“Very refreshing. Noodles are chilled and served with bean sprouts, cucumber, cilantro, and spongy cubes of seitan. Tastes even better if you add more soy sauce-black vinegar.”
H3
All 1,297 rated mentions, most helpful first
“Very refreshing. Noodles are chilled and served with bean sprouts, cucumber, cilantro, and spongy cubes of seitan. Tastes even better if you add more soy sauce-black vinegar.”
H3
“The food is still freaking delicious. But anyone who knows what the old recipes tasted like knows it’s a different product now.”
H3
“but it still fuckin rules. tiger vegetable salad is back and it is the best salad in new york city”
H3
“The taste is still good, but the meat portions are pathetic.”
H3
“I think Xi’An introduced NYC to the biang biang noodle and still does the best one, or at least the texture and chewiness I’m looking for. And the spicy cumin lamb is great.”
H3
“Holy shit. A revelation. It's like a Bolognese.”
H3
“It came out of a plastic bag and was reheated on a panini press, leading to it not having the fresh made flavor and signature crisp.”
H3
“We're Chinese so this might be too critical but the texture of the noodles was hard and dry, the flavour was very 1 dimensional, the meat wasn't tender or tenderised, the dumpling filling was bland, and the dumpling skin was unacceptably thick.”
H3
“The addictiveness boils down to the noodles having this chewiness from slapping it. If you aren't hooked on that texture your never gonna get it. It's junk food as it's slathered in chili oil.”
H3
“I’m really into Xi’an famous foods right now. Loved it back in the day, drifted away for a while, but one opened around the corner from my apartment so I’ve been going and it’s always super satisfying. I love how springy the noodles are and the chili oil they make and use is chefs kiss”
H3
“Gonna be honest this place has NEVER done it for me. It feels like a prank everyone is in on or something.”
H3
“sesame oily dressing thats nice and sexy and sharp, wildly crunchy and acidic and bright and exactly the perfect counterpoint to n3 (the best possible noodle choice) or anything else thats dank and spicy and chewy and heavy.”
H3
“There are multiple locations for a reason because they are so good!”
H3
“Noodle quality hasn't quite been the same and lamb portions have been getting smaller/drier/tougher with each successive visit so I wouldn't even consider it a deal anymore.”
H3
“the worst I've discovered is the location in UES. I've been a few times, and either the dumplings were not heated properly and were gummy, or the noodles were not cooked thoroughly and were clumpy, or the meat in the sandwich was all fat.”
H3
“Gotta be honest, really not a fan of this place. I wanted to really. But Every time I’ve gone I feel Bitten in the ass. Like the Pork Buns. It was like they were made days in advance and stale and chewy as a rock.”
H3
“Xian Famous Foods is a local chain so quality can vary but Chinatown is generally good. Their N1 - spicy cumin lamb hand-ripped noodles is made with hot oil spilled over their spices on top so it's different from Spicy Village and may be unique if you haven't had that before. I also like their liang pi (cold noodles) and lamb burger.”
H3
“The hot sauce is 'mild' compared to the OGs. Notation that the 'one' location by fulton is a def miss. Three tries since grand opening and they haven't cooked the noodles properly a single time...”
H3
“Still tasty though!”
H3
“Even when they are fresh the buns aren’t really soft though. They are more like halfway between a biscuit and an English muffin. And that cumin lamb filling…but they do need to be at least warm.”
H3
“They also don't taste as good as they used to.”
H3
“What i liked about Xi’an was the Ma La 麻辣 that felt pretty easy and casual. The 麻 is the perfect balance that i think for that place is more important than salt.”
H3
“i went to the one in chinatown last week and it felt like trying to eat in a daycare.”
H3
“It was pretty weird. Just huge dry heaps of spice floating on top of the broth that didn't fully dissolve, so u get a weird mouthful of powder every once in a while.”
H3
“I went twice some years ago and the noodles had little flavor and were swimming in flavorless oil. I can dunk cheap noodles in a pot of oil and sprinkle cumin over them myself without having to wait in line. I didn't get it then and I still don't.”
H3
“Xi'ans is affordable and really good! Their new seitan salad is incredible!”
H3
“The noodles are the same quality as you can find anywhere else, and the lamb portion is worse and worse. I also find their broth to be less flavorful.”
H3
“Classic go-to. Their spicy cumin lamb hand-ripped noodles are super flavorful and have that nice chewy texture. It’s a bit on the spicier side, so heads up, but honestly always hits the spot.”
H3
“They are now all over New York City and have essentially perfected Biang Biang noodles in fast casual format.”
H3
“the way those potatoes are charred and the meat's got that caramelised crust is exactly why people queue out the door for Xian's.”
H3
“They have consistently higher quality food than I expect from a fast casual place, and are able to provide their food in many locations at that quality. What makes them incredible, is that they are serving handmade, made from scratch noodles with freshly made sauces/meats in a true fast casual format.”
H3
“i ate it last week and it gave me heart burn and spicy shits for 2 days. the last time i ate it before that was like 5 years ago. its much more spicier now and they added jalapenos to it. i dont recall them putting jalapenos in the past. it was not enjoyable at all anymore.”
H3
“Loved this, small clean shop, fast and delicious noodles. I usually find the rou jia mo always off in these places but really liked it. 8.8/10”
H2
“It’s very difficult to underestimate the fulfillment and safe joy that comes from the cumin and whole fenugreek lamb hand-stretched noodles with hand-cut lamb as against a cold or gray nyc overlay, a funk, or a hangover.”
H2
“3/5 nice but the noodles were really cloying and regular spicy was not spicy at all”
H2
“They serve a great product for a great price and that’s becoming harder and harder to find in nyc.”
H2
“N1 extra spicy”
H2
“Noodles were fresh, amount of spice was good for me. Could have used a bit more meat and the sauce could've been more thicker. Not bad for what it is.”
H2
“Hand pulled noodles from Very Fresh Noodles or Xi’an Famous”
H2
“The chili oil is just so goooood.”
H2
“You could see the food being made freshly in the kitchen and it didn’t taste like cheap fast food at all.”
H2
“2. Xian famous foods noodles”
H2
“I’ve found if u eat it in the Chinatown locations (Manhattan - Flushing) it’s always banging. The other ones can be hit or miss tho, they’ll still be good just not as good.”
H2
“Each plate of cumin lamb noodles is as good as when I first had them.”
H2
“Agreed, I'm shocked at the fair prices and lack of entshitification.”
H2
“- Xian Famous Foods - Liang Pi”
H2
“For me its Xi'an's famous food's stewed pork hand pulled noodles. I can't stop myself from having it at least once a week.”
H2
“The noodles and spice level as good as ever for me!”
H2
“N1 and lamb burger from Xian Famous Foods”
H2
“I find myself craving the black vinegar sauce with sichuan peppercorn at Xian. I've been to the original in Flushing, as seen on No Reservations, and I continue to think about it.”
H2