Newcastle's first Uyghur restaurant, 12Muqam, is set to make its debut in the city's Restaurant Week, inviting diners to explore traditional cuisine from China's Xinjiang region. The eatery, located on Stowell Street, will be among 132 venues participating in the NE1 Newcastle Restaurant Week from August 3 to 9.
A taste of Uyghur tradition
Owner Emrain Reshid said he looks forward to introducing new customers to the dishes of his homeland. The menu, prepared by his mother Amanhan, features home-cooked recipes such as hand-pulled noodles, slow-cooked lamb shank, and 'big plate chicken'. The restaurant, which opened in February, transformed the former Cosmic Ballroom nightclub and previously operated on Westgate Road.
Reshid noted that some diners mistakenly expect typical Chinese takeaway fare, but Uyghur cuisine blends Chinese, Central Asian, and Middle Eastern influences. Signature dishes include beef lehman, red chilli lehman, and Uyghur pilaf, all made with fresh, hand-pulled noodles and halal meats.
Restaurant Week offer
For the event, 12Muqam will offer a fixed-price menu of two courses—starter and main or main and dessert—for £15, available daily except August 5. Starters include samsa (lamb and onion buns) and lampung (mung bean jelly with chickpeas). Mains range from hand-pulled noodle dishes to lamb shank pilaf, with desserts like homemade fig jam yoghurt.
Reshid said the restaurant has already received reservations. Rachel Fenwick, NE1's head of marketing and events, welcomed 12Muqam's participation, noting that Restaurant Week encourages diners to try new cuisines.
Behind the cuisine
Emrain Reshid, a former professional footballer, moved to England to study and settled in Newcastle in 2014. His mother Amanhan, 62, is the head chef, hand-cutting meat and making all noodles from scratch. The restaurant's name references a 12-suite set of traditional Uyghur music. The interior features rich patterns, embroidered staff outfits, silk cushions, and displays of traditional hats and instruments.
Reshid has placed the restaurant up for sale to spend more time with his two children. He hopes that a new owner will retain Amanhan's skills, noting that Uyghur chefs are rare. The full list of Restaurant Week menus is available on NE1's website.
