Big Dan Shanxi Taste
Housemade Plum Juice
Cold Noodle with Sesame
Cumin Lamb Burger
Pita Bread Soaked in Lamb Soup
Hot & Spicy Braised Beef Noodle Soup
Stir-Fry Noodle with Lamb
Hot & Sour Soup with Pork & Cabbage Dumplings
Special Hot Oil Noodle with Tomato & Eggs
Although Big Dan Shanxi Taste should technically be known as “Big Dan’s Shaanxi Taste” with two aa’s thanks to its focus on cuisine from Xi’an, that hasn’t stopped the small eatery inside Shun Fat Supermarket in the Pacific Asian Plaza from becoming acclaimed by locals and critics alike.
A one-time James Beard Award Foundation regional semifinalist in the Best Restaurant and Chef categories, an almost unheard of achievement for someplace inside a Grocery Store with no website, Big Dan is owned by Hongrui Chen, husband Peter Xing and children named Daniel and Dan.
Largely populated by Chinese patrons who’ve frequented the Restaurant and Market since before the Pandemic, noon on Sunday finding only one table available, it was under the guidance of someone fluent in Mandarin that seven items were ordered plus an extra order of fragrant Cold Noodles with a good chew and dueling Sauces.
Offering imported Orange Soda and housemade Plum Juice, medium sweet and not to be confused with salty versions found in Hong Kong, dishes detailed as “spicy” live up to their billing without reaching Sichuan and Guizhou levels – though the Braised Beef Noodles in a deep red Broth certainly aren’t subtle.
Also popular for Burgers, Pork or Beef not nearly as well-regarded as loosely-packed Lamb teaming with Cumin, do not ignore the Lamb Stir-Fry with tremendous complexity or Pita Bread Soaked in Lamb Soup that is both comforting and excellent for refreshing the palate between more vibrant dishes.
Adding on some Dumplings, hand made with choice of Fillings, another signature is Dan’s Biangbiang Mian “Belt Noodles” that are served thick, wide and long on their own or topped with Pork & Vegetables or Tomatoes with Eggs that is far more delicious than it sounds.