ROCKVILLE, MD — A restaurant specializing in the cuisine of the Uyghur population from central Asia will open its first Maryland location, perhaps as soon as later this month.
The MoCo 360 website reported that Dolan Uyghur Restaurant, which has three locations in Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia, is set to expand to Maryland this summer. The restaurant is owned by Hamid Kerim.
The new venue will be located at 20-A Maryland Ave. in Rockville (The Square at Rockville), which was formerly Kung Fu Kitchen and Peter Chang Rockville.
Dolan Uyghur Restaurant tentatively plans to open on July 20, MoCo 360 said.
Menu offerings will include dishes such as hand-pulled noodles, chicken stew, handmade dumplings, various kebabs (lamb, rib, whole lamb tandoor), dry-fried chicken, and stir-fried lamb, alongside extensive vegan and halal options, MoCo 360 reported.
The restaurant has locations already at 3518 Connecticut Ave. N.W., Washington, DC; 13872 Metrotech Drive in Chantilly; and 400 S. Maple Ave. in Falls Church.
Here's what the restaurant's website says about the Uyghur people and food:
"The Uyghurs are a Turkic-speaking, predominantly Sunni Muslim group of people who traditionally inhabited the East Turkistan region of Central Asia. “Dolan” is the name of an ancient tribe of Uyghur people who lived in the Taklamakan Desert. While there are modern Dolan people, the term “Dolan” primarily refers to an earlier Uyghur culture and civilization in the region.
"Today there are an estimated 15-20 million Uyghurs living in the region, which China has designated the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. The Uyghur people have long been the victims of a human rights crisis. Uyghur culture is being erased, and millions are unjustly detained.
"Dolan’s owner, Hamid Kerim, escaped from East Turkistan (AKA Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region), immigrated to the United States and created this restaurant to raise awareness about the treatment of the Uyghur people. At Dolan, we strive to help preserve, celebrate, and share an integral part of Uyghur culture: food.
"The unique character of Uyghur cuisine is a result of local products, traditional cooking methods, and recipes that have been passed through generations. Uyghur food reflects the influence of neighboring cultures such as Greek, Persian, and Arabic cultures, yet our food culture is uniquely our own.
"Dolan Uyghur Restaurant is one of the first Uyghur restaurants in Washington, D.C. and Fairfax, Virginia. On our menu, you’ll find hand-pulled noodles, chicken stew, handmade dumplings, and many more delicious dishes. Our chef prepares each dish with fresh, ingredients, authentic recipes, and pride for our culture. With each item on our menu, we are committed to preserving and sharing the authentic flavors and traditions of Uyghur and Central Asian cuisine."