Work is continuing, even over the weekend, at the future Xi’an Famous Foods location in Rockville. Construction remains in its early stages, but the restaurant could potentially open later this year.
A $100,000 permit was issued in July for interior construction at Maryland’s first Xi’an Famous Foods, marking another step toward the restaurant’s anticipated opening at Montrose Crossing.
As previously reported, the New York-based Chinese fast-casual chain is opening its first company-owned Maryland location at 12031 Rockville Pike. The 1,718SF restaurant will be located next to RASA and Five Guys in the former Boardroom Salon space.
Xi’an Famous Foods was founded in late 2005 as a 200-square-foot basement stall inside Flushing’s Golden Shopping Mall in Queens. The family-owned company introduced American diners to the cuisine of Xi’an, a historic city in western China, and has since expanded to more than 20 locations throughout New York City. The chain also gained national recognition after the late Anthony Bourdain praised its bold flavors and hand-pulled noodles.
The menu features traditional western Chinese dishes based on family recipes, including Spicy Cumin Lamb Hand-Ripped Noodles, Stewed Pork Burgers, Liang Pi Cold Skin Noodles, and Spicy and Sour Lamb Dumplings.
When the expansion was announced, CEO Jason Wang said the company hoped to open the Rockville location by mid-2026. Although that timeline has passed and an updated opening date has not been announced, the ongoing construction indicates that an opening later this year remains possible.
