Xi'an Impression in Islington

Good, small restaurant with a simple but tasty menu. We have a good experience every time we go!

Go with an empty stomach and enjoy!

Simple but very delicious. I don’t know how you can get so much flavour from just a couple of ingredients. Came out impressed and very happy. Well done chef! Wow! Coming back for sure and recommend it to everyone.

Best Chinese in north London 100%. Portions are pretty big and it tastes so good. My favs are the salt&pepper squid and the biang biang noodles.

(4.5 stars rounded up to 5) Went there on a normal Saturday afternoon for lunch (i.e., nothing happening at the Arsenal Stadium). Small place, but no problems getting seated. Service was really friendly and fast. Got the mushroom as an appetizer, which was really good. Also got the pulled noodles with beef for me, and pork for my partner. The noodles were delicious, but I thought the beef could have been cooked a bit better. All in all, happy with the food and service, and would come back again if I were to find myself in the area.

the hand pulled noodles with beef in the house chilli sauce were really delicious but extremely expensive for the portion size

Will head here pre-match when going to the Arsenal if I’m early enough. The hand pulled noodles are excellent. Have gone for the lamb/beef buns as well in the past which are also great. BYOB as well. Highly recommend.

Great local spot with amazing food. We stupidly came here on a match day (it's opposite the Emirates stadium!) and it was very busy but even so the staff were really friendly, and although they don't take bookings, the queue moved fairly quickly. This is due to the number of tables they've managed to fit in a small space and the speed at which they serve you. The dumplings were a definite highlight which I'd recommend to anyone. And as you'll very quickly notice, the signature hand pulled noodles with beef and chilli are a very common order, and with good reason! The noodles were absolutely amazing, in texture and flavour. The flavour of the beef with the chilli was another clear positive. Only area for improvement would be if the beef was a bit more tender. I won't be docking a star but the beef was every so slightly dry and chewy - I think the busyness of the restaurant didn't help. Definitely still very tasty but with a tiny bit of room for improvement.

Great Sichuan place. Can be a bit busy, but the takeaway is quick too

Great spot! The biang biang noodles are excellent

The best noodles I've ever had.

been dreaming about these noodles ever since i tried them. all my love goes into the people who make them cuz that was amazing. take me back please

Small, quiet, unprepossessing Chinese restaurant just outside the Emirates stadium. I went for lunch and was served up in five minutes, maybe the best tasting Chinese fish I’ve ever had. I had the pulled noodles with chilli sauce and vegetables. Cannot begin to describe how delicious it was. Great work and the dish was only about £10. I’ll definitely have to return some time.

I went for a birthday dinner and my friend had booked the whole restaurant. The staff were so helpful and speedy. We had a big set menu and everything came out really quickly. They checked for dietary requirements several times (no peanuts used in any dishes, which was great for me) and explained every dish they brought out. The flat noodles with beef were incredible. Also BYOB! I'll definitely be back.

The store owner won't even let me eat in the shop because I'm a fan of the away section. It's disgusting that the owner is driving away fans with Arsenal fans🤢🤢🤮🤮 Dine-in is not allowed at all, just because I am a fan in the away area, the boss and Arsenal fans drove me away, disgusting🤢🤮

Terrible service and awful attitude! The owner rudely kicked out football fans for no reason. Completely unacceptable behavior. I would never recommend this place to anyone.

The staff’s rudeness ruined everything. From eye-rolling to ignoring requests, they acted like customers were a burden. Never returning.

The food is mediocre and the boss is very poor.

Great little place in the heart of North London! The food and service both were amazing and cannot thank the staff enough for being so accommodating, the atmosphere would be 5 stars but I am not an Arsenal fan YNWA

Este es un restaurante chino que prepara deliciosa comida china. Las hamburguesas de cerdo, hamburguesas de ternera y fideos estaban muy bien preparados y deliciosos. Las albóndigas de verduras y albóndigas de cerdo estaban deliciosos.

What a spot!!! Delic. Funny location! The cucumbers and Xian Bang Bang noodles are a must!!

VERY tasty and flavorful noodle / soup spot with quick service. Highly recommend the smashed cucumber.

Complete rip off! £12 for basically noodles no meat. Black Lotus and Pork Ribs, total £30?!? Food came out within two minutes obviously premade. Dont understand the reviews?! Stomach is horrible few hours later... :( Edit few weeks later - Stupidly just ordered on deliveroo having not realised was same place! Look at the image they advertise and look how big the prawns were they actually sent me. 2 for 1 deal but the portions for both equal ONE VERY FEW PRAWNS EVEN AT THIS SIZE This place is a complete rip off !!

Wonderful tasty noodle dishes. Very quick service before the Arsenal match

We had to wait for about 20 minutes, but it was worth every second of the wait! Super delicious noodles and food. I wanted to drink the sauce when I was done.

Delicious biang biang noodles and hidden gem in North London.

Nice little restaurant. Good variety of dishes, but other than the chili oil, our noodle dishes were lacking in flavor, very simple. Not a fan of the pig's ears, but mostly a personal distaste for the texture. Great service, quickly served. Drinks/teas were a bit overpriced, but they are happy to serve only tap water.

If I could give negative stars, I would. My recent visit to this place was terrible from start to finish and left me wishing I hadn’t given the place a second chance. I visited a few months ago and wasn’t impressed, but decided to try again. Sadly, it was even worse this time! As several others have mentioned, the staff were cold and unwelcoming from the moment we walked in. There was no warmth, no friendliness. The food was the biggest letdown. Almost every dish was swimming in oil—bad-quality oil that completely ruined the flavors, while the portions of meet(beef) were shockingly small, same as last time. It was impossible to enjoy anything, and most of the food was left uneaten. What made it even worse was the waiter’s attitude. Despite seeing our plates barely touched, he didn’t bother to ask if we liked the food or if anything could be improved. Instead, he was only concerned with getting us to pay and leave. There are plenty of way better Chinese restaurants in that area

Gem right across from the Emirates. Noodles are to die for.

Biang biang noodles were unreal. Loads of chilli oil and super tasty. Street food 'burger' for starters was also very good. Small restaurant with only a few tables so worth getting there early, but can also order for takeaway.

Ordered the beef noodles and wonton soup for delivery, nothing too special if you're used to Chinese food, it will do.

One of my favorite takeaways in London. Their signature hand pulled noodles and their side dish of the brown mushroom/fungus was the perfect cozy meal. I got it delivered, so no experience with the service or atmosphere, but they packed the noodles thoroughly so there wasn't any leakage.

Its my favorite restaurant in the world. Biang biang & cucamber. I can eat that everday

Honestly love this place for take away, yet to go to the restaurant. Flavors are so tasty. So far I've tried the dumplings, black fungus, biang biang noodles, ho fun and cucumber salad. Their flat noodles are perfection. My only complaint is they could be a bit more generous with the beef as at times it's not been enough protein for a main meal. Also I need to find out the recipe for the dressing of the smashed cucumber.

Pig ears, smack cucumber, big pot chicken, their signature beef hand pulled noodles and pot stickers. Tasted as good as it looks. Wheelchair access ♿✔️ - small lip to get in but the place is tiny, with only a few tables but it was accessible enough

I had the veggie pulled noodles, the Mrs had beef pulled noodles. Both very nice. Side dishes of cucumber, Pak Choi and egg fried rice all pretty standard. I think they exist for the noodles tbh so if you don’t like them go elsewhere. If you know your Chinese food good Xi an food, if you don’t but want to try something a bit different solid option. Got takeaway so not sure about atmosphere but came very quick!

Ordered takeaway, portion looks small but very filling, for London prices this is good value for money

Noodles and dumplings are excellent.

Very tasty food! The hand pulled noodles were delicious 😋 My only critique would be that there is only one veggie option for the main course. I'm surprised to see that there are no dishes with tofu, maybe it's not traditional for Xi'an cuisine, but in this case it could have used to make veggie/vegan options of traditional dishes.

A now not-so-hidden gem that absolutely slaps every time! I have never been disappointed and would crown Xi'an as my favourite takeaway in London by a good margin. Best on the menu for me is to kick off with the dumplings and the shredded chicken in special sauce and then finish with any of their amazing noodles. Would recommend every day of the week!

Authentic flavours. Make sure you go with time as you might have to wait to get seated.

Absolutely delicious food. Can highly recommend the noodles. Authentic and tasty. Will come again and again!

Best Asian food in the UK. Best noodles I ever had..!

Super yummy, I’d come back for the pig ears alone. I believe they don’t take reservations so it’s best to go at an off-peak time or you may have to queue.

Not the typical Chinese food you are used to. A must try if you happen to be around but definitely worth the travel if you want to come here specifically for this restaurant. Hand pulled noodles are the main protagonist here and they are very flavorful. Can't recommend enough.

Saw this on the Noodles episode of Chef's Table and never knew what a great place this is, having gone by dozens of times before. Short walk from the tube station. Humble and cosy premises. We had the smashed cucumber salad, black mushrooms, pig ear, pig bun, salt and pepper spare ribs, noodles with chunky beef, ginger chicken, cold noodle salad, pork dumplings and sweet and sour pork. All of it was excellent. Amazing food, filling but not heavy. Beautifully nourishing. We will be back.

Great food and great value. They need to buy bigger premises as so popular.

Amazing food! Must try the biangbiang noodles and the beef noodle soup! Everything was so tasty

Xi'an family members, personally tested. The taste remains 80% of Xi'an. It's not easy. recommend.

The braised pork bun is underwhelming, nothing really special, the bun unpleasant doughy, the braised pork can be dry at times. I would get rid of the menu, add another vibrant side salad like the smashed cucumber xxx But always a nice meal and takeaway from here!

Amazing hand pulled noodles! We got the spicy veggie and the spicy chicken. Would super recommend.

Recommend the noodles more than the murgers/roujiamo. Authentic Xian cuisine. The biangbiang noodles, and cold noodles in sesame sauce are very good!

Some of the best food in London.

The restaurant provides chinese street food. The food was quite tasty and the service was quick and friendly. The restaurant is cozy and nice. I wish there were more vegetarian options though

Just had an excellent lunch here. Tasty good-sized portions. Definite find.

Great food, table for 4 peopletook about 30 minutes waiting time at 7:30pm but it was well worth the wait! Amazing flavors, kind staff and well priced BYO

Recomendado por compañero de 70 años, taiwanés amigo en sus 30 años e hija / (+ novio) en sus 20 años. V picante. Diferente a la mayoría de los chinos. Lleno de estudiantes chinos entre semana y locales al final

Because it was a bit late, I randomly selected a nearby noodle shop. The 12.8-pound bowl of noodles was average in weight. I wonder if it was because I added too much vinegar and it was very sour. In the end, a 12% service charge was charged. My friend was not hungry. After asking if he was eating alone, he took away two plastic bowls and another pair of chopsticks. The only service he received was probably a cup of hot water that his friend asked for. This may be the general level of Chinese food in London! It’s hard to describe in one word.

One of the staff( tall guy) very rude and aggressive person.should not be handling with driver and customer

Very rude and aggressive staff.I was pushed out by one of the staff tall young guy.because u step up inside in rain day.after I get the food was broken he give it in a aggressive way after was all packaged and food broken inside.very bad experience I will never pick up from there.

Delicious!!! Fresh, hand pulled noodles with beef .. 100% recommended!

Terrible for vegetarians or pescatarians.

Lovely charming restaurant with powerful food

Deeeelish - particularly recommend the cucumber salad, biang biang noodles and the noodles with beef mince and sesame and chilli sauce! Super quick no fuss no frills service which I appreciate. Bursting with flavour and reasonably priced too!!

Have been wanting to try this hole in the wall for a couple months now and it did not disappoint! They don’t do reservations and the restaurant is a bit small, but the food was amazing and the service was great! I absolutely loved their hot and sour soup and the biang biang noodle sauce was unforgettable! Would also recommend their beef ho fun.

One of the best biang biang noodle shops I have had the chance to visit in London. The locale is small but almost always jam-packed and for good reason. The menu is not too extensive but from the dishes that they make none is a miss; Xinjiang Stir Fried Chicken With Bones deserves special attention. Their starters are also very good, I wholeheartedly recommend the black fungus, there is something specially tasty about its dressing. If you are around Islington, you can't pass it!

Ignore reviews saying it's closed - they shut temporarily for refurbishment but have now reopened as of early July. I'm currently living just round the corner and I'm obsessed with this restaurant. I've been to China twice (including Xi'an) and this is my favourite regional Chinese restaurant in London. My go-to dish is the pork noodles with tomato, egg and chilli sauce, but I've visited several times recently and have tried various dishes - all delicious, and good value too. BYOB with reasonable corkage (there's a Co-op right across the street). In summary: go here, go often, and make sure you're hungry!

Closed at 5pm despite times saying open. No answer on phone.

Closed at 19:20 Saturday but opening times say open. No answer on phone. Very disappointing. This needs fixing

This place is really the most disgusting Shaanxi rice I have ever eaten. Not only is the staff low-quality, but the food is really unpalatable. They only give you two noodles for a little over ten pounds.

Delicious authentic Chinese pulled noodles and dumplings!

This restaurant is excellent, each time. They are even mentioned in Ottolenghi’s books because that’s how iconic their recipes are. The Biang Biang noodles are of another world * salivating as I am writing this *

Small restaurant in front of the Emirates stadium. The restaurant has a handful of tables so can quickly get a good atmosphere feeling with a few seated customers. Food is authentic and excellent chunky thick noodles.

I feel like this restaurant is not targeting Chinese customers. Maybe their food is only for customers who have never really tasted authentic Xi'an food. If you are looking to taste authentic Xi'an food, please avoid this restaurant.

The staff has bad attiude. She allocate us in a table that has no space to move around,and behind me is another customer.When i tried to move to the aisle table the lady said to me “go in there”. Never have I ever been so upset in my life. We had to leave the place immediately . I think we had a lucky escape. If you need customers, treat them nicely if you want your business to survive. Start by educating your staff with good customer service.

Absolutely fantastic. This place worth a 5 star comment. Being back in this place after a year and the foods are still flawless.

AMAZING DUMPLINGS!!! I literally ordered a second portion because it was so good. I came here after my first Arsenal game and what a perfect meal (helped with the pain of the gunners losing the Aston villa game). The servers were nice and did not pressure me even though there was a large rush of people from the game. Thank you!! :)

I got Food Poisoning from this place. I will never Return.

After living in Xi'an for a while, I now miss the combination of flavours that differs from many other Chinese cuisines. Middle eastern scents of herbs and spices with the use of lamb likely an influence from the western/northern ethnic minorities of China who have ancestors spanning Mongolia and the Middle East. The Altaic fusion with more traditional Chinese hand pulled/cut noodles in clear(ish) broth, xi'an sandwich etc bring me back to my home away from home. Although in Xi'an you can expect the sandwich to be a lot more oily from the street vendors as well as more generously packed with fillings. Even the smell of the place when you walk in reminds me of xi'an, it's only missing the smell of exhaust fumes and rampart use of car horns to make it 100% authentic. It is the closest I've come to the food of xi'an since leaving, and it's a relief to see someone specialise in one area of cuisine rather than trying to do everything. The staff are great and when not busy juggling customers and plates, are warm and enjoy conversing if that's what you want. You should book if you plan to eat from 6pm onwards as it gets very busy. They do takeaway too. Don't expect your English 'Chinese' food here, but if you've been to northern China and miss it, you can come here to reminisce a little.

Small “street food” eatery in front of the Arsenal stadium. Just follow where the two guns are pointing! Delicious and authentic spicy Chinese food. Fast service and fast turnover of tables. (40 covers?) I had to wait in the queue on weeknight at 7.30 for about 15 minutes. The cold chicken in chilli oil starter was try to its Chinese name: “mouth watering chicken”. The famous biang biang noodles are messy to eat (one long sheet!) but worth the mess. (Bring a bin.). Plus pot of tea made the bill £28.

I’m gluten free and this restaurant literally went above and beyond to cater for my needs. I’m so thankful and can’t wait to return. Thank you for having me!

Delicious food (esp the hand pulled noodles), quick service. They accept cards. No alcohol served but you can BYOB for a small corkage.

Best noodles I’ve had in London. Go to delivery place for Asian food. The pulled noodles are sensational!

Best hand-pulled noodles you will ever eat. Must visit for authentic Xian food. Just a shame of the view across the street, COYS.

Authentic Chinese food. Noodles and dumplings were good. Small restaurant with limited space, tables placed very close together.

Brilliant food! Highly recommend.

Best noodles in London! Been coming here for years, get a lot of delivery as well and this place never fails. The flavours are so unique and I would honestly recommend anything on the menu. My favourite are the veg Bang Bang Noodles, pork and veg dumplings, smacked cucumber and Xian cold noodles. My partner loooves their spicy chicken noodles too. No frills interior with extremely fast service. Friendly staff. Highly recommend this place :)

Loooovethe hand pulled noodles! Side cucumbers are nice to go with the spicy noodles. Get the mince pork noodles if you can’t handle spice.

One of the best places for noodles in London.

I love this place. I come here every time that I'm around this area.

Love the food and nice place to eat too very cozy! Love the burger bun too!

Accidentally ended up here whilst attending an event nearby (I’m based in south London). This is incredible! Probably best Chinese I’ve had in London in a long time. Will definitely come back just for that! Had to queue a little bit, but the staff is very efficient and the food is definitely worth waiting for!!!

I wish there was a sixth star ⭐✨. Best Chinese restaurant I've ever been. A real (hidden) gem in upper Holloway, right next to the Emirates stadium. The black fungi were excellent, and all the noodles served in the restaurant are hand-stretched. Really recommended.

Very casual place directly opposite the Emirates. We had heard amazing things about here but it wasn’t as great as we had hoped. The noodles lacked flavour and the meat was very fatty. It was still quite good but we wouldn’t rush back unless we were in the area

The food was absolutely amazing, some of the best East Asian I've had - especially for very reasonable prices. I ordered the biang biang noodles with chilli oil sauce (not broth) which was the best but everything we tried was exceptional.

Most amazing biangbiang noodles in chilli sauce (25A), highly recommend!!

This tiny Chinese rest is a small wonder, at the foot of Arsenal stadium—eat-in is tiny & welcoming. The food is EXCELLENT, service too & it’s quick. They deliver too. Give it a try 👍🏻

Really enjoyed: Beef biang biang noodles, potsticker pork dumplings, pork and veg dumplings. However had a big dud with the Sweet and sour pork, and their steamed rice. Sauce was so sweet it was almost like ketchup, with no acidity to cut through (pork was nice and chewy though) and the rice was a bit dry. There's so many great dishes however that I wouldn't hesitate to come back!

Food was ok, hand pulled noodles are their speciality and it’s not bad and if you lived nearby perhaps you would frequently visit this place but nothing extraordinary or worthy of traveling for. And the service is pretty authentic countryside Chinese 😅🤣 blunt, direct and borderline rudeness 🫣

Amazing food, this place is my go to for the best Chinese food in London.