Till sitting down to write this article, the only Burmese food I had tried and fallen in love with was the Khao Swè (ခေါက်ဆွဲ), pronounced as Khout Swal. It is the most popular Burmese dish made of hearty soup and the yummiest flavors to warm your soul.
So, if like me, you are also planning a trip to Myanmar, this right here is an exhaustive guide on a flavorful journey through Southeast Asia’s hidden gem. Myanmar (formerly Burma) offers a rich palette of flavors that blend influences from India, China, and Thailand while maintaining its unique culinary identity. Let’s discover the most amazing and popular Burmese food you can relish during your time in this beautiful country.
Table Of Contents
6 Must-Try Traditional Burmese Dishes: Your Culinary Bucket List
1. Mohinga: The Crown Jewel of Burmese Cuisine
Start your day like a local with Myanmar’s beloved national dish – mohinga (မုန့်ဟင်းခါး. This aromatic fish soup combines rice noodles with a complex broth made from catfish, lemongrass, and banana stems. The base is thickened with toasted rice powder and enriched with peanut oil, creating a velvety texture.
Topped with crispy fried garlic, roasted peanuts, fresh spring onions, and optional boiled egg, mohinga offers a rich flavor profile that perfectly represents traditional Burmese cooking. While it’s traditionally a breakfast dish, you’ll find locals enjoying this comfort food throughout the day.
Pro tip: Add a squeeze of lime and some dried chili flakes to elevate the flavors even further.
2. Lahpet Thoke: The Iconic Tea Leaf Salad
Unique to Myanmar, Lahpet Thoke (လက်ဖက်သုပ်) represents the country’s distinction as the only place where tea is not just drunk but eaten. This vibrant salad combines fermented tea leaves with crunchy elements including roasted peanuts, fried yellow peas, dried shrimp, toasted sesame seeds, and fresh garlic. Fresh tomatoes and shredded cabbage add brightness, while green chilies provide optional heat. The dressing typically includes peanut oil and lime juice to create a perfect balance of tangy, savory, and umami flavors.
3. Shan Khauk Swe: Shan-Style Noodles
Originating from Myanmar’s Shan State, this beloved noodle dish called Shan Khauk Swe (ရှမ်းခေါက်ဆွဲ) features thin rice noodles topped with marinated chicken or pork, rich tomato sauce, and a signature blend of spices. The dish is garnished with roasted peanuts, fresh herbs, and pickled mustard greens (Nan Gyi Thoke).
What makes it special is the combination of textures – tender meat, chewy noodles, and crunchy peanuts – alongside the tangy-spicy sauce. Many vendors serve it with a side of clear chicken broth and chili oil, allowing you to adjust the soup’s consistency and heat level to your liking.
4. Ohn No Khauk Swe: Coconut Chicken Noodles
Popularly known as Khauo Swe (အုန်းနို့ခေါက်ဆွဲ), this comforting noodle dish is a reflection of the Burmese mastery of combining coconut milk with savory flavors. Tender egg noodles swim in a rich, curry-like chicken broth made with coconut milk, turmeric, and other spices. The dish is topped with crispy noodles, hard-boiled eggs, fresh cilantro, and lime wedges. However, the icing on the cake is the garnish tray that accompanies it – you can customize your bowl with fish sauce, chili flakes, fresh green chilies, and more crispy fried garlic. It’s like having a warm hug in a bowl!
5. Kyay Oh: Popular Street Food
A popular street food dish, Kyay Oh (ကြေးအိုး) comes in both “dry” and “soup” versions. The soup version features rice noodles in a clear, savory pork broth with tender meatballs, various cuts of pork, quail eggs, and fresh vegetables. The dry version (Kyay Oh Siq) serves the same ingredients but with minimal broth and a special sauce blend. Both versions come garnished with fresh herbs, bean sprouts, and crispy fried garlic.
6. Hin: Burmese Curry
Unlike Indian or Thai curries, Burmese curries known as hin (ဟင်း) are characterized by their rich oil-based gravy and intense concentration of flavors. The most popular versions include pork, fish, or mutton, slow-cooked with turmeric, garlic, ginger, and other spices until the meat is tender and the oil separates to the top – a sign of a well-made curry. These curries are typically served with rice, soup, and a variety of side dishes including fresh and boiled vegetables, crunchy pork rinds, and various dips. Don’t be alarmed by the amount of oil – it’s traditional to let it settle on top and eat around it!
Navigating The Burmese Food Scene For Travelers
Regional Specialties While Backpacking
As you travel through Myanmar, you’ll discover that each region offers its own special takes on main dishes. In Shan State, don’t miss the famous Shan tofu or the Burmese tofu, which, unlike its Chinese counterpart, is made from yellow split peas rather than soybeans. This versatile ingredient appears in everything from tofu salad to noodle soups.
Where To Eat
From bustling street food stalls to traditional tea houses, Myanmar offers countless ways to experience its cuisine. Tea houses serve as social hubs where you can sample various snacks while sipping sweet Burmese tea. For the best experience, follow the locals during peak hours – if a place is packed with residents, you know you’re in for an authentic treat.
Budget-Friendly Dining
One of the best things about Burmese cuisine is its affordability. Street food vendors offer delicious snacks for just a few dollars, while a hearty meal at a local restaurant typically costs under $10. Remember to carry local currency (Kyat) as many small establishments don’t accept cards.
Essential Burmese Phrases For Travelers & Food Lovers
While English is spoken in tourist areas, learning a few basic phrases like Hello in Burmese can enhance your dining experience.
| English | Burmese | Transliteration |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | မင်္ဂလာပါ | Mingalaba |
| Thank you | ကျေးဇူးတင်ပါတယ် | Kyei zu tin ba de |
| How much is this? | ဒီဟာဘယ်လောက်ပါလဲ? | Di har bel laut pa le? |
| I love this food | ဒီအစားအစာကိုကျွန်မ/ကျွန်တော်ကြိုက်ပါတယ်။ | Di asar asar go kyun ma/kyun taw kyite pa de. |
| Can I have water, please? | ရေတစ်ခွက်ပေးပါဦး | Yay ta kwet pay ba oun |
| Is this spicy? | ဒါစပ်ပါသလား? | Da sat pa la? |
| Please make it less spicy | အစပ်နည်းနည်းလျှော့ပေးပါဦး | A sat nal nal shawt pay par own. |
| Do you have a vegetarian option? | သက်သတ်လွတ်စားစရာရှိပါသလား? | That that lut sar za ya shi pa la? |
| Do you have a vegan option? | ဗီဂန်စားစရာရှိပါသလား? | Vegan sar za ya shi pa la? |
| I’d like to order this | ဒါကိုမှာချင်ပါတယ် | Dar ko hma chin ba de. |
| It is delicious! | အရသာရှိပါတယ်။ | A ya thar shi par del. |
| Can I have the bill, please? | ဘေလ်ပေးပါ။ | Bill pay par. |
| Goodbye | သွားလိုက်ပါဦးမယ် | Thwa lite par own mal. |
Burmese Cultural Etiquette & Dining Customs
Respect At the Table
Understanding local dining customs shows respect and enhances your experience. Here are some key points:
- Always eat with your right hand when dining traditionally.
- It’s common to share dishes family-style.
- Rice is sacred – try not to waste it.
- Meals often feature a mix of dishes with different textures and flavors.
Traditional Meal Structure
A typical Burmese meal includes:
- Steamed rice or sticky rice as the base.
- A light soup, often made using peanut oil.
- Various curry dishes that are less saucy than their Indian counterparts.
- Fresh vegetables and herbs.
- Condiments like fish sauce and dried shrimp.
Safety And Practical Tips
Street Food Safety
While street food offers some of the most authentic Burmese cooking experiences, choose wisely. Here are some handy tips:
- Look for busy stalls with high turnover.
- Watch for fresh ingredients being used.
- Ensure hot foods are served piping hot.
- Be cautious with raw vegetables in areas with questionable water quality.
Common Ingredients To Know
Understanding common ingredients helps you make informed choices:
- Fish sauce and shrimp paste are ubiquitous.
- Bean sprouts and fresh vegetables appear in many dishes.
- Coconut milk is used in both savory dishes and desserts.
- Agar jelly often appears in desserts.
How Do You Say Food In Burmese?
In Burmese, “food” is called aahcarraasout (အစားအသောက်). It is pronounced as a-sarr-a-thout.
FAQs About Burmese Food
What Is Typical Burmese Food?
Typical Burmese food features rice as a staple, accompanied by flavorful curries, soups, and side dishes. Meals often include salads like laphet thoke (tea leaf salad), and dishes are flavored with fish sauce, tamarind, and garlic. Influenced by India, China, and Thailand, Burmese cuisine is both diverse and hearty.
What Is The National Dish Of Burma?
The national dish of Myanmar is mohinga. It is a comforting rice noodle soup made with a rich fish broth and flavored with lemongrass, turmeric, and ginger. It’s typically enjoyed as a breakfast dish but is also available throughout the day. It is a must-try for visitors.
Is Burmese Food Similar To Thai Food?
While Burmese food shares some ingredients with Thai cuisine, like chili, tamarind, and coconut, it’s less sweet and spicy. Burmese dishes often highlight fermented flavors, like fish paste, and have a more subtle balance of taste compared to the bold and tangy profile of Thai food.
What Is The Burmese Favorite Food?
Burmese favorites include shan noodles (rice noodles in a light tomato and garlic broth) and ngapi yay (a dip made from fermented fish, served with vegetables). Snacks like samosa thoke (a savory item similar to its Indian cousin) and desserts like mont lone yay baw (sticky rice balls with jaggery) are also loved across the country.
Let’s Summarize Burmese Food
Burmese cuisine offers a unique culinary adventure that goes beyond the familiar flavors of Southeast Asia. From the tangy punch of pickled tea leaves to the comforting warmth of noodle soup, each dish is reflective of Myanmar’s rich cultural heritage. Whether you’re slurping Mohinga for breakfast as a backpacker or sharing a family-style dinner with your new Burmese friends, the food of Myanmar promises to be a highlight of your travels.
As I always say, the best way to experience Burmese food is to try it with an open mind and an eager palate. Don’t be afraid to try new things—some of the most unusual-looking dishes might become your favorites. Most importantly, take time to appreciate the complex flavors and thoughtful preparation that make Burmese cuisine truly special.
And if you have already started exploring Burmese food, share your experiences and favorite dishes in the comments below!
