Xibei Eatery, a Chinese hand-pulled noodle chain, opened in Westwood this spring.

With more than 380 locations across China, Xibei Eatery’s Westwood location is the fourth to open in the Los Angeles area. Xibei is a popular chain originating in China with another location which opened in Silver Lake called Xibei Dumplings.

Kayla Deleon, Xibei Eatery’s assistant manager and a fourth-year psychology student, said the restaurant was full of customers the first week after opening. It has remained popular among students since opening, Deleon added.

Deleon added that she wishes there were more food options near UCLA.

“I am a little bit bewildered sometimes at the lack of good Asian food in Westwood,” she said.

Xibei Eatery is among the many new restaurants that have opened in the Westwood area this year. Other restaurants that opened or are set to open in Westwood in 2026, include Milksha, Raising Canes and Chill Since ‘93.

[Related: Taiwanese bubble tea chain Milksha opens Westwood location]

Deleon said she believes Xibei Eatery could become a new signature restaurant for students alongside Gogobop, a Korean rice bowl restaurant, and Noodle St, a California-based noodle chain.

Xibei Eatery’s popularity in China shows that it has a successful business model, Deleon said.

Abby Fang, a fourth-year economics student, said she visited the restaurant for lunch with her friend. Fang added that she was drawn to Xibei Eatery because of its hand-pulled noodles.

Claire Chen, a fourth-year computer science student, said she also ordered hand-pulled noodles at the restaurant.

“I really enjoyed the hand-pulled noodles,” Chen said, “That’s definitely one of their specialties.”

Deleon also said she noticed that several Westwood restaurants have recently closed. Some of the local restaurants, such as Bella Pita and Broxton Brewery & Public House, have closed in Westwood within the past year.

She added that she believes high rent in Westwood and a lack of stable revenue have caused restaurants to close or move out.

“It’s literally so hard to pay rent if you don’t have a really successful business model,” Deleon said.