Hand pulled noodles?!??!? Noodz are always a good idea IMO, so the second I heard there was a Xi’an spot slinging hand-ripped noodles in Ellicott City, I had to go. Chin Xi’an’s tucked inside a BenGong’s Tea on Baltimore National Pike, which means you might walk right past it, but do NOT sleep on this one, Nomsters.
It’s one of the more exciting Chinese spots to open around here, and the 3 in 1 Hand-Ripped Noodles alone are worth the trip. Xi’an food’s its own whole thing, chewy wheat noodles, cumin, chili oil, and those little braised-meat sandwiches they call murgers, and Chin Xi’an does the real-deal version. So, so good. If you haven’t been yet, you gotta make a trip, and honestly you can grab boba on your way out too.
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What Makes Chin Xi’an a Standout Xi’an Restaurant in Ellicott City
Here’s the thing, most of the Chinese food a lot of us grew up on leans Cantonese or Sichuan, so a spot built around Xi’an and Shaanxi cooking still feels special around here. The owner’s from Xi’an, and word is it’s the only Shaanxi specialist in the area, which tracks the second you taste the noodles.
Xi’an sits up in northwestern China where it’s wheat country instead of rice, so it’s all about those wide, chewy hand-ripped noodles slicked in chili oil and cumin. If you know Ellicott City’s Chinese scene, this is a totally different lane from the Sichuan heat at Pepper House down the road, and I love that we get both. Come hungry and come curious.
What to Order at Chin Xi’an
Here’s everything I tried, Nomsters, and where I’d point you first.
3 in 1 Hand-Ripped Noodles ($15.95)
This dish was pheNOMenal, my hands-down favorite of the visit and one of the yummiest bowls of noodles I’ve had around here. The noodles come out chewy, long, and full of flavor, topped with a mix of egg and tomato, some pork zha jiang sauce, and bok choy. You’ve gotta mix everything together really well so every strand grabs the sauce, and heads up, you gotta love spice, because it packs some real heat. 11/10, this is the one I’d order every single time. A total must-order.
12 Hours Stewed Pork Murger ($7.25)
The murger’s the Xi’an take on a sandwich, braised meat tucked into a little toasted bun (more on that below). The pork’s stewed until it’s SO tender, and the bread’s nice and crispy. It’s a solid option with no complaints, but I liked the noodz so much more that it got a little overshadowed. I’ve still got my eye on the spicy cumin lamb murger for next time.
Sweet Heat Cabbage ($6.75)
Real talk, this was my least favorite of the bunch, but it was still tasty. The pickled cabbage had nice spice and good texture, it just didn’t wow me the way the noodles did, and I probably wouldn’t reorder it. If you’re building a bigger spread it’s a fine little side, I’d just spend my order on the noodles and a murger instead.
Chinese Osmanthus Sour Plum Drink
I really enjoyed this one. It’s made in-house and it’s considered a medicinal drink in Chinese culture, which cracked me up because I’ve never had a medicinal anything taste this good, lol. It’s floral, a little sweet, a little tart, and it balanced out the heat of the noodles beautifully. I’d get it again for sure.
A few things I didn’t get to that are calling my name: the spicy cumin lamb hand-ripped noodles, the beef noodle soup, and the liangpi cold-skin noodles (a cold, springy Xi’an street-food classic). Plenty of reasons to go back.
What Is a Murger?!
If “murger” threw you, you’re not alone, it’s Chin Xi’an’s spelling of roujiamo, which literally breaks down to meat (rou) sandwiched inside (jia) bread (mo). The bread’s a slightly toasted flatbread that soaks up the braising juices without going soggy, and the filling’s meat that’s been simmered low and slow for hours.
People call it one of the oldest sandwiches in the world, with roots in Shaanxi going back over 2,000 years. The classic’s pork, but the cumin lamb version leans into the region’s cumin-heavy, Muslim-influenced side. Basically, yes, order one.
The Vibe and Experience
Chin Xi’an shares its storefront and dining room with a BenGong’s Tea, so it’s small and easy to miss, but that also means you can grab bubble tea without moving your feet. Service is quick and efficient, very much a pop-in and get-your-noodles kind of place. Two little touches I loved, they give you White Rabbit candy with the check (instant nostalgia), and their to-go bags are so nice I’ve legit been reusing mine. Parking’s easy peasy too, which is always a perk out in the burbs.
Good to Know
- 📍 10045 Baltimore National Pike Ste A10, Ellicott City, MD 21042, inside the BenGong’s Tea.
- Open 7 days a week, roughly 11:30am to 3pm and 4pm to 9:30pm, running later on weekends (Fri and Sat until 10pm).
- Moderate on price. The 3 in 1 noodles run about $15.95, and the pork murger’s a budget-friendly $7.25.
- Order online through their website or on DoorDash and Uber Eats, and both dine-in and takeout work.
- Vegetarian-friendly picks on the menu, think the cold-skin noodles, the shredded potato dish, and the tofu salad.
- Easy surface parking right in the shopping center lot.
Is Chin Xi’an Worth A Visit?
If you want something a little different from the usual Chinese takeout, those hand-ripped noodles make Chin Xi’an an easy rec, and the murgers seal it. It’s not a fancy sit-down night, it’s a quick, delicious, budget-friendly lunch or dinner that leaves you already planning your next order. For me it lands right up there with my favorite Chinese spots in Howard County, alongside the hot pot at Hot N Roll. Go hungry, mix those noodles well, and save some room.
If you’re also into soup dumplings with your noodles, Yu Noodles in Ellicott City is a new Chinese spot just down Baltimore National Pike with rainbow xiaolongbao and handmade noodle bowls.
Have you guys made it to Chin Xi’an yet? Let me know what you order in the comments, Nomsters, and if you beat me to that cumin lamb murger, I need a full report. Save this one for your next Ellicott City food run, and send it to your most noodle-obsessed friend.