Category: Food & Drink

Dong Fang Gong 东方宫丝路文化主题餐厅

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Summer is a season that often reminds me of meat. Whether barbequed over open flame or served up on a big platter, summer always feels like the right season for skipping the carbs and going straight for the good stuff. There are many cuisines in China’s north and northwest regions that are famous for their high quality and quantity of meats, not the least of which is the food of Gansu. However, if most people were asked to name some dishes from that province, most would not be able to think any further than beef noodles.

Sanlou Mala Hot Pot and Craft Beer: 叁楼麻辣火锅

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This restaurant is called “Third Floor Mala Hot Pot” in Chinese for a reason – it is on the third floor, and their hot pot is spicy!
We weren’t surprised by this. However, we were pleasantly surprised at the wide international beer selection and how spacious the rooftop was. Deck chairs, flower planters, expansive shade umbrellas, and outdoor lighting made the space welcoming and comfortable, especially now that summer is here. Add in the beer, and you have a bona fide beer garden on a rooftop.

Don’t Tell Bar

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The first time I heard of this bar, I mistook it as people not wanting to tell me. Fortunately, the confusion was short-lived, as I found myself knocking on the door of said bar only a few weeks later.

Spearheaded by the duo of Jason and Henry, ‘Don’t Tell’ is the new cocktail bar on the block. It’s nothing like what I’ve experienced before. A modern cocktail bar with a wine focus. What sets it apart from the rest you ask? You’ll have one of the most passionate mixologists making cocktails for you. And it’s probably the most intimate bar experience Xi’an has to offer.

Summer Eating Guide: BARBEQUE

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The locals in Xi’an love their barbeque, so much so that barbeque restaurants spring from alleyways and street corners throughout the summer months. Bursting forth from the flames is a bouquet of flavors and textures, all washed down with icy-cold local beers and an unquenchable hunger for more. For a first timer, or even an unadventurous old-hand, the world of barbeque can be intimidating, as you don’t know exactly what you are getting when you order. You’re Chinese lessons telling you of 猪肉 and 鸡肉 seem to fail you as you stare a menu of unfamiliar words and combinations. Well, don’t worry. We’ve put together a quick descriptive guide on what to do when hitting the barbeque restaurant.

Isola Del Nord – 13th Anniversary 意大利餐厅

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Isola del Nord has been a staple on the Xi’an scene for longer than most foreigners have been in China. This cozy little restaurant, located on the 11F of the KI Building on North Street, has steadily served up some of the best Napoli-style pizza in the city, along with exceptional Italian foods, for 13 years now. So, how does the restaurant hold up after all these years?

It’s never easy to maintain a restaurant at the best of times, and the past year and a half have been some of the roughest in recent memory, presenting a challenge to the entire industry. Yet, through all of this, Isola has stood up to its reputation, and continues to provide one of the nicest dining environments in the city.

Hualuxe Xi’an Tanghua -Cai Feng Lou Chinese Restaurant 唐华华邑酒店·彩丰楼中餐厅

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L ocated just a short walk from Dayanta, the Hualuxe hotel is a large, expansive hotel, part of the hotel chain of the same name. Located on the second-floor of the hotel from the lobby, the dining area for this restaurant has many segmented areas for sitting, including several private dining rooms located just adjacent to the main floor. The whole restaurant is decorated in a modern look, with accents that reflect traditional Chinese culture.

Localand Vietnamese Cuisine Garden Restaurant 越乡Pho·越南美食花园餐厅

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When it comes to food here in Xian, we’re spoilt for choice. People flock from all over to indulge in Shaanxi’s delights. And rightly so. The noodles are world famous! And so is the you po mian and rou jia mo. The list is endless. But it’s totally okay to hanker for a different taste every now and then. And for this reason it’s great to see so many new and exciting restaurants popping up all over Xian.

Ban’s Bistro 米屋肉库餐厅

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When we arrived late at the YGTD Shopping Mall on a Monday evening, almost every table was full at Ban’s Bistro. Waiters and waitresses were rushing everywhere to deliver food. Each table features fiery tableside grills, which staff were furiously flipping meat, sending flames and crackles of sizzling fat flying through the air.

Only one problem: we were HANGRY. We thought it would take forever to get food. However, instead of waiting forever, we only waited for about two minutes before we were seated. One thing to note: when you visit this location, you will definitely want to order meat – after all, this restaurant calls itself the rouku, literally translated as something like “meat depot.”

Xiao Mei Ge and Xiao Ding Jiu Bao 小梅鸽香港餐厅·小鼎玖煲

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L ocated on the 5th floor of the mall, LECITY, this restaurant isn’t at all difficult to locate, though access to public transport might be an issue for those who do not reside in the area. However, there will soon be a subway station opening nearby.

The mall houses a number of restaurants, some of which are well-known chains, but even so the Halal dim sum restaurant stays quite competitive. I arrived at the restaurant at 5:25 PM on a Saturday, which is just before the regular dinnertime of local residents, and the restaurant already had quite a number of customers. However, as the restaurant has a capacity of almost 300, there was still plenty of space to sit.