The best Burmese food in Singapore: 6 recommendations from a Burmese person

Inle Myanmar

Credit: Inle Myanmar

1/6

My go-to recommendation for my Singaporean friends. It’s located centrally, and their clean-tasting renditions of Burmese food is friendly to the Singaporean palate. My personal favourite is their Oun No Kauk Swe (coconut noodles), which uses a broth made from curried chicken and coconut milk, and is topped with crispy chickpea fritters for a textural contrast. It’s like laksa, but with the seafood elements replaced by chicken flavour. Another favourite is their Kyay Oh, which is similar to Indonesian bakso except with pork and chicken as the primary ingredients.

Apart from the street food, there’s also family-style meals with an array of dishes served with white rice – I recommend their tender and flavourful caramelised pork. If you try greeting the cashier in Burmese, they might even give you coupons for next time.

They are located at 111 North Bridge Rd, #B1-07A Peninsula Plaza, Singapore 179098, and are open from 11am-9:30pm everyday, except Sundays when they’re open from 10am-9pm.

Located in the West, this is another favourite of mine to share with friends, especially because they’re Halal. Their tofu nway (warm tofu noodles), basically noodles immersed in a soft gooey chickpea tofu sauce, is absolutely authentic – for those who prefer a dash of stronger flavour, do make sure to add the fried chilli provided with the dish. I also recommend their Shan noodles, which are rice noodles tossed in a tangy and spicy tomato-based sauce.

They are located at Blk 328 Clementi Ave 2, #01-220, Singapore 120328, and are open from 9am-8:30pm on Tuesdays to Fridays and 8:30am-8:30pm on weekends.

 

This one is a favourite of the Burmese population here, and for good reason. Their dishes are frighteningly similar to the comforting roadside restaurants in Myanmar, serving up an assortment of fried dishes, finger food, and alcohol. Being a restaurant specialising in Mandalay regional cuisines, I recommend trying their Mandalay Mee Shay, which is dry noodles tossed in a tangy meat sauce (you can see the Chinese influences, with ‘Mee Shay’ being derived from ‘Mi Xian’).

They are located at 111 North Bridge Rd, #B1-01 Peninsula Plaza, Singapore 179098, and are open from 11am-10pm on weekdays, 10am-10pm on Saturdays and 9am-10pm on Sundays.

While not exactly authentic, this café specialises in coffee beans sourced from Ga Naing Yar Village in Ywangan, Shan Hills. I can attest to how their coffee is especially mellow and fruity, while avoiding any acidity or harshness in the taste. I also recommend their Shan Origin Tofu Fries, which are based on chickpea tofu fritters popular all across the country. It has a slight crunch on the outside, while being pillowy on the inside. The grated cheese also offers a layer of earthiness, which complements perfectly with the acidity from the tamarind chilli sauce that accompanies the dish.

They are located at 475 Joo Chiat Road, #01, Singapore 427682, and are open from 8:30am-5:30pm everyday, except Tuesdays.

Mother’s House

Credit: Mother's House

5/6

Northerners don’t fret – there’s a place to get your Burmese fix nearby as well. With huge portions, I recommend their Nangyi Thoke - a noodle salad dish where thick rice noodles are tossed in chilli oil, chickpea powder and curried chicken, and usually topped with crispy chickpea fritters. Do note that different dishes are available on different days of the week – do check their Facebook page for more information.

They’re located at #01-01 Yak Hong Kopitiam, Woodlands Bizhub, Singapore 757516, and are open from 11am-8:30pm everyday, except Fridays when they’re open from 11am-7:30pm.

Burma Social presents an elevated Burmese dining experience within a classy Tanjong Pagar shophouse. They have a unique ‘Six Kingdoms’ concept where their gourmet Burmese food and extensive cocktail bar are infused with influences from Myanmar’s neighbours, like China, India, Laos, Bangladesh and Thailand. Do try their Laphet Thoke (tea leaf salad), a fancier version of the traditional spicy and earthy flavour bomb that’s served practically everywhere in Myanmar. Reflecting Myanmar’s own cultural friendliness towards vegetarians (due to many Buddhists going vegetarian or fasting on special occasions), there are many vegetarian and vegan options here as well.

They’re located at 34 Tras St, Singapore 079026, and are open from 11:30 am-2:30 pm and 6 pm-12 am everyday except Sundays.