Xian
In my search for Chinese restaurants offering traditional and regional cuisine, I came across what, most likely, is one of the best restaurants in Milan: it's called Xian and is located in Monumentale area.
The name of this place comes from Xi'an, the capital of Shanxi province in central China. This city city has an extremely important historical value as it marks the easternmost point of the route of the Silk Road, is part of the Four Great Capitals of Ancient China and is famous throughout the world for the famous "terracotta army".
The restaurant in question, however, has nothing so magnificent: it is a bare, rustic and no-frills place. Seen from the outside it is decidedly anonymous and if you do not know it it is difficult to decide to stop there. Yet, here you eat divinely, you spend very little and the service is kind and attentive - as well as extremely intrigued by the fact of having Western customers in the dining room!
The menu is long and complex, it offers a glimpse of the cuisine of the city of Xi'an: I like to call it "hardcore China" (like many other restaurants in Milan) because it presents decidedly pushed preparations such as pig's blood, intestines or head of lamb. In short, dishes that a Westerner would rarely order with zeal, but here instead are appreciated by patrons.
Among the typical dishes I ordered after getting advice from the staff - and which I highly recommend - are roujiamo, toasted bread stuffed with pork, and langpi, a type of noodles similar to noodle prepared with white wheat flour served. cold, garnished with spicy sesame oil and thinly sliced cucumbers.
As an appetizer, tofu with centuries-old eggs is very good, as are mushrooms with onions, shrimps with Chinese mushrooms, spicy sautéed green beans and the stewed aubergines with chilli.
As you can read, there are many vegetarian dishes here, so if you don't eat meat (or particular cuts) you will still have an excellent choice for your tastes: the pages at the end of the menu are dedicated to Chinese vegetables, just choose one or more. of one and it will be prepared boiled at the moment. In any case, there are also numerous proposals based on fish, shellfish and Chinese desserts.
All courses are very generous, so I recommend you try this restaurant in company. If you are alone, however, you will find a wide range of noodles in broth or very cheap lunch menus including a drink.
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