Xian Sushi and Noodle San Marcos — Restaurant in San Marcos

I was hoping for better with the prices they charge.

I had never had legit dim dum or dumplings before, outside of buffets, and I figured since this place has such high reviews I'd finally be able to give it a decent try!

We got the Shui Mai, Har Gow, and Soup Dumplings, with a Philly roll on the side. The Soup Dumplings were depressingly bland. The Har Gow also didn't have much taste. The Shui Mai was decent, but I've had similar dumplings at a buffet that tasted just as good, and I was expected better than that. Sad to say the Philly roll was the best thing I tried (and why I didn't want to give only 1 star because they certainly seem capable of better).

As for the restaurant itself, I ordered the food to be picked up between 5PM and 5:30PM. When I arrived, according to the ticket the food had been prepared and finished by 4:39PM so had already been sitting there for over 20 minutes. I can't help but think if it was a little warmer it may have tasted better.

Additionally, when I walked in I could see the kitchen from the front door, and I could see the worker who walked up to greet me at the front desk had no mask on, and in fact was still putting it on by the time they reached me. I understand working in a hot kitchen wearing a mask all day isn't exactly easy but I would expect an attempt to at least feign care at the bare minimum, because with that kind of sloppy attitude I almost hate to think what state everything else behind doors might be in.

It wasn't such a terrible occurrence that I would refuse to try again, and I hear from others who visit locations in Austin that the noodles are the best thing to get there, so I may give them a try some time in the future. But for now I would caution against the dim sum, and...

Underrated Gem in San Marcos!

I've been dining at Xian Sushi and Noodle since Fall 2021, and I can't believe this place isn't more popular. A coworker first introduced me to this restaurant, and I still remember the first time I tried their Spicy Lobster Dumplings—an absolute must-try if you're feeling adventurous!

Everything here tastes fresh and made in-house, from their sushi to their made-to-order noodles. My spouse and I have sampled almost everything on the menu, and we’ve never had a single complaint. The sushi is always fresh, the noodles are flavorful and perfectly cooked, and every dish is seasoned just right. Honestly, I don’t understand how anyone could find something to criticize.

Today, I enjoyed the Clear Beef Noodle Soup and Tom Yam Soup with Chicken, paired with their refreshing Jasmine Green Tea—everything was incredible! The broths were rich and flavorful, and the noodles in the beef soup were tender and perfectly cooked. The Tom Yam soup had just the right amount of spice and tanginess, making it a comforting yet bold dish.

Whenever family comes to visit, I make sure to bring them here, and it’s always a hit. On busier days during the semester, I love grabbing takeout—Gyoza and Sesame Balls are my go-to comfort foods. Two orders of gyoza are enough to fill me up, and the sesame ball is the perfect sweet treat to lift my mood.

Whether you’re dining in or taking out, Xian Sushi and Noodle is a place you can count on for fresh, delicious food every time....

Visited Xian yesterday and came away with something of a mixed experience. We started with the gua bao and an order of salmon nigiri. Both of these were excellent. The gua bao sauce was wonderful, and the nigiri was very fresh and extremely well-cut.

The main dishes were mapo tofu and dan dan noodles. This is where the food took a turn. Both dishes had bok choy that had not been chopped, so taking bites was difficult. The tofu broth was very heavy and oily, and both me and my girlfriend had some stomach discomfort after eating. The noodles didn't have that problem, but also weren't particularly flavorful. The overall flavor profile of these seemed to be "salt".

Then there's the restaurant itself. We sat at a booth table. The cushions were barely there, it felt like sitting on a hard piece of plywood. The waiter seemed a bit confused when we asked him about the menu, and we ended up getting a different item than we meant to order. There was also an extreme amount of noise from the kitchen (it sounded like someone spraying the dishes), to the point where it interrupted conversation.

The portion sizes were good, the dim sum was good, and I'm excited to try the sushi again. If I was rating on these things it would be five stars.

The main dishes were poorly flavored and prepared, the ambience was poor, and the stomach pains after would give this a one...