Dolan’s Uyghur Cuisine is home to the regional cuisine of the Uyghurs. The Uyghurs are a Turkic ethnic group originating from and culturally affiliated with the general region of Central and East Asia. Uyghur cuisine focuses on Turkish-Chinese fusion because Uyghur is based in north-western China. The food culture includes Chinese spices and Turkish spices, and the combination leads to new types of dishes.
Alhambra’s very own Uyghur cuisine spot was opened by Bugra Arkin in 2019. As a self-taught cook, he was inspired to make his own recipes and has even invented a new type of menu as he has incorporated elements from Indian, Persian, Turkish, Middle Eastern, and Chinese food, “Inspired by my mom and grandmother’s cooking, I developed my recipes for the restaurants. I trained the chefs to make our food”, he added.
Bugra started Dolan’s Uyghur Cuisine because he couldn’t find Uyghur food as a student in the US. He decided to have the restaurant in Alhambra because of its popularity and big Asian population. He has also mentioned the support the has been getting from the Alhambra community, “We have regular customers, I’m glad Alhambra supports us. We have handmade noodles and freshly made dishes. We are the only sit-down restaurant with an extensive Uyghur menu in Southern California.”
Dolan’s Uyghur Cuisine has expanded to Rowland Heights and Irvine, but its Alhambra location remains a local favorite. Open daily from 11 AM to 3 PM and 5 PM to 9 PM, you can enjoy their signature dishes by visiting their W. Valley Blvd. location or ordering online.
“I hope to raise awareness of the Uyghur genocide issues. Through food, we bridge the cultures and learn about the issues. People can help by writing to their local congressmen, senators, sharing on social media, or even just talking about it with their friends and families.”
– Bugra Arkin, Founder and Owner of Dolan’s Uyghur Cuisine
Each week, the Alhambra Chamber of Commerce selects a “Restaurant of the Week” to highlight the many amazing restaurants in our city. For more info, visit AlhambraEats.com.
