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If you've never been exposed to Vietnamese cuisine, Lang Van is the perfect introduction. The food is light and authentic, flavorful and fresh. It is a favorite for many Charlotte vegetarians.
The décor is spare, with lots of natural light, wood, and plants. You are greeted and shown to your table. Then the adventure begins. The menu has clear explanations of each dish, but feel free to ask your waitperson any questions you may have. They are very knowledgeable.
The vegetarian section contains appetizers and entrees. You will find that Vietnamese cuisine contains the softer flavors of lemongrass, mint, cilantro, ginger and lime. On our last visit, we started with the Spring Rolls - tofu, lemongrass, cilantro, and lettuce rolled in rice paper with a peanut sauce for dipping. Very tasty and light. For the entrée, I chose the Bean Curd with Lemon Grass. It was lightly fried tofu, bean sprouts, and mint over a bowl of cold rice noodles with a sweet-hot sauce. My companion had Banh Xao, a rice flour pancake stuffed with tofu, bean sprouts, and green onions.
As with Thai and Indian food, a cold lager complements the flavor of Vietnamese dishes. Lang Van has a complete selection of beer and wine, but for an authentic experience, try the two Vietnamese beers they offer - Saigon and '33'. These are both light with a little bit of tang
The menu contains a long list of dessert drinks, featuring the oriental equivalents of ice cream sodas and the like. Most dessert drinks are made of coconut milk and fruit juices. They come with sweet green or red beans, different colored tapioca or gelatin. Some dessert drinks are enjoyed warm, while others are served with crushed ice.
However, the iced coffee is the star beverage. The dark coffee slowly drips down from a metal, filtered container placed on top of a tall glass with sweetened condensed milk in the bottom. An ice bucket and tongs and a long spoon are provided, and when the coffee has finally dripped through, stir the milk and coffee mixture and add eight or nine ice cubes. Then slowly sip the strong, sweet elixir as you digest your meal.
Lang Van has a fairly small parking lot, but don't let that deter you. It is well worth the trouble!
Lang Van Information:
| Address: | 3019 Shamrock Drive Charlotte, NC 28215 |
| Phone: | (704)531-9525 |
| Price Range: | ($15 and under, for vegetarian dishes) |
| Hours | Tue-Thu: 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. Fri-Sat: 11 a.m. - 11 p.m. |
| Credit Cards: | Accepted |
| Rating: |  |
About Jerri
Jerri Kidder is a life coach who maintains a private practice in Charlotte, NC. She has been a practicing vegetarian for 16 years with an interest in alternative medicine and nutrition. She can be contacted at (704) 921-3221 or jerri53@aol.com.