Gary G.
Yelp
Jahunger, Cambridge MA
Second location of the Providence original, offering Uyghur cuisine typically found in the northwestern-most province of China. They call their culture "a unique blend of Central Asian influences." A bit of Middle Eastern too, but the more the merrier. If noodles are your thing, it's a must.
Samsa: A pair of savory pastry dough vessels filled with fragrant ground lamb. Think of these as Asian knishes; I think of them as that and delicious. A little crunch to the shell, but also nicely chewy. I haven't had these anywhere else, so I can't compare, but I'd be surprised if these weren't elite.
Scallion Pancake: A bit out of place on this menu but more than just a token offering for the timid. It checks all the boxes: thicker than average, crispy but not oily, thick but light, plenty scallions, and thick, dark dipping sauce. Near-elite to elite.
Jahunger Noodles: I've had these several times in Providence and Cambridge, and they're the perfect first visit item to get a feel for the place. Hand-pulled, fresh, thick, dense, round noodles, with a protein you can customize. Not exceedingly spicy, but REALLY nice zesty flavor. Nice chewy texture to the noodles, which had a tagliatelle-meets-udon feel. Long strips of chive added some crunch and herbal punch.
Laghman Noodles: More of those hand-pulled, fresh, thick, dense, round noodles that are a bit slippery, so maybe rethink that white cashmere sweater if eating these, cuz there gon' be some sauce a splashin'. Complemented with shredded beef in a slightly spicy sauce, a little on the thin side, so not as much cling as with their namesake Jahunger Noodles.
Spicy Potatoes: Spiced very thin, served around room temperature, with a jicama-like texture and a sauce spicy as promised. A hint of sour, but less sour than the Sichuan version of potatoes like this. Very good.
They've got a tiny parking lot shared with their neighboring businesses. Handy but very tight, so get there early and back your car in.