Burmese food
As I mentioned in a previous chapter, Burmese food has an interesting fusion of exotic flavors. It is a blend of South Asian, Indian, and Chinese food. In addition, it has internal ethnic influences. It is cooked with a lot of oil, garlic, ginger, onion, turmeric, chili, and cilantro. Some sauces are made with a fish paste. The flavor and smell is very strong. Most of the time, the dishes are served with sticky white rice (I got used to eating rice for lunch and dinner. If I don’t eat it, it feels like my meal is incomplete).
The way Burmese people eat is very similar to the way Chinese people eat. They lay out little bowls with a variety of dishes on the table so that the diner can make their own combinations. Most of the time they give you broth in a separate soup bowl. The most popular dishes are Mohinga and Shan noodles.
Mohinga is the traditional breakfast but people eat it as a snack as well. They love it. In my opinion, it is too heavy for breakfast. It is a fish based soup with noodles, and you can eat it with cilantro and lemon. It has a very strong fish taste and smell. It is one of the least expensive dishes. Even in fancy restaurants, you can find it for only MMK 800 which is approximately USD 0.60 and if you eat it on the streets you can find it for MMK 400 (USD 0.30).
Shan noodles are delicious and also inexpensive. They are prepared with oil, garlic, peanuts, onions, and chicken. A bowl of Shan Noodles could cost you MMK 1,500 (USD 1.15).
The way Burmese people eat is very similar to the way Chinese people eat. They lay out little bowls with a variety of dishes on the table so that the diner can make their own combinations. Most of the time they give you broth in a separate soup bowl. The most popular dishes are Mohinga and Shan noodles.
Mohinga is the traditional breakfast but people eat it as a snack as well. They love it. In my opinion, it is too heavy for breakfast. It is a fish based soup with noodles, and you can eat it with cilantro and lemon. It has a very strong fish taste and smell. It is one of the least expensive dishes. Even in fancy restaurants, you can find it for only MMK 800 which is approximately USD 0.60 and if you eat it on the streets you can find it for MMK 400 (USD 0.30).
Shan noodles are delicious and also inexpensive. They are prepared with oil, garlic, peanuts, onions, and chicken. A bowl of Shan Noodles could cost you MMK 1,500 (USD 1.15).
Tomato Salad is one of my favorite salads. It has tomato, cilantro, onion, garlic, sesame seeds, and of course chili.
Pork is my favorite here. It is very tasteful. Fish is also great, especially near the sea or rivers. I didn’t eat beef yet. It is not very common.
The quality of food and standards of hygiene depend on the place you eat.
One thing that makes me very happy is that I can find passion fruit juice here. However, juices in general are very sweet and I didn’t learn how to ask for “juice without sugar” in Burmese; So I just order water. Burmese people love strong flavors in their dishes, which is why they put a lot of sugar in every beverage.
Vegetables and fruit are very inexpensive. I love that I can find cooked yellow corn in the streets for only MMK 400 (USD 0.30).
I also love their tea. They mix half a cup of black tea and half a cup of condensed milk. It is very sweet but delicious!
Pork is my favorite here. It is very tasteful. Fish is also great, especially near the sea or rivers. I didn’t eat beef yet. It is not very common.
The quality of food and standards of hygiene depend on the place you eat.
One thing that makes me very happy is that I can find passion fruit juice here. However, juices in general are very sweet and I didn’t learn how to ask for “juice without sugar” in Burmese; So I just order water. Burmese people love strong flavors in their dishes, which is why they put a lot of sugar in every beverage.
Vegetables and fruit are very inexpensive. I love that I can find cooked yellow corn in the streets for only MMK 400 (USD 0.30).
I also love their tea. They mix half a cup of black tea and half a cup of condensed milk. It is very sweet but delicious!
I thought Burmese people ate cockroaches! I saw them at the market and in Chinatown. It turns out they were grasshoppers! I really don’t know if they are baked or fried. I don’t even know the price.
Burmese people dress their fruit with a lot of Chili and salt.
Interesting facts
Hot dogs are different here. They are served with lettuce, slices of tomato and cucumber. Not bad at all!
Something interesting that we are not used to in North America is to have the dishes sporadically brought to the table; most of the time all the diners eat at the same time. In Myanmar this is different. When you order a dish at a restaurant the waiters don’t bring everything together. They bring each plate once it is ready. Sometimes one diner finishes their meal while the other is still waiting to eat.
Also, in order to call a waiter’s attention, you send three kisses to him! I couldn’t do it in the beginning it was too funny; but I am starting to get used to it! Imagine you have a baby or a small dog in front of you and you make kiss noises to call his attention, it’s the same noise and it is quite effective!
There are no knives on the table. They usually eat with a fork and a spoon, or with chopsticks or their hands. If you need to cut a piece of chicken, just use a spoon!
Restaurants always provide green tea for free or include it in the price of your meal.
Unfortunately I have been unable to find coconut oil L but I’m not cooking anyway.
I have not seen any desserts as of yet. I miss apple pie a la mode from Lone Star!
Are you hungry yet?
This chapter was for you Omarcito. Thank you for suggesting that I write about food in Myanmar. Sorry I took so long to write it. If anyone has suggestions as to what you would like to learn about Myanmar, feel free to leave a comment and I’ll try to write about it.
Something interesting that we are not used to in North America is to have the dishes sporadically brought to the table; most of the time all the diners eat at the same time. In Myanmar this is different. When you order a dish at a restaurant the waiters don’t bring everything together. They bring each plate once it is ready. Sometimes one diner finishes their meal while the other is still waiting to eat.
Also, in order to call a waiter’s attention, you send three kisses to him! I couldn’t do it in the beginning it was too funny; but I am starting to get used to it! Imagine you have a baby or a small dog in front of you and you make kiss noises to call his attention, it’s the same noise and it is quite effective!
There are no knives on the table. They usually eat with a fork and a spoon, or with chopsticks or their hands. If you need to cut a piece of chicken, just use a spoon!
Restaurants always provide green tea for free or include it in the price of your meal.
Unfortunately I have been unable to find coconut oil L but I’m not cooking anyway.
I have not seen any desserts as of yet. I miss apple pie a la mode from Lone Star!
Are you hungry yet?
This chapter was for you Omarcito. Thank you for suggesting that I write about food in Myanmar. Sorry I took so long to write it. If anyone has suggestions as to what you would like to learn about Myanmar, feel free to leave a comment and I’ll try to write about it.
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