Yangon is Myanmar's largest city and former capital, a humid river port where the golden Shwedagon Pagoda rises above a downtown of colonial buildings, tea shops, markets and Buddhist temples.
Yangon's food reflects Burmese, Indian, Chinese, Shan and Rakhine influences. The national staples are mohinga (rice-noodle fish soup) at breakfast, lahpet thoke (fermented tea-leaf salad), rice with a spread of curries, soups and relishes, and Shan noodles. Downtown's Indian quarter adds biryani and banana-leaf meals, and Chinatown's 19th Street is the barbecue hub. Tea shops serve sweet milk tea and snacks all day.
Must-try dishes
Iconic dishes that define Yangon.
Mohinga
Rice noodles in a lemongrass-and-catfish broth with fritters, boiled egg and fresh herbs; the classic breakfast
Where to try: Street stalls, morning tea shops, Rangoon Tea House
Price: 1,500-3,000 MMK (~$0.35-0.70)
Lahpet thoke (tea-leaf salad)
Fermented tea leaves tossed with fried beans, peanuts, sesame, garlic, tomato and lime
Where to try: Rangoon Tea House, Aung Thukha, Feel Myanmar Food
Price: 3,000-6,000 MMK (~$0.70-1.40)
Shan noodles (Shan khauk swe)
Flat rice noodles in a light tomato-chicken or pork broth or tossed dry, topped with pickled mustard greens
Where to try: Shan noodle shops on the downtown grid and in Tamwe
Price: 2,000-4,000 MMK (~$0.45-0.95)
Burmese curry set (hin)
Rice with a pork, chicken or fish curry plus soup, fresh vegetables, ngapi relish and side dishes
Where to try: Feel Myanmar Food, Padonmar, Aung Thukha
Price: 6,000-15,000 MMK (~$1.40-3.50)
Nan gyi thoke
Thick round rice noodles in a chicken-peanut curry sauce, eaten at room temperature
Where to try: Burmese noodle shops and tea shops
Price: 2,500-4,500 MMK (~$0.60-1.05)
Biryani (danbauk)
Spiced rice with chicken or mutton, served in the downtown Indian-Muslim quarter
Where to try: Seik Kan Tha Street eateries and Titu's
Price: 4,000-9,000 MMK (~$0.95-2.10)
BBQ skewers on 19th Street
Grilled meats, seafood and vegetables sold by the stick and cooked at the table
Where to try: 19th Street, Latha Township
Price: 500-2,000 MMK per skewer (~$0.12-0.45)
Top restaurants
Handpicked picks for the best dining experiences.
Restaurants by cuisine
Browse picks grouped by cuisine type.
Burmese
Cafe
International
Italian
Japanese
Myanmar Buffet And Cultural Show
Western
Street food
Local flavours at affordable prices.
Samosa and tea shop snacks
Fried samosas, baya kyaw (lentil fritters) and sweet pastries with milk tea
Find it at: Tea shops across downtown
Mont lin maya
Small rice-and-quail-egg 'couple' snacks cooked on charcoal pans
Find it at: Street carts, mornings
Grilled corn and fruit
Charcoal-grilled corn and seasonal fruit sold in the evenings
Find it at: Pavement carts near markets
Bein mont
Rice pancakes with coconut, sesame and sweet fillings
Find it at: Market stalls
Food markets
Where locals shop and graze.
Pazundaung Market
Wet market and dried-goods stalls with local snacks
Hours: Daily, about 06:00-17:00
Theingyi Zay Market
Textiles, spices and tea leaves with small food stalls
Hours: Daily, about 07:00-17:00
19th Street (Chinatown BBQ)
Evening street of grills, tables and beer stations
Hours: Daily, about 17:00-23:00
Dining etiquette & tips
Navigate the local food scene confidently.
Lunch is usually 11:30-14:00 and dinner 18:00-21:00; tea shops serve from dawn.
Use hand-sanitiser and eat at busy stalls; drink bottled or boiled water only.
Burmese meals are shared: everyone takes rice and chooses from curries, soup and relishes; refills of soup and sides are often free.
Eat with a spoon and fork (fork in the left hand); noodles are eaten with chopsticks and a spoon.
Tipping is optional; round up or leave about 5-10% in sit-down restaurants, and check whether service charge is already added.
- Vegetarian
- Widely available: tea-leaf salad (ask without dried shrimp), vegetable curries, tofu dishes and Indian vegetarian restaurants. Fish sauce and shrimp paste are common, so ask.
- Vegan
- Possible at Indian and Buddhist vegetarian restaurants; confirm no fish paste or egg.
- Gluten free
- Rice-based dishes dominate; soy sauce and some noodles contain gluten, so ask carefully.
- Halal
- Widely available in the Indian-Muslim quarter around Seik Kan Tha Street and Anawrahta Road, with halal biryani and curries.
- Kosher
- No kosher restaurants; a vegetarian diet is the safest option.
- Allergies
- Peanuts, shrimp paste and fish sauce are common. Carry a translated allergy card in Burmese.
Food budget guide
What to expect at different price points.
| Level | Price | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | 2,000-8,000 MMK per meal (~$0.45-1.85) | Street noodles, tea shops and local rice-and-curry shops |
| Mid-range | 10,000-25,000 MMK per meal (~$2.30-5.80) | Sit-down Burmese and international restaurants |
| Upscale | 40,000+ MMK per meal (~$9+) | Fine dining at Le Planteur, hotel restaurants and rooftop bars |