Samosa or a savory beef-and-onion meat pie in flaky pastry. (Image courtesy of Ling-Mei Wong.)
I was excited to try Silk Road Uyghur Cuisine in East Cambridge. This cozy and no-frills restaurant serves Uyghur (pronounced “wee gur”) cuisine since 2017. The Xinjiang Uyghur autonomous region is located in the Northwest region of China, along the Silk Road trading route. Thanks to this history, the food blend East and West beautifully.
The samosa ($2.99) is a savory baked meat pastry. This beef and onion meat pie was easy to eat, with flaky dough surrounding the juicy filling.
The dry fried noodles ($13.95) were spicy homemade noodles, served with beef, onions, carrots and scallions. The wok char on this dish sealed in the flavors well.
Next came the popular big plate chicken ($14.95 for the small portion). Chunks of bone-in chicken were served over thick wide noodles, soaking in the hearty gravy studded with chilies, potatoes, peppers and scallions. The spicy factor was kicked up a notch, but I still wanted to keep going for more.
The cold noodle with sauce ($6.99) featured egg noodles served with special dressing and topped with cucumber slivers. It added a refreshing zesty punch, balancing the spicy heat from other dishes.
Another popular street food item are the lamb kabobs (three for $12.95) which came on scary long skewers. There was a good mix of lean and fatty meat, with cumin being the most discernible spice.
The pumpkin manto (six for $12.95) were stuffed with sweet pumpkin in a delicate dumpling wrapper.
The homemade yogurt ($3.85) was a dish of tart yogurt sweetened with honey, topped with walnuts and raisins. The yogurt soothed our tongues from the chili pepper heat.
We went early on a Saturday night and the small space filled up quickly. If you are not used to spicy dishes, the helpful servers can suggest dishes, as the spice level can get fiery. Service was fast and when it got busier, you have to be proactive to get the servers’ attention. Reasonable prices, delicious food and hearty portions make Silk Road memorable and worth the trek to East Cambridge.
Silk Road Uyghur Cuisine
645 Cambridge Street
Cambridge, MA 02141
(617) 945-1909
