Xi’an Famous Foods returning to the heart of the East Village

Xi'an Famous Foods signage is up now at 129 Second Ave., between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place. (T/Y to the EVG reader who shared this photo!) 

This marks the brand's return to the East Village. The EV outpost at 81 St. Mark's Place closed in early March 2020 when the lease came up for renewal. (Xi'an opened at 139 Fourth Ave. between 13th Street and 14th Street in May 2024.) 

Xi'an is taking over the space that last housed Taqueria Diana. (RIP June 2025.) 

The chainlet of quick-serve hand-pulled noodle shops has multiple NYC locations... and has expanded into a few other states. 

Company CEO Jason Wang's father, David Shi, got his start in a small food stall in Flushing, a business that became popular after an Anthony Bourdain endorsement.

Xi'an Famous Foods has closed on St. Mark's Place

In a bit of a surprise, Xi'an Famous Foods has closed its outpost on St. Mark's Place near First Avenue.

There always seemed to be a crowd here for the shop's hand-pulled noodles, and it was the location where owner Jason Wang spent a lot of time as Xi'an continued to grow.

A note that arrived on the front door on Friday offered an explanation... turns out the lease was up, and Wang decided to move on... though it sounds as if a return to the East Village one day may be possible ...



Wang also tried a sit-down Chinese restaurant called Biang! at 157 Second Ave. (a doomed location) that closed after 15 months back in 2017.

Meanwhile, there are still 14 other Xi'an Famous Foods in the city to enjoy.

Jason Wang's Biang! closes after 15 months on 2nd Avenue

[EVG photo from December 2015]

Biang! — the sit-down Chinese restaurant via Xi'an Famous Foods owner Jason Wang — has closed at 157 Second Ave.

EVG reader Brian P. shared this notice from yesterday at the restaurant between Ninth Street and 10th Street...



The well-regarded restaurant opened here in December 2015. (And it always seemed crowded.) The sign notes that most of the dishes are available at the original Biang! location in Flushing... as well as the Xi'an Famous Foods at 81 St. Mark's Place near First Avenue.

Wang and his father David Shi started the business in a small food stall in Flushing. There are now nearly a dozen locations of Xi’an Famous Foods in NYC. They also opened Dumpling Spot in Chinatown last month.

The previous tenant at 157 Second Ave., Wylie Dufresne's bistro Alder, closed after two-and-a-half years at the end of August 2015.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Jason Wang bringing Xi'an Famous Foods offshoot Biang! to the former Alder space on 2nd Avenue