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A mouthful of Myanmar

Delicious village food in Myanmar Burma — This gorgeous meal was served to us by a family in a village near Hsipaw in the Shan state

I never came across Myanmar food before my trip to Myanmar- and I wasn’t disappointed. There is an abundance of affordable street food available and some delicious up-market places around too. What local foods must I try in Myanmar

Top tip: Many countries in Asia have late night food cultures making it easy to find food as late as midnight or beyond. Don’t get caught out! Some towns in Myanmar close up shop earlier and you may struggle to find food places open after 8-9pm. A mouthful of Myanmar

Myanmese cuisine is a fusion of Thai, Indian and Chinese with their own unique local twist. Here were a few of our food highlights of Myanmar… What local foods must I try in Myanmar r

1. Shan Noodle Salad

Shan noodle salad delicious healthy and tasty local food Myanmar Burma — Shan Noodles from the Shan Noodle factory in Hsipaw

This was one of my absolute favourite dishes in Myanmar. Shan noodle salad comprises of fresh noodles covered in a delicious mild yet tangy sauce. It has a satisfying substance but is definitely not stodgy. Shan noodles can be found in a wide range of cafes and restaurants around the Shan state of Northern Myanmar.

What local foods must I try in Myanmar

Click here to read about the Shan Noodle Factory in Hsipaw>>

Note: English speaking locals call dry noodle dishes “noodle salads” to distinguish them from noodle soups. Don’t be mislead- noodle salads do not normally contain any fresh greens. A mouthful of Myanmar

What local foods must I try in Myanmar

2. Tea Leaf Salad (Lahpet Thoke)

Tea leaf salad delicious healthy and tasty local food Myanmar Burma — A tea leaf salad served in Nyaungshwe near Inle Lake

Myanmar is one of the few countries in the world where tea leaves are eaten. The tea leaves which are used to make green tea in Myanmar are roasted, grinded and sun dried. The roasting process over a fire give the tea a distinctive smoky taste. The tea leaves that are used to make tea leaf salad are roasted, grinded and then pickled in hollowed bamboo for a few weeks. The leaves soften and ferment in the pickling process giving them a unique sour flavour. In tea leaf salad the pickled tea leaves are mixed with lime, tomatoes, onion, garlic and fried beans and nuts.

What local foods must I try in Myanmar?

3. Roti

A great example of the Indian influence on Myanmese cuisine is Roti. This is an Indian bread made from a ghee based dough. The elastic dough is thinly spread out, folded and then fried on a griddle. The hot fresh bread is served with dhal, a mild curry made from lentils and spices. Roti places also serve hot milky Indian-style tea as well. If you see a Roti place on your travels in Myanmar I strongly recommend taking a little time to stop and enjoy this simple yet delicious treat! What local foods must I try in Myanmar?

4. Noodle soup

If you’re out and about and can’t see any food then look for a shop! Most street side shops sell small packets of dry noodles (Ramen). For a small price they will use a packet to prepare a tasty cheap noodle soup and perhaps even throw in an egg. This lovely cheap dish will cost around 700Ks (0.60USD / 0.50GBP). In fact this was our very first meal in Myanmar! What local foods must I try in Myanmar?

What local foods must I try in Myanmar Street food in Burma — Our first meal in Myanmar was cheap noodles at a roadside shop between Myawaddy and Hpa An and we LOVED it!

There’s always more…

Now you know what to eat, it’s time to plan you Adventures! Don’t miss out on the epic awesomeness of Myanmar, check out our TOP 10 THINGS TO DO IN MYANMAR and SHARE SHARE SHARE it with anyone you know who’s heading there …

Planning a trip to Myanmar soon?

We have put together some great blogs on local guests houses you can book along the way…

Bagan>> Inle Lake>> Kalaw>> Mandalay>> Hpa An>> Hsipaw>> Pyin U Lwin>> Myawaddy>>

Or if you prefer to get organised and book everything in advance, this should be uber helpful:

Book you room in Yangon HERE (Explore the golden cities temples)

Book your room in Nyaung U (Bagan) HERE (A base for exploring famous temples)

Book your room in Inle Lake HERE (See the famous local fishermen)

Book your room in Kalaw HERE (Prepare for the Iconic Inle Lake Trek)

Book your room for Mandalay HERE (Walk the beautiful U Bein Bridge)

Book your room in Pyin oo Lwin HERE (Explore stunning waterfalls)

Book your room in Hsipaw HERE (For beautiful hill tribe trekking)

Book your room in Hpa An HERE (For climbing Mt. Zwegabin)

First Time in Myanmar ??

Myanmar is changing rapidly, so up-to-date blogs (like this one, ahem!) will be a great source. But If it’s you’re first time visiting Myanmar you will probably want to grab a travel guide too. I always think you don’t need more than a ‘Rough Guide‘ as it is about making it your own adventure! They have a pretty cheap kindle copy as well as the actual book.