Our announcement of December 2, 2021, when Dolan had grown to two restaurants. Republished as part of our history — with a note on dates at the end.
No matter where people are, despite differences in culture and beliefs, food is always something that brings everyone together. Every person has memories and affection for a favorite dish, especially one that reminds them of home and heritage. Food is not just something that provides sustenance; it is a story to tell. And that is why Dolan Uyghur Restaurant decided to bring the memories of Uyghur cuisine to Washington, DC and Chantilly, Virginia.
Founded by Hamid Kerim in December 2016, Dolan Uyghur Restaurant is ready to serve brilliant meals prepared in a distinctive, halal, Central Asian style. When asked what he wants people to remember most about the dishes, this is what he had to say: "We are committed to preserving a wide variety of dishes that capture the unique flavors — and culture — of the Uyghur people." More than the food, we want our customers to discover the culture and count memories with us.
The food at Dolan Uyghur Restaurant is fresh, healthy and delicious. The daily menu includes bestsellers like Samsa, a classic Uyghur street food stuffed with lamb and onions, and Korma Chop, an all-time favorite of hand-pulled, stir-fried noodles and spices topped with a choice of protein — chicken, lamb or shrimp.
There are also Chicken and Lamb Kebabs, flame-roasted and topped with generous amounts of cumin, and Manta dumplings stuffed with either lamb or pumpkin. And finally, the popular entrée Hot Chicken Stew, known for its hearty and delicious flavors. View our full menu.
For the past five years, Dolan Uyghur Restaurant has continued to improve its menu as well as its customer service. Every dish is carefully prepared by chefs who strongly believe that delicious food is at the heart of traditional Uyghur life. There are not enough words to describe the full experience at Dolan Uyghur Restaurant, and numerous customer reviews can attest to how exceptionally Uyghur the experience is.
According to one Google review: "The staff is super friendly and gave great recommendations. Food was exceptional, and the atmosphere was also amazing. Recommend everyone to at least try this place once." Another review, this time from Yelp, described Dolan Uyghur Restaurant as "A very good restaurant. Great service and great food. Very different and tasty food. We tried butter naan, fried tofu and Korma. Each item was very delicious. Highly recommend this place."
About Dolan Uyghur Restaurant. Dolan Uyghur Restaurant is a restaurant founded by Hamid Kerim that serves halal, Central Asian–style dishes. At the time of this announcement it had branches in Washington, DC and Chantilly, Virginia.
A note on dates. The 2021 release said the restaurant was "founded by Hamid Kerim in December 2016." The fuller story: the Cleveland Park restaurant opened under another Uyghur family in late 2016 (The Washington Post reviewed it in January 2017). Hamid Kerim took it over in 2018, restructured it and reopened it under his ownership on September 10, 2018 — the date Dolan's own history begins. Everything else in the announcement — the dishes, the welcome, the promise — stands.
