Silk Road (Uyghur)

What did we ever do to the Uyghurs?

All we wanted was to try their unique culinary offerings. A plate of cold homemade spaghetti with fried lamb. Maybe a kebob or two. But they were having none of us. We were given the bum's rush out of the Silk Road parking lot without even getting a good look at the food.

There are about 150 Uyghurs (pronounced wee-gers) in Toronto. These Muslim Turks hail from a western Chinese province annexed by Beijing in 1955. Approximately 150 of them were at the Silk Road on a recent Saturday evening. Thus, no room for the strangers who showed up unannounced.

Wait for a table? Probably not until 10.

Take-out? Nope.

We bought some M&Ms at the convenience store on the other side of the miniscule Etobicoke stripmall to tame the beast of hunger while we made alternative plans.

As we mulled over our dining options, the store owner came out to the parking lot.

"Are you trying to get into the restaurant?"

Finally, someone who wanted to help. Perhaps he would redirect us to another place. No such luck.

"You can't park here. Customers only. I'll have to ask you to leave."

Silk Road
438 Horner Ave. (east of Brown's Line)
Etobicoke, ON
416-259-9440