Xie Xie

UBER-​YUMMY. Too bad they closed before I could really dive into the menu… and actually finish my review. :/
C’mon Chef Angelo!, please open back up… and stop depriving us of your tasty sammies!

Meh… I asked the guy making the sandwiches, what his favorite was, he pointed me at the vietnamese style bbq beef sandwich… It was ok… I guess I expected a little more spicy and not as sweet. The carrots were a nice touch, but I guess that’s what made it «Vietnamese.»
I’ll likely be back, as it’s close to my apartment, I’ll be having something else though.
Also, I may not have liked this place as much as I should have, due to there being a screaming child 4 feet from me. The mother did nothing to stop it, which enraged me. Truly, this helped ruin my experience here.

I’ve been singing the praises of Xie Xie all summer and frequenting this tasty lunch option. Here’s what makes Xie Xie different from other Asian sandwich restaurants in NY — the sandwich ideas are Asian, but the ingredients are often wholly American. Take, for example, the pork bun. Fluffy white Chinese pork bun bread, but the filling is sweet/​savory pulled pork. I also loved the Vietnamese BBQ beeef — lots of veggie fillings, tender beef, and a nice buttery roll. One of these days I’ll save room for the thousand year old ice cream sandwich.
P. S. Angelo is there. All the time.

My girlfriend and I had coupons for Xie Xie for quite some time and had been really interested in trying it. The food sounded fun and we had generally heard good things so we decided to go for lunch.
When we arrived we found the place closed unexpectedly. The signs said «temporarily closed for renovation». We were both pretty frustrated, as it was a trek for us to get there and neither can usually afford the time for an actual lunch break. While we stood there a number of other customers stopped by and were equally disappointed. One started shouting obscenities and another took photos on his camera phone of the signs.
Understandably restaurants occasionally need to close for reasons like this, but what frustrated us was the fact that there was no notice on their website of any closure, which would have saved us and quite a few other people a lot of time. I decided to email them to complain, saying that they really should have that info posted online, especially as a restaurant that prides itself on customer service. I received a response saying:
«Dude, last week 25 employees lost their jobs without notice– so sorry to „inconvenience“ you, but when you put it into perspective– NOT THAT BIG OF A DEAL!!!»
…ok… I wrote back saying I was very sorry for the people who lost their jobs. However I reminded them that they are still a business and really shouldn’t be rude and alienate the people who will most likely be the ones to pull them out of this slump if/​when they reopen. In response I was simply told:
«Dude, you really like to hear yourself talk.»
Yes, yes I do. So much so that I went home that night, signed up for Unilocal,and posted this review. This is no way to talk to your customers, no matter what has transpired behind the scenes.

Had the fish sandwich the next day, which wasn’t my cup of tea because of the cilantro but was still very good. I tried the 1000 year old ice cream sandwich too — the ice cream was very sweet, while the sandwich crackers were salty so it was an interesting combination of flavors. Not sure what the black liquidy stuff inside is made of, (possibly sesame?) but it was spilling everywhere so it’s best to eat this quick.
Then I actually stopped by a few weeks later and had the chicken sandwich again but it wasn’t as good as the first time I had it because it was way too salty. Disappointed, but I also tried the bbq beef sandwich, which was really really good.

Asian-​inspired sandwiches are nothing new in the Big Apple. My sweet glazed pork sandwich on Chinese buns was tasty, but for $ 9.50 I was unimpressed by what was basically pulled pork on Peking duck wrappers. My friend’s lobster roll was a better bet — it didn’t knock my socks off, but it was quite fresh and those crispy shallots were a charmed touch. All in all, Xie Xie has cleaner execution, but a place like Num Pang has more creative combinations.
What ultimately did it for us, however, was the «1000 year old» ice cream sandwich. What a clever name! Like the rest of the sandwich menu, the portion felt small, but it totally made up for it in quality. I would eat that sinful morsel of decadent goodness upside down leftside up rightwards in over and over if I could. The oozy black inside complements the silky caramel ice cream perfectly and the crisp cookie ends just barely hold the concoction together — but in a good way. It makes you gobble the whole thing down quickly, licking your fingers as you go, and ravishing the residual black caramel on the plate before you breath a content sigh. You eat it so quickly that you immediately want another. What a smart business move.

Come here for delicious, fun fusion Asian sandwiches. Meals are all under $ 10 and fast to make. Good option if you’re on a tight schedule but want a yummy meal. Must try the 1000 year ice cream (a play on 1000 year egg via caramel and ice cream goodness).
In the summer, the front wall is open and lets in lovely sunshine and breeze. They offer free wireless internet too.
Oh, they close at 8:30pm, so not great for late nights.

Xie Xie has inspired a new fantasy of sorts for me: to be tied up and drowned in black caramel.
As you all very well know, my sweet tooth is no secret to my Unilocal fans, friends and foes. So we’ll start this review dessert first, in order of importance to my palate!
The 1000-​year-​old ice cream sandwich has been profiled everywhere, so it was about time I finally try this delight — especially considering I live 2 blocks away from Xie Xie. Fresh caramel ice cream is nestled in between two crisp cocoa cookies. The seemingly-​simple ice cream sandwich is light and delicious at first bite. Once your incisors hit close to the center of the sandwich, a gush of salted black caramel starts to flow and begs for you to keep up with it as it oozes down the side of your ice cream sandwich. At this point I am pretty much dead and quickly polish off the rest of the ice cream sandwich, wondering if I should trek back for another.
Forgetting dinner was the task at hand, I finished my 1000-​year-​old orgasm and embarked on my Vietnamese BBQ beef sandwich. It was a little messy to open up after walking it home, though not anything I couldn’t handle. Shredded bbq beef, kimchee carrots and basil mayo were flanked by a fluffy French roll. Though I usually don’t like mayo, the basil mayo was enjoyable and I wish there was a bit more spread on the bun. The kimchee added the need kick to the sandwich but also made it a little soggier than I would have liked. Though I’m not well-​versed in the world of Banh Mi/​Asian Sandwiches, I’d say overall my sandwich was delicious and I’d like to go back and try the pulled pork.
Prices are a *little* steep, but I’d even go back with $ 5 in hand again for that damn ice cream sandwich. Yowza.

Do not want. Fusion places seem to be a hit or miss for me but this place just didn’t do it for a traditional Vietnamese sandwich. Perhaps why Viet sandwiches are so great to begin with are because of their simplicity.
Ordered a Vietnamese BBQ Beef sandwich and it was way too dry and bland. Even the usual sandwich filling wasn’t enough to overcome the meat. I’d much rather grab something from a mom & pop sandwich shop considering the value proposition here.
Guess the décor makes up for the sandwich?

In the language of Unilocal,«xie xie» translates to «so-​so.»
So-​so in that their sandwiches are small but pricey. BF and I shared the BBQ beef and braised chicken and thought they were pretty good, but not so great that we’d wildly recommend this place to others. The beef is flavorful and the «carrot kimchee» tastes like… carrot. It gets messy so ask for more napkins than the lone one they bring with your food.
So-​so in that the service is incredibly droll. I’m not asking for service with a freakishly enthusiastic smile but maybe they should tell their employees to aim for one notch above emotionless steel robot. Also, messy, stained uniforms make me question the cleanliness of the restaurant.
So-​so in that the space is quite small and the seating a little uncomfortable. Wonder if that’s their way of saying «Eat and get out.»
I hope I’m not being too harsh. I really did enjoy the sandwiches but don’t foresee myself falling in with the Xie Xie craze.

Tasty but small. The sandwiches are decidedly not authentic Vietnamese, but probably worth a try if only for their creative spin. They have a very simple menu; I enjoy the BBQ beef the best. My roommate swears by their lobster roll (he says they’re very generous with the lobster meat) but I have yet to pony up the $ 16 for it.
Xie xie is Chinese for «thank you» but I’m undecided if I should thank Xie Xie just yet. Cute décor, small dining space, friendly service. Maybe step in if you’re swinging by and want to try a different take on Asian Vietnamese fusion.

Having heard a lot about Xie Xie (good and bad), I decided to make a special trip there. Unsure of what I’d like, I bought three of the sandwiches to go to share with family: fish chaca la vong, sweet glazed pork, and the Vietnamese barbeque beef. The fish and beef sandwich were both leaking with sauces, while the shredded pork (which came in a plastic container for you to stuff into the three accompanying white peking-​duck like buns) was too much meat and would have benefited with some accompanying greens. If forced to recommend, I’d go with the bbq beef.
Most likely, my sole purchase on the next trip will be the universally well-​rated 1000 year old ice cream sandwich.

Maybe we caught them on an off day but I definitely won’t be giving this place another shot.
I’ve walked by Xie Xie a bunch of times and it always looked interesting so today we decided to actually take the plunge. I ordered the fish chaca la vong (fish with carmelized onion, probably an entire dill plant and a spicy mayo/​dressing) and the boyfriend sweet glazed pork.
For whatever reason, my sandwich was BURNT! It was so hard to bite into that it made my teeth hurt. NOT cool. And these two things plus two sodas came in at over $ 26. Definitely not worth it. It’s a shame, too, because the flavors of everything showed so much potential but this place was a fail.

I got the Fish Cha Ca La Vong sandwich and it was amazing! They freshly make your sandwich after you order. The fish is really well seasoned and lightly battered with onion jam-​dill on top. It was not too big but just about the right size.
I am going to try their Vietnamese BBQ Beef next time!

This is a small café/​restaurant with 6 sandwich options, five salad options, and 2 dessert options. I went for the 1000 Year Old ice cream, and my friend got the Vietnamese BBQ beef.
For $ 4, I was delighted with a unique, creamy ice cream sandwich with a gooey, sweet caramel center. It was a tasty snack but perhaps not worth $ 4. Then again, I’m glad I tried it.
I tasted a bit of the BBQ beef, which was flavorful, but, similarly, the size compared to the cost seemed a bit off.
There are a surprisingly large number of beverage options, including beer and wine. I could not find the price listed anywhere, so beware!
The stools are a little awkward and tall given how short the tables are. Sit on the bench if you can!
There is limited seating, but my friend and I didn’t feel rushed to leave, which I appreciate.
The restaurant feels kind of sterile — like a pinkberry — but I say «xie xie» for the unique ice cream experience.

My brother and I came here after his dancing gig in Times Square. Was a late lunch for us. Expected a larger eatery; simple décor and small menu — not a problem (don’t like those overly pretentious places anyway). Wasn’t busy. When we arrived, there was one other party there, and by the time we finished ordering, they were gone. Quiet on a weekday afternoon.
Ordered the SWEET GLAZED PORK and SHREDDED BRAISED CHICKEN.
+ + The pork sandwich reminded us of the pork buns we used to eat as kids; the taste transported us back to our childhoods! Delicious!
+ + The chicken sandwich was also a pleasant surprise — whatever they put in it, I WANT MORE! Definitely something I would crave and come back for.
+ Loves: Delicious sandwiches! (Definitely made for my tastebuds!) Friendly staff.
— Eh: A little pricey, but for New York, and the stroll down memory lane, it was worth it. And no bathroom. Had to go to the Italian place next door… But it seems they have an understanding and wasn’t a problem for either place.
All in all, I’d go back. Need to work my way through their menu!
^.^

Definitely think this place is a rip-​off. Portions are SO tiny for the price. The only reason I think it’s doing well is because it’s in a neighborhood that lacks this type of asian fusion, banh-​mi type of food. But in comparison to other asian sandwich shops, this place is definitely a no-​go.

some nice takes on asian fusion sandwiches. Everything was a bit messy, but quite delicious.
Nothing mind blowing, but quite decent. Great for a nice lunch switchup.

Xie Xie, which means ‘thank you’ in Mandarin, is one of the few recent Hells Kitchen restaurant openings that has received substantial buzz from local media. I’m still not sure why everyone shits themselves with excitement every time an Asian sandwich joint, burger shop or trendy pizza place opens, but that’s one of the little idiosyncrasies that makes me love New York City.
I’ve always hated on the Theater District and Hells Kitchen restaurant scene for a variety of reasons, whether it be the unnecessarily high prices, faux Italian trattorias catering to the busloads of tourists from Ohio, ridiculously stupid restaurant concepts, or the glut of crap Thai and Asian fusion food. Xie xie fits my preconceived stereotype of ‘ridiculous restaurant concept’ and ‘high prices’.
The restaurant space itself is actually pretty cute. Flamboyant colors, simply decorated, and quite cozy. The staff are friendly, and on my visit, very enthusiastic. Well the place was empty, save one other lunch’er… maybe they were thinking, «Oh thank God, a customer! Our existence is validated!»
Flavor wise, their food is delicious. The chicken sandwich comes with shredded chicken, cilantro, red cabbage slaw and egg salad on a baguette. Nicely balanced flavors, earthy from the egg salad, cut with a hint of acidity from the slaw and bitter from the cilantro.
But the baguette was tough, and uncomfortably so (I feared for my teeth). The bread also caused the annoying trait where all the sandwich innards goosh out when masticated, ensuring that shrapnel and sauce are expelled onto your lap (I’ll be sending Xie Xie my dry cleaning bill).
And the prices. (!) I know this place is supposed to be trendy and hip, but charging $ 8.50 for a rather unsubstantial (but tasty) sandwich is ridiculous.
Points to Chef/​Owner Angelo Sosa for opening up a somewhat ballsy restaurant in a very un-​hip part of town, but i’ll save my enthusiasm for the next banh mi shop or Momofuku outlet.
More Xie Xie Coverage:

Finally! Something great falls in midtown and really presents another option for lunch. I’m a huge fan of pork buns and vietnamese sandwiches and they did both excellently. The décor is cool and the outdoor seating was especially relaxing today. Make you sure try the 1000 year old ice cream sandwich because it was delightful (although I’m mystified about what’s in the middle).
The only thing I’d say is that for like $ 6.50 I’d let them get away with three pork buns, but at $ 8.50 I really wanted four. I could have eaten one more and walked away feeling sated.
Also, they totally have sriracha sauce behind the counter so don’t forget to ask for it.