Kawaplar, or lamb skewers, and polo, an Uyghur-style pilaf, are well-known Uyghur dishes. (Claire Jenq/Stars and Stripes)
Uyghur cuisine is one of the most delicious styles of cooking you may have never heard of.
Mostly known for its lamb dishes, traditional Uyghur cuisine adapted dishes from China and Central Asia. The novel combination of familiar flavors will have foodies coming back for more.
The Uyghurs themselves occupy a space in current events. Since 2014, reports from China indicate many members of this small, predominantly Muslim ethnic minority were arbitrarily held in detention camps. A 2022 United Nations report found that the Chinese government’s treatment of Uyghurs and other Muslims may constitute crimes against humanity.
Uyghur-style food is available at Tenzan Uyghur on Sauzan Road, informally called Thousand Lantern Road, an 8-minute walk from the gate of Camp Zama’s Sagamihara Housing Area.
Tenzan’s large menu features popular Uyghur foods such as laghman, a meat-and-noodle dish similar to Chinese lamien; kawaplar, or lamb skewers; and polo, a Uygher-style pilaf.
Pan-fried gyoza filled with lamb and Chinese cabbage from Tenzan Uyghur near Camp Zama, Japan. (Claire Jenq/Stars and Stripes)
On a recent visit to Tenzan, my family started with an order of kawaplar and swiftly ordered more. Each skewer of succulent lamb (330 yen, or about $2.40) comes well-seasoned with pepper and cumin and is roasted until just charred.
We also ordered the polo (1,089 yen), which came with small pieces of lamb, carrots and raisins, plus yogurt to drizzle. The yogurt was surprisingly sweet, and I wasn’t sure if it had been sweetened to adapt the dish to Japanese palates.
Next came pan-fried, lamb-filled gyoza (550 yen). The earthy flavor of the lamb was complemented wonderfully by white pepper and crunchy Chinese cabbage. These also quickly disappeared.
The goshnan, or meat pie, has a flaky crust and spiced lamb mixture inside. (Claire Jenq/Stars and Stripes)
I was most excited for the goshnan (1,100 yen), a type of meat pie. Growing up as a descendant of Syrian and Lebanese immigrants, I often ate a type of meat pie called fatayer that is stuffed with ground lamb and onions. When I bit into the fried dough and spiced lamb of the goshnan, the familiar flavors brought back memories of family gatherings with my sitti, or grandmother.
Finding a place that reminds you of home is quite special when you’re stationed overseas. The dishes at Tenzan Uyghur are well-seasoned and introduced my family to a delicious new way to enjoy lamb.
Whether looking for flavors of home or something completely new, Tenzan Uyghur restaurant should be on everyone’s list of local weekend spots.
A sweet treat to end the night: tea and baklava from Tenzan Uyghur near Camp Zama, Japan. (Claire Jenq/Stars and Stripes)
TENZAN UYGHUR
Location: 6 Chome-17-21 Minamidai, Minami Ward, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-0314.
Hours: 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; noon to 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday. Closed Sunday and Monday.
Prices: Small plates such as edamame and pan-fried gyoza cost between 330 yen and 550 yen. Large plates are around 1,500 yen.
Dress: Casual
Directions: A10-minute walk from the Sagamihara Family Housing Area, or 11 minutes from Odakyu Sagamihara Station.
Information: 042-767-0290; www.hotpepper.jp/strJ001209930/
