Shaanxi Restaurant — Restaurant in Markham

First time here and not familiar w shaanxi food specifically. Take out. Have had a lot of Cantonese, some northern Chinese Etc. Food was ok but maybe won’t go back. Had the shaanxi pickled bun with lamb and noodle/veg broth thing (not a bun like a pc of dry bread for those who didn’t know like me, but like chewy dough bread crumble pcs in the soup). It was ok. Tasty and a bit different thsn I’m used to but afterwards I don’t really need more. Had the cold noodles (its plain chewy thick long noodles w little bit cucumber n bean sprout n their tofu like thing pcd? and had chili and vinegar) it was simple and ok but nothing spectacular taste. The noodles were chewy which I liked. What irked me was the service. Just really rude that I should have just walked out as so many other places to eat beside! One word answers, not friendly, obviously I didn’t kno what I was ordering n didn’t bother to help, find, but not even answering the questions is annoying. IE. I walk in, is it noodles here (I was rushed and thought maybe typical hand pulled noodles?) asked if they had noodles she said no. Points to menu. Lots of noodles. I saw cold noodles. I ask does is it come with peanut sauce as I’ve had that before at other places. No. Ok, so what is on it. Not peanut. Yes I understand so what’s on it. Vinegar. Is it spicy? Small size. No I asked if it’s spicy or not . Hot sauce on side. Ok. Does it come w anything or just noodles. No. Then a few sec later she added cucumber. So frustrating. This was just a sample of the short...

东西不错， 但是不会再去。短发，蘑菇头，戴眼镜今天穿紫色T恤女服务生超级差劲。（另一位不戴眼镜同样发型的女生非常nice）。从头到尾不会正眼看人，问她什么就斜眼看着桌子“嗯”一声。有时候连嗯都没有。因为她也不看你，也不知道她听到没有。跟她说谢谢，就直接走掉。从头到尾只有最后说了句“现金还是刷卡”。当然也是斜看远方。看她对其他人也这样，以为也许今天心情不好，但是和同事却说说笑笑。这种性格女生真的很让人反胃。

The waitress with a short “mushroom” hair style and glasses was the worst waitress we have ever met. She was in a purple t shirt today. (There was another waitress working there had same hairs style but no glasses was very friendly.)

This purple mushroom hair lady just pointed at a table when we came in. During our dinner she never had any eye contact with us. When we asked her for anything, she just came and stared at a corner of our table and responded with “em” ( a Chinese way to say ok, but quite rude). When she brought the food, we thanked her, she just walked away. The only words she said to me besides that was when she handed me the bill and said “cash or card”.

This rude waitress was very bad to other tables too. I thought she was having a bad day, but she was very happy talking to her coworker and joking around.

The nice waitress showed up when I was paying for the bill at the counter. I was thinking not to pay tips at all. But she was friendly, so I paid tips.

To the rude waitress: we get it, you don’t want to serve people. You are much better than “a waitress”. If you hate it, just quit. Maybe your parents run the restaurant, that’s why you were forced to be there. But you are not 14 anymore. A lady at your age should be much...

Shaanxi Restaurant's name refers to the northwestern Chinese region for which ancient city Xi'an is the capital. This was where the Silk Road started, influencing use of lamb, bread, noodle in its cuisine. We tasted many dishes when the restaurant offered delivery.

For our takeout spread, Lamb Skewers were a must-order item topped by mild spices. It was a bit dry post-delivery. The Xi'an Pork Burger (RouJiaMo) included plenty of braised pork hugged by a flakey bread bun that soaked up its slight greasiness.

Huge portions were provided for the main dishes. Beef and Vegetable Hotpot included quite an assorted mix of soup ingredients. We paired it with Spicy Fish Fillet with Dried Tofu. First time trying this dry version of Szechuan spicy fish, the spice level was fairly mild.

On a subsequent meal, the Water Boiled Spicy Fish was delicious in an aromatic chili oil soup base. Braised Eggplant was savoury & soft, giving umami undertones. Xi'an Style Cold Noodles were a spicy compliment, while Sautéed Lamb with Cumin was more fatty but reminiscent of the lamb skewers.

Shaanxi Restaurant is a good option if I'm on the lookout again for northwestern Chinese food such as cumin lamb. Most dishes do hit the spot, although it's perhaps less about refined flavour & more about affordable large portions on the...