10 Best Restaurants in Myanmar
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Given Myanmar's many different ethnic groups and regions, as well as the historical influences of neighboring Thailand, India, and China, the food of the country is fascinating—particularly for those happy to eat on the streets, in the markets, or at local eateries. Recent contact with the West and the influx of tourists—many not willing to gamble on the food safety of the street vendors—means that western tastes are catered to wherever tourists travel, such as Yangon, Bagan, Inle Lake, and Mandalay. If you tire of local food, it's easy to find pastas, pizzas, burgers, and the like in these destinations.
84th and 23rd Streets Restaurants
A handful of Shan restaurants have set up shop around this intersection. Both Golden Shan and Lashio Lay offer sizeable buffet spreads of standard Myanmar dishes like chicken curry and assorted sautéed greens, served with big helpings of white rice. Teashop Karaweik does excellent Shan noodles and sweet naan straight from the tandoor, best enjoyed alongside a cup of tea.
999 Shan Noodle Shop
This pint-size, cheap-and-cheerful noodle eatery is equally popular with locals and tourists. The friendly proprietors speak English well, and the picture menu has English descriptions. The noodles are those of the Shan ethnic group, and noodles are served in soups or smothered in scrumptious toppings such as creamy tofu. Rounding out the menu are sautéed vegetables, fried tofu, and pork skin. The owners can prepare plain and mild noodle dishes if you're not one for spice. Inexpensive local beer is available, too.
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Aung Mingalar
Food Stalls at Mingalar Market
Open for breakfast and lunch only, the food stalls at this colorful market are an experience for the senses. Everything is handmade and the sellers take pride in what they're offering. Featured dishes include Shan tofu salad, noodle soup, and enormous round rice crackers that will be devoured by those who've had a bit too much spice. Just across from the market are a few other food stalls where you'll find inexpensive plates of tea leaf salad and spicy noodle soup.
Golden Myanmar 2
Of the cluster of restaurants just north of Ananda Temple, Golden Myanmar 1 and 2, owned by the same family, are the most popular with local drivers and guides, and offer the most authentic Burmese food. Sit down, smile expectantly, and dishes will begin appearing on your table faster than you can wash the grime from your face. Mutton, pork, and an array of chicken curries, fried fish, sautéed vegetables, Burmese salads (pickled tea leaf), and rice will leave you stuffed, but then dessert comes out—short, squat bananas and sweet little tamarind candies. The friendly staff will keep refilling your plates unless you say otherwise. The buffet is K3,000 per person, excluding drinks.
Green Elephant
Lotus Restaurant
This diminutive, family-run space fills up quickly, and with good reason. Salads, which utilize pickled tea leaves, coriander, bits of chili, and other assorted delicious odds and ends, have great texture and go down nicely alongside the restaurant's curries. Round out the meal with a refreshing fruit plate and a chat with the friendly owner.
Min Lane Seafood
Pull up a chair near one of the fans here and order an avocado shake to enjoy while you peruse the menu. Once you're finished, order another; you'll need something to cool your mouth down after a bite of the rice noodles in a fiery broth. Once your sinuses have been cleared, move on to the delectable grilled seafood; there's crab, oysters, prawns, squid, and shellfish to choose from, and all come to the table expertly charred.