EDITOR’S INTRODUCTION Welcome to the first edition of the MYANMORE TOP 100 guide. We are very proud and excited to be able to present this unique guide to dining and nightlife in Myanmar. Our independent panel of judges have worked hard in deciding upon this TOP 100 list. The idea behind this guide came from public demand. In order to provide something for everyone, we have carefully curated a comprehensive list of interesting, accessible and high-quality venues that cover the full range of cuisines and experiences that are available in the dining and nightlife scene in Yangon This is not a guide that only considers the most popular venues in Yangon, though public nominations were an important part of the process. After over 5000 votes were cast for nearly 600 different venues in the MYANMORE Dining and Nightlife Awards of Excellence 2018 - we used a comprehensive and transparent system of assessment based on firmly established criteria to create a shortlist of venues and then select the final entries. For the first time ever a Star rating system has also been introduced, with three, two, or one MYANMORE Stars of Excellence awarded to
venues that achieved significantly high scores during the judging assessment process. The TOP 100 and MYANMORE Star Awards will be reviewed annually to ensure that standard are being maintained and that this guide continues to meet the needs of the dining and nightlife customers in Yangon. Please be aware that the TOP 100 will not replace the ENJOY IT guide, and is a supplement to that guide which continues to offer an unrivalled comprehensive coverage of the whole industry. There was much discussion, deliberation and dĂŠgustation in the process of creating this guide - we hope you enjoy the fruits of our labours! Thone saung ba!
Cliff Lonsdale Project Manager
CONTENTS EDITORS INTRODUCTION_ 4 DINING AND NIGHTLIFE AWARDS_ 8 MYANMORE STAR AWARDS_ 20 TOP 100_ 24 TOP 100 LIST_ 26 BARS_ 28 RESTAURANTS_ 46 CAFÉS_114 COLOPHON_126 USEFUL INFO_127
Š The Strand Restaurant @ The Strand Hotel
MYANMORE Awards Winners TOP 100 / March 2018
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The 5th annual MYANMORE Dining and Nightlife Awards were held at the prestigious Meliá Hotel in Yangon on Saturday February 3. As the only awards ceremony in Myanmar celebrating the attainment of excellence in the food and beverage sector the event was packed to the rafters with everyone who is anyone in the industry. The awards were the most glamorous and exciting ever and marked a significant move in Myanmore’s focus towards facilitating an environment where the attainment of excellence is supported throughout the year, not just celebrated on an annual basis.
SEEDS Restaurant and Lounge
MYANMORE Awards Winners
Restaurant of the Year
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Runner up:
Marina Indian Restaurant
Runner up:
Ietsu Sushi & Soba
MYANMORE Awards Winners
Bar of the Year Harry’s Bar Runner up:
ATLAS Rooftop Bar
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Runner up:
Eclipse Bar & Restaurant
MYANMORE Awards Winners
Café of the Year Café Salween
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Runner up: Gloria Jeans
Runner up: Easy Café
MYANMORE Awards Winners
Best Myanmar Premium Bar 50th Street Bar and Grill
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Runner up: Jazz in Time
Runner up: Yangon Yangon
Khaing Khaing Kyaw Runner up:
Feel Restaurant
MYANMORE Awards Winners
Myanmar Food Restaurant of the Year
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Runner up:
Danuphyu Daw Saw Yee Myanmar Restaurant
MYANMORE Awards Winners
Chef of the Year Chef Orng (ORNG Kitchen) Runner up:
Chef Franz Paul Wieser (The Market @ Hotel Meliรก)
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Runner up:
Chef Sujit (Marina Indian Restaurant)
Jen Queen (Union Bar and Grill) Runner up:
Francesco Moretti
MYANMORE Awards Winners
Wine and Spirits Ambassador of the Year
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Runner up:
Le Planteur Restaurants and Lounge
MYANMORE Awards Winners
Newcomer of the Year Babett Eatery and Bar
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Runner up: Sushi Tei
Runner up: Sofaer & Co.
Isabella Sway Tin and Htet Myet Oo (RTH Group)
MYANMORE Awards Winners
KBZ Entrepreneur of the Year
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Runner up:
Phyone Pong Yon and Ipkaw Pang (Root Kitchen)
Runner up: Chef Orng (ORNG Kitchen)
MYANMORE Awards Winners
Green Award Nourish Café
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Runners up:
Rose Garden Hotel, Chatrium Hotel, Inle Heritage, Sharky’s, Sprouts, Union Bar and Grill / 57 Below group
MYANMORE Awards Winners
U Ye Htut Win (Sharky @ Sharky’s)
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Special Award for Contribution to Excellence
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MYANMORE STAR AWARDS Each venue in the TOP 100 was assessed and scored by an independent panel of judges on the following three key areas: Product This relates to the product that is provided by the venue, this could be food, drink, or a combination of the two. This area was assessed on: presentation, taste, temperature, style, quality and individuality. This also considered the menus, the specials, wine and drinks lists. Environment This relates to the venue itself, and includes all the elements that make up the environment: atmosphere, decoration, lighting, noise, cleanliness, layout, ambience, temperature, even the toilets and the entrance to the venue. This also includes the relationship between the environment of the venue and the style of food and drinks service.
These three key areas are not independent of each other; they collectively create the overall dining or nightlife experience. For example a restaurant with magnificent food, but mediocre service does not qualify for a star award. Likewise a bar with an amazing and unique environment but poorly prepared drinks, does not qualify either. The star awards are presented to venues that get it right in all the areas, and go the extra mile in their quest for excellence. Venues that scored exceptionally high in all three areas are awarded three, two or one MYANMORE Stars, based on their score in their category.
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Service This relates to human interactions and includes: product knowledge, speed of service, friendliness, helpfulness, professionalism, and personal presentation. This also considers the relationship between the service and style of food, drinks and environment.
MYANMORE Star Awards
Le Planteur Seeds The Yangon Restaurant
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L’Opera ORNG Kitchen Summer Palace @ Sule Shangri-La The Marina Indian Restaurant
MYANMORE Star Awards
Acacia tea Salon Atlas Rooftop Bar Cask 81
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Khaing Khaing Kyaw Menzo Tonkotsu Ramen Mugunghwa Korean Restaurant Shan Yoe Yar Sharky’s The Sushi Bar
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Ietsu Sushi & Soba
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TOP100
A shortlist of venues to be assessed by our team of independent judges and considered for inclusion in the guide was taken from the results of the extensive voting process for the MYANMORE Dining and Nightlife Awards 2018. Our independent judging team was drawn together to represent different ages, ethnicities and genders, all our judges are experienced and knowledgeable in the Myanmar dining and nightlife industry, many of them are experts in their field. From the shortlist, each venue was assessed by at least one member of the judging panel. Findings and scores were discussed with the other panel members, and each
MYANMORE MYANMORETOP TOP100 100
The detailed scorecards that judges completed when assessing each venue considered sixteen individual key performance indicators covering the three key areas. Scorecards were tailored to be relevant to the different categories of venue. All venues included in this guide will be reviewed annually to ensure that standard are being maintained and that they guide continue to meet the high expectations of their customers.
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venue was considered on their uniqueness of offering and standards of excellence. Standards were assessed in the three key areas: Product, Environment and Service.
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TOP 100 LIST 50th Street Bar and Grill – 30 7th Joint Bar and Grill – 30 800 Bowls - 48 999 Shan Noodle House - 71 Acacia Tea Salon - 116 After 8 - Shot & Cocktail Bar - 34 Alex’s @ The Loft Hotel - 99 ATLAS Rooftop Bar - 32 Aung Mingala - 72 Aung Thuka - 72 Babett Eatery and Bar - 34 Bar Bondi - 37 Beauty in the Pot - 48 Bijin Japanese Restaurant - 68 Bulgogi Brothers - 58 Burbrit Brewery - 36 Café Del Seoul - 88 Café Salween - 116 Casa Mia Italian Kitchen and Bar - 88 Cask 81 - 37 Corriander Leaf - 64 Danuphyu Daw Saw Yee - 73 DiVINO - 91 DIY Hot Pot & BBQ - 49 Easy Café - 119
Eclipse Bar & Restaurant - 38 Father's Office – 38 Feel Myanmar Restaurant – 74 Gallery Bar @ Sule Shangri-La – 40 Gekko – 39 Gloria Jeans – 118 Golden Pho Vietnamese Cuisine – 62 Green Gallery – 54 Ha Tai Wa – 73 Harry’s Bar – 40 Home Sweet Home – 118 Hong Bao Dim Sum – 52 House of Memories – 75 Ietsu Sushi & Soba – 68 Indian Hut – 64 Jana Mon – 75 Jazz in Time – 42 Khaing Khaing Kyaw – 76 L’Opera – 89 Le Bis-Tro-Ké – 92 Le Bristot @ Savoy Hotel – 100 Le Planteur – 96 Legacy Thai restaurant – 53 Linkage Restaurant and Gallery – 77 Lucky 7 Tea shop – 77
MYANMORE TOP 100
Shan Yoe Yar – 84 Sharky’s – 106 Shwe Sa Bwe – 92 Signature / Garden Bistro – 105 Sofaer & Co. – 63 Sorabol Korean Restaurant – 60 Sprouts – 107 Summer Palace @ Sule Shangri-La – 50 Sushi Tei – 70 Taing Yin Thar - 84 Thai 47 – 56 The Blind Tiger – 42 The District Coffee Lounge – 122 The Marina Indian Restaurant – 66 The Market @ Hotel Meliá – 108 The Penthouse – 43 The Strand Restaurant – 112 The Sushi Bar – 69 The Yangon Restaurant – 110 Tin Tin Aye – 85 Union Bar and Grill – 44 Vista Bar – 45 Yangon Bakehouse – 122 Yangon Yangon – 45
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Mahlzeit – 98 Mañana – 86 Mandalay Restaurant @ Governor’s –100 Mandalay Tea Room – 80 Menzo Tonkotsu Ramen – 69 Min Lan – 78 Mix Bar and Restaurant – 54 Monsoon Restaurant & Bar – 60 Mugunghwa @ LOTTE Hotel – 58 Nara Thai – 55 Nourish – 120 ONYX Wine Tree Restaurant – 105 ORNG Kitchen – 94 Padonmar Restaurant – 79 Paradise Dynasty – 52 Parami Pizza – 90 Prime Grill – 101 Princess Irrawaddy – 80 Rangoon Tea House – 81 Ren Kandawgyi – 70 Root Kitchen – 82 Royal Jasmine Thai Cuisine – 55 Sabai @ DMZ – 56 Sarkies Bar @ The Strand Hotel – 41 SEEDS Restaurant & Lounge – 102 Sha Yi Kachin Food – 83
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Nice place to chill with good atmosphere, and amazing views. - Atlas rooftop bar One of the best casual bars in Yangon, I enjoyed the live music band. It’s a good place to meet lots of people from different industries. - 7th Joint Bar and Grill
WOW! What a view! - Vista Bar
The atmosphere is superb, though it can be a little bit hot some days. The cocktail creations are simply amazing. If you’re into sweet cocktails - I recommend the dinosaur. I can’t wait to go back and try other cocktails and shots. - After 8 Shot & Cocktail bar
BARS This might be the first ever microbrewery in Myanmar, or not, I might be wrong, but that’s not important. What is important is that it brews the best beer in Myanmar, and you can drink it fresh from the barrel. - Burbrit Brewery
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Bars
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50th Street Bar and Grill
7th Joint Bar and Grill
50th Street Bar and Grill is a legendary Yangon institution that needs no introduction. In 2018 they will turn 21, and it seems fitting that they were awarded Best Myanmar Premium Bar at the Myanmore Dining and Nightlife awards. In an ever changing bar and restaurant scene, 50th street Bar and Grill is still one of the most consistent, reliable, and much loved venues in the city.
7th-Joint is noisy, busy and the air is quite often thick with smoke, it is definitely more bar than it is grill. But if you are looking for a party atmosphere, live music and acceptably priced drinks (they have a generous happy ‘hour’ between 5pm and 8pm) then it really is the best place in town to head to.
Winner - Best Myanmar Premium Bar 2018
50th street is much more than just a bar, and the excellent and eclectic menu of high quality foods including hand-cut Australian sirloin steak tartar means it does stand out against the offerings of other bars in Yangon. 50th Street Bar and Grill is set in a old colonial era warehouse where the open bar, famous sweeping wooden staircase, rugged brick walls, iconic signs evoke the style of a classic American sports bar. They have an extensive draught beer collection; a decent range of high quality cocktails and the kind of atmosphere you can’t help but enjoy. No.9/13, 50th Street, Botataung Township 01 397 060 info@50thstreetyangon.com 10:30 am – Late
Packed out most evenings with a mix of foreigners and Myanmar locals it often feels more like a party at someone’s house than a bar, the crowd is friendly everyone is happy and you cannot fail to be taken in by the positive vibe. Its claim to be the only reggae bar in Myanmar still holds true, they serve a decent jerk chicken and the cocktail list isn’t to be sniffed at with such delights as the flaming Bob Marley shot. Reggae music plays when there is no live music (which isn’t often to be fair). It’s not the easiest to find as it is hidden down the side of the Asia Centre on the corner of 47th street and Mahabandula Road. But well worth seeking out if you need a party atmosphere to perk you up. G-A10, Shwe Asia Building, Corner of 47th Street and Mahabandula Road, Botataung Township 09 260 600 552 7thjoint@gmail.com 5:00pm to 11:00pm
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Bars
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ATLAS Rooftop Bar
Runner up - Bar of the Year 2018 ATLAS Rooftop Bar & Lounge is one of the best spots in town to go for sunset drinks. With views covering the extent of the city, from the Shwedagon Pagoda to the east and rice paddies beyond the Yangon River to the west it really is a cracking place to escape the noise and traffic of Sanchaung and take a look at the world. The bar itself is stunning and wouldn’t be out of place in Bangkok. They serve a fine selection of cocktails - favourites include Yangon Sprizz and Sanchaung Breeze and they have an extensive Champagne menu. A decent range of tapas nibbles prepared by Mahlzeit on the ground floor are also available. The staff are on top of their game, the couches comfortable and the tropical plants, open spaces and chilled out music contribute to the general laid back vibe. They often hold regular live music events including Jazz under the stars on a Wednesday, and they host regular DJ nights where the vibe is more energetic than laid back. Be warned they do close in the rainy season, so check out their Facebook page to find out when they’ll be shutting up shop for a few months. Level 12, Uniteam Marine Tower, 84 Pan Hlaing Street, Sanchaung Township 09 767 419413 5:00pm – 11:00pm
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© ATLAS Rooftop Bar
Bars
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After 8 - Shot & Cocktail Bar After 8 is from the same stable as Roof Alchemy, and nightclub FUSE and is located on the rooftop of Myanmar Plaza. Here you will find the hip local crowd of Yangon enjoying the Inya Lake views, fresh air, good music and extensive cocktail list. The service is sharp and the mixologists know their stuff, but there’s a lot of humour in their offering as well. They don’t take themselves too seriously, which is quite refreshing. If you’ve always wanted to drink a fancy cocktail from a funky dinosaur, or a golden banana or glitter ball then this place will be right up your street. The cocktails are great quality, reasonably priced and also available in normal glasses! They have a small menu selection, if you are peckish, but lets face it, you aren’t going to After-8 just for the food. They’ve opened a high-end Shisha bar next door as well, if you are into that sort of thing. 4th Floor, Myanmar Plaza, Corner of No.1 Industrial Road and Kabar Aye Pagoda Road, Bahan Township 09 951 222888 5:00pm to 2:00am
Babett Eatery and Bar
Winner – Newcomer of the Year 2018 Winner of the Myanmore Dining and Nightlife Awards Newcomer of the Year, Babette is a welcome addition to the Yangon scene. Situated on the ground floor of Hotel G at the end of Yaw Min Gyi, Babett are fast developing a reputation as a favourite after work hangout due to their perfect location, good food, excellent drinks and great atmosphere. With an attractive laid-back dining room decorated with a collection of original works by local artists, and a well-designed and sophisticated outdoor pergola terrace, Babett is a comfortable and stylish place to relax and enjoy the friendly atmosphere. Don’t be put off by the hotel entrance and slightly clunky welcome; once you’re in, all is great. Recently appointed Executive chef Christophe Buzare has created an innovative menu utilizing the best of Mediterranean and western cuisines, offering a large selection of imported delicacies, tapas and pizza’s from a traditional wood fired pizza oven. They have a suitably large selection of beers and cocktails and a very accessible list of wines available by the glass. Ground Floor, Hotel G 5, Alan Pya Pagoda Street (Corner of Yaw Min Gyi) Dagon Township 01 243 639 7:00am – Late
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Bars
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Burbrit Brewery Burbrit is the first microbrewery in Myanmar. At the Tasting Room up in North Dagon they produce a large range of exceptional craft beers in small batches according to centuries-old German brewing traditions, using the highest quality malts and hops imported from Germany. It’s a long trek up to the brewery, and you can expect to get lost several times on the way as you negotiate the industrial park in which they are located. But once you are on the banks of the Pazundaung Creek enjoying a large frosty glass of the best beer in Myanmar (by a long way) then the rush hour traffic frustrations pale into insignificance. They offer a tasting flight where you can sample a small glass of each of the eight beers they brew, including German Wiezen, Burma pale ale, Irish red ale, and a full-bodied Porter. They also serve a refreshingly cinnamony sweet cider. Their beers and cider are slowly infiltrating the city and many restaurants and bars are starting to stock their products so keep an eye out for them. In early 2018 they opened their latest venture - Burbrit Taproom that is much more accessibly located near the Thai embassy in Dagon. The industrial themed premises has a great indoor outdoor atmosphere, a small menu of Asian and Western foods and stocks the full range of beers. As this guide went to press they
were in the process of launching a British cask conditioned ale, and have imported hand pumps (beer engines) to draw the beer directly from the barrel. Other plans for 2018 include the launch of a craft gin made with botanicals and infused with Myanmar spices. Burbrit Tasting Room: No.D 16, North Dagon Industrial Zone, 34 Quarter Extension, North Dagon contact@burbrit.com  http://www.burbrit.com 09 775 451852 Burbrit Tap Room: No 74, Ma Naw Hari Street (Near Thai Embassy) Dagon Township 09788089287 4:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Bar Bondi has taken a little slice of beach culture from Australia and deposited it smack bang in the middle of Yangon.
Cask 81 is hidden away behind a restaurant across from Pearl Condominium on Kabar Aye Pagoda Road, but it is well worth seeking out. The bar is spacious and luxurious with soft lighting, tan leather couches and the faint smell of expensive cigars in the air. It’s a sleek joint, and holds the biggest collection of single malts in the country, including several boutique whiskies that are not normally commercially available.
With wooden barrels as tables, cocktails galore, live sports on the big screen, and surfboards hanging from the ceiling you can practically smell the sea, sand and sexwax. It’s a big open and airy space, suitable for large gatherings, and it attracts a sizeable crowd of after work drinkers. They have a decent menu, the burgers are particularly generous, and the staff are friendly and skilled at mixing the drinks. With a pool table, ping-pong and darts there’s plenty to keep you entertained too. If you are looking for something a little different from the usual Western bar offering, it is definitely worth a gander. International Commercial Centre, Ground Floor, Corner of Strand Road and Botahtaung Pagoda Road Botahtaung Township 09 969 116190 reservation@thebondigroup.com.mm 11:30am - 12:00am
If you are particular about your whisky or even whiskey then a walk along the length of the bar to investigate their extensive line up will probably bring tears to your eyes. Prices rang e from US$85 to US$2,800 for a bottle though you don’t have to buy the whole bottle. The friendly bar staff are on the whole very knowledgeable and will give you expert recommendations on a range of whisky-based cocktails, fine Cognacs and a selection of Cuban cigars. A small menu of items that go well with whisky is available, including a decent cheese platter. They regularly advertise whisky-tasting sessions and whisky blending master classes with international experts. No. 81 Kabar Aye Pagoda Road, (Opposite Pearl Condo), Bahan Township 09 254 083 981 cask81yangon@gmail.com 08:00am - 01:00am
Bars
Cask 81
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Bar Bondi
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Eclipse Bar and Restaurant
Father’s Office
Eclipse is actually three bars all in one location. The outdoor rooftop venue is located on the 4th Floor of Myanmar Plaza, and offers Eclipse's rooftop Beer Club, Music Lounge, and Beer Garden. Live bands, international guest DJ's, dancers, and high-energy regular events have all contributed to the bar’s success.
Father’s Office is a small and simple drinking spot in downtown Yangon. The name of the bar refers to the ‘father’ of the nation Bogyoke Aung San whose office was just across the road at the Secretariat. They serve a good range of beers (including craft beers from Burbrit) and have a decent selection of bar snacks and western dishes including Burmese fusion tapas.
Runner up - Bar of the Year 2018
Though eclipse is popular for being a busy noisy and energetic bar, in the early evening it is also a great place to relax, chill, and unwind with stunning views of Inya Lake. They serve up a small menu offering and a decent range of drinks, but be warned it gets jammed packed at weekends. Fortunately they have an undercover area that will be very useful in the rains. If you’ve not ventured up to the fourth floor of the Myanmar Plaza yet, then you are missing out on the biggest and certainly busiest night out in Yangon. 4th Floor, Myanmar Plaza 192 Kabar Aye Pagoda Road Bahan Township 09442477778 11:00am – 2:00am
The owner Hnin Yee Htun Win (Entrepreneur of the Year 2017) has built up a great rapport with her regular customers, remembering not only their names but also their favourite drinks. Her investment and efforts in building a friendly local bar is paying off as it’s a popular after-work watering hole for many Myanmar locals and expats who pop in for a pint or two, and a bite to eat before facing the ‘rush-hour’ traffic home. The 5pm – 8pm happy hour coincides perfectly with this as well. The vibe is low key and friendly, and is a great place to hangout during the day too. The fish and chips come highly recommended. 291, Bo Aung Kyaw Street, (In between Mahabandoolah and Anawratha) Kyauktada Township 09 45021 8080 fathersofficeygn@gmail.com 11:00am - 11:00pm
The bar is set over two floors; the mezzanine lounge is furnished in nice and relaxing sofas; the downstairs is dominated by high tables and a little busier. Its worth a visit just to have a look around, with high ceilings, beautiful lighting, and oh those Manchester tiles. The bar is an energetic spot most evenings and fills up with a stylish crowd, and although they have a happy hour the prices are up there with the best. They have a charcoal fired Yakitori/Robotayaki grill and Chef Aung Myo Oo, who has a wealth of experience in Japanese restaurants around the world, including an extended period in the Middle East, serves up an extensive menu of high quality Japanese cuisine. He is innovative with his weekly specials, and uses with the freshest ingredients including imported seafood & Black Angus beef. The menu includes sushi, ramen and bento boxes, though there are also some Korean and Vietnamese dishes available. Gekkõ translates literally in Japanese as “moon-shine”, and it is their cocktail
Gekko is one of the founding members of the STRAWS SUCK campaign launched in Yangon in 2017 that aims to reduce plastic waste and pollution. They do not serve plastic straws with their drinks. 535, Merchant Road, (Between Pansoedan Street & 37th Street) Kyauktada Township 01 254 041 info@gekkoyangon.com 11:00am - 11:00am
© Gekko
Bars
Gekkõ is located in the beautifully renovated Sofaer & Co building on Pansodan Road. In 2018 they were awarded “Best Adaptive Reuse Project” by the Yangon Heritage Trust that recognised their efforts to conserve and integrate the original architecture of this wonderful building.
offering created by amazing Myanmar mixologist Lal Mon Puia that really stands out above most of the competition in town. He has developed an extensive range of unique and interesting cocktails, and he serves a mean Old Fashioned with a Burmese twist! There is also a decent wine list, a good selection of Sake and Shochu and one of the biggest collections of Japanese Whiskies you’ll find in Yangon, including the wonderful and award winning Yamazaki 12 year old.
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Gekkõ
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Gallery Bar @ Sule Shangri-La Hotel This classy bar located on the second floor of the Sule Shangri-La Hotel oozes sophistication and style that is reminiscent of a London gentleman’s club in the 1800’s. Think dark wood panelling, chandeliers luxurious leather sofas and lots of brass. They’ve a very interesting collection of old photographs covering almost every inch of the walls a large pool table and big screens showing sports. They serve a very generous two-for-one happy hour between 5:30pm to 7:30pm, and is thus a great place to start the night off. They also have a decent range of good quality meals and snacks, as you’d expect from one of Yangon’s top hotels. It’s an interesting spot for people watching, and certainly one of the better and more comfortable hotel bars in Yangon. Level 2, Sule Shangri-La Hotel 223 Sule Pagoda Road, Kyauktada Township 01 242 828 (Ext: 6430 or 6431) 1:00pm – 12:00am
Harry’s Bar
Winner – Bar of the Year 2018 Harry’s bar, located on the ground floor of Myanmar Plaza has been around for nearly two years, which is a long time in bar years, in Yangon. The secret behind their success is simple – good food, good drinks and a great atmosphere. They’ve worked hard to develop a huge and loyal following and subsequently the bar is packed out with revellers every night of the week. Harry’s is one of the few bars in Yangon that you have to book your table in advance if you want to be in with a chance of enjoying the lively atmosphere. Frequented mainly by locals with a scattering of foreigners, it is not a pretentious bar by any stretch of the imagination. Harry’s serves a decent selection of food - they are famous for their fries (apparently the best in the city) but it is their own brand beer Harry’s Premium Lager that gets the most praise. Enjoying a large ice-cold glass of HPL in the pleasant outside terrace is currently the most popular way to catch up with friends after work in Yangon. Myanmar Plaza, Kabar Aye Pagoda Road, Bahan Township 09 777 708395 info@harrysmm.com 11:00am to 2:00am
The bar at the world-renowned Strand Hotel was recently renovated and renamed in honour of the famous brothers who founded the hotel in 1901. The bar is stunning and offers at atmospheric glimpse back in time, celebrating the illustrious history of the hotel - having welcomed many a famous face over the years: Noël Coward, Rudyard Kipling and Orson Welles to name but a few. The action behind the bar these days is about as modern as it can get, with master mixologist Francesco Moretti who joined the team behind the bar in August 2017, serving up arguably the best cocktails in town. Francesco, who was born in Bitonto, has showcased his cocktails in 18 countries and is an exciting presence on the Yangon
© Sarkies Bar at The Strand
bar scene. After gaining experience working for Alessandro Porcu and the Michelin starred Jean-Claude Brugel at “Sea Lounge Beach Monaco” in Monte Carlo, he moved to Miami where he improved his “American technique” skills. He was crowned the Best Mojito maker in France in 2010! His innovative and original cocktail creations such as his famous double fudge martini, are one of the reasons that Sarkies is still considered to be one of the best bars in Yangon. The famous Strand Sour is still a popular choice, and for those not taken by cocktails they also offer a comprehensive wine list, and a very tasty selection of single malt whiskies. The Strand Yangon 92 Strand Road, Kyauktada Township 01 243 377 reservations@hotelthestrand.com 10:00am – 02:00am
Bars
Runner up - Wine and Spirits Ambassador of the Year 2018 (Francesco Moretti)
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Sarkies Bar at The Strand
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Jazz in Time
The Blind Tiger
Jazz in Time is the first and only Jazz bar in Yangon, and it is a super atmospheric place to hang out to enjoy good music. They hold a generous happy hour and have an interesting mix of cool cocktails, good food and live Jazz and blues music.
As Yangon’s only ‘speakeasy’, The Blind Tiger is styled around the underground bar movement during prohibition in the 1920’s in the US. It’s a stylish and friendly bar that serves high quality fusion cuisine including tapas, and has a creative cocktails list that includes some pretty spicy cocktails that are not for the faint hearted.
Runner up – Best Myanmar Premium Bar 2018
Vintage lamps provide a seductive dim light to the saloon, and some of the most famous characters in Jazz peer down from the brick walls. The space is well used and the stage visible from both floors of the bar. It’s the kind of place that once you’ve got yourself settled, you never want to leave. It’s still developing its reputation, but it has certainly struck a chord with fans of live music and good vibes. They have a different style of music on most evenings, and reguar stand-up comedy evenings, check out their Facebook page to find out what is on offer each week. G-01 Bo Myat Tun Tower, Bo Myat Tun Street, Botahtaung Township 09454500447 info@jazzmyanmar.com 5:00 pm - 12:00 am
The bar is located in a beautiful old building with high ceilings, exposed brick and exciting artwork. It feels opulent, and sumptuous yet highly accessible at the same time. There’s a nice open balcony from which you can view the goings on downstairs but be careful on the wrought iron spiral staircase after a couple of Burmese mules! As is traditional with a speakeasy, there is no signboard visible from the road so look out for the glowing tiger paw in the window next to the unmarked door. No. 93/95 Seik Kan Thar Road (Lower Block) Kyauktada Township 09 786 833847 4:00pm - 12:00am
Bars Š Jazz in Time
The Penthouse The Penthouse is located on the top floor of the Parkside One building in Myaynigone Township. It has nice spacious outdoor area that is fabulous to take a drink and watch the sun set over the city, and a minimalist funky industrial style indoors which is perfect to escape the rains, or the heat depending on the time of year. They offer a seriously good menu of international standard cuisines including Australian tenderloin, lobster and even fresh oysters. A great wine list and a decent number of cocktails from the attractive bar.
Although the bar is generally busy at all times, it really gets going on the evenings when they host regular guest DJ’s from around the world. Even with the many competing rooftop bars that have opened over the last two years, The Penthouse is still holding its own, and is just as good (if not better) as it was at its exciting opening all those years ago. 8th floor Park Side One building 271-273 Bar Ga Yar street Myaynigone Township info@thepenthouse-yangon.com 09 771 239924 11:00am - 01:00am
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Union Bar and Grill
Winner - Wines and Spirits Ambassador of the Year 2018 (Jen Queen) Union is located in the beautiful old Red Cross building on Strand Road. The interior is super smart with high ceilings traditional fans, white painted brick walls and comfortable booths. It is a lovely space. The centrepiece of the room is the impressive bar, where Myanmore Dining and nightlife Wines and Spirits Ambassador award winner Jen Queen plies her trade. The cocktail list is extensive, and regularly updated, as this guide went to press Jen was launching an innovative and exciting range of cocktails called “Get Trollied” using rescued ingredients such as coffee grounds and banana skins.
Union Bar is one of the founding members of the STRAWS SUCK campaign launched in Yangon in 2017 that aims to reduce plastic waste and pollution. They do not serve plastic straws with their drinks. 42 Strand Road, Left corner of the Myanmar Red Cross Building, Botahtaung Township , Yangon, Myanmar Yangon 09 250 355 064 info@unionyangon.com 11:00 - 23:00
Talented young Myanmar Head Chef Zin Maw Win who previously worked at Le Planteur has created a modern menu with a multitude of influences. Dishes include their Signature Union Burger made with Black Angus beef and topped with aged cheddar, bacon and homemade sauces. They also offer an extensive selection of vegetarian dishes - almost 25% of the menu is suitable for vegetarians, most of which can also be adapted for vegans. The happy hour runs from 5pm-7pm and they host monthly guest bartenders evenings attended by some of Asia’s top bartenders, and regular guest international DJ slots at weekends.
© Union Bar & Grill
If the stairs don’t take your breath away, the view will!
Another rooftop bar another great opportunity to view the city from above. Yangon Yangon is situated right at the top of Sakura Tower, which is about as high as you can get in downtown Yangon. From up here you can see as far as Dala across the Yangon River to the south and you have a fabulous view of the Shwedagon Pagoda to the north.
Vista bar has long been a popular haunt among both the expat and local Myanmar crowds, and as one of the first rooftop bars in Yangon they are still holding their own against the plethora of other rooftop venues that have opened up over the last few years. And for good reason - what a view! Recently renovated and extended, they have picked up their food and beverage game as well. The cocktail list has been revamped and the food menu improved and both are good value and great quality. Their signature Vista cocktails are just as great as they’ve always been though, and still very reasonably priced. Open until 1am they are generally packed out most evenings. It’s a great bar to take newcomers to Yangon to check out the view, and is a good overall introduction to the Yangon bar scene. But oh, those stairs! 168 West Shwegondaing Road, Bahan Township 09 252 666 678 vistabaryangon@gmail.com 5:00pm - 1:00am
Runner up – Best Myanmar Premium Bar 2018
It’s a great spot to enjoy the arrival of the evening and take advantage of their happy hour. Later and especially at the weekends it gets busy and loud. If you want a table you’d be wise to book in advance. There is a 5,000kyat cover charge but that covers your first drink. They have a small food offering a decent cocktail list and the service is friendly, but the view is really the big draw here, oh and the breeze. It’s the perfect place to cool down after a hot sweaty day spent walking the downtown streets of Yangon. Yangon Yangon by Sky Bistro, Sakura Tower Rooftop 339 Bogyoke Aung San Road, Kyauktada Township 01 255 131 YangonYangonRooftop@gmail.com 5:00pm – Late
Bars
Yangon Yangon
45 TOP 100 / March 2018
Vista Bar
Good service, pleasant surroundings and an ample range of well-cooked and reasonably-priced dishes make this place worth a visit. - Signature Restaurant / Garden Bistro
OMG ORNG! - Orng Kitchen
The staff are really friendly, the prices are reasonable, and the setting is relaxed. Go now if you haven’t already! - Green Gallery
‘It won my heart with its dipping station’ - Beauty in the Pot
A really good meal out can feel—just a little bit—like a holiday. This is how I felt after an evening at Sofaer & Co. - Soafer & Co.
I started with the fatty tuna and as soon as it touched my tongue I knew it was one of the best pieces of sushi I’d had in Yangon. - Ietsu Sushi & Soba
RESTAURANTS A multisensory experience. The food is punchy, the cocktails are strong, the décor is arresting, and the atmosphere is lively. - Root Kitchen
Restaurants TOP 100 / March 2018
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Š The Strand Restaurant @ The Strand Hotel
Chinese TOP 100 / Macrh 2018
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800 Bowls
Beauty in the Pot
The highlight of a visit to 800 Bowls is observing the artistic performance of a chef expertly preparing hand pulled noodles in the open kitchen.
Beauty in the Pot has all the staples of a good quality Chinese hot pot chain (which is to be expected as its from Singapore’s Paradise Group). The restaurant has over sixty different ingredients available to create soup including the usual suspects but homemade pastes and the melt-in-themouth fish tofu stand out above the competition. The key to great Hot Pot is definitely the quality of the soup base and there are six different and individually flavoured soup bases of varying spiciness to choose from.
The chef pulls, stretches and throws dough to form extremely long noodles called la mian. The difference in quality and taste between these freshly prepared la mian and the usual factory produced noodles is notable. 800 Bowls has a lively atmosphere and often gets packed out in the evenings. The high ceilings and rough and ready tables add to the feeling that although this is a trendy place is not in any way pretentious. At times noisy, the ambiance of 800 Bowls is definitely not conducive to quiet and intimate tables for two, but is a great place to take a few friends to enjoy some of their other specialities including Gyoza, Dumplings and xiao long bao. G06/07, Asia Business Centre, (Next to KBZ Bank) Corner of Maha Bandoola and 48th Street, Botataung Township 09 964 588875 11:00am to 10:00pm
The atmosphere of the restaurant is one of activity and smells, buzzing but not raucous (in Mandarin we would say ‘renao’) with pleasant chatter and scented steam emanating from each table. Special mention must be made also to the dipping station. For the uninitiated, part of the hot pot experience is to create your own dipping sauce which you can coat items in between being cooked in the hot pot and entering your mouth. The station here is well-stocked with soy, vinegar, oils, coriander, chilli, sha cha, sesame and most importantly, it is very clean. 42(A), Sayar San Road, Bahan Township 09 252 221 188 11:00am to 2:00am
This restaurant has been designed with a modern extreme minimalist approach. A bit like a warehouse it has cement walls, exposed piping, huge glass windows and lots of space. It almost feels unfinished, but then that of course is intentional and is complementary to the DIY style of food presented. Do it yourself is literally what you get here, and there is something very enjoyable about getting back to basics, rolling up your sleeves and cooking your food for yourself. There is a vast array of quality
seafood, meats, broths and vegetables to cook up, and for the more adventurous you can get stuck into pork intestines, beef tongue, pork brains.
Chinese
DIY Hot Pot & BBQ
This is the kind of place you’d take a gang of friends or your entire family to enjoy a hearty, interactive and entertaining casual dining experience. No.(95/F) Wai Za Yan Tar Road, Thingangyun Township 01 233 0381 11:00am to 11:00pm
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Chinese
Summer Palace @ Sule Shangri-La Hotel What makes it special
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Named after an Imperial Garden in Beijing set next to Kunming Lake, Summer Palace restaurant located on the second floor of the Sule Shangri-La Hotel serves top quality authentic Cantonese food in a fine dining environment. The service is polite and attentive and the staff speak excellent English. The dining area is spacious and open, and six luxury private dining rooms are available.
Typical Dishes
The menu is an extensive collection of Authentic Cantonese cuisine including live fish and seafood. An Ă la carte menu and multi course banquet dinners are also on offer. Popular dishes include fried fish with wasabi mayonnaise, wok-fried fish balls with bitter gourd and the extensive Dim sum buffet.
Level 2, Sule Shangri-La Hotel 223 Sule Pagoda Road, Kyauktada Township 01242 828 ext: 6480 11:00am - 2:30pm 5:30pm - 10:00pm
Š Summer Palace @ Sule Shangri-La Hotel
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Restaurants
Restaurant TOP 100 / Macrh 2018
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Hong Bao Dim Sum
Paradise Dynasty
Some claim that Hong Bao serves the best dim sum in Yangon, and that they are comparable with the best in Hong Kong. The head chef himself is from Hong Kong, and sources his ingredients there to ensure quality and authenticity. So they could be right.
Part of a popular chain of Singaporean restaurants, Paradise Dynasty serves authentic Northern and Southern Chinese cuisine. They specialize in xiao long bao and claim to have created the world’s first piece of Chinese culinary art! Which is a bold statement, but when the colourful combination basket arrives you’ll understand why.
A selection of traditional Cantonese dishes are also available. The restaurant has been praised for their creative use of quality fresh ingredients. They offer an incredible number of curry combinations - they claim to offer over 200 variations, and have more than 30 types of Dim Sum listed in the menu. They have restaurants in four locations across Yangon including 6.5 Miles, Hantharwaddy Golf Range and 8th Mile, but the best is located in a beautiful colonial style house with a pleasant garden (formerly the Water Library) opposite the Thai Embassy in Dagon. 83/95, Corner of Manawharri & Pyay Road, (Opposite Thai Embassy) Dagon Township 01 221 721 7:00am – 2:00pm 5:30pm – 9:00pm
There are eight variations provided in each basket: original, ginseng, fois gras, black truffle, cheese, crab roe, garlic, and Sichuan peppercorn. For newcomers to the word of xiao long bao, this is a great place to start and a handy eating guide is provided. The restaurant offers eighteen different types of la mian, and all are handmade on the premises, you can watch the chef in action in the open kitchen. The service is attentive, warm and efficient, and the staff are able to give you detailed information about the food on offer. No.(2) & (3), Junction Square Extension, Between Pyay Road & Kyung Taw Road, Kamayut Township 09 797131333 11:00 am - 10:30 pm
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Legacy Thai restaurant Hidden away down a narrow alley off Dhamazedi Road (close to the junction with U Wisara), Legacy might not look particularly inviting from the outside, but don’t let that put you off. If you are looking for reasonably priced and authentic Thai food that is well prepared to a standard you’d expect in Bangkok, then Legacy Thai restaurant is worth making the effort to investigate. Legacy has a big following in the city, from those that are “in-the-know”, and both lunchtimes and evenings are generally quite lively with customers that work in and around the Bahan area.
Service can be a bit slow when they are busy, but that doesn’t take away from the experience of eating some of the most genuine Thai food in Yangon. The fresh crab curries are highly recommended. 99, Dhammazedi Road, (close to the junction with U Wisara) Bahan Township 09 73012890 10:00am – 10:00pm
Thai
Green Gallery
Mix Bar and Restaurant
The chalkboard outside announces: “Let us tickle your taste buds and fill your stomachs.”
Mix Bar and Restaurant has won heaps of food and nightlife awards in Thailand, and they’ve extended their reach into Laos and now Myanmar.
What more could you ask for in a restaurant?
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Green Gallery is a small modest restaurant that offers a comfortable and relaxing atmosphere and a selection of authentic Thai dishes. The furniture is all made from reclaimed wood and the bar from repurposed pallets. The friendly owner Ma Bo lived and worked in Thailand for many years. When she returned to Yangon she brought with her a wealth of experience and ideas. The salads are exceptional, and the curries pack a proper Thai punch. She often serves out front when it is busy and always takes the time to make sure you feel at home. This place is regularly packed out with a friendly crowd for that reason alone. The food is fresh and all the ingredients are locally sourced, and the prices are very reasonable. Highly recommended is the Chicken coconut soup. Building #58 on 52nd street, (Between Mahabandhoola and Merchant streets) 09 313 15131 greengallery982@gmail.com 12:00pm - 3:00pm 6:00pm - 9:00pm
The franchise is in the safe hands of the people behind Feel restaurants, so you can be guaranteed that the food and service will be of a high standard. Although they are predominantly a Thai food restaurant, and have an extensive offering of Thai cuisines with a modern western twist - their cocktail menu is equally as extensive and filled with an exciting and interesting mix of old favourites and modern molecular inventions. Located up at nine mile in front of Victoria Hospital it’s a handy spot for those that don’t live so close to downtown. With their lovely roof terrace and modern and bright interior it is a very interesting place to hang out to eat some decent and modern Thai dishes and try some adventurous cocktails - if you’ve always fancied drinking a cocktail made of gold then now is your chance. 68 Tawwin Street (9 miles) Mayangone Township 019663963 11:00am – 11:00pm
Thai The word Nara means “Thai woman” in Sanskrit language, and the restaurant name comes from one of the original founders: Narawadee Srikarnchana. Nara Thai was founded in Thailand in 2003 by a group of female entrepreneurs; they now have restaurants all over South East Asia and have many awards for their high quality cuisine. The restaurant models itself on the theme of Thai fine dining, and serves excellent traditional Thai cuisine with a modern interpretation. Their signature dish ‘blue rice’ needs to be seen to be believed, the colour comes from the butterfly pea flower and has a wonderfully delicate flavour. In fact all of their dishes are all beautifully presented and strikingly colourful. The décor of the restaurant is modern and smart, the service is very calm and polite and the overall atmosphere of the restaurant is one of refined splendour. No (1), Kan Yeikthar Street, Mayangone Township 09 777 151222 10:30am - 10:30pm
Royal Jasmine Authentic Thai Cuisine Tucked away inside Diamond Condo on Pyay Road, Royal Jasmine Restaurant is quietly making a name for itself in the highly competitive Thai restaurant market. They were awarded Thai Restaurant of the year by Myanmore in 2017. Their chefs are from Thailand, which does make a massive difference to the style and quality of the food they serve. The restaurant is smart, the service is tidy and there are private rooms available if you need a quiet space to enjoy your meal, or conduct a business meeting. It’s well worth seeking out if you fancy trying somewhere a little bit off the beaten track, and certainly somewhere you’ll want to return. Ground floor,SOHO Diamond Condo Tower E, Pyay Road, (Corner of Narnataw Road) Kamayut Township 09 964 496365 rjthaicuisine@gmail.com 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
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Nara Thai
Thai TOP 100 / Macrh 2018
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Sabai @ DMZ
Thai 47
Sabai has been providing exceptional and authentic Thai cuisine in Yangon since 1999. Their Sabai @ DMZ venue is a beautiful and serene place to enjoy a meal overlooking Inya Lake.
Executive chef couple Ko Zaw Min Tun & Ma Nan Naw have 20 years experience in cooking Thai cuisine. Thai 47 is named after the location of their first restaurant on 47th street in Botataung. They have since extended their offering to four restaurants that all serve high quality Thai cuisine.
The restaurant is so called as it was originally situated on Dhamazedi road. Likewise their other venue Sabai @ INYA located near Golden Hill Towers on Kabar Aye Pagoda Road was originally situated on Inya Road. Confusing? Perhaps, but both venues serve fabulous food and are well worth a visit. They are renowned for excellent service, interesting and pleasant dÊcor and high quality food. If you fancy watching the sunset over Inya Lake with some excellent food and cold beer, then Sabai @DMZ is just the place to be. One word of advice though, make sure you’re properly prepared for the mossies! Sabai @ DMZ Mya Kyun Thar, Kabar Aye Pagoda Rd, 01 860 5178 ycagyi@gmail.com 11:00am - 2:30pm 5:00pm - 9:30pm
The atmosphere of the restaurants is modern and loud and bright, and at times brash, the walls are adorned with a collection of fascinating photographs taken by the owner. The food is traditional and includes typical dishes such as grilled pork neck, salt snake-head fish and the famous Gaeng Pha. Their northern Thai style sausage is highly recommended. Typical signature cocktails include basil mojito and mango batita. It is the quality and price of the extensive menu; the quick efficient service and the happy hour cocktails that keep bringing the customers back. No (153), corner of 47th Street & Anawyahta Road, Botataung Township 09 516 9215 thai47bistroandbar@gmail.com 10:30am - 10:30pm
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Š Thai 47
Restaurants
Korean
Bulgogi Brothers Bulgogi Brothers is a casual dining restaurant that serves authentic modern contemporary Korean cuisine. They pride themselves on providing a genuine Korean restaurant experience, and many of the ingredients are imported from Korea.
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Executive Head Chef, Nay Lin spent six months in Seoul with his team to take part in intensive training to ensure that they can recreate Korean cuisine at a high standard. Although other traditional Korean foods are available it is the Seoul-style bulgogi that diners keep coming back for. The beef is thinly shredded, marinated in special bulgogi sauce and tenderised using kiwi. The broth is flavoured with pear and apple; this combination provides a fruity sweetness that goes well with the meat, glass noodles, enoki mushroom, leek and onion. Each table is fitted with a small induction heating plate for your BBQ, and a server quietly and unobtrusively cooks your food whilst you wait. The room is generously air-conditioned to counteract the heat produced by all that cooking. G-136, Ground Floor, SOHO Diamond Tower Building 1, Nar Nat Taw Street, Kamayut Township 09796307127 10:00am - 9:00pm
Mugunghwa Korean Restaurant @ Lotte Hotel Mugunghwa is a fine-dining Korean restaurant located on the north side of Inya Lake at the Lotte Hotel. The décor is modern and stylish with a touch of oriental elegance; the views of the lake are wonderful, especially from the outside terrace. The food is of a very high quality, as is the service, which is exactly what you would expect from such a stylish restaurant. There is even a dress code in place, with diners expected to be dressed casually smart, which means a collared shirt and long trousers for men, and nothing too revealing for women. Slippers are an absolute no go. A wide variety of contemporary and modern Korean dishes are available, and a live gueridon BBQ grill is expertly manned by one of the chefs. It’s not a cheap option by any stretch of the imagination, but then quality of this level never is. 1st Floor, Lotte Yangon, No. 82, Sin Phyu Shin Avenue, Pyay Road, 6½ Mile, Hlaing Township, 01 9351000 Ext : 1523 11:30am - 2:30pm 6:00pm - 10:00pm
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Restaurants
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Sorabol Korean Restaurant
Monsoon Restaurant & Bar
Sorabol restaurant is located in a smart two-story building with a small garden for outdoor dining on Kanbawza Street in Golden Valley. It’s part of a high-end Korean chain and has an excellent high quality BBQ offering.
So extensive is the Monsoon Restaurant & Bar menu, that you could dine here every day for several weeks without getting bored.
The majority of customers are Korean, which is always a good sign of quality, though if you are looking for a quiet romantic spot, this is not it. Large tables, large dishes and a noisy energetic crowd enjoying their food with gusto are all part of the experience. The meat is fresh with plenty of cuts to choose from including rib eye steak and pork belly, the side dishes are plentiful and Korean liquors are available in abundance. The extraction is super-efficient so the restaurant doesn’t suffer from the hazy atmosphere of most Korean BBQ joints, and you don’t leave with that lingering smell. The service is just about right, most of the time. Some claim it to be the best Korean restaurant in Yangon, if it isn’t its not far off. They have two smaller branches located in Myanmar Plaza and Junction City. 15 Kanbawza Street, Bahan Township 09785888999 10:00 am - 10:30 pm
With a range of dishes covering Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand it’s the kind of restaurant you could happily go to with a large group of friends when none of you can agree on what to eat. The downside to this of course is that it takes so long to navigate the lengthy menu that you are starving by the time you’ve made up your mind. Located in a beautiful old colonial building, the restaurant has airy high-ceilings, lazy fans and photos of old Rangoon. Smart staff glide effortlessly around the tables and know every inch of the menu off by heart (which is a feat in itself). Established in 2005 by three young entrepreneurial women Monsoon is firmly established as an institution in the ever-changing Myanmar restaurant scene. 85-87 Theinphyu Road, Botataung Township 01 295 224 monsoon.ygn@gmail.com 10:00am to 11:00pm
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Restaurants
Southeast Asian 62 © Golden Pho Vietnamese Cuisine
Golden Pho Vietnamese Cuisine Golden Pho is a lively little restaurant on Yaw Min Gyi that has built up a huge following for their bowls of fragrant, steaming Vietnamese broth. The interior is warm and inviting, with a modern vibe and interesting Vietnamese art adorns the walls. The service is fast and friendly, the food wholesome and rewarding. Alongside fabulous Pho , they also serve all the usual Vietnamese dishes including pork buns, Goi, Bánh-mì and excellent rice paper rolls. All are of a quality that you would expect to find in a restaurant in Vietnam.
But it is the Pho that people keep coming back for. It is after all the national dish of Vietnam. Their aromatic, broth-based noodle soup is rich and intense due to the use of marrow-rich bones that have been slowly simmered for 8 hours. The textures of the rice noodles and tender sliced beef or chicken added with sweet spices and aromatic herbs, provide comfort in a bowl. Be warned though it is quite likely that you’ll have to wait for a table especially at weekends. No.62 (A-4), Yaw Min Gyi Street, Dagon Township 01254957 goldenphoyangon@gmail.com 11:00am - 10:00pm
Runner up – Newcomer of the Year 2018 Sofaer and co is named after the building that it is located in. Gekko, just around the corner is also situated in the same building. The space has been beautifully renovated, with the original mosaic floor tiles from Manchester retained. The exposed brickwork and wood panelling celebrate a building of historical importance. Their approach is to offer the best ingredients of Myanmar combined with modern culinary techniques. Their Mekong cuisine menu features a locally sourced and sea-
sonal range of foods including Vietnamese, Thai, and Myanmar classics, all with a modern twist. Expect to find Myanmar dishes like mango salad and Ohn-no Khao Swè. The service is superb and the food is well made and beautifully presented, and the cocktails are pretty special as well. But oh we wish they’d replace their tatty menus!
Southeast Asian
Sofaer & Co.
They also offer a special brunch menu on the weekends from 9 am until 5 pm. 60, Lower Pansodan Road, Kyauktada Township 09 44833 3499 bookings@sofaerandco.com 11:00 am – 11:00 pm
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Indian
Indian Hut Once you have got past the comedy name and funny sign of this little downtown restaurant you will be possibly surprised to discover one of Yangon’s unsung heroes.
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During the time that Indian restaurants were popping up everywhere almost every week, Indian Hut kept on just doing their thing, and their inclusion in this TOP 100 guide is testament to that determination and provision of quality Indian food at reasonable prices. Often you won’t be able to get a table, especially at lunchtimes as locals, foreigners and tourists all bump elbows. Fortunately the service is rapid and the turnover of customers is high, so you won’t have to wait too long. The service is friendly too, and the menu is an extensive collection of tasty and authentic vegetarian and non-vegetarian options. They don’t serve alcohol, but don’t panic, there is a beer shop next door and if they have time, one of the waiters will happily pop round to grab you a beer to go with your curry. 286, Corner of 27th Street and Anawrahta Road, Pabedan Township 09 42264 8466 indianhutrangoon@gmail.com 10:00am -10:30pm
Corriander Leaf Indian Restaurant The Corriander Leaf Indian restaurant is a bit of an institution in the Indian food scene in Yangon. Established in 2001 they were the first fine dining Indian restaurant in Myanmar, and they have bravely weathered the ups and downs of the dining scene ever since. With an influx of Indian restaurants into the city over the last few years, the Corriander leaf still remains as popular (and as difficult to Google) as it always has been. The restaurant is Halal and specializes in Peshawri, Mughlai, and Tandoori dishes they also have an extensive vegetarian offering. The service is attentive and, you get proper cloth napkins and good portion sizes so it is defiantly worth the extra expense. They’ve recently opened a ‘Restropub’ in Bahan Township that serves up a more modern take on Indian cuisine. And they’ve also just opened a bar at the Asia Centre on Mahabandoola, called Fire and Ice. There is a smaller Corriander leaf restaurant at Star City in Thanlyin Township. No.12, Yangon International Hotel Compound, Alone Road, Dagon Township 01-293 006 sales@corrianderleaf.com 11:00am – 11:00pm
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Restaurants
Indian
The Marina Indian Restaurant Runner up – Chef of the Year 2018 (Chef Sujit) Runner up – Restaurant of the Year 2018
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What makes it special
Through its sophisticated menu of imaginative and authentic dishes The Marina sets itself above and beyond most (if not all) Indian restaurants in Yangon. The interior of the restaurant is stylish and modern, and the menu is comprehensive and innovative with some familiar favourites from Northern and Southern India. The restaurant is always busy, which adds to the atmosphere, though does mean that it’s sometimes hard to grab a waiter as they race past! But the quality of the food is the reason why people keep returning to the restaurant. Experienced Head Chef Sujit has built and trained a team of young chefs under him who excel in cooking a range of styles that represent the whole of India.
Typical Dishes
You will be invited by your server to investigate the wet fish market next to the open kitchen where fresh fish are presented on ice and priced by weight. You choose your fish, decide on a style of cooking and level of spice and then sit back and relax.
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63 Taw Win Road, Dagon Township 09 970 550055 themarina.ygn@gmail.com 7:30am - 2:30pm 6:00pm - 10:15pm
Japanese TOP 100 / Macrh 2018
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Bijin Japanese Restaurant
Ietsu Sushi & Soba
Have you ever spotted that Alice in Wonderland type door half way along Yaw Min Gyi Street? Have you ever been curious about what lay beyond this inconspicuous opening? If you have, and have never ventured through it, then now is the time to bow down low and take a trip to Bijin.
Formerly known as Yhet’s - Ietsu provides a quiet and intimate space that is perfect for an escape from the hustle and bustle of downtown Yangon. The curtained booths suggest that this is a prime spot for business lunches, but the restaurant also feels intimate and private. The service is swift and friendly, and the Chef often finds time to pop out and say hello.
It’s a simple and sparse small restaurant, and basically consists of a dozen stools placed along a wooden bench where you can eat, while viewing sashimi and sushi being prepared. There is also a private cubicle that can seat up to six people, and upstairs there is a bar, to relax after your meal. Bijin is a place where Japanese businessmen, and passionate lovers of Japanese cuisine go to dine and relax. The service is impeccable, the food of the highest quality, and the sake and beer selection perfect to compliment the food. No.26/B, Yaw Min Gyi Street, Dagon Township 01252261 5:30pm - 10:30pm
Runner up – Restaurant of the Year 2018
One of the judges described their fatty Tuna sushi as “ one of the best pieces of sushi I’ve had in Yangon”. Which is not surprising as it is imported fresh from Japan without fail every Tuesday. Attention to detail is one of the key details that were highlighted by the awards judges. The sushi is served at room temperature, the fish is fresh, (not frozen) and the soba noodles are hand made in Yangon. It’s a little pricier than other sushi restaurants, but if you want melt-in-the-mouth fresh nigri, then that is a price worth paying. No. 57, 37th Street, (Corner of Merchant Rd) Lower Block, Kyauktada Township 01377212 11:00am - 10:30pm
If you’ve never ventured into Menzo Tonkotsu Ramen, you can be forgiven as it is quite difficult to find - hidden away down a little side street off Bo Yar Nyunt in Yaw Min Gyi. If you’ve never heard of them, then you clearly haven’t been listening. They are famous for their Yakitori, and have over twenty different types of this Japanese style grilled skewer available, all perfectly prepared by their Japanese Chef who has over twenty years experience at the grill.
The Sushi bar belongs that group of a select few sushi restaurants in Yangon who import their fish directly from Japan weekly. The quality of their sushi and sashimi is noticeably better than from the others in town that don’t. Of course this quality is reflected in the price, but the extra cost is very much worth it.
They specialize in ramen as well, with tsukemen (dipping ramen), tonkotsu (pork bone broth cooked for 15 hours), Shoyu (soy broth) ramen from the Fukuoka region of Japan all available. They also serve gyoza, sashimi and a range of salads.
Part of famous Singaporean chain, the décor at the Sushi Bar has that particular Japanese professional, clean and efficient feel about it. The staff are equally professional and efficient. Although The Sushi Bar is located at Sule Square shopping mall, you could easily forget that whilst you are in there.
They pride themselves on the quality of their ingredients, with the majority of the integral components used (including the salt) imported from Japan.
The menu contains all the typical Japanese restaurant staples: sushi, makimono, sashimi, noodles and rice dishes, soups and hot dishes, as well as a wide selection of appetisers.
The restaurant is minimalist, clean, light, airy, well organised and surprisingly spacious for such a small spot. The service is smart and efficient, and the restaurant is well worth looking for the next time you find yourself down Yaw Min Gyi.
The bar is well stocked with Japanese Whiskey and beer, and if you are up for it, they offer an hour of free-flow Saki for 10,000kyats!
19/A, Unit-15, Bo Yar Nyunt Street, Yaw Min Gyi, Dagon Township 0111220052 menzoyangon@hotmail.com 11:00am - 2:00pm 5:30pm - 10:00pm
221 Sule Pagoda Road Sule Square Shopping Mall, Kyauktada Township 09 979 414065 11:30pm – 3:00pm 5:00pm – 9:00pm
Japanese
The Sushi bar
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Menzo Tonkotsu Ramen
Japanese TOP 100 / Macrh 2018
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Ren Kandawgyi
Sushi Tei
Tucked away in the maze of streets north of Kandawgyi Lake in Bahan Township, Ren Kandawgyi is popular with homesick Japanese businessmen, and foreign and local customers hungry for quality Japanese food. The two-story restaurant is a beautifully peaceful space with low tables and cushions hidden behind bamboo screens.
Sushi Tei is that enormous restaurant on Dharmazedi road opposite the Savoy hotel. But don’t let the imposing nature of the outside put you off. The restaurant itself is sleek and light with booth style dining that provides an alluring yet modern Japanese ambience. The staff as you would expect are incredibly polite, and well trained. The menu covers everything you could possibly want including sashimi, tempura, sushi, nabe (Japanese Hotpot) and some topnotch desserts.
Head chef Mr Kuranaga and Manager Mr Ueki are both very experienced in the production and service of Japanese food and have a good understanding of the expectations of their customers. The menu is dynamic and takes into account the use of seasonal produce reflecting the season in cuisine is important in Japanese food culture. Their most popular dishes include sashimi, sushi, tempura and sukiyaki. 7C, Wingabar Road, Bahan Township, 01 559 903 11:30am - 2:00pm 6:00pm - 10:00pm
Runner up – Newcomer of the Year 2018
Their sushi conveyor belt is a brilliant addition and that alone makes the visit worthwhile, though it is perhaps a little too accessible, and over-indulgence is all too easy. The expert culinary skills of the Singaporean trained chefs whipping up sushi and sashimi are on display in the open kitchen and it is fascinating and at times mesmerising to watch. The restaurant follows the seasons closely as is traditional and the menu changes accordingly. 126 Dhamazedi Road Bahan Township 09 44411 5662 10:00am – 10:00pm
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999 Shan Noodle House The original 999 Shan Noodle shop has been dishing out incredible, simple, tasty and cheap Shan food since 1978. It’s a tiny restaurant, but has a huge faithful following. Hidden in the narrow streets behind City Hall they serve a massive collection of noodles and soups, and the friendly owner is always happy to offer suggestions to the uninitiated. There are no pretensions here and although the restaurant is very simple it is almost
always filled with locals enjoying their soup - elbow to elbow - with backpackers guided there by the Lonely Planet. They’ve recently branched out and have small restaurants at Junction Square and Junction City. 130/B, 34th Street, Middle Block, Kyauktada Township 01 389 363 6:00am to 7:00pm
Myanmar
Aung Mingala Shan Noodle Restaurant Aung Mingalar is one of the only restaurants in Yangon that never seems to have an empty table. Located on the corner of Nawaday and Bo Yar Nyunt you can spot it by the number of people loitering around the periphery at all times of day, waiting patiently for a chair to become vacant.
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They offer a great range of cheap and well-prepared Shan and local dishes served quickly by their energetic young staff. It’s a pleasant and cool place to enjoy a little bit of breeze whilst watching the world pass by. 34, Bo Yar Nyunt Road Corner of Nawaday Road, Yaw Min Gyi Quarter, Dagon Township 01385185 7:00am - 9:00pm
Aung Thukha Aung Thukha is typically busy Myanmar food restaurant located very close to the Savoy hotel, down the street that connects Dhamazedi and Shwegondaing. It’s an excellent place to sample a range of Myanmar food, from rich and meaty curries to light freshly made salads. The flavours are more subtle here than elsewhere, emphasising herbs rather than oil and spice. It is almost always busy, but manages to maintain a gentle, friendly service and the staff are always happy to help you make your choices from the counter. It’s a popular spot so don’t be surprised to see a coach load of hot and bewildered tourists being herded through the restaurant occasionally. 17A, Shwe Gone Daing Street 1, Bahan Township 01 525194 8:00am to 9:00pm
Runner up – Myanmar Food Restaurant of the Year 2018
Danuphyu Daw Saw Yee have been consistently providing high quality Myanmar food since the 1960’s, and they are well renowned and some would even say famous for their high-quality and extensive food offering. With several restaurants now open in the city they are considered one of the most consistent places in town to find authentic Myanmar food. Always busy, and with a high turnover of customers this is one of those places where diners are happy to share tables in a friendly and fun environment. S/1, West Race Course Road, U Chit Maung Housing, Tamwe Township 01553688 8:00am- 9:00pm
Ha Tai Wa serves traditional Wa ethnic cuisine in a very authentic environment. The atmosphere is homely and cosy and the restaurant is decorated in the traditional style with Wa ornaments and art. Food is served in the traditional Wa style on a round rattan tray and customers are encouraged to sit cross-legged on the floor at low tables. There are some cute outdoor bamboo dining huts, and more conventional seating arrangements are also available inside for those not comfortable with dining on the floor. Ha Tai Wa is famous for its zagaw wine, which complements the spicy, and sour flavours of Wa food. Be warned, Wa food is really spicy. If you can’t handle the heat, then let this be known when ordering. No. 10 Aung Thukha Street, 5 Quarter, 9 Miles, Mayangone Township, 01-660376 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Myanmar
Ha Tai Wa
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Danuphyu Daw Saw Yee Myanmar Restaurant
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Feel Myanmar Restaurant
Runner up – Myanmar Food Restaurant of the Year 2018 Feel is often the first traditional Myanmar restaurant that many newcomers head to, to experience Myanmar food for the first time. The staff are used to this and are incredibly patient and helpful in explaining the simple yet initially overwhelming process of ordering food at the counter and waiting for it to miraculously arrive at your table moments later. Although it isn’t a restaurant that is specifically targeted at foreigners, due to its location quite close to People's Park and Shwedagon Pagoda it does attract a lot of
© Feel Myanmar Restaurant
inquisitive tourists. It is generally packed out every night with local families enjoying a meal together and the atmosphere is loud and friendly. They are currently offering a ‘night market’ in the evening with food served outside the building, which is a great opportunity to experiment with the different Myanmar foods on offer and learn more about this unique and fabulous cuisine. No.124, Pyi Htaung Su Avenue, Dagon Township 09 732 08132 feelrestaurant@feelrestaurant.com 6:00am - 8:30pm
Set in a beautiful colonial building, House of Memories is special place in Myanmar. Not only is it a great restaurant serving high quality Myanmar food, but it is also the building that once housed the office of Bogyoke Aung San.
Tucked away off Shwegondaing Road this delightful little eatery serves authentic foods from the southern part of Myanmar. The restaurant consists of only half a dozen odd wooden tables, though the menu is extensive and dictated to by seasonal availability, as most of the ingredients are organically grown in the South of the country.
They serve a range of perfectly acceptable Thai, Chinese and Indian dishes and the staff are well drilled in fast and efficient service. Often the restaurant receives large tables of tourists that slows things down a bit, but there is plenty to see here whilst waiting for your food. Upstairs from the restaurant the room that Aung San used as his first office has been converted into a small museum that commemorates key historical events. There are lots of interesting photographs and original copies of Aung San’s speeches on the walls. Attractive antique wooden furniture fills the rooms and the balcony and garden areas are pleasant. This is an interesting place to bring first time visitors to Myanmar if they’re a bit daunted by the lower key nature of the more traditional Myanmar restaurants. No.290, U Wizara Road, Kamayut Township 01 534 242 11:00 – 11:00pm
If you know nothing about Mon food then ask for help, they will gladly recommend a range of introductory dishes. Mon food is traditionally spicy and the food here is no exception, so if fiery food is not your thing, mention it to the friendly owner who also serves in the restaurant and she will make sure your dish is calmer on the taste buds. Typical dishes are country cuisine, lemon grass patties, spicy and sour curry, distinctive soups, steamed sour meats, and a range of salads. A percentage of the profits from the restaurant are donated to community empowerment programmes, including an ethnic Mon literature program, and young leadership and capacity development activities. 114 Nandawon Street (off Yae Tar Shae Street), Bahan Township 09 250 825 442 8:00am to 9:30pm
Myanmar
Jana Mon
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House of Memories
Myanmar
Khaing Khaing Kyaw
Winner – Myanmar food Restaurant of the Year 2018 Khaing Khaing Kyaw has several restaurants across Yangon, each one serving up of huge selection of exceptional and traditional Myanmar cuisine, with something to suit everyone’s tastes. One of the areas that the judges of the Myanmore Dining and Nightlife Awards were most impressed with was the impeccable approach to hygiene and cleanliness.
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This is an area clearly very important to the team behind the restaurants and is certainly a driver of their massive popularity and success. The restaurant always seems busy, and is generally packed out with Myanmar people (who happen to know a thing or two about Myanmar food). The service is always efficient and courteous, and the young and friendly staff are patient and are more than happy to take the time to explain the process of ordering Myanmar food to customers who are not so confident in what they are doing. The restaurant is well laid out with different sections to visit depending on your culinary desires and an extensive range of Myanmar foods is available, from mohinga to curries and Shan khauk swe. All are of great quality and extremely well priced. Gandamar Wholesale Shopping Centre Corner of Waizayandar Road and Gandamar Road, South Okkalapa 6:00am - 8:30pm © Khaing Khaing Kyaw
Linkage is a vocational training school, an art gallery and a restaurant that serves up tasty Myanmar and Chinese food. Located on the first floor of a traditional Burmese Building not far from Sule Pagoda this tiny little restaurant was established in 2011 with the intention of supporting disenfranchised youth and street children by giving them an opportunity to train in the food and beverage industry. The revenue raised in the restaurant goes towards supporting and building the capacity of these children through vocational training in the culinary field and better access to education. The food is decent and the service is friendly if not a little unorganised at times, but that’s to be expected, it’s a school at the end of the day. It’s a great initiative, and a lovely space to visit, contribute to an excellent cause, east some great food and spend an hour or so admiring the artwork on the walls. 1st Floor, 141, Seik Kan Thar Street, Lower Block, (Between Mahabandoola Road & Merchant Street), Kyauktada Township 0949583618, 0943052916 contact@linkage-restaurant.org 11:00am - 2:00pm 6:00pm – 10:00pm
The original Lucky Seven Tea shop was founded on 49th Street, Upper Block in Pazundaung Township, and now has several small shops all over the city. Tucked in behind plants and shrubs with colourful lanterns the original still provides a small oasis in which to escape the streets of downtown Yangon. You may have a short wait for a table, but don’t be shy; the tables here are for sharing, so grab a seat as soon as one becomes free. If you are unfamiliar with how it works at a Teashop then watch other patrons and follow their lead. There is a small menu available in English, and snacks are placed on the table for you to select as you please, you are charged at the end for any that a missing. Bottomless Chinese tea is available free of charge on the table whilst you make your decision. If you manage to catch the attention of a teashop boy whizzing past, make sure to place your order quickly, they have no time for dawdlers. Your order will be hollered into the air loud enough to be heard above the noise, and a short while later you food magically arrives at your table. 138/140, Corner of 49th Street & Anawrahta Rd, Pazundaung Township 01292382, 095142810 6:00 am - 9:00 pm
Myanmar
Lucky 7 Tea Shop
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Linkage Restaurant and Art Gallery
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Min Lan
sliver of space.
Min Lan is a busy and bustling Rakhine seafood restaurant that is famous for its simple yet high-quality offering.
The service can be chaotic, and the atmosphere lively, but that is all part of the fun. The ordering process is simple, chose your fish, lobster, crabs or prawns from the tanks, these are charged by weight, select your cooking method and sauce (word of note the food here tends to be spicy so let them know how hot you like it) sit back and watch the action in the restaurant with a cold beer.
It’s a big open restaurant with tables all crammed in together in no obvious order. This is not a fancy restaurant; it is noisy, full of energy, and packed out with people really enjoying their seafood. In the evenings you might struggle to get a table here or at any one of their seven outlets, but even if the restaurant appears to be full to busting, the staff are quite inventive at ‘creating’ tables by carting furniture high across the diners to squeeze you into any available
No.77/C, Shin Saw Pu Road, Sanchaung Township 01510285, 0943125152 11:00am - 10:00pm
Situated in the salubrious Dagon area surrounded by Embassy’s and mansions this large house was converted into a restaurant in 2010. The interior is smart and classic. The staircase to the second floor is lined with photographs of the numerous celebrities, diplomats and statesmen that have sampled the restaurant’s cuisine. During the cool and dry months the garden dinning area is the nicest place to eat. As one of the very few ‘Fine Dining’ Restaurants they offer and extensive range of authentic Myanmar dishes, and some classics from Thailand. All the food is well
prepared and is not as oily as some traditional Myanmar restaurants, subsequently it has a large following.
Myanmar
Padonmar Restaurant
Padonmar does seem to be on the tour group route, and coach loads of travel weary tourists’ trooping in, is a common sight. The service is excellent and the food is beautifully presented with a high attention to detail and care. The drinks menu and wine list are extensive and reasonably priced. 105/107 Kha Yae Pin Road Dagon Township 01538895 11:00am – 11:00pm
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Mandalay Tea Room
Princess Irrawaddy
Hidden amongst the local teashops and private old houses in Yankin, Mandalay Tea Room offers authentic Mandalay cuisine such as noodle salads, Mohinga, rice dishes, and wontons. Many of the ingredients are actually brought down from Mandalay. The prices are super-cheap, the quality is super-high and the cafĂŠ has a nice cosy atmosphere. This is the perfect place to take a wholesome breakfast to adequately prepare you for the day.
This restaurant only serves breakfast and is always full, even at 6am! Throughout the morning the place bustles with families fortifying themselves for the coming day. The food is home-cooked with quality ingredients sourced from all over the country, and they offer a range of styles of noodle dishes including sichet (noodles with fried garlic), meeshay (Mandalay noodle), tobu nwe (noodles with bean curd) and Shan traditional noodles.
No. 224/4, Yan Nyein 2 Street Yankin Township 09 42379 4320 7:00am - 4:00pm
Corner of 4th Street & Anawrahta Street, Yankin Township 0973082088 6:00am - 11:00am
Š Rangoon Tea House
Located on the ground floor of an early 1900s colonial building on Pansodan Road, the Rangoon Tea House has been providing high quality tea and a range of excellent locally inspired foods to locals and visitors to Yangon since their inception in 2014.
The founders Htet and Isabella were only 23 and 24 when they opened The Rangoon Tea House and have recently launched the massively popular Mr Wok. The restaurant group now employs over 150 people, 70% of whom are female.
Highlighted as one of the worlds best Tea Houses by CNN, RTH have an extensive tea selection and sell in excess of 10,000 glasses of tea every month. They use a chemical-free supplier who rolls the tea leaves at first flush for the best quality and taste. Many of the visitors to the Rangoon Tea House never even realise that secreted away upstairs is the Toddy bar, a cosy and exotic Burmese cocktail bar that combines small street-side dishes and tapas with an international cocktail list. The concept of RTH is not about representing one particular cuisine, but representing a lifestyle that considers the past and the present. Traditionally a Myanmar teashop is a place where people meet, communicate, form and strengthen relationships. It’s a gathering place for communities and businesses. This is still what RTH is but in a sense, a slightly modernised version. The food is top notch and although more expensive than a traditional teashop, it is
With three restaurant concepts in five establishments, Isabella Sway Tin and Htet Myet Oo have made an impact in the industry through their innovation and commitment to achieving excellence. They were worthy winners of the KBZ Entrepreneur of the year award 2018. According to the word on the street another Rangoon Tea House is being planned, but when, where and how is anybody’s guess… Watch this space! Ground Floor, 77-79 Pansodan Street (Lower Middle Block), Between MahaBandoola and Merchant Road 09 979 078681 info@rangoonteahouse.com 8:00am - 10:00pm
Myanmar
still affordable. Expect to find such Myanmar staples as Biryani, Mohinga, Samosa, Empanadas and Coconut Noodles.
Winner – KBZ Entrepreneur of the Year 2018 (Isabella Sway Tin and Htet Myet Oo)
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Rangoon Tea House
Myanmar
Runner up – KBZ Entrepreneur of the Year 2018 (Phyone Pong Yon and Ipkaw Pang)
It’s a simple concept that has built a good following and stood the test of time, this alone is testament to their passion, drive and hard work.
Sisters Phyone Pong Yon and Ipkaw Pang set up Root Kitchen in Yangon in 2016 with the intention of sharing not only the traditional ethnic foods from their home state of Wa, but also to share some of their culture and history to a wider audience who mainly will have not had the opportunity to travel there.
Head Chef Sein Tun grew up in Lashio, Northern Shan State, where there is a large ethnic Wa community, and he worked with some of the best chefs from Wa State to develop the authentic, fiery dishes that make up the core of their menu.
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Root Kitchen
The best place to start your adventure into this ethnic cuisine is by trying one of the most common dishes – Wa moik. This is a bit like a wet risotto that is cooked in broth and liberally doused with chilli flakes. This is then paired with smoked beef, grilled chicken, fish, and vegetables. The owners claim to have toned down the fieriness of their food, but it still packs a punch, so you might also want to order one of their signature Wa-Tang Clan cocktails - made using run, ginger and a rice and barley liquor brought down from Wa. Root is much more than just a restaurant though, and they have a huge regular clientele who gather nightly to explore the cocktail menu, and enjoy the regular DJ nights.
© Root Kitchen
Bo Myat Htun Road, Corner of Maha Bandula Road, Botataung Township 09 456696695, info@root-kitchen.com 11:00am - 11:00pm
The restaurant is located on the bustling Bogyoke Road in downtown Yangon, and has a casual feel, with a clean interior, wooden tables and chairs. It is perfect for lunch with friends for good food and good conversation. They don’t serve alcohol, but you can bring your own (beer is available next door). The waiters, who greet you dressed in Kachin national dress, are very friendly.
Sha Yi is a great place to discover a new style of cuisine if you are unfamiliar with Kachin food. Most of the ingredients, such as the special banana leaves, spices and herbs are brought in from Kachin. 76, Bogyoke Road, Between 50th Street & 51st Street, Pazundaung Township 09798041923 11:00am - 10:00pm
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Kachin food has a distinct flavour and style and uses a unique combination of spicy
and sour flavours. The dishes are cooked using minimal oil and many dishes are steamed not fried, so it is not so greasy.
Myanmar
Sha Yi Kachin Food
Š Shan Yoe Yar
Myanmar
Shan Yoe Yar Shan Yoe Yar claims to be the first Shanstyle fine dining restaurant in Myanmar. Located in a beautiful teak mansion in Lanmadaw they serve an outstanding selection of quality Shan foods, including all the Shan favourites but also many lesser-known dishes. They are open for breakfast and serve an excellent Shan Khauk Swe.
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The service is super-attentive and very smart, all the staff wear traditional Shan national dress. The restaurant is luxurious with a very pleasant atmosphere and calm ambience. They have a second restaurant at Sule Square. 169, War Dan Street, Lanmadaw Township 09 250 566 695 shanyoeyarfoods@gmail.com 06:00am - 22:00pm
Taing Yin Thar Myanmar National Restaurant Set at the top of Inya Lake, Taing Yin Thar is a great option for those wanting an overall experience of Myanmar cuisine. Famous actress Yadanarpon and two of her best friends established the restaurant in 2012, and it has been the go-to for fans of Myanmar food ever since. Taing Yin Thar prides itself on its range of regional and ethnic dishes from all over the country. All are cooked authentically to a high standard and use locally sourced ingredients. This is great place to go with friends if you can’t agree which type of Myanmar cuisine you wan to eat. And a good place to do a little bit of celebrity spotting as well! No. 2/A, Kanbae Road, Yankin Township, 09 787 154799 10:00am – 9:00pm
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Tin Tin Aye Tin Tin Aye has gained something of a celebrity status in the mohinga world, and it is claimed by some to serve the best mohinga in Yangon. Their four restaurants dotted about the city do provide an awesome version of this fabulous breakfast broth. If you are an aficionado then you’ll enjoy the thick and luxurious fishy and peppery soup topped with a generous portion of fritters and filled with wholesome banana stem. If you are a newcomer to the world of mohinga this might be the place that you fall in love with this unique and celebrated national dish, and all for less than US$1.
Incredible! Be warned though, they often close before 11am if they’ve been especially busy and sold up, so get there early to avoid disappointment. There are four branches dotted across the city, we visited the Sanchaung restaurant for this guide entry. Sanchaung Road, (close to Pyay Road) Sanchaung Township 09 731 14501 6am-11am
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Mañana Mañana is still a beacon of light in the grubby downstairs corridor of Pearl Condo. After taking the Yangon food scene by storm back in 2015, and inspiring a short-lived Mexican restaurant boom, Mañana has managed to keep its head when all about them were losing theirs. But with a consistently high quality of food, interesting menu, regular specials and a great atmosphere it is no wonder they have managed to keep doing so well. Nidia Amaya, the energetic owner, chef, and driving force behind the success of the small restaurant has put her grandmother’s secret Oaxacan recipes to good use bringing an authentic taste of Mexico to Myanmar. She’s even incorporated some Mexican Myanmar fusion items into her extensive menu. Nidia’s designer nachos are different from any nachos you will ever taste, and the passion fruit Margaritas are perfect to wash them down. Though if you haven’t tried one of their dangerously addictive and feisty Jalapeño Margaritas, then you haven’t lived. They’ve just opened a sexy little restaurant downtown at the corner of Bo Myat Htun Road and Mahabandoola Road, just around the corner from Root kitchen and Jazz in Time. C, Ga-05, Pearl Condo, Kabar Aye Pagoda Road, Bahan Township 09 255 833 706 10:00am - 22:00pm
© Mañana
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Restaurants
Italian
Café Del Seoul
Casa Mia Italian Kitchen and Bar
As the name suggests this classy little café has a distinctly Korean influence. The original and much loved cafe was situated up at 7 mile, but at the time of writing it had just closed.
There are many that claim to be the best Italian restaurant in Yangon, and with experienced Italian Chef Mario Fraschini in charge - Casa Mia is certainly in the running for this title. Once settled inside the tidy and well laid out restaurant you could almost forget that you are dining in a shopping centre, (the restaurant is located in Sule Square) as it is kitted out with all the red, green and white trimmings of a traditional Italian ristorante.
Two new locations are scheduled to open in April 2018 (just after Thingyan).
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Café Del Seoul has been quietly making a name for itself over the years. Yangonites tend to be very territorial (possibly due to the traffic) and Café Del Seoul has collected a massive following of fans who perhaps live nearby, or are people who are prepared to travel for their pleasures. They offer a great spot to hang out at with friends with which to explore their eclectic menu of contemporary Italian and Korean foods. Burgers, pizzas, sandwiches and organic fresh juices are also available, and they do a decent trade in outside catering. We are assured the new locations will be just as goo as the old one Mercedes Benz Building (Main Cafe) 51, Pyay Road Mayangone Township 2, Golden City Condominium Kanbae 3 Ward Yankin Township 099 7199 3711 info@cafedelseoul.com 10:00am - 11:00pm
The menu includes a wide variety of antipasti (appetizers), primi (pasta dishes), secondi (meat dishes), contorni (side portions) and dolci (desserts), as well as soups and pizzas. They even make their own pasta. Of course no Italian meal would be complete without a Tiramisú to finish, and the one served at Casa Mia is incredible. From Monday to Saturdays, the restaurant offers set lunches for 12,000MMK, including four different items from their menu, combined in a lunchbox. And from Wednesday to Saturday (12pm -5pm) they offer an Italian style happy hour that includes appetizers with every drink served. Sule Square, Ground Floor, 221 Sule Pagoda Road, Kyauktada Township, 0996 434 8881 dine@casamia.com.mm 8:30am – 10:00pm
Italian
L’Opera What makes it special Another Yangon institution that needs little introduction, L’Opera has been providing fine dining Italian specialities since 1997. With its decadent interior and splendid dining garden setting on the banks of Inya Lake, L’Opera long ago established itself as the discerning diners’ favourite Italian restaurant in Yangon.
Typical Dishes The menu features homemade pastas, authentic wood-fired oven pizzas, Italian cold cuts and cheese, fresh salads, and many other local and imported ingredients. Under the guidance of an Italian Managing Director and an Italian Chef, meals are cooked with the use of only the freshest ingredients as well as quality dairy, imported meat and fish products, and extra virgin olive oil. L’Opera’s authentic Italian cuisine is popular not only among
expatriates and foreign visitors but also with Myanmar people. Popular dishes include: Carpaccio di Manzo con Noci, Linguine al Nero di Seppia, Costine d’Agnello Tartufate, Pizza L’Opera and Sfogliatina all’Amaretto di Saronno.
No.62/D, U Htun Nyein Street, Kan Yeik Thar, Next to Inya Lake Hotel, Mayangone Township 01665516, 01660976, 0973030755 11:00am - 2:00pm, 6:00pm - 10:30pm
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Famous for its consistently outstanding food and fabulously attentive service L’Opera isn’t the cheapest option in Yangon. But you get what you pay for and there really is nothing that quite compares with the peaceful ambience at sunset in the garden with a chilled vino bianco and live acoustic guitar serenading you as you peruse the extensive menu.
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Italian
Parami Pizza Parami Pizza comes from the stable of 57BELOW and provides the same high standards of service and food that you’d expect from the owners of Union Bar and Grill and Gekko.
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Š Parami Pizza
The original restaurant on Parami road opened to great acclaim in 2014 and serves up authentic wood-fired pizzas, antipasti, imported Australian steaks and daily Italian specials in a bright cheery and relaxed environment. There is a decent range of cocktails and wines on offer and happy hour is between 5pm and 7pm daily offering 50% off certain drinks.
Their Saya San Road restaurant is very popular with families, especially during happy hour (5pm -7pm). This is due to the fabulous soft play area with climbing frames, slide, trampoline and ballpool - that keeps small children entertained whilst their parents enjoy half price Cava, cocktails and beer. The soft play area has a trained carer who does a brilliant job of keeping the children safe and entertained, she even remembers the names of her regular children! No (11/C), Corner of Malikha Street and Parami Road, Mayangone Township 09 261 767 616 info@paramipizza.com 11:00am - 11:00pm
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DiVINO DiVINO provides a traditional Italian wine bar experience with a substantial selection of fine Italian regional wines available by the glass. The staff are well-presented professional and courteous, the main dining area is attractive and cosy with beautiful art and artefacts dotted around, and there is a pleasant dining garden. Myanmar head Chef Chit Zarni is in charge of an extensive menu of a la carte Italian dishes, and fabulous freshly baked wood-oven pizzas are available (rumoured
by some to be amongst the finest in the country) he also rustles up a reasonable selection of tasty tapas. A lunchtime set menu is available at US$15 and dinner set menu is offered at US$29 for 3 courses. 61, University Avenue, Bahan Township (Opposite Aung San Suu Kyi’s home) 01525935, 0930313888 vinoyangon@zanottigroup.com 12:00pm - 2:30pm 6:00pm - 10:30pm
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Le Bis-Tro-Ké
Shwe Sa Bwe
Initially famous for simply being in the same location of much loved restaurant, Le Bis-Tro-Ké has now firmly established itself as one of the favourite French restaurants in Yangon. This little gem is located on Yaw Min Gyi Street, and has been described as like “going to a friend’s house for dinner”.
If you have dined out at some of the top spots in Yangon, it is highly likely you will have been expertly served by, or eaten food prepared by one of the many graduates from this wonderful training hotel and restaurant.
What makes Le Bis-Tro-Ké special is the personal and friendly approach of Chef and owner Monji, who chats to every guest and takes time to introduce and explain his food. There is no menu here, just a blackboard that is updated daily with traditional simple and fresh French dishes, the wine list is short, but good. The cosy atmosphere, welcoming approach and provision of excellent quality and wholesome French cuisine all combine to create a restaurant to fall in love with. If you are lucky enough to coincide your visit with an appearance of the incredible Onion Tart on the menu, count yourself lucky, and enjoy. They offer a daily lunchtime set menu of two courses with café gourmand for less than 10,00MMK, which is just incredible value for money. The lunchtime menu changes everyday. 42, Yaw Min Gyi Street, Dagon Township 09 45285 2578 11:30 - 14:00, 18:30 - 22:00
Shwe Sa Bwe has been training young apprentices from all over Myanmar in food production and service since 2013. Under the watchful eye of experienced teachers the students have the opportunity to demonstrate their learning in the real-life environment of a fine dining French restaurant. The restaurant is located in a beautiful old house, filled with elegant furniture, luxurious artwork and interesting local photographs. The atmosphere is one of calm and well-ordered service. The outdoor dining area is quiet and peaceful and in the evening the perfect place for a candlelit romantic rendezvous. The fine dining menu changes regularly and different options are available for lunch or dinner. The meals are well presented and stylish, the attention to detail very clear. The service is excellent, though often quite nervy, especially at the start of the programme when the trainees are still building their confidence, but that just adds to the pleasure of dining at a place that is doing such admirable work. Aside from lunchtime, this is not a place
The menu is priced very competitively, especially considering the high standard of food and service, and this money goes towards the training facilities and administration costs Their excellent lunch menu is very reasonably priced at 19,000MMK for two courses
including coffee, and well worth a visit if you happen to be up at that end of town.
French
to go for a quick bite to eat. Due to the number of courses involved and the on-the-job teaching and learning, meals can often take a little longer than in other places, but again that is part of the charm and pleasure of the experience, there is no need to rush.
Be warned, It is quite difficult to find. Turn off Parami road at Parami Pizza and keep an eye out for signs on the right. 20 Malikha Road, Mayangone Township, 01 661 983 shwesabwe@gmail.com 12:00pm - 2:00pm 6:30pm - 9:00pm
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ORNG Kitchen Chef of the year 2018 (Chef Orng) What makes it special
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Chef Orng is classically trained in the French style of cooking, and returned to Yangon after several years working in some of the best restaurants in Scotland. He sources almost all his ingredients locally, with seafood from Rakhine and vegetables from his families farms in Mon State.
Chef Orng is developing a team of young Myanmar chef’s who are producing some of the most interesting and exciting food in Yangon today. If you haven’t been to Orng’s Kitchen yet, then try the new restaurant. It is scheduled to open in early March 2018.
Typical Dishes
Green Acres Residence 1 U Sein Maung Lane, Kone Myint Yeik Tha Street (Off Highland Avenue) 7 miles Mayangone Township 09771195020 12:00pm – 2:30pm 6:00pm – 9:30pm (closed Mondays)
The food served at ORNG Kitchen is generous in portion size, exquisite in its presentation and attention to detail. Standards are on par with a Michelin star restaurant. One thing that is really exceptional about Chef ORNG is his desire to provide high quality food at an accessible price. Highly recommended is the lightly poached and grilled wild Butter fish served with an Asian salad and tomato and lemongrass consommé. As this guide went to press Chef Orng was serving his last meal at his little restaurant in Lanmadaw and was in the process of moving to new premises up at 7 mile. His new restaurant is stunning. Overlooking a private lake it is set to be one of the most striking restaurants in Yangon. The concept will be the same and the restaurant will continue to follow Chef Orng’s philosophy of love dedication, passion and accessibility.
© ORNG Kitchen
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Le Planteur Restaurant and Lounges Le Planteur needs little explanation, or introduction. Established in 1998 they have been providing outstanding French cuisine and exceptional service for 20 years and although some may claim that their standards have wavered during that time, with Chef Jean Marc Lemmery at the helm they are undoubtedly
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back to their best.
What makes it special
Set in a beautiful 1930’s colonial mansion overlooking Inya Lake you can dine in the restaurant, in the garden area, or on the veranda overlooking the beauty and enjoyong peacefulness of the location. The wine bar serves interesting and unusual tapas and offers one of the most extensive wine lists in South East Asia. An incredible thirty-two wines are available by the glass – this is made possible by the use of a specialist wine preservation system. If you get the opportunity to visit their wine cellar, prepare to be blown away, and if Château Pétrus is in your price range then this is the place to be. In the same location there is also Le Bistro @ Le Planteur and a wine bar downstairs. Le Bistro offers high quality, slow cooked European and Mediterranean dishes in an upscale yet casual atmosphere, and serves lunchtime specials from $12 to $18 for two or three courses.
Chef: Chef Jean Marc Lemmery Previously at: Cap Vernet - Paris, Le Bistrot de l’Alycastre - Paris, The Penthouse, Yangon. Style of Food: Classical French Cuisine Stand out dish: Red Snapper, fennel in all its forms and French pastis foam. 01514230, 01532124 info@leplanteur.net 12:00 pm – 2:00pm 6:00 pm - 11:00 pm
French
About the Chef
Executive Chef Jean Marc Lemmery is self-trained. Having decided at the age of 33 that being a physiotherapist wasn’t for him he moved his wife and three children to Paris and started a new career as a Chef. Traveling quickly through the ranks he worked at prestigious Parisian restaurants such as Cap Vernet and Le Bistrot de l’Alycastre. Chef Lemmery joined Le Planteur in 2017 having spent some time at the Penthouse in Yangon.
Sea Bass tartar Beef Parmentier Cheese platter
The Location
80, University Road, Bahan Township
The future
The days of picking you up by vintage car are long since gone thanks to the Yangon traffic, but the attentive service, provided by a team of well trained and knowledgeable staff reminds you that at Le Planteur you are in safe hands. With experienced Executive Chef Jean Marc Lemmery at the pass, the future of Le Planteur as one of the best restaurants in the country has never been more certain.
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Typical Dishes
German
Mahlzeit Located on the ground floor of the Uniteam building in Sanchaung Township, Mahlzeit has set a standard that other restaurants in Yangon are struggling to meet. The restaurant is spacious; the décor is simple with clean lines, light pine-coloured furniture, and the attractive bar serves as a focal point for visitors.
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This is no Bavarian beer hall, and a sense of calm pervades, though it can get a little raucous at the annual Oktoberfest. The service is unobtrusive, understated yet highly efficient. The food is well prepared and tasty with favourites including the sausage platter, and schnitzel. You can even pre order a whole Suckling pig, to share with friends over a beer or two. In fact they have the largest beer offering in Myanmar with a range of locally brewed beers from Burbrit (Myanmar’s only microbrewery) sitting
© Mahlzeit
alongside a selection of German beers. They even bake their own fresh German bread and Bavarian pretzels daily. Munich born Magnus Scherr is the manager and visionary behind this top quality restaurant, and his attention to detail and high standards at Mahlzeit are evident. He prides himself on the cleanliness and hygiene in his ultra-modern kitchen. Although he’s a busy man, if you are lucky he might have time to give you a guided tour. There is the added bonus that Mahlzeit is in the same building at Atlas Rooftop bar, so you can pop upstairs for a fancy cocktail or glass of Champagne and enjoy the view of the city after your meal. 84 Pann Hlaing Street, Sanchaung Township 09 784151250 11:30am – 10:30pm
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Alex’s Gastro Bar @ The Loft Hotel Alex’s Gastro Bar is located at the stylish Loft Hotel (one of the top hotels in the country) on Yaw Min Gyi Street. Their fabulous fusion menu inspired by flavours and ingredients from both Western and Asian cuisines is the brainchild of experienced French head Chef Romain Baqué. The lunchtime set menus at $10.50 for two course and $12.50 for three courses are excellent value for money. Their menus are innovative and use predominantly locally sourced ingredients as well as imported beef cuts and fresh seafood. Highlights include Wild Mushroom
Soup, Morels & Truffle, Parmesan Tuile and their decadent Mousse au Chocolat. Often overlooked due to its proximity to other great places in this epicurean centre of Yangon, Alex’s is serving up food at a very high standard in wonderful surroundings. The garden is a delightful spot to take a drink as well. Regular Champagne inspired fine dining evenings and special events are advertised on their Facebook page. The Loft Hotel No.33, Yaw Min Gyi Street, Dagon Township 01 38 66 46 chef.alexgastrobar@gmail.com 6:30am – 10:00pm
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Le Bristot @ Savoy Hotel The Savoy Hotel on the corner of Inya road and Dharmazedi has been around since 1955. It’s a small heritage boutique hotel with a decent upstairs restaurant called Kipling’s and the Captains bar is a very pleasant spot for a drink.
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The downstairs restaurant Le Bistrot, is in our opinion, the nicest place to dine in the Hotel, although the standards upstairs are just as high. If you get the chance and the weather is suitable, then the table you should ask for in Le Bistrot is one of the outdoor spots by the pool. This little oasis of calm within the courtyard of the hotel feels very luxurious and a million miles away from the cacophony of noise on the streets just outside. The food is of exceptional quality, and the service is sharp and attentive. With an extensive menu of international dishes, made predominantly with local ingredients and a nicely balanced wine list, it is the place to go when you need a little luxury. Highly recommended are the Savoy burgers. There are eight weighty burgers to choose from, in fact they’re so good, they’ve even got their own menu. 129 Dhammazedi Road, Bahan Township 01 526289 reservation@savoy-myanmar.com 12:00am to 11:30pm
Mandalay Restaurant @ the Governor’s Residence Belmond Governor's Residence hotel is a beautiful 1920s teak mansion surrounded by lush gardens and lotus ponds. The Mandalay restaurant is located on the ground floor and has a pleasant air-conditioned dining room, although it is much nicer to take one of the shaded tables in the garden or on the lovely large wooden veranda. They serve a good selection of interesting dishes at both lunch and dinner with a combination of Western and Asian influences, and the service is impeccable. It is their buffet breakfast offering that a lot of people rave about though, and with an amazing selection of high quality foods, and perfect atmosphere for $27 it is a very luxurious way to spend a weekend morning in one of the most beautiful environments in the city. Be warned though, as inviting as the swimming pool looks, and it is a beautiful pool. Non-residents are charged an eye-watering $44 per person to take a dip. 35 Taw Win Road, Dagon Township, +95 1 229860 reservations.tgr@belmond.com 6.00am - 10.30am 12.00pm – 2.30pm 7.00am – 10.30pm
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Prime Grill Mediterranean Restaurant When the only Mediterranean restaurant in town La Taverna closed down there was much upset by Yangon foodies. Thankfully it wasn’t gone for long, and was reincarnated on Nawaday Street. Serving the same high standard of Mediterranean influenced foods despite the strange choice of name Prime Grill is the place to go to quench your babaganoush cravings.
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Expect all the usual mix of foods from Lebanon, Morocco and the Mediterranean region including decent mezze platters, falafels, hummus, lamb kofta and excellent Turkish coffee and mint tea. The restaurant isn’t massive, but is tidy and smart with a few nice touches including Moroccan style lighting and a huge wall of colour traveling the length of the restaurant. Service can be a bit Mañana at times, but that all adds to the authentic feel, and as this is literally the only place in town to get a decent range of good Mediterranean cuisine it’s worth the wait. 18C, Nawaday Street, Dagon Township 09793808082 11:00am – 10:00pm © Prime Grill Mediterranean Restaurant
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SEEDS Restaurant and Lounge Seeds restaurant opened in Yangon in early 2017. The concept behind Lucia and Felix Eppisser’s fine dining restaurant is simple – it is the celebration of a journey involving inspiration, creativity, sharing and most importantly love.
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What makes it special
Located on the edge of Inya Lake the indoor dining restaurant is light, airy and beautifully decorated, the dining garden is a wonderful space to relax in a lush and green environment that stretches right up to the water. The service is warm and welcoming, the staff exude a knowledge and passion for their product that is infectious. They offer a range of menu’s including an extensive a la carte, exclusive tasting menus and a very reasonably priced business lunch. The food is not only of a Michelin star standard, but the care and love that has been poured into each unique dish shines through. The wine list is comprehensive and well balanced.
About the Chef
Swiss born and classically trained Michelin star chef Felix Eppisser is no stranger to the complexities of providing a fine dining experience in Yangon, he was head chef at Le Planteur for several years. At Seeds he combines his knowledge and experience to offer food that displays incredible attention to detail and exquisite presentation. Using locally sourced fresh produce he has created a vibrant and colourful menu that utilizes the best of both Europe and Asia.
Chef: Felix Eppisser Previously at: Spice (one Michelin Star), Zurich, Switzerland; Le Planteur, Yangon, Myanmar; The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat, Perak, Malaysia. Style of Food: Classical European with a twist of Asia Stand out dish: Home marinated Norwegian salmon with crispy mango salad Contact: 01 655 900 info@seedsyangon.com Hours: 11:30am - 1:30pm 6:00pm - 9:30
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Typical Dishes
The Location
Felix’s Truffle Ravioli
No 63A, U Tun Nyein Street, Mayangone Township,
Seared Monkfish on Honey Mustard Mung Beans
The future
Caramelized Lemon Parfait with Pomelo Salad
Chef Felix and Lucia are developing a young team of Myanmar chefs to share and learn from their experience at the restaurant. Their vision is to support in the growth and development of a young ambitious generation of local Myanmar people to develop their skills and to be a part of a never ending process of creation.
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Restaurants
Onyx, it seems has been around Yangon for ever, and people often reminisce on the good old days when Onyx was a tiny little restaurant tucked away off Dharmazedi. In those days Onyx had a massive following and was one of those places that people talked about in hushed tones, fearful that the secret would get out and they’d suddenly find they couldn’t get a table.
Signature Fine Dining refers to the inside air-conditioned portion of the restaurant while the outside veranda overlooking the Kandawgyi Lake is The Garden Bistro.
Of course all of that is in the past, and when Onyx became a place where you couldn’t get a table, owner Martin Shin moved the restaurant to a new and improved premises just north of Kandawgyi lake. The Onyx Wine Tree provides exactly the same high quality of food at similarly accessible prices; it’s just a bit bigger and airy, and the toilets are nicer. If steak is your thing, then this is the place to go. If you are exceptionally hungry or have a willing partner then we recommend the whole fillet tenderloin at 20,000Kyat. Add a decent bottle of house red for 18,000kyats and that should see you right. No. 12, Bogyoke Pya Tike Street, Bahan Township, 09 254 158 167 onyxmartin@gmail.com 11:00 am - 11:00 pm (Mon - Sat ) 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm (Sun)
The service in both is good, and the staff well-mannered and enthusiastic. The menu features restaurant classics from China, Thailand, Myanmar, and the West, with some French staples including duck confit, boeuf bourgnion and chicken cordon bleu alongside the pasta, pizza, burgers. The Garden Bistro is often an overlooked outdoor dining option in Yangon, and is perfect for a lazy lunch after a stroll around Kandawgyi Lake. It does get busy at weekends with Myanmar families descending en-mass to enjoy their excellent selection of Dim sum. As this guide went to press they were in the process of overhauling the menu. If you haven’t been for a while, now might be the time to check out the offering from their new Head Chef. Kan Yeik Thar Road, Corner of Bahan Road, Bahan Township 09 975 123456 7:00am - 10:00pm
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Signature / Garden Bistro
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ONYX Wine Tree Restaurant
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Sharky’s
Winner – Special Award for Contribution to Excellence 2018 (U Ye Htut Win) Ye Htut Win AKA Sharky needs no introduction - he is an institution in his own right in the Myanmar food and beverage industry. He opened his first shop on the veranda of his mother’s house in Golden Valley, and soon became a favourite amongst the small expat crowd.
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His company now includes three restaurants - the flagship branch on Dhammazedi Road, the heritage building on Pansodan Street, and the newly renovated restaurant in Bagan, near the Shwezigon Pagoda, Nyaung U. All Sharky venues serve high quality and locally sourced food, and have an excellent wine offering. They’ve recently introduced a range of gluten free pizzas. Sharky has farms countrywide - especially in Bagan where he continues to lead the way in sustainable Myanmar grown produce, almost all of the ingredients used at the restaurants are produced within Myanmar, and Sharky utilizes ethical and sustainable farming methods. Never one to let the grass grow under his feet 2018 will be another extremely exciting year for Sharky. The Bagan restaurant and farms will continue to develop and put out a number of new exciting products and
dishes. The Dhammazedi Road branch deli will expand, whilst the restaurant will begin offering a new high-end dry aged steak concept menu. As this guide was going to print, Pansodan Street Sharky’s was reopening as an Italian Restaurant and Bar, with dishes designed in cooperation with Chef Christian Martena formerly of the Strand Hotel. A new and exciting botanical cocktail menu has also been designed by European mixologists. The new concept bar will hold a late licence and will host regular sets from Yangon’s leading DJs. Sharky is a trend-setter and an inspiration to the dining and nightlife scene in Yangon, in 2018 he was awarded the won the Myanmore special award for outstanding contribution to excellence. 117, Dhamazedi Road, Kamayut Township 09253511032 8:00am to 10:00pm 81, Upper Pansodan Road, Kyauktada Township 0264589615 11:30am – 10:00pm
When Sprouts first opened its doors to great acclaim back in 2013 it was literally one of the only places in town that offered a range of hygienically prepared salads. The tiny little cafe on Yaw Min Gyi Road, is still doing a good job of dolling out the green stuff and with almost everything they serve having been grown in Myanmar, they have a very small carbon footprint. They are keen supporters of Myanmar growers, and choose organic and chemical-free ingredients. The location of their second venue is at Go Green - an organic fruit and vegetable shop near Kandawgyi lake.
Sprouts is commended for their environmentally aware approach to business, and were one of the first restaurants in Yangon to make use of recyclable plastic straws, and offer a free water refill programme in collaboration with “Refill not landfill – Asia”.
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Sprouts
68 A/2 Yaw Min Gyi street, Dagon Township 09454791496 Nat Mauk Road (Opposite Japanese Embassy) Myabadaythar Kyun Bahan Township 09776031693 sproutsmyanmar@gmail.com 08:00am – 10:00pm
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The Market @ Hotel Meliá, Yangon
Runner up – Chef of the Year 2018 (Chef Franz Paul Wieser) The Yangon brunch scene has exploded over the last few years, with all you can eat and drink offerings available (especially on Sundays) at almost all the top hotels.
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Standards have been improving too, and The Market restaurant at the Meliá Hotel offers, (according to the word on the street), the best Sunday Brunch in town. You can spot a first timer at the Market Sunday brunch a mile off. They are the ones standing in the middle of the restaurant with an empty plate looking somewhat overwhelmed and bewildered by the whole offering, and seemingly at a loss as to where to start. It’s understandable with choices including freshly shucked oysters, foie gras, Peking duck, a huge selection of seafood and of course roast beef and all the trimmings. Free flow Mojito’s, Sangria, sparkling wine, red/white wine, beer and soft drinks are included in the price. At the Sunday brunch buffet there is enough choice to please a family of hungry fussy eaters, and a busily buzzing atmosphere in which to shake of the shackles of a Saturday night.
They also offer a gourmet buffet every day of the week at both lunch and dinner, at great value. The market restaurant is another of those places that parents of small children are very thankful for. With their childrens activity corner and regular childrens entertainers, everyone is happy! Chef Franz Paul Wieser was runner up in the Myanmore Chef of the year awards in 2018, and although his exceptional Sunday brunch is certainly one of the main reasons to head to Meliá they also have an excellent Mediterranean restaurant - Olea, and a super Vietnamese restaurant - The Lantern.
Meliá Hotel 192 Kabar Aye Pagoda Road, (corner of No.1 Industrial Road) Bahan Township 01 934 5000 6:00am to 10:00pm
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Restaurants
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The Yangon Restaurant Situated in a quiet leafy corner of People’s Park near the Planetarium, The Yangon restaurant oozes understated opulence with a relaxed semi-formal vibe and sumptuous décor. The restaurant was officially opened on the 7th of July 2016 and the concept is inspired by the owners dining experiences while traveling the world. Artwork adorns the walls and a stunning 2500 piece crystal chandelier floats above diners. The restaurant is light and airy with high ceilings, soft wood finishing’s and large windows that offer splendid views of the goings-on in the parklands outside. It is certainly one of the best restaurants in the city, although The Yangon isn’t quite at the standard of a Michelin star just yet, it is not far away.
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What makes it special
The lunchtime menu is fantastic quality and fabulous value for money and changes regularly. Two courses are priced at 20,000 kyats and three courses are 25,000 kyats, and you’d be hard pushed to find a nicer place to enjoy a luxurious lunchtime rendezvous. The à la carte menu changes regularly depending on the seasonally available ingredients and is inspired by modern European cuisines. Ingredients are sourced and handpicked from local markets with imported ingredients being flown in from Australia, Japan and the U.S. The service is smart and expertly presented; staff are knowledgeable, friendly but also discreet. The wine list is healthy and a decent range of apéritif’s and digestif’s are available.
About the Chef
Born and raised in Ipoh Old Town, Malaysia. Chef Jack Tor was fortunate to be raised by a family with a very strong food background. He left Malaysia at a young age to pursue his passion for cooking, and has worked with some of Singapore’s finest chefs. When he arrived in Yangon he immediately fell in love
Chef: Chef Jack Tor Previously at: Tanglin Tree, Restaurant at the National Museu, both Singapore Style of Food: Modern European Stand out dish: Cote de Beouf Contact: 01-370 177 info@theyangonrestaurant.com Hours: 12:00pm – 3:00pm 6:00pm – 11:00pm
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with the local fresh produce and enjoys incorporating them into his menu.
Typical Dishes
Australian Beef tenderloin served with Wagyu Brisket, Warm Chocolate Fondant served with caramelised Banana, popcorn and Hazelnut Ice Cream.
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The Location
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People’s park Compound, Near Planetarium Museum, Ahlone Road, Dagon Township
The future
With the inspectors from the red guide eventually discovering the Bangkok dining scene it is only a matter of time before they venture into Yangon. When they do arrive here, they will definitely be making a beeline for The Yangon Restaurant. Our advice would be to get there now, while you can still get a table, because that will change when the Michelin men find out about it!
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The Strand Restaurant @ The Strand Hotel Aviet and Tigran Sarkies, the hoteliers responsible for many of the finest colonial hotels in the region, such as Raffles in Singapore and the Eastern & Oriental in Penang, founded the Strand Hotel in 1901. It is one of the most iconic hotels in South East Asia.. Sarkies bar is also included in this guide, so you can visit both in one trip! The restaurant is stunning, and is one of Yangon’s most elegant dining rooms, with its high vaulted ceiling, sparkling chandeliers and lacquer panels from Bagan.
The classic Mediterranean menu with a modern twist is quite literally breath taking and includes such delights as Pan-Fried Hokkaido Sea Scallops Served With a Sea Urchin Emulsion and Black Ink Crisp. Both à la carte and tasting menus available that make good use of high quality imported produce and local organic vegetables and fruits. The Strand Hotel 92 Strand Road Yangon 01 243 377 strandrestaurant@hotelthestrand.com 6:30pm - 10:00pm (Open Wednesday – Saturday)
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Š The Strand Restaurant @ The Strand Hotel
Cosy atmosphere, reasonable price, big breakfast is highly recommended! - Easy Café
The place offers warm and fuzzy vibes plus the wifi is really good! - The District Coffee Lounge
Home sweet home is a beautiful space with great desserts that is worth checking out. - Home Sweet Home
CAFÉS Sweet little coffee heaven for people who appreciate the authentic coffee culture and a quiet time. - Café Salween
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© Café Salween
Cafés
Cafés
Acacia Tea Salon Acacia is located in a beautifully renovated old colonial building, with light airy spaces, and a peaceful and quiet ambiance.
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They serve a high quality food and beverage offering with smart and unobtrusive service. Afternoon tea at Acacia invokes a feeling of splendour in the style of Raffles in Singapore or The Mandarin Oriental in Bangkok and is the perfect place for a long and lazy afternoon. They offer a huge variety of classical and herbal tea blends, French pastries, cakes, American cheese cake and even scones with jam and cream. Acacia uses the space very well, and there are a variety of rooms and verandas to escape to and relax. The beautiful Moroccan themed room is quite a contrast to the rest of the venue, filled with colourful floor cushions and elegant details it is a delightful area. They serve lunch, afternoon tea, high-tea, dinner. The Glasshouse in the garden serves a decent selection of take-away baked goods and pastries. No. 52, Sayar San Road, Bahan Township 09 731 13812 Ext 554739 info@acaciateasalon.com 8:00am to 10:00pm
Café Salween
Winner – Café of the Year 2018 Myanmore Dining and Nightlife 2018 Café of the year winner Café Salween is a haven of peace in downtown Yangon, hidden away next door to the 7th Joint Bar. An indoor Frangipani tree dominates the minimalist cafe, and plants and fresh flowers support the relaxed and green vibe. They offer a wide choice of coffees, based on origin and artisanal method of production and brewing. Quality beans are imported from coffee growing regions famous for their quality. A good collection of fine teas sourced locally and internationally is also on offer along with a small menu of food and deserts all with a Myanmar twist. Their famous Salween Latte is mixed with fresh Myanmar honey, and their Salween Tea Latte is an adaptation of Myanmar traditional milk tea, with Myanmar red tea brewed under high pressure in the espresso machine, and served with condensed milk. The service is friendly and efficient, the Wi-Fi is good and Salween is an excellent spot to hang out in the afternoon to do some work or just relax. G15, Asia Business Center, Mahabandula Road, Between 47th and 48th Streets, Botataung Township 09 42583 0657 cafe.salween@gmail.com 10:00am - 21:00pm
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© Café Salween
Cafés
Cafés
Gloria Jeans
Runner up – Café of the Year 2018 There is more to Gloria Jeans than meets the eye. The whole café scene in Yangon has been going from strength to strength over the past few years, and the introduction of Gloria Jeans in 2014 has contributed a great deal to the improved standards of product and service.
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With cafés in over 39 countries worldwide, Gloria Jeans knows a thing or two about providing excellent service and a high quality product. They are pleasant and friendly café’s where people can hang out and enjoy a relaxed vibe. Their success is in part to their high quality, but also in that Gloria Jeans doesn’t feel like a traditional coffee chain, but more like a collection of individual independent cafés. There are several outlets across Yangon including Myanmar Plaza, Star City and the International Airport, and they have plans to extend beyond Yangon with cafe’s planned at the Yangon-NPT 76 Mile Highway Restcamp and at Mingalar Mandalay. G16C, Myanmar Plaza, Kabar Aye Pagoda Road Bahan Township 09797617181 9:00am – 9:00pm
Home Sweet Home Sometimes you just want something sticky, sweet and decidedly decadent. Home from Home ticks all of those boxes. As this guide went to press they were ranked in Trip Advisor as the best bakery in Yangon, and there is good reason why. It’s a tiny spot on a road filled with big buildings, but there is a huge amount of love in evidence here. From the moment you walk in under the neon sign, a rich sweet aroma envelops you. Even if you aren’t hungry your mouth will begin to salivate at the smell of their fabulous products. The bakery is tidy and minimalist, and a great place to escape the downtown heat. The staff are super friendly and very happy to help you select your treat, and they are very keen for you join the hundreds of happy customers that have taken a selfie here! The choice of delicacies is little overwhelming, but all are fabulous. Including moist chocolate brownies, fresh waffles with ice cream and incredible New York cheesecake. Their Myanmar tea desserts including Crème brûlée and parfait are an awesome invention and should not be overlooked. NO.440,STRAND ROAD, LATHA TOWNSHIP 09 969116307 homesweethomeyangon@gmail.com 12:00pm - 10:00pm
Easy is a simple comfortable café that provides a 'home away from home' experience. Their focus is on providing a high quality product in a welcoming environment. They serve specialty coffees, comfort and no-fuss food, pastries and desserts. There is a lot going on behind the scenes at Easy as it isn’t just a café. They are heavily involved in a state-of-theart coffee lab and training campus which is breaking new ground which will benefit the whole coffee supply chain in Myanmar.
Cafés
Easy Café
The atmosphere at both locations is calm and peaceful, with super service. Melissa has created the food menu, whilst her husband Javier is in charge of the coffee section. The menu is driven by their joint love of food and inspired by their travels. 30A Bo Yar Nyunt Street, Dagon Township 24D Nar Nat Taw Street Kamayut Township 09 250141098 easycafeyangon@gmail.com 8:00am - 8:00pm
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Nourish
Winner – Green Award 2018
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Nourish serves simple, tasty and healthy food in a very down to earth environment. Their mantra is: “Come feed your body and soul”. The vegan restaurant is the brainchild of Jojo Yang and Jerome Sterckx, (the founders of Yangon Yoga House next door) and vegan chef Tammi Willis. The menu provides delicious and healthy plantbased foods that can support a nutritious and balanced diet. As the first ever winners of the Myanmore Green Award, they will regularly be featured in the monthly Myanmore Magazine and online as they share their passionate approach to maintaining an environmentally sustainable lifestyle. Their business model proactively aims to reduce their carbon footprint and preserve the planet’s water supply through their animal-free menu, mindful ingredient sourcing and environmentally friendly packaging. They also plan to continue to push for more eco-friendly practices, both for businesses and individuals - they and use biodegradable packaging, provide a free water-refill station. They offer breakfast, lunch, takeaway meals and a selection of delightful desserts, with gluten-free and sugar-free options. In addition to a meat and dairy free menu, they strive to use natural sweeteners like maple syrup and coconut sugar. Their
menu includes many items not normally found in Myanmar such as quinoa, za’atar, raw cacao, pumpkin seeds, acai, and butterfly pea. Their signature dish - the Nourish burger is made from 16 different ingredients and served on a brioche bun from Yangon Bakehouse, they use aquafaba (chickpea water) in place of eggs and butter. They also have a fine selection of smoothies made with creative flavours and healthy booster ingredients such as mocha, raw cacao, spirulina, acai and served with chia seeds, nuts, flax seeds, fresh fruit and homemade granola. The menu also a heavy middle-eastern influence and includes falafel and shawarma in pita. This year they aim to develop healthier, vegan friendly versions of classic Myanmar dishes such as Nan Gyi Thot and Shan Noodles in order to introduce veganism to a more local audience. 36/38 Alan Pya Pagoda Road, (down a small side street opposite Park Royal Hotel) Dagon Township 09 973 802714 nourishyangon@gmail.com Mon to Thurs - 10:00am to 9:00pm, Fri, Sat - 10:00am - 3:00pm Sun 10:00am - 7:00pm
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© Nourish
MYANMORE Awards Winners
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The District Coffee Lounge
Yangon Bakehouse
This delightfully friendly and welcoming coffee shop near Kokkine Swimming pool offers something for everyone. With plenty of seating options - low plush chairs for two, a bar counter with stools, a long communal table, and smaller tables seating up to four. You can come here for a meeting, a quiet coffee or for a nice bite to eat.
Yangon Bakehouse is not only a great café that serves a super selection of cakes, pastries and coffee they are also a social enterprise that empowers disadvantaged Myanmar women by supporting them in developing the skills necessary to sustain their livelihood. They also serve a mean quiche.
The Wi-Fi is fast and the coffee is excellent, though they also do fine selection of Japanese green teas including matcha, hojicha and pots of freshly-brewed looseleaf sencha.
Located in that famous dimly lit and dirty downstairs corridor at Peal Condo Yangon Bakehouse is a popular spot, and generally at lunchtimes they are full. The atmosphere is lovely, and you can see a hive of activity behind the scenes as the students, under the watchful eye of the trainers, create and prepare delicious food. 100% of the profits are poured back into the business and they’ve been doing this since 2012, so you can be assured that every kyat you spend is used wisely.
As well as the excellent selection of cakes and biscuits they also serve a pretty mean burger (some claim the best in town) and great breakfasts and sandwiches. The prices are decent and the atmosphere is very pleasant and calming at all times of day. District Coffee also sell small range of organic Myanmar products to take home, including locally sourced coffee, cinnamon and honey.
After the lunchtime rush has died off, it is a nice spot to relax and enjoy a leisurely cup of coffee, and a tasty bun. You cannot fail to enjoy the atmosphere of somewhere that is very close to the hearts of many Yangonites.
28C, Kokkine Swimming Pool Street, Bahan Township 09 786 334472 districtcoffeelounge@gmail.com 7:30am - 10:00pm
Pearl Condo Black C, Ground Floor, Kabar Aye Pagoda Road, Bahan Township 09 797 008018 7:00am - 7:00pm
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© Yangon Bakehouse
Cafés
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MYANMORE Awards Winners
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MYANMORE Awards Winners
Cafés
COLOPHON: MYANMORE TEAM Managing Director Andreas Sigurdsson Project Manager Cliff Lonsdale
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Contributors MYANMORE TEAM Photography Leo Jackson, Cliff Lonsdale, Ko Min Min, Wai Phyo Art & Production Aung Myo Lwin Publisher Pyit Thiri Thaw Lychee Ventures (Myanmar) Limited Permit No.: 01665 Printer Myanmar Consolidated Media Ltd. MCM Printing (00876) No. 379/383, Bo Aung Kyaw Street, Kyauktada Township, Yangon FIRST EDITION MARCH 2018
About us
The Top 100™ Guide Book is produced by MYANMORE®, a registered brand of Lychee Ventures (Myanmar) Limited - a venture builder focused on media and internet solutions in Myanmar. MYANMORE Media Group provides advertising and creatives services and manages the MYANMORE® and DRIVE® Websites as well as the printed publications including The Weekly Guide™, MYANMORE® Magazine, EnjoyIt®, KnowIt® and DRIVE® Magazine. Sarmal® is a restaurant finding app that was launched in 2017 under Lychee Ventures and as a digital version of EnjoyIt®. MYANMORE’s purpose is to provide great content and experiences for both residents and visitors in Myanmar.
Disclaimer
No part of this guide can be reproduced or transmitted in any form without prior written permission from Lychee Ventures. All details are deemed correct at the time of print, the editor, employees and contributors cannot be held responsible for any errors, inaccuracies or omissions that may occur. www.myanmore.com www.myanmoremedia.com www.facebook.com/myanmore/ www.sarmal.com.mm
“Have you eaten?” is a common greeting in Myanmar, although the question is not intended to be replied with an extensive menu of food items you have consumed. Even if you haven’t eaten, it is customary to answer yes reagardless, (unless of course you are about to sit down to a meal with someone!) the question is really more of a “How are you?” hta min sar pi bi lar? – Have you eaten? sar pi ba bi – I have eaten thet thet loot par - I am Vegetarian a sat kyite tal – I like spicy food a sat ma sar buu – I don’t eat spicy food – Bon appetite! di har a ya thar shi tal – This is delicious
CULTURAL DO’S, DONT’S IN DINING - When eating a meal with others, the oldest person at the table (this may apply in terms of age or rank - depending on the situation) is expected to receive the first serving of every dish. If you are the guest, it is best to wait for your host to make the first move. If you are the host, you should offer to serve the oldest person at the table. - Never eat or serve food to yourself or others with your left hand. - Do not sneeze or blow your nose when sitting at a dining table, move to one side. -Cover your mouth with your hand when using a toothpick. - Beckoning with the hand, for example if encouraging a server to approach your table, should be done with the fingers pointing down. This action with the fingers pointed up (as is often usual in Westen cultures) is considered aggressive.
Bal lout lae? - How much is it?
- Attracting the server’s attention by making a loud kissing noise is acceptable almost everywhere -although not perhaps in the classiest establishments!
Kyay zuu tin par tal - Thank you
Thone saung ba!
eain thar beh hma leh? – Where is the toilet?
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DINING CONVERSATION
Cafés
USEFUL INFO