Xi'an Famous Foods Opening In Central Chinatown

[Chandavkl]

Xi'an is opening at 67 Bayard St., supposedly in the next month. I think this is the old Moon House/Shanghai Kitchen location, which was closed, though I hadn't noticed any activity inside. This makes sense since the existing location is located off the beaten path for a good portion of their targeted clientele, plus only has room for about four customers at a time (or three large customers). The new space has room for 30.

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Xi'an Famous Foods
67 Bayard St, New York, NY 10013

[MacGuffin]

I made it a point to visit this location the other day. I ordered the Hot Oil Seared Noodles (my usual meal) and found them similar to yet different than what's served at East Broadway. The noodles seemed more uniform (more like those in Liang Pi Cold Skin Noodles) with less body and the sauce was somehow more refined (less chili powder). Mind you, it was just as delicious, but it was different. In addition, it was 50¢ more and, based on the fact that the container felt lighter and I could finish it in one sitting, a smaller portion. No gluten chunks (which seem to have disappeared from East Broadway), no sprouts (BOO--they soak up the sauce in a delicious way), and very little in the way of vegetables (which also seem to have disappeared from East Broadway).

Bottom line: the food's good but not at the level that East Broadway used to be. It feels like both stores are cutting corners by eliminating ingredients, which is a shame.

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Xi'an Famous Foods
67 Bayard St, New York, NY 10013

[teresa]

Seems like they are opening this Saturday! You can try to go to the grand opening here:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid...

[hungrycomposer]

Xi'an posted this on facebook yesterday:
Store #5: 67 Bayard Street, Chinatown, NYC!
We expect to be operating within the month! 30+ seats at this location will hopefully take pressure off of our East Broadway shop!
(in the heart of old NYC Chinatown, and coincidentally, right next to Chinatown Ice Cream Factory!)

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Chinatown Ice Cream Factory
65 Bayard St, New York, NY 10013

[Chandavkl]

Well, looks like they made it within a month. Opening date is May 14. If you sign up in advance you can get free food on opening day.

[Rmis32]

"(in the heart of old NYC Chinatown, and coincidentally, right next to Chinatown Ice Cream Factory!)"

Fire & ice, a potent combination.

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Chinatown Ice Cream Factory
65 Bayard St, New York, NY 10013

[AubWah]

They should open right in the middle of the Upper East Side and charge much more than they do now im sure they could find a small space for manageable rent

[Chandavkl]

I'm thinking the next branch may be on the UWS. They were soliciting space near Columbia.

[scoopG]

Finally, with seats it means they must by law provide a bathroom. I thought the XFF franchise model precluded that!

[AubWah]

i wonder if the east broadway location will close

[Chandavkl]

Don't think so, as they refer to Bayard as their 5th location.