Westwood is benefiting from the addition of a new Chinese restaurant.

Xibei Eatery, which opened a new location recently on Weyburn Avenue, specializes in northwestern Chinese cuisine. The Xibei Catering Group operates more than 400 locations – most in China – and the Westwood eatery is one of a few Xibei establishments in the United States. The restaurant’s fast-casual style is efficient and most of the noodle-centric menu is tasty, but a few of the dishes are generic and priced higher than comparable options in Westwood.

Upon entering the establishment, customers are met with an aesthetic dominated by splashes of red and beige, with pale wood beams and crimson furniture. Unlike other Westwood restaurants such as Noodle St. that also offer hand-pulled noodles and allow diners to easily see into the kitchen, the views into the kitchen are limited at Xibei Eatery. Perhaps seeing more of the cookery taking place would make the dining experience more immersive. Still, the decorations along the walls – which include dried grass and wheat – give the space a cozy feeling.

[Related: Speciality hand-pulled noodle restaurant opens fourth LA area location in Westwood]

The restaurant was sold out of its “must-try” beef short rib oil splashed hand-pulled noodles, so the cashier recommended the beef brisket oil splashed hand-pulled noodles instead. These noodles were priced at $18.75 and arrived in a large bowl with sliced potatoes and carrots as well as bok choy and bean shoots. There were only three noodles in the bowl, but each was a long, winding piece with a delightful chewy texture. The beef brisket was soft and tender, and the complementary vegetables – especially the well-seasoned bean shoots – made for a filling portion. This particular dish was not too spicy, with the chili flakes providing a pleasantly surprising crunch even if the entire bowl was drowning in an overly generous helping of chili oil.

Another strong dish was the uni and shrimp shumai, which can be ordered as a three-piece set for $8 or a half dozen for $15.75. The steamed dumplings were folded like flowers and served in a basket, making for the prettiest presentation of the plates tried on this trip. The taste was especially scrumptious and bright, with a rich seafood flavor and a small hint of pepper. Fans of seafood are sure to enjoy these visually appealing, satisfyingly juicy shumai.

Unlike the noodles and shumai which felt unique to Xibei Eatery, the minced pork rice bowl with crispy fried egg felt less original – a fairly standard fare. The pork itself was juicy enough and the egg was tasty, but serving these ingredients with bok choy over a bowl of white rice did not excite the palate in the way the noodles or shumai did. For customers intimidated by spice who are looking for a safe option on the Xibei Eatery menu, this $12 bowl suffices but falls below average in its execution.

[Related: Restaurant review: Noodle St. pleases palates with exciting entrees, assortment of appetizers]

The menu also features a variety of beverages, and on this visit, the jasmine green milk tea and passion fruit green tea were sampled. The former drink delivered on a strong, yummy jasmine flavor that thankfully was not drowned out by the milk. The latter was tangy and sweet, with the passion fruit seeds providing an unexpected but enjoyable crunch.

The speed with which dishes were prepared was impressive across the board, with both the noodles and rice bowl hitting the table within five minutes of sitting down and the shumai following about five minutes after that. Admittedly, this meal was eaten around 1:30 p.m. on a leisurely Saturday afternoon when the restaurant wasn’t too crowded, but the efficiency of the kitchen makes the fast element of the fast-casual dining experience quite successful.

Unfortunately, the inconsistent service at Xibei Eatery strikes an awkward vibe that is not fully effective. Customers order upon entering then go sit down at a table to wait for their food to be brought to them, aligning with the experience at most other fast-casual restaurants. However, there is some attempt at tableside service with plates, chopsticks and water delivered to the table by a server. This is a nice touch, but any hopes of a water refill or obtaining extra napkins are neglected from then on. Trying to blend casual dining with a service-oriented approach could be managed better, probably with slightly more attentiveness.

On the whole, Xibei Eatery brings a fun slate of flavors to the Westwood culinary scene thanks to its northwestern Chinese focus and the quality of both its hand-pulled noodles and delectable shumai. However, with many dishes being in the $15 to $19 range, prices at this restaurant are a few dollars steeper than other spots serving Chinese food. Perhaps the inclusion of several fruit tea and milk tea options helps make Xibei Eatery a one-stop-shop for hungry Angelenos.

Xibei Eatery is worth a try, but is not an automatic classic on the broader Westwood menu.