From the outside, this may look like your typical "hole in the wall" -- **DO NOT let the outside…read moresway your opinion!! The food is amazing! We started with a "make your own spring roll," and our waitress took such joy in showing us the proper way to handle the rice paper and make the perfect roll. It made the experience so much fun! Then came our main meal -- a shrimp and chicken dish that was absolutely delicious. I honestly wished I could finish it because it was SO good, but there was so much food! And just when we thought the experience couldn't get any better, the owner (manager? I'm not sure!) came over with three small glasses and some red wine. She poured us each a glass, poured one for herself, gave us a Vietnamese "cheers," thanked us for coming in, and went on her way. It was such a simple, genuine gesture, but it made the whole experience. We honestly felt like family. **Amazing food, wonderful people, and definitely going into our monthly rotation!!**

Their ratings and reviews speak for themselves! Do not let…read morethe exterior fool you , this place is worth the visit!! The food does the talking though, this place is authentic and food is hot a fresh. We came on a Friday evening and it was so busy , which is a good sign, line was consistent of people waiting to be seated. You can tell regulars love this spot. I ordered the 109 (chicken stir fry with veggies and steamed rice) and 130 (special fried rice) I was over the moon about the flavor of the food, absolutely try Lang Van!!

We were in the area looking on Yelp for a place to have lunch today…read more ....Found this place and thought We would give it a try. My goodness, What a find...This place has it all!! Great dining area that was clean and welcoming, fantastic staff and some of the best Thai food We've ever had. They bring out this wonderful complimentary cup of piping hot soup with your drink order. We ordered spring rolls and the Cashew chicken lunch portion to share. Both came out hot and delicious! We decided while we live in a different part of the city this place is worthy of a special trip to come back. We will be back...Thank you for a great lunch!!

So happy that I found this Thai place last week. Even happier that I found it during lunch hours…read moreand was able to take advantage of their lunch special. I came by on 6/19 and was sat with no wait at a booth in their bar area. The waitress was very nice and held multiple roles (greeter, waitress, bartender, cashier etc). After ordering she brought us out a complementary sample of some of the best soup I've ever had. The broth was packed with flavor and it had little pieces of tofu in it. I would go back just for the soup alone. The food was equally as good. I ordered the Cashew nut lunch entree that came with white rice. Again, full of flavor and only mildly spicy as I can't handle much heat. Served steaming hot and with a decent portion size. I will definitely be adding this restaurant to my list of places to return. *Sorry for the poor picture quality. The place was dimly lit and I was super hungry so I didn't prioritize photos on this one.

First time here and will be back. Went with the #2 combo. It was hot and very flavorful. It also…read morehad a ton of meat and noodles so no complaints there either. I felt it was a pretty good value for what you get. They definitely didn't go light in the ingredients. Only drawback is the spoon. I admit my chopsticks skills are lacking in the soup department and the way the spoon is shaped leads to your soup falling out as you are trying to eat. It's like a double edged spoon. I'm going back to try something else there and see if I can work on my spoon skills.

I'm such a huge fan of this spot! I've had them twice and every time I go it's been amazing!…read moreSeriously. The first time I had the beef vermicelli noodle dish and it was incredibly flavorful. My fiance and I shared it and we both really enjoyed it. The toppings gave it so much more heartiness and flavor. All of the ingredients mixed well and created a really delicious experience. So, when I came back to Alley 51 I had to check them out again!! They always have the nicest service too. This trip we tried the bun tom nuong: grilled shrimp vermicelli dish and it was another banger! It's all the different flavors in this meal that make it stand out so much. It's a mouth party, honestly. Saigon Cafe hit me with a double yum punch this day too because I also ordered their grilled chicken banh mi and WOW!!!! This was one of the best banh mi's I've had so far in Charlotte. It was really good! I will probably always grab something from Saigon Cafe when I'm in Alley 51. Sooooo good!

Cuisine: 7 Service: 6…read moreDecor: 5 Value: 8 Overall: 7 Whenever I fly in or out of Charlotte, I try stopping here for a meal, or at least a snack. Simply put, it's hard to find Laos cuisine in NYC, so I take advantage of having some authentic Laos food when I can. First of all, I am a huge fan of their Pork Sausages with that awesome green chili paste/sauce. Great snap on every bite, with crumbly and juicy interior, slightly sweet. Add that touch of heat from the green chili and it's a perfect appetizer or snack. I like most of the other foods I have tried here, including their Papaya Salad, Pad Kraprow, Beef Ball & Shredded Chicken Noodle Soup, and Pork Ribs. Nothing that will blow your mind if you are familiar with good quality Laos or Thai cuisine, but still very good and affordable. The most interesting thing I ate here though was Balut. If you know what that is, then you are either excited or grossed out. I have had it before, so I know what I was getting myself into. This version was solid, especially with that yummy chili dipping sauce. Regardless of if you are adventurous or not, definitely come here to try some authentic Laos food. I am not an expert, but what I had so far has been worth revisiting.

We came in to eat lunch and I have to say, this place is as amazing as it gets. Good thing we came…read morein time before the lunch rush. Cause it got BUSY. A few things we had. The Laos Sausage with the Sticky rice was absolutely amazing! We also had the 6 piece Fried wings with the green chili sauce which was super juicy and crispy with the perfect seasoning and marinade. Will definitely be coming back when we visit! Thanks everyone for some spectacular food and service!

Wow! Such a great experience…read more The food including appetizers and entrees were out in less than 5 minutes after ordering. The waiter checked in often to ensure we were enjoying everything and had no issues. Although it's a small space, we didn't have to wait when attending on a Saturday evening around 7pm. The crab Rangoon was delicious! I would go back just for that. For my entree, I got the Vietnamese Fried Rice. Every bite was full of flavor. There was enough for leftovers and it tasted just as good the next day. I can't wait to go back to try more of the menu.

I love Rai Lay Thai! They have the best pad Thai in town! Their chicken larb is so flavorful and…read moreloaded w spices! The fresh springs rolls are really tasty. The staff are always friendly and accommodating. Same consistency when ordering takeout or eating in. Delish!

My fellow Vietnamese brothers and sisters... I found it! The BEST Vietnamese restaurant here in…read moreCharolette! They served the GOOD Vietnamese street food here. Everything is super fresh and flavorful. I would love to quit my job and sit here all day and eat! Please come here if you miss home They also have fresh sugar cane juice.. I'm so happy. Everybody in here was also very nice and wonderful! 100000/10

We have never had a bad meal here. The food and drinks are all cooked to order. The inside is…read morenicely decorated, and there are plenty of seats. You order first, then you take your seat. They do bring the food out to you. The service has always been really great. We really have never had an issue. The really nice part is the Pho is gluten free so it's a pretty easy choice especially once the weather gets a little chilly. I love the Korean corn dogs. The Hot Cheetos option is my favorite. It is cooked to order. I always get a nice cheese pull. It's not spicy but does have good Cheetos flavor. We love a good Boba so we like to get the blended frozen mango one and it is top-tier! Everyone who works here is super friendly and they answer questions if you have them. when you pay, you can either pay with cash or card. If you pay with cash, it is a little cheaper, so just keep that in mind. Absolutely recommend!

Excellent food with good size portions. Welcoming atmosphere with attentive service. Our server…read moreChelsea always takes customer service to the next level. Highly recommend Open Rice Blakeney!

Been wanting to try this place for awhile. Finally went tonight with a friend and I LOVED IT!!…read more Food was delicious, service was awesome and we will definitely go back soon!!

Delicious, inexpensive--may have blacked out and bought more than my husband and I could eatread more

Authentic Laos cuisine in Charlotte!…read more I was floored when I searched on Yelp for Thai cuisine and found this taste of Laos instead. My first visit here was at lunchtime during the workday. The exterior is clean, as well as the interior. The ambiance is equivalent to that of a fast-food restaurant. The food is elevated. When I walked in, I was warmly greeted by the cashier. I informed her that it was my first visit, and she was super polite, explaining the menu and giving her recommendations. I ultimately ordered a broth-based soup that equates to a pho with thicker rice noodles. The broth was flavorful, and the thicker noodles absorb that flavor nicely. The meatballs had a great texture and flavor as well, and the temperature of the dish was piping hot. My nose was a bit congested, and my stomach was a bit unsettled on this particular day, and this helped. For dessert, I had a dish that had sweetcorn, purple, sweet potato, and tapioca pearls in a sweetened coconut cream that was divine. It was the perfect end to a great experience. I've eaten here a few times since and enjoyed absolutely every dish, including the phenomenal chicken skewers. Anything you get here is a guaranteed home run.