Eerkins Uyghur Cuisine

I have been here multiple times and I continue to come back because of the food. The food is always delicious. I will always be in the mood to eat some lamb laghman. The samsa is good too.

A Culinary Journey to Xinjiang: Eerkin's of Fairfax is a Must-Try Halal Gem! As an actively practicing Muslim, finding authentic and delicious halal cuisine is always a priority, and Eerkin's of Fairfax truly delivers. This Uyghur restaurant, offering the distinct and captivating flavors of China's Uyghur region, is an absolute must-try for anyone seeking a unique and incredibly satisfying dining experience. Upon entering, the welcoming atmosphere promises a delightful meal, and Eerkin's certainly lives up to that promise. We opted for a selection of their renowned dishes, and each one was a testament to their culinary expertise. The Gambian Soman was a standout. This dish, with its distinctive flavors and textures, immediately transports your taste buds. The noodles were perfectly prepared, and the rich, savory sauce created a truly memorable experience. It's clear that the chefs at Eerkin's put immense care into their traditional noodle dishes. For our protein, we indulged in both the Lamb Kabab and Chicken Kabab. Both were absolutely fantastic, showcasing the mastery of grilling and seasoning that is characteristic of Uyghur cuisine. The lamb was tender and perfectly spiced, while the chicken was succulent and flavorful. Served with their fresh, soft Naan, these kababs were a perfect combination of smoky goodness and comforting bread. The fact that all their meat is halal is a huge blessing and definitely appreciated. Beyond the savory delights, Eerkin's also excels in their beverages and desserts. The Mint Green Tea was out of this world! It was refreshing and aromatic, serving as a perfect palate cleanser and a delightful accompaniment to the meal. And to truly top off the experience, the Neapolitan Cake was simply divine. Its layers of flavor and delightful texture made it an unforgettable sweet ending. What truly sets Eerkin's apart is its authentic Uyghur food, which offers a beautiful fusion of Central Asian and Chinese influences. It's a rare and precious find, especially as a halal establishment. The attention to detail in every dish, from the hand-pulled noodles to the perfectly grilled kababs, speaks volumes about their commitment to tradition and quality. For a taste of truly amazing Uyghur food, served with warmth and adhering to halal standards, Eerkin's of Fairfax is highly recommended. You absolutely must try their Gambian Soman, their exquisite kababs, the wonderful naan, the refreshing mint green tea, and certainly, the out-of-this-world Uyghur cake.

Sweet Dough drink: Basically homemade ayran with sugar, definitely refreshing. Nice foam layer. Not too sweet, good for someone who wants something related to a lassi. Homemade Laghman: Nice thick noodles. Chewy. Highly recommend. The only advice id give the restaurant regarding this is maybe add a little bit more beef. It felt like there wasnt much beef in ours Beef Thugur: Nice and soft. Properly cooked. Tastes delicious. Equivalent to a momo. I would recommend enjoying with some soy sauce and chilli oil poured on top

Uyghur food is one of my favorites, and this place is definitely worth a try if you're looking to explore it. The homemade laghman was absolutely amazing — flavorful, with perfectly textured noodles — a solid 5/5. I also tried the manta (6 pieces per order), which were made with ground lamb. The texture was a bit firmer than the traditional version made with small cuts of lamb and onions. One of the pieces also came ripped, so I’d give the manta 3/5. Overall, a good experience! I’d come back to try more dishes.

One of the best meals I ever had in the dmv. Uyghur cuisine is very unique, and I tried the gambian soman with lamb. Loved the spices and red/green peppers. Fried noodles were uniquely good too. Lamb was cooked well.

I love this restaurant! Every dishes were so delicious. The waiter who served our table was so friendly, nice and polite. We ordered what he recommended. Egg plant salad, Noodle ( the top of the menu, sorry I forget the name…), Lamb skewers, Dumpling Soup, and Uyghur Cake. The noodle is nice flavor and chicken was so tender. The lamb tasted amazing, soft and nice spices. The cake was not overly sweet, nice thick pie layer:)

First of all, I am not familiar with Uyghur cuisine at all. Found this little restaurant during our visit to Fairfax and oh my god was I pleasantly surprised! The food was a perfect blend of different flavours; not too spicy, not too sweet. The textures were pretty new to me, but I enjoyed it very much! The ambiance was also nice, the interior was inviting and warm. The service was good. The only downside might be the parking situation, the parking space was extremely narrow. But other than that, it was a pleasant experience! This is a must try halal restaurant if you are visiting Fairfax.

Absolutely Delicious & Exceptionally Clean! I had a wonderful experience at this restaurant! The food was absolutely delicious—full of flavor and clearly made with fresh ingredients. What stood out just as much was the exceptional hygiene. The place was spotless, from the dining area to the restrooms, and you can tell they truly care about cleanliness. Highly recommend if you’re looking for a place that takes both taste and hygiene seriously!

A super hole in the wall type place - I felt like I was in a family member's living room! Due to the small space, tables are kind of close together but they are able to fit big groups if they're not already full. Everything we tried was tender and flavorful. This was my first time having this type of cuisine and I was surprised to find so many similarities to Chinese food! My favorites were the lamb skewers and ugrah noodle soup. Will def be back to try more!

Yum food here was so good. Had the lamb and chicken skewers. They are very well seasoned and meat is so tender. You can also ask for bread and it is so good. The noodles have a great chewy texture because they are hand pulled. Don't forget to ask for chili oil. It is made in house and so good. I left with chili oil all over my face and hands cus I had so much of it. Would come back

We came back after an year. The service is good and food is tasty although the place is very cramped and not very clean.

Took my husband who had never tried Uyghur cuisine. He immediately fell in love with everything! I also ordered butter nan which came with the lamb and chicken skewers. I ordered beef kebab with rice for my 2 year old and it was a big hit! Every dish we ordered was amazing!

Besides the extremely slow service (they were also serving a huge group, to be fair), the food was a 5/5. I'd 100% come back to Eerkin's for Uyghur food. My friend and I shared a couple entrees and we enjoyed what we got! KHAZAN BEEF KEBAB Get this with naan, not rice. The naan was topped with sesame seeds and so fluffy and soft. The texture was perfect with the cumin-heavy spiced beef which was tender and juicy. This was so good and it didn't taste overly greasy or fatty. Would definitely recommend! DAPANCHI (SMALL CHICKEN PLATE) This can feed a lot of people. Lots of chicken (marinaded well) with peppers, potatoes, handmade wide noodles (the perfect al dente and texture) in a lightly spicy sauce. Such a homey dish that my friend and I really enjoyed. Again, these noodles were the highlight. And of course, everything else was fine. But wow, these noodles were amazing. Glad I tried Eerkin's! I would recommend if you're unsure. Don't hesitate. Get off that fence and enjoy some delicious food.

I've been eager to try Eerkin's Uyghur Cuisine for a few months now! My pal and I ventured to the Fairfax location and were excited to try out a variety of Uyghur specialties. The ambiance of the restaurant was quaint and cozy. From the checkered table cloth to yellow walls, I loved how simple and classic all of the decor was alongside Uyghur artifacts. You can really tell Eerkin's is a lively establishment that embodies pieces of Uyghur culture everywhere you turn. I'd also like to applaud the ability for this restaurant to bring together families and friends from all cultures - absolutely beautiful to witness! The service was incredible! Our servers made sure to give us accurate wait times for our food to be ready. They ensured that if a table was available they would let us know and they did just that! We decided to eat the food out of the to-go boxes to save on cleanup, but they were so kind and offered to provide us with additional plates if needed. We started off with two Lamb Kebabs and Samsa, a bun with minced beef, onion, and seasoned with black pepper. The kebabs were tasty bites sprinkled with cumin/house spices that were a great start to the meal. The Samsa was a bit on the heavier side with a strong meaty and onion flavor. Think a meat pie with great spice! We then got the Homemade Laghman - hand-pulled noodles with stir fried lamb and an assortment of onions and peppers. I really enjoyed how the juices from the lamb was essentially the sauce that bound the peppers and onions. Phenomenal! To finish off, we got the Khhazan Lamb Kabab with naan. I really loved the cut on this lamb and thought it paired perfectly with buttery, soft Uyghur naan. The lamb was slightly spicy and packed a great flavor that submerge throughout the naan. Very unique taste that was delectable. The meats were divine! Eerkin's spice mix of a spicy red chili and cumin that was savory in the best way possible. Each were bursting with flavor, incredibly juicy, and were cooked just right. Amazing, quality food and I cannot wait to come back to try more. A fantastic introduction to Uyghur Cuisine - a new favorite of mine!

Super surprisingly pleasant!!! We got some pan fried noodles, lamb and kabobs. The kabobs definitely the best would 100% recommend. We finish it so fast I before I remember to take a pic . Server is super friendly and helpful, answer all of our question and help us pick the best dish.

Cozy little local place, simple decor, everyone knew one another. Cool place to try authentic Uyghur dishes. I loved the Samas! The dumplings were very plain, just meat inside. The staff gave us some black vinegar and spice mix to dip them in when we asked.

A cozy mom and pop-like restaurant in the heart of Fairfax. Public parking lot is right across the street for convenience. Food is from the Xianjiang province area and nearby. Has Chinese and middle eastern influences. We shared the samsa appetizer and house tea. Both were really good. Tea had hints of flowers with black tea base. The samsas were beef turnovers in a flaky pastry. The meat was juicy and generously filled. I had the gambian soman (stir fried hand pulled noodles). They had a firm, chewy texture and were slightly spicy. Big portions and great flavors, will be back!

Worst experience ever! Very poor customer service. Waitresses are rude and seems with limited english. order their traditional Laghman ONLY, if You don't want to be disappointed. beside -- tables are soooo close to each other... so don't expect much. overall wouldn't suggest this place.

Hole in the wall spot for Uyghur food! The Uyghur people are essentially a small native Chinese group that have since been persecuted by the Chinese government, so I thrilled I can support some Uyghur people while here in the US. They actually have 2 other locations, one in DC and one in Rockville, MD The place is pretty barebones (think water served in red solo cups and a menu riddled in spelling errors), but it was packed when I came here for dinner on a Sunday night. The service was on the slower side, but the food was very tasty. My GF and I split a few things, and we really enjoyed everything we tried (especially their hand-pulled noodles). Keep in mind that most things are a little spicy though Free parking across the street

This was by far the best Uyghur food I've ever had. Well, that'd have to be the case since this is the only Uyghur food I've ever had. But seriously, the food here was excellent. There was a small group of us that showed up around dinnertime. They already had another large group there, but they were able to move tables around and accommodate us. It's a small family-run restaurant. The adult kids appear to be the waitstaff and the parents the cooks. In a way that is really nice since you know you're getting close to home-cooked fare. I ordered the Gambian Soman, which consisted of hand-pulled fried noodles, with chicken and seasoned vegetables and soy sauce, topped with sesame seeds. It sounded good on the menu. It was even better after my first bite. It was delicious. Several of us got this dish, in fact, and we all raved about it. The salted yoghurt drink, Dough, is not to be missed. Many cultures in that part of the world have yoghurt drinks (Doughs, Ayrans, Lassis, etc.) and they're all unique in their own way. This was heavier than drinks from further west, but lighter than those from the south. Well worth trying. Very refreshing. Would I go back? Hell yeah! I'm in town through the middle of next week, and there's already talk of a group of us going back before I leave. Thank goodness for the students at George Mason University who told me about the place. I don't think I'd ever have known. And it would have been disappointing to have not known about this place.

Despite its humble appearance, the restaurant exudes warmth and authenticity. Its "hole in the wall" charm adds to the overall experience, offering an intimate setting where the focus remains on the food itself. The kind server, knowledgeable and passionate about the cuisine, went above and beyond to ensure that my first encounter with Uyghur food was nothing short of remarkable. With grace and patience, they explained each dish, allowing me to fully appreciate the unique flavors and ingredients before me. As someone unfamiliar with Uyghur cuisine, this restaurant provided a gateway to a whole new world of flavors and cultural exploration. The server's guidance and willingness to share their knowledge created a sense of comfort and excitement, allowing me to fully immerse myself in the culinary journey. If you're seeking an authentic Uyghur dining experience, look no further than this hidden gem. The hand-pulled noodles, crafted by skilled chefs with utmost care, embody the essence of Urumqi home cooking. The friendly and knowledgeable service adds an extra layer of warmth to the dining experience, making this place a must-visit for both Uyghur cuisine enthusiasts and those seeking to embark on a new and flavorful adventure.

This was my first encounter with Uyghur cuisine. I enjoyed it a lot and would happily return. I wasn't sure what to expect, but found it leaned more towards central Asia (think Mongolia or Afghanistan) than Chinese food. Lots of kebabs on the menu, although I opted for a blend of kebabs and a samsa - a bun of minced beef & onions which I was told is an 'authentic' Uyghur dish. The place is small and had a very mom-and-pop feel to it, when I appreciated. I wasn't sure what to order so I peppered my server with questions about uyughur food before deciding on the particular dishes I ordered. Price point was good, service was good, food was good. 4 stars easily.

First time trying Uyghur food and it was delicious we ordered lamb skewers (4.95 for 1 stick) and the beef Goyro Laghman. Meat was juicy and flavorful. Interior is cozy with Uyghur art, smaller size. Service was fast!

The dumplings here are soft and juicy, the noodles are fluffy as clouds, and the flatbreads are just the right kind of delicately flaky. The service is quick and I haven't yet seen the place as full as it feels like it ought to be. I'm no decor expert, but it's clean, the paintings are beautiful and the music is calming. I'm going to try to come back and try a bunch of other plates as soon as I get a chance.

Service staff didn't have a sense of urgency. The kebabs were the highlight of the meal. The noodle dishes were ok but lighter on the seasoning and that's probably the standard. Very VERY casual so don't expect glasses, cloth napkins or mis-en-place presentation. I would go back strictly for the kebabs.

I came a long way to visit this place. With all the empty seats and spaces in the restaurant, the waiters told me all the tables were fully booked! Really? I still could see people walking in without making reservations. What was the logic behind this?! Anyways, I left without saying anything, but a one-star review was surly made!

It's really authentic Uyghur food! So far the best we have tried in VA. Highly recommend their lamb kabab, so delicious! Everything is worth to try anyway.

Overheard a transphobic conversation among the waitstaff where one server referred to a person as "It" and the rest of the (3) staff laughed and made more transphobic comments. It's difficult giving this low of a rating because the food was good and we want to support the Uyghur community. We received many recs for this place and were excited to finally try it. But as staff who will interact with many customers, it's never okay to call someone "it," regardless of your political beliefs. Also they served our water in red solo cups with lukewarm tap water lol

I came to this wonderful place to try it out with a friend. When walking in the place is pretty plain and nothing too special. Parking was across the street and not bad. The lamb skewers came out and it was very juicy and well seasoned. The dapanchi was absolutely flavorful and probably one of my faves. I would definitely order it again and the half plate was big. The noodles were hand-pulled and you could tell. Honestly, there was nothing I could say that did not go phenomenally for this meal. The wait staff was understanding and knowledgable about everything and explained the difference from the laghmans which I appreciated. I am definitely coming back again and taking my friends here too!

Local and prepared from scratch, this Uyghur restaurant is one of my go to spots. Laghman noodles is menu highlight.

Uyghur salad, lamb and chicken kabobs, and Kathlama nan = One of my all-time favorite meals of any kind. I eat the same thing every time I go there. It is heavenly!

Servers were nice. I've never had Uyghur food, so it was interesting. Most of it had a kick that I enjoyed. I tried chuchura soup, the lamb kebab, dapanchi small, and laghman. The lamb dumplings in the soup were good, but the broth was light and not as flavorful. The kebab was perfectly tender and delicious. The dapanchi had a strong anise flavor that I slightly didn't like. There were plenty of peppers and meat in the dishes. The laghman was my favorite dish.

First time visiting the restaurant and found it to be pretty good. Small and intimate with interesting artwork on the walls. The menu is on line (if you can get a connection) and when we finally were able to open it, found a number of interesting dishes. My guest is gluten sensitive so the egg noodles were not an option. However there was one dish with rice noodles that was ok. Gyro Laghman with lamb. I had the non gluten free Gyro Laghman. Both dishes contained tiny bits of lamb, approximately one tablespoon. Lots of rice!!! Not enough sauce to engage all the rice. We expected some level of spice but both dishes lacked any spice at all. They both did have a nice flavor, but with a ratio of rice/noodles to the ingredients of probably 5:1, it was disappointing. Service was marginal at best. Other diners in both small and large groups entered, were served and left, but we were still waiting. The restaurant has the potential to be excellent if they can tighten up their menu for non-kabobs. Also provide some guidance to the staff as a server. Nice people but seemed a bit confused as to who was doing what. Served a coke in the can with a straw. A glass of ice would have been nice. Overall it was ok. I will return to sample the kabobs and other items and hopefully they can work out the details.

Was just introduced to this cuisine tonight and it is phenomenal. The salmon skewers were so moist and tender and the noodles and the noodles were perfection. My fellow diners enjoyed their meat dishes immensely as well.

Excellent food, service was good a bit unorganized. Place is very small and very tight, not much of a ambience

Small but restaurant, friendly staff, and delicious food. Very reasonably pricing too. Free easy parking just across the street. Made to order noodles are awesome. I'm looking forward to going back.

Not sure how I've never reviewed Eerkin's before, the place is fantastic! The service can be a little slow sometimes when they're busy, but the food is more than worth it. Samsa, manta, naan, and the kebabs are all good, but the standouts are anything with the homemade noodles. The laghman noodles are truly outstanding, just the right amount of chew, and the sauces on both that and the soman are flavorful and just the right amount of spicy to be pleasant without being overwhelming. Highly recommended!

Delicious ethnic food in the heart of Fairfax City. Great to see the success of Uyghur's in the US! Unfortunately, ethnic restauranteurs need to learn to adapt to western standards in terms of cleanliness and professionalism. If you plan to serve water in Dixie cups, don't serve the water holding the full cups by the rim (with no gloves)...people put their mouths there! Also, provide refills when you can, that's your job! Get up and walk around. Tables are wobbly and don't match. Tables should be wiped better and salt and pepper shakers should also be cleaned. The kabob skewer handles were also gross. Service staff was friendly and attentive but wasn't sure why a young guy with a hoodie and backward baseball cap was serving my food??? Now to the food... * Great kebabs - the lamb is delicious! * Tasty appetizers * The noodle dishes are great but a bit greasy and come with little meat. * The naan looks frozen and more like a big Ritz Cracker. Our butter naan came is a piece of beard hair (again, a sense of untidiness prevails). * Ordered a Coke that was served in a can and warm. Overall, solid meal...great grilled meats. I hope they get with the times...there is so much potential for this restaurant. I will definitely come back for the next adventure.

Best food I've ever ate Best food I've ever ate Best food I've ever ate Best food I've ever ate

My first experience with Uyghur Cuisine and I was pleasantly surprised. We tried the Cucumber Salad, Lamb Skewers, Samsa, Chicken Skewers, Homemade Laghman, and Honey Cake. The lamb and chicken skewers were great as well as the noodles.

Good food, great service and outdoor seating available. They are following social distancing inside the restaurant as well. Staff is wearing masks too. We chose to sit outside. They have a patio area set up in front of the restaurant. We felt comfortable/safe eating here and they were great about checking in with us. Don't forget to order their special tea. It looks as good as it tastes. *Chopped fried soman- short noodles and tasty... a little spicy too. *Goyro laghman-long noodles with a flavorful sauce. Yumm! *Thugur-tasty, loved the flavors... *Kathlama naan- it was good but kinda greasy This is our 3rd time here and we have not been disappointed. The desserts looked so good but that's for another day.

This is a Uyghur family-owned restaurant. The founder and owner is Naeem Jan. He has three restaurants. The other two are located in Washington DC and Rockville, MD. This was the first restaurant, opened in 2017. The restaurants were named after the Uyghur word, "erkin" which means free, independent.    This restaurant popped up on Yelp because I had reviewed Mim's Food, a Uyghur restaurant located nearby in Fairfax. This was a first visit for my wife and me. We ordered Ugrah soup, Samsa, Khazan Lamb Kebab, Goyro Laghman with lamb and Uyghur Cake. The Ugrah soup had a few noodles, a few strips of lamb and chopped cilantro. The noodles were the typical type of wheat noodles that are used for soup. The lamb was tender, but it had little flavor. The broth was okay, like a chicken broth with chile oil. This soup was SOOO so-so. It was not bad, but not worth a repeat.    The Samsa was a baked bun filled with a minced beef and onion mixture that was seasoned with black pepper. It was topped with sesame seeds. There are 2 in an order. The outside crust was crisp and flaky. The filling had a good beef flavor. It was rather crumbly and almost dry in texture. A little sauce, liquid seasoning or marinade would have helped with the taste, texture and moisture. The taste was okay, but it could be much better.    The Khazan Lamb Kebab had thin square pieces of lamb and onions laid on top of a butter naan. The lamb was overcooked to point of being dry and chewy. It was covered with oil that had a weak cumin and red pepper flavor. I was going to ask for a remake of this dish, but I could see that food was coming out very slowly. We did not want to wait for a redo because it was late. The naan was cut into quarters. It was soft and tasted fine. It was the best part of this dish.    The Goyro Laghman had hand pulled noodles, red bell peppers, green bell peppers, onions and a choice of lamb, beef, chicken or vegetarian. We chose lamb because the waitress told us the dish is traditionally served with lamb. The lamb was overcooked. It was not as bad as the Kebab because it was chewy, but not dry. The taste was good because it had a grilled flavor and seasoning. The noodles were fresh and slightly chewy. Great taste and texture. Unfortunately, they were boiled and placed on the plate, plain and then sauce was poured over top. The noodles became stuck together and would not come apart easily. We had to pull it apart and dip it in sauce to keep it from sticking together again. It was a tedious process. A fundamental mistake by the cook. The cooked noodles should have been thoroughly mixed with the sauce as soon as possible before being placed on the plate. The vegetables were cooked just right, not mushy and not undercooked. The sauce was absolutely bland. It was oil with a small amount of salt. That's all it tasted like. The menu description said there were spices and sauces in this dish. The power of suggestion doesn't work on me.    The Uyghur Cake was the highlight of the meal. It was made with layers of flaky dough like baklava except there were many more layers. The layers were soaked with honey, but it wasn't overly sweet. There was some sort of chocolate like syrup drizzled over the cake slice. Overall, a pleasing dessert.    The dining room and restrooms were clean. The dining room was small. Our server was pleasant, but not knowledgeable about the menu. The food service became extremely slow when 3 tables of customers came in after us. They didn't come all at once, it was staggered. That was a total of 12 people. I would not recommend this location until changes are made in the kitchen. Even though the overcooked lamb problem can easily be fixed, the flavor problems are the biggest concern. The Rockville or Washington DC locations may be better. We would be willing to give those locations a try. If you decide to visit this place, there is a parking lot across the street. It was free parking with some spots reserved for certain businesses during certain hours and days. Restrictions were posted on signs.

When we got seated, the table felt sticky and chair had a rice grain on it. The environment just looked dirty. Food were mostly okay, some were tasteless. I'd only recommend the lamb skewer. Service was also lacking. Will not revisit.

Best Uyghur food in town. Great and friendly service. Tried many selections and all are delicious. Thank you

Tasty, but with some caveats regarding service. Eerkin's is a small place in Fairfax that, for the most part, isn't very fancy. The cups are plastic, the tables are covered in cheap picnic tablecloths, and the ambiance is minimal. Needless to say, the emphasis is the food. Thankfully, the food here is amazing. The eggplant salad and hand-pulled noodles stood out among the many dishes I tried. Everything was fresh, tasty, and unique. My only complaint is the service here, which is slow. Despite a largely empty restaurant, it took a staggering amount of time to get water, let alone food, let alone the bill. Not a huge deal, but it felt kinda awkward to have to constantly hail them down for basic stuff.

First time trying Uyghur at Eerkins and it was a amazing blend of Turkish and East Asian flavors. The Homemade Laghman with lamb was really unique and I enjoyed the spices used! Do note that this dish is very oily, so not for the faint of heart. There also wasn't a lot of lamb in the dish, mostly just peppers and onions. Also shared some Eekin's Special Tea with a friend (comes in a pretty sizable French press) and it was a nice mint flavor. Prices were reasonable and I probably would go back if I was in the area

We came in at like 8:15, and they still served us and were really gracious about it. We got the samsa to start, and the pastry was wonderful. The filling tasted really good with just a slight undertone of steamed beef, which I'm not a fan of but didn't ruin it. We got an order of the goyro laghman, which was pretty good but needed the black vinegar and chili crisp that came on the side, and an order of the gambian soman, which was absolutely delicious. We ended up with a small amount of leftovers - the portions aren't particularly generous, but we were full by the end. The honey cake is good, but not the best - still a pleasant end to a good meal. I'm not super well-versed in Uyghur food, but this is really good food.

My first time eating at an Uyghur restaurant. It was an amazing experience. A very Mom & Pop feel. The chuchura soup was savory and the chicken kabob was spiced in a way that made an impression on my tastebuds. I can't wait to return here.

I've been meaning to check Eerkin's out and wanted to try a new cuisine. Many of the dishes were blend of flavors that are similar to both Chinese and middle eastern cuisines. We ordered many dishes that were all hits. We did a pick-up order, and Eerkin's texted us when our order was ready so we knew when to head inside. Eggplant salad: This was my absolute favorite. It tasted delicious and fresh, and the sauce was so tasty. Rather than your typical salad with greens and lettuce, it is a cooked eggplant dish. Manta: These were Uyghur-style dumplings. I would say the filling was like a meatball, a really hefty amount of beef. Gam Bian Soman: This was comparable to lo mein at Chinese restaurants! Khazan chicken kebab: Flavorful chicken kebab with rice! Was not too spicy, and it was a dish of chicken pieces (not on skewer) - I think those would be the other kebab dishes labeled "Uyghur". Dapanchi (Small Chicken Plate): I really liked this. I thought of all the dishes it was the one that stood out to me as a super unique dish with hints of familiarity. It was chicken sitting atop a bed of flat noodles, so mix the noodles up with the sauce and chicken. I have to say it was also pretty spicy, and really flavorful. We licked our dishes clean, with not many leftovers to spare between four people. I would say this dinner was as success and I'm excited to go back and try more dishes!

I found this restaurant during the Asian festival.It was so crowded outside and entered this restaurant .The food is delish !!!! Everyone in the restaurant is very polite.Very clean and peaceful .I ordered chopped fried soman and the quantity is more than sufficient . Definitely visiting again

Food was very spicy (flavorful) and hearty but the service provided has room for improvement. Also, don't park in the tiny lot right next to the restaurant because the ramp is very steep and you'll scrape the bottom of your car. FOOD: We went all out and ordered the following: 1) Eggplant Salad 2) Khhazan Lamb Kabob 3) Goyro Laghman with Lamb 4) Manta 5) Honey Cake The eggplant salad was really good. Slices of Asian Eggplant that are pan fried before being sautéed with spices and what I think are some julienned red bell peppers - lightly crispy on the outside, flavorful, and satisfying. Though it could've gone with less salt. I normally don't like cilantro but in this dish it was delicious. We got the Khhazan Lamb Kabob on top of a nan, and you can smell this dish coming to the table - it's that flavorful! The nan is not your typical fluffy, pillowy nan you might find at an Indian restaurant. It's denser and had sesame seeds sprinkled on top, but it was still perfect for soaking up all of the sauce. Goyro Laghman: my date's favorite dish of the order because the texture was similar to al dente pasta. The vegetables (bell pepper, onions, chives) and spices gave it great color and fresh flavor. The manta (dumplings) were probably our least favorite part of the meal. It's a cross between momos (Nepalese dumplings I think) and soup dumplings. The meat filling was a bit tough, and seemed bland in comparison to the other dishes we ordered. They didn't have chocolate honey cake, so we went with the plain honey cake. I thought this was good - imagine taking Nilla wafers or Le Petit Buerre cookies and layering them with honey and whipped cream, and letting it sit in your fridge for a couple of hours before serving. SERVICE: this is where they lost a star but I think it's more of a cultural thing. We came in with a service dog and were initially turned away because "the chef may have issues"...but we've unfortunately experienced this from other establishments so after some discussion everything was fine. They were still a potential 5-star rating in my mind. I think diners at Eerkins are supposed to raise their hand or signal when they need or want something, so servers are not going to come check on you throughout your meal. And I'm fine with that, however, the servers were on their phones when we were trying to get their attention to order. The restaurant isn't a big one either. After waiting and trying for about ten minutes I decided to walk up to the register to place my order. DECISION: I'd eat at Eerkins again but I don't know if there is anything I'd specifically crave from them.

So before getting into things, I will just say that the time I dined here, there was literally no table service. We ordered at the counter, were not given water (other than the option for bottled water), and were not visited at our table other than the food being dropped off. So I wasn't crazy about that, because yes, there was certainly a tip expected and given for full service. The lady behind the counter was certainly nice, so it's not like there was any issues with the staff themselves. But their setup is janky. The food took a really long time to come out, but perhaps that is the nature of Uyghur food? Not sure honestly. We got a lamb platter and a chicken platter. Each was stew-like with veggies. The chicken was good and the portions were plentiful. The lamb itself was much less good than the chicken though. Anyway, not a great experience but the food was not bad. I am doing a three instead of a two star because of that. I noticed lots of people doing take out, so maybe that is the best way to enjoy it, or just temper your expectations of dining in.

Ok This branch is the best uyghur cuisine I've had ... This place has the best laghman - chopped gam bian fried soman and the long hand pulled ( goyro) noodles too. The service is to die for also! They go out of their way to accommodate diet and palate preferences. Their Tea bar is spectacularly amazing with all these options ranging from Kashmiri tea to Moses tea with saffron and rose flavors. The star of the show is really the protein only kabobs - they are extremely flavorful:!very well balanced in their meats. The flavors combine Thai and Indian. Finally, the uyghur cake is a hybrid between a croissant and baklava in terms of texture and flakiness , but not too sweet.. the hint of rose is key too with the tea and layers. Mm Most importantly the service was key - I forgot my bike helmet and they were very nice about returning it. Also they are very accommodating about staying open late and seating.. amazing family run business

We came in Christmas Eve and they were open. It might become a new family tradition! Per Yelp's suggestion, we tried the eggplant salad. It did not disappoint! It was exactly the right consistency and sweet (without being too sweet) flavor. We also got the Samsa, which is basically their version of a samosa. It has ground beef and lamb and the outside was perfectly flaky. For the main course, my husband and I both had to try the beef Goyro Laghman. It was no joke the best noodle dish I had all year. What I liked was that the (hand-pulled) noodles were not sauced in a way that was overly salty. It was spicy due to chili oil, but not in a way that overdid it. It was just right. The beef and veggies were just right, too. Finally, the service was fast, and it was very family friendly. We'll definitely be back!

Food is great, you can taste the flavors (unlike many places use extra salt and hot pepper to numb you). Spices are on the lighter side.

About a 1-1.5: Eerkin's, I'm a little disappointed with you! When I first came here, the food was fresh, flavorful, and super tasty, with the leftovers even tasting better. I knew that I had to make a repeat visit soon, as I was thinking of your super juicy and spiced-up lamb skewers and the spicy homemade laghman noodles. Unfortunately, the overall dining experience was super lackluster. We were seated right away, but it took some time to get water (not iced), utensils, and get our orders in. I also noticed an unpleasant odor (mildew/dirty rags) coming from some corner of the dining area (huge pet peeve of mine). I have to admit, I was a little surprised that the lamb skewer and the laghman came out quickly; the lamb wasn't as juicy and savory as I had remembered when I had it initially; it was actually underseasoned and pretty bland. The laghman entree was more soupy, as there didn't seem to be any draining action; it was watered down, and the dish was just not appetizing. The hubs ordered the Pulao with the chicken, which felt like it took forever and a day to come out. One thing that we noticed is that the menu seems to have some difficulty in updating the items that they do and do not have, and the pictures and the descriptions are inaccurate. The pualo was stated to be braised rice, steamed with carrots, onions, and chicken, served with chopped chicken and a salad on the side. The picture also made it seem as if it would come with some raisins. The dish was literally juice wet rice, and while the flavors were definitely better than the previous two items we just had, the pulao could have been categorized as more of a rice porridge. Service was friendly, but inattentive. There was somewhat of a flow of walk-ins, and I noticed that there were more larger groups. With the inconsistency of the food, I don't think I'll return. +inconsistent preparation of food! +watered down food items +inaccurate menu photos and descriptions! +super slow service +unpleasant odor in the dining area +can be difficult/inconvenient to park

Sooo yum! We started out with the eggplant salad with butter naan and ordered lamb kebab skewers, chicken kebab skewers, extra naan, goyro laghman (hand-pulled noodles with beef). Brother got a chicken dish with rice (dapanchi) which he enjoyed and steamed dumplings (the server forgot about the dumplings and by the time they arrived we were done with our dinner so took them to go). I loved everything i ordered especially the tender meat, eggplant salad and the buttery hot fresh naan. The goyro laghman was pretty good as well but i will give another noodle dish a try next time. The only forgettable thing about our meal were the honey cakes we got which were very dry and almost stale. I want to come back for the tea and those fresh/kabobs. Something different from your run of the mill kebabs and the interior of the restaurant is very reminiscent of indo-chinese/turkish culture.