Jahunger

Jahunger’s deliciously authentic Uyghur fare will broaden your purview of Asian food. But before delving too deep into Uyghur culture and its delicious cuisine, it’s helpful to know how to pronounce it. Wee-grr. Got it? Okay, moving along. Uyghurs are among several ethnic minority groups in China. They’re a people with a proud but complex history whose culture is very much distinct from other Chinese cultures, with their cuisine oftentimes more closely resembling that of the Middle East or Central Asia. After coming to the United States from China over seven years ago, Jahunger owner and chef Subat Dilmurat noticed that the delicious lamb, beef and chicken he’d known back home was not available anywhere in the region and subsequently made it his personal mission to gift the people of New England with the delectable flavors of Uyghur culture. Thus, Wickenden Street’s Jahunger was born. The restaurant specializes in quintessential Uyghur dishes: unbelievably juicy lamb kebabs, scallion pancakes, dumplings and various noodle dishes, like the Ding Ding Noodles and the Jahunger Noodles. These dishes are prepared through intricate and often long processes to achieve the flavor nuances that set them apart from other Asian cuisine. Noodles are hand-pulled and made fresh twice daily, while the restaurant’s signature spices and oils undergo multi-step processes before being used for cooking. Naan bread and delicious fruit tea are also available as complements to the meal, typical of Uyghur culture.