7 Best Restaurants in Myanmar

Rangoon Tea House

$$$$ Fodor's choice
This casual, light-filled restaurant would be at home in Sydney or Singapore, and yet it somehow feels distinctly Yangon. Set on the first floor of a beautifully restored white colonial building, it can nevertheless be tricky to find, located above an electrical appliance store; look for the doorway and stairs on the right of the building. Once inside you’ll find a lovely whitewashed space with wooden floorboards and whooshing ceiling fans, and the most delicious food you’ll find in Myanmar. Expect anything from traditional samosas (K2,500) and tea leaf salad (K2,000) to modern pan-Asian favorites such as pork belly bao (K3,000). Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, you can order a full meal or simply pop in for tea or cocktails (K4,000). Try the Mandalay rum sour or Dragon martini.

Simplicity Organic Food and Bakery

$$$ Fodor's choice

Enormously charming and truly unique in Mandalay, this pint-size, family-run café is near Mandalay's jetty, an area otherwise devoid of much in the way of dining. The sweet owner and his son speak English well and are passionate and knowledgeable about organic food, the environment, and the use of MSG. There are delicious Chinese-style pastries, some ice cream and, like manna from heaven, proper coffee, available in several variations including iced and even cappuccinos. On the savory side are traditional Shan noodles, which the locals eat for breakfast, house-made dumplings, and simple stir-fry dishes like chicken with rice and vegetables. 35th Street runs the length of downtown Mandalay, so be sure to indicate to whomever is driving you that you want to be near the jetty.

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.

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Aung Mingalar

$$
You’ll see few tourists at this cheap, cheerful, and unpretentious family-owned eatery, which gets packed with local office workers during the day, students in the late afternoon, and local residents and expats in the early evening. While there’s a long menu of dishes from across Myanmar, unlike other Shan eateries, the specialty is Shan noodles, so order the heavenly warm tofu chicken noodle (K1,500). The fried tofu is also delicious, and if you’re with a few friends it’s hard to go past the big plate of fried pork dumplings (18 for K3,500).

Be Kind to Animals the Moon

$$$ | Old Bagan

A charming little restaurant, Be Kind to Animals the Moon is constantly packed with ravenous temple-goers. The menu offers traditional Burmese dishes like a refreshing tea leaf salad alongside gussied-up backpacker staples. Dip papadums into a chutney and cool down with refreshing shakes or the restaurant's top-notch lime, ginger, and honey juice.

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.

Inle Pancake Kingdom

$$$

Inle Lake is unlikely to be your first stop in Myanmar, and so by this time a break from Burmese food is likely a top priority. Pancake Kingdom is a classic backpacker restaurant, with friendly service, inexpensive sweet and savory pancakes (really somewhere between crepes and American-style pancakes), Wi-Fi, and computers. Proximity to the docks, indoor and outdoor seating, and a general laid-back and quiet atmosphere make this popular with tourists looking for a little western flavor.