Xi'an Famous Foods - NYC

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Xi'an Famous Foods - NYC
I love Chinese food, as many around the world certainly do. Being from the United States however, I wasn't aware until my late teens that the food I had come to know and love was not real Chinese food. Elements of the original food still existed in the dishes we ate, but most were created here to fit an American palette. So in 2012 when I decided to move from Pennsylvania back to the NY Metro area, I couldn't wait to find some real, honest-to-goodness, legitimate Chinese food. My first stop was a small hole-in-the-wall restaurant on Division St. recommended to me via television by the late, great, Anthony Bourdain: Xi'an Famous Foods.

The Grub:

Xi'an Famous Foods offers some of the finest, fastest Western Chinese food in NYC. If you have never tried, or have wanted to try hand pulled Chinese noodles this should be one of your first stops. Most of the menu items are based around long, wide, perfectly chewy noodles made by hand - to order. Many of the locations have open kitchens where you can watch them perform their noodle making technique, which is great fun in case you were wondering. The noodles are then immersed in one of a number of delicious soups, or covered in chili oil and paired with various vegetables and proteins. I happen to be highly partial to their Spicy Cumin Lamb Noodles in Soup or its non-soup variation, Spicy Cumin Lamb Noodles, while my girlfriend is partial to their Concubine Noodles. When I'm feeling extra hungry, I will also buy one of their lamb or pork "burgers" which consist of stewed and diced pork belly or lamb on two flat Chinese style buns. I'll usually wash that all down with an Apple Sidra or one of their house-made cold teas and be one hell of a happy camper.

My Order:

Pork buger
Spicy Cumin Lamb Noodles in Soup
Apple Sidra

The Digs:

Xi'an has experienced explosive expansion over the years since I've moved back to the area and now can be found in multiple locations in Manhattan, Queens and Brooklyn. All of the locations that I have been to are small and make the most efficient use of space possible. Some have two kitchens to expedite orders, especially during the lunch rush when there are an influx of to-go orders. There is no wait staff or busing staff so customers are responsible for themselves. Seating and tables are usually bench style around the outside perimeter of the restaurant and is limited in nearly every location at almost all times of day so be prepared to wait a few minutes for a seat. When it comes to seating, there is an important rule to remember when eating here - don't sit down until you have your food. It is very rude to hog/hold seats when there will almost certainly be others waiting to sit down and eat, so please be mindful and courteous.

The Nitty Gritty:

Fast, flavorful, spicy, consistent - covers all the bases.

Xi'an Famous Foods (Original Location)
41-10 Main St, 
Flushing, NY 
11355

Multiple other locations in: Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn

© 2019 The New Jersey Foodhound™. All rights reserved.
Location: 41-10 Main St, Flushing, NY 11355, USA

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