Jibek Jolu

"For a cozy meal inside a yurt, head to Jibek Jolu in Lincoln Square. OK, it’s not a literal yurt, but when you’re hanging out in the small tan dining room complete with lattice decorations and a fake smoke hole, it’s easy to believe the illusion. And while there might not be an actual fire pit here, the Kyrgyz food is a comforting substitute. From juicy pieces of kuurdak to saucy hand-pulled noodles in their boso lagman, everything is hearty and delicious. Plus, it’s BYOB, so your favorite bottle of wine or housemade spiked eggnog is welcome." - adrian kane, john ringor

"Jibek Jolu is one of the only Kyrgyz restaurants in the city, and this cute Lincoln Square spot with a small yurt-like interior has great Central Asian food. Every dumpling on the menu is delicious, and lentrees like like chewy lagman noodles have large portions, and are all around $20. Plus, it's BYOB." - josh barnett, adrian kane

"This Lincoln Square sit-down spot with a small yurt-like interior has dumplings that make us want to start a fanclub. We like the hacky-sack-sized manty or fried vareniki filled with mashed potatoes, both of which are great for sharing with a group. They also have a fantastic beef pelmeni appetizer topped with garlicky sour cream which you could share, but you’ll want to keep for yourself." - john ringor

"Though their perpetually shut blinds don’t scream “Welcome to Jibek Jolu,” there are plenty of reasons why you’ll want to stay awhile at this Lincoln Square restaurant. From juicy pieces of kuurdak to saucy hand-pulled noodles in their boso lagman, all the Kyrgyz dishes are hearty and delicious. And those always-closed blinds shut out the outside world, allowing you to pretend you’re inside a friend’s cozy yurt thousands of miles from New York Times push notifications (a small tan dining room and a fake smoke hole sell the illusion)." - veda kilaru, john ringor, adrian kane

"Though their perpetually shut blinds don’t scream “Welcome to Jibek Jolu,” there are plenty of reasons why you’ll want to stay awhile at this Lincoln Square restaurant. For starters, the Kyrgyz food is delicious and affordable, and this place is BYOB. And when it comes to catching up with friends, the squarish yurt-like interior (complete with a fake smoke hole), is cozy and quiet enough that you can chat without shouting. The servings are large and meant for sharing, so showing up with friends is the best way to enjoy garlicky pelmeni, smoky kuurdak, or hand-pulled noodles cooked with a spicy soy sauce. " - adrian kane, john ringor