like many vietnamese restaurants, the inside decor is non-existent. it's like eating inside a gas station convenience store with poor lighting and old booths. service is just there - meaning when they have time to get to you, they will. otherwise you wait, and don't complain. my lan serves the local vietnamese immigrant community, and they are all about great food and reasonable prices. the dining experience is not high on their list of priorities. ok with us! mrs. rjg and i were joined by my official mother-in-law known in these pages as chula. i had a bowl of meatball soup, mrs rjg had the grilled beef on vermicelli, and chula had the lemongrass chicken. my bowl was huge, with an excellent broth filled with cilantro and chives. the meatballs were firm and tasty. mrs. rjg's grilled beef was superb, with wonderful charbroiled tastes. and i quite liked the lemongrass chicken sample i tried, which had a nice zip to it.