Creamy crab roe noodles and unique seafood specialties await at this buzzed-about Chinese spot.
Molly Fitzpatrick reviews Xie Bao in Hell's Kitchen, a casual expansion of the popular Flushing crab-roe specialist, highlighting its creamy crab roe noodles, delicious meatballs, and extensive menu including seafood boils and lunch specials.
This popular Chinese seafood spot, with roots in Flushing, has opened a Manhattan location offering its signature creamy crab roe noodles and delicious crab roe meatballs. While the Hell's Kitchen branch might not capture the same vibrant atmosphere as its original counterpart, it provides a more diverse menu, including seafood boils and accessible lunch specials. It's a great spot for pre-theater dining or a casual midday meal, consistently delivering on flavorful and unique crab-centric dishes.
The restaurant specializes in Chinese cuisine, with a standout offering of crab roe served over noodles or rice, described as creamy, sweet, and nutty. Other popular dishes include flavorful crab roe meatballs and well-executed seafood like pan-fried yellow croaker and shrimp seafood boils. Some diners found the crab roe rice dish to be a bit like porridge when mixed, but still enjoyed it. The Sheng Jian Bao also received high marks for its unique crab and pork filling.
"The creamy crab roe noodles are a highly recommended signature dish, praised for their unique flavor profile. Crab roe meatballs and the Sheng Jian Bao are also notable for their delicious and distinctive fillings."
Customers generally have a positive view of the restaurant, praising the unique crab roe dishes and flavorful preparations. While some note the high price point, the overall quality and taste often justify the cost.
Important Note
The Hell's Kitchen location, while offering a broader menu, may not have the same energetic atmosphere as the original Flushing spot. One reviewer noted a high price point for some dishes, such as the crab roe noodles.
"Xie Bao is mentioned as a potential place to find Nanjing salted duck."
Neutral"Xie Bao in Hell's Kitchen is recommended as a place that might serve Nanjing salted duck."
Neutral"Xie Bao is recommended for its crab roe noodles."
Positive"yeah, rice is definitely better at the flushing location, assume it's the same in hell's kitchen"
Positive"Went to the Hell’s Kitchen location this weekend! I guess it’s been blowing up on social media because it’s more packed than I’ve ever seen it. But I had both the noodles and the rice, and it was delicious!"
Positive
