Xi'an Cuisine Review

Alexis Hu

One thing I can’t last more than a quarter without is good, authentic Chinese food. Well, apparently not even a week, because at the end of week one of fall quarter, I already found myself wandering the streets of Chicago’s Chinatown on a warm Friday evening.

While most people explore the dim sum and boba options in ‘Old Chintatown’ or the Pan-Asian and dessert places in ‘New Chinatown’, in between them, West Cermak Road is often left the road less traveled. Tucked on this very street between an international bank and a Chinese bakery, Xi’an Cuisine waves to passersby with its bright red sign and yellow Chinese characters.

Xi’An, located in Shaanxi (陕西) province in Central-Northwest China, is likely known to many for being an endpoint of the Silk Road, but what isn’t given enough recognition is its delicious food. Featuring dishes such as biang biang mian, hand-pulled noodles with a mixture of aromatic flavors (directly translating to the onomatopoetic sound of the noodles bouncing off the table as they’re made), and rou jiao mo, a Chinese hamburger-style snack filled with spiced meat in flatbread, Xi’an cuisine has a unique fusion of texture and flavor that makes its food satisfyingly addictive.

As soon as I stepped into the humble space with my two friends and saw eight to nine small tables, a Chinese dating show playing on a TV in the corner, and hard-working Chinese aunties in the kitchen, I knew the food was going to be good. The sole friendly waitress let us choose our own table and offered us some hot tea as we deliberated what to order for the better part of ten minutes. The ordering process was quick and easy, and the food came within 15-20 minutes (it went by fast as I attempted to translate the dating show to my deeply invested friend).

One of my friends wanted to try one of Xi’an’s signature flatbreads, so she ordered the veggie flatbread with seaweed, tofu noodles, carrots, hot peppers, potato, and bean sprouts and kindly offered to share it with us. Fresh and warm—I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the flatbread! In my past experiences at Chinese restaurants, there have been several times when the bread has been too tough or gummy, but Xi’an’s had a nice, firm yet fluffy texture. We all enjoyed this dish, so I would strongly recommend trying or sharing at least one kind of flatbread if you come here!

Stir-fried hand-stretched wide noodles with added vegetables (*$13.00 + $2 for additional veggies*)

My friend ordered a vegetarian version of the stir-fried hand-stretched wide noodles, which was a hearty portion for the price. With the soft texture of the hand-pulled wide noodles and savory wok-filled flavor, I was again shocked at the complex yet authentic flavors of this twist on a popular Chinese staple. I typically don’t go for stir-fried noodles at Chinese restaurants, but this one made me strongly consider it for future visits.

Noodles with Tomato & Egg Sauce (*$12.00*)

My other friend wanted a vegetarian noodle soup dish, so she settled on the noodles with tomato & egg sauce. A combination of two favorites in Chinese cuisine, tomato egg and noodles, the dish had a sweeter, refreshing taste compared to the other dishes we tried. Perhaps because of the lighter flavor, it wasn’t my personal favorite, and I argue they could’ve added more egg in as well. It wasn’t terrible, but I wouldn’t order it again.

Of course, I could not resist ordering the biang biang mian, Xi’an’s signature dish (and one of my all-time favorites!). The dish consisted of a generous medley of tomato, egg, black bean sauce with pork, and braised beef. Once everyone’s meal had arrived, I quickly inhaled the thick, chewy noodles that I had been craving for the past week. The abnormally long strands of noodles that you have to break apart with your chopsticks brought me a familiar feeling of comfort as I remembered ordering this family favorite back home in San Francisco. Admittedly, I may be biased, but I believe that biang biang mian is the star of Xi’an Cuisine, and a dish that everyone must try at least once in their life (especially if you’re a noodle-lover)—even if it’s not at this restaurant.

Boasting a surprisingly diverse set of appetizers, side dishes, and noodles for its two-page menu, Xi’an offers delicacies for everyone’s taste buds to enjoy (many dishes are even vegetarian-friendly!). My friends who hadn’t eaten much Chinese food before enjoyed their novel experience at Xi’an, but I think the restaurant will be especially comforting for those who crave a warm bowl of noodles they know will have familiar flavors and spices.

I will definitely visit Xi’an Cuisine again sometime in the near future and would love to try the cumin lamb flatbread with lamb soup and some of their meat skewer options next! I would recommend taking the trip to Xi’an Cuisine, a hidden gem with authentic food and reasonable prices, if you want to try something new or are simply missing the feeling of a good-quality hole-in-the-wall restaurant you know is going to satisfy your cravings. Till next time!