Cafe Kashkar

Deep down in the belly of Brooklyn, minutes from the water of Brighton Beach, lies a lone outpost of Uyghur Cuisine, the food from Xinjiang region of China along the border of Kazakstan.

Inside the walls are prominently decorated with traditional Doppa hats, scarves, paintings, and items iconic to Uyghur heritage.

A rich and hearty bowl of Shurpa is filled with cuts of lamb floating in lamb broth with onions and potatoes

Manty lamb dumplings are one of the most notorious dishes of the cuisine.

Another doughy lamb stuffed vehicle, Samsa, has a golden flaky snap. When we asked for suggestions, our waitress suggested we try the sweet, fruity juice called Compot.

The juicy and immensely flavorful lamb (foreground) and chicken (background) kebabs on distinctive saber like skewers set the mood of the meal. This a meat forward cuisine.

Cafe Kashkar is named for the city of Kashgar, the westernmost city in China, just before the borders of Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India. It sits directly on the ancient Silk Road, making it a literal cultural crossroad from the far east of China to the world of the Turks and beyond.

I didn’t know all that at the time, so I missed out on the dish that most prominently displays that connection, Lagman. It’s a dish of hand pulled noodles topped with spicy lamb that for some reason is hidden under the “soup” heading on Kashkar’s unintuitive menu.

But don’t let the confusing menu or far-flung location stop you from adventuring out there. The food is amazing and transporting. Plus, you can always take a dip in the atlantic in the warmer months.