Vietnamese and Asian dining corridor along Shamrock Drive and Central Avenue, where Lang Van earned Charlotte's only Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2025.
Lang Van is the east Charlotte Vietnamese institution that won the city's only Michelin Bib Gourmand in the 2025 American South guide for pho.
Signature: Pho, Banh xeo, Bun bo Hue
Order: The pho and the banh xeo crispy crepe; the menu is broad but those are the dishes that earned the Bib.
Tip: Crowds quadrupled after the Michelin nod. Go on a weekday, expect a wait on weekends, and bring cash for the wait time.
Lang Van on Shamrock Drive is the family-run east Charlotte Vietnamese institution that landed Charlotte's only Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2025 for pho.
Signature: Pho, Banh xeo, Bun bo Hue
Order: The pho and the banh xeo crispy crepe; both earned the Michelin nod.
Tip: The room is small. Weekday lunches are the easiest window; weekend evenings run a 30-minute wait.
Manolo's Latin Bakery on Central Avenue is the long-standing east Charlotte Latin bakery and counter, with empanadas, pastries and Cuban sandwiches in 2026.
Signature: Empanadas, Latin pastries, Cuban sandwiches
Order: An empanada, a Cuban sandwich and one of the pastries from the case.
Tip: Counter-order. Cash-easy. The case turnover means morning is the strongest time.
Manolo's Latin Bakery on Central Avenue is the east Charlotte Latin-American bakery and counter, with empanadas, Cuban sandwiches and a pastries case in 2026.
Tip: Morning is the freshest. Spanish is the working language; English is fine too.
Worth the queue: Empanada
Manolo's Latin Bakery on Central Avenue is the Charlotte budget option for Latin American empanadas, Cuban sandwiches and pastries, with most plates landing.
Try: Empanadas and Cuban sandwiches
Tip: Counter-order. Spanish is the working language. Morning case is freshest.