Wild Cumin 寻味新疆 Halal — Restaurant in Kent

Seattle's Halal food scene just got a big boost with the arrival of Wild Cumin, a restaurant serving all Halal food inside Great Wall Mall in Kent, specializing in Xinjiang cuisine--a unique style of Chinese Muslim cooking originating from the Northwestern region of China, also known as Uyghur cuisine.

While many are familiar with other Chinese culinary traditions like Sichuan, Hunan, or Cantonese etc, Wild Cumin is introducing Greater Seattle to the distinct flavors of Xinjiang for the first time. I was excited yet kept my expectations in check since not all Chinese cuisines align with my tastes, but this experience blew me away with bold flavors and mouthwatering dishes.

Star of the show: Hot and Spicy Pot

Steller dish! Totally won over me. I chose the chicken version, which featured bone-in chicken cooked to tender perfection in a tomato-based broth seasoned with cumin, chili, green peppers, onions, and roasted potatoes. The dish also included hand-pulled flat noodles and the chicken soaked up all the flavors beautifully. The marriage of flavor was impressive, with just the right level of heat for someone who isn't used to very spicy food.

Other highlights:

Lamb Skewers (Kebab)

The lamb skewers were grilled to perfection with a robust cumin seasoning, delivering a deliciously smoky flavor. These tender bites were packed with taste and incredibly satisfying.

Xinjiang Salad

This refreshing starter included a mix of tomatoes, cucumbers, cilantro, green peppers, vinegar, sesame oil, olive oil, and a hint of sugar, making for a crisp, flavorful combination that was a perfect appetizer.

Lamb Noodle Soup

The Lamb Noodle Soup was a hearty large bowl filled with the rich flavors of lamb, fresh green onions, and hand-pulled thin noodles. The broth was well-seasoned and comforting, with a satisfying depth of flavor from the lamb and spices.

Xinjiang stuffed Naan

This dish features reshly baked Uyghur-style dough stuffed with tender, spiced lamb leg meat, onions, and potatoes. The naan dough had a crispy crust on the outside, and all the aroma from fesh baking, while the inside was moist, thanks to the juices from the meat. The combination of flavors was delicious, and the hearty filling made it a satisfying choice. I'd love it even more with slightly less lean meat for an extra juicy bite.

Roasted Beef Bun

The Roasted Beef Bun was another highlight, featuring freshly baked bread filled with spiced, roasted beef. This was a bit on the drier side. I would have liked it a bit softer and juicier. but seemed that it was popular among others :)

Xinjiang Naan

The Xinjiang Naan was a thick, freshly baked bread topped with sesame seeds. It was delicious when dipped in sauces or soups, adding a nice touch of flavor and texture to the meal. Or even with the skewer.

Clear Soup

The clear soup was a light, broth-based dish featuring herbs and lamb meat, offering a milder option without heavy spices. While I enjoyed it, adding chili sauce elevated the experience. Try it only if you love very mild meat soup.

I also tried the exotic version of the soup with lamb offal ( stomach , kidney ). Well .... not my cup of tea, but if you are into it , give it a try.

Setting and Atmosphere

The restaurant itself was beautifully decorated with motifs representing Xinjiang's landscapes, mosques, camels, and traditional food. The ambiance reflected the essence of the region, and even the servers wore some signs of traditional attire. The chef has his background in Xinjiang. I visited during midday on a Sunday, and the restaurant stayed busy for hours.

Final Thoughts:

It's now one of my favorite spots, and I'm already looking forward to my next visit! Thanks to the owners for introducing the Chinese Xingjian cuisine to Seattle !

. I can't vouch how authentic Xinjiang style they are , but whatever it is, loved it :)

It's Seattle's biggest Asian mall with ranch 99, so combine your grocery and shopping trip. also there are many other asian restaurants in...

Was it cultural appropriation or cultural promotion? The Seattle Met magazine article I had read online about Wild Cumin questioned not so much the authenticity of the food but the diner’s cultural sensitivity to the plight of Uyghur people in western China. How does injustice taste? In truth, we vacillated for a few days but the appeal of new and unfamiliar cuisine was too strong and so on a rare sunny Washingtonian Saturday afternoon in April we caved. Surely it was cultural promotion wasn’t it?

I had mentioned to my dining partner that I would order the Laghman (“Stir-Fried Lamb Over Noodles”) and he could try some as I had a suspicion that the “lamb” was actually gamey “mutton”. Fortunately, I was proven wrong; the thin slices of meat were nestled in a bed of handmade noodles. The flavors were familiar yet unfamiliar at the same time.

The same could be said about the Beef Samsa (“Beef With Bread”) that my companion chose. There seemed to be a seasoning or ingredient that gave off a slightly sour smell but when we bit into the crispy shell there was no trace of sourness. Word to the hungry. The Samsas are large and filling enough to feed two people.

Perhaps that mysterious something we tasted in both dishes was what made Uyghur cuisine and the broader culture of the Xinjiang region of Western China worth preserving for posterity. In any case, we will be back to try the Roasted Lamb Ribs and Stir-Fried...

Nestled in the Great Wall mall in Kent, this small restaurant is certainly worth a visit. I have never eaten Uyghur food before but my wife had some knowledge.

This place is for lamb lovers, that's for sure. Pretty much everything on the menu involves lamb and, since I love lamb, this place it the spot.

We ordered the basic salad (basically a palate cleaners and to offset the heavy meat intake). Simple creation but fresh and tasty. We also ordered naan but this is not the naan would expect at an Indian restaurant. It's thick with sesame seeds on top and when it get it warm, its a taste treat. Quite filling (yes, we took some home)

We opted for the meat platter so we git several different cuts of lamb. It was dryer than one might expect but tender, tender tender. Some spices and herbs on the meat gave it a rich earthy flavor which was wonderful. The only down point is I ate too much but cant blame the restaurant for providing this much delicious food.

The only thing I would have liked different was some vegetables. While the salad was very nice, some cooked vegetables would be nice.

All in all, very good and not that pricey. Do yourself a favor...