian, Mediterranean, and Chinese cuisine. Super delicious, big portions and fair price. The boneless chicken plate was huge and came with so much chicken. Everything looked great and tasted even better. The special tea is also great, one may even say their specialty. Would highly recommend to try this place.

DIANA Du

Google

Good for a meat meal, kababa is nice flavored, yet in xinjiang they are tender. But great level in USA. Meat pie is a good choice too.

Gabriela Cadena

Google

Loved our experience here especially the golden pot of tea -- we even bought some to take home with us. We enjoyed the bread/meat pie, meat soup dumplings and marco polo lamb with rice. We also had the honeycake. Will have to return. It was like a vacation with the music and food. It has its parking lot. Next time will have to try the pumpkin dumplings and other lamb dishes.

Samat Kasymbaev

Google

I can’t describe how tasty it is here!My wife and I went the other day, and the food was insane. We got the big plate chicken – it was huge, like, seriously huge.After that, we decided to get some dessert. They had baklava, homemade yogurt, and this honey cake that was out of this world. You could taste the honey in every bite and the yogurt was super fresh , with nuts, raisins, and honey. It was the perfect ending to a great meal.Definitely coming back here

Fransco Sukarto

Google

There was a Chinese Muslim restaurant in Alhambra a long time ago, so it was refreshing to find a halal place that also happens to boast Uyghur cuisine specific to Xinjian Province in Northwestern China. We ordered lamb kebab and traditional lachman, both are well-seasoned and not overly greasy or salty. Service was fine and the ambience was a bit different that a typical Chinese restaurant cos it played Central Asian music.

Anish Thakkar (Doc Thakkar)

Google

Loved the traditional atmosphere and really dug the authentic dishes. Our waiters were kind and helped us order well. We went with: -lamb skewers (3) -fried naan with beef -uyghur polo with lamb All the dishes were good, but the skewers really stood out since they were so tender and well spiced. Will definitely come back!

kurshat uy

Google

I found this spot and brought my friend to try, the all dishes incredibly tasty, the Portion of the small boneless big plate chicken way bigger that we thought,even l asked the waiter that make sure we ordered small size, we ordered Tananchi Laghman it’s a hand polled noodle dish topped with small chopped veggies and meat, it was so good, overall we ordered bunch of other dishes and dessert as well TRY their honey cake and yogurt, insanely delicious, we will come for sure.

Jim Brown

Google

First time trying this place. The service was great. Food was delicious as well. I would suggest ordering the extra noodles as there aren't enough noodles provided in my opinion. Definitely will be back.

Keti L.

Yelp

SERVICE: 5/5 Our server was fantastic, super kind, patient, and attentive. My friends and I were all trying Uyghur food for the first time, and they made us feel really welcome, answering our questions and helping us navigate the menu. FOOD: 5/5 The flavors were unique, with some dishes reminding me of Chinese cuisine but with a tangier and slightly sour profile. The noodle dishes were definitely the highlight, especially the ones with thick and chewy noodles that had an incredible texture. The desserts were a pleasant surprise since they were not overly sweet, which we really appreciated. I have not come across another restaurant like this in the 626, so if you are looking for something different, this place is a must try. AMBIANCE: 5/5 The restaurant had Uyghur cultural elements, from the tables to the wall art. They even had a TV playing what seemed to be Uyghur cultural videos, which added to the immersive experience. PARKING: 4/5 The parking lot in the back is pretty small and probably fits fewer than ten cars, but there is plenty of street parking nearby, especially on the neighborhood streets behind the restaurant.

Flora W.

Yelp

Dolan's Uyghur Cuisine does an incredible job of showcasing the bold, aromatic dishes of the Xinjiang region of China. This halal cuisine has a special place in my heart with its use of warm, earthy spices like cumin, garlic, and chili - flavors that appear in many of my favorite dishes. My boyfriend and I ordered a variety of dishes, and everything was made very well. It took my boyfriend back in time to where he had these dishes. The Cucumber with Garlic was refreshing and crisp, tossed in a light garlic dressing. The Pearl Noodle dish was so fun to eat - it's chopped hand-pulled noodles stir-fried with fresh vegetables and tender beef, it had a great bite to it. The Fried Naan with Beef was something new I hadn't tried. It's crispy naan bread stir-fried with onions, bell peppers, and beef, with crispy crinkly fries! The Lamb Kebabs were huge, so juicy, and had a deep, smoky flavor that made me want more instantly. To finish off the meal, I had to try their Pistachio Baklava. Since Uyghur cuisine has strong influences from Turkic and Central Asian cultures, it's not surprising to see baklava on the menu at Dolan's (as my boyfriend pointed out!). The baklava was everything I hoped for - flaky, nutty, and perfectly sweet with just the perfect crunch. The atmosphere here is casual, making it a great spot for a fun meal with friends or family. If you love bold flavors, well-seasoned meats, and hand-pulled noodles, Uyghur food is definitely worth trying! My boyfriend and I are already planning our next visit here to try more dishes.

Michael A.

Yelp

*** Los Angeles Times 101 Best Restaurants (2024): #44 *** Located on Valley Blvd in Alhambra, Dolan's Uyghur Cuisine FAR exceeded expectations. The two of us came here today for lunch and left completely satisfied. Featuring huge portions, delicious food, quick service, and a nice ambiance, this is a place I'd love to come back to. To eat, the two of us split the Traditional Laghman ($15.95), Big Plate Chicken (small order/boneless: $23.95), and Uyghur Naan ($5.50). I'll note that the menu price for the "small" Big Plate Chicken was actually a dollar cheaper than what we were charged ($22.95). No big deal. Everything that we ordered was cooked to perfection. The noodles, in particular, were outstanding in both the Laghman and Big Plate Chicken. While the Laghman dish was my definite favorite, I was quite impressed by how tender and flavorful the chicken was. I would highly recommend both of these items. If looking for a top notch restaurant in the Alhambra area, Dolan's Uyghur Cuisine is an excellent option. The chewy texture of the hand-pulled noodles is unrivaled, and the flavor is on point. Portions are surprisingly generous, as well. I cannot wait to come back and try more of their menu!

Ken L.

Yelp

Delicious food in a pleasant, unassuming restaurant. We had a hand-pulled noodle dish with lamb called Hordaq. Very loooong noodles with lamb stew. Think of it as a very nice spaghetti with a lamb sauce. Also, we had Uyghur Goshnaan, a flatbread not unlike Indian naan ("naan" means bread in numerous regions) stuffed with ground beef. This too was delicious, although the bottom was, surprisingly, a little oily. The menu seems interesting, and we want to return to try other dishes. Decent service, not super attentive but not awful.

Keith J.

Yelp

This was one of the most insanely good meals of my life. I'll write more next time but let me call out the big plate of chicken, with its beautful blend of warming spices, tender chicken, and noodles wider than a freeway. Plus tender tasty lamb kebabs. A pilaf with bits of lamb. And an incredible tangy spicy salad dish. Homey casual room and efficient service. I'm hooked.

Mike S.

Yelp

Great service and quality. Very popular and wonderful ambiance. I did a togo order...next time will dine in.

Brian V.

Yelp

A restaurant that serves Uyghur cuisine and would probably be ideal for small groups or at least two people. The people working here are some of the kindest people I've come across. I came here by myself on a weeknight after hearing of this place on a food podcast I listen to. I ordered some lamb kebab, samsa, and an order of the boneless 'big plate chicken' (small order). As I'm not too familiar with this type of cuisine, I wanted to order a few different things that really represented it. The flavors were so delicious and slightly different. I would even say, as someone who's not too familiar, that this food is almost a hybrid between Chinese food and Middle Eastern food. Definitely distinct aromas and all so very good. I would order more noodles if you plan on eating with the small group with that big plate chicken. I definitely ordered more than I can eat as a solo diner at this place, but I was able to take a lot of the food home and it lasted me at least another meal.

Diana W.

Yelp

Delicious! They have very light dishes to heavily spiced dishes! Months late review by me. Ambience and decor adds to the experience. On a weekday night, it wasn't packed or empty. We were the only large party, where there were many 2 seater parties. It's only my second time eating Uyghurian food. And the other experience was also in 626 with the familia. I just remember to order lamb anything and everything. The pie was hefty but a good order. The noodle dish we got was slurped up quick. The skewe lamb was the #1 loved by the table.

Judy T.

Yelp

I wasn't sure what to expect of Uyghur cuisine and the names of some of the dishes sounded like familiar dishes at Chinese restaurants in the area. However due to the high ratings and recommendation from friends, I went and was happy that they had a vegetarian section. Some items are also noted to be vegetarian in the appetizer and the pearl noodle has a vege option as well. There is a small private parking lot, and they have booth seats. The staff was very nice and the mannerism is of a higher end sit down restaurant. Albeit people dining looked casual, the food came out in nice big plates. As a vegetarian review, we got the 1. cabbage which tasted so good is highly recommend. It was very flavorful and different than other places. 2. Tofu with chives: essentially cubed fresh tofu with chives and garlic. The marinade was really nice and I liked it a lot. 3. Pearl noodle: a uniquely seasoned chewy noodle that was cut up into bits so it's Pearl-like? There was a crunch because of bell pepper. The texture was unexpected but grew on me. It says not spicy but there was a kick to it. 4. Cold noodle: really long noodles (it was hard to share it without trying to cut the noodle somehow). Some sliced cucumber and a vinegar, savory, numbing spice. It was delicious! 5. Naan: it's almost like a firm, drier bread that is sliced into 4 because it's a big circle and flat. It was good to share among 2-3 people Overall I loved the food. The naan was honestly ok though but given we didn't get any other carbs besides the noodle, it was a carb. The spices were definitely unique and different than a typical Chinese restaurant. Until the Pearl noodle came which had more sauce, we only had wooden disposable chopsticks which was really hard to separate the cold noodle. With the Pearl noodle, we were given metal spoons which then...I used or cut the cold noodle to share. Surprisingly the Pearl noodle was my favorite!

Mariam S.

Yelp

First time trying Uyghur cuisine and everything was absolutely delicious!!! I cannot wait to go back and try some more dishes. The lamb Kabobs melts in your mouth and it was perfectly paired with the warm Uyghur bread. The big chicken was full of flavor and it made our taste buds tingle with joy. The puff pastry filled with the seasoned beef was delicious as well. We finished our culinary journey with the honey cake and the tea. Definitely a dinner full of flavors and comfort.

Maruko X.

Yelp

Ambiance: the standalone establishment has stylish decorations inside, and plenty outdoor seating setup as well, small private parking lot in the rear Service: very fast although didn't provide much useful information about their specialty or signatures Food: plenty items for rice dishes, noodles and naan Uyghur Polo - *** traditional braised rice made with lamb, carrot, onion, raison, and chickpea, lamb is lack of flavors, and rice was very dry Laghman - *** Traditional thin hand-pulled noodle served with stir-fried vegetable and beef, the noodles were great, although the sauce was lack of authentic flavor Lamb Kebab - ** Grilled lamb chunks marinated with family recipe, not grilled freshly, reheated from pre-cooked skewers, burnt surfaces on all sides and very dry texture Price: medium portions, but lackluster food quality and disappointing taste, about $20~$25 per person

Keo N.

Yelp

Epic feast here with a whole roast lamb. We had 16 people and still had leftovers. Could feed 20 people easily. Roast lamb was good but not a must-have. So don't feel you are missing something if you can't order it. More show than substance. The big plate chicken and round noodles were better. One of the few unique ethnic cuisines that is a must try!

William T.

Yelp

Stopped by after having it on my must try list for a while. The inside is beautifully decorated although a bit small. Reservations recommended for larger parties, especially on weekends. Service was very friendly. Parking was also convenient with an onsite surface lot. The Uyghur Polo, Goshnaan, and lamb kebabs are my favorites. The polo had great aromatic flavor, albeit a bit greasy. Goshnaan was a good appetizer, and the kebabs were grilled to perfection. The laghman was a bit less flavorful than expected. The big plate chicken came with potatos and noodles and had a good deep flavor but lacked a bit of balance. It was also quite spicy and salty.

Andrew L.

Yelp

It's my first time trying Uyghur cuisine, and I was really excited to see what they had to offer. We ordered the: Lamb kebab Laghman Chicken Goshnaan Of the four dishes, I liked the lamb kebab and goshnaan. They were both very hearty and flavorful. The other 2 dishes were just okay (personal preference, I don't think there was anything wrong with it, it's just a thick noodle with the laghman and I prefer thin noodles). It's nice to have other Asian food culture in the 626; give this place a try!

Francine L.

Yelp

Dolan's Uyghur Cuisine is located in the city of Alhambra. It is serving a very distinct type of cuisine which many probably have not heard of but should try! I enjoyed their hot tea it comes in this cool-looking pot and you pour it into your cup. You can add as much honey or none at all depending on what you like. I think it tastes great without any type of sweetness. For food, we had a bunch of different things but my favorite will probably be the chicken dish with the hand-pulled noodles in it. The noodles taste fresh and the sauce that it is in is very tasty. We also tried some lamb skewers which if you love lamb you will like. The tomato and eggs had plenty of lovely juicy tomatoes. Overall all our dishes were so good and I am glad I finally was able to check this place out and enjoy a nice meal here.

Christine S.

Yelp

It was our first time trying Uyghur cuisine and I regret not coming here sooner! We ordered the big plate chicken, goshnaan, and the eggplant. The noodles accompanying the chicken was amazing! The texture and bounce of the noodles were SO good. Our favorite fish was the goshnaan, a large meat pie that could definitely serve several people. We loved the crispy pastry with the juicy filling. Highly recommend getting the herbal tea, which serves as a nice palate cleanser from the food. We also got the yogurt and baklava for dessert! Despite being so full, this was the best way to end the meal. Thank you, Alex!!

Benjamin W.

Yelp

Samsa 5/5 Uyghur Polo 2/5 Honey Cake 4/5 First time trying this place. Interesting cuisine. Like other reviewers said, kind of a mix of Chinese and Middle Eastern cooking. I ordered online and the place was super busy when I arrived to pick up. I could tell the servers and kitchen staff were overworked and I had to wait quite awhile before being helped. When I got home, I found the rice in the polo was a bit undercooked. I had to throw the rice back in a wok and cook it for several more minutes. Pretty annoying when you're already hungry. I also found the flavor a little underwhelming and too oily. The saving grace was the samsa, which was absolutely delicious. The texture of the dough was excellent. Soft but not overly so. And the meat was flavorful. If I go back, I'm sticking to the baked savory breads.

Young L.

Yelp

My first time trying Uyghur food, so it was definitely unique and interesting to me. My favorite was the big chicken plate with the thick noodles. The dish had the numbing spice but just enough where it's not unbearable and makes the next bite taste even better. The thick noodles reminded me of Korean style soojebi because of the chewy thickness. Other dishes I recommend (if you're ok with lamb) are the Laghman and lamb skewers. The special tea and the salted milk tea were interesting and definitely worth trying. And by interesting, I mean new to me. Restaurant staff is very kind and shared the yogurt and bird's nest treats. Highly recommend the yogurt. Such a good way to cap off the fantastic meal.

Lisa Y.

Yelp

Previously didn't have a good experience with Uyghur cuisine, but Dolan's has totally changed my mind! A friend recommended this spot, and my whole group enjoyed the food! All of their food is halal! There is a small parking lot behind the restaurant, but the others in my group didn't have too much trouble finding street parking. Since we had a large party, we made a reservation in advance, and they had the table all set up for us when we arrived. The restaurant itself is pretty spacious with both booths and table seating. It can get a little noisy in here when it's crowded. We ordered eight dishes total, and this was plenty of food for my group of nine. We started off with two orders of their Samsa. An order comes with four pieces. These oven baked pastries are stuffed with beef and onion filling, and they are so good! The pastry was super flakey and delicious. We also got the Uyghur Goshnaan, which is a Uyghur-style naan filled with beef, lamb, onion, and spices. It's cut into slices, served pizza style. Flavorful and also very good! For our main plates, we got their popular Big Plate Chicken. You can order as a small or large plate, but even the small plate is pretty sizable! Tender meat and tasty. The Laghman was highly recommended by my friend, so we got two orders of this dish! This is a traditional hand pulled noodles with stir-fried vegetables and beef. This one was so good, it was the only dish I forgot to take a photo of! Definitely recommend. Of course, we all need our veggies for health, so we got the Braised Eggplant and Fried Broccoli. Both did not disappoint! The braised eggplant is perfectly cooked and comes in a sweet and spicy sauce with capsicum. One of my favorite eggplant dishes I've had! The broccoli had a nice texture to it and also came in a tasty sauce. Would definitely try some more of their veggie dishes next time! Overall, great find!

Ava L.

Yelp

Everything here is good! As a person who docent really enjoy lamb's gamey flavor, this place covers the taste pretty well with its cumin. I love it! I have tried several other Uyghur cuisines in Orange County and i must say this is the best. The tea is nice and fragrant and the service is fast. There is a bathroom on site and they have a patio area. I have walked past the patio area one time and they had a whole goat out there for a party! The only con is parking. It's very small lot, and street parking is already filled up by the residents. However, since the portion sizes are large, it feels nice to have a bit of a walk back to your car and digest the delicious meal. =]

Adinai L.

Yelp

Great food and service. Visit it if you can. Get noodle dish, dumplings, lamb leg, and pretty much anything else from the menu.

Karissa L.

Yelp

I've gotten takeout from Dolan's multiple times and I'd have to say that you need to come for the big plate chicken! Both the boneless and bone-in version are good. If you're sharing it with multiple people, I would highly recommend getting an extra side order of noodles to soak up all that goodness! Additionally, other dishes we've liked includes the egg and tomato, lamb skewer, cumin lamb, and laghman! I also really enjoy the cold noodles :). Parking is pretty easy- they have a small lot, but it's easy to find street parking near by. The times I've went, there also is plenty of seating if you want to invite a larger group of people! Happy dining!

Mika C.

Yelp

Hands down one of my favorite food spots in LA! They never disappoint. My friends and sister took me here for my birthday and we all loved it! Highly recommend the fried cabbage and their special tea in a pot. Literally everything was delicious and I cannot wait to be back!

Dan L.

Yelp

(Note: Updated review from 3 stars to 4 stars on 11/7/2023 due to response from management.) ***WARNING: Lengthy rant ahead!*** The food here is of good quality, and I do enjoy the decor of the dining area. Parking was also very easy to obtain in the adjacent lot. The staff was not unpleasant to interact with. All that said, my first visit here was somewhat disastrous. I ordered Cucumber with Garlic, Roasted Lamb Leg, and Beef Laghman - all 3 dishes were delivered to our table in a reasonably timely manner, and I enjoyed eating them. While waiting on the Beef Laghman, I asked one of the staff members if it was too late to order extra noodles - I was told it would not be a problem, and they would add the extra noodles to my order. Unfortunately, for reasons still unknown to me, the extra noodles took *forever* to arrive. I am a patient person, but if memory serves right, it took something like at least 60 minutes before we received them - which makes absolutely no sense, considering the initial plate of noodles were delivered to our table within something like 15 minutes. After some time, we literally started to wonder if perhaps they ran out of dough and had to send a runner to harvest some wheat from a crop field in Tehachapi to make the next batch of noodles for us ... I literally had to inquire about the status of the noodles no fewer than 3 times with various staff members. I was given boilerplate responses of "the noodles are handmade, it takes time" ... yes, I know they're hand made, and I understand this is not fast food. But when I saw a table of people that came *well* after us get served noodles before I received my extra noodles, that was when the utter outrageousness of the situation reached a point to where I was getting ready to make a spectacle of myself to obtain a satisfactory resolution. And before anyone asks - the restaurant had 3 servers on-duty at the time, and there were (concurrently) no more than 2 other tables with patrons during our meal. So no, the fiasco was not a result of inadequate staff-to-patron ratio. When the extra noodles were finally delivered, I pressed the server for an explanation - I received an incredibly unsatisfactory, nebulous, and emotionless Nixonesque response that was something along the lines of "mistakes were made" or "there was a miscommunication". I would have had more respect for the staff of this restaurant if they had unambiguously told me "look, we legit messed up, we kept forgetting to initiate your order for extra noodles the first several times you asked" and taken greater responsibility for this muck-up. I guess the moral of the story here is ... if you order Beef Laghman here and want extra noodles, you probably want to order said extra noodles at time of initial ordering ...

Holly H.

Yelp

Food: - Pearl noodles: 10/10, flavor and texture was there - Manta and 肉馕: the intense cumin flavor did not resonate with me, but if you like cumin flavor would highly recommend - honey walnut yogurt: 10/10, more liquidy than Greek yogurt, tastes like home Service: - friendly staff Ambiance: - there's a lot behind the restaurant - also street parking - parking was a little tight during the weekend

Henry L.

Yelp

My first visit to Dolan's and it's always fun and exciting to have a cuisine that you don't get to enjoy very often. Uyghur cuisine is always exotic tasting but also very familiar since it's a combination of ingredients and backgrounds spanning the Central and East Asia regions. Dolan's does Uyghur food exceptionally well and with first rate service to boot. The restaurant is adorned with Uyghur decorations and when you order their special tea it arrives in a beautiful teapot with matching teacups. Everything was delicious but there are many dishes that do overlap in flavors so next time we will try to order smarter. Dolan's is an absolutely great place to bring large groups of friends as they are very well prepared to handle large orders even when they're busy. And the extra benefit to that is being able to try more of their dishes. Can't wait to visit them again soon.

Stevo O.

Yelp

So this food cuisine is further east than the Middle-east, so it is Halal with a Chinese history. The food tastes healthy and has plenty of lamb, beef and chicken, but no pork or alcohol. The noodles are especially tasty, with a thick bite and plenty of flavor. It seems many of the foods could be considered pastries, as empanada style meat pies were delicious. I wish I could remeber the names of all these dishes, but I'm in unfamiliar territory, so dining lightly on this culturally enlightening restaurant, but still enjoying the Asian flavors that come with the culture...

Angela C.

Yelp

One of the most unique flavors in the area and done well! We've been here several times and recommend to friends visiting or anyone wanting to try something new. PARKING / ARRIVAL / VIBE: Two small lots are available for customers and street parking if those are full. When you walk in you see white cloth tables and some paper on top of those and pretty multicolored lighting, with TV screens and music playing traditional views and tunes. We arrived about an hour before closing (group of 5 on a Friday evening) and were seated promptly, and it was busy! We were there to chat and dine so got comfortable. Menu has traditional options, appetizers, entrees, vegetarian, desserts, and drinks (in particular they have traditional teas!). SERVICE: Our servers were friendly and efficient, making sure all is good, plates are cleared, all that good stuff with making you feel welcome! FOOD: Fresh and arrived as they are ready. The SHREDDED POTATO was excellent! Potato slivers soaked in flavor, not too spicy and just the right amount of tangy, so good. The large BONELESS BIG PLATE CHICKEN is indeed large and heaped in a mound of chicken and potato chunks atop large flat noodles with sauce; a staple order and the chicken toothsome and flavorful. The LAGHMAN hand pulled noodles with stir fried peppers and beef has a wonderful flavor and the noodles are very springy, you can even see the slight difference of thickness which proves they are hand pulled. the PEARLED NOODLES are kind of like a chopped version of the LAGHMAN - spoonfuls of beefy and chewy noodle goodness, kind of like a rich pasta dish! I would recommend all four of these dishes, they are the perfect size and amount for 5 people. Dessert: their BAKLAVA is one of the best I've had, lots of layers that shatter through to plenty of pistachio filling, nutty and not too sweet like a lot of other baklavas! Delicious end to a delicious meal :) So glad they're in the area and will always recommend this place to friends (or take them here!).

Robert L.

Yelp

Food**** -- really tasty and rarely have any bombs on the menu except Fried Naan with Beef which I can't get it... their hand pulled noodle and polo are the best and don't miss out the goshnaan it's juicy inside and crispy outside Service**** -- a solid 4 but if you are sitting outside might take longer to get serviced. They usually crowd w ppl and some larger group might occupy the waiters so be patient Ambiance **** -- it's nice with some traditional decorations and the white interior delivers the cleanliness feeling but they can improve the restroom area I think

Annette Y.

Yelp

We had a part of 7 and we were with kids. The kids liked the food and the ambience at the restaurant. We had an extremely pleasant experience! They are very generous ,Clean, simple but very beautifully decorated restaurant with enjoyable and energetic traditional music. While sitting there, you can learn a little bit of the culture from their music and videos that they play on the screen. Our server, Corbanjan, also knowledgeable in the culture. And the best part was their awesome awesome and friendly, customer service, Highly highly recommended!!!!!

Briana S.

Yelp

Vegetarian here for a vegan/plant-based review! Dolan's Uyghur Cuisine has something for both vegans and non vegans, so you can definitely dine here if you're in a party with various dietary needs! We ordered appetizer, Uyghur Salad (vegan), and their food is definitely on the spicy side, even though we ordered a mild. If you're someone who can't really handle spice, definitely make that known to your waiter. My waiter was knowledgeable about which items were plant-based, but I also double checked that they didn't contain milks/eggs. The vegan entree items are mostly their noodle based dishes. I ordered the Laghman which was very flavorful and came with tomatoes and other veggies. The noodles are chewy and it was decent serving size. My friends ordered Quyash Qatlima, which they described to taste like a mix of a quesadilla and dumpling, and an entree each, a rice and noodle dish. We also ordered the honey cake and cherry baklava, which were both good but quite decadent (not vegan). All three of us really enjoyed our meal and definitely would return given the chance to. Non food related things: There's street parking and a lot in the back, clean restrooms, and a spacious dining area. The waiters were friendly and service was great!

T K.

Yelp

I've only had it for take out and it was phenomenal. The half chicken special with noodles was really good if you like spicy and tangy (used a bit of peppercorn but not too numbing). Also had their cabbage and naan, which were a little different than what I was expecting but pretty good. I hope to try this place out in person.

Belle C.

Yelp

Amazing!! Authentic Uyghur food that blew my mind. Absolutely worth coming back to. Service: They can get really busy for dinner time, but it is easy to order through their QR code, so no need to hunt down a waiter. Food: - The Dolan Tower Kebab was marvelous, both in taste and presentation - We were disappointed with the goshnaan as it came cold so we didn't enjoy it as much as the Samsa, which was toasty, flaky, and filled with deliciousness. - The Big plate chicken had some noodles although we wish there was more, and the noodles were very good. - Honey Cake was exquisitely moist but not too sweet. We were already full when we ordered dessert so we only expected to take a few bites. But it was so scrumptious, moist, and light that we ended up finishing off the entire slice of cake. TLDR: please open up a branch in the South Bay! So delicious!

Cindy M.

Yelp

I would totally come back here! Food: - fried naan with beef: the server advised us that the dish would mostly be naan rather than beef, and she asked if that was OK, and I really appreciated that she let us know. They probably had a lot of complaints from customers that it didn't have enough beef lol. The naan was crunchy, and the beef was slightly chewy, but well seasoned. There was also some bell pepper and onions. - kebab noodles: this dish had a generous portion of noodles, and the beef was softer than that of the fried naan with beef. This dish also had some sliced cucumbers. - yogurt: the yogurt was tart, and it had some honey, raisins, and walnuts. Once you mix them all together, it was perfectly sweetened. - Uyghur milk tea: this is more of a salty milk tea, but it was like drinking straight butter... very rich. It was kind of nice to eat yogurt an alternate with drinking the milk tea. For some reason I was expecting something more savory, but this is better than what I had imagined. Good to try, but I'm not sure if I would get this again. All of the food and drinks were very flavorful. The restaurant was very clean. Service was very friendly!

Jessica Y.

Yelp

I have had this place bookmarked for so long and was really excited to give it a try. I've never had Uyghur cuisine before and it's not something I've come across a lot. We came here for a late lunch on Thursday and it was pretty quiet. Service was a little slow, but everyone was very friendly and they apologized for the wait. The food actually came out very quickly. Here's what we tried: - Leghirdaq (bean starch with spicy dressing): I wasn't a huge fan of this dish tbh. The bean starch kind of had the consistency of tofu but the spicy dressing sauce was delicious and it was overall a refreshing dish. - Lamb kebab: Ok I don't like lamb, but this was probably some of the best lamb I've had. It was seasoned really well so it didn't taste too gamey. - Laghman (hand pulled noodles with stir fried beef and veggies): You can tell these noodles are hand pulled because of the variation in the thickness/size of the noodles. It's kind of hard to describe the flavor profile of this dish, but just try it and thank me later. The hardest part was separating the noodles because they were sooo long. - Small boneless big plate chicken: This is another must try dish (as evidenced by the fact that it's mentioned in almost every single review). The portions are MASSIVE. Next time I would order a side of extra hand-pulled noodles on the side. The noodles in this dish are wide, compared to the Laghman. There is a ton of chicken and there is so much flavor with the perfect amount of spice. - Dolans' special tea: I may or may not have been tempted to order this because of how cute the tea pot was. The tea is very fragrant and has so much flavor but is surprisingly not bitter at all. There is a decent-sized parking lot in the back but it seems like street parking wouldn't be an issue. 10/10 would recommend! They have lots of goodies on their menu that I hope I get to come back to try in the near future. I love that this restaurant has opened up the door to Uyghur cuisine for me.

Laisha Z.

Yelp

Came here from a recommendation, was not disappointed!!! Plates are PACKED with flavor . I recommend getting the boneless chicken plate with a side of milk tea. The milk tea itself isn't like boba fyi, but definitely a good pair with spicy dishes. Tastes more like salted cheese foam. The serving sizes are pretty large ( we ordered small chicken plate) Definitely better for eating family style.

Katherine G.

Yelp

Wow! I've had this in my bookmark for a while now and I'm finally glad I went today! We ordered the: - Dolan's special tea! An earthy yet sweet herbal tea, served in a beautiful tea pot (unfortunately not pictured) - Leghirdaq. A mung bean cold noodle with chickpeas and cucumber. Its labeled as spicy but its very mild if any! I wish I had a spoon to scoop up and drink the soup haha. So refreshing and delicious! - Uyghur Goshnaan - wow!! Minced beef and 10% lamb . This dish was savory and juicy, great crunch! You definitely want to eat this on the spot. - Laghman. These hand pulled noodles were so good! It felt like a bite in heaven each time. You can just taste the freshness of these ingredients and it wasn't too spicy at all! The desserts honey cake, baklava & yogurt. Out of all three, the yogurt was my top favorite. Drizzled with honey and gold raisins . They all had their own unique sweetness. Overall an amazing experience! I cant wait to come back to try the rest of the menu!

Zelim Z.

Yelp

were best were best!!! We regularly visit this cozy restaurant. The food is very tasty.

Wilson Y.

Yelp

Amazing, authentic Uyghur cuisine with huge portions. The Dolan Special Tea was fragrant with some sweetness added. The Uyghur milk tea was quite salty, I enjoyed it but had polarizing opinions at our table depending on taste. Highly recommend Sweet Tomato, Big Plate Chicken, Quyash Qatlima, Black Mushroom with Celery. Very tasty, some nostalgic, and with huge portions! Also had the Dolan's Tower Kebab, but it was too salted/seasoned for my taste, and the portion was not as big. They recommended Lamb Skewers next time, which are juicier and less salty. Will definitely be coming back!

Johnny W.

Yelp

Summary: Tasty salt-bomb dishes Details: I'd been meaning to try Dolan's since my last trip, which unfortunately coincided with some news at the time that made my friends and I want to avoid the area until things settled down. Fast forward a year later during my next trip, and we finally made it out! The place gets pretty packed during dinner, so I imagine that there's always a bit of a wait during prime time, though nothing too extreme. All the dishes were got were pretty enjoyable, but none truly stood out simply because everything we had was a bit too salty, which was a problem that only got worse as we continued eating our meal. So, bear that in mind if your palate is on the lighter side (or even heavier, since my girlfriend usually doesn't even complain about what I consider heavily salted dishes). Accessibility: While the front door is not accessible, there's an accessible entrance in the back that can be accessed either by ramp, or even just parking in the lot in the back. Once inside, there's plenty of accessible seating options.

Doris J.

Yelp

The service was great! I wish I had been there with more people so I can try more dishes. The Three we tried were ok. I did prefer the big plate chicken flavor over the other two. I would give them another try and go with a group of people next time.

Leilani R.

Yelp

One of my favorite places in the San Gabriel Valley for deliciously comforting food and an ambience perfect for catching up with old friends! Make sure to order the special tea - it's lovely!! I will be coming back to eventually try everything on the menu

Tracy L.

Yelp

Easy 5 stars! Growing up being so familiar with eating Uyghur food and missing it from China, finding a solid spot in CA is always so nice. One of my favorite Uyghur dishes has always been the Pearl Noodle. My uncle makes it the best, so wasn't expecting much, but this really hit the spot! I just wish the portions were larger, because I could've eaten so much more. The Big Plate Chicken was so tender, and the potatoes and noodles were a good accompaniment. Probably some of the best Big Plate Chicken I've had. The Goshnaan which is pretty much a stuffed meat pie was good. I thought it was very flavorful and a nice appetizer to get. The service was top-notch as well and the food came out very quickly.

Mia L.

Yelp

Food: Tasty and wholesome food~ Service: very nice service and lively music~ its a nice place to enjoy tasty food with friends or families~ Ambiance: it's clean and background music makes me feel relaxed and chill!! Highly recommended of the food, and it's a great place to ever taste quality

Chassidie L.

Yelp

First time trying Uyghur cuisine and it was SO good! If you've never had Uyhur cuisine before, it's like a blend of Chinese and Eastern Europe food. This place came recommended by one of my Yelp friends and I am so glad I went! My cousins and I decided to try most of the popular items such as the big plate chicken, langham, polo chicken, manta, and the goshnaan. All of them were so good and flavorful! My personal favorites were the big plate chicken and langham! In addition to the delicious food, they also had great service! We will definitely be coming back :)

Sofia G.

Yelp

I came here on a Friday afternoon and was seated immediately. The staff were friendly and attentive. We ordered an assortment of sides and entrees plus their house tea which was herbal and sweet. I absolutely loved their meat filled pie and green beans!! There was two of us, but what we ordered could have reasonably fed three people. The price plus tax came to around $80 which was reasonable for the quality of the food. The place was spacious and would be great for larger parties. I'd definitely come back to celebrate an occasion!

Dave E.

Yelp

I had never heard of Uyghur cuisine before trying Dolan's. It's really a special place and once you read about the history of Uyghur it's ever better. Highly recommend a quick google search. The ambiance is nice. It's elegant but not fancy. It's welcoming. The food: Fried naan with beef is 10/10! The flavor is incredible. It's got a spicy cumin seasoning and the fried naan is so crispy. Never had anything like it. Big plate chicken: they aren't joking. We got the small and it was huge. The flavor is incredible. Secret tip: dip the fried naan in the chicken juice and let me know what you think. Laghman: these noodles are incredible. If I ordered takeout I'd probably just get this one dish. Meat pie: it was ok. Super fresh and crispy, but I wasn't crazy about the flavor. Maybe just when comparing it to the other dishes it didn't stand out. Warm milk tea: wow. It's a little salty? I think. It's warm, it's delicious. Would be perfect sipping this next to a fireplace. Next time you want something new, try out Uyghur cuisine and do a little history. This place is fantastic.

M L.

Yelp

Very clean dining area, great tasting big plate chicken, and excellent service. Very visit again

Jim B.

Yelp

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"Dolan’s is an exceptional Halal restaurant specializing in cuisine from the Uyghur region in China’s Xinjiang province. Our favorite dishes include goshnaan—a Uyghur-style naan filled with ground beef, lamb, and black pepper sauce—and the Big Plate Chicken, a self-explanatory dish filled with juicy hunks of stir-fried chicken mixed with potatoes, peppers, leeks, and hand-pulled flat noodles. Besides the excellent food, a meal at Dolan’s also goes deeper than what’s on the table. The owners wear shirts that read “Google Uyghurs,” and up at the counter, links are provided to offer more information on the Chinese government's actions against the Uyghur people." - brant cox, sylvio martins

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Dolan's Uyghur Cuisine - Review - Alhambra - Los Angeles - The Infatuation

"Dolan’s is an exceptional Halal restaurant specializing in cuisine from the Uyghur region in China’s Xinjiang province. Our favorite dishes include goshnaan—a Uyghur-style naan filled with ground beef, lamb, and black pepper sauce—and the Big Plate Chicken, a self-explanatory dish filled with juicy hunks of stir fried chicken mixed with potatoes, peppers, leeks, and hand-pulled flat noodles. And as great as the food is, a meal at Dolan’s delves deeper than what’s on the table. The owners wear shirts that read “Google Uyghurs,” and up at the counter, links are provided to offer more information on the ongoing genocide being inflicted on the Uyghur people by the Chinese government." - Brant Cox

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