手抓饭
Uyghur Polo
Rice cooked in the fat and juices of lamb, with enough carrot that the grains turn amber rather than yellow. It is a one-pot dish that half the world makes some version of, and this is the version from the oasis towns of Central Asia.
Our names for polo
- Uyghur
- polo
- Chinese
- 手抓饭 · shǒu zhuā fàn
Also known elsewhere as…
- Uzbek
- palov · osh
- Kazakh
- палау
- Tajik
- оши палав
- Persian
- polow · پلو
- Turkish
- pilav
- Russian
- плов
How polo is made
Lamb goes into the pot first and renders. Carrot follows — a lot of it, cut long rather than diced, because it has to hold shape through the whole cook and give up its sugar slowly. Rice goes on top and takes on liquid without being stirred, which is what keeps the grains separate instead of creamy. The color is not turmeric; it is what carrot and lamb fat do to rice given enough time.
Ordering polo: how much, and for how many
It is not spicy at all, which makes it the safest thing to put in front of someone who is unsure, and the usual first choice for children. A plate of it alongside something from the grill covers most of a table. Add the salad if you want something sharp to cut the richness.
- Chicken鸡肉
- Lamb羊肉
- Beef Chuck牛肩肉 upgrade +2.99
- Lamb Leg羊腿肉 upgrade +3.99
- Boiled Egg水煮蛋 +1.49
- Classic Polo Salad皮辣红 +2.99
- Yogurt Dip酸奶蘸酱 +1.95
- Plain Yogurt原味酸奶 +3.95
Prices are the same in Alhambra and Irvine. See it in context on the Signature Feast page, or browse the full menu.
Where to eat it
If plov, pilaf or pulao is already familiar to you, start here — you will taste the family resemblance immediately and the differences a minute later. 100% halal - the whole menu, the whole kitchen. No pork, no alcohol. Served at our Alhambra and Irvine locations — Alhambra in the San Gabriel Valley and Irvine in Orange County — every day from 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM, with free parking at each.
New to this kitchen? Start with what Uyghur food is, or read the common questions.