Dolan Uyghur Restaurant — Restaurant in Falls Church

Three cheers for the foodie group that introduced us to Uyghur food!

We’d never heard of the Uyghurs but just delighted in their cuisine, thanks to the talented chef and attentive manager at Dolan Uyghur in Falls Church, VA.

Food: Exceptional! My favorite was the Sour Spicy Shredded Potato. Thankfully, it wasn’t sour and had the right amount of heat at the mild option. The texture and spices were on point, but the special taste aspect was the “wok hei” flavor. Google describes that as “charred, smoky flavor” but is so good I recommend trying it for yourself.

Appetizer: Cold egg noodle. I was torn between that and the cold skin noodle but chose the egg version since I prefer peanuts and sesame over bean sprouts. It was so good we didn’t end up save any for leftovers and even drank the sauce like it was some kind of soup!

Entree: I enjoyed my Korma Chop (with chicken, but they have veg/beef/shrimp options). I don’t usually eat thick, Udon-style noodles, but I couldn’t resist “Uyghur-styled signature fried noodles”! Fresh and delicious.

My husband chose meatier options: Whole lamb tandoor kebab and Goshnan (meat pie). We were thinking the kebab would be the typical “meat on stick,” but as you can see from the picture -- it was a lot of meat on bones! And while it’s not highlighted on the menu, the rice itself had a delightful flavor that can be enjoyed by itself (I don’t like white rice, but this was yummy!). He loved the Goshnan, as did I despite not being much of a ground meat person. There were just so many wonderful flavors.

We ordered the Uyghur pilaf with lamb shank to go (for someone else) so didn’t personally taste it, but they said definitely enjoyed it (with our leftovers, and also praised the shredded potatoes!).

Dessert: Dolan cake and Sutlach (rice pudding). I’m not usually a dessert person, but I have to order a dish with the restaurant’s name in it...so the cake was good we had to exert much will power to even leave a bite (literally only a bite) for someone else to try. It was light and flaky, reminding me of a cream puff but without the guilty feeling. The Sutlach was a delight without being too sweet.

Customer service: Outstanding. The team putting up outside umbrellas helped direct us to the actual entrance since it wasn’t clear where it was. The manager apologetically explained the building folks wouldn’t let them put the name on the door, so TIP: Go in the glass doors of what appears to be a medical building and take an immediate right. The interior was beautiful and bathrooms clean, but we prefer eating outside so they accommodated us on a beautiful day.

Recommendation: Enjoy Uyghur cuisine in Falls Church! It looks like there are other Dolan Uyghur locations, but we appreciate premier customer service so will repeat this restaurant when we’re in...

I had the pleasure of dining at this restaurant for lunch today, and overall, it was a memorable experience. The interior design is inviting, featuring elegant hanging glass lanterns, shelves adorned with cultural artifacts, stylish furniture with marble-topped tables, and comfortable yet sophisticated chairs. The large stone stove, used for making buns and bread, adds to the warm ambiance, alongside a glass display cabinet showcasing an array of homemade desserts—all well-kept and tidy.

Upon arrival, the staff welcomed us and efficiently guided us to our table. We appreciated the convenience of the online menu accessible via a QR code, and our server promptly took our order. It was a thoughtful touch that many dishes allowed for adjustments to the spice level. To quench our thirst, we chose the Mango and Raspberry Yogurts (Uyghur Doghap), which were refreshing and pleasantly balanced in sweetness. Our server surprised us with a complimentary Pineapple Yogurt, a delightful addition to our meal.

The Baby Bok-Choy with Garlic Sauce and the Beef & Tripe in Spicy Sauce were both enjoyable, featuring familiar flavors that we found pleasing. The Signature Rice Noodle presented a harmonious blend of flavors and textures, while the Rice Pot Soup was served hot, offering comforting seafood notes and a robust broth—ideal for the chilly weather. The Sigara Boregi, with its cheese filling, provided a subtle saltiness that complemented our meal wonderfully.

For dessert, the honey and chocolate cakes stood out as exceptional—moist, with just the right amount of sweetness and buttercream between each layer. They were among the best cakes we've encountered in the array of Uyghur Cuisine restaurants throughout the DMV area. Our server, Otabek, provided outstanding service; his friendly demeanor and helpful recommendations for unfamiliar dishes made our experience even more enjoyable.

We look forward to returning to explore more authentic...

A++ for stellar service, scrumptious food, and beautiful decor/atmosphere. Highly recommend!

We came to Dolan Uyghur restaurant for my daughter's 2nd birthday celebration and could not have asked for a better spot. A special shout out and compliments to the manager (Nou) and our server (Emre) who went over and beyond to take care of all our needs. They let us drop off our daughter's birthday cake and keep it in their fridge first thing in the morning so we could take my daughter and her friends to a play date and then come back for lunch. They reserved a beautiful large table that fit our party of 12, prepared high chairs for our children, and when it came time to bring out the cake, even sang happy birthday for my daughter over their loud speaker/karaoke machine! Also, a highlight for all the parents out there -- they have changing tables in both the mens and ladies restrooms!

Beyond the service, the food was out of this world. We ordered a variety of dishes from their menu and shared it family style. For appetizers we ordered the Sigara Boregi (crispy cheese rolls), the mixed mezze (fresh hummus and other dips), balloon bread, and cucumber salad. For the main course, we got the big plate chicken (see photo), sujik pide, kusbasi pide, chicken fried rice, korma chop (Uyghur style signature fried noodles), and Uyghur pilaf with beef. We also ordered the Dolan chai (tea), a sweet floral tea that was a huge hit. We loved everything -- the kids especially enjoyed the pide and everyone kept complimenting the korma chop (noodles) and mixed mezze (mixed dips for appetizer).

We would come back here in a heartbeat and look very forward to visiting again soon! A huge thanks to Nou, Emre, and the entire staff at Dolan Uyghur restaurant for making today such a wonderful and memorable day for our...