Nan Xiang Express is the fast-casual arm of a soup dumpling operation that started in Flushing in 2006, and the Williamsburg location does exactly what it promises: decent xiao long bao, fast, cheap, with minimal fuss and minimal atmosphere to match.
The Vibe
Bright, clean, and small — a few tables inside, a heated back patio out back, and most orders going out the door in takeout containers. The lighting is flat, the room is functional, and the turnover is quick. It reads like a lunch counter that happens to stay open until 2am. There's nothing to look at, nothing to linger over.
What to Order
- Signature pork soup dumplings — the reason the parent brand built its reputation. Get these first; everything else is secondary.
- Spicy wontons in peanut sauce — the sleeper on the menu, and arguably better than the xiao long bao on a purely pleasure-to-effort basis.
- Skip the pork chop noodle soup — thin broth, overcooked protein, and noodles that taste like they came from a bag. The braised beef version is the safer call if you're going noodles.
When to Come
A weekday lunch or a late-night hunger fix after something else — not a date in itself. Open until 2am every night, which makes it useful as a post-bar stop if you're already in the neighborhood. Walk in; no reservation needed or possible.
The Bottom Line
Good soup dumplings in a room that has nothing going for it — fine if you're already on Grand Street, not worth routing a date around.