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Burma Restaurant
Category: Restaurants Burmese Burmese [Edit]
740 6th St NW(between N G Pl & N H St)
Washington, DC 20001
Neighborhood: Chinatown
(202) 638-1280
- Nearest Transit:
-
Gallery Place Chinatown Metro Station (Green, Red, Yellow)
Judiciary Square Metro Station (Red)
Archives Metro Station (Green, Yellow)
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11 am - 10 pm
Sat-Sun 5:30 pm - 10 pm
- Parking:
- Street
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
About This Business:
At Julia's Empanadas, we are proud to serve hand-made, fresh baked empanadas just like we'd prepare for our family. We carefully choose the freshest… read more »
99 reviews for Burma Restaurant
Review Highlights
"get the Green Tea Leaf Salad."
(in 10 reviews)
"We tried the golden fingers on the suggestion of other..."
(in 5 reviews)
"...a great texture, and the sour mustard plant with ground..."
(in 7 reviews)
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99 reviews in English
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Review from Tori G.
Washington, DC
We started off with the golden fried prawns. The prawns had a mushy buttery texture and the batter was crispy. Pretty good noodle dishes and the pork and mango dish in particular is tasty. The beef kabob doesn't come on an actual kabob which my uncle wasn't too happy about.
The atmosphere is pretty casual with yellow walls and carpet. The restaurant is located on the second story of a building with a few restaurants.
Recommended for a casual date night or dinner with friends! -
Review from Jordan F.
Raleigh, NC
11/26/2011
I gave this place 2 stars instead of 1 for one reason: The Green Tea Leaf Salad. It's a delicious, unique dish that you need to order if you go here.
The mango pork was also fairly good. Everything else we had (there were 4 of us) was awful. The Tofu and tomato curry was possibly the blandest dish I've ever had. The spare ribs were gross and the noodles were cold. Only come for the salad -
Review from Edward C.
Washington, DC
9/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
Washington, D.C. - I've noticed that it's the horrible experiences that I tend to write about with the exception of the few, but it's horrible experiences that make me compelled to write and inform (perhaps "warn" is the better term) folks about what they may be walking into. Burma restaurant is no exception.
I never actually got around to trying the food. The circumstances were made such that it just seemed impossible to do. Upon walking up the stairway we noticed the grated bars on the window which is a good indication that you're walking into a hole in the wall. Literally. The restaurant smelled like cigarettes or perhaps old mold that's set in. It smelled like a Motel 6 off of highway 50 in the middle of Nevada (and yes, I have been in one and they don't smell good). The place looked clean, though. We took a seat, had some tea and ordered our food. Red beef curry and some noodles. Less than five minutes later the food was out. A bit shocking as we'd thought it took longer to cook food. Instead of the beef curry we got fish. We alerted the waitress and she quickly worked to rectify the mistake. I dug into the noodles and made it to the bottom when my fork hit a strange surface. Strange because the plate was porcelain. I kept digging as I put noodles onto my plate and noticed a plastic lid to a container at the bottom.
After the wrong food came out and the lid at the bottom of our dish we alerted someone with authority and let him know. He apologized and took the plate back. The girlfriend and I were considering waiting but gave each other the "Hell no" look and decided it was time to leave. We went next door to a Chinese restaurant that had home made noodles. We checked the bottom of the plate of our noodles and dumplings to make sure there were no lids or other Easter Eggs and had a merry dinner.
The least I can say about Burma Restaurant is... hmmm..... the tea was good. Not that hot, but the green teas was tasty. One star for the tea.
Cheers! -
Review from Jacklyn L.
Tampa, FL
1/23/2012
No Good! The layout of the restaurant felt strange to me. Visually the color on the walls upset me.
The food tasted a bit bland. The meal started out good with the spring roll, then took a step down with what looked and tasted like chicken noodle soup. My entree was most disappointing - it was an incredibly bland noodle dish.
I probably would have given this a two star, but half way through the meal the room smelled horrible...almost like urine.
My friends and I couldn't leave fast enough. :-( -
Review from Chrystina Z.
Washington, DC
9/21/2011
Don't get drawn in by the neon sign. Yes it's pretty from the street, but the moment you ascend the stairs you're greeted by bars on a windowed door. Inside the yellowed walls are adorned with old pictures, grandma style carpeting runs wall to wall, and the glass table tops feel 1960s. The clientele is over 50, and seem like regulars. The servers are stoic, don't smile, and don't make small talk. Eating here felt like eating in a foreign country, but one of the unfriendly ones.
The food is bland, which is why I suspect the older people like it. We ordered the spare ribs appetizer (pink, tough, and meant for giants) and spring rolls (meh). For the main meal we did the mandalay nanjee (again very bland and the noodles were too soft) and kokang chicken (little spicier). Overall I can unequivocally say that I do not like Burmese food based on this experience. -
Review from Judy c.
White Plains, NY
12/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
Mediocre. Food was ok.
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Review from Richy R.
Honolulu, HI
DC...I don't know what it is but I have been handing out 3 stars left and right and unfortunately you can add Burma Restaurant to that list. Not that a 3 star is bad, but 3 is not enough to ensure that I come back when there are so many other options that I have not tried.
Let me preface this just a bit. I lived in the SF Bay Area for several years and they have a lot of Burmese restaurants that are really, REALLY good. So I was excited to see that there was one in DC. Admittedly, I came into Burma Restaurant with the mindset of "Let's see who is better" And I really hate when people do the, "I know this food because im from ____ " type attitude. I never wanted to be that person. Food can stand alone regardless of the region you're in if its good. (Ok, Ok, I AM like that with Mexican food. But, honestly, Californians know Mexican food. So shoot me.) I really thought it was going to be a little competitive. Since me and my SF buddies stalked all things Burmese when I was in the city, I kinda went in as more of a friendly competitive attitude. Unfortunately, SF won hands down. DC was out in the first round. Let me explain why...
First, the smell. There is a distinct smell when you walk in. It's a little funky and not in a good way. Not a good sign. I did a smell test and checked to see if it permeated my clothes after I left the building. I was good.
Next bad omen, the menu selection was limited. Well, limited compared to what I would find in SF. Where was the Samusas? Soups? Pea shoots? Naked eggplant? Curries? Roti? A lot was missing from what I was used and the vegetarian selection, although greatly appreciated was uninspired. Everything was sautéed something or another. But, they had my favorite - Tea Leaf Salad. If you EVER go to a Burmese Restaurant you MUST order this. This is one of the defining creations of Burmese cuisine. I ended up ordering the Tea Leaf Salad minus the ground shrimp ($9.xx) and the Sauteed Eggplant ($9.xx). All entrees came with rice which I liked. Usually, you have to order it separately.
The food. The Tea Leaf Salad had all the flavors that I was expecting, the garlic, lemon, pea powder, fermented tea leafs. But there was something serious lacking... there was a lack of freshness. I read that at this place the tea leafs are marinated in a garlic oil which might be the problem. Also, maybe a little more fresh lemon (?). Im convinced that it is made before hand and it is sitting there in a big vat. But, who knows. If you have never had tea leaf salad I think you would still enjoy this dish and I would recommend it. If you had fresh tea leaf salad I think you might draw the same conclusion as me. There was something lacking...But, a plus for a huge serving. The places in SF would give you enough for maybe 2 people and you still wouldn't feel content. I can safely say that at Burma Restaurant THREE people could split this and feel satiated.
The eggplant. The look of it was not so great. After the server left I even let out an accidental verbal "Uh-oh." It was green and mushy. But, I was pleasantly surprised with the flavor. There was a prominent ginger flavor, and im a fan of ginger, so I give it a thumbs up. If you are not a fan of ginger you should skip this dish. And, again, eaten alongside the rice the serving was big. After a salad or appetizer, Two people will be stuffed, Three will be more than content.
Service was good. The young lady, who I thought looked liked a mixed asian version of Winnie Cooper, always made sure my water was filled. Also, the food came out fairly quick and the process from check to leaving was quick.
If you have never had Burmese food or need that fix, I would recommend this place. Actually, there was a group of tourists lead by a Burmese couple who talked to the staff in the native language that came in after I was seated so that has to give some cred to this place. Maybe SF has it wrong...? Naaaaah!
Random observation - If my ghetto guide is accurate (yes, I still proudly carry my ghetto pass on me) that is bullet hole which originated from the outside in the window next to me. Now how in the heck did that happen!? (See pic) -
Review from Danesh I.
5/24/2011
One of my fondest memories growing up is of when my grandmother, who was born in Burma, would make khow suey. This was a very big deal, much like Thanksgiving dinner. Instead of turkey with an assortment of side dishes, we looked forward to egg noddles in a coconut curry soup with a variety of condiments on the side (fresh ground red chili pepper flakes, fried onions, or freshly chopped ginger to name a few).
I was really excited to try Burma since I had a craving for khow suey and didn't feel like making a special request to either my grandmother or my mom (who inherited the recipe and skills) and hopping a Chinatown bus up to Flushing, NY.
I never experienced Burmese food at a restaurant, and wanted to see what the cuisine had to offer outside of the one dish I knew and loved. The place is pretty much on par with the rest of the various ethnic Asian places in Chinatown: not exactly the cleanest establishment, decent service, and a wide variety of choices on the menu.
I wasn't blown away by Burma's menu and felt it resembled a pretty generic "Asian" menu more than a Burmese menu. Nothing really screamed "authentic," but then again very few places in DC do. The fault doesn't lie with Burma's menu offerings, because they did have the one dish I wanted to try, they get two-stars simply because the food we got was "meh" at best.
The khow suey was pretty watered down, bland, and the noodles were closer to spaghetti than the wide egg noodles I was used to. This place isn't one I would go to if I'm looking for authentic Burmese cuisine, and it really doesn't stand out against some of the other places in Chinatown if I'm looking for a generally "Asian" meal. Quintessential "meh" experience. -
Review from Venu N.
4/21/2011
Hey, maybe if I mention "dog food" in my review like Laura T and Vonetta Y, I can make it show up on the Yelp "review highlights" section. I love Yelp, but that has to be the least useful feature of the site ever. I hope every other reviewer mentions "dog food" from here on out when writing about Burma Restaurant. Context doesn't matter.
The food isn't "dog food". And no, I'm not going to say it's worse than that. I really have no comparison because I have never eaten "dog food", but I would suspect that Burma Restaurant's cuisine is substantially more appealing. But maybe I'm not giving "dog food" a chance.
Okay, enough with that. I respect that these people are running a niche business, but it is possible I am not enamored by Burmese cuisine. In any event, this place wasn't as awful as my well respected friends have made it out to be, but it certainly didn't make me think I should give it a second chance either. Maybe I should have had the green tea salad. Or maybe I should have just avoided eating ethnic food of any sort in Gallery Place. I should know better by now.
I started out with some deep fried spring rolls. I don't recall the menu mentioning that the spring rolls would be fried. Not a problem. They were the best part of the meal. For an entree, I went with sour mustard leaf with pork. I was slightly worried that the flavors would clash. It wasn't really a problem, however, because the dish lacked any real flavor. Again, it wasn't offensive, but that was pretty mediocre for ten dollars.
Let's put it this way: when the most interesting part of an evening dinner is the silent running conversation you would have with the incredibly annoying girls behind you (the parts that I accidentally did mention to Mike S will NOT leave that dinner table), then you know that you haven't won the day. -
Review from Anita L.
Was looking for something to eat in DC Chinatown, and saw this restaurant. BURMESE FOOD? Hmm.. I wonder how that taste like...
Restaurant is located on the 2nd Floor. Definitely not handicap friendly because you have to make your way up this tiny staircase. Walked into a small restaurant with annoying yellow walls. I almost walked out because the entire place was empty. But thought.. "Hey.. Why not..." But definitely felt a little better after 2-3 parties walked in after us.
Ordered the following:
- GREEN TEA LEAF SALAD: This dish was highly recommended by a lot of yelpers. I found it to be a little on the salty side. I had to eat it with the bowl of white rice they gave us. (3 stars)
- MALAYSIAN "NEEJE" - Looked like Pad Thai when it was served. Not much flavor to it. Bleh.. not too crazy about it. (2 stars)
BURMESE ICED COFFEE - Yes... Strong Iced Coffee! Yum! (4 stars)
Overall, it was an okay experience. Since I never had Burmese Food before, the entire review is solely based on how my tastebuds liked their food/drinks. But I am definitely determined to find more Burmese restaurants and try more dishes after this visit. -
Review from Matt O.
Washington, DC
4/30/2011
Interesting place; I love the idea of Burmese food, but I was expecting more complex flavors than most of what Burma offers. The noodle dishes, by and large, are bland. Portions are enormous, but that just makes the food seem more flavorless.
The smaller dishes tend to be better. The golden fingers are good, as are the fish cake balls. I really like the spare ribs; honey and pork is always a great combination.
Burma's an ok spot, not mind-blowing. A little more spice would have been welcomed. -
Review from Jeannie O.
Washington, DC
4/7/2011
Arriving a few minutes before my friend for an early Sunday dinner, I immediately noticed the smell as you walk upstairs (that's above Kanlaya, on 6th St). Not really bad although a little dank & musty. Almost exactly like the smell in the stairwell as you walk upstairs to the ladies' room at Cafe La Ruche in G-town. I wonder if these two fine dining establishments are of the same era? I found much in common, actually. Again, neither good nor bad. But kinda familiar.
I was a little concerned b/c I had read some not-so-favorable yelp reviews. Janet E's tummy ache was at the back of my mind as I perused the menu for something simple to order. Unfortunately the wine list (if you can call it that, a plastic covered triangle of cardboard) was dirty. And there was a smudge on the table. Let's get the negatives out of the way here, the bathroom wasn't clean-I mean the sink area at least & I didn't want to look any further (again, remembering Janet's stomach ache). At the same time, the place was filling up & I was trying to be positive since my friend raved.
Said friend who's the reason why we were here arrived & by that time I had decided on the Tamarind fish (after overhearing someone at the next table who looked expert at Burmese food say she was thinking of going for it). But I decided against it after our waitress told us it's salmon. I wanted a white fish. After taking another quick read of the menu, I decided on the pickled mustard greens w/chicken. My friend chose something w/noodles that he often gets. One glass of pinot grigio & a Burmese Iced Tea & we were happily looking out the window at bustling tourists & Caps fans on the way to the Verizon Center.
The decor (& smell) is maybe 1970s. Carpet certainly needs redoing. Things need a good dusting for sure. But there's a really cool map (my friend the cartographer showed it to me after we had finished our meal) on the wall in the hallway. I straightened it out, couldn't leave it hanging crooked . Fun map!
After more studying of other patrons, many of whom looked like college age tourists & internationals, our food arrived. My dish was really tasty, tart. Liked the greens-collards, I believe. The chicken (I didn't look to closely on purpose) was chewy.All in all, it was a tasty dish. My friend liked the flavor of his noodles but did remark that they weren't hot enough...
It's cheap, that's good b/c that's what I was expecting. My food was tasty, but that's not enough to inspire a 2nd visit from me. -
Review from Sunny D.
Torrance, CA
4/18/2011
Nice change of pace from Thai/Chinese food. If you have never had Burmese food before, this is probably a standard version of it. I have had the tea leaf salad elsewhere, and it had more fried soybeans in it (that adds the crunch). The tamarind fish was good. The costs were moderate (I would rate it at $ instead of $$). The portions were "just right." We had 4 people, ordered 4 dishes and all were gone. Total with tip was $45.
I would suggest you try it if you're in the Chinatown area, but it didn't knock my socks off.
Also, one person below posted that its not ADA because it has stairs, but that is incorrect. There is an elevator to get to the second floor, however, it is a tiny place, so may be difficult for those who are in wheelchairs to maneuver around. Also, it was quite full when we went there for lunch, so it seems to be pretty popular with the locals. -
Review from Ben B.
2/7/2011
I'm giving this a four because it deserves a 3.5. It's definitely not the greatest, but it's pretty good! The dishes are different from the standard "Chinese" fair you get in Chinatown, and I give them props for that.
We tried the golden fingers on the suggestion of other yelpers and definitely were glad we did so. It essentially just tastes like tempura squash, and you can't go wrong with that. Plus, the sauce that came with it was bananas. (Not actually bananas, but extremely good)
I got a squid dish which was not super-exciting, but tasty, especially with some chili paste added. Everyone enjoyed their meal, so this is a 3.5 in my book. -
Review from Mitch S.
Frederick, MD
2/20/2011
Update from my fall visit during a Burma Round Table meeting.
I am fortunate enough to live in an area with a large Chin population of Burmese.As a result have had plenty of Burmese food as a base line to compare to. So for this outing, I ordered the chicken curry with potatoes. I found the flavor to be a quite spicy the way it should be. The portion sizes were quite large as well for the price.
The only thing I did not care for and maybe it is traditional style, or just me be picky was I tend to like to have met off the bone on this type of dish. While, I found the quality and quantity of the food to be quite well, my review is three stars simply for the fact that I have had home made versions of the same meal that had richer flavor where as this was overwhelmed with the heat to a point there was no flavor.
Don't get me wrong, I love hot and traditional food to a fault, there comes a point where too much of one things causes the other elements of the dish to be lost. I will however note that the staff is great, lively and friendly. Still, I am more than willing to give Burma Restaurant another try, I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss it, only next time I hope for perfection. -
Review from Pam S.
7/30/2010 1 Check-in Here
If you come here, I recommend serving family style ... the dishes are obviously presented as such, so don't cheat yourself out of trying something new. Good portion sizes, service is okay, and definitely not a large booze list.
That said, I'm a fan because they're openly vegan friendly (esp. if you get the bald server ... very nice guy!), I can tell they use siriacha hot sauce, and there's one noodle dish I'm crazy about - I think it's something along the lines of "tofu noodles" ... you get a giant pile of deliciously flavored rice noodles, but I suggest ordering something else for the table to have it with ... mixing it with vegetables just makes it more awesome! -
Review from Peter T.
Washington, DC
7/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
The best Burmese restaurant in town! OK, not much competition there. But, this is a fine place and well worth a visit. My favorite dish is the tamarind fish - tangy, without being overly spicy. Very satisfying. Also have good soups. Burmese food is like Asian comfort food. Don't be afraid...try something different!
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Review from Arthur H.
Washington, DC
8/22/2010
Burma restaurant is just what its name suggests - a restaurant featuring Burmese food. That, in and of itself, makes for an interesting meal.
And, although I am not expert in Burmese food, the meals I have had here have all been tasty, and often been unique.
Take last night's dinner, for example. We started by splitting the papaya salad - their version is made with papaya and cabbage, and has a nutty, vinegar taste that grows on you. (On previous occasions, we have had the carrot ginger salad, which my be a better choice.) The dried tofu and vegetables is a good simple dish, the vegetables being cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli and carrots. And the sour mustard greens with chicken provided a unique taste, at least to me. The servings are large, come with excellent rice and hot sauce on the side, and the entire meal was $33.
As to the decor of this second floor restaurant, there isn't any, except for the Burmese art on the walls. Perhaps this is the way it is in Rangoon (or is it Yangon?).
So, if you are interested in a simple, unusual, but tasty meal, and don't need fancy surroundings, this just might be the place for you. -
Review from Sean S.
Oakland, CA
5/31/2007 ROTD 8/28/2007
Chinese, no.
Seafood, o please no.
Cubano, no, no, no.
What about Thai? I ask in a clingy, begging tone.
O let's go to Burma, which for white folk is about the same.
You know I could have said Pilipino or Vietnamese too and you know we still would have ended up here not in the way that if I said Italian we'd end up at a German Kraut haus but you know what I'm saying.
So off we go to Burma. Off and up the stairs in Chinatown, which since the last time I was here 7 years ago has turned into Times Square South.
We walk up the stairs for Burma as its on the 2nd floor of a building that used to be a YMCA. Don't laugh and I know there is a joke in there somewhere, I know but don't because the owner lady who greets you is a bag full of loveliness from the word go.
We sit in a very Yellow Room and are handed our menus. They don't do bottles of wine, they do half carafes. Mmm, not thrilled with this but let's go with it anyway because they do have some very nice California reds to play with.
The menu is very pleasing to the vegetarian in the group, which mind you, would be me, hence the intention to stay away from the Seafood & Cuban.
Our waiter a Burmese if by way of Guatamala through Mexico then under a chain link fence in Texas, was very quiet with us, just took the orders, served it, no engagement but I guess that's fine, I wanted food afterall not a tongue bath.
The food itself was terrific. The potato snaps or something or other were tasty and not at all oily like other Burmese samosas. I ordered the Mushroom Tofu which might as well have been called the Cauliflower Tofu because there were so many Vegetables accompanying the Tofu and only a little hint of soy sauce. This is not a complaint, quite the contrary, I ate every single bite.
My compatriots had some chicken and a mango pork that they raved and raved about long after it was finished.
So, me, I'd recommend it and come back again in the future. -
Review from Nick R.
1/23/2008
I have no real experience with Burmese food other than this place. My girlfriend loves it because it reminds her of her native Filipino cuisine. The food is a little bland and unrefined, and the place is certainly a hole in the wall.
That being said, there are certainly some standouts on the menu. If you don't get the Green Tea Salad, don't bother coming. It is garlic infused with some peanuts on top. The leaves are like cooked spinach in consistency. It is so good, I nearly had to lick the plate when I was done. I love ordering this dish takeout so I don't have to be ashamed to lick my plate after eating it!
Their other dishes are fresh and light and generally spicy and a little sour which is a welcome change from all the heavy Chinese food, and heavily flavored thai food in the area. I would call it a hole in the wall, though i would not call it dirty. -
Review from Sevelyn C.
Washington, DC
1/1/2011
We return to this place over and over. It is nondescript to say the least and might be off-putting to some given its pedestrian decor and location (upstairs in what would otherwise house a copy business or insurance agency, that's about how hip it is). But the food is hot and dependable: my favorites are mildly seasoned noodle dishes with vegetables. We like it and they serve good, cold beer.
But I don't think you'll find Padma and Tom here or anyone else associated with Top Chef. -
Review from Brendan J.
Washington, DC
Updated - 7/14/2008
Based solely on the ginger salad and the green tea leaf salad, this place would be a solid 4. Including the other places, probably a solid 3 plus change.
If you've had straight up maccha before (the Japanese thick green tea made from ground up tea leaves), you know that janx is really bitter. Based on that I wasn't really sure what to expect from eating the leaves, but this salad is great. Maybe it is the pickling process. Smokey, a little bit spicy, savory, crunchy from the mung beans, and delicious.
The ginger salad is still delicious and refreshing. When we ordered these two salads for lunch, they gave us of rice. The rice went surprisingly well with the green tea salad.
Everything else I've tried on the menu has been pretty forgettable. Not so these two salads.Listed in: PAN ASIAN CUISINE!, Quick DC Lunch
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/2/2008
I never would have known about this place if I hadn't read about it first. It is upstairs from… Read more »
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Review from Tom D.
Washington, DC
4/18/2007
3.5 stars
Burma has been on the list of places to try for quite a while -- and the name has come up repeatedly talking to people about bargain ethnic places in the area.
It is a hole in the wall -- but an elegant one at that! The food is very nicely prepared -- and it is super clean -- in a way, I might prefer a hole in the wall to be a little bit rough around the edges with homey food. This spot really didn't feel very DCish either -- and that isn't a bad thing.
The food was wonderful. I had the noodle dish with shrimp -- which was good. Tea leaf salad was interesting -- others have raved about it but I found it to be a great dish for 3-4 people to share -- I would not want to eat it all myself. The real winner was the chicken with mustard greens -- outstanding! Will return......Listed in: Favorite Asian Food
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Review from Jisha A.
Chicago, IL
9/19/2010 1 Check-in Here
Its a small place with a limited menu. Would stick to their beef curry the next around, the beef was juicy and tender and the curry spices were just perfect. Was n't too impressed by the shrimp curry. Thought the beef kebeb was a bit too chewy.
Would have loved to see more Burmese dishes : like the sambosa soup :) -
Review from Najeema W.
Washington, DC
4/22/2010
I'll be brief because that's all I have time for. Basically, the food was bland and the service was slow. Not exactly what I needed on my 45 min lunch break.
I've been here before with a large group, probably ordered the same thing because I'm terrified of ordering something that I won't be able to eat...instead I should have gotten the Tea Leaf Salad everyone raves about. Maybe I should have gone downstairs to the Thai restaurant.
It took at least 40 mins to get the Burma tea that I ordered and the wait for the food, simple food (noodles) was just too long.
Maybe that's just the culture of this restaurant. But in the future, I'll know that Burma is not the place to go if I don't have a lot of time or if I want my food to be taste.
Zagat rated or not, I probably won't be visiting again. -
Review from Xi W.
Washington, DC
7/10/2007
**2.5 stars**
The space was small and simple, but homey and inviting with its yellow walls and array of live plants lined along the big window looking down on the street. I'm all for restaurants that support artists by displaying their work, but the unreasonably high prices for the amateurish photographs on the walls seemed a bit distasteful.
The waiters were courteous and provided good service, albeit quiet and reserved. It was my first experience with Burmese food, so with the waiter's recommendation, I ordered Mandalay Nanjee (rice noodles with chicken, garlic, lemon juice, seasonings). Though the dish was not bad, it didn't have the same flavor punch of Thai noodles I was expecting or the freshness of Chinese dishes. Worst of all, it was drenched in oil, which made it hard for me to eat without feeling greasy.
Also, they didn't have a lunch menu, so I ended up paying and getting more than I wanted. Don't think I'll be returning anytime soon unless someone familiar with Burmese cuisine is very ardent about recommending a great dish to me. -
Review from Kristina D.
Los Angeles, CA
11/8/2009
Wikipedia told me that Burmese food has influences from its neighbors in China, India, Thailand, Laos, and Bangladesh. Sounds like a winning combo? Wrong.
I hate to do this to a local restaurant, especially one trying to provide a non-mainstream type of cuisine. But man, all of the food was just bland and greasy.
-The Golden Fingers (fried squash) had no flavor. In my mind, it's pretty hard to mess up anything deep fried. However, as another reviewer pointed out, they were fishy smelling and just dripping in oil. They gave us a whole plate full and I didn't want more than one.
-Sauteed Squid- My boyfriend got this per the recommendation of our waitress. He said it wasn't bad but it wasn't good either.
- See-jay Kauswe- Another dish recommended to us by our waitress. It basically was like spaghetti with some small pieces of dried out chicken. While it was supposed to be tossed in a garlic sauce and be topped with onions and scallions, I didn't taste any of it.
Unfortunately service didn't fare much better. We didn't order much later than the couple next to us and they were paying their bill by the time we got our entree. The table of 6 on the other side of us came in much later than us and got their entrees at the same time.
I think I'll be sticking with the cuisines of Burma's neighbors.Listed in: Craving Asian, Can You Hear Me Now?
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Review from Chris A.
Washington, DC
12/16/2007
Burma is an oppressive place, where a military junta ruthlessly rules over a population that has been beaten into submission. If this place is representative of the cuisine, it has clearly been a victim of the oppression.
You walk in and kinda feel like you're in a cell of some sort: the walls and ceilings are all this weird yellow and a wall of mirrors just makes you feel like you're trapped in it. It's kinda dark, as the only lights on in the place are the $10 torch lamp that is straight out of the college dorm room and a string of incandescents in the cheapest sockets that Home Depot carries. There are few dolls and maps hung on the walls, but the decor is depressing and boring. One of the dolls is hung by its neck on a string that looks like a noose, reminding you once again of Suu Kyi's fruitless struggle. The weirdest thing was how quiet it was when we walked in. It was a Sunday around 6:30, and only three tables were occupied, but there was no music and conversation was very muted. It kinda felt like you were in the worst library ever.
The menu doesn't pick up your spirits much, either. It looks like it was printed using AppleWorks circa 1995, or maybe Broderbund's Print Shop. The average price is about $11 for a meal except the house specialties which shoot up to $30.
The food was as boring as the decor. I had the beef curry, which kinda tasted like a bad beef stew. The meat was tough and tasteless. The Mrs. went with the chicken curry, which was all dark meat and also dry. Only one person at the table had anything decent, and it also suffered from being poorly sauced.
I won't be back, and if you find yourself making the trek over and thinking about going in, you'll be much happier eating downstairs at Kanlaya Thai, even if it costs you a few more bucks. -
Review from Lacy K.
Washington, DC
6/17/2008
The place was empty except for our table - so that made it a bit awkward. And the thrift-store-esque decor made it feel like a dimly-lit old school diner, or your grandma's circa 1920 kitchen. But that didn't deter us from indulging!
The food was yummy and cheap. But then again, we stuck to suggestions from other reviews, so I imagine it could be very hit-or-miss if you randomly choose. I echo a fellow yelper's love of the ginger salad.
It definitely took a while to serve (even though we were the only people in the place), so make sure you have lots of time. Overall, a good value, though lacking atmosphere.Listed in: ABC... Restaurants in DC
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Review from Joan K.
Washington, DC
3/18/2009
I like whole in the wall places. Personally I think it makes the food more authentic. However if you're one of those people who has to have great decor and someone catering to your every desire--- this place isn't for you.
I've been to Thailand and the area where there ton of Burmese. I got to say, the food here is authentic. I had a delicious chicken and potato curry and a noodle meat dish. All the dishes had a nice spice, which wasn't overpowering.
Now finally eating here took a while. I had been several times before (on week nights) and the place was closing,etc.
Don't let the emptiness intimidate you. Walk in. Have a seat. And if the place is empty, act like the place was cleared just for you--- Yes, I am that important. :) -
Review from Mikkela T.
7/17/2008
At least it was real chicken. Three chicken thighs and three squares of potatoes swimming in a quart of curry and red oil -- that was my chicken curry. I can't remember the last time I had to pick the meat off of the bones myself. But the taste was not special, not horrible. I also ordered the "Gold Fingers" appetizer which was advertised as "calabash (squash) lightly battered and deep fried to crispy perfection. Served with tamarind sauce." They were fishy smelling and the light gauze-like batter was a veil of oily chewiness. The tamarind sauce was spicy and pretty with some cilantro leaves floating around like lily pads.
This place is upstairs and it could be fun but I'm not sure I'll bother to go back to find out. -
Review from Michael H.
Washington, DC
9/28/2008
I really want to like Burma. It has one of the best dishes I've ever eaten - the ginger salad. I love it. It's fresh and light and yummy.*
But the atmosphere... it sucks the life out of the room. The service is terrible. The tablecloths are depressing. I just feel a little sadder for humanity when I leave.
But the ginger salad!* Oh, it's fantastic, and light, and tasty. Yet I end up going here less than once a year, because the place just depresses me.
Perhaps some day I can get my favorite dish to go. I'm going to look into that.
*must like ginger -
Review from Liam D.
Washington, DC
5/31/2009
Nothing much new to add here that hasn't been said alread:
Burma Restaurant has a horrendous decor and wastes no money on frills whatsoever. That might be one of the reasons you get away with eating there for under $9. The upstairs is, as mentioned, blindingly bright yellow that really looks and feels weird for some reason, perhaps because of the gray carpets that cover the floors.
They have really appetizing looking salads, soups, and noodle dishes. I can't remember what I had, but I want to say it was #31 - whatever the first noodle dish on the noodle part of the menu is. It was not too heavy or greasy and and frankly, I really like that they use a lot of lemon/citrus/ginger in their dishes. Perhaps that's just Burmese cuisine for you, but nonetheless I liked it better than my usual from downstairs at more crowded, more expensive (albeit more comfortable) Kanlaya downstairs.
With respect to the service, it's nothing fantastic but I would like to point out that "no frills" restaurants like Pho 75 where there is literally zero ambiance and you can't even call what your waiters perform a "service" get 5 stars frequently.
When it comes to Burma, if you go with loaded expectations of stellar service, a nice decor, and good food, you'll only likely get 1/3 of what you expect, but if you see it for what it is: decent Burmese food at a decent price, you should be set. -
Review from Katie H.
Washington, DC
6/24/2009
Defiantly untrendy. The battleship-gray stairwell, awkward floorlamps and ubiquitous yellow paint are an assault on the senses, while the uncovered refrigerator in the hallway is a bold decorative choice. We showed up within an hour of closing time and the service was prompt and efficient, bordering on hostile. I think I'm in love.
The food is delicious and cheap. I hadn't had Burmese before and was not disappointed: same basic ingredients as other Asian cuisines, but prepared quite differently. We really liked the green tea leaf salad, sour mustard greens with shrimp, and a tasty noodle dish with chicken. An unforgettable dining experience in more ways than one. -
Review from phong-lan h.
New York, NY
12/4/2008
Washingtonians you are lucky to have Burma Restaurant (3.5 stars)
Two years ago T a local foodie said you meet her here and we became a party of 10 ppl. Our table looked like the Last Supper and we all left happy and satisfied. --good fish dish.
Present day... BFF and I needed a quick, inexpensive, easy dinner & Burma came to the rescue. We were beyond hungry and after some Yelpers recommendations we ordered:
Green Tea Leaf Salad $9.95
Excellent taste, sour, salty, sweet, complex texture and it was a party in the mouth. (cabbage, green tea leaves, soy nuts, tomatoes, citrus, sesame)
Noodle with Shrimp $9.95 (rec by the owner/chef -"Very Burmese")
Egg noodle, ground shrimp and parsley with a slight funky flavor. Served room temperature. This dish reminded me of my single days when whipped up something from random ingredients from the pantry -not my fav. And jasmine rice accompanied the two in a large bowl.
Decor:
Pale yellow walls, red, gold and black accents, figurines and a couple of paintings. This place could use a makeover. With that said I think Yelpers should try it. Be daring and explore.
PS
All-in-all I am curious to duplicate the Green Tea Salad or find this dish in NY. It's just amazing nothing I've tried before. Unique. -
Review from Brad Z.
Alexandria, VA
6/21/2010
Like 99.7% of the other yelpers here, I have yet to experience Burmese cuisine prior to Burma Restaurant, so I really don't have much to compare it too.
At first glance, the geographic location of Burma (known today as Myanmar), wedged between India China and Thailand, would hint at a cuisine rich in flavor and spice. Sadly I found neither in the Beef Curry Dish that I ordered. What I got was blandly stewed beef chunks with a thin brown gravy. To be fair, I suppose I should try more dishes on the menu, but based on other yelpers, I suspect I will only set myself up for further disappointment.
The fried spring rolls were ok, but were served with a dish of sweet and sour sauce and chili paste. Mixing the paste into the sauce did not yield a particularily satisfying sweet chili sauce that I've grown accustomed to in Thai restaurants.
Service was prompt and attentive, but the decor certainly left at bit to be desired. I could handle the yellow, but the health club style mirror wall was too much. -
Review from Justin L.
Manhattan, NY
4/5/2008
So my 3 is really more of a 3.5 based on some really good dishes but also hit-or-miss service.
Burma Restaurant is tucked away upstairs when you walk in from the street and once you get there I would suggest going all the way to the back to ask for a table, since there was no obvious "seat yourself" or "host will seat you" sign. You'll either like or dislike the decor, which is most noticeable in the Burmese dolls that kind of look Blair Witch-like.
The Mohingar soup (#16) is definitely worth a try and a lot more interesting if you sprinkle in the parsley and peppers and lemon they give you. A half portion is still pretty big. The mango pork was definitely a highlight and everything I expected - a simple flavor where the mango's not really powerful, but the pork tastes just a bit sweet and tangy. I didn't want to stop eating it! My friend also ordered the Mandalay Nanjee noodles and they were tasty but at the same time a little bland. Not bad, but there were some good-looking spicy noodle dishes being served at surrounding tables and I would recommend investigating those.
The service was a little hit-or-miss. We had nowhere else to sit so they put us at the empty end of a large group table, and be prepared to flag down your waiter/waitress if you need something.
I put down $11-30 because I also ordered soup with my meal, but given that most dishes are around $7.95-8.95, you can probably come out right around $11 or 12 with tax and tip included. -
Review from Elaine K.
Silver Spring, MD
4/8/2009
Having read a few of the reviews here, I think Burma is seriously underrated. We had a late dinner there on Saturday evening, after a long, windy day admiring the cherry blossoms, and our party of 5 could not have been happier with the decision.
First of all, I should say that we were looking for a $$ as opposed to a $$$ meal. Burma is very reasonably priced, and the portions are generous. Also, it feels like you're in someone's home rather than in a restaurant, and that is the kind of coziness I can appreciate -- especially after spending hours and hours walking around town. Its affordable, welcoming hominess is a reassuring presence in the corporate-type manufactured trendiness that prevails in some Chinatown restaurants. And the food is fantastic to boot!! (At least all the dishes that we had were.)
1. Golden Fingers: WOW. This one wins the "tastes so much better than it sounds" award, hands down (ha!). They deep fry a kind of squash that is about the most decadent vegetable I have ever eaten. It's like a cross between a zucchini and a potato, that surprises with a dense, silky texture when you bite into it. Perhaps the most memorable dish of the meal, although also the simplest.
2. Young Ginger Salad: Fresh, crunchy, and tangy (though not overpowering). A very nice accompaniment to the whole meal.
3. Sour Mustard Greens with Shrimp: A delight. The shrimp are cut into pieces, making the dish easier to share and eat. The mustard greens are bright and flavorful, cutting the richness of other dishes on the table.
4. Pork with Mango Pickle: Delicious and savory. I love mango pickle at Indian restaurants, and the flavor really comes through in this dish. (Note to the uninitiated: Do not expect this dish to taste like mango.)
5. Chicken Curry: I can't remember more of the description from the menu, but it's chicken thighs, cooked on the bone until they truly fall apart with only the slightest encouragement. The curry itself is fabulous, and fairly runny. I love that it's not over-thickened -- lets the flavor flow, saturates the rice, and tastes like someone's [awesome] mom made it.
6. Stir-fried Squid: This one was the least unique/memorable dish, but it was still very tasty, and a nice addition to the other items on the table.
All this goodness, washed down with Singha beer, was just about the perfect end to a perfect day. We did try the tapioca with coconut cream for dessert, but it was a bit gummy and forgettable. But dessert was hardly needed, as we felt entirely satisfied by the dinner itself. What I also appreciate was how healthy so much of it was. There were the deep fried Golden Fingers, and chicken thighs are always a bit rich -- but overall, the meal left us all feeling happy and satisfied; not bloated and gluttonous.
A win (price), win (taste), win (health) situation! -
Review from angela n.
1/30/2007
If your party can't decide between Chinese and Thai, Burma could be a good compromise. Lots of fried noodle dishes and tofu and bamboo shoots for the Chinese food lovers, and lots of coconut and curries for the Thai food lovers, but it all has a Burmese twist. (Not that I know what Burmese food is supposed to taste like, really).
My favorite dish here is the noodle dish with ground shrimp -- It's just exquisite -- sort of lemony with cilantro, and there's a nice garlicky kick to it too. I also like the fried golden triangles (mostly because I like the sweet and sour chili sauce).
It doesn't get too crowded. I've even been here on game nights and we've easily gotten a table. It could be because it's sort of hard to find -- You have to go indoors, up a flight of stairs, and then the restaurant is behind a nondescript door. -
Review from Janet E.
12/28/2010
I feel really bad for giving this restaurant only two stars because the staff here was really nice. But the food we ate did not really stand out to me as any different from Chinese or Thai. We ordered two noodle dishes and one was curry with broccoli and the other was a chicken flat noodle dish. The curry noodle was much more flavorful than the other dish. I think they were #42 and #43 on the menu? Anyways, after I had eaten the food, I had a terrible stomach ache. I thought maybe it was from the burmese iced coffee (which tasted delicious) but when I had the leftover noodles the next day, I had another stomach ache. I've had Burmese food in San Francisco and it was so much better than the food I had here. Maybe I ordered the wrong dishes.
