2 Best Restaurants in Myanmar

Background Illustration for Restaurants

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.

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.