Chang'an Da Paidang (First Noodle Under the Sun)

Chang'an Da Paidang, often marketed in English as 'First Noodle Under the Sun,' is a modern Shaanxi restaurant chain with a Xi'an branch on the second floor of Kaiyuan Mall on Dong Dajie, built around bringing Muslim Quarter street-food classics into a sit-down, air-conditioned dining room with a show. The signature moment is the biang biang noodle preparation: a cook stretches and slaps the wide, belt-like dough against the counter or table before it's cut and boiled, a loud, rhythmic performance that draws a crowd of its own. Beyond the noodles, the menu runs through roujiamo, liangpi cold noodles, and a range of Shaanxi cold appetizers and stews, effectively functioning as a one-stop tasting menu of the dishes scattered across Beiyuanmen's stalls. The dining room is bright, modern and loud, decorated with folk-art motifs and old propaganda-poster reproductions, and draws a mixed crowd of local diners, domestic tourists and international visitors. There's no dedicated wine list; local beer and soft drinks are standard. Reservations are recommended for dinner, and a queue is common on weekend evenings given the restaurant's popularity with both visitors and Xi'an locals wanting the same food in a sit-down setting.