Xian Sushi and Noodle — Restaurant in Austin

My boyfriend and I come to Xian every other weekend, literally whenever we're in town together. I was raised speaking Cantonese before learning how to speak English, and my family owns a restaurant back home, so yes, I know what I'm dealing with. And oh my god Xian has a special place in my heart that is shaped like guava hard candies.

When you walk into Xian, you can see it's a pretty small restaurant, but it is kept very organized, clean, warm, and inviting. A hostess greets you and seats you down. It's usually loud when I go because it's bustling with people. There is a mural spanning one side of the wall, and TVs strategically placed around the vicinity, keeping it casual. The menu is simple and organized. My favorite part is the open kitchen so you can see the noodles being handmade in front of your eyes.

The only appetizer we have tried are the spicy lobster dumplings. The presentation of the dish is elegant and it tastes as good as it looks. Crunchy out the outside, creamy on the inside, complementing the sauce nicely. My only complaint is that on the menu, it says there are 4 pieces, but we only received 3; I'm not sure if this was due to happy hour, but the menu should be updated.

We have tried multiple entrees, and so far, I keep coming back for the noodles. We get the triangle shaped noodles every time, because they're the classic rounded shape and has a versatile texture for either soups or stir fry (personally, they're my favorite because you can tell they're handmade just by looking at them. And c'mon, you're eating Chinese food, don't get the Italian shaped pastas). My favorites are the stir-fried noodles, and the red braised beef noodle soup. The stir-fried noodles have a mix of colorful vegetables along with your choice of protein, cooked with a sweet soy sauce, and it is so good with the chili oil and a dash of black vinegar. The red braised beef noodle soup has a pungent and rich broth that stimulates your senses and makes you feel content and at home. We've also tried the Dan Dan Noodles, which taste just like street food (as guaranteed by the description) and the Ramen, but I do recommend the ones previously mentioned more.

The sushi is good as well, but we do mainly come here for the noodles. We are huge eel fans, so we've had the eel roll, the caterpillar roll, and the dragon roll. All of them are well-crafted and fantastic. All the ingredients are fresh, and the eel has a almost smoky flavor to it that we enjoy.

Point is, you're most likely not gonna go wrong when ordering from Xian. Please buy food from them and I promise you you will not regret it. When you do, remember to take a piece of guava hard candy from the counter...

It’s rare that I feel compelled to write a scathing review, but my recent experience here was so shockingly bad that it merits a public service announcement. My takeout order from this establishment was nothing short of a culinary catastrophe, a lesson in how a restaurant should not operate, particularly when it comes to sushi.

To begin with, I ordered yellowtail, which, as any sushi enthusiast knows, should have a delicate, translucent quality with a light flavor. What I found in my takeout box when I got home was quite the opposite: a slab of rancid, room-temperature salmon, not yellowtail, unmistakable in its bright orange hue. To add insult to injury, they had completely forgotten my drink. After realizing these issues, I reluctantly drove back to the restaurant, box of rancid sushi in hand (save for a few pieces I threw to my dog), hoping for a quick and courteous resolution.

What followed was anything but. Instead of an apology and a simple correction, I was dragged to the sushi bar where the host, with a straight face, tried to convince me that the orange, opaque fish in front of me was somehow the same as the translucent yellowtail behind the glass. It was an absurd performance that would have been comical if it hadn’t been so insulting.

The salmon was so old that even my dog hesitated before taking the pieces I reluctantly threw to him. And yet, when I brought the box back, instead of an apology, I was treated to a spectacle of mockery. The staff, within earshot, found it amusing that I dared return their substandard fish and refused to eat it. I mean, who do I think I am, asking for edible food?

After this bizarre encounter, I requested three orders of their soup dumplings as compensation, knowing that their Chinese food is leagues better than their sushi. They generously provided me one, charged me for it, and let me savor the joy of paying for their mistakes. Hospitality at its finest.

Let me be clear: any restaurant that prides itself on sushi should know how to serve fresh, correctly identified fish stored at the proper temperature. Mistakes happen, but arguing with customers over clearly rancid fish is never the right course of action. This place would do well to stick to what they know, Chinese food, and leave the sushi to those who respect their craft.

My advice to potential diners: if you’re in the mood for sushi, steer clear. And if you still choose to order takeout, be prepared for a possible drive back, and bring a dog to handle...

UPDATE

I'm Chinese so trust me on this review.

By far the best noodle restaurant in Austin that emphasizes on quality. Their authentic hand-pulled noodles are chewy and fresh. Notice how I'm raving about their hand-pulled noodle dishes, and not the sushi shenanigans.

I absolutely love the Beef Hand-Pulled Noodles Soup (tip is to ask for the chili oil on the side in case it's too spicy for you). The broth is light and flavorful. Another tip is that you can ask for free soup refills. If you want a noodle soup with more ingredients, the Shoyu Ramen is for you (pork belly, egg, bok choy, etc.).

Very Important I know they have several options for noodle sizes, but the thicker the noodles for soup dishes the better...which is why I always go with PAPPARDELLE.

If you want dry noodle dishes, I suggest the Stir-Fried Noodles. Although it can be heavy, it's still a good dish. Noodle size for dry dishes is up to you. Get the Xian Noodles if you want something lighter.

I hope I was able to make you hungry.

Previous Review: 4 Stars

If you want authentic Chinese noodles, Xian is the place to go. I would hands down recommend the Beef Hand-Pulled Noodles, which is a light beef broth with delicious hand-pulled noodles. The Red Braised Beef Noodles is similar but more on the heavy side. I'm not a fan of spicy and the chili oil in the broth was too much for me. I would ask for chili oil on the side next time.

So I'm not sure why they had to give you 6 different noodle shapes/widths to choose from. It confused me and I accidentally ordered Vermicelli noodles with the beef soup...big mistake. The thicker the noodles, the more noodle flavor you can taste. I recommend the thicker noodles: Pappardelle or Fettuccine.

I'm hesitant to try the other items as they don't stand out, but I would definitely come back for the beef...