Review Summary
Overall Verdict After Several Visits
TAKLAMAKAN is a Uyghur restaurant near Isartor in Munich, and its strongest reason to visit is the hand-pulled noodle dishes. After several meals here, the Laghman dishes stood out the most. The noodles had a firm chew, the seasoning was bold, and the portions were filling. The restaurant is not cheap, though. Service was inconsistent, food sometimes arrived slowly, and a few dishes were too oily or not hot enough. If I had to recommend only one dish, I recommend the Laghman noodles.
Food and Prices
Laghman Noodles
The Laghman noodles were the best part of TAKLAMAKAN. The noodles were thick, chewy, and held the sauce well. On a good visit, the mix of beef, vegetables, spices, and noodles made the whole plate satisfying. For lunch, I paid 12.90 euros for Qorup Laghman. At dinner, a noodle dish with a drink usually came to around 20 to 30 euros per person.
Tügrä Dumplings
The Tügrä dumplings were good when they came out hot. The filling had a strong beef or lamb flavor, and the dough had enough bite. They were not perfect every time. On one visit, the filling was too mild, and on another visit, the dumplings were not hot enough. With dumplings, noodles, and drinks, the total for two people came to around 50 to 70 euros.
Beef with Spring Onions
The beef with spring onions worked well with rice or noodles. The spring onions added sweetness, and the beef was tender on a good visit. The meat portion was not always generous. When the meat amount was low, the price felt too high. With a beef main dish and a drink, I paid around 30 to 40 euros per person at dinner.
Lamb and Cumin Dishes
The lamb dishes had a strong character. The cumin was clear, and the spicy dishes had a long finish. On a good day, the lamb was tender and well seasoned. On a weaker day, the dish was too oily or needed more sauce. Depending on the order, lamb dishes brought the bill to about 30 to 50 euros per person.
Cucumber Salad and Soup
The cucumber salad was useful with the heavier noodle dishes. It was fresh, light, and helped balance the oil. At around 9 euros, it was expensive for a small side dish. The egg soup was warm and well seasoned on one visit, but the flavor was too strong on another. It was fine as a starter, but the noodles were the real reason to come.
Chicken and Rice Dishes
The spicy chicken cost 19.90 euros. It was bold and worked well with rice, but the portion was not large. Pak choi cost about 12.90 euros, which was high for a vegetable dish. The rice dishes were acceptable, but they were less memorable than the noodles. At TAKLAMAKAN, I recommend ordering noodles first.
One Dish to Order
Laghman Is the Best Choice
If I could order only one dish, I would order Laghman. It shows the restaurant’s main appeal better than any other dish. The chewy noodles, spiced sauce, meat, and vegetables make it different from a standard Asian noodle plate in Munich. For a first visit, Laghman is the safest choice.
Waiting Time and Reservation
Waiting to Be Seated
At lunch, I usually got seated quickly. Dinner was different. Sometimes I waited only a few minutes, but on busier visits I stood near the entrance before anyone came over. For dinner, making a reservation is the better choice.
Waiting for Food
On a good visit, the food came within about 20 minutes. When the restaurant was full, it took much longer. Once, the wait was close to an hour. With a group, the main dishes did not arrive together, so some people had almost finished before the other plates came out. This was the biggest weakness of the restaurant.
Payment and Cost
What I Paid
Payment was handled after the meal by asking for the bill at the table. At lunch, I usually paid around 20 to 30 euros per person. A simple meal stayed around 10 to 20 euros once. At dinner, noodles, dumplings, and drinks quickly reached 30 to 40 euros per person. For two people, two main dishes, two drinks, and water came to about 70 euros. With a larger order, two people could go above 80 euros.
Value for Money
The prices are high. When the noodles came hot, well seasoned, and in a large portion, the price made sense. When the meat amount was small or the food arrived lukewarm, the bill felt too high. Lunch was much better value than a full dinner.
Parking and Restroom
Parking
Parking was difficult. The area around Isartor has plenty of traffic and pedestrians. I did not find a reliable dedicated parking area directly at the restaurant. Anyone arriving by car should allow extra time for paid street parking nearby.
Restroom
The restaurant had a restroom. It was clean and matched the tidy condition of the dining area.
Staff and Atmosphere
Good Service
On many visits, the staff were friendly. I received menu advice, help with spice levels, and a pleasant greeting. When the restaurant was not too busy, the service was attentive.
Weaker Service
Service was not consistent. On some visits, ordering took too long. Drinks were mixed up, cutlery arrived late, and the bill took a while. When the restaurant was full, the team struggled. This is the part TAKLAMAKAN needs to improve.
Dining Room
The restaurant has a modern interior over two levels. The upstairs seats with a view toward Isartorplatz were especially pleasant. On quieter visits, it was easy to talk. On busy evenings, it became louder and tighter.
Pros and Cons
Pros
The biggest strength is the hand-pulled noodles. Laghman, Kesme Laghman, and similar noodle dishes have a clear identity. Dumplings and lamb dishes were also strong on good visits. The location near Isartor is convenient, and the dining room is attractive.
Cons
The main downsides are price, service, and consistency. Some dishes were too oily, some arrived lukewarm, and a few plates had too little meat. Service was sometimes slow and inattentive. One visit also had a foreign-object issue in the food, which seriously hurt the meal. These problems make the restaurant harder to recommend without caution.
Satisfaction and Revisit
Overall Satisfaction
TAKLAMAKAN was good overall, but not flawless. The best visits were memorable because of the noodles and spices. The weaker visits were disappointing because of waiting time, price, and service.
Would I Return?
I would return, but I would order more carefully. I would go at lunch or early dinner, choose Laghman, and add cucumber salad. For a group, I recommend sharing dumplings and lamb. For better value, I recommend choosing the lunch menu.
Location Guide
Walking from Isartor
TAKLAMAKAN is located in the Isartor area. From Isartor S-Bahn station, walk toward Isartorplatz and continue toward Fortunabrunnen. Nearby places include Gasthaus Isarthor, ChiaChia’s Cafe, and POMMES FREUNDE München Isartor. From the Isartor gate, the restaurant is only a short walk away.
Check the restaurant location on the map
Food Photos
This review is connected to the city review page below.
Munich Place Reviews