Quick test Ridiculously cheap prices, big dishes and friendly service – Finland’s first Uighur restaurant pleasantly surprises

Uighurs are the people of China living in Xinjiang and the countries of Central Asia, about which a lot of nasty news has been read in recent years. Islamic Uighurs have been sent to prison camps in China to be “retrained,” their freedom of speech and free movement restricted, and important cultural sites destroyed. According to Amnesty, China’s goal seems to be for the Uighurs to abandon their religion and culture.

That culture can now be explored in Helsinki for the first time through food. The city’s first Uighur restaurant has been opened in the Roihupello industrial area. It combines the influences of Silk Road from Central Asia, Turkey and the western regions of China in a delicious way.

Order making it takes a bit of nuts, as the menu uses a mix of Chinese, Uighur and Finnish. Fortunately, pictures and prices of the portions are included. From them, we conclude that, for example, a chicken portion worth € 35 is to be shared among several people. Instead, the famous Uyghur laghmen noodles (hereafter “leghman”), a gösh nan pie stuffed with mutton, a few kebab sticks, and manti-dough dumplings containing pumpkin, among others, are now available for testing.

Laghmen are brought to the table first: a plate of thick, clearly hand-made noodles and another Mokoma of fried beef and vegetables in chili oil. “Mix these up,” the waitress urges in sign language.

The noodles, reminiscent of German spätzle, are just as hardy, soft and full-bodied. Meat and vegetables also have a good mouthfeel. When the balance of flavors in chili oil is excellent, the dose should be cooked far too quickly.

Gösh nan, on the other hand, is a bit like a Finnish tin pie. Its flavors are simple but work. In pumpkin dumplings, we admire technology: how is it possible to make such beautiful dumplings from such a thinly rolled dough? Unfortunately, the taste of the filling is unnecessarily mild and the pumpkin pullers would need sauce.

In kebab skewers, it is gratifying that, for once, kebab means whole meat and not grim strips cut from minced skewers. Pieces of lamb grilled succulently are speared on the skewers. Unfortunately, however, they contain so much chili salt that the mouth burns – and more salt than chili.

The Uighur restaurant is located in the Roihupello industrial area. Picture: Timur Yilmaz / HS

Taste of Uyghur at the restaurant feels a bit like visiting someone’s home. The professionalism of the serving is a bit so and so, but the atmosphere is right. The place is clearly run by a family or an otherwise well-known gang who jokes and laughs at each other.

The prices are mostly ridiculously cheap, which is part of the reason we accidentally order far too much food. However, the friendly waitress will pack everything we can’t eat on her own initiative.