Xi’an Sizzling Woks — Restaurant in Philadelphia

I visited for a quick lunch in late August 2025, hoping to be in and out within 45 minutes. The restaurant wasn't busy—only three other tables were occupied—but it soon became clear that the service was not a priority.

The first sign of trouble was the water. I ordered a simple glass of iced water and was instead brought a room temperature one. After a second request for ice, the server assured me she would return with it, but she never did.

Things went downhill from there. The chive pancake I ordered was disappointingly thin, with barely any chives to speak of. The real frustration, however, was the 25-minute wait for the pita bread in mutton stew. By the time it arrived, my lunch break was over. I had to get the steaming hot stew to go, and to my surprise, they wantd to put it in a large foam cup. Given my past bad experiences with such containers, I knew it wasn't a good option for my car. I would accepted it if it is food grade quart sized plastice container with secure lit.

I ended up leaving a total of $30, including a $5 tip, without even taking a sip of the stew. This was a profoundly unpleasant experience, and the lack of care from the staff made it clear that my concerns...

This place is amazing. A real gem. I did fieldwork and lived in Xi'an, China, for several years so I am somewhat familiar with the food there. I have also visited this restaurant in Philly dozens of times over the past five years since it opened, and the food has been consistently good. People who leave bad reviews might not have ordered the right things (just saying). I have also ate several times at the other place in NYC and have their cookbook and not all of their food is 100% authentic and amazing all the time either (just saying). The best things on the menu at Xi'an Sizzling Woks in Philadelphia I think are the husband and wife meat slices (夫妻肺片), the Xi'an-style cold skin noodles (凉皮, with sesame paste or not both are equally good), the pork noodle soup (臊子面, huge portion, very good value and tasty), the exploding oil noodles (油泼面, I prefer the dry version rather than the one with soup), and the Sichuan-style cold spicy pickles (泡菜). Just typing this makes me salivate. Last time we tried to go eat here the door was closed and the tables had all been cleared away, even though it was in the middle of the evening rush--I really hope that they haven't gone out...

Hidden Gem with Amazing Food and Service

I’ve always been curious about this place but hesitated to try it because of the exterior—it looks like a takeout spot from the outside. Last week, I finally decided to go in and was pleasantly surprised. Inside, it’s a clean and inviting dine-in restaurant.

The restaurant was empty, which made me a little sad, especially after trying the food—it’s unbelievably good! I ordered the Chongqing spicy chicken, scallion pancake, liang pi, and hot and sour soup. Every dish was flavorful and perfectly prepared. The scallion pancake had a uniquely crisp crust, and the hot and sour soup was packed with veggies, button mushrooms, wood ear mushrooms, tofu, and eggs. It was comforting, delicious, and felt healthy—exactly what you need on a cold day. They even offer small and large pot options, which is great for any appetite.

Service was phenomenal, and the food arrived quickly. The quality and quantity of food for the price were unbeatable.

If you’re in the neighborhood, don’t overlook this spot. It’s a hidden gem that deserves more attention. I’ll...