Alexandria Welcomes Xi’an Famous Foods

News Summary

Xi’an Famous Foods, famous for its hand-pulled noodles and spicy cumin lamb burgers, has opened a new takeout-only location in Alexandria, Virginia. This new venue, located at Four Mile Food Co., has quickly gained popularity, surpassing sales records of other locations, including Times Square. The menu features beloved items like spicy cumin lamb hand-ripped noodles and northern Chinese-style dumplings. With overwhelming demand, plans for more locations in the D.C. area are underway, marking a significant growth for the restaurant brand.

Alexandria Welcomes Xi’an Famous Foods

Xi’an Famous Foods, the acclaimed New York City restaurant chain known for its hand-pulled noodles and spicy cumin lamb burgers, has officially opened a new takeout-only location in Alexandria, Virginia. The new venue is situated at the Four Mile Food Co., a ghost kitchen facility that allows multiple vendors to operate within a single commercial space.

Record Sales and Overwhelming Demand

This Alexandria location has quickly garnered immense popularity, outperforming other existing Xi’an Famous Foods locations, including those in New York City’s Times Square and Chinatown. Sales have exceeded records, with the restaurant achieving nearly double the sales of its competitors over one recent weekend. Due to the overwhelming demand, the Alexandria outpost has occasionally had to halt order placement during peak hours, as pre-order slots frequently sell out. In response, reinforcements from the New York team were sent to assist with the high volume of orders.

Menu Highlights from New York

The menu at the Alexandria branch mirrors popular offerings from its original New York locations. Items include the signature spicy cumin lamb hand-ripped noodles, available as both a dry dish and a soup, along with northern Chinese-style boiled dumplings that cater to both meat lovers and vegetarians. Another standout is the stewed pork or cumin lamb “burger,” served on crisped flatbread, complemented by a cucumber salad dressed in a soy-and-black-vinegar sauce. Although the sauces are prepared at a central kitchen, the noodles are made fresh on-site, with meats grilled to perfection at the ghost kitchen.

Operational Details and Future Expansion

The Alexandria location operates on a takeout-only basis, with customers able to place orders via the Four Mile Food Co. website and major delivery apps, as there is no option for sit-down dining. The restaurant is open Tuesday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., as well as on weekends from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., remaining closed on Mondays.

Moreover, Xi’an Famous Foods is exploring the possibility of establishing additional brick-and-mortar locations in the Washington D.C. area, particularly in Arlington and Rockville. Plans are also in the pipeline for potential venues in Montgomery County, although specific details about these locations are not yet finalized.

A Legacy of Flavor and Growth

Founded 20 years ago by Jason Wang’s father, David Shi, Xi’an Famous Foods began as a modest stall in a basement food court located in Flushing, New York. The establishment was inspired by traditional family recipes and has since grown remarkably to encompass a total of 16 locations, spanning New York, Boston, and now Virginia, due in part to a strategic partnership with DoorDash in 2022 that facilitated their entry into the ghost kitchen market.

As the restaurant continues to thrive, it is evident that Xi’an Famous Foods has made a significant impact in the Alexandria food scene, attracting both local residents and enthusiasts of traditional Chinese cuisine alike. With its combination of authentic flavors, unique culinary offerings, and plans for further expansion, Xi’an Famous Foods is poised for continued success in the growing competitive landscape of the D.C. metropolitan area.

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Additional Resources

• Washingtonian: Xi’an Famous Foods in Alexandria
• Wikipedia: Xi’an Famous Foods
• ALXnow: Xi’an Famous Foods Arrival
• Google Search: Xi’an Famous Foods
• Eater DC: Expansion of Xi’an Famous Foods
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Xi’an Famous Foods
• Moco Show: Xi’an Famous Foods Expansion Plans
• Google News: Xi’an Famous Foods Alexandria