Xi’an Famous Foods opens to big crowds in Clarendon

Crowd of people waiting in line at a bright cafe counter, staff using tablets at the front. balloons on the wall suggest a celebration or event. — Xi’an Famous Foods in Clarendon (photo courtesy of Jason Wang)

Spicy stir-fried flat noodles with beef, onions, and peppers on a white plate. — The spicy cumin lamb hand-ripped noodles at Xi’an Famous Foods (photo courtesy of Jared Serre)

storefront of Xi'an Famous Foods with maroon signage and illustrated window panels; outdoor seating with turquoise chairs and a round table in front. — Xi’an Famous Foods at 2800 Clarendon Blvd in The Crossing Clarendon shopping center, just prior to opening (staff photo by Ryan Cole)

Bright modern cafe interior with wooden slat ceiling, hanging bulbs, a red booth, metal tables, and potted plants. — Xi’an Famous Foods in Clarendon (photo courtesy of Jason Wang)

Restaurant counter with digital menu boards overhead and open kitchen in back, stools along the bar, and a colorful mural on the wall. — Xi’an Famous Foods in Clarendon (photo courtesy of Jason Wang)

Front counter with vertical wood slats and illuminated orange edge, open kitchen in the background and digital menu boards overhead. — Xi’an Famous Foods in Clarendon (photo courtesy of Jason Wang)

Restaurant counter area with two staff behind the white prep counter and digital menu boards overhead, kitchen visible in back, and a mural wall to the right. — Xi’an Famous Foods in Clarendon (photo courtesy of Jason Wang)

A new restaurant featuring cuisine from central China has been off to a successful start in Clarendon.

Xi’an Famous Foods has been attracting big crowds since it opened earlier this month. The location at 2800 Clarendon Blvd has been even busier than the chain’s bustling storefronts in New York City, CEO Jason Wang told ARLnow.

“We’re talking about midtown Manhattan, we’re talking about the Financial District, we’re talking about Chinatown — which are, you know, some of our busiest locations — added together, equals one Arlington, Clarendon, location,” Wang said.

Popular dishes have included the spicy cumin hand-ripped lamb noodles, the spicy tingly beef noodles and the pork and cabbage dumplings — all featuring the flavors of Xi’an, a city in central China that was once a key junction point on the Silk Road.

Hand-ripped noodles come either served in soup or seared in spicy hot oil. Other dishes include the liang pi “cold skin” noodles, the spicy cucumber salad and flatbread “burgers” served with either stewed pork or spicy cumin lamb.

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Wang believes the Clarendon spot has benefited from people who know the brand from New York, while also filling a niche in Arlington.

“To have an authentic, regional Chinese option that’s very accessible … that’s one of the main components to our success so far,” Wang said.

At times, the crowds have gotten so big that the restaurant has struggled to keep up. Toward the end of the day, for instance, Wang said that staff have sometimes had to turn customers away because they’re too busy.

To meet the chain’s goal of finishing 95% of all orders within 10 to 15 minutes, Wang said he has been looking into establishing a production kitchen to produce sauces and other materials. Ultimately, this could support expansion elsewhere in Virginia.

“My main objective is to look for a production kitchen for us, similar to what we have in New York City, where we can support multiple stores with one production kitchen,” Wang said.

In the short term, another store in Rockville, Md. is preparing to open in October.

Meanwhile, Wang said he appreciates diners’ support and hopes to continue building out the store’s infrastructure.

“It’s been a little sad for us to have to turn away folks that are looking to dine, but we appreciate the understanding and we hope that we will serve them soon,” he said.

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