Anyone seeking a culinary adventure will find Myanmar a good place to explore, as it has many unique dishes and ingredients awaiting discovery.
Internationally, food from Myanmar has been much less popular than that from its neighbors such as Thailand, China, or India. This is to be expected, as Myanmar was a closed country for many decades and is only now beginning to be recognized internationally.
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Diversity and Influences
What is distinctive about Myanmar food? It’s not easy to describe the food of a country as diverse as Myanmar.
Often a country’s stereotypical food does not represent the whole country. For example, the stereotype of Chinese food that comes to mind might be dim sum, but dim sum is actually unique to one southeastern province in China.
The same applies to Myanmar. There are many food types from various influences, both from in-country ethnic groups (Bamar, Shan, Mon, Rakhine, Chin, and many others) and external neighbors (such as Thailand, China, India).
While there are many different kinds of food throughout the country, they share some common traits.
Most Burmese food is prepared with fish or meat broth. Rice (htamin) is usually the main staple, and there will usually be a large variety of accompanying dishes, which may include curried fish or meat, dried salted fish, fritters, fresh or boiled vegetables, and a curried sauce of pickled ngapi.
Ingredients unique to Myanmar include ngapi (fermented fish) and laphet (tea leaves), discussed below. Vegetarian food is only common during special seasons, such as the Buddhist Lent.
As you visit Myanmar and explore its food, you will find it to have a diverse and unique cuisine.
What Our Customers Said
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Excellent planned and executed Myanmar excursion
Asia Highlights and their local Myanmar partner "mAsia" did an excellent job in planning and execution of a one week trip to Myanmar.The various tour guides and drivers had good knowledge and good command over English. MoreGerd, Jan 2018
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Excellent planned and executed Myanmar excursion
They never failed to be at the agreed locations and on time. Cars provided spacious and in very good condition. Hotels booked met our expectations - especially Yangon, Bagan, Lake Inle. MoreGerd, Jan 2018
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In good hands with Sam
Sam Ol took very good care of us - lots of information, listened to and answered all our questions, was passionate about the places we visited and about his people and country. He was kind, had a great sense of humor, and made sure we felt safe and comfortable at all times. He helped us to fall in love with Cambodia in 3 short days. MoreCarol Jones, Feb 2023
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Best tour guide in Cambodia
When we first arrived at the airport in Siem Riep it was so nice to be greeted by Mr Sam Ol. We instantly fell at home when we saw his friendly smile. We were impressed by his great English and knowledge of the temples. On the tour to the temples Sam took care of us every step of the way. He took awesome pictures of us. It felt like we were on a tour given by our brother who is also a professional photographer. Also, we appreciate his humor as well as the fact he had an answer for every question we had. I give Sam 5 stars, best tour guide ever :) MoreLen S, Feb 2023
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Mr. Sam
Mr. Sam our guide in Cambodia, he and the driver out standing service they went above and beyond touring, my wife so amazed beautiful country, we're planning back here near the futures. Thank Mr. Sam,We'll feedback the whole trip next week when we be home in US MorePho Lover, Feb 2023
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Vietnam/Cambodia/Thailand
We are still in the middle of our trip, but we are just finishing up our time in Cambodia and our guide, Borin, has been AMAZING!!! He has truly made our time here unforgettable and I plan on referring all of my friends and family to come visit this beautiful country! Thank you, Borin, for everything you did to make our trip so fantastic! MoreDanielle Blount, Feb 2023
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Excellent service and Wonderful Guides
All of our guides have been terrific. Mr. Sam in Siem Reip was especially wonderful. Both he and our driver were polite, safe knowledgable and informative. Sam made our trip memorable and enioyable. We will definitely recommend Sam and Asia Highlights to our friends. MoreKaaren, Feb 2023
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Great tour guide Charity at Siem Reap
Our experience in Siem Reap could not have been any better thanks to our outstanding and cheerful guide, Charity. Her very good English speaking made it so easy to learn so much from her. She understood and answers all of our questions.She was relaxed and very knowledgeable. She went out out her way to help us make amazing pano photos of the cotton trees at Siem Reap and on our sunset cruise. She also advised us on Chanrey Tree restaurant—what we found to be the very best vegan restaurant on our first three weeks of our Asia tour. So glad to have vegan meals with very little oil!!! We are not supposed to have oil and is very hard to find vegan with no oil. Went went back the next night. MoreBarbara Cornyn, Jan 2023
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Eating Customs
Myanmar people traditionally eat from a low table, sitting on a mat on the ground. Dishes are served altogether rather than in different stages. Elders are always served first as a sign of respect. Even when they are absent, there is a custom of putting aside the first portion of rice for them as an act of respect.
Bowls and soup plates are commonly used rather than large flat plates, due to the nature of the food.
Burmese people traditionally eat with their hand; specifically, their right hand, as using the left hand to eat is considered rude. Chopsticks and spoons are used for noodle dishes. Knives and forks are rarely used in Burmese homes, but will always be available for guests in restaurants and hotels.
Drinks are not usually served with meals. Instead a light broth or consommé may be served.
Ingredients
Fish and Meat
Seafood ingredients are common in coastal areas, while inland regions such as Mandalay use more poultry, meat, freshwater fish and shrimp. Beef is not common, as it is considered taboo by Buddhists in Myanmar.
Ngapi
A classic ingredient often used in Burmese cooking is ngapi, which is fermented fish. It is used in salads, main dishes, and condiments, as well as for a soup base.
There are diverse versions of ngapi in different states. In Rahkine state (coastal southwest Myanmar), it is made from marine fish, and uses little or no salt. By contrast, in Ayerwady and Tanintharyi (coastal south Myanmar), it is made with freshwater fish and uses a lot of salt. In Shan state (inland northeastern Myanmar), it is made of fermented beans.
Laphet
Laphet, which is fermented tea leaves, is another ingredient you will undoubtedly encounter. It may be eaten as a snack, or with rice, but is also commonly served as salad, called laphet thote. It tastes bitter and tart, and has a stimulant effect, so it is popular with students and people who need to stay up all night.
Dishes to Try
Mohinga
The national dish in Burma is a breakfast dish called mohinga. It can be found in different variations throughout the country. It is basically a noodle soup with fish broth and sauce, rice noodles, lemongrass, ginger, the pith of banana-tree stalks, and some lentils or vegetables. It is not as heavy or oily as many other Burmese dishes.
Laphet Thote
Laphet thote, or tea-leaf salad, is also one of the most popular dishes in Myanmar. Usually, the salad includes many ingredients, as shown in the diagram below.
Tea Shops
Going to a tea shop is a good opportunity for you to meet locals, for hanging out in a tea shop is an integral part of Burmese life. It is where friends and families meet and catch up. In the tea shops you can try Myanmar tea, which is usually milky, sweet, and hot.
Tea-shop food depends on the individual shop. For example, the Burmese ones usually serve noodles, the Muslim ones serve a south-Asian range including samosas, while the Chinese tea shops serve a range of meaty rice dishes, dim sum, or buns.
Take Care with What You Eat
While exploring Burmese food can be an exciting adventure, do take care with what you eat and drink. To avoid diarrhea, do not drink tap water, but always drink bottled water. We recommend avoiding iced and watered juice.
When you go to restaurants, it is best to go to places with a high turnover, where the food is more likely to be fresh. Also beware of eating too many deep fried fritters, as they are not the healthiest food.
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Rest Assured!
Our tours arrange western-standard restaurants. If you find that Burmese food is not compatible with your palate, don’t worry! There will be other choices such as Thai, Chinese, or western food.
Most 3-star or higher-standard hotels have good restaurants with delicious food. Special dietary requirements such as vegetarian or gluten-free food can usually also be accommodated.
Visit Myanmar with Asia Highlights
We provide tailor-made tours to Myanmar. Tours typically start or end in Yangon or Mandalay and last approximately 9 days; visiting Yangon, Bagan, Mandalay and Inle Lake.
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