Xi’an Famous Foods

Came for the famous N1 spicy cumin lamb noodles and was underwhelmed. What everyone else says about them is accurate, the noodles are the perfect consistency: long and messy if you’re not used to it and the perfect degree of chewy. The lamb is cooked perfectly, and all the seasoning is on point! But something about it just didn’t wow me? The best way I can describe it is that it’s not incredible and I won’t be running back to have them any time soon. However, it’s different and good, so there will be a time when a craving for them hits. When that happens, I’ll know exactly where to go :)
I dropped a star though for the set up of the location. It’s definitely convenient that there’s two kitchens: one for here and one for to go orders. But since you’re heavily encouraged to eat them at the restaurant (or at least extremely soon after ordering so the noodles don’t expand to an unflavorful goopy mess), I was disappointed by the lack of seating. I came during off hours (3pm) and still had to cramp with my friend in the corner. I can’t even imagine what it’s like during a rush! The walls are decorated with articles about how great the restaurant is which also turned me off. Overall, good but underwhelming.

YES. This place lives up to the hype. Those hand-​ripped noodles are the stuff of dreams. I’m salivating just thinking of them. I live in San Francisco, so it destroys me that I have to fly across the country (or to Xi’an) to eat these noodles again. They were wide and wonderfully chewy and I hoped they would never run out.
I ordered Ns1, spicy cumin lamb hand-​ripped noodles in soup. I had it medium spicy (I think), which was perfect for a person who just likes a spicy kick rather than a punch to the gut. The flavors were simply amazing — I’ve never tasted anything like this custom blend of spices. I don’t even know how to describe the deliciousness!
I thought soup was perfect for a cold day, but I would like to try the dry noodles next time — I think they’re more flavorful. My friend ordered N2, the spicy and tingly beef hand-​ripped noodles. Her dish was a little too oily and could have benefitted with the addition of some vegetables, but was still very tasty, with strong flavor.
This is very low key dining with limited seating, but the food is absolutely fantastic and the prices are cheap. An amazing dish for $ 8 or $ 9? Oh yeah, I’ll be back.

I went to this place when I am around theatre district. Surprisingly, even though it is fast food place, but it is pretty authentic. The place is small to sit, but the food is good and cheap. I love the noodle place, really juicy and refresh. The chinese hamburger, not so much, it is a bit dry. I would definitely go again when I am around theatre district, waiting for a show.

Alright, so I’ve been back a numerous times since my last review and have found my go-​to meal: the Stewed Oxtail Hand-​Ripped Noodles (N10). Despite the heavy oil and grease, it’s delicious. Like I said in my last review, the noodles are excellent. But sometimes, depending on who’s making the order, they seem to skim out on the portion. The oxtail is always tender and full of flavor though, which is really the main reason I come back here. There’s always a line out the door at this place because of its small establishment but they go pretty quickly. I’d say Xi’an is a not your average Chinese take-​out place (and it’s not real Chinese anyway) and takes an adventurous palate to enjoy what their ‘famous foods’ are about

Spicy cumin lamb noodles were absolutely amazing. This was such a great meal and I can’t wait to go back !

Came for the cumin lamb and was not disappointed. Had the sandwich and the soup and both were the authentic flavors from the Mainland.
Was really hoping to get some of the skewers (串) but didn’t see those on the menu.
Priced right. Get full on very good food for $ 6−12/person. Would definitely recommend if you’re looking for real Chinese street food.

The teas are delicious and will offset the spiciness, it’s a must have! The lovely thing about Xi’an is their consistency. You will always get the exact same thing wherever you go and whatever you order. This particular location is quite popular so it’ll be hard to find a seat in the back. I’ve often ended up standing along side the wall.
Everything here is enjoyable from the noodles, to the burgers, but be very careful of the spicy level. If you’re a person who sweats often, be careful what you order or have lot of napkins nearby. They make it easy to order as soon as you come in. If it’s to go, they’ll make the orders right behind the registers, if it’s to stay, you’ll pick up the food in the back.
As stated before, the consistency here is key. The noodles always taste fresh, the meats are tender, the spicy level is challenging, and the teas are thirst-​quenching. There is much to try here from concubine chicken, to oxtail, or spicy beef. You’ll hardly run out of things to have, so take your time enjoying as much of it as possible.

Oxtail Noodle and Spicy Cucumbers were incredible. I am not from NY but now I wish I was.
I invite anyone with a mouth to try it. Not to be regretted.

Holy cow, X’ian Famous Food really do have so many locations scattered around NYC now. X’ian is a great addition to Midtown, it’s the best option for a real full meal towards your bucks value! Forget your typical usual boring chains and mediocre salad/​buffet bars for lunch. This is super yummy, filling, and cheap!
Spicy Lamb Cumin Burger $ 4 — one of X’ians staples. It’s really not a burger, more of a crispy English muffin sandwich with really flavorful and tenderly shredded lamb pieces. I’m a baby with spice, but the spice in this is pretty tolerable and adds a great kick.
Stewed Oxtail in Noodle Soup $ 10.25 — perfect for the cold weather! X’ians noodles are flat, wide and al dente. Soup base is spot on and comforting, and oxtail is indeed tender as well!
I was lucky that there was still plenty of seatings in the back with no line to place an order!

Oy vey, what a mess at lunchtime. If you can hold out a little later or take lunch a little earlier to avoid the lunchtime crowd, you should!
The line was already out the door by the time we got there around 12:20 — although the wait was not long, the cramped design of the restaurant (but can you even call it that?! it’s more like a food bar!) made the entire experience uncomfortable.
If you order to-​go, your food is made at the open kitchen in the front and you have to line up along the wall while you wait for your food as people try to squeeze past you to get out the door. If you order to stay, your food is made at the kitchen in the back, and you have to squeeze past everyone who is lined up along the wall to get up the narrow narrow stairs. But what’s the point, there are probably no empty seats! The seating area is tiny tiny and similar to the Xi’an on St. Marks Place in that the seats are all lined up along a bar. It even comes with the same awkward hovering individuals waiting to swoop on your seat!
Food is just as good as any other Xi’an in the city, so I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this location if you can avoid it. Definitely grab it to-​go for a more comfortable dining experience.

Ahhhhh it was so delicious eating this on a cold New Year’s Day in New York! My man friend and I were visiting New York for a couple of days and saw this and their reviews on Unilocal and gave it a try!
It was sooOoO good and the meat was so juicy and sweet! And when they say it’s going to spicy, they sure mean it! It was so delicious and it was very fast also! Cheap place to eat also even though it was hard to find a place to eat there. Probably if you take out the food and eat it somewhere else would be a better option since I felt suffocated in there (it was so packed). The menu was on the wall and it had pictures of the food and their noodles are so thick, tasty and their food were really well seasoned!

Another outpost of one of my favorite ‘chain’ restaurants in NY.
I’ve loved Xi’an Famous Foods ever since my cousin took me to one of the first ones in Golden Mall in Flushing in 2009. Since then they’ve really exploded, but for good reason — even after rapid expansion into Manhattan and Brooklyn, they’ve still managed to maintain a quality product that tastes like just as I remembered it the first time I had it.
My favorites are the liang pi (cold noodle), the cold cucumbers, and the lamb burger. But honestly, I really haven’t disliked anything I’ve ordered on the menu. As with the other locations, seating is somewhat hard to come by, but there’s a standing counter you can eat. They take credit card too which is convenient.
Can’t go wrong with this place for both tourist and local alike!

When I think of NY, this is what comes to mind. Delicious simple food, strong flavors, good price point, hole in the wall. This is a must for tourists and locals alike!
During the lunch rush the line was pretty long but it moved really quickly and we were still able to find a little spot to park ourselves and eat in the back.
Must orders:
1. Liang Pi Cold Skin noodles
2. Tiger Vegetable salad
3. Spicy Cumin Lamb Hand-​ripped noodles
We also got the lamb burger, but that was a little bit of a throwaway compared to the three other dishes. I’m jealous if you’re reading this review because it means you’ll be eating Xi’an soon and now I wish I were you.

oh my fuck. this place is spicy as fuck. the noodles here would make satan scream for milk/​water. after finishing a lamb noodle, my face and body was sweaty from the heat. i had to have 2 bottles of water/​soda to get me though.
this place is famous for the hand pulled thick noodles and intense flavors. if you can’t speak chinese or don’t know anything about asian foods, the owners of xi’an made it easier for you by posting pictures and numbers next to them. just pick something that looks appetizing to you. the most famous are the N1 and N2. spicy lamb and spicy beef. i honestly thought i could handle the spicy noodles, but xi’an proved me wrong.
besides the spicy, the noodles were great. firm, yet able to soak in the flavor.
the tofu was the saving grace of this place. it was light and just the perfect amount of spiciness.
i feel like this is a place to go on a really cold or rainy day, it’ll be perfect cuz you’ll feel warm after leaving this place. keep in mind, its a small restaurant, so seats are limited…
PS: cash only!

This place was listed in a Business Insider list of cheap eats in NYC. It was the closest one to the hotel that I’m staying at so I decided to check it out– with my baby in a stroller in tow. I knew that this place was tiny but I fortunately managed to wait in line and wait by the counter with the stroller– all without blocking anyone. I decided to get their most famous dish– spicy lamb hand pulled noodles, but had to get it to go. There were a few steps to get up to the eating area and again it was tiny.
From standing in line to picking up my order, it took probably 10 minutes which wasn’t bad. Fortunately there’s an outdoor eating area across the street next to an office building. I was able to chow down on my noodles (I had to consume them immediately as the sign suggested). Really good. Love the chewiness of the noodles, lamb was good and overall great flavor. I got it mild but it was still quite spicy! Yum yum.

When you have Anthony Bourdain slurping up a large bowl of your noodles and other positive press clippings adorning your walls you will attract large crowds. If your food lives up to the reputation then you will keep them — that is the case with Xi’an. They are so successful that they currently have six locations through NYC!
Personally, I am not a wait on a long line for anything kind of guy. I would prefer to do anything during off peak hours then to deal with traffic (ugh people!), but thankfully it was not a ridiculous line or wait to order food here (Thursday evening around 6pm).
There are signs and instructions about the ordering process, the time frame when the noodles taste the best (within 15 min of being served), and the fairness of the 1^st come 1^st seated in the back section. The décor is stark white and stainless steel — frankly all the ambiance of a prison cafeteria. A better option, if you are bold, run to nearby Bryant Park to grab a table to have a much better dining venue, but be fast to beat the noodle destruction clock!
The noodles are delicious and sloppy! Triple up on those napkins! If dining in there are condiments such as black vinegar (has a balsamic like sweetness that balances the spiciness nicely) and some type of spices in red oil (not sure what this was, but tasty) by the order window. I ordered the spicy cumin lamb burger, but received the stewed pork burger instead — a miscommunication and I didn’t notice the error on the receipt. SPICY CUMIN LAMB HAND-​RIPPED NOODLES were delicious, but my wife wasn’t crazy about the lamb texture and fattiness. Perhaps I lucked out with the pork because I found it excellent. The iced teas are delicious as well — I had the jasmine version since the chrysanthemum one was sold out — I didn’t find it too sweet which was good.
Overall Xi’an is worth the wait and the issues for their delicious, intensely flavored dishes. Just go in with the the right mind set and you will be fine, or, better yet, while eating you may find yourself in noodle nirvana!

Found out about Xi’an Famous Foods from Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations, so when I came to NYC in Jan I had to check it out. At the time the restaurant had just opened this new location in the shadow of the Empire State Building. Very simple space with a walk up counter and dining counter with a few small tables in back.
I asked for a recommendation and they suggested the Lamb Burger and Spicy and Tingly Beef Noodles. As a spice lover, this kind of food does it for me. Freshly prepared, heavily spiced, it really does tingle, and different from Chinese food most are accustomed to in America. The lamb burger was good, but I really loved the hand pulled noodles. Something about the texture of hand pulled noodles makes them tastier and they sop up all the sauce/​oil. The noodles are very oily, so be careful if you’re not into that.
As a bonus they were playing 90’s hip hop. Any day I can eat Chinese for while listening to Wu-​Tang is a good day. Cheap, filling, spicy & out of the ordinary… If you like these things, you’ll most likely enjoy Xi’an Famous Foods.

If you like aldente fresh noodles, and super spicy food, this would be a perfect match for you. I happen to like both! Hahaha… the spicier the better!
There isn’t that much room here to dine in… just the few stools towards the back where you pick up your food. The tables are all bar style. Their noodles for sure here were really good. Love their flavoring and my PORK «ZHA JIANG» HAND-​RIPPED NOODLES was just fantastic. Even my STEWED PORK BURGER I was surprised, the dough was really fresh!
Oh…Just so you know, they do have eight other locations to serve you in NYC area including one in Chinatown!
Until then, Cheers! ~ :p

Again another spot that was good but not worth flyin hundreds of miles for lol.
Would def hit it up if I was a local but next time im here ill be lookin for better.
Got the spicy beef noodles and Stewed pork burger. Not bad. The burger was good but ive had better. It kinda tasted like shredded meat which isnt my preference. I prefer my meat cubed for these kinda things.
Overall a solid Chinese joint. Id bump em up to a 3.5 if I could.

Charm C. recommended this place and I’m sure glad she did because I really enjoyed my meal from Xi’an foods. I wasn’t really sure what to expect since it wasn’t exactly on my priority list of places to eat while in NY. Although the food wasn’t exactly mind blowing it was still pretty good. I read that their food is Northwest Chinese inspired, not too sure about the distance to India but the food here definitely tasted like a fusion between the 2.
Cumin Lamb hand ripped noodles (N1) — I ordered this because it is what the cashier recommend. My favorite part of the dish was the noodles because of how fresh they tasted. I am not really a noodle fan but since these are house made noodles they are so delicious fresh. Although I was already full, I made sure to finish every last noodle. I like a touch of heat in my food, but this dish was a bit too spice-​y for me even if I had asked them to make this at the lowest spice possible. The lamb was good too and complimented the rest of the dish. Although I liked this dish, I could probably order something else like the N6.
Stewed Pork burger– the pork had a good flavor to it, but what I didn’t like is that as you bit into it the pork would ooze out making a sort of mess. On the up side, the wrapper did help to lessen the mess. What the star of this was the «flat bread like» bun. I tasted a lot if not just like naan. This tasted really fresh too, which I enjoyed. Not sure if they make this in house as well? But I wouldn’t be surprised if they did.
The location is a tiny hall type of restaurant, typical for NYC right? What’s funny is they have 2 kitchens, one in the back and one in the middle where you order. Depending on the day of the week will determine where your food will be ready. Make sure to pay attention to the signs or else you might be waiting at the wrong pick up window.

Attendez vous à faire la queue ! Mais si vous prenez à emporter cela devrait né pas prendre trop de temps.
Pour 10 $ 35 TTC j’ai eu droit à des nouilles épaisses avec de la queue de boeuf dans un bouillon (stewed oxtail hand ripped noodles). Les pâtes de riz étaient assez grosses mais assez élastiques et pas assez cuites à mon goût.
La soupe était un peu trop acide, je sais pas si elle est censée avoir ce goût là mais c’est dommage !
Néanmoins les saveurs étaient présentes et j’ai hâte de découvrir les autres plats de la carte.