Myanmar Street Food: 7 Delicious Dishes To Try

Myanmar street food is one of the best things about this country. There’s so many delicious street vendors dotted around the cities, with local snacks for cheap. There’s more than 135 ethnic groups and borders shared with Bangladesh, China, India, Laos, and Thailand, so Burmese cuisine is wonderfully diverse.

From crispy coconut cakes to flavoursome noodles, you’re sure to find something tempting on every corner of Yangon, Bagan and places in between. Food vendors here are super mobile, popping up on one street for a few hours before moving somewhere else.

But which are the fool-proof dishes to try? Here’s our top picks of the best Myanmar street food eats. Get ready to drool…

Myanmar Street Food: 7 Delicious Dishes To Try, How do these rankings work?

1. E Kya Kway

These ‘Chinese-style churros’ are a popular breakfast food. The golden dough is deep fried in hot oil, but unlike churros, they’re savoury. Dip them into coffee or congee (porridge) for a hearty breakfast. Not great if you’re on a diet, but seriously delicious!

2. Shwe Kyi

This sweet semolina cake is a popular teatime treat in Myanmar, and often comes in a diamond-shape. Shwe Kyi is a must-eat dessert (you’ll also hear people call it Sanwin Makin, depending on whether additional ingredients like walnuts or raisins are in the mix.)

3. Shan Noodles

The Shan-style noodle salad comes from Shan state, the east part of Myanmar which lies next to the borders among China, Thailand, and Laos. It’s a tasty dish of pork of chicken cooked in tomatoes on a bed of rice noodles. It comes with pickled greens on the side.

4. Mohinga

This tangy fish stew is basically the unofficial national dish of Myanmar! It’s a fish broth with lemongrass, turmeric and pepper, which swirl around thin glass noodles. The fish itself is usually catfish, finely ground to a paste. Chickpea fritters, lime, eggs, shallots, and chili are optional.

5. Mont Lin Ma Yar

The name of this tasty Myanmar street food dish translates to “husband and wife snacks”. Dollops of rice batter sizzle in a sort of muffin pan, and toppings such as quail eggs, scallions, or chickpeas are then added to one side, with the other joining it – like a couple! Pick up a couple of these to nibble on as you explore.

6. Dosas

Dosas are crispy, savoury pancakes from the Indian part of Burmese food. Go with a traditional spicy potato filling, or pick toppings of your choice (you can usually choose from peppers, baby corn, spinach, mushroom, peas, cauliflower, or paneer.)

7. Grilled Skewers

You’ll see vendors everywhere you go in Myanmar grilling up various types of meat, vegetables, and fish over hot charcoal and coals. These skewers are some of the most delicious bites to eat here, and are wonderfully cheap. Dig into wraps of mushrooms, tender chicken and whole fish which you can pick off piece by piece.

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