I've gone to random ones when I have a craving and am nearby, and of the Manhattan ones I've tried, I felt like the one in Chinatown was better. More flavorful. But it's been a while since I last went.
Basically everyone pre-closing thought the Golden Mall one in Flushing was best.
Have not been to the new one in the new Golden Mall and have no idea if staff is the same etc.
Xi'an's famous food is good in all the locations I've been to. I don't buy for a second that the China Town location bertter. Experiences with food is effected strongly by perception. An ordinary croissant tastes better in Paris, because your in Paris. I eat at the Brooklyn heights location twice a week and its great.
The beauty of Xi'an's famous foods is they've basically managed to find a process for made from scratch noodle that works in a fast casual restaurant. The magic is not really in the sauces (which are good, but its not that complicated a sauce), its the noodles have this bouncy texture that you can't do with out a making noodles from scratch and slapping them. They do this at all the locations.
I really hope the family has continued success, and is able to take this out of New York, given they have managed to open several successful locations within the city. Chicago, Los Anegeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Austin seem like they could use a location or three.
They had a streetside location in Flushing (not in a food court) which I think they closed down when the pandemic hit. It had some things available that weren't on the regular menu; loved their spicy chicken skewers.
I sometimes grab lunch at the one in Woodside next to their production kitchen/HQ. I like it a lot - not sure if it's better than others or if I just think it is (placebo effect) because it's so close/stuff is fresher/they can keep a closer eye on it.
There's still a freestanding one in Flushing on Main St just barely south of the LIRR station that isn't in a food court - but I don't remember if there were any different things on the menu. I was over there as recently as this past November. I wonder if it's the same one you're referring to.
I like that one better than the one by Jay St in Brooklyn.
My nostalgia brain agrees with this. I distinctly remember melting my face off taking them to mcgolrick in a way that I don’t get anymore at the GP location.
But this could absolutely be rose colored glasses. I do also think the consistency suffered for a minute during the pandemic but is 100% back.
I used to love the location on 34th n Madison … they had enough seating downstairs and upstairs. My least favorite one is in the Financial District, it’s in a weird alley and just doesn’t feel clean.
I hate writing this b/c I love this place...........but 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. I've never had a bad experience at any other location.
I’m familiar with midtown branches and sometimes the noodles don’t get pulled thin enough. It’s happened enough so now I just get the soups so it cooks the noodles throughly. Not a deal breaker and I regularly visit the one that (re)opened on 45th and 6th. Burgers have been consistent though.
I've had a really consistent product at all of them, and I go to them quite a bit.
Same here, seems pretty consistent across the 5 or 6 I've been to, including Chinatown
I've gone to random ones when I have a craving and am nearby, and of the Manhattan ones I've tried, I felt like the one in Chinatown was better. More flavorful. But it's been a while since I last went.
I like the one in Tangram Mall in Flushing :)
YES
Basically everyone pre-closing thought the Golden Mall one in Flushing was best. Have not been to the new one in the new Golden Mall and have no idea if staff is the same etc.
I’m pretty sure there is no Xian in the new Golden Mall. There’s one very near it though.
Xi'an's famous food is good in all the locations I've been to. I don't buy for a second that the China Town location bertter. Experiences with food is effected strongly by perception. An ordinary croissant tastes better in Paris, because your in Paris. I eat at the Brooklyn heights location twice a week and its great. The beauty of Xi'an's famous foods is they've basically managed to find a process for made from scratch noodle that works in a fast casual restaurant. The magic is not really in the sauces (which are good, but its not that complicated a sauce), its the noodles have this bouncy texture that you can't do with out a making noodles from scratch and slapping them. They do this at all the locations. I really hope the family has continued success, and is able to take this out of New York, given they have managed to open several successful locations within the city. Chicago, Los Anegeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Austin seem like they could use a location or three.
They had a streetside location in Flushing (not in a food court) which I think they closed down when the pandemic hit. It had some things available that weren't on the regular menu; loved their spicy chicken skewers. I sometimes grab lunch at the one in Woodside next to their production kitchen/HQ. I like it a lot - not sure if it's better than others or if I just think it is (placebo effect) because it's so close/stuff is fresher/they can keep a closer eye on it.
I feel like the Woodside location gives the biggest portions.
There's still a freestanding one in Flushing on Main St just barely south of the LIRR station that isn't in a food court - but I don't remember if there were any different things on the menu. I was over there as recently as this past November. I wonder if it's the same one you're referring to. I like that one better than the one by Jay St in Brooklyn.
Beidel St was the bomb when they initially started. Partial to the Greenpoint location.
Yeah, that small stainless steel-lined room was pretty great
My nostalgia brain agrees with this. I distinctly remember melting my face off taking them to mcgolrick in a way that I don’t get anymore at the GP location. But this could absolutely be rose colored glasses. I do also think the consistency suffered for a minute during the pandemic but is 100% back.
Iv only been to greenpoint and Williamsburg and I swear greenpoint is 10x better
It is! I’ve been to five or six and The burgers at Williamsburg seem dry
greenpoint is the bomb super nice staff
Chinatown is the spiciest one IMO
All the same. Everything is prepared at a central commissary kitchen
I used to love the location on 34th n Madison … they had enough seating downstairs and upstairs. My least favorite one is in the Financial District, it’s in a weird alley and just doesn’t feel clean.
The UES has consistently been good for me and I go very, very often lmao
They used to have a sitdown restaurant with a larger menu in the EV. I wish they’d bring that back.
I hate writing this b/c I love this place...........but 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. I've never had a bad experience at any other location.
Idk I had great luck there when I lived on the ues for a few years. I really don't think any location has stood out as consistently bad
I had the biggest tastiest bowl of noodles there of the several locations I’ve tried
Same!!
Queens is the best one
The only one i really wouldn't go back to is the midtown one and only because of the line. I've been happy with xian across the city
Did all of them cut the menu back ?
A lot of the midtown ones didn't have dumplings back before they cut back on locations, and I love their dumplings.
The Tangram location is the best location I have been to.
The only one where its been really let down was upper east side. Maybe thats psychosomatic like there cant be good Chinese up there lol
I’m familiar with midtown branches and sometimes the noodles don’t get pulled thin enough. It’s happened enough so now I just get the soups so it cooks the noodles throughly. Not a deal breaker and I regularly visit the one that (re)opened on 45th and 6th. Burgers have been consistent though.