Xi'an Impression in Islington

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.

Some of the best food in London.

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

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

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

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

Recommended by 70 year old mate, Taiwanese chum in his 30s and daughter/(+boyfriend) in her 20s. V spicy. Different from most Chinese. Full of Chinese students on weekdays and locals at w/end

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.

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 *

Delicious authentic Chinese pulled noodles and dumplings!

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!

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

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

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.

get the biang biang noodles, one of the most satisfying dishes I’ve had in London

Fantastic noodle house. More like a mini cafe but worth a visit.

The menu is indeed very much like a local restaurant in Shaanxi Province, however, the food wasn’t local enough (I used to live in Xian so I know what I’m saying). Overall it’s pretty good if you’re not chasing the really local Xian food.

Not sure why this place has so many positive reviews, mediocre Shan xi cuisine, terrible seating and cash only service….pay your taxes!

Big fan of this spot, does the best biang biang noodles, and the chilli beef burger is the truth.

Visited a while back. I had taken a friend there. We got the chicken pot stickers. They came raw unfortunately. That wasn’t nice, but I understand mistakes are made. The worst part was, they still charged us for them, I just thought that was unnecessary and inconsiderate. Sorry for the harsh review but that would do it for anyone I imagine.

Quick service, small and cosy. Tasty well priced authentic food.

Authentic Xi'an noodle restaurant. Best known for flat bang bang noodles. Sauces were spicy, and slightly vinegary, but very well balanced. Pork ear appetizer was my favourite. The seasoning was great, and the cucumbers gave another depth of texture.

Wow! All I can say is wow! I ordered hot and sour soup along with X’ian biangbiang noodles with beef - the soup was quite delicious but the noodles were superb! I could tell that they were homemade with high quality ingredients. This is the place to go if you are craving for authentic Chinese food

Noodles here are super tasty. Nice quick and easy meal that’s right across from the emirates if you’re looking for a pre/post match bite.

Very tasty food and very friendly staff

A real local gem! Highly recommend! Dishes are packed with flavour and the noodles are amazing! Not many options if you don’t eat meat

Food was really good and so was the service. Loved the atmosphere as well, cozy and homey

I was with my boyfriend to see an arsenal match (we won!) and then we decided to go and eat at this restaurant. What a nice surprise! The noodles were delicious, as was the beef. I really had a great time there.

heard so many great reviews about this place near arsenal, so went down last thursday. i called to check if we could book but it's walk in only - we went down at 7pm on a thursday and got pretty lucky to get a table for 4 with no wait. i went for beef noodles and the beef burger - really different to any other chinese food i've ever had, but sooo tasty. particularly loved the burger / bun!

I love this restaurant with all of my heart, we go here nearly once a week! The women who work front of house are so lovely and amazing at their jobs. The food is unbelievable, and I think Xi’an Impression is one of the best restaurants in North London.

Had a wonderful lunch last weekend. Beef with the big fat noodles and funghi to start with. All my family have been there and similarly rave. What a spot. I will return!

I love this place with all my heart. I accidentally discovered Xi’an Impression on Deliveroo during the first half of the pandemic and I’ve never looked back. I always order the same thing wether I’m in house or at home: the hand pulled noodles (v), the sweet and sour soup (v), the smacked cucumber (v) and occasionally the veggie dumplings and the mushrooms. Considering this is all vegetarian- it’s absolutely divine and it’s my go to on a bad day or sick day. Anytime it’s been a rough day, Xian Impression is there. The food always tastes the same, so hearty and so delicious. It’s more than just food, it is a religion. It is love. It never gets old. It is always there - rain or shine. Bonus: the restaurant is also a BYOB so if you wanna spice up your winner with a decent bottle of something to go with it - anything is possible.

A wonderful, authentic restaurant. Reasonably priced and delicious. Would recommend to anyone.

Xi'an Impression in London is a hidden culinary gem that I stumbled upon by accident during my travels in 2015, and it turned out to be one of the most amazing dining experiences of my life. The restaurant's specialty, Xi'an cuisine, is a delightful departure from the ordinary. The flavors are bold, aromatic, and utterly unforgettable. The hand-pulled noodles, in particular, were a revelation – perfectly chewy and accompanied by rich and flavorful sauces that left my taste buds dancing with joy. What added to the charm of Xi'an Impression was its unassuming and humble setting. It felt like a true neighborhood gem, where the focus was on the food and not on the frills. The staff was warm and welcoming, making me feel like an honored guest. That accidental discovery in 2015 has stayed with me ever since. Xi'an Impression is more than just a restaurant; it's a culinary journey that transports you to the heart of Xi'an. If you find yourself in London and want to embark on a unique and delicious adventure, do yourself a favor and seek out Xi'an Impression. It's a culinary experience you won't soon forget.

Always good food. Friendly efficient staff

Best Xibei cuisine in London, ordered thousand times, never disappointed

Nice but overpriced and small portions. A starter/not main is at least £7/8 but despite the price the portions are small. If you are having a solo dinner and you are hungry or simply want to try 3/4 dishes, you'll pay around £35 without drinks. I have tried better hand pulled noodles: those were quite tick and a bit heavy where normally Chinese hand pulled noodles are really light and thin. The cucumber salad and the pig's ears were tasty but very small portion. The best was the cold Xian rice noodles. I didn't fancy that the service charge was over £5 but, of course, it was discretional. I wouldn't come back soon since the prices but overall a nice experience and staff was kind, especially the older lady with a bob. Thank you.

Marvellous. Maybe the nicest Chinese I’ve ever had

Best Chinese food I've ever eaten. No MSG, thank goodness, and the noodles are long thick and wonderful. Highly recommend but you have to be prepared to wait for a table as you cannot book. Really worth the wait

Es un restaurante chino, bastante mejor que el típico chino de barrio donde encuentras la misma comida, como si fueran las hamburguesas prefabricadas, el servicio atento, si te lo piensas tardan en servirte, la comida está bien. El sitio es muy pequeño, tienes que reservar fijo o no tendrás sitio, aún así tendrás que esperar un poco. El local al ser pequeño las mesas están muy juntas y hay excesivo ruido de las personas hablando muy alto para entenderse, una pena, es casi lo único que desmerece al local. La comida está bien preparada y las raciones están bien, algunas bastante generosas. Al no tener licencia de alcohol, puedes comprarlo fuera y te cobrarán por el servicio 1,9 libras. Está enfrente del campo del Arsenal

The dumplings were a standout. The handpulled noodles were great and a good menu with the right amount of dishes on there, a little bit too much choice. But better to order a few and arrive very hungry, overall felt very authentic and staff were friendly.

Bring a bib! You will need it from the copious amounts of chilli oil sloshing everywhere. The hand-pulled noodles this place is known for are addictive; it's some of the best value food I've had in London. Sides/appetisers such as pig's ear terrine, cucumber salad and 'refreshing black' fungus are nice to try too, although the small dishes aren't as good value as the noodles. Please note you don't come here for the service, atmosphere, lack of queue, or indeed room to stretch your legs (it's a small place), but no matter.

Wow! Echt superlekker! Heel eenvoudig eethuisje - maar zulke goede zelfgeslagen noodles. Ligt misschien niet op de route, maar als je in de buurt bent - zeker naartoe. Het ligt tegenover het Arsenal stadion.

I can’t really fault this place. It’s authentic, the food is really tasty, and it’s reasonably priced. If I had to be really picky, I would say… the pork and vegetable dumplings disappointed me quite a bit. The texture of the dumpling skin was super but there was not enough filling inside the dumpling so there wasn’t that juicy burst in your mouth dumpling effect. The black fungus salad (not pictured) was good but lacked that rich refreshing flavor I’d tried in other Chinese restaurants. The stars of the night was definitely the Biang Biang vegetable noodles, ginger chicken, and hot and sour soup. It was honestly sooooo good. Please try the above three dishes if you visit. I will most definitely be back to try their other dishes!

You're not going here for fine dining it is a rough and ready cafe with excellent food. Fantastic xi'an noodles and squid was also really good. Will be back!

My first time to try their noodles and other was nice. Although i have doubts if noodles are freshly prepared daily as they claim to be. I have tried fresh hand pulled noodles and the texture and taste is different. But don't get me wrong, the food is still nice. 🙂👍🏻

Great food but really expensive .

What a location, go for the noodles, ignore the naysayers (unless you want chain-style boring food).

点了个外卖恶心到了，牛肉泡馍里面真的就只有两片牛肉，粉丝和馍也没有和汤分开。分量也很小。要是觉得价格定低了涨点价吧。

Xi’an Impression serves Xian local street food from Xian City, Shan Xi Province, where it is well-known for Terracotta Warriors of Qin Dynasty. This is literally adjacent to my beloved ‘The Arsenal’ stadium. Parking will be very limited and difficult to find during match days. Off-Season, parking will be easier to find. Nearest underground stations, Holloway Road. Come out of station, cross the road and go straight down Benwell Road. Food Ordered Today: Chicken & Mushroom Pot-Sticker - 鸡肉香菇锅贴 - (Think Gyoza) Xinjiang Stir Fried Chicken With Bones Serve For 1 (Hand-Pulled Noodles) - 新疆 大盘鸡/一人份 (带面) 🌶️🌶️ (I didn’t find it spicy enough, had to put chilli oil) Extra Noodles - 加面 - (Extra portion for gravy of Xinjiang Stir Fried Chicken With Bones) Plum Juice This is best describe as a Chinese speciality café, the same that you’ll find in London’s China Town. Service was very friendly and food was delivered very quickly. The stand out dish for me was the Chicken & Mushroom Pot-Sticker. Drizzled some chilli oil and good to go with the chop sticks The Xinjiang Stir Fried Chicken With Bones, is best describe as homely comfort food. It’s gravy is a watery one not thick. I’d ordered an extra portion of noodles to soak up the left over gravy for this dish. Had to add extra chilli oil to make it more spicier to my liking. As I didn’t find it spicy at all. However, others may find it to their pallet. The plum juice is one of the nicest drinks you can find here. I’ve had it often. A little hint, further along Holloway Road, there are some Asian supermarkets that sell it there and a little cheaper to what this place is charging. A nice little bite to eat and opposite the greatest football club in London. North London is Red & White 🔴⚪️

The hand pulled beef noodles were absolutely delicious! I loved the texture and the mouthfeel of the noodles. They are coated in a fragrant chili oil that is the perfect amount of spicy. Such a simple yet effective dish! By far the best thing i have tried in London.