I really enjoyed my lunch at Nan Xiang Express! This is a fun, fast casual, yet upscale feeling chain specializing in Shanghai-style Chinese foods like soup dumplings, noodles, and drinks. Heads up, the parking lot is kind of small. However, it's not too far from Duke's campus. You can order by kiosk, and sit wherever you'd like and the food came out quickly. The soup noodles were really good! They were well-sized and very flavorful. I also ordered the noodles, which were a decent portion, but didn't really stand out to me as anything special.I think the best part of Nan Xiang was the drinks. I loved the mango pomelo sago. The sago was perfectly tender and the drink wasn't too sweet. Honestly, there were so many drink options, and it was so hard to pick just one. Overall, I liked Nan Xiang express for a quick and convenient option. read more

Nan Xiang Express - Shanghainese Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

We really enjoyed our first visit to Nan Xiang Express in Durham, North Carolina this week, and it left us eager to return. We sampled a nice cross-section of the menu, including Wonton Soup, Hot & Sour Soup, Pork Siu Mai, Wontons in Spicy Peanut Sauce, and of course the Nan Xiang Signature Pork Soup Dumplings (see photos). Every dish was flavorful and well prepared, with the soup dumplings easily stealing the show. We had just returned from New York City, where we enjoyed soup dumplings at one of the most famous spots around, so our expectations were high. Impressively, the dumplings here at Nan Xiang Express -- right in North Carolina -- were every bit as satisfying. Ordering was done at the front kiosks, and from that point on the service was excellent. The staff was friendly and welcoming throughout, with plenty of smiling faces that made the experience even more enjoyable. We're very much looking forward to coming back to explore more of the menu, and we're also excited to try the brand-new location that just opened in Raleigh. Highly recommended. read more

See all

Came here for Thanksgiving dinner with family, and loved it! I personally had the crispy spicy chicken bowl with rice and broccoli. It was super tasty. The chicken was indeed crisp. It tasted more like "sweet & sour" chicken than what I was expecting, but I didn't mind. It was still really good. It also wasn't spicy at all, so I added a bunch of chili sauce to the rice to create some heat! My lemon drop martini was also really good. They have a system to order on your phone or on a kiosk, but because we wanted some customizations, we just ordered at the counter in person. There's not much in the way of "service" as this is more of a counter-serve type of restaurant. Everybody enjoyed their meals. There are a lot of very large LED screens throughout the room which are constantly providing entertaining videos to watch. read more

See all

So the noodles were very good. You don't need soup and a noodle bowl, one I more than enough. I felt like I was in Asia . The food was super tasty. read more

Nan Xiang Express - Hot and sour - Shanghainese Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I wasn't certain of what to expect when visiting but sometimes that's best. The ordering kiosks made it easy to decide with no pressure to rush, and it had full explanations with photos of the food. It was a funky, vibe inside with some flashing lights that reminded me of a disco. It didn't take long for the food to be served after receiving a number and selecting my own table. I had the pork wonton soup, pork crispy bottom buns (my fav!), soup dumplings (new to me and yummy!), spicy chicken bowl and washed it down with a mango Boba Tea. All of the food was delicious. The employees were very kind and helpful if needed even though it is mostly self service. It's a cool place with great food overall. read more

See all

A family Christmas tradition is to eat Asian food after we watch a movie at the theater. The vibes were off the chain here! The staff all of them every single person was working so hard and so kind and were happy to answer any questions we had! The food came out hot fresh and very tasty! We all enjoyed everything we tried and we tried just about everything on the menu! read more

See all

Decent spot for a casual and quick meal. You order on kiosks and get a number and sit yourself. The place felt fairly clean and streamlined and wasn't crowded at all around lunchtime. We got our food pretty quickly. I found it a bit odd that even though we opted for eating in, a lot of our dishes were served in takeout style boxes and our bowls were made of paper rather than actual dishes. The soup dumpling wrappers were thicker than expected but the crab flavor was decent, and there was a good amount of soup inside. The thick wrapper didn't rip at all which happens often with soup dumplings, so that was a plus. The pork crispy bottom bun was also pretty good flavor-wise but the dough felt slightly too chewy for me. The juice inside felt mostly like oil. Really liked the flavor of the cucumber salad a lot but it was slightly too oily (?) and drenched in liquid. The fried rice was surprisingly good though! Pretty minimal service as we ordered on kiosks and also self served water. read more

See all

Food was good. Would recommend the dumplings over anything else. Daughter did love the veg noodle soup. The Kpop atmosphere was a bit much for me but I know a lot of people like that. Service was fast and the people were very nice. Was not the best food but it was not terrible either. Again would recommend the dumplings. They were great!! read more

See all

Really enjoyed everything here! The staff was very friendly and offered help even though you could order for yourself on a screen. The food came out well timed and delicious. The drinks were good too. Inside was very clean and cute. My only thing I did not enjoy was the use of tissues as napkins for the table. It was a bit weird and also tissues aren't good for wiping up things or your sticky hands. read more

See all

I had higher expectations for this place. The hot and sour soup was more congealed than it was soup, leaning more on the sour side. The dumplings were too thick and had very little soup in them. And the sumai was a bit dry. Service was very fast but don't think I would go back just based on how the basics were. read more

See all

This place is a combined soup dumpling/Tsaocaa boba shop and you can order from both menus on the same kiosk. We got the crab and pork xiaolongbao and the shredded beef and pepper noodle soup. Just FYI, the crab is just what you see, the bit on top of the xiaolongbao. The xiaolongbao was great! Lots of soup inside, skin was a bit thick but it did the job of holding the soup inside and not tearing. Pretty good, also not burning hot if you're like me and eat them all in one bite. The noodle soup...it was MASSIVE. Also the longer you let it sit, the more the noodles just kept absorbing more soup. This soup was not only a meal for 2, but also made an additional 2 leftovers. So so filling with a hearty portion of the beef. The soup/sauce was a little on the salty side and sort of tasted like it was 85% soy sauce diluted with hot water. Made a terrible sipping broth but was pretty good soaked into the noodles. Would probably recommend it as the dry version unless you really want a soup. Also got a soy milk for that breakfast vibe and this was actually really good, it tasted authentic and fresh, you could taste some of the grittiness. Really filling meal! Flavorwise, 6.5/10 read more

Nan Xiang Express - Crab Meat and Pork Soup Dumplings, Shredded Beef and Pepper Noodle Soup - Shanghainese Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

When you come into this Resturant you order at the kiosk, grab a number, and seat yourself or you can order take out as well. The ambiance was fun lots of bright screens and makes the place feel more elevated. The boba was pretty good, but the food was definitely not my favorite. You can tell the xiaolongbao was not wrapped fresh and were probably frozen previously. The wrapping for the xiaolongbao and won tons was just too thick for me. The best dish here was the braised beef noodles. I would come back for the boba but most likely not for the food. read more

See all

The famous Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao restaurant from New York has expanded to Durham! We excitedly came here to see if the food was worth the hype. The famous soup dumplings were a must order, and we had both a plain and a crabmeat - both were excellent. My wife's favorite item from the original restaurant was on the menu, and the pork crispy bottom buns did not disappoint! Taking a step further, we also ordered the braised beef noodle soup, delicious morsels of beef in a spicy broth - yum! Finally for the kids, we had an order of fried rice which was a hit as well! Having been to thr original store countless times, I can say the quality here is identical, and we will definitely be back again! read more

Nan Xiang Express - Nan Xiang Signature Pork Soup Dumplings - Shanghainese Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

See all

Came with a bunch of friends and enjoyed it! Very crowded but nice vibes, couldn't hear the music above the din. I got the beef pepper noodles (dry) and they were quite delicious! Not super authentic and somewhat oily but still tasty. Service was definitely good for the number of people there. read more

Nan Xiang Express - Beef Shredded Beef and Pepper Noodles - Shanghainese Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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

See all

This is a great concept, it would do well in any city with a younger Asian population. It's a fast, casual dim sum spot with alcohol and bubble tea. Like I said, it's a great concept. I haven't had a bad thing and I've gone through 60% of their food menu in my 2 visits. Soup dumplings are highly recommended on your first trip. The crispy wings are top tier and the Har Gow deserves a chef's kiss. Ordering can be done at a digital kiosk or with a human girl or boy at the counter. Seating is your responsibility, just don't forget your order number. The square footage is adequate, but may not accommodate your group of 30, 8 or fewer people will be much easier to navigate. Parking is not great if you're rolling deep. Roll often... read more

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. read more

Nan Xiang Express - Shanghainese Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

See all

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. read more

Nan Xiang Express - Pork crispy bottom buns - Shanghainese Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

See all

This place really hits the spot if you're craving substantial and authentic Chinese food. From the soup dumplings to the seemingly simple but absolutely delicious bock choy, to the noodle soup, to the overall inexpensive prices, this place is a great spot for small and average size parties. The ambiance is incredibly unique with a plethora of screens displaying unique visuals. While you order at the counter, your food is delivered to your table. While they serve the food in disposal containers, the food itself is Chinese restaurant quality rather than Chinese fast food quality. I've never been to a Chinese restaurant quite like this! read more

See all

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. read more

See all

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! read more

See all

Was invited to Nan Xiang Express to try some menu items. My favorite of the options was the pan friend buns, the buns were pillowy soft and very ginger forward. Also really like the spicy beef noodle soup. All the food was good but these two stuck out. The restaurant is near Duke and packed with college students. It's also a pretty hot so be prepared to sweat a little if you get soup. read more

See all

"Soup dumplings, boba tea, and more right off Ninth Street in Durham" Nestled at the base of the Blue Light Apartments at the end of Erwin Road (right before the merger into Ninth Street) sits this new gem. We came by today for their "soft opening". Note: parking is pretty limited. I also suspect the place may get quite busy when the Duke University schoolyear is in session, given it's basically at the base of a dorm. The place is bright and airy, and there are movable tables to adjust any size party. You can order at the counter or using a few screens set up near the front. My family and I opted for some soup dumplings, shu mai, crispy sesame chicken rice bowl, and some boba tea. The boba tea was ready really fast, and the food came maybe 5-10 minutes after. The soup dumplings were DELICIOUS-- poke at them, drink some of the soup that spills out, then pour it in your mouth for deliciousness overlow. We don't eat pork, so we had the spicy beef one (awesome) and a veggie one (very good). I loved the shrimp shu mai-- came as 4 VERY large pieces, not the tiny ones I'm used to seeing at other places. The crispy sesame chicken rice bowl was good-- I would have liked more than the 3 florets of broccoli, but the taste of the chicken was great. It did come with a rather large amount of plain white rice, which ended up being good given the spicy beef soup dumplings. And everyone loved their bubble teas-- my son had a lime one which curiously came as pink rather than green like the picture, but still tasted delicious. Service was great-- the people working seemed legitimately eager to have folks there, even though the place was hopping. It's not a cheap dinner-- I think the total for the three of us was almost $90 when tax and tip were added. But the quality was great. Overall, I'd say 4.5 stars, but I'll round up. Eager to come back sometime. read more

Nan Xiang Express - Exterior - Shanghainese Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

See all

Very happy to have more quality boba and noodle shops around the Duke Campus! Nanxiang has become my new go to place for quality beef noodle soup. I have been several times and the quality has remained stable which is very important. The soup base is very flavorful but not spicy. The noodles are tender and slightly chewy. But the beef definitely takes the cake for the best part of the dish. It is always soft, savory, and never overcooked. We have also ordered it for take out and the service has been great. The noodles come in a separate compartment which makes it easier to break the meal up into two servings without the noodles getting all soggy. And for the icing on top Tsaocaa is in the same store so we can get quality boba as well! read more

Ordered food to go. Tried to do delivery but delivery service cut off at 9:30 at night. So I called them my order they were very friendly professional and quick. Picked up the food 15 minutes later ordered the crab meat, soup dumplings, crispy chicken with garlic, broccoli, shrimp, spring rolls, and shrimp fried rice, which wasn't on the menu, but they still make it. Crab meat soup dumplings were the absolute best. The shrimp spring rolls had too much wrapping paper not enough stuffing would NOT suggest ordering them. And the spring rolls came with a sweet-and-sour sauce that taste more like ketchup. Crispy chicken taste like orange chicken from any other Chinese restaurant. Broccoli was not garlic at all and the white rice was meh. The shrimp fried rice was absolutely delicious. Did not need any extra sauce on it. Large portions of shrimp taste fresh would definitely recommend getting that. read more

See all

Food Service Ambiance Great place to have some dumplings and boba! Love it....!!!!! read more

Over priced and mediocre food Tried the beef sandwich, shengjian bao and few other items which tasted like supermarket quality food dipped in bad oil. I was excited to go here for the shengjian but I wouldn't go back if they were giving the food away read more

Food is decent, try the chicken wings. I enjoyed the soup dumplings, but their flavor is middling. The vegetable spring rolls were crunchy, but the sauce served with them was a mix between ketchup and bbq. The location parking isn't great, but if you're patient you will find a spot. I've had better Asian food, this place is just ok. Service was fine, not excellent. I'm not sure I'll be back. read more

Absolutely delicious. I lived in Taiwan for a number of years and this is my go to spot in Raleigh Durham for authentic Chinese food.

Boba, boba, boba. My girlfriend loves this place so much we went twice back to back. The boba shop is merged with the Nan Xiang inside called Tsaocaa. It's tucked into an apartment complex so it may be easy to miss. Parking here is a bit tight as there are barely any spots to park. As for the interior, there are some self-order kiosk where you can order. Menu is pretty extensive, but my girlfriend and I really loved the peach oolong and strawberry swirl. 50% sweet was the perfect amount of sweetness. The Muscat grape yogurt drink was a bit underwhelming considering it is Muscat grapes lol. wish it had more of that grape flavor. But the double purple was just chefs kiss. I think the next time we're here, definitely will try their other milk teas. Oolong seems to be a bit hit. read more

Nan Xiang Express - Muscat Grape and Double Purple - Shanghainese Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

See all

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! read more

See all

Horrible, horrible food! Please save your money and go some places else. Food was not seasoned right, noodles were like glue, chicken was greasy and everything was SUPER expensive!!! read more

I absolutely love this place! The dumplings are fresh and zesty. Durham previously was lacking good Asian restaurants, but gradually this has gotten better. They serve delicious, high quality food. The restaurant allows for quick ordering and designed for more of a place for a casual culinary experience. I appreciate the energetic service, and also the restaurant is open late! My favorite was the wontons with the peanut sauce. read more

Nan Xiang Express - Ambiance - Shanghainese Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

See all

The food quality here is wildly inconsistent. One day the broccoli is fresh and green, the next it's yellow and soggy, sitting in a puddle of water. The cucumbers are often overly salty and far from fresh. Ambiance is no good, dinning in is functional. Ordering through Uber Eats is even worse--you can end up waiting nearly two hours while the driver idles outside the restaurant for half an hour. If you cancel after waiting too long, you still get charged a cancellation fee. In the end, you waste your time and money while Uber, the driver, and the restaurant all profit. I would NOT recommend this place to anyone who values consistent quality and fair service. read more

Excellent beef soup and dumplings! Authentic original chai long nap comes from Shanghai and Nan Xian. Tastes great! Friendly service!

Staff was amazing...The food was definitely great and I loved the atmosphere as well including the TVs having both sports events on a few and talent shows on the other.....Also the location is great...I went with a friend and I will definitely be back in the very near future...Tried it for the first time last month in 2024 but I am hoping to make some return trips in 2025... read more

Nan Xiang is solid. Thankful for a quality dim sum place in Durham. Their xiao long bao / soup dumplings are tasty and flavorful and soupy. My personal fave is the crispy bottom pork buns. Their hot and sour soup is surprisingly good. Spicy beef and pepper beef is super tender and the soup is yummy. Their drinks are high quality. Friendly service. I'm not a huge fan of the 100 giant flashing screens (overstimulating) but it's a fun vibe. read more

This food tastes as bad or worse than those at a shopping mall food court, think bad Panda Express. Very little broccoli, fried "veggie" rolls & mostly lumpy rice! Avoid if you like good food! read more

Happy to see another dim sum place open in Durham! This restaurant is very casual, you order at big kiosks at the front and then grab a number for your table. We got the crispy bottom buns, classic dumplings, signature Xiao long bao, crab meat and pork Xiao long bao, chicken Shanghai stir fried noodles, and bok choy. The Xiao long bao were a little too doughy for me, but the soup inside was satisfying. I liked the signature more than the crab meat ones, but that's because I'm not a big seafood fan and the crab flavor was pretty strong. The classic dumplings were ok, the wrapper was kinda doughy too and the insides fell out easily. The stir fried noodles were a little overcooked and oily, but the flavor was decent. I enjoyed the crispy bottom buns, they were fried nicely and had a good meat to bun ratio! We also ordered the muskat grape yogurt slush, which was so good and tasted like a grape yakult. I loved the lychee boba we got in it, it added a nice burst of fruity flavor! Overall, the food here was average but a nice addition to the Asian food scene in Durham. Loved the drink though, would definitely come back for boba again! read more

See all

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! read more

See all