Xi'an Famous Foods (NYC)

In NYC, you can find food on almost every corner.  Whether it's good food or mediocre food, it's food, and it's there for your eating.  If you're the corner of St. Marks and 1st, you'll spot Xi'an Famous Foods.  Go there.  Eat well.  Be happy.  And I'm not just saying that because Anthony Bourdain endorsed it on "No Reservations."

Xi'an has multiple locations throughout the city -- five total, with the Chinatown location still having the most (bar) seats.

Spicy Cumin Lamb Noodles -- $7

Because I had to eat my way through LES, I only grabbed one dish at Xi'an: the N1, aka - Spicy Cumin Lamb Hand-Ripped Noodles.  I understand why this is dubbed as one of the restaurant's most popular dishes.  With chunks of cumin-spiced lamb that sit atop a heavenly bed of hot, hand-pulled noodles, the dish is really something.  The noodles are thick in size and chewy in texture, it's one hot & delicious bundled mess that I'd welcome any day.  The portion is generous and there's a healthy dose of spiciness, too.  Win, win, win!

Seriously delicious noodles.

If I wasn't going to have a progressive eating tour that included four subsequent meals/ snacks in a span of 3 hours, I would have also ordered the lamb burger, too.  Alas, I must return for that soon!



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cuisine: Northern Chinese
location: East Village, NYC (multiple locations)
nearest metro stop: Asto Pl; 1st Ave
websites: { X | yelp | facebook | twitter }
menu: here
attire: Casual
notes: CASH ONLY! Take-out is available, but take-out noodles won't be as good as noodles eaten straight away.