Nan Xiang Express

So excited that this place is so close to work! Beautiful decorations inside plenty of seating. Easy to order whether at the counter or the kiosk. I was a bit overwhelmed because there were so many choices! I got the shrimp spring roll which was tasty and hot! Came with a good dipping sauce almost like ketchup and sriracha. Then I also ordered the pork soup dumplings. They came out hot and fresh as well. Very good flavor but the inside was a little too soft for my liking but that didn't stop me from eating them!We ordered wings that was a good serving for the price. They were big and crispy with a lot of flavor. You get a sauce on the side. Last up was the shredded beef with pepper noodles. You can get that with our without soup. Pretty big serving. Haven't tasted it because I was too full. The bobos are separate and everyone looked good. So many varieties of flavors too. Cannot wait to go back!

I recently had the opportunity to try out the new Nan Xiang Express that just opened up in the area. I visited on a Monday evening, and despite the bustling crowd, the service was impressively swift.While this Shanghainese fast-casual chain is known for their soup dumplings, I decided to order the braised beef noodle soup to-go. The soup was exceptionally packaged for transport--the broth was neatly separated from the noodles, and the utensils provided made the whole experience hassle-free. Everything was fresh and hot, which was a definite plus. The noodles were well-cooked and the braised beef was tender, but the overall flavor profile left a bit to be desired. Additionally, the soup could have benefited from more toppings. The few pieces of bok choy were a nice touch, but a bit more variety or volume in the garnishes would have elevated the dish.Nan Xiang Express proves to be a decent fast-casual option with efficient service and a vairety of menu offerings. While my first dish didn't fully hit the mark, I'm intrigued enough by their reputation for soup dumplings to make sure I give those a try on my next visit!

Came right around noon and it was super busy! Prompt service though. Order at the kiosk or with the cashier and sit to await your food. Due to how close all the seats are, you might have to get a bit cozy. I got the crispy pork bun and crab and pork soup dumplings. Overall, it was ok. The crispy pork bun was quick to arrive which was nice but the bottom of the bun wasn't as crispy as it could have been (usually full brown crispy bottom, this was more mild tan in some sections). The filling was good but somewhat less than I had hoped. The bread was a tad too doughy which speaks to probably overall undercooking of the buns along with the less crispy bottom.The soup dumpling was alright as well. There's a bit of crab tamale on top but that's about all the crab flavor I noticed. The inside was primarily pork and had a good pork flavor. Again, the skin tasted a tad doughy and undercooked. Maybe just needed to be steamed a little bit longer. The main problem with the soup dumpling was that it came in the steamer pot but no plate underneath and so any soup that spilled dripped straight through the pot and onto the table. Also I didn't get a spoon to hold the dumpling.I think this place has potential but they have a few things they need to work out before I'd recommend.

Nice to have a new soup dumpling / boba place open up in Durham! The vibes are interesting - the interior is merged with Tsaocaa (new boba place), which is pretty convenient since you can have boba with your food. They have self order kiosks at the front with a bar area and huge screens projecting spotify on the walls and ocean on the ceiling. It also looks like they have a karaoke set up.Once you order, service is quick (I've been here twice and gotten my order within 3-5 min both times). Staff are nice and ready to help you out if you ask. Food arrives in takeout containers, so it's pretty convenient to pack up the leftovers when you're done.The food itself is okay. I was looking forwards to the pork crispy bottom buns, but they came out looking smaller than I expected. Taste was good, but nothing particularly special. The scallion pancakes had a nice crunch, but I thought they were way too oily. The meat to pancake ratio was slightly disappointing. The peanut sauce wontons were really good though - filling was perfectly flavored and the peanut sauce / chili oil melded nicely.I would come back, but just for the peanut wontons.

My oldest daughter & I came here for lunch a couple of weeks ago after an appointment. I have been CRAVING soup dumpling since I was in Chinatown in NY & haven't had any in a few years. This place definitely fulfilled that craving. It's no Chinatown level, but I'll take this place any day of the week! The service was also very fast & friendly, & the prices are more than reasonable. There are a lot of other things I want to try when we go back; definitely some of the boba. I just wasn't in the mood that day. But, they have a very wide offering. I'll be back in Durham at the end of the month & I plan to go back.

This is new go-to lunch spot downtown, it's Durham's version of Din Tai Fung and I'm here for it. I love that it's no frills, just order at the kiosk, grab a table number and seat yourself. Everything comes out as it's cooked, hot and always fresh. I've tried a variety of their dishes and literally everything hits! The scallion pancakes are the most crispy pancakes I've ever had. I've had their chicken and crab and pork soup dumplings and both were fantastic. I've also had their stir fried noodles which are delicious. The cucumber salad is light and refreshing with a little tang. I've also tried their fruit teas which are really good as well. Would definitely recommend that everyone give it a shot, they have plenty of dishes available so there's something for everyone here.

Went to Nan Xiang for its grand opening week. Located near Ninth Street in The Blue Light Living Apartment Complex. There were a TON of people there when I went for lunch yesterday, so a bit overstimulating haha but expected. I got the:- Panda Boba Tea (brown sugar amber bubble, crystal boba, milk foam): I liked the "crisp" of the crystal boba, compared to the usual chewiness. Good amount of sweetness & very creamy. Although, I couldn't distinguish any tea flavor at all. Tasty, but nothing special.- Shredded Beef and Pepper Noodles (Dry): The best item I tried here. Appreciated the intense umami flavor & chew of the noodles. Liked the amount of pepper, would have enjoyed a bit more beef. I did end up adding a good amount of chili oil, which made it even better. I also tried my friend's:- Guava Lime Green Tea: Tasty, appreciated the amount of fresh guava that was in the drink. Was super sweet though, so you'd probably be okay with 50-75% sweetness. - Crispy Sesame Chicken Bowl: Just your run of the mill, Americanized sesame chicken so super sweet. Comes with rice and broccoli. - Crab & pork soup dumplings: Was a little disappointed in this, the dumpling skin was way too thick and doughy for me. But good amount of soup and crab flavor.Great portion sizes. Ambiance is nice, lots of space. Service was fast- self checkout & cashiers available. Nearby free parking at the adjacent open lot as well as street parking on W Pettigrew St.Honestly, another thing that detracted from my experience is that for their grand opening, they had a deal for free order of soup dumplings if $15 is spent (only if ordering at the cashier). However, when I went up, they revealed that if you were at a table sitting with another person who already got the offer, you cannot also receive it, even if you had separate checks. Imo this is fine only IF it was mentioned in their advertising. There is a chance I missed the fine print, but I don't think so & I did leave feeling a bit bamboozled.6/10 would maybe recommend for now. Wasn't super impressed, but there are some decent items here so I will give it another chance. Also tbh my rating probably would have been a little higher were it not for the deal debacle.

I visited Nan Xiang Express today and got the braised beef noodles, chilled bok choy, and two different soup dumplings. I thought that the braised beef noodles were absolutely amazing and piping hot. The soup was also packed with flavor! The chilled bok choy was also excellent and garlicky. I loved that it was still crunchy!The soup dumplings were hot but mediocre at best. I studied abroad in China, so I might be a little biased... my partner said they were pretty good. What knocked points off for me was the thick skins and too little meat. Otherwise, the service was great at Nan Xiang and the kiosks made it easy to order. I'll likely be back to order some noodles!

Friendly staff. Best dumplings i've had in Durham. Good drinks as well! Comfortable and welcoming. I'll be back over and over again ;)

New dim sum and Chinese place couldn't have opened sooner! I was so excited to check it out after hearing chatter about the soft opening. Nevertheless, a much needed addition to the Durham food scene.Walking in, I was impressed by the extensive decor. There are a tons of screens in the restaurant (2 giant wall TVs, an electronic pillar, and a ceiling screen). It gives the restaurant a very futuristic, techno vibe, reminiscent of some newer age restaurants in China.In terms of food, probably the best soup dumplings I've had in the triangle! The wrapper is on a slightly chewier side, but I didn't mind as it tasted really hand made (Trader Joes cannot compare!) The flavors of the filling were authentic and rich, perfectly accompanied by the refreshing vinegar dipping sauce and chili oil!Service was also great. There are both a self service kiosk and in person ordering. Both of which are very fast and convenient. It's a fast casual place so you would place your order first and sit down with your number. Food also came out reasonably fast!The restaurant also has an attached boba chain called Tsaocaa. I tried a few of the fruit drinks. Although a little on the sweeter side (I would adjust sugar levels accordingly), the fruit flavors were very vibrant and the tea was pleasantly floral. Overall, I'm very excited about this place adding to the ninth street and adjacent food scene. Especially when this might be the best dim sum in the area! Will definitely be coming back very frequently!