Xi'an Famous Foods 西安名吃 | Columbia University — Restaurant in New York

The Adventure of the Curry Lamb

Let me tell you a story. On a brisk Winter’s evening several days ago, my wife succumbed to her desire for noodles. We then found this Xi’an, uptown, and right on our way home. With the certainty and ferocity of a bull, we proceeded posthaste. On this particular visit to a Xi’an, my wife procured two orders of Spicy Curry Lamb noodles. I, being fully aware of my lack of ability to partake in “hot” cuisine, queried my wife as to the intensity of the heat in this meal. After a small sampling by my wife, I was informed that by “spicy”, it was meant that the dishes were full of spices, not “hot”. Fast-forward and hour, and I am sitting on my couch about two bites into my meal. It is at this junction that I realize something is terribly wrong. At this moment I come to the acute understanding that my wife and I have very,....very different views on what “hot” and “spicy” mean.

A person would believe that I would then put my food down and not continue because it was too hot/spicy....but that person would be wrong. You see, I continued to eat. And eat. And cry tears of pain. And eat more. Like an addict: Reveling in the ecstasy of that sublime dish, while being mortally punished by it. No amount of any kind of beverage could quench the heat my mouth was engulfed in. Midway through my bowl, I could no longer stand the heat. So in a desperate attempt to save my precious meal....I ran my noodles and lamb under water (in a strainer under my faucet). Then, with a humiliated, disgraced heart I began to eat my bowl of noodles again. The water had washed away some of the heat (and flavor admittedly), but it couldn’t wash away my shame. For in my weakness I could not bask in the full, delicious glory that is the Curry Lamb Noodles.

My wife and I finished our noodles. Me in my shame, and her in absolute amusement at the spectacle that had just taken place.

Xi’an 11 out of 10 (Will go again.)

Curry Lamb Noodles 12 out of 10 (Will definitely...

If you have never been to Xi'an, then this is a place for you to try their food. IF you are a student or someone from Xi'an, and you don't really know how to cook, then this place will give you a feeling of "home". However, if you are picky about food or looking for that "authentic" flavor, then maybe this place will not satisfy you. Xi'an famous foods is famous for their specialty food that represents Xi'an, Shaanxi, China, which they sell a lot of noodles, Chinese style baked pancakes with meat inside, cold noodles etc. This place is just like other Xi'an famous foods, the store is super small, when we got there I was wondering if they have a "room" in the back for people to sit, NOPE. This is a place that is probably smaller than your living room. So be prepared and plan ahead to make sure you get a seat. The owner was nice, she greeted us and took order quickly. Since this is a small restaurant, so don't really expect there will be waitress asking "how's the food", you are basically on your own, pick the seat, wait for your food, then eat it! :) I highly recommend the lamb noodle, it is really good. Most people go there to have the slow braised pork with noodle, but if you are going to have the Chinese burger, don't get the pork noodle, because you will get pork in the burger anyway. The lamb noodle is really good! The noodle is chewy, tasty, I can taste cumin, lamb is tender and juicy! I love that! However, the cold noodle is OK, it is really not the right texture like they serve them in Xi'an, and taste is a little bit off. That's why I said "fair" taste, it is an opportunity to taste the food from other side of the world, it will somehow remind you the historical capital of China, however, it is...

Let me start by saying that the food here is good. The noodles are wheaty and chewy and fun to eat, and the meat is flavorful, even if a lot of it is so lean you yearn for a nice fatty chunk. The thing I find confusing is that I don’t understand how they can keep me walking in the door when I know everything’s 50% more expensive than what I can find in Flushing. It’s a large markup for a plastic takeout bowl, and sometimes I feel like I have Stockholm syndrome. I think it’s because Xi’an is just so millennial-accessible that everyone I know and their buddies keep bringing me here, that I’ve become accustomed to paying for it, even if the soup is basically washed out meat sauce, with a measly plop of cabbage. Which is not to say it’s bad, because it’s not. It’s just weirdly uncomfortable eating here because it’s like Chinese food with gentrification-lite. (What is it with all the dual-language signs instructing people to pick up their own food and bus their own plates? This is the practice at every other fast-food place. But if you want to make people feel like they’re getting an authentic ethnic-hole-in-the-wall experience in the middle of a safe, family friendly, white neighborhood, go ahead.) But hey, there aren’t a whole lot of other North-Western Chinese restaurants around, so go ahead and drink the...