Burmese Food Guide: Where and What to Eat?

Vacation is incomplete without food. And whenever you travel to a new country, trying traditional food of that particular country is a must.

Myanmar food is famous for its spices such as the blend of Indian and Thai flavors; the Burmese food comes out as a delicious Asian delight.

Here is our list of 10 Myanmar dishes which are a must try when in Myanmar:

1.   Mohinga

Mohinga is another Burmese delicacy which is extremely scrumptious. It’s basically a bowl of rice noodles with a base of fish soup and topped with crispy fried fritters on the bowl.

Where to eat? Daw Phaw May Mohinga

2.   Burmese Fish Curry

 Burmese fish curry taste a little different from Indian or Thai curry however, it’s equally delicious. This dish is quite a fancy for the locals of Myanmar and the travelers as well and is served with side dishes such as boiled vegetables and dips making it a full meal.

Where to eat? Star beam

3.   Khao Suey Thote

 Basically chicken noodles however the consistency is soupy which is known as Khao Suye in Myanmar. The Burmese food is made up of spicy coconut milk broth and boneless chicken which makes an unusual combination but tastes heavenly.

Where to eat? Taing Yin Thar

4.   Sticky Rice with Shredded Coconut

This dish is an unusual blend of coconut and sticky rice which should be on your platter to tickle your taste buds. Giving a twist to the basic coconut curry, this Burmese dish is served with a hint of lemon flavor and fried corn sprinkled on sticky rice.

Where to eat? Mingala Bar Myanmar Restaurants

5.   Grilled Fish

The best grilled fish in Myanmar is available in the streets of Chinatown. It has a Smokey and spicy flavor of the grilled fish will make you crave for it even in your dream. With a dash of lemon, the seasoning of salt and pepper will just calm down your cravings for seafood

Where to eat? Shwe Mingalar Restaurant    

6.   Mala Hin

This is the perfect dish to try for the vegetarians as it gives the authentic Burmese cuisine with blend of spices. It’s a bowl of delicious gravy filled with veggies along with the spicy flavours will be a delectable meal for you

Where to eat: Yar Pyi Vegetarian Restaurant

7.   Laphet Thokh (Tea Leaf Salad)      

One can rejoice the taste of the crushed tea leaves along with crushed peanuts and fish oil while in Myanmar. A very popular local dish, the Laphet Thohk will give you the chance to taste salad in different way

Where to eat: Unique Myanmar Restaurant

8.   Nga Htamin (Shan-style Rice)

Nga Htamin is a version of Burmese food served as fried cooked rice with fish and turmeric along with a blend of various herbs and spice. With its spicy flavor, it is slided with garlic and pork rinds to add that crunch

Where to eat? Shan Yoe Yar Restaurant

9.    Nan Gyi Thoke

This is another mouthwatering dish which is spaghetti in Myanmar and is served as a breakfast meal. To enhance the taste of the noodles, it is mixed with chicken curry and garnished with onion, scallions and beans as per the preference

Where to eat? Father’s office

10.                    Meeshay

It’s a specialty of Shan people living at the Eastern side of Myanmar; this Burmese dish is made up of rice noodles and pork. There are many variations to this dish, but the authentic Meeshay is served with pork, soup

Where to eat? Aye Myit Tar  

To get an e-Visa to Myanmar, visit our website i.e. www.e-visamyanmar.com/. Also, we’ve 24*7 customer care executives in order to assist you with your queries.

Mawlamyine Myanmar

Mawlamyine, the capital of Mon state in Southeastern Myanmar, is the fourth largest city in Myanmar with a population of 326, 00 as per a source. It was captured by the British in 1826 for the time in the First Anglo-Burmese War and served as their capital from 1826 to 1852.

Things to see in Mawlamyine, Myanmar

Following are the things which you should definitely not miss when in Mawlamyine, Myanmar:

1.   Nwa Le Bo Pagoda – is a local pilgrimage site which is still relatively unknown. This place consist of three sausage – shaped gold borders piled precariously atop one another and surmounted by a stupa

                                      

     

2.   Pa-Auk-Taw-Ya Monastery – Located only 8.5 miles south of Mawlamyine, the monastery teaches satipatthana vipasana (insight-awareness meditation) and, at 500 acres is one of the largest meditation centres in Myanmar

                        

3.   Yadarbon Myrint Monastery – Donated by Queen Sein Don, one of King Mindon’s consorts. Her mansion incorporated many features of the Mandalay palace, including a replica in scale of the Lion Throne which is still on view.

                           

To get an e-Visa to Myanmar, visit our website i.e. www.e-visamyanmar.com/. Also, we’ve 24*7 customer care executives in order to assist you with your queries. 

11 Things to Know Before Visiting Myanmar

                              

Out of many wonders of Asia, there lies a small country in the South-Eastern part of the continent that dazzles even the most ardent travelers with its culture and landscapes. Formerly known as Burma, Myanmar Myanmar is a place that many people go to discover themselves by diving into a different culture.

1.   New Year is a big deal for Burmese

New Year lasts nearly four days for Burmese. Thingyan, also known as “water throwing festival” is celebrated in April. The entire country shuts down over the four days New Year. The biggest celebrations are in Yangon and Mandalay.

2.   Experience Myanmar’s fantastic beaches

The coastline of Myanmar is 1,250 miles (2,000 kilometers) and also has some of the finest stretches of beach in Asia. Many beaches along with Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea remain undiscovered by tourists and unspoiled by development

3.   Internet isn’t censored, however slow

In Myanmar, the internet arrived in 2000; however high prices and slow connections mean it’s still not widely used.

Earlier, websites such as YouTube and Gmail were blocked, but restrictions have largely been lifted.

4.   Keep plenty of cash

Myanmar is still a little backward; hence visitors need to bring plenty of US dollars. The higher the denomination, the better the exchange rate.

Also remember that the cash needs to be crisp and clean which means no creases, stains, no marks etc.

5.   Hotels are a bit Pricey

Hotel rooms are expensive in Myanmar. The reason behind is that the country opened up, business travelers and tourists have been packing flights to Myanmar. As per the reports, in 2011 room rates shot up to 350%, which means that a room that cost US $25 a night now goes for almost US $100.

6.   The men wear skirts

As we know the traditional Burmese dress is longyai which is a wrapped skirt worn by both men and women. Men ties theirs in the front and women fold the cloth over and secure it at the side.

7.   The food is exceptional

In Myanmar it is considered rude to eat with the left hand. Hence, avoid eating or giving money with the left hand.

A typical Burmese meal includes steamed rice, fish, meat and vegetables and soup and all the dishes arrive at the same time. The Burmese use their fingertips to mold the rice into a small ball and then mix it with various dishes.

8.   Get ready to get bumpy ride if you travel by train

Railway tracks are in not so good combination. And this makes for a bouncy ride, but trains are still a great way to see the country. Myanmar’s trains are slow and have a reputation for running late.

9.   The people with red teeth aren’t vampires

In Myanmar, the national pastime is to chew betel nut. You will come across a lot of small street stalls selling the palm-sized green leaves everywhere. The leaves are filled with hard squares of betel nut, spices and sometimes a pinch of tobacco and then folded up and popped in the mouth and chewed.

To get an e-Visa to Myanmar, visit our website i.e. www.e-visamyanmar.com/. Also, we’ve 24*7 customer care executives in order to assist you with your queries.

3 Things to Know Before Visiting Yangon, Myanmar

Myanmar has recently opened up on tourists’ ladar, and while it is still Southeast Asia, there are quite a few things that set it apart from its neighbors. As its former capital, Yangon has witnessed many histories and a city in rapid development.

       

1.   Conservative but not rigid

Tourists are often concerned about the rigidity of the country; however rules for foreigners here are much more relaxed. However, clothes that bare but, belly and cleavage are still unacceptable in a conservative country, but one can wear shorts and tanks outside of temple.

To be on a safer side, wear longyis which are a kind of a wrap skirt with traditional fabric that’s beautifully embroidered, and Burmese of any age and gender wears them with any old top.

2.   Card and ATM still not really functional

It is advisable to keep cash and exchange the money and be prepared that it might not be that easy to get money out

However, many popular restaurants and shops do accept credit card and USD (United States Dollar), so while you should have some cash on hand, cards can still be used.

3.   Uber is readily available

While most taxis in Yangon do not have a meter, you can easily call one using Grab or Uber. Both will provide you with a cost upfront, eliminating the need to negotiate with the driver. Another useful tip to find out what the fare is using Grab, so even if you flag a taxi down you can negotiate with the driver with a price point in mind.

To get an e-Visa to Myanmar, visit our website i.e. http://www.e-visamyanmar.com/. Also, we’ve 24*7 customer care executives in order to assist you with your queries.

Shwedagon Pagoda

Also known as the Great Dagon Pagoda and the Golden Pagoda, the Shwedagon pagoda is a glided stupa located in Yangon, Myanmar. It’s a 326 foot tall pagoda is situated on Singuttara Hill, to the west of Kandawgyi lake, and dominates the Yangon Skyline.

Shwedagon Pagoda is the most sacred Buddhist pagoda in Myanmar, as it is believed to contain relics of the four previous Buddhas of the present kalpa. These relics include the staff of Kakusandha, the water filter of Konagamana, a piece of the robe of Kassapa, and eight strands of hair from the head of the Gautama.

To get an e-Visa to Myanmar, visit our website i.e. www.e-visamyanmar.com/. Also, we’ve 24*7 customer care executives in order to assist you with your queries.