Lam's Kitchen
General Tso’s Chicken
While technically in Matthews, Lam’s Kitchen was a stone’s throw from my apartment in South Charlotte. After trying it, I dare say that Lam’s Kitchen serves the best Chinese food in Charlotte - or the Charlotte area. In case you need any proof that this place is the real deal: it opens at 4:30pm and by 5pm on a Saturday, or 5:30 on a weekday—it will already be packed. That should tell you something.
This ain’t seafood from a freezer...
Lam’s Kitchen regularly gets fresh seafood, and they go through a TON of lobster so you can trust it’s always fresh. This is the kind of place where they take your lobster—and eel, too—from a tank right before they serve. Aside from pulling it right from the ocean, it’s hard to get any fresher than that!
Is your mouth watering yet? Here’s the good stuff:
Spring Rolls - Excellent! Fried to a crispy golden. Full of flavor. There are only 2 per order, so please note that the photo below is two orders.
Fried Dumplings - Perfect. This is that just-right dumpling: savory, juicy, crispy. Great dipping sauce. A little sweet, a little tart with a hint of vinegar. Would definitely order again.
Scallion Pancakes - Excellent Scallion Pancakes. Slightly crisp, slightly chewy, and full of layers. The flavor is spot on too!
Szechuan Wontons – If you order this, take a second to inhale. The smell is PHENOMENAL. Savory. A little spicy. Very comforting. If there was an equivalent to a meatball, this would be it. You MUST like spicy, though. Great anise flavor too. Subtle, not overpowering.
Crab Rangoon – Good balance of savory vs sweet. Creamy. Just the right amount of salt. Not very crabby though, in case that’s what you prefer.
Grilled Lamb Sticks - Great char grill. Light seasoning. Very tasty.
Wonton Soup - I’m pretty sure it’s the same wontons as they use in the Szechuan Wontons. Filled with shrimp, and a hot broth, it’s definitely more on the authentic side. I think this is one dish, where I prefer the americanize, chicken based soup - but this was still delicious.
Pork Char Sui - Solid. Not my all time favorite, but worth ordering if you’re craving char sui.
Chicken and Broccoli - Quite possibly my favorite chicken and broccoli. The brown sauce is perfection, while the broccoli is tender crisp. (It’s basically the same dish as the chicken and mixed vegetables - but just the broccoli).
Hong Kong Style Lobster – Only one word: fuck. This is everything lobster should be. Tender. Lightly Greasy. Garlicky. Damn is it hard to eat but GET IN THERE. So good.
Lobster Sticky Rice – Very good. The lobster here is sweet and tender. And what’s not to love about sticky rice. With that said, it’s still in the shell and a bit difficult to eat - so if i’m putting in the work, I’m getting the Hong Kong Style Lobster.
Beef Chow Fun - I may as well have been transported to Hong Kong. Tender noodles. Tender yet crispy beef. The seasoning was nice and light. Chewy noodles. Seriously delicious.
Curry Beef Brisket - Fantastic! Beef was falling apart, like a good brisket should. A PERFECT curry to go with rice. Creamy, a little spicy.
Shrimp Fried Rice - If I’m being honest, this is the worst thing I’ve had at Lam’s Kitchen. I found it to be under seasoned and bland. It would definitely benefit from additional soy sauce.
If you want Chinese food, get yourself to Lam’s Kitchen ASAP. It’s the only Chinese food I’ll regularly order from - or dine at. I’ve probably been 15 or so times since moving to Charlotte, and it’s always mouthwateringly delicious. In fact, my father, who refuses to eat classic Americanized Chinese (like what I grew up with in Boston), will ask me to go here. Everything sits light in your stomach, and you feel satisfied - rather than immediately entering a food coma. I HIGHLY recommend, but be patient because this place gets SLAMMED - especially on the weekend.
