Xi'An Food Bar 西安饭庄 — Restaurant in Waitematā

I can’t say enough good things about Xi’an Noodle Bar – this place has quickly become one of my favourite go-to spots for flavour-packed, authentic Chinese food that truly hits the spot every time. From the moment you walk in, there’s a buzz of energy – the smell of spices in the air, the sound of hand-pulled noodles being slapped on the bench, and the friendly staff greeting you like regulars, even if it’s your first visit.

The food is outstanding. Every dish I’ve tried has been full of flavour, generous in portion, and clearly made with care and expertise. The hand-pulled biang biang noodles are a must-try – thick, chewy, perfectly sauced, and loaded with bold, complex flavours. Whether you go for the classic spicy beef, lamb cumin stir-fry, or the cold noodles with sesame and garlic, the texture and taste are unmatched. There’s something incredibly satisfying about watching the noodles made fresh in front of you – it gives a sense of theatre and authenticity you rarely find.

They also offer delicious street-style small plates that are just as memorable. The spicy pork buns and chilli oil dumplings are crowd-pleasers, bursting with flavour and spice – perfect as starters or for sharing. The heat level is just right – warming and intense but not overpowering. Everything feels thoughtfully balanced.

One of the things I love most is that the dishes here taste just like what you’d find in the food markets of Xi’an. It’s rare to find this level of authenticity outside of China – the flavours are unapologetically bold, the textures are spot on, and they don’t tone things down for the Western palate, which I really appreciate.

The staff are incredibly friendly and knowledgeable. You can tell they take pride in the food they serve – they’re always happy to explain dishes, make recommendations, or adjust spice levels based on your preference. Service is fast but warm, and even during busy times, they remain calm, attentive, and smiling. It really adds to the overall experience.

The vibe is casual, energetic, and welcoming – whether you’re dining solo, grabbing a quick lunch, or coming with a group, you feel right at home. Prices are super reasonable too, especially for the portion sizes and quality – it’s excellent value for money.

In short, Xi’an Noodle Bar is an absolute must-visit. Whether you’re craving a comforting bowl of hand-pulled noodles, a fiery street-style dish, or just looking to explore something different from your usual takeaway, this place delivers every single time. I can’t recommend it...

This is our go to takeaway place and I’ll be honest, I’ve only tried 3 things from the menu because they are so good and so I just can’t help continuously coming back to them.

Hand pulled chilli oil noodles - so umami and delicious with the perfect amount of spice mixed with the fragrant garlic. They aren’t too spicy at all and if I had a dollar for every time I had a bowl of these noodles, I would have enough to buy several more bowls of these noodles.

Hand pulled noodles with seaweed, veggies, and lamb soup - I haven’t had these in a while only because I discovered the existence of the chilli oil noodles. The perfect noodle soup to be having on a cold day. The broth is so delicious and the noodles are soft and lamb is tender. The seaweed and veggies add the perfect texture to compliment the soup.

Hand pulled noodles with cumin lamb - the only issue I have with this is that it’s a bit too spicy for me (I’m Chinese but my spice tolerance is unfortunately subpar). From what I could taste between the big gulps of ice water, it was very delicious and more-ish, and pretty anything that has spice and cumin and lamb hits pretty hard. This also goes really well with the picked sweet garlic which gives you such a wonderfully different flavour profile that balances the chilli cumin perfectly. I only wish my spice tolerance wasn’t so weak and could actually enjoy it more.

I don’t have photos of these dishes as I have only ever gotten them takeaway, because nothing hits harder than a delicious bowl of warm noodles to slurp up on your...

This message comes from a place of love as Xi'an has, over the years, given me and my friend group so much joy, it truly does pain me to write such a review. Recently, Xi'an made the decision to leave the tables naked of condiments and rid its beloved #37 dish bare of bok choy. The decision to replace bok choy with cabbage has left many baffled and upon months on continuation, it is clear that this was not a seasonal change. To top off these decision made by the Xi'an executives, four of the last five times I have visited they have been out of stock of hand pulled noodles, a mistake like this can be forgiven once, maybe twice - but 4 times is, to be frank, utterly inept. The situation of out of stock hand pulled noodles is something that is the tip of the iceberg for the wider systemic issues of the Xi'an supply chain and logistics operations. My final point to raise, the proverbial grind of salt in the wound (salt that is now not placed on the tables but left for customers to serve their own), is that I arrived at Xi'an Dominion Road for a romantic date with my Main One at 8:50pm and they turned us away - despite the advertised closing time of 9:30pm. Xi'an, please, please, sort out your ways. I love you and I have sent countless people through your doors - if the service doesn't lift, my recommendations will become a reflection of myself and may adversely affect my tender confidence and esteem amongst my peers.

With...