Turpan Uyghur

The last time I had Uyghur cuisine was at Etles Restaurant when we went all the way to Walthamstow just for it. It’s a bit of an effort though, to be completely honest. So when Turpan Uyghur, another Uygur restaurant at a much more central location by Tottenham Court Road, came onto my radar pre-pandemic, I immediately made a note to visit at some point when I can. The occasion finally arrived.

We visited for an early lunch on a Saturday when the restaurant has just opened its doors. It was very quiet then and we were the only customers for a little while until more people started to pop by for a quick no-fuss lunch or takeaway.

The restaurant interior is very simple, featuring bright interiors, basic wooden tables and chairs, and its walls adorned with some cultural decorations. It has this cosy, family-run feel to the restaurant and the staff are very welcoming. Compared to Etles, Turpan Uyghur offers more options and a variety of dishes on the menu. Here is what we ordered:

All meats served are halal at Turpan Uyghur.

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Samsa (£2.50 each)

We didn’t originally plan to order these but the staff mentioned they were just fresh out of the oven so we thought “why not”! Samsa is basically spiced-meat pies in the form of pastry parcels. Fresh out of the oven and warm to the touch, the pastries were aromatic and quite a lovely bite to start the meal. The pastry was super crispy and flakey, with a subtle touch of spice seeping through from the filling. As mentioned, the filling was aromatic but a teeny bit on the dry end where it missed an oomph.

Tugur (Lamb Dumplings) (£10)

I absolutely love Uyghur dumplings as they are always so juicy! These ones at Turpan Uyghur are no exception. The dumpling dough was a little bit on the chewier end but it’s nothing major. They are not to the point of exploding with juiciness like some other ones I’ve had but are good and delicious nonetheless.

Lamb Kebab Skewers (£2.50 each)

Lamb kebab skewers are undeniably the staple of Uyghur cuisine. Generously coated with cumin and spices, the lamb skewers carried a very lovely tingle to the palate and were delicious to taste. The meat was fresh, tender and succulent. We each had two skewers and it was just the right portion.

Marjan Chop (Chopped Noodles) (£11)

For carbs, we went with the Marjan Chop. It is essentially a stir-fried noodles dish but, instead of long slurpy noodles, it’s chopped noodles. You get to choose from vegetables, beef, or chicken – we went with chicken.

It’s certainly interesting as you’re eating noodles but it also doesn’t feel like you’re eating noodles since it’s all chopped up – if that makes sense? Despite small bite sizes, you can still detect the light bounce and al dente texture from the handmade noodles. Flavour-wise, it’s got a good savoury touch and a saucy one to taste. It’s a solid dish to enjoy.

Uyghur Herbal Tea Pot (£4)

Last but not least, we finished the meal with a pot of Uyghur herbal tea to share. The tea was very soothing, with a subtle touch of spice seeping through accompanied with a floral fragrance. It’s the perfect finish to the meal.

In summary…

Turpan Uyghur is definitely a decent pick for a cheap & cheerful quick bite around Tottenham Court Road. Food’s lovely and got a homely touch to it which makes it all such a pleasant experience. If you’re around the area and looking for a fully halal restaurant for a no-fuss meal, this is one on the list to go.

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Tel: 020 76369949
Website: http://www.turpan.co.uk/
Instagram: turpanuyghur

Nearest station: Tottenham Court Road