One of New York's best Chinese restaurants is preparing for a major expansion

$4 recently named $4 the second-best Chinese restaurant in the US, and now hand-pulled noodle spot is reportedly planning to expand.

According to $4, the New York City-based chain (pronounced "she-ahn") has purchased a central kitchen in Queens that could help support the chain's ambitious expansion plans up and down the East Coast.

Xi'an's northwestern Chinese food has enjoyed a lot of $4 since it launched as a food stall in the basement of a mall in Queens. The likes of Anthony Bourdain and Bobby Flay have given it their thumbs-up.

Since 2005 the chain has grown to 11 (soon to be 12) locations throughout New York City, and is proving to be incredibly popular. Xi'an also landed on Zagat's first "$4" list, further proof of its rapid rise to fast-casual stardom.

It may just be popular enough to take on a larger market and bring real Chinese fast-casual to the Panda Express fast-food market. Here's what it's like to eat there.