iconLog In  |  Register

Xinh Xinh celebrates one year today

About a year ago, Editor supreme Joel Gillespie and I whimsically dined at the newly opened Xinh Xinh Cafe in Urbana. Its location was suspect; parked in the Schnuck's Plaza on Vine and Main in downtown Urbana, next to fast food Chinese, Quizno's, and Papa Murphy's, we didn't see reason to give it much promise.

But then we ate. And ate, and ate. And by the meal's end, we were talking with Shai Mauth, the owner and head chef, about where he came from, and what he intends do to with the place.

The first year has been a solid one. Never are you eating alone when you go in for a big bowl of pho, or a reasonably priced and delicious banh mi. Its reputation grew quickly, and soon enough, the restaurant was being lauded as one of the best and brightest new additions to the recently burgeoning downtown Urbana restaurant scene.

It even earned a number seven slot on the Top New Restaurants of the Decade, here on Smile Politely, beating out the likes of KoFusion and Escobar's, and places like B-Won and even bacaro, whose fans have been crying CHAD, and whining for a recount ever since the list was released.

The reason is simple: the restaurant delivers all the things that the people of Champaign-Urbana desire when dining out: fair prices, good portions, and delicious food.

So, to celebrate, owner Shai Mauth is giving us a little break from his already totally reasonable prices. Today, Tuesday January 26, 2010, there are specials galore, plus giveaways, live music and more. Head on over at any time to check it out:

  • For lunch — $5 sampler platter that will include 2 chicken wings, 1 egg roll, 1 deep fried egg, half a sandwich and a thai ice tea
  • all day — $5 pho, rice porridge and vermicelli noodles.
  • $20 gift card giveaway — chance to enter with every purchase — 5 drawings total
  • 8 p.m. will have music and drinks

Cheers to you Xinh Xinh Cafe! You've helped make C-U a better and more delicious place to live.

5 comments

username

Jim K

#1

Love the pho and pork spring rolls, weekly.  Now starving, nice pics!

username

Anonymous

#2

I am concerned that an article seeking to praise a lovely and delicious restaurant should start with a backhanded compliment about it’s location.
Big, sincere ups to Xinh Xinh and all the regulars and staff!

Seth Fein avatar featured_post

Seth Fein

#3

You shoudn’t be.
 
Often times things are not as they appear, and that was the point of the paragraph.

username

Aariq

#4

“Never are you eating alone when you go in for a big bowl of pho”
I totally agree.  Something about pho places always makes me feel totally comfortable eating alone.  I think its because the bowl IS so big, it’s like you’re having a conversation with your food—you’re totally engaged in it.  Plus, when the pho conversation gets boring, Shai is always friendly!

username

Mike Slagor

#5

What a fantastic party it was tonight!  Place was PACKED!  Amazing food, always top notch


Add A Comment

A note about our commenting policy.


Comment
  1.  captcha arrow

Most Recent Food Comments

{username}

Bread Company can do some fantastic vegan dinner dishes!  Several of their pastas are vegan or could be made vegan and their pizzas can be ordered (and taste great) without the cheese.  I also recommend their roasted potatoes and their roasted garlic head appetizer.

{username}

Glad you asked Stuart. In the 1950s (well before they were approved for human use) poultry producers began using subtherapeutic doses of quinolone antibiotics, specifically fluroquinolone, to reduce the incidence of respiratory disease in overcrowded production conditions. In humans, quinolones are a last line of defense antibiotic…

{username}

Hah!  Good one, Joel.   But my question was a serious one.  I only buy eggs from a couple of local organic farmers, so I never thought about antibiotic-free eggs.  I’m assuming that Anna meant the hen was not fed antibiotics, but am not wholly sure. I’m…

Joel Gillespie avatar

That sounds like a setup to a joke at a CSA’s annual banquet. Q: “How can you tell an antibiotic-free egg?“ A: “It just can’t seem to get rid of that cough.“ /shows self out

{username}

I love eating Vietnamese food, and having growing up my entire life eating it, I was excited to go.  I really wanted to like this place because of all of the hype I had heard——unfortunately, I was sorely disappointed.  I got the pho (vietnamese soup) and thought…

{username}

Kaiyo was decent for a sushi buffet, but it definitely isn’t as good as KO fusion.  I thought it was better than any sushi I’ve ever had at a chinese buffet, but was not as good as my least favorite sushi item at KO fusion.  However, I…

{username}

What is an antibiotic-free egg?  And how can you tell?

{username}

Great article. I’ve always found that by making it in the blender, I can be my typical impatient self and pour tons of oil in at once. It’s very forgiving that way, though not fool proof. 

Timbo avatar

I like Kaiyo A LOT, but at Sushi Kame (next to the art theatre) you can get an absolute shitload of good sushi, plus miso, and a bit of noodles in a vineagar cucumber salad for $21, and you know it was made just for you. I…

{username}

Nice article, Emily! When I get to the CU area, I’ll be sure to give this place a try.

Most Recent Comments

{username}

Joel, thank you for the opportunity to answer these questions and have them posted here. I really appreciate it! Yes, I was thrilled to see that Rep. Kucinich flipped today, so he will has committed to voting yes for health reform. I appreciated his comments which seem…

{username}

It appears to me that your reviewer did all that could be expected: she paid her money, saw the play and conveyed her impressions. The review (on the whole, laudatory) may have been rushed, in a generous attempt to publicize the production while it was still available…

{username}

Dan Schreiber’s chocolate is simply the best I’ve ever had.  It’s a whole different ball-game; closer to very high-end wine than anything out of Hershey PA. 

{username}

That settles it… Im going.

{username}

Vosges is pretty decent chocolate, but you should definitely try the locally-produced chocolate from Dan Schreiber, available (regularly?) at Amara, Caffe Paradiso, and Common Ground.  I believe it is or will be at other places soon.

{username}

I read Kucinich flipped today. He must have read this and been convinced.

{username}

Bread Company can do some fantastic vegan dinner dishes!  Several of their pastas are vegan or could be made vegan and their pizzas can be ordered (and taste great) without the cheese.  I also recommend their roasted potatoes and their roasted garlic head appetizer.

{username}

General Admission? Are we supposed to camp out the night before the game to get decent seats?

SFJon avatar

I wonder with Griffey if he’s not in game shape enough to play a significant number of minutes.  If you look at his minutes played this year, he’s never played a starters minutes.

Joel Gillespie avatar

I really appreciated Ms. Lennhoff’s candid answers to the questions. I learned a lot about health care reform from this experience. Thanks CCHCC!

{username}

Glad you asked Stuart. In the 1950s (well before they were approved for human use) poultry producers began using subtherapeutic doses of quinolone antibiotics, specifically fluroquinolone, to reduce the incidence of respiratory disease in overcrowded production conditions. In humans, quinolones are a last line of defense antibiotic…

{username}

Hah!  Good one, Joel.   But my question was a serious one.  I only buy eggs from a couple of local organic farmers, so I never thought about antibiotic-free eggs.  I’m assuming that Anna meant the hen was not fed antibiotics, but am not wholly sure. I’m…

Joel Gillespie avatar

That sounds like a setup to a joke at a CSA’s annual banquet. Q: “How can you tell an antibiotic-free egg?“ A: “It just can’t seem to get rid of that cough.“ /shows self out

{username}

First off did you read the wired magazine article I posted? You should. Second, WAS!? HAhahaaha. What, we aren’t being spied on right now. Its not legal anymore? Obama didn’t just re-authorize the patriot act? Semi-mythical deep packet inspection devices. Semi-mythical deep packet inspection devices. Semi mythical…

{username}

I was all set to pounce on this, but it’s the truth.  There used to be bands in town I was afraid of, like I’d have a heart attack during their set.  There are still some great bands, but they’re pretty and dainty and low in cholesterol. …

{username}

I love eating Vietnamese food, and having growing up my entire life eating it, I was excited to go.  I really wanted to like this place because of all of the hype I had heard——unfortunately, I was sorely disappointed.  I got the pho (vietnamese soup) and thought…

{username}

Kaiyo was decent for a sushi buffet, but it definitely isn’t as good as KO fusion.  I thought it was better than any sushi I’ve ever had at a chinese buffet, but was not as good as my least favorite sushi item at KO fusion.  However, I…

{username}

What is an antibiotic-free egg?  And how can you tell?

{username}

Great article. I’ve always found that by making it in the blender, I can be my typical impatient self and pour tons of oil in at once. It’s very forgiving that way, though not fool proof. 

{username}

I will be at Danu this evening. And seeing as tomorrow - St. Pat’s - is my birthday, I will be celebrating with tons of green and fun!

Log In



Auto-login on future visits

Forgot your password?