If you want flavorful dumplings, and the crispiest five spice chicken this is the place to go. The xiao long bao, and chili shrimp wontons were a favorite for my whole group. I personally enjoyed the Five spice chicken but I know it’s not a favorite for everyone. The long beans and the spinach were alright. No matter how busy this place gets the staff are always kind and helpful.
This place gets BUSY. Therefore I highly recommend going during the week and avoid lunch hours or the weekends if you’re not willing to wait. There is outdoor and indoor seating.
My recommendations:
Entrees: xiao long bao, chili shrimp wontons, Shanghai noodles, five spice chicken (if you like five spice)
Side: pickled cucumbers
Photos taken by me
I've been wanting to go to XLB since moving to Portland. I was pleasantly surprise! They have a pretty simple menu with pictures, which allows you to make your choices pretty fast. The chili shrimp wontons and 5 spice popcorn chicken were my favorite. The spicy level is minimal in the wontons, wished it was spicier. Maybe you can ask for a spicier level? Has great overall flavor though. I was very excited for the the soup dumplings. They had a great flavor, however, the dough felt thick and chewy. Also, three of the soup dumplings were stuck to the bottom and ripped. R.I.P soup! They have plenty of indoor seating and approximately 5 tables outside. The staff/service was superb. I went on a Thursday evening and sat outside, beating the dinner rush. It got busy right after I arrived. Highly recommended going during the week. I will definitely be back to try the rest if the menu!
Pictures don't do justice to this little gem of a place. My mouth still waters when I think of my meal here. The rich flavors of simple dishes are exemplary. I loved every bite. Must visit if you're in town. Would be cautious if you're not a spicy food. Thank you.
It's been a while since I've been back here. The place has added more seating outside. It does get pretty busy during the lunch hour rush. The soup dumplings were better than I last remembered, as well as the Shanghai Pork and Shrimp noodles. The string beans and Beef Ho Fun were decent.
I would stick to the steamed buns, but if you do you won’t be disappointed! I also recommend ordering to go as the place is small and a little too busy to dine in peace.
As a new Portlander and former Seattleite, I wasn’t impressed with the soup dumplings at XLB, but everything else was super tasty. Great spot to share plates with your group, fun atmosphere and cute dining room. Nice cocktails too!
I think I prefer duck house for the variety of the menu, but the vibe here is definitely more curated and enjoyable. XLB will be a regular thing for us as we live close, I’m excited for some cozy fall vibes with a cup of tea in the dining room.
You have to get the green beans and some bao, I also really loved the beef ho fun. I’m excited to try the popcorn chicken and the eggplant next time but I’ll be skipping the xiao long bao.
So good and flavorful, menu items are simple yet the food is super tasty. Self serve tea and water, to wash down the XLB. Chicken - five spice - is a can’t miss together with the XLB. Money well spent. Street parking available,
I adored the service. Everyone was so kind and helpful and ready and willing to do work. We wanted a slushie but it wasn't fully iced yet and we were told if it was finished by the time we leave we could have one on the house!
Super nice
I think this is a 4.5 for me. Specifically because the food seemed toned down a little. For example the chili sauce wasnt too spicy at all, the dumplings were a tiny bit bland. But on the other hand the noodles were delicious and flavorful.
Shrimp noodles ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Xlb ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Solid soup dumblings in PDX. Consitent. Check out the photos - these are my go to.
Friendly staff and street parking. Enjoy.
The place has a typical street food scenes, with varied food styles. The noodles, wontons, and the buns. Every dish is unique and has its unique flavor with a bit high note of soy sauce. The food tastes amazing and their chili sauce definitely adds in an extra bit of kick to the dish. The service was quick and fast, simple limited menu items and tastes good.
@eatswithvick on insta: Came in early on a Saturday and ordered at the counter, got a table in about 10 minutes. Expectations after all the hype on this place was really high, and overall we were satisfied! Food came out fresh & piping hot. Ordered the XLB, beef noodles, and string beans. Thought the string beans and noodles lacked a bit of flavor but were still good. Dumplings were great.
The beef ho pow and the garlic eggplant with tofu were my favorite dishes out of the 6 dishes we tried. The flat noodle dish was excellent and next time will order the other one. Definitely would recommend this place! 4.8/5
One of our family's favorite places for noodles and soup dumplings. Menu items are limited but every one of them is a home run. I highly recommend this restaurant for excellent and affordable Chinese food that's beyond chow mein and sweet and sour pork.
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