Bringing a taste of Uyghur culture to Box Hill
We popped down to Dolan on Silk Road and spoke to the owner about how he was one of the first Uyghur restaurants in the state.
Matthew Sims
November 12, 2024
The rush of heat from a blazing fire hits your face.
The smell of spices and fresh produce fills your nostrils.
For visitors and locals to Box Hill, stepping into the doors of Dolan on Silk Road is like stepping into another world.
To Uyghur expatriates like owner Ilham ‘Eddie’ Aziz, it’s like stepping into home.
Having lived in the eastern suburbs for the past 16 years, Eddie said he was proud to be one of the first Uyghur restaurants in the state.
“All of Victoria, we don’t have more than 500 people of our nationality,” he told the Eastern Melburnian.
“In all of Victoria, there are maybe five or six Uyghur restaurants.”
However, Eddie’s journey into the hospitality business was not a direct one, originally emigrating to Australia with qualifications as a dentist in his home country of China.
“I spent 10 years in China for the qualification,” he said.
“When I come to this country, I couldn’t speak English. It’s very hard for me, that’s why I had to choose to work somewhere else.”
Eddie said it had taken a while for Box Hill to embrace the business, but now they were very busy most nights.
“Everyone likes it,” he said.
“Even Aussie, whatever, everyone, they love it.
“But they take a long time, five, six years, the Aussies don’t accept the food, they’re scared.”
Eddie said he adapted his menu to appeal to Australians, such as naming his traditional gosh-naan as “Uyghur meat pie”.
Dolan on Silk Road is located at 968 Whitehorse Rd in Box Hill.