In a slightly dim side road in Nasr City, a neon-lit banner emblazoned with the words ‘Foul El Seen El Azeem’ (Great Beans of China) in bold green font was hard to miss. A namesake of a 2004 Egyptian comedy blockbuster starring Mohamed Henedy, this Uyghur restaurant is one of Cairo’s most popular Asian eateries. Living in Xinjiang, an autonomous territory in the northwestern reaches of China bordered by Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, the Uyghurs are descendants of Turkic groups that migrated centuries ago to the region. A largely Muslim ethnic group, the Uyhgurs reportedly face discrimination under the ruling Communist Party of China, culminating in the Xinjiang re-education camps, which many critics in the international human rights community have compared to concentration camps. Like many ethnic communities across the world, the Uyghurs have maintained strong ties with their unique identity. As a result of their cross cultural background, the Uyghurs’ cuisine is inspired by Chinese cooking as well as Middle Eastern spices and dishes which create a delightful dining experience. Located 10 minutes away from Al Azhar University, ‘Foul El Seen El Azeem’ is primed to serve most Uyghur students…
