Xian Biang Biang Noodle

You can hear the sound of noodles being slapped and pounded from the parking lot of this San Gabriel noodle joint hidden near the back of a two-story shopping plaza. Their Xi’an lamb noodles marry the gaminess of lamb with fiery Sichuan peppers and tangy black vinegar. Although the flavor is balanced and delicious, the bite of the wide, flat noodles is unrivaled—bouncy, springy, and wonderfully chewy. We prefer to skip the soups here and go for dry and stir-fried noodles, which really let the “QQ” texture of the noodles shine.

photo credit: Kim Fox