Etles Uyghur Restaurant in Waltham Forest

Etles has really gone down hill on their food quality and is now a complete rip off. My partner ordered lamb knuckles and got a box full of bones with hardly any meat - not kidding you, just check the attached photo. It's a shame as their food used to be tasty, even if the portions were a little small. I know the cost of food has gone up, but charging £15 for a box of bones with almost no meat is taking the Mickey. I ordered tripe with noodles and the tripe was gritty, which is really not pleasant to eat. We won't be ordering from there again, which is a shame as we enjoy Uyghur food.

We visited here, as the Finchley restaurant had closed over COVID. Weekday so parked at station. It is easily a restaurant you'd walk past and not take a second look at. Don't. Here you will be welcomed with warm hospitality and arguably some of the best food (certainly that I have ever eaten in my life). Order plenty and take what's left home! Chicken skewers were just wonderful - a real mix of flavour and tender meat. The chochure soup was great as were the manta dumplings which come with a chilli oil dip. Would thoroughly recommend the 'traditional leghmen' with beef - the meat was superb, a little crispy on edges, and incredibly flavoursome. The sauce and vegetables and hand-pulled noodles were an absolute delight. Diced leghmen with chicken was great for kids as could easily be spoon-eaten and disappeared quick! The kung pao chicken comes with noodles and dish separately - I'd recommend mixing but that's me. So, the pièce de résistance for us was the 'big plate chicken' - this, in itself, was worth the visit. A sharing platter of chicken, potatoes, whole spices and thick noodles with a sauce that has brought us back again and again. We knew we wouldn't finish it but it didn't matter. Last but not least, had some honey cake which hit the spot. The staff are humble, friendly, and attentive. It is really sad that the Finchley branch, with a larger footprint and being the newer, had larger seating arrangements, has closed, but we will continue to visit regularly. We suggest you do too!

I used to love this place but it was shut down for rat infestation, no huge or standards. Please look it up. DISGUSTING photos. Rancid. They said they closed because of a ‘leak’ .. complete lies. I saw the health inspector sign outside their premises. Also lots of articles if you look online. Will turn your stomach. Their other restaurant has a 1 hygenie rating. AVOID. Don’t care if they have cleaned up for a new inspection, they obviously didn’t care enough before, could have poisoned someone.

This place is great. I have no idea about Uyghur food, I’ve never tried it before. But this place seemed very authentic. And everything was delicious. Tried the lamb dumplings in soup (very pillowy, proper lamby flavour within), the cucumber salad (fresh, velvety, umami), the dry veg dumplings (also great) and the diced noodle dish with beef (incredible umami flavour with the perfect about of silky sauce and the noodle chunks had a great al dente bite). 5/5.

I, a black man, went in there on friday night and it was not busy at all only one other couple and a group of 4 so there where at least 6 tables free. As soon we sat down a guy came over and asked if we had a reservation. We didnt. He proceeds to say that they are fully booked and can't accommodate us so we had to go elsewhere. I knew exactly whats was happening but it date night so I'm not making a scene and left at 6.57. Three minutes later I called them and put on a posh British accent. I asked if the have space for two people in half an hour and they said yes they did so i booked for 7.30 under the name David. I obviously went elsewhere to eat and never showed up. After my meal at The Village Pub (wonderful service btw), my partner and I walked past this place and the place still was just over half full. I had to go in and confront them. The guy at the till was completely unbothered even acknowledged what they had done and then the lady there was so rude, became enraged that I kept askong of they understand what they did was wrong especially as their own people are being persecuted in overseas. She started raising her voice and other customers started looking so I just left. They may have sorted out the dirt and cockroachs that got them shut down a couple months ago(look it up) but the bigotry of this place is disgusting and need to be sorted out too. Anyone that is a person of colour or anti racist should never go here.

Never disappoints. I ordered the tugur dumplings and traditional leghmen. Amazing flavours and delicious noodles 😋😋

This is a nice place with good friendly service. The food is ok for the price but I found it lacking a bit of a kick. I was expecting some big spicy flavours in the kung poh chicken for example that just didn’t quite deliver.

This marked my first experience at a Uyghur restaurant and it was nothing short of exceptional from start to finish! I’ve been meaning to try Uyghur cuisine since last year but this weekend, I took the plunge and headed here. I wasn’t sure entirely what to expect but Etles Uyghur Restaurant surpassed my expectations. First impressions: unassuming from the outside, Etles is so well-located [only a 3-minute walk from Walthamstow Central Underground!]. It’s gorgeously furnished inside: homely, traditional and rustic, with musical instruments and traditional artwork adorning the walls and with a relaxed, unpretentious ambience to boot. Each dish was as fantastic as the last – to start with, I tried Etken chai, a traditional Uyghur tea. Boiled with milk and salt, it was so uniquely flavoured. The lamb samsa samosas [my favourite dish of the night!] soon followed – each were so more-ish and reminded me of summers spent in Beirut during my teens devouring sambouseks! The lamb kebabs were so succulent followed by the lamb polo [steamed rice with sultanas], another star dish. The medium plate chicken [it could feed at least 3-4!] was delicious though by now, I was fit to bursting – I loved the spicy peppered sauce and flat noodles. Best of all, food is served in beautiful, intricately decorated crockery! To round it off, I hoovered the honey cake for dessert in a matter of minutes – the perfect palate cleanser! Sadly, the orange cake was sold out so I’m looking forward to trying this and the stir fried leghmen for mains on my return, which came highly recommended by our waiter Nuri. I’ll also try more veg options next time, e.g. with the dumplings, as most of the dishes that I ordered were all meat-based. Service was fantastic throughout – smooth and swift with dishes arriving in the perfect order. Nuri in particular was friendly and so knowledgeable about Uyghur cuisine. I’ve dined at fine dining establishments across the world from the Caribbean, the United Arab Emirates to here in London and this is up there as one of the most memorable meals of my life. Huge thanks to Nuri who went above and beyond to make our experience of sampling Uyghur cuisine for the first time so special. I’ll be back [with friends and family in tow after I couldn’t stop raving about how incredible it was!]

I have only recently discovered Etles and have already made multiple visits. The food is excellent, delicious and unusual, plus Etles is BYO. My favourite dishes are the somosas, the lamb skewers and the homemade flat noodles, but everything I have seen others eat looks equally delicious. A wee Walthamstow gem!

I found this restaurant on Secret London I follow and they had given a good review not sure why the food was nice but the restaurant was like sitting in someone’s old kitchen I do like going to new restaurants but this was an eye opener would not recommend

Super restaurant ouïgour , serveur très agréable , cuisine de qualité typique de la bas , une Mention spéciale pour les brochettes qui étaient vraiment délicieuses.... Le restaurant ne propose pas d alcool mais vous avez la possibilité d en acheter à côté ce qui est assez pratique. Un excellent rapport qualité prix ! Rahmat !!

Was passing there , so wanted a quick lunch meal to take home. Popped in and ordered Ganbian Chamomiam. Basically stir fired thick noodles with beef and veg. Suggested to me by owner , who then went and prepared. Portion size like one of those oblong tin things you get in an Indian. £12 for noodles , could hardly find any beef in it and there were no vegetables, as described. A Joke!

I reviewed this restaurant in Walthamstow a few years ago when it first opened. Then it was delicious. Great flavours, meat and noodles perfectly cooked. I went again last week and was really disappointed at the watered down flavours. The Chuchure soup tasted like tomato broth. The lamb polo was very greasy too. Unfortunately I won't be going back.

Got there after driving through the near biblical flood. Well worth the lengthy diversions.. The food was simply outstanding.. We tried a variety of dumplings, skewers, noodles, soups.. Very impressed with all of the food.. All cooked fresh and to ordee. Young Uzbek lad serving was lovely. Thoroughly recommend given we came to London via Essex from Leeds

This place is a Walthamstow institution and attracts people from all over London for its home-made noodles. I love their beef noodles, kung pao chicken and shish kebabs. It's BYOB, food is good value and service is always friendly. A regular haunt.

I’ve eaten here before and the food is excellent, there’s nowhere that comes close. The dumplings are delicious and the main dishes are very tasty, nothing is oily or overly seasoned. Lovely service. Authentic Chinese so it hits the spot!!

This was my third visit to Etles and again I was not disappointed! It's a great place to bring friends because very few people in London have tried Uyghur food! I love the flavours - especially the leghmen (noodles) and their tofu dish that you...

This has been on my list to go for months. Was not disappointed. Food feels home made and authentic. I'd recommend the mapo tofu (with some sort of numbing chilli), the hand pulled noodles and the tugur dumplings that come with the chilli sauce. Good...

While in London most food traditions are well voiced, this particular restaurant has no comparison. The meal was well presented, the dishes fresh and special in taste. An absolute must if you are visiting the London suburb of Walthamstow.

I remember ten or so years ago in London when there were loads of standout places that were justifiably well-known by locals and beyond, but were still unflashy gems. Tayyabs, Silk Road and so on and so on. Nowadays, it's harder to find somewhere that...

Amazing hand pulled noodles - big portion sizes, loads of flavor and not greasy. Ordered the potato dish on a whim - was really unusual but good. Will definitely order again from here!

It's hard to put delight into words. The food was simply amazing. The decor of the restaurant is very beautiful and traditional. The staff are super friendly and kind. I went home and I recommended this place to all of my friends and family. I...

I just love Uyghur Leghmen! Here they stretch the noddles themselves and it is a real MUST TRY thing. Nothing I have tried is comparable with this traditional Uyghur dish. I am a returning customer.

I love the food in here. Best Uyghur restaurant in London. Leghmen is the best one and it is a very traditional Uyghur food.

Went to the Finchley branch. Lovely decor. Food was full of flavour. I could taste the food in my mouth an hour after my visit,not even an exaggeration. Hand made noodles are the star of the show, really thick and soft. Our Uzbek brother that...

Average experience overall. Ordered the chicken lagman (hand pulled noodles), lamb sis kebab on skewers and manta (giant sized dumplings with calf meat). The handmade noodles had a great texture to them and was the best thing we ordered. The sis kebabs although tender were...

Visited this gem of a restaurant today with a 6 and 2 yr old. The entire menu was halal. It's a family run restaurant so spaces can be limited if one decides to go at peak time. Very nice service. The food was delicious. We...

Never heard of this cuisine previously. I ordered a dish by the name of Lagmam. It was lovely served with homemade noodles. Not inexpensive unlike most eateries nearby. This main course came in at £9. Very good quality. As a westerner very difficult to describe...

The lamb kebab skewers were definitely the highlight of our meal. Fragrant seasoning with a slightly salted peppery kick of spice sprinkled on the (very!) tender lamb pieces. The lagman noodle is also a dish we would want to order again if we had the...

I visited the Etles Uyghur Restaurant for lunch today and it was brilliant. The food was great and the staff were friendly and attentive. I will definitely be back. 😊

After living in China I know pretty good the Chinese dishes.This restaurant offers an amazing Xinyang food. We ordered the first dish in the menu, the chicken, £25, enough for 2 people. Delicious

Amazing restaurant. Each dish was delicious and different to anything else I've tried. I will look forward to returning and exploring different meals from the menu. Generous portions. Noodles are a must.

We all was very happy with our food and it was delicious tasty food I definitely recommend if I can give 10stars I will good value for money and staff is very nice spectacular place,

I thought that this was a most interesting restaurant. It has Uyghur Chinese food which I had never experienced before. There is apparently only one other such restaurant in London. I even enjoyed the tripe that was on the menu. The large shared chicken dish...

Been a while since I ate out in London, was feeling something unique so eventually found this spot situated in Walthamstow. Amidst a very mid-gentrified area sits this small casual eatery, full of people on a saturday night. They recommended booking our table so we...

I went there on Wednesday night , it was really quite The food is excellent, really good portions , it’s also cheap Everything is halal,no alcohol served . The service is spotless I really recommend to everyone , I will definitely go back soon

Its a small restaurant but what a gem. If you are tired of the main stream restaurants than this place is for you. Food is freshly prepared. Smells good and flavours are different. The shish kebab for me brought back memories of home. Would definitely...

I've had plenty of Chinese dishes in my life, none have compared to this. Plenty of dishes, all as great as the previous. Try the noodles.

First time i’ve Ever had this type of cuisine it was incredible fresh fragrant good portion I highly recommend it i’ve ordered take away

I've not been to Uyghur (though i've always wanted to visit), but trying this food really fascinated us. The tastes are unique and all dishes we ordered were delicious and very fresh - Great & diverse menu. The service was friendly and attentive with a...

New adventure! Randomly discovered this place and impressed with food. Just missing music and service can be improved. Recommend to try.

We visited Etles Uyghur to experience something different from the typical halal fare of Turkish kebabs and Indian curries you get in London, and we were pleasantly surprised. There were 7 of us with varied tastes – ranging from our 77-year old nyai to my...

Went with family and friends, brought our own wine, shared a number of delicious dishes from ox tongue to lamb hoof. So many influences in the dishes, Italian, Chinese, Turkish. Great friendly service and well worth a visit.

Became ill, ended up in hospital with severe abdominal pain which I contribute to the uncooked food. Got worse and not able to return to work. In agony past few days.

Food was great and very different from your standard Chinese menu, felt like a Chinese/Turkish mashup. It's BYO but they only seem to have tumblers so probably stick to beer. Service is terrible but stick at it. Final warning, lots of tomato based, slightly greasy...

Great noodle. Place is nice and clean. Price is very reasonable. Service is great too. I would definitely visit again.

From the moment you walk in it is a good experience. Greeted by a super friendly and kind person made us feel very welcome. The menu is very simple, well laid out and east to understand. The food was amazing and so unqiue the first...

We visited tonight with my family. Owner and staff were so lovely and accommodating especially with our young children. Every single dish was delicious especially the noodles and wonton soup. The sis kebabs were also excellent. We're definitely going to be regulars here.

Having been to China only one a half years prior, really wanted to try something that evoked memories of our time in the West of China. The food was all freshly prepared, generous portions and all supremely tasty. Will definitely recommend for anyone who wants...

I went for dinner with my husband last night. Food was different from the standard Chinese food, served for Western palates. I especially enjoyed the strips of beef and peppers. Portions are served with rice or noodles. The restaurant is clean and cosy. Staff are...

Not every day you try something you will probably never have anywhere else in the city and possibly country. Truly unique rural Chinese cuisine served by a husband and wife couple. Mix of Szechuan, Turkish and various other cuisines...really interesting and homecooked. Great home pulled...

This is not the typical Chinese takeaway food. The food is unusual, authentic and delicious. The lamb skewers were wonderfully tender, not over poweringly spicy. Tripe perfectly cooked. Best of all was the dessert (some kind of honey cake) that was not even on the...

The food here in this small understated restaurant is exceptional, the sea bass is fragrant and packed full of spice with ginger and garlic! The wonton soup is warming with a tasty heat, we also had some shish kebabs which were amazing, the staff are...

What a great find! I had a dinner there the other week and absolutely loved it (and I'm not a big fan of Chinese cuisine). The dishes are beautifully cooked, nicely spiced and so different to everything else I have ever tried. Wonton soup was...

Excellent homemade food, very reasonably priced and very helpful, friendly service. Would 100% recommend to friends!!

I went with a group of 5 friends to celebrate our close friend’s birthday on a Sunday for a late lunch. We had a superb experience with the food and the ambiance. If you are happy with spicy Uyghur Chinese food, this restaurant is highly...

A lovely addition to E17 restaurants. Etles is run by a delightful family with a very personal, welcoming approach. The Uyghur cooking is rich and comforting; though it uses the red chilies familiar from Szechuan cuisine, here the heat quotient is very mild; beef is...

I was a bit tentative about this place not having tried Uyghur food before but it was really straightforward to order and delicious. Really enjoyed the Lagman and the Gaobian Chaomian (I hope I spelt that right). Highly recommend this place.

This was so, so good. We had the beef lagman noodles, dumplings and rice with lamb and carrots; all were delicious. The portions were generous and service was very friendly and helpful. We are looking forward to returning and trying the rest of the menu,...

Very tasty authentic Uyghur food. Enjoyed their Lagman a lot - the taste reminded me of my childhood back in one of the Central Asian countries. The staff is very friendly. Portions are very generous. We are going back next week to try their pre...

Stumbled upon this place completely by accident, and was very excited to see a Uyghur-run restaurant in London as the amazing food of the Xinjiang region of China is pretty hard to come by in the UK. The welcome was extremely warm, food was consistently...