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| - Oh Joy! - Ben Thanh is a treasure! Let me explain. Years ago I started eating at Lang Van when it was just a few weeks into a hasty neighborhood pharmacy renovation. I got to know No Duong and her wonderful husband Robert and became a long and loyal fan. For years it was the only Vietnamese restaurant in town for me. Let me emphasize that it is still a very nice restaurant with good food and a great crowd (emphasize crowd lol!). Then they sold out and moved to California and I was sad to find that Robert had had a serious stroke. Now nearly twenty years later and quite by accident I stumbled into Ben Thanh and there was Mai Duong, sister of No. During this visit to Charlotte I have been here to Ben Thanh twice. First I was amazed to see many of the old North Charlotte Art, Music, and Poetry crowd. Mai is now all grown up with a great husband and wonderful children and owns the restaurant. The food was excellent. The first visit I had perfectly prepared shrimp and squid Pho. Actually to be proper this was the rice noodle variety called Hu Tieu Hai San. (#34 on menu) It was fantastic! On the next visit, this time with friends and old Lang Van pioneers, we had Curry Lemon Grass with shrimp and squid. (#78-81on the menu) Very spicy and absolutely perfect. Not over cooked so the squid was not the least bit rubbery. I had my usual sparkling water and one of my friends had her traditional 33 Vietnamese beer. I hope I have time to go back for one of their Hot Pots. ( Tom, Buc, Bo and Lau, Thap Cam Chaua Cay to be proper. # 82 and 83 on menu). This is a great dish in which you are served a great bowl of noodles and broth along with a platter of assorted chicken, squid, beef, etc. that you add to the very hot broth (it has it's own little heater). This is accompanied by a large plate of greens, peppers, bean sprouts etc (as in Pho dishes). It is a wonderful do- it yourself-at-your-own-table delight that is plenty for two people. Check it out on their web site menu. But the best tip I can give you is to ask Mai to just recommend something. After a brief examination of your preferences regarding spice, noodles, rice, etc. She will make a perfect suggestion. You can't go wrong. All and all this place is just wonderful - the ghost of Lang Van past as it were and it will surly be my new favorite when I come to Charlotte.
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