Big Dan Shanxi Taste — Restaurant in Spring Valley

Big Dan Xi-An Cuisine – A Hidden Gem for Authentic Northwestern Chinese Flavors

Tucked inside the Shun Fat Supermarket at Pacific Asian Plaza, Big Dan Xi-An Cuisine is a hidden gem offering traditional, no-frills Northwestern Chinese food, especially the distinct flavors of Xi’an cuisine. While the location is a bit hidden, the restaurant has a prominent sign outside that helps guide first-timers. Once you step into the market, head to the left side to find the restaurant.

Atmosphere

The setup is simple and casual, with just a handful of tables and chairs. The dining area isn’t large, so expect potential wait times during peak hours. Still, the staff are welcoming and helpful, eager to walk you through the menu and recommend popular dishes.

What to Eat

Cold Noodles with Sesame Sauce: A crowd favorite, often sold out if you arrive late. It’s savory, slightly spicy, and has a signature nutty sesame aroma—a refreshing choice for any time of day.

Chinese Pork Hamburger (Roujiamo): A crispy flour-based bun stuffed with juicy diced pork. Crunchy on the outside, tender on the inside—this is a must-try for first-time visitors.

Lamb Soup: Surprisingly light and clean-tasting, not as gamey as I originally thought. Loaded with vegetables, tofu, glass noodles, and thin lamb slices, it's a warm and comforting option, served with an extra flatbread for dipping. It’s also a relatively healthy choice on the menu.

There are also a variety of noodle dishes, ranging from light to heavily seasoned, and word is they’re all deliciously crafted and true to their Xi’an roots.

Final Thoughts

Aside from the modest setting, Big Dan Xi-An Cuisine delivers exceptional value and authenticity. Whether you're craving a quick, hearty meal or looking to dive into regional Chinese specialties, this spot is absolutely worth seeking out. A true hidden treasure for Chinese food lovers...

Although Big Dan Shanxi Taste should technically be known as “Big Dan’s Shaanxi Taste” with two aa’s thanks to its focus on cuisine from Xi’an, that hasn’t stopped the small eatery inside Shun Fat Supermarket in the Pacific Asian Plaza from becoming acclaimed by locals and critics alike.

A one-time James Beard Award Foundation regional semifinalist in the Best Restaurant and Chef categories, an almost unheard of achievement for someplace inside a Grocery Store with no website, Big Dan is owned by Hongrui Chen, husband Peter Xing and children named Daniel and Dan.

Largely populated by Chinese patrons who’ve frequented the Restaurant and Market since before the Pandemic, noon on Sunday finding only one table available, it was under the guidance of someone fluent in Mandarin that seven items were ordered plus an extra order of fragrant Cold Noodles with a good chew and dueling Sauces.

Offering imported Orange Soda and housemade Plum Juice, medium sweet and not to be confused with salty versions found in Hong Kong, dishes detailed as “spicy” live up to their billing without reaching Sichuan and Guizhou levels – though the Braised Beef Noodles in a deep red Broth certainly aren’t subtle.

Also popular for Burgers, Pork or Beef not nearly as well-regarded as loosely-packed Lamb teaming with Cumin, do not ignore the Lamb Stir-Fry with tremendous complexity or Pita Bread Soaked in Lamb Soup that is both comforting and excellent for refreshing the palate between more vibrant dishes.

Adding on some Dumplings, hand made with choice of Fillings, another signature is Dan’s Biangbiang Mian “Belt Noodles” that are served thick, wide and long on their own or topped with Pork & Vegetables or Tomatoes with Eggs that is far more delicious...

So there's more than one versions in English spelling of 陕西, but Google uses Shaanxi to differentiate the province to the east 山西省 (Shanxi). The Capital of Shaanxi is X'ian 西安, famous for the Terracotta Soldiers burial site from Qin Dynasty 秦朝. This hole in the wall eatery inside SF supermarket has been around for about 3 years, and X'ian (Shaanxi 陕西） food is their specialty. Ordered their #6 pita bread soaked in lamb soup $12.99 and it is very authentic. Origin of this famous provincial dish varies, definitely date back many centuries even involving the first emperor of North Song 北宋. Pita bread is closed enough but not totally accurate description. 泡馍 Pao mo is a much harder bread than pita that in some local restaurants in X'ian they let you tear it up yourself which is quite a chore. Then the torn pieces are cooked typically with pieces of meat (lamb or beef), wood ear, bean thread noodles, scallions & here they also added bits of toufu. Accompanying the soup is cilantro, hot sauce and most importantly sugar garlic 糖蒜. You add the cilantro and hot sauce into the soup to your liking. Take a bite of sugar garlic every few spoons of the soup, make sure don't eat the garlic skin. The hot chili oil on the table please don't use, it will change the profile of the soup and ruin it. The torn"pita"bread since it's starch has a chewy texture, don't let it soak for hours inside soup as it can get soggy. Overall very satisfying and filling meal. Oh the Ice peak orange soda 冰峰is a local favorite that accompanies the food. At $2.50 a can, pricey but try it at least once. It's like a...