A small storefront near Watertown Square is about to get a new name, a new menu and a new story. Badam Uyghur Cuisine is set to open this November at 58 Mt. Auburn St., in the space that was home to Home Taste, according to What Now Boston and Boston.com. The owner is Adila Sadir, the woman behind Silk Road Uyghur Cuisine in Cambridge, the restaurant that introduced many Greater Boston diners to Uyghur food.

For Muslim families west of Boston, that is worth watching. Silk Road's own website says all of its menu is halal, and Boston.com describes it as "the halal Silk Road Uyghur Cuisine restaurant." Badam has not yet announced its halal policy, so we explain below what is known and what to ask when the doors open.

What is coming to 58 Mt. Auburn St.

What Now Boston first reported the plan on Sept. 18, citing city permits filed for the address. Sadir told the outlet she bought the business after seeing an online post from Home Taste's owners. Home Taste, a Chinese restaurant known for hand-pulled noodles and dumplings, had opened in 2015. In early September it posted that it was closing for about a month, and Boston Restaurant Talk soon spotted signs for Badam out front. Watertown News reported the change on Sept. 21.

The new restaurant will be small: about 850 square feet with seats for up to 16 guests, according to What Now Boston. Boston.com, in its Oct. 2 roundup of new restaurants, called it petite and said diners should expect speedy takeout, as at Silk Road. What Now Boston reported proposed hours of 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, but those were proposed hours, not a final schedule, and no exact opening date has been announced.

The menu: noodles, pilaf and kebabs

Sadir told What Now Boston she wants to start with a smaller menu. "We want to start with a smaller menu to ensure that we can provide an authentic experience and excellent service to our customers," she said.

Expected dishes include:

  • Laghman, the Uyghur staple of hand-pulled noodles, which Badam plans to make in-house
  • Rice pilaf
  • Kebabs, which Boston.com describes as lamb kebabs
  • Samsa, a savory baked pastry
  • Lamb soup
  • Big plate chicken, a large shared chicken dish

Sadir is also considering chao mifen, a stir-fried dish she said has become popular in her hometown.

The name has meaning, too. According to What Now Boston, Badam comes from the badam doppa, a traditional Uyghur cap embroidered with floral and geometric designs, chosen as a tribute to her heritage.

Who is Adila Sadir?

The Uyghurs are a predominantly Muslim ethnic group native to the Xinjiang region of northwestern China, with historic ties to the Turkic peoples of Central Asia. GBH noted that although Uyghur cooking is popular with Chinese diners, the cuisine and culture are closer to Central Asia's, which is why lamb, noodles and rice pilaf sit at the center of the table.

GBH News reported in 2019 that Sadir came to Boston from Xinjiang at 17 to study, earned a biology degree from the University of Massachusetts Boston and opened Silk Road in Cambridge in 2017. At the time it was the only Uyghur restaurant in Massachusetts. Her mother, Maria Mohammad, was cooking in the kitchen and had taught kitchen staff the art of hand-pulled noodles, the restaurant's specialty, GBH reported. In that same interview, Sadir spoke publicly about her father, who she said had been detained in Xinjiang. We do not know his situation today and have not included more than she shared then.

Her goal has stayed the same. "Uyghur restaurant is the best way to introduce ourselves and Uyghur's culture to locals," she told What Now Boston. "We are not only selling food here. We want more people to know about us. I came to Boston when I was a high school student, and at that time, not many people knew about us or had even heard about Uyghur."

Can't wait? Try Silk Road in Cambridge

If you want to taste Sadir's cooking before November, Silk Road is open now at 645 Cambridge St., Cambridge, MA 02141, in East Cambridge. Its website lists dishes such as samosa, laghman, kebab, cumin lamb and lamb soup, and says there are vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. What Now Boston also mentions the homemade yogurt topped with walnuts, raisins and honey. The restaurant offers dine-in, takeout, delivery and catering. One review quoted on its site notes that the dining room is small, so arrive early if you want a table.

  • Phone: (617) 945-1909
  • Website: ordersilkroad.com
  • Hours: The website lists two different schedules, so call or check online before you go.

The Islamic Society of Boston's masjid at 204 Prospect St. is also in Cambridge, if you want to plan a meal around a prayer.

Planning a visit to Badam

  • Address: 58 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA 02472, near Watertown Square.
  • Opening: Expected in November 2026. No exact date yet.
  • Transit: The MBTA's route 71 bus runs between Watertown Square and Harvard Station along Mount Auburn Street. Check the MBTA trip planner for the closest stop.
  • Parking: Badam has not published parking details. Plan on street or municipal parking nearby and read the signs.
  • Halal note: Silk Road says its whole menu is halal. Badam has not yet said whether it will follow the same policy or name a supplier or certifier. When it opens, ask staff how the meat is sourced, and we will update this story once the restaurant says.
  • Prayer timing: After clocks fall back on Nov. 1, Maghrib comes in the late afternoon in Greater Boston, so dinner plans often fall after it. Check your local masjid's timetable.

Why it matters

Greater Boston has plenty of halal shawarma, platters and burgers. Uyghur cooking is still rare. A second restaurant from the owner who brought it here gives Muslim families in Watertown, Newton, Belmont and Waltham a new halal option to watch closely. It is also a chance for neighbors to learn about a Muslim people whose story many Americans still don't know. Once it opens, we will check its halal policy and hours and share them on Mass Halal.

Sources