New York Bites: Xi'an Famous Foods

Hello there Nomsters,

Spicy Lamb Noodles

It's been a while since we last met, but I'm promising that from now on I won't wait two months+ to dish out the latest food porn, reviews and recipes. For many college students, summer is a time to relax, travel, or start that internship that we chased during the spring semester. Personally, I ended up in New York, which is the perfect place to be a foodie in my free time. So over the next few weeks I will be blogging about my fantastical foodie adventures in the boroughs! To kick the summer off I thought Xi'an Famous Foods would be a fun place to visit after a semester spent in Shanghai.

Spicy Lamb Burger

Xi'an Famous Foods was conceived in Flushing, NY, the place to be if you want authentic Chinese food. After gaining a firm following at their location in Flushing, the owner expanded to Manhattan, making it that much easier for those who sought out authentic Chinese food! The menu features mainly noodle dishes along with some "burger options." Xi'an Famous Foods keeps things simple by doing what they do best, noodles.





On my first visit, we went to their Chinatown location on Bayard street. The ambiance of the restaurant is really reminiscent of being in China. The limited seating, quick service, and menu board picturing each item all reminded me of the little hole in the wall food spots in Shanghai! One of the quirkiest aspects of the restaurant was the dumbwaiter in the middle of the room that sent up patrons' meals!


I ended up ordering the Spicy Lamb Noodles ($7.00), featured in the picture above, and we also ordered a lamb burger ($3.00) and a pork burger ($3.00). The noodles were delicious, very fresh and chewy as they would have been in China. There was a generous serving of tender cumin-spiced lamb meat atop my noodles with fresh herbs, but boy was it spicy! If you order any dish labeled "spicy" off the menu, be sure you can commit to it, because once you start, there's no going back. The burgers were also very tasty. Huge portions of both lamb and pork nestled between crispy pancake rolls, like the ones seen being sold in the streets of any Chinese city. The lamb in the burger was also super spicy, the pork on the other hand is a great option if you are not a fan of spice. The pork was tender in texture and had a sweet flavor that contrasted well with the savoriness of the bun.

Overall, Xi'an Famous Foods is a great option if you are looking for an authentic Chinese restaurant for some good take-out. Every one of Xi'an's locations is cash only, so make sure you're prepared. Additionally, psych yourself up for the spiciness!

Xi'an Famous Foods

67 Bayard Street
Manhattan, NY

(212) 608-4170

Keep Calm and Nom On,
GF

Live from Shanghai!-Oysters, Spicy Soup, and Street Food

Hey Nomsters!

MaLaTang

Sorry it's been a while since my last post informing you of Nightly Noms postponing delivery until Spring 2012. I've been in Shanghai about 5 days now and have already been through a whirlwind of foodie experiences. From street food to traditional Sichuan (so spicy!) food, I've had the opportunity to taste a variety of dishes; and thankfully haven't eaten anymore bugs.

Street Seafood Options

One of my favorite things about Chinese street/snack cuisine is it's really customizable. MaLaTang （麻辣烫） in particular is a great option if you're looking for a simple and delicious meal. MaLaTang is a spicy soup that you can basically add whatever ingredients the shop has on hand. From meats, to noodles, to veggies, each bowl is custom made to order and spiced to the buyer's desire. MaLaTang is a bit like Chicken Noodle Soup to the Chinese. ~$1.00/bowl

Scallop w/ Garlic

In addition to MaLaTang, I've been eating a fair amount of the "on a stick" variety of food. Each night after about 6pm, street vendors and BBQ stations pop up and are surrounded by fairy lights to illuminate the area. From BBQ meat or veggies on a stick to freshly grilled seafood (oysters, clams, scallops, oh my!), hungry students have the chance to sample the local favorites while enjoying a bottle of pijiu (啤酒，beer). So far I've tried octopus and zucchini on a stick, both were flavorful and seasoned with some sort of spice powder. I also had a grilled scallop with garlic on the half shell, which was awesome. and only about $.75. In addition to food on a stick, one of the best street food items is Jidan Bing (鸡蛋饼，egg pancake). Typically eaten for breakfast, this crepe-like pancake is stuffed with a variety of ingredients ranging from just meat, to meat, veggies, and sauce. There crepes are the perfect indulgence in Chinese street food and are served pipping hot and to-go.

Sichuan Spicy Pork & Peppers

I'll be back with more Shanghai updates soon for now keep snacking and let us know if you want to share your adventures in cooking!

Jidan Bing

-gf

Live from Shanghai

Hello all,

Once again, I have failed at my blogging. I should be called the sporadic foodie... Anyway, I've made it to Shanghai and my foodiness has already gotten me some amazing experiences. My lovely host family is taking good care of me and has promised to teach me some of the ways of Chinese cooking. Thus far I've eaten toad, chicken feet, ma po dou fu, some random veggies, and the coveted `xiao long bao` literally some of the best dumplings in the world. I'm hopeful to experiment with the dumpling recipe back home, the key will be to see if I can get the soup correct...other than that, just enjoying the sights, people, and craziness that is Shanghai. My chinese is being put to use and I managed to survive the subway and bus today, all by myself. We'll see how I do tonight since it could be dark... ahhhh! oh well, more from me soon, but for now, google `xiao long bao` and see what you find. they're amazingly delicious!