PHO LAO

Crazy, fun, tacky decor with delicious food. The service was good- they kept our water glasses…read morefilled.

Best pad Thai ever! My husband and I eat here weekly, and after having pad Thai at several…read morelocations in NC, theirs is by far the best. This is a hidden gem in Morganton of all places. The food is always consistent in portion and taste/quality and comes out HOT! Portions are on the large side- you will not go hungry here! They have a variety of different things on their menu, and everything I have tried has been delicious. Service here is an added bonus- always friendly and usually fast unless they're super slammed.

Decor

Strawberry Mochi

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The Madness

4.5(34 reviews)

2.1 mi

Found this awesome spot on Union Street. The service was A+…read moreI ordered the Classic. My husband had the Texan. Nice large and fresh burgers. Both ordered sweet potato fries. Beautiful atmosphere. You can sit at the bar or they have 2 other rooms. One has pink flora on the ceiling and the other oriental fans. Nice place!

The waitstaff was very patient and attentive since we had a young child with us which was very…read moreappreciative! I ordered the dragon roll which was so good! My friend got the Philly and Carolina roll! My other friends got wings, a dessert and a different sushi roll! All good reviews! We had a great time dining in and the restaurant is a cool vibe in itself with the flower ceiling and the sushi bar set up! One thing though was a homeless person that came around and bothered us twice about food which is fine we do not mind getting someone something to eat but when we ran to the gas station and came back to get her some food she was gone! I kinda wish that there was more patrol or security around. I know that is no fault to the restaurant but just be aware as a customer!

Sushi Bar

Kamikaze roll

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Front door

Bubblys

4.3(299 reviews)

21.7 mi

Love Bubblys! Great food, great service, portions are awesome, location is great and the price of…read morethe food is also great. Definitely recommend!

Absolutely disgusting. One of the filthiest restaurants I've ever seen. Some of the worst food I've…read moreever eaten. The littered parking lot and dirty front door should have told me to not walk in. But, I thought maybe I was being too "judgy" and plucked up my courage. Since They billed themselves as Asian fusion, I was hoping to see some unique Thai, Korean Japanese, etc offerings. I asked the gal at the front counter for suggestions and she recommended French fries. Fries are your best dish?!? She couldn't answer any of my questions about the rest of the menu. Strike 1. A phone call came in while we were discussing the menu and she took it. While she was on the phone, I noticed all the upcharge signs. A 4% charge for using a credit card. A charge if you want a chili oil. A charge if you wanted a cup of water. A charge saying all sauces are extra. Strike 2. I finally settled on one of their "Fan Favorites" - a pork ramen bowl. Paid (no, I'm not tipping you for taking my order) and sat down. The tables all looked really dirty. But I couldn't tell if it was dirt or rust. I sat down and immediately noticed dozens of dead bugs in the dust on the windowsill. They were on the floor, too. And they were flying all over the place trying to get out of the windows. Maybe I should have followed their instincts and tried to get out too. Strike 3. I picked up my dish when the buzzer rang (Seriously, WHY are you asking for tips?). First impressions were that it looked really bland. Basically a bunch of wet noodles and a half of an egg and some sketchy looking meat rolls. I dove in and it was just pure salt. No other flavors. Salty AF. Tried the meat. It was supposed to be "fatty pork" and it didn't disappoint...in a bad way. Stringy globs of inedible fat. It was so gross, I dumped it all. Strike 4. While exiting, I looked at the other diners meals. Most of them had the fries. Maybe I should have taken the cashier's suggestion...

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Moon

4.0(224 reviews)

29.6 mi

Sushi and apps were amazing! Great pricing for sushi and super tasty. Salmon and tuna melted in…read moreyour mouth. Service was amazing as well. Server was attentive and food came out quickly. The place was super cute as well. Definitely a hidden gem. Will 100% be back soon!

Pork gyoza - mmmm so good…read more Tom yum soup - so good! Lots of flavor and a bit of a kick which adds more color! Makes your lips tingle but I enjoy that. Pad Thai - very good! I enjoy the rich sugary sauce because it gives it depth and the lime makes it. The chicken is a must! Green curry - YES! So fresh omg. This is a home run and some of the best curry I've had. This is why we come! This is our third time here and we always make a point to stop when we're in town!

Dining

Cashew Nut with grilled chicken (no bell peppers or mushrooms)

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Aladdin Sake

M Fresh Asian Fusion

3.6(123 reviews)

49.8 mi

•$$$

First time here for lunch. I missed lunch specials that ended at 3p. Cute place with plenty seats…read more Has a bar, table service and you can sit where the sushi guys make sushi. Miso soup was delicious! Must try this hidden gem out!

On 6/4/26 we arrived there at 8:45pm and we were told that we could only do a to go order because…read morethey closed at 9pm. If you can't go there to sit down and eat after 8:45pm, then don't say you are open until 9pm. This is the last time I will waste my time trying to eat at this restaurant. Very unprofessional way to run a restaurant.

Sushi Prep Area

Hot & Sour Soup

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Wild Ginger

4.4(383 reviews)

49.0 mi

Interesting place, beautiful decor. Very busy with about 15 tables. We were not sure what to order…read morebecause the place specializes in Poh. We saw some exquisite dishes come to tables around us. We ended deciding on the safe route. We ordered hot egg rolls, dumplings and garlic wings as appetizers and followed with chicken fried rice. Three thin egg rolls deep fried, almost like cigars, and sweet and savory sauce. There were 5 dumplings ... just delicious with the soy based sauce. Five chicken wings rounded out the start. We wanted them extra crispy - the kitchen did not execute. Fried rice was perfect - crunchy with plenty of protein, a combination of shrimp and chicken. Portion size was large. Would definitely return. Classic flavors, friendly service and good value. Highly recommend without any reservations. Enjoyed the experience.

Delicious Asian food and dessert!!! Love their grilled pork…read morechop and the turon dessert with vanilla ice cream. Busy place during lunch so we waited a very long time for our meals to arrive.

Grilled pork chop

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Bahn mi

Duck N Good Food Place

4.2(93 reviews)

17.2 mi

The food was amazing!! We had Pad See You with roasted pork and a Duck n Good Food signature combo!…read moreThe meat had great flavor! It was a good idea to have Pad See You with roasted pork since what interested me about this place was the roasted pork! The service was great! Quite a few people here on a Tuesday lunch!!

Wanted to get some stuff chicken wings and this place popped up…read more You order first, pay and they'll bring the food. It was mid day so it wasn't to busy. The intestines stir fried with onion n jalepenos. It was soo good! Also order the duck n combo, comes with rice, duck, stuff chicken wings, roast pork, cabbage and paired with a sauce. The stuff chicken wings were good to me. Filled with vermicelli noodles. My favorite meat was the roasted pork dipped in the sauce. The only bad thing was the cabbage, it tasted spoiled. There's a lot of seatings and it was cool for a hot day. So if you're in the area, stop by and give it a try!!!

Duckin papaya tray

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Duck platter

Red Ginger Dimsum And Tapas

4.3(1.5k reviews)

49.0 mi

Women-owned & operated

Vegetarian friendly

This spot was truly amazing ! I'm a dumpling snob and they hand make all their dumplings…read more Must haves are the schezuan pork and shrimp dumplings , garlic green beans , mushroom dumplings , the soup dumplings . Great service with Stephen and also prices right! I'll Be back. Just go !

Red Ginger Dim Sum and Tapas is a trendy, contemporary spot offering dim sum and Chinese small…read moreplates, although there is sushi too. It is located in downtown Asheville so there is no immediate parking lot but there are some places nearby or street parking, The inside is very modern and there is seating both inside and outside. Our server was very friendly and service was very prompt! My family got the Lo Mein with Chicken, Chow Fun with Beef, Sautéed String Bean, Buddha Bean Curd Rolls, Crystal Shrimp Dumplings, and Spicy Chicken. I loved the Crystal Shrimp Dumplings! The wrapper was very tender and the shrimp filling was delicious. It tasted very authentic to me. I also loved the Sautéed String Bean as it had the right amount of garlicky sauce. The Lo Mein was made with thinner than usual noodles but still tasted good. I think the Chow Fun tasted a bit off. It kind of tasted a bit sweet and like drunken noodles at some points as opposed to the traditional smoky flavor that the dish has. The rice noodles that were used were also thin as opposed to the usual wider noodles. As for the Spicy Chicken, it tasted solid. I liked the slight crisp before biting into each piece and it was not really spicy. I definitely tasted the cumin (I am not a super big fan of), which is a popular flavor found in Szechuan cuisine. Overall, I think this is a nice spot for some Chinese food, especially being near the mountains which is more isolated. I would probably rate it a 3.75/5 stars if I could. I wish chicken feet were part of their dim sum menu (it is pretty small and there are no rolling carts in case anyone is wondering). I do think some flavors of the food I tasted seem to cater a bit more to the Western taste palate (my parents agree as well), but I enjoyed my time here.

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Nguyens Asian Grill

4.4(67 reviews)

31.1 mi

Food and service was excellent! We were looking for somewhere to celebrate our anniversary while…read morestaying in Newland NC. We love sushi and Nguyen's Asian Grill came highly recommended. We know why now, we will be back if we are in the area again!

Sushi quality has gone downhill gradually since opening. Thew part of our order in the garbage.Rice…read morewas dry and antiseptic tasting. Fish was sliced paper thin on the rainbow roll. Next time we will drive 30 min to Boone to visit COBO for real sushi.

Front desk area

Hibachi steak

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Pho

Thai Hut

4.5(91 reviews)

38.2 mi

Aesthetic: Mom & Pop Thai restaurant in an Asian grocery store…read more What to try: Everything! Service: Excellent Parking: Plenty Rating: 10/10, this was the best Thai food I've had near Charlotte since moving from the West Coast. Very authentic and flavorful. We tried the Tom Kha and Massaman Curry, and both dishes exceeded our expectations. The server was also very kind. We can't wait to come back on our next hiking trip.

Very good food. I have been here a couple times and tried the green curry and the pad Thai. They…read morewere both really good.

Restaurant area

Pad thai

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Massaman Curry

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Vic J.

0

1

0

2 years ago

This is my favorite restaurant of all time. I go to college about an hour and a half away, and every time I come home, I go to Pho Lao. When I'm here at school, I'm missing Pho Lao. I take all of my friends here, I go here for special occasions, it's just the perfect combination of delicious food and ambiance, and everyone who works here is so very pleasant. I adore all of the staff, and they provide great service. I can't wait to come home so I can get my next dinner at Pho Lao. read more

Lynn M.

8

22

10

5 years ago

I love the food. It is so over the top in taste and quality. You can taste the love in every bite. Please give them your business so they will be around for quite a while. read more

Todd B.

0

1

1 year ago

We absolutely love this place. We come up from Florida alot and this is the 1st place we eat. The PFO is awesome and so is the staff!

Ivy D.

35

188

503

4 years ago

The employees are so attentive and remember you each time you come in! The food comes out hot and fast! Exceptional taste!

H S.

0

1

0

5 years ago

Great service , food and boba. We will be back for sure!

PHO LAO - laotian - Updated August 2026

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We stumbled upon Pho Lodge while shopping at the mall--completely by accident while visiting from…read moreout of State. Inside, we were greeted warmly by a staff member and was told it will be about a 15 mins wait. They offer counter service--you order first, then find a seat wherever you like. The ambiance was a mix of cozy and rugged, with wildlife trophies lining the walls, adding a touch of charm. We tried two pho bowls: the broth was light yet flavorful, perfectly balanced, with tender slices of beef and fresh herbs that brought it all together. The kids' pho was a smaller portion meatballs, but just as satisfying, a perfect introduction for little ones. The papaya salad was crisp and refreshing. It was also was the best restaurant papaya I've had. It was pungent, tangy, sweet, spicy and paired well with our meal. The egg rolls were golden and crispy, packed with savory filling that was comforting and familiar. For drinks, the mango bobas stole the show--sweet, tropical, and fun with their chewy pearls. Pho Lodge is definitely on the top of our list when visiting Hickory.

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What a hidden gem in WNC! Authentic, fresh and delicious thai food made by thai chefs. Portions…read morewere big, service was great, and restaurant was spacious. 10/10 can't wait to come back again! Overall: 4.8/5 When: Friday 6pm dine in party of 2 Food: 4.9/5 - wow. I haven't had thai food this good in a long time. Thai Bliss is better than most place in Charlotte where I'm from. We got the shrimp tom yum soup, beef pad kee mao, and chicken pineapple fried rice. The tom yum soup was SO SO good. They gave me 4 large shrimp in there and did not skimp like other places. The soup had the perfect balance of spicy, sour, tangy and sweet. Honestly I was almost full after my soup but when my pad kee mao came out, i was thrilled with the portion size. The rice noodles were bouncy and chewy and the sauce was delicious. Some places overdo it on the sauce but the PKM was sooo good!! And lastly the pineapple fried rice. I didnt get a chance to try it but my partner loved his dish. Overall, the food here you can tell is authentic and fresh and you don't have to worry about small portions. You will leave feeling happy and full! Service: 4.7/5 - was greeted by a server as soon as we arrived. Service was very quick and they were on top of things. Filled the water often, bussed tables often, and brought the check over often. No issues at all, they were very prompt. One suggestion to make it 5 stars is giving recommendations to the guests such as "XYZ dish is a popular customer favorite here!" Or even giving a little background about the restaurant / staff. Vibe: 4.7/5 - very spacious, newer restaurant that is clean. Large windows letting in ample day light- i recommend asking for a seat by the windows if possible. Great spot for a quick casual dinner or even a nicer family dinner. Other: free surface lot parking

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Chen's Garden

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I stopped by for takeout and grabbed the raw beef laab with a side of sticky rice. For the price…read morepoint, this was absolutely delicious. I requested a 'little spicy,' and while it ended up being a bit over my personal threshold, I suspect that was just the high-quality, potent peppers they used. The standout, however, was the sticky rice--genuinely some of the best I've ever had. A very solid meal all around.

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