Take a look at these recent threads if you haven’t already for some suggestions.
Consider adding Queens to your exploration (easy to get to by subway) for lots of not fancy but delicious eats of many origins (Filipino, Thai, Indonesian, the full gamut of South Asian, Malaysian, another Chinatown in Flushing, and also various Central and South American).
When you say “small kids” – how small? As in, if you head to Chinatown, can you check out a few places instead of a single sit-down meal?
Some thoughts:
Chinatown:
I’m not a fan of the “scooped” style of cheung fun at Yu Ji Shi Mo or similar – for the dim sum style with great fillings (eg shui mai cruller), head to King’s Kitchen instead (also easier with small kids, and you can have a full meal – their roast meats are good, as are the clay pot rices, and the rest).
Shu Jiao Fu Zhou is also not going to be optimal with small kids, and the dumplings are good, but you can carry out a small order if you just want to see what the hype is about.
Do you have something like Spicy Village in LA? There’s a “new” location (by former employees of the real one) that’s a bit easier with kids / visitors (big tray chicken is maybe 80% of the original, but it’s a lot cleaner and more comfortable space). Bo Ky, Cafe Hong Kong, NY Noodletown, Wu’s Wonton King, and more are local institutions worth a visit.
There are also a number of good regional Chinese places not in Chinatown that you can comfortably sit and eat at with kids. Near where you’re staying there’s Che Li and Szechuan Mountain House just for starters.
Halal carts – I don’t know that the “branding” makes much difference. A halal cart near where you are is a good halal cart. This is not destination dining imo.
Urban Hawker is convenient to various things, but not really a destination in itself. Better (and cheaper) of most of what’s there is available elsewhere.
I’d swap Xian for something else unless there’s something specific you can’t get anywhere else. There are also other mini chains like Bites of X’ian now.
Do you have Uyghur options near you? Otherwise that’s worth trying. Food overlaps with several Central Asian (samsa, noodles, dumplings, even the big tray type chicken – but a different style than the one at Spicy Village).
I’d swap Mamoun’s for Kati Roll Company (assuming the village location). And if you’re around the village, you may want to visit the newish Tashkent and pick up food for a picnic – walk over to washington square park to eat.
There’s been a surge in high end Indian restaurants, not sure what’s available that’s equivalent in LA. If you don’t want high end, go to Lex / curry hill or Jackson heights for “cabdriver” aka casual places with excellent food (and seating) that you probably don’t have.
We also have different Korean options than LA.