Award-Winning Noodles & Spicy Broths | Northwest Chinese Food College Park Review

United StatesRestaurantsMaryland
Written By Tiffany Tu

If I lived closer, I’d probably come here weekly! Northwest Chinese Food is easily one of my favorite restaurants in the DMV area — and I’m definitely not the only one who feels that way. This College Park staple has earned tons of recognition over the years, including a spot on Washingtonian’s 100 Very Best Restaurants list multiple times (2019, 2020, 2023, and 2025), a feature in Bon Appétit as one of the must-visit restaurants in the greater D.C. area, and even College Park’s Business of the Year in 2024.

Known for its bold, Shaanxi-style flavors and chewy hand-pulled noodles, this casual, fast-service restaurant continues to impress locals and visitors alike. Dishes are packed with flavor you don’t often find elsewhere. I loved the flavor profile here so much, I had to learn more about it. Would love to be corrected if this is wrong but according to the internet, Shaanxi cuisine (陕菜 / Shǎncài) originates in north-central China — especially from cities like Xi’an, the ancient capital and eastern terminus of the Silk Road. It's part of the broader northwest Chinese culinary tradition and is sometimes nicknamed “the soul of northern Chinese food”, with deep roots in imperial court cuisine and street food culture. Due to its Silk Road influence, you’ll notice flavors and ingredients from Central Asia and the Middle East woven into the food (especially in meat and spice blends).

Shaanxi food is best known for its:

  • Sour flavors from aged vinegar and pickled vegetables

  • Spicy flavors from chili oil, dry spices, and garlic

    • Occasionally numbing from sichuan peppers but less strong

  • Salty and savory flavors with deep umami from broths and fermented seasonings

  • Lots of chew and texture with emphasis on handmade noodles, breads, and braised meat

What we’ve ordered:

  • Braised pork, chopped onions & minced jalepeno pepper

    I remember liking this but not too mcuh about the flavor. need to try again one day

    Rating | 3/5?
    Ordered | 1x
    Would I order again? probably
    Price | $8

    2401xx,

  • Braised beef, chopped onions, minced jalepeno pepper & chili oil

    Don’t remember this much - wasn’t super good or super bad

    Rating | ?/5
    Ordered | 1x
    Would I order again? | maybe
    Price | $8

    220922

  • Shitake mushrooms, minced pork & garlic

    Very flavorful and moist from the mushroom!

    Rating | 3.5/5?
    Ordered | 1x
    Would I order again? | yes
    Price | $8

    2307xx

  • Carrot, cucumber, bean sprouts, peanut, flour breads

    A very interesting texture, almost spongy like. I liked this a lot!

    Rating | 3.5/5
    Ordered | 1x
    Would I order again? | Yes
    Price | $11.50

    2401xx

  • Dumpling in a spicy sour pork bone broth.

    Delicate skins with a savory pork broth that leans more comforting than sour. The filling falls apart as you bite into it and tastes like a mix of pork and vegetables. Simple, clean flavors.

    Rating | 3/5
    Ordered | 2x
    Would I order again? | Yes
    Price | $7.50

    250703, 230722

  • Dumpling in a chili oil & sesame sauce

    I remember these were fine but nothing special. Would go for the soup soup dumplings over this

    Rating | 2.5/5?
    Ordered | 1x
    Would I order again? | maybe
    Price | $7.50

    2401xx

  • Spinach, minced pork, peanuts, pickled vegetables, sesame sauce, red oil

    Not too memorable. Not good and not bad too.

    Rating | ?/5
    Ordered | 1x
    Would I order again? | maybe
    Price | $10.50

    220922

  • Konjac noodles, wood ear mushroom, cucumber, carrot, peanut, & chili soy vinaigrette dressing

    Sour vinegar flavor with a nice kick. I loved the little konjac noodle bundles — super bouncy and great at picking up the sauce. It’s a perfect summer appetizer: refreshing with crisp veggies like cucumber and carrot but doesn’t hold back on flavor.

    Rating | 3.5/5
    Ordered | 1x
    Would I order again? | Probably
    Price | $12.50

    250703,

  • Braised beef, spinach, cabbage, pickled radish, scallion, cilantro and spicy broth

    My favorite dish so far! The broth is beefy, spicy, and rich with depth — layered flavors that feel satisfying but not overwhelming. The meat was flavorful and chewy with fatty pieces that melt in your mouth. Loved the chewy, knife-cut-style noodles that soak up the broth, and the pickled veggies plus fresh cilantro kept it light and bright.

    Rating | 4.25/5
    Ordered | 6x
    Would I order again? | Yes
    Price | $15.5

    250703, 240725, 240217, 2401xx, 23207xx, 220922

  • Noodles & Zha Cai in a seared scrambled egg "pancake

    Same delicious, chewy noodles as the beef noodle soup — great texture, and the sections soaked in chili oil are pretty tasty. The overall flavor leans eggy and salty, but it starts to feel a bit repetitive after a while.

    Rating | 2.5/5
    Ordered | 2x
    Would I order again? | No
    Price | $15.50

    240217, 220922

  • Not memorable so I guess not bad or good

    Rating | 2.5/5
    Ordered | 1x
    Would I order again? | maybe?
    Price | $2.50

    2401xx,

  • A little spicy but I was not a fan of this

    Rating | 1/5
    Ordered | 1x
    Would I order again? | No
    Price | $6.50

    2307xx

  • Rice noodle, spicy fried chicken, kimchee, tomatos, boiled egg, cucumber, cilantro, & sesame. Peanut dressing & soy cider vinegar broth.

    Super sour but well-rounded — flavorful without being sharp. I usually don’t love rice noodles, but these were soft, bouncy, and satisfying. Surprisingly, the fried chicken stayed a bit crisp even in the broth. It’s fried in a way that’s drier and chewier, but that concentrated the flavor instead of making it actually taste dry. Great summer noodle dish.

    Rating | 4/5
    Ordered | 2x
    Would I order again? | Yes
    Price | $17.5

    250703, 2307xx

  • yummy matcha latte but on the milky side. Not enough or really any soybean flavor comes through

    Rating | 2.75/5
    Ordered | 1x
    Would I order again? | Probably not
    Price | $5.5

    240217

  • Definitely on the syrupy side, which I expected, but still decent. Lots of blended fruit flavors — sweet, slightly artificial, but enjoyable if you’re in the mood for something fruity.

    Rating | 2.5/5
    Ordered | 1x
    Would I order again? | No
    Price | $5.5

    250703,

  • Sweet but balanced! I remember liking this drink

    Rating | 3/5?
    Ordered | 1x
    Would I order again? | Yes
    Price | $5

    220922,

  • I remember loving this but unfortunately it was not available during my last visit

    Rating | 3.5/5?
    Ordered | 1x
    Would I order again? | Yes
    Price | $5

    2307xx,

Overall Rating: 9/10
Visited: 6x
Would I come back? Yes, again and again for old cravings and to try more items!

250703, 240725, 240217, 2401xx, 2307xx, 220922

 
Tiffany Tu
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