Two North Carolina favorites just scored a Lunar New Year spotlight from Michelin, with Charlotte stalwart Lang Van and Raleigh standout Brewery Bhavana landing on a short list of festival picks. Inspectors highlighted Lang Van’s nem rán, the crackly Vietnamese fried spring rolls, and Brewery Bhavana’s jiaozi and dim sum as dishes tailor-made for holiday tables. The nods add national attention to spots many locals already treat as go-to neighborhood standbys.
In a feature on iconic Lunar New Year dishes, the MICHELIN Guide pairs classic celebratory foods with North American restaurants and recommends Brewery Bhavana for jiaozi and Lang Van for nem rán. The piece folds in cultural context around each pick, aiming to help diners decide which traditional plates to seek out during the Year of the Fire Horse.
Lang Van's Hometown Nod
Lang Van, a family-run Vietnamese restaurant on Shamrock Drive, has anchored Charlotte’s dining scene for decades and has earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand, Axios reported. That Bib recognizes standout food at wallet-friendly prices and helps explain why inspectors flagged its fried spring rolls as a Tết standout. Regulars say Lang Van’s straightforward cooking and generous portions make it an easy pick for affordable Lunar New Year get-togethers.
Why Brewery Bhavana Made The Cut
Brewery Bhavana’s downtown Raleigh space - part brewery, dim sum hall, flower shop and bookstore - caught Michelin’s eye for its dim sum program, and the restaurant has drawn regional attention since it opened in March 2017. WRAL notes the restaurant’s early praise, while the site at Brewery Bhavana outlines its dim sum offerings and community events that help position it as a natural Lunar New Year choice. Michelin’s shout-out gives Raleigh diners one more excuse to plan a dim sum spread during the holiday period.
What This Means For Diners
With Lunar New Year having started last Tuesday, restaurants that serve up traditional festival dishes can expect steady interest through the roughly two-week celebration, according to History. Anyone hoping to ring in the holiday over nem rán or jiaozi at these spots should plan ahead - check online reservations or call early, since a Michelin mention has a way of filling tables fast.
