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La'Wan's Soul Food Restaurant
Categories: Restaurants Southern Restaurants Soul Food Southern, Soul Food [Edit]
7705 S Tryon StCharlotte, NC 28217
Neighbourhoods: Steele Creek, Starmount
(704) 665-7225
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
16 reviews for La'Wan's Soul Food Restaurant
Review Highlights
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"La'wan's has the best Mac n cheese I ever had." In 9 reviews -
"HUGE fan of the pork chops and mac-n-cheese." In 4 reviews -
"the green beans were unimaginably good, cooked with pork..." In 3 reviews
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16 reviews in English
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Review from Don P.
Charlotte, NC
12/2/2011
It's about the FOOD!.... really.... the location is basic strip center storefront, but THE FOOD!!! EXCELLENT! The staff was friendly, attentive and courteous. But THE FOOD! really, I liked it. Priced right.
I had fried chicken, limas, mac and cheese, and cornbread. Don't get no better.... and for about $9 or $10.
Did I mention.... I liked the food??? -
Review from Sam J.
5/17/2012
La'Wan's puts the "SOUL" in soul food.
I've been looking for a "go to" Soul Food restaurant ever since The Coffee Cup, and Down to the Bone closed their doors. Today was my first visit to La'Wan's Soul Food. I don't know if I have found the other two restaurants successor, but I consider my lunch adventure to be a success.
Ordered: Two breaded/fried pork chops, mac 'n cheese, collard greens, corn bread, and a large sweet tea, $9.30 total. That's what I'm talking 'bout, Willis.
-- The PORK CHOPS were 50/50. One was perfectly fried and tender, the other was over cooked, and a bit tough. I was amazed to find that they weren't the least bit greasy. The batter could have used a lot more seasoning. 4/5
-- I ordered the MAC 'N CHEESE, because all the previous reviewers said that they were great. I can't remember eating better baked mac 'n cheese - it was perfect. Good to the last sharp cheddar cheesy bite. 5/5
-- The COLLARD GREENS, "honey shut your mouth." Cooked properly with ham or a ham hock, they were delicious. I always finish my collards with some Texas Pete, pepper vinegar, and a dash of salt. These collards were darned good. 4/5
-- The CORN BREAD was fresh, moist, and had the proper little touch of sweetness that good Southern cooks impart. 4/5
-- The SWEET TEA was adequate, but not stellar. I added lemonade to the tea when I went back for a refill, and this improved the drink immensely. 3.5/5
-- DESSERT. I was waaaaaay to full to think about dessert. I just barely finished my lunch. GENEROUS PORTIONS!!!
-- SERVICE could not have been any better. My server, the "white girl," sorry but that's the best that I can do, was just wonderful. Friendly, inquisitive, (I told her that I was there because of Yelp's recommendations), and accommodating without being cloying. Nice, friendly people work at this restaurant. 5/5
-- Cleanliness rating: 97. I didn't see anything that made me raise an eyebrow.
-- La'Wans is in the process of moving directly across the street. The fine little sister in the restaurant, and she was EXTREMELY fine, said that they would be moving in two weeks. She asked me if I would be visiting them at their new location. I smiled and said, "definitely."Listed in: My Favorite Restaurants, SOUL Food
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Review from Walter W.
Indian Trail, NC
5/16/2012
Ever since "Down To The Bone" (I still cry at night thinking about them) closed, I have been wanting a great soul food restaurant fix.
I tried La'Wan's a couple of times based on the Yelp reviews and I hate to say I was fairly disappointed both times. The food was okay...nothing great or spectacular. What's to rave about? Fried chicken is so-so. Sides are about the same that you find in any diner. I felt like I was either over-salting or putting too much hot sauce on my food and that's not what soul food is all about. It's all about the flavoring and what the food is cooked in. I felt like I was eating at the old "Jake's Restaurant" in downtown Charlotte. It was just home-cooked food and not really "soul" food. -
Review from Rod O.
Charlotte, NC
5/15/2012 3 photos
Winner - Best Macaroni and Cheese I have ever eaten! !! !!! 5 stars for the Mac and Cheese with EASE! Rich and Cheesy baked with Egg (I think), this is the best one I have tasted ANYWHERE!
The Collards were very good at least 4 yelp stars probably cooked with some kind of meat and Vinegar!
The Fried Okra was better than most I have eaten - the batter was thin, though more grainy than I prefer, still beats most places!
The Corn Bread was: Smooth and a little Sweet, just like I like it (NOT having that grainy cornmeal texture) - the flavor was good or a little better than good, though a little disappointing! Still good enough for 3.65 yelp stars!
I ate Lunch here yesterday 5-14-2012 and they had not moved yet! They said hopefully a week! I drove by their new place first (in the brand NEW Family Dollar Shopping Center almost across the street and a little North (up the hill) on Tryon). This new space they are almost in looks great: Clean and New and larger - Hopefully it will retain the Charm of the old place! -
Review from Keith W.
Charlotte, NC
4/17/2012 1 Check-in Here
Great service, for a called in pickup order. Unfortunately, the food was just so-so. We had fried chicken (white & dark), mac & cheese, mash potatoes, green beans and potato salad. The white meat was completely dried out and the crust was just ok. The mac & cheese was just noodles wis some cheese on top.
I wouldn't rule out la'wan's, but I did have higher expectations -
Review from Tonya P.
Charlotte, NC
11/29/2011 ROTD 1/17/2012
When you walk into La'Wan's there is a poster of a martini glass with a chicken leg in it. Now this makes me chuckle. Our server was so friendly and always a step ahead of us. He's the kind that if you have a restaurant you want to steal him away.
The food does not rock my soul, but it is served hot and plentiful. And it's really nice when we were leaving they all said good bye. Very refreshing to have such a pleasant experience. We get used to mediocre service and forget about what it's like to have proper hospitality.
The menu is standard meat and two veggies, pintos, lima, collards, mac & cheese, potato salad, mashed potatoes. Roll or cornbread. Sweet tea. Ten dollar check average. -
Review from Kevin W.
Mountain View, CA
10/27/2011 1 photo
The two big fried pork chops were amazing and flavorful. There was a puddle of oil underneath, so you know that's real flava in yo mouth. The mac & cheese were hearty and delicious - they added something (egg?) to give it some chunkiness, so its not just mac with drippy nacho cheese. The green beans were just ok, but that was fixed with some Texas Pete's hot sauce. The cornbread was good but small. Prices are around $10 per plate.
Don't let the 'hood intimidate you - the folks are friendly and welcoming, although a bit slow on the service. Its a no-frills kind of place - just tables, stackable chairs, styrofoam cups & plates, and plastic utensils. Most of the locals get the food to go. They proudly display their Steve Harvey Hoodie award and a signed pic of Juvenile on the wall, so you know its the realness. And if you don't know, you better ask somebody!Listed in: South of the Mason-Dixon Line…
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Review from Tae-Sun K.
Charlotte, NC
I felt like a barbarian in there, scarfing down my food with my hands not even pausing to look up or take a sip of water. I know they were thinking, "Poor little Asian girl. She must not have eaten in days. Bless her heart." Ordered the fried chicken with green beans and collards. The chicken was dynamite ... the collards were juicy with a kick. Green beans had no flavor ... should have ordered okra. Will definitely be back for the fried tilapia. I thought the portions and wait were fine .... no food coma here.
This is a casual joint, but I came Sunday early afternoon so the place was packed with folks in their Sunday best. I was the most underdressed for sure.Listed in: Great Minority Owned…
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Review from Demetria M.
Charlotte, NC
Lawan's fluctuates between stars for me.....the food is very good, but lately the seasoning has been a little off on the fish and chicken....still good and cooked perfectly, but not as great as it has been. The sides are still delish(mac n cheese, okra, greens and potato salad). If I were closer to the south side, they would be in my rotation, so for now they will have to remain on my 'special occasion/coupon' list:-)
Listed in: The Soul of Charlotte
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Review from Linn G.
Randallstown, MD
4/22/2011
Food was def on point! Got fried whiting, greens and mac and cheese! The greens and the fish stood out the most! Mac and cheese good but not great!! Greens were seasoned to perfection with a perfect hit of sweetness. Fish was rather thin in my opinion but seasoned pretty well....Their whiting is a joke compared to Mert's!!
Nevertheless food was good and I will definately be back when Im back in the area!! -
Review from Pourina R.
Charlotte, NC
3/18/2010 1 Check-in Here
La'wan's was my introduction to real southern soul food. It was great and is still great. They offer seven different daily specials that come with two side and a drink. In addition to the daily specials, there are weekly specials by the day of the week, that are also accompanied by two sides and a drink.
Mac n' cheese like I've never had on the west coast. (hence my intro to soul food) It isn't just a straight creamy mac, but it still has chunks of cheese and is quite stiff, greasy and oh so tasty. They also offer other traditional southernsides; collard greens, black eyed peas, applesauce (for pork chops), green beans, etc. Gizzards and Fried livers too.
Fried chicken here isn't traditional. They use like an herb "shake n bake" esque type batter, then fried. Quite tasty nonetheless.
For those of you who haven't been here, I guess I'll let the secret out.
This establishment has won many "hoodie awards" given out by the Steve Harvey morning show. It is very eclectic with a wide range of customers ranging from suits and ties to everyday laborers.
La'wans is one of my bi-weekly lunch options and I highly recommend it to anyone who appreciates good home style cooking.
--WARNING-- Do not get the smothered pork chops for lunch. You will be comatose! You have been warned. ;) -
Review from Jung-Ah Y.
San Francisco, CA
11/15/2010
BEST ARNOLD PALMER OF MY LIFE!
small joint with everything fried and all the home fixin's you could ask for. We sat down and dined in, very low key/casual. The wait for the actual food was hard to bear but totally worth it once it came out.
We went right at noon and were the first ones in the place, which was a good thing because it got pretty full a few moments later. Many people also came into grab 'to go' orders so the staff was definitely busy in the back!
My brother got - Fried Pork Chops with green beans / fried okra
**If I were to redo my food, I'd get THAT! the green beans were unimaginably good, cooked with pork/bacon. Fried okra, hadn't had it in forever so it was AMAZING
I got Fried Chicken (dark meat) with mac/cheese and collard greens. The collard greens were a bit sweet, my brother said it was the best collard greens he had ever had (and he's not even a big fan of collard greens!). The mac and cheese was baked (just the way I like it with baked cheese on top). The chicken, delightful, but can't say it was anything CRAZY GOOD.
My friend got the fried catfish with fried okra and mashed potatoes. The catfish was fried to perfection and the inside was still very moist. Forgive me, but I think I decided I'm not the biggest catfish fan but his was still delicious! I unfortunately did not try the mashed potatoes, but I'm sure they were fabulous!
Every dish came with a small cornbread, which was perfectly moist and buttery. Again, I love the salty cornbread more so this was a little sweet for my liking, but it was still amazing.
In the end for our three meals, it came to about $37 and then add tip, so NOT BAD AT ALL. We were FILLED to the brim and with DELICIOUS FOOD AT THAT.
Can't wait to go back when I get back home! And next time I'm going to try to save some room for dessert, many of the 'to go' orders had mounds of cake slices and they looked friggin' delicious!
La'wan, so glad I found y'all! :) -
Review from Scott W.
Concord, NC
3/29/2010
La'wan's has the best Mac n cheese I ever had. All of there offerings are just like mama used to make. If you want some good comfort food this is the place. Fried chicken. Fantastic. Cornbread. Awesome. They always make you feel right at home too. A lot of times La'Wan comes out and greets her customers. They all treat her like family. Everyone is so nice there. I feel like they adopted me. I never leave hungry.
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Review from ryan b.
Charlotte, NC
1/9/2009
Off the beaten path but well worth the trip. HUGE fan of the pork chops and mac-n-cheese. Very reasonably priced and the staff is very friendly.
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Review from Petey P.
Irvine, CA
4/17/2011 1 photo
a little salty but overall some good soul food
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Review from Tai C.
Atlanta, GA
7/22/2010 1 photo
Got here about 7:35pm they only had 1 waiter. Guess sign of the times so it took a minute for him to take my order. The place started filling up. You could smell the food cooking in the back. I was so hungry I order the special that day country fried steak with Mac and cheese and Collards green. I went straight southern soul. The food came out it was piping HOT so you not getting some mass made food that's been sitting around all day. OK the food FINALLY a restaurant that serve REAL Mac & cheese this was the real deal . The Collards were so good made you want to go "smack someone" LOL and the cornbread was delicious. Now for the country fried steak it was good but it looked like 2 large Bojangles steak biscuits pieces with gravy on it over rice, was no creativity on this dish but it was tasty. Overall this place is very good the portions were just right not too much so you won't overdo it. I will come back.
