"A lot of restaurants claim they’ll make you feel like family (you know who we’re talking about), but Lang Van, a Vietnamese spot in East Charlotte, is one of the few restaurants that actually succeeds. “Hello, my love!” the owner shouts to everyone who walks in, and after just one visit, she’ll have your order memorized. It’s always busy but the wait’s never too long, you don’t need to dress up, and every element (food, people, and the simple, living-room-sized dining room) is comforting. When you’re properly stuffed with bánh xèo, stir-fried vermicelli with lemongrass-curried chicken, and Vietnamese iced coffee, the staff will send you off with a peanut butter confection, a fortune cookie, a tamarind-flavored candy, and a “see you tomorrow!”" - tess allen, g clay whittaker
"Plaza Shamrock’s Lang Van is an enduring, makes-the-list every year type of spot. The menu is a parade of Vietnamese dishes — hot pot, pho, vermicelli noodles, and lemongrass curries. Go with a big group and wash the dishes down with red table wine that shouldn’t even pair with the food, but somehow, when passed around the table, glugged, and re-filled generously by owner Dan Nguyen, it fits like a glove. Nguyen remembers guest names like an art form, making the informal dining experience at Lang Van both memorable and irresistible (especially on gloomy days begging for a cozy dinner)." - Kayleigh Ruller
"Lang Van is a neighborhood Vietnamese restaurant that brims with warmth the minute you step through the doors. Owner Dan Nguyen knows hospitality like no one else; she welcomes any guest as if they’re a regular — and will likely remember their order in the future. Aromas of lemongrass and curry linger in the air, preparing guests’ palates for a table full of vermicelli dishes, bowls of pho, and pineapple fried rice. There are upwards of 100 items to choose from, so guests will just have to return to this green, white, and bamboo-lined eatery a second time." - Kayleigh Ruller
"A lot of restaurants claim they’ll make you feel like family (you know who we’re talking about), but Lang Van, a Vietnamese spot in East Charlotte, is one of the few restaurants that actually succeeds. “Hello, my love!” the owner shouts to everyone who walks in, and after just one visit, she’ll probably have your order memorized. This is the kind of restaurant you run to after a long, exhausting day when you don’t want to cook or go out anywhere too stuffy. It’s always busy but the wait’s never too long, you don’t need to dress up, and every element (food, people, and the simple, living-room-sized dining room) is comforting. When you’re properly stuffed with bánh xèo, stir-fried vermicelli with lemongrass-curried chicken, and Vietnamese iced coffee, the staff will send you off with a peanut butter confection, a fortune cookie, a tamarind-flavored candy, and a “See you tomorrow!”" - Tess Allen
"Lang Van may be a family favorite East Charlotte staple, but this twenty-plus-year-old Vietnamese restaurant decked out in green, white, and bamboo very well can be a date spot for two. Owner Dan Nguyen, who serves a vast array of hot pot dishes, vermicelli noodles, curries, and veggie rice dishes to the booths and tables herself, makes this always-packed spot an easeful, reliable atmosphere for lively conversation. It has all the cozy, connected energy of date night at home, but with a spirit of neighborhood-style service and craveable Vietnamese cuisine." - Kayleigh Ruller