This buzzing Spitalfields eatery serves delightful hand-pulled noodles and Xi’an specialties in a casual, canteen-style ambiance perfect for satisfying noodle cravings.
62 Wentworth St, London E1 7AL, United Kingdom Get directions
"The Spitalfields sister site to Xi’an Impression is roomier than the original — which means there’s every chance of being able to walk straight in and sit down to hand-pulled belt noodles with braised beef or spicy cumin lamb, wontons and chongqing noodles in hot and numbing broth. The chicken in chilli oil makes for a mind-focusing Monday lunch after a heavy weekend." - Emma Hughes
"A large canteen in Spitalfields, Xi’an Biang Biang’s range of noodles — in both type and topping — makes it well suited for groups who have different priorities in texture and spicing." - James Hansen
"With its canteen-style feel Xi’an Biang Biang has the right vibe for solo dining — get the liang pi, slippery and chewy and slick, and the Chongqing-style noodle soup." - Sam Orbaum, James Hansen
"A sort-of sister site to London’s outstanding Xi’an Chinese restaurant in Highbury, Xi’an Impression. Co-owner Zhang Chao, along with Sichuanese head chef Li Liang, has brought to Spitalfields Xi’an’s regional specialities: Wide hand-pulled “belt” noodles, covered in an umami-rich Sichuan peppercorn, soya-based sauces, and chilli oil — served with Chinese greens; braised beef; or cumin-spiced lamb. Elsewhere there are refreshing cold skin noodles, with sesame or chilli dressings; smacked cucumber salads; boneless poached chicken in special sauce, and wonton and Qishan soups." - Adam Coghlan, James Hansen
"What It Is: A Spitalfields spot specialising in Xi’an cuisine. Perfect For: Cheap Eats The food at Xi’an Biang Biang didn’t make us very happy. That’s not to say it was terrible, it just wasn’t great. Actually, that’s a lie, the potstickers and the pork burger were fairly terrible. But, the pork and vegetable wonton in chicken broth and the cold noodles were nice enough. It felt a bit like getting back from a first date and mumbling ‘it was alright’ to your friends. You know it wasn’t a complete waste of time, but are you going to see them again? Possibly not. The Verdict: If we happened to live or work on Wentworth Street and wanted some hand pulled noodles, we’d happily hit Xi’an Biang Biang. However, we don’t." - Sam Collins, Oliver Feldman, Heidi Lauth Beasley, Jake Oliver, Eileen Twum