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Cafe Mingala
Category: Restaurants Burmese Burmese [Edit]
1393 2nd AveSte B
(between 72nd St & 73rd St)
New York, NY 10021
Neighborhoods: Yorkville, Upper East Side
(212) 744-8008
- Nearest Transit:
-
68 St - Hunter College (4, 6, 6X)
77 St (4, 6, 6X)
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
92 reviews for Cafe Mingala
Review Highlights
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"The green tea leaf salad is the best we have had at any..." In 4 reviews -
"mango chicken - a fresh take on stir fry." In 15 reviews -
"Try the tea leaf salad and thousand layer bread, too." In 7 reviews
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92 reviews in English
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Review from Rowena Y.
4/29/2012
Just a few steps away from my apartment lies a hidden gem. Truly a hidden gem as it is overshadowed by the 2nd avenue subway construction and scaffolding. As the old saying goes, don't judge a book by its cover. While the decor and lighting may seem a bit of a drab, the food hits right home especially when your stomach craves for something sweet, spicy and carby.
It's hard to describe what Burmese food tastes like. In fact, I never knew what Burmese cuisine even looked like until coming here. Don't expect anything exotic but expect familiarity in terms of taste. The ingredients and style are a mixture of Thai, Indian, Malaysian and Chinese. If you're a fan of all four cuisines, then you're in good hands.
Here are a few dishes I've tried so far:
1. Pineapple Fried Rice - I know it's probably not the most authentic Burmese dish but I have to say it's one of the better pineapple fried rice dishes I've had. Although it did lack some pineapple dices, the rice itself was cooked really well with herbs and other ingredients. One dish can possibly serve up to 3-4 people.
2. Crispy Garlic Pork - Anything deep fried makes it an excellent comfort food. The pork slices are thin, which makes it tender and easier to chew. It serves with a sweet chili sauce. But portion-wise, I thought they were being a bit stingy and definitely deserved at least 10 pieces for $13.95.
3. Beef Curry Potatoes - I have to say this was my favorite one. I love curry especially on a cool day and it was perfect weather for it. The beef cubes were tender and the curry sauce just hit the right spot. It serves in a little small pot and if you plan to eat with a group, I would order more than one just because I think I can finish one by myself. (I know, I'm such a fatty like that)
Overall, the service was friendly and welcoming. Even though they don't seem to attract enough business due to the surrounding constructions, the staff still treated everyone with high spirits and grace. I guess I can finally tell my friends that there is finally something good to eat and worth trying in the Upper East Side and that is Cafe Minalga! -
Review from Taryn H.
Austin, TX
4/18/2012 1 Check-in Here
I hunt for Burmese food when I travel. My scope was set on Cafe Mingala and it did not disappoint. I took it down- ordered 5 dishes (3 gals) and I personally ate 40-50% of the food.
Review Preface:
I've never been to Burma. I don't have Burmese best friends. I just love the food. I love it because it is everything I love about Thai and Indian food combined. Indian food is comfort food to me (rich and soothing). Thai food has an energizing burn to it. I think I like it because I feel like I'm getting a homestyle "stick to your ribs" sort of meal but without bursting any buttons off my blouse. I'm all about marathon comfort eating.
Green Tea Leaf Salad: Good but not something I was crazed over. It was good, super refreshing but not why I eat Burmese. I thought there was a tad too many soy nuts and was a little too salty.
Mango Chicken: A friend ordered this. It was ok but not something I would normally order.
9 Layer Bread: This was awesome! It was like parathas had a baby with a baklava. Layers that were slightly sweet and savory. I wish I had tried the dessert version
Prawn and Eggplant: I always go for the eggplant if I'm at a new Burmese restaurant. Seriously, they are the masters of all things purple skinned. If you've never had eggplant or you have tried it and you don't like it- do yourself a favor and try it again! The prawns were also awesome: big, perfectly cooked and super fresh.
Noodle dish: I think this was Rangoon noodles, this was the least impressive dish. I actually did not like it. The texture on the noodles was odd. -
Review from Adrian B.
Glenmoore, PA
3/23/2012 1 Check-in Here
The food is an interesting variation if you like Thai food.
The lemongrass prawn was great.
I must say however that the thousand layer bread with sweet coconut milk you really have to get for desert - split it between 2 or 3 people. -
Review from Nicole F.
5/7/2012
Just having been exposed to Burmese food on vacation for the first time a week ago, I was on a mission to find Burmese food back home in NYC. One of the few or possibly only Burmese restaurants in NYC is this place. The tea leaf salad was very good but just a bit soggy, though I promptly picked up my order ten minutes after placing it. Everything else about it was great and I love how many ingredients are in the tea leaf salad. The coconut rice was excellent and I had to pry the box out of my own hands before the entire side (densely packed on the container so it was a lot) was eaten. Ill definitely be back to try the hot entrees àt this place, since the man was very friendly when I picked up my food!
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Review from dan naomi w.
New York, NY
3/16/2012
Amazing restaurant. Amazing service.
The ingredients are absolutely fantastic and just about as authentic Burmese as you can get in the US. We have brought so many friends and family members here, it is hard to keep track...
Favorite orders: golden triangles (two orders - seriously), spring ginger salad, green tea leaf salad, Rangoon night market noodles, basil tofu, and pork curry. But honestly, everything is quality.
It's a comfort home meal in the middle of the upper east side. Visit today!!! -
Review from Ro N.
New York, NY
3/22/2012
Dude, did my review get erased?
I am so mad.
Well when I went to the HSS in the UES, I came here to take some food to go to take to L.
I remembered I like their East Village location better, but they had certain items here that they didn't offer at that location.
It sucks that location closed! -
Review from Ryan L.
Manhattan, NY
12/29/2011
Growing up I used to always eat Burmese food at family reunions, so I was super happy to find a Burmese restaurant in the city (perhaps the only one). Burmese food can be a little shocking (an interesting mix between Indian, Thai and Vietnamese) if you've never had it before, so I was kinda nervous when I brought my friends here for dinner. However, they all loved it. (My biggest gripe was there were no pictures in the menu, which can make it hard to decide on a dish if you've never had it before)
The best dishes in my opinion were
1) Pickled Green Tea Leaf Salad
2) Tamin Let - Thoke
3) Festival Noodles Fish Soup (Mohinga) (my personal favorite)
4) Coconut Chicken Noodles Soup (my non-Burmese friends' favorite)
The service and prices weren't anything to rave about, but if you're looking for a new type of cuisine to try, this place is definitely a good start. -
Review from Lila C.
Brooklyn, NY
4/11/2012 1 Check-in Here
Good food, similar to Thai, comfortable atmosphere and gracious staff. I've had the pickled green tea leaf salad which is totally unique and briny, and the mango salad which is good too. Get the thousand layer bread which is similar to a scallion pancake. I've had the mango beef and country chicken (not that spicy) and a few of the noodle plates. Rice noodles were a little gummy, I prefer the egg noodles dishes. Everything is delicious and simply prepared. Go with friends so you can try a bunch of dishes!
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Review from Annie A.
Brooklyn, NY
3/25/2012
So hard to find a Burmese restaurant in NYC, let alone a good one. What a neighborhood gem! The service was so kind and attentive, while the food was delicious and so fresh. Everything from the appetizers, entrees, and desserts were very good. The Keema was so flavorful, pineapple fried rice was great, lemon chicken with coconut rice was refreshing, and Rangoon noodles were awesome. Everyone was raving about the thousand layer bread in sweet coconut milk. Oranges served at the end of the meal would be the only way to end it right. Definitely will be back!
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Review from Jackie L.
Hoboken, NJ
3/19/2012
My boyfriend and I went here on Saturday night and it was simply declicious. He had the Rangoon night market noodles and I had the seafood nirvana. The portions are very generous and the food is simply wonderful. The restaurant itself is not very large but it had a very homey feeling and the staff was charming and helpful. The price point was also very good for the portions we got. I would definitely recommend this place. It would be good for dates or with friends.
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Review from miss kitty ..
New York, NY
1/7/2012
I want to give this place 2.5 stars because it's somewhere between meh and ok.
If you have been to Burma Superstar in SF then this establishment will surely disappoint you. I went there to satisfy a tea leaf salad craving and left feeling cheated. They have no samusa soup and their dishes are not nearly as flavorful as Burma Superstar.
I think if you have never had Burmese food before then you might find this place acceptable. I however left with a longing in my heart for San Francisco and their superior restaurants. -
Review from Priscilla T.
Boston, MA
7/25/2011
Sadly this is no Burma Superstar (search San Francisco Yelp as a salty tear slides down my cheek) but as the only Burmese joint in all of NYC, I'm a fan. The service is very friendly and happy all around.
I'd recommend ordering: tea leaf salad, ginger salad, yellow bean tofu, mohinga soup, and NOODLES (the one with potato, tofu, and tamarind juice or the shan noodles).
Slight downside: nothing is truly spicy here (so far) and I will say the hottest food I've ever consumed was at a Yangon noodle stall - like face-melting, I might need a hospital spicy. One more tear... -
Review from Elizabeth F.
New York, NY
10/5/2011
Spring Ginger Salad is a winner. Discovered the dish in D.C. and now I am happy I can get my fix here!
Beautiful mural on the wall, helpful staff and hot food. Room itself is kind of small, so I would limit it to groups of four or less. -
Review from Kambiz K.
Manhattan, NY
1/19/2012 1 Check-in Here
I went to Cafe Mingala last night with a group of 6 other friends. In general this place was subpar. I would like to give this place a better rating for only the service, which was attentive and respectful.
On other aspects this place was dismal, at the most.
I ordered the pickled tea leaf salad which was unlike other tea leaf salads I've eaten before because it was very salty -- like unfathomably salty. For my entree, I got the Mingala noodles which was so boring and monotonous, I couldn't continue eating my plate of food. Other people at my table ordered items like the Rangooon noodles, pineapple fried rice, and felt similarly. There was just too much of the same item. We expected a little side of veggies or something else to break the repetition of a big pile of starch. To top it all off, one of my friends got sick several hours after.
Like I said, if not for the service, I'd rate this place a 1 star. I really want to give them more but the docor is dated and gloomy and the food is uninspired and a chore to eat. -
Review from Charles B.
New York, NY
4/9/2011
I'm not even the slightest bit Burmese, but Cafe Mingala serves my favorite dish in NYC: mohinga. The stuff sounds kind of gross, now that I think about it. Vermicelli, fried onions, hot peppers, split peas, tumeric, garlic, lemongrass, and ginger... in a broth made from fish and rice powder. Don't you love soup made from fish and rice powder? I mean, who doesn't like fish and rice powder?
Seriously, the stuff is absolutely delicious--cilantro, red pepper flakes, lemon, and fried onions come on the side, so you can make the stuff as fiery or as mild as you'd like. Great comfort food on a chilly night, and it's not fishy-tasting, if that's the sort of thing that might otherwise scare you off. And it's cheap--$9.95.
The servers here are friendly and efficient, and decent beer and wine are available. Try the tea leaf salad and thousand layer bread, too. Or if you're feeling a little bit more conservative, the phet-htoke is also damned good...Listed in: 160 meals from 160…
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Review from Aisha N.
Manhattan, NY
2/7/2011
I went with my girl friends last week and we had a great time! They go there often and usually order the same things - Chili Chicken and Chicken, Potato Curry. I ordered the sweet and creamy Mango Chicken. I fell in love with this dish. The waiter was really nice and made great recommendations -- even though my friends already knew what they were going to get. I will definitely go back.
If you want to read more or see pictures from our fabulous meal - please check out the full review I wrote on my blog
http://www.aishafoodis...
Let me know what you think. -
Review from Tina C.
2/13/2011
Burmese cuisine comes to Yorkville in Manhattan, NY!
After an artistic and intellectual visit to nearby Whitney Museum of American Art our Meetup Group party of twenty two dine to sweeten the night. Having no knowledge of Burmese cuisine, albeit as a foodie, I keep an open mind and an open stomach. The Mo-Goke Pork at $14.95 was very tender and savory, the pan fried Burmese home style noodle at $10.95 was my choice of entree. I am more than thrilled for the entrees' heat index mild being a NON-spicy foodie. Dinning space is narrow with the squeezing an adult size elephant into a sedan car for elbow-to-elbow bumping, which cafe suits this restaurant. Cafe Mingala appears family owned and operated which implements the home style flair in their care of cooking and somewhat pricey.
Service was not efficient nor attentive as the waiter had to make numerous return trips to our table for ample supply of water. Yet the wait staff was able to appease our request of breaking our gargantuan party of twenty two to smaller parties in multiple bills. Fresh sliced oranges for dessert as fruit sweetens the palette was refreshing. Facilities are small though in decent condition. The wall mural depicts a Burmese village's daily life which the ceiling is also painted of blue sky for peace and tranquility. The drink menu did not entice my interest as there is only beer and wine with extreme minimal brand names. -
Review from Lydia N.
6/2/2011
When my Burmese friend raved about this place, I had to try it. Lovely place - I really like the wall paintings, it feels like the owner really tried to bring a piece of Burma to New York.
Overall my group enjoyed the food. The green tea leaf salad sounded really intriguing, and it did not disappoint! It was full of flavor and textures, I wish I could make it at home (but it was a little salty). We also ordered a hotpot and a vegetable/seafood stir fry (or saute? I forget) that were pretty average. The thousand layer pancake seemed a little expensive.. it reminded everyone of a Chinese cong you bing (green onion pancake), but without the onions.
4 stars for decor, good service, and Burmese food - a little pricey though, since some other dishes could easily be found in Chinatown -
Review from Crystine W.
New York, NY
3/22/2011
This review is based on the delivery only so there won't be any mention of decor or friendliness of their server(s).
Spring Ginger Salad - really amazing! It was light, but really tasty too. They had these crunchy little nut-like pieces in there that gave a lot of flavor. Their lunch specials look quite affordable - $6.95 per combo and you get a decent amount of food.
Mixed Vegetables - You really cannot mess this up. It's steamed vegetables tossed in a gingery-brown sauce. Nothing special or something I really want to rave about though. -
Review from Alison R.
Los Angeles, CA
1/27/2012 3 photos
After reading the reviews where so many people say it's not as good as Burma Superstar in San Francisco, I was a little bit apprehensive to try Cafe Mingala because I am a huge fan of Mandalay in San Francisco, which is supposed to be even better than Burma Superstar. Also, I was a little concerned that many people said there were no vegetables on their plates, only starches. However, Cafe Mingala did not disappoint. I ordered the Green Tea Leaf Salad (which is a must at any Burmese restaurant) minus the lettuce and it was delicious. The fried garlic pieces, peanuts, and tea leaves hit the spot and while it was slightly different than the one I am in love with at Mandalay, it was delicious in its own right and I'm really glad I tried it. Next, I ordered the Thousand Layer Bread. It wasn't as greasy as I expected based on other people's reviews. I thought it was delicious and, while a little bit on the oily side, definitely a nice addition to my meal. For the entree, I got the Monsoon Vegetables with tomato curry (V1 on the menu). This was great. Not a spicy curry, in fact, it was really mild, but with the fried garlic and wonderful variety of vegetables, I was in heaven. I think the complaints about no veggies on the plate were because people ordered meat dishes. My bowl was full of broccoli, snow peas, green beans, onions, squash, etc. Yum yum! I would definitely come back here again to try some of the other entrees and would recommend it to anyone looking to try Burmese food.
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Review from Mona M.
La Jolla, CA
11/14/2011
best fried rice ever, hands down. I got their basil fried rice. I would give them 5 stars, but I would've liked some more veggies in it, personally.
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Review from H. W.
Brooklyn, NY
4/26/2011
Anyone who is familiar with burmese food will probably hate this place. The food is a messy amalgam of faintly asian cuisines.
rangoon night market noodles were like chinese lo mein with a few miniscule pieces of mystery dark meat that might have been the duck the menu stated. Oddly though, the dish is probably an accurate take on the sort of street-food noodles one would find at a night market in rangoon.
chicken and potato curry had no curry and was more of a stew.
tea leaf salad was a vile, acrid and soggy pile of iceberg lettuce, peanuts and a sort of cabbage slaw. This is not what a burmese tea leaf salad is supposed to be.
thousand layer bread was the best thing on the menu, a bit oily, but not bad. I took this to go and the guy sold me on a coconut sauce that makes the bread a dessert rather than a side.
Of course he doesn't include the sauce and I have to go back for it. And of course he says it was a mistake, but after the long sales pitch to get me to pay more for what was essentially some coconut milk of the kind found in a tin, it was quite obvious that it was done on purpose.
No one who cares about food or service could possibly like this place. -
Review from Jay N.
2/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
Small, intimate space. Definitely not 'fancy' but friendly service and the best Burmese fare I've had since trying a self-styled Burmese cafe in Bangkok.
The country chicken is INCREDIBLE and appeals to my love for savory southern home cooking. Saucy, a little spicy but not too much, rice, lemon grass. Wonderful! We've also had the mango chicken which tasted slow cooked, savory and rich.
Prices are inexpensive and the restaurant is family owned with friendly family staff. Don't miss trying this little place. Great for a date or even a small group dining experience. -
Review from Alan J.
Pasadena, CA
12/30/2009
Buzz about Burmese food has reached my fam in Cali with a fury and I wasn't about to miss out on it while I was in NY. I visit NY at least twice a year and most of the places hyped up end up falling just short. This place on the other hand came through all the way and blew the hype out the window. It was that GOOD!!!
We met my cousin from Brooklyn for lunch the day after we arrived. Word was he had the menu on lock and knew exactly what to order for us Cali people. Our order consisted of a whole fish, chicken curry w/ potatoes, some noodle dish, coconut rice, and the thousand layer bread. Only one word can describe the thousand layer bread .... amazing! Dipping the bread into the curry or any of the sauces turns the flavor up to another level. There is just something about the sauces and spices of Burmese food that my pallet truly enjoyed. We devoured the food completely with no room to spare.
The place itself was very small and cozy. Nothing too fancy but the food is where it's at. Unfortunately, we couldn't find the time to make a second visit before we left. We wanted to study the menu further and try the other dishes. Most definitely next time we are in NY. Sadly enough the closest Burmese restaurant to LA is in San Francisco. Eff!!!!Listed in: I break the bank at ..
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Review from Sophia H.
Brooklyn, NY
2/6/2010 9 photos
Now, for the only restaurant in NYC that boasts Burmese food, I was pleasantly surprised by the quality and near authenticity of the food, the waiter's accent (he sounded like all of my Burmese uncles), and the murals on the walls at Mingala.
The extent of my spoken Burmese is only the correct pronunciation of Burmese dishes, the true name of Burma, ' come eat', 'rubbish', 'rubbish bin', and 'I'm done', but the extent of my taste buds to recognize the foods I grew up on is limitless.
Though prices are a bit steep for foods one would purchase out of a massive metal pot sitting atop the head of a tiny woman walking up and down the platform at the train station, I was extremely satisfied by the taste, texture, and complexity of the flavors. The only two reasons I take away a star at all are 1) location because I never considered the Upper East Side a treasure trove of ethnic cuisine and 2) price, but that's probably a direct effect of reason #1.
If you've never had Burmese food, imagine the best of true Chinese food, Indian food, and Thai food came together to design a fusion of flavors and a balance of heat that satiates even the most staunch critic of Asian cuisine . . . yep, that's Burmese food. Like most Thai cuisine, the Burmese enjoy including all of the major flavors and textures in one dish, sweet, savory, sour, bitter, spicy, and crunchy.
Some friends and I made an early reservation at 7pm for dinner on a Friday night thinking it might be packed. We were lucky. 7pm was still rather empty. The crush didn't roll in until around 9pm when we were done. I opened the menu and was delighted at all of the familiar names. The gang let me order because I'm sure I was acting as if I were Charlie in the chocolate factory.
Apps (see photos)
*fried fish cakes - (ngar-phai kyaw) little chewy, herbed pancakes of joy that come with a sweet chili sauce
*fried lentil fritter - (beyah kyaw) thick minty lentil balls of crispy mushiness - some have likened it to falafel, just less grainy
*pickled tea leaf salad - (lepeh thoke) crunchy, sweet, savory, sour, and bitter deliciousness. One bite took me back to summers when I was little and all of my maternal relatives lived within 10 miles of us, and we would pick herbs and cherry tomatoes by the bin full and bring them in to make a million types of cold salads, all chilled, sweet, sour, savory, crunchy, bitter, and delicate
Entrees (see photos)
*mango chicken - a fresh take on stir fry
*vegetarian noodle salad - (kow swear let-thoke) served at room temp; spicy, sweet, tangy, tamarind and lime loveliness with potatoes and tofu
*banana leaf fish in basil sauce - beautiful presentation, fried flounder filets hanging out with peppers and broccoli in a fragrant basil sauce
*arthi-zon hin and mixed lentils - sauteed string beans, whole okra, squash, eggplant, and potatoes in an addictive tamarind sauce
My friends and I agreed to go back for more! I just wish the Village Mingala had survived. The East Village is much more convenient.Listed in: Veggie-Friendly
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Review from Koko H.
New York, NY
3/29/2010
Not nearly as fantabulous as Burma Superstar in the bay.
Yay:
- super sincere service
- mango chicken
- glasses never empty
Nay:
- appetizer sampler - sauce was eh - seemed like the typical sweet & sour sauce you buy at the store.
- mango salad - yum even though the dressing had too much vinegar -
Review from Emma L.
2/11/2009
Tomato salad and the Green Tea Leaves salad.... is to die for. SO FLAVORFUL AND TASTY. A friend of mine who is a complete meatatarian who hates salad said and I quote... "Wow, this is some good salad".
The only type of Burmese food I've eaten before is the Myint (friend's place) household and I guess there is only TWO in the city so I have nothing to compare it to. This restaurant is up to par in terms of serving very flavorful food - you can't argue with that? We had a large table and no one had any complaints.
That salad.... if I figure out how to make that dressing... I can eat that all day and with everything from lettuce to tomatoes... to pork belly.... to chocolate. YUM-O! -
Review from Jason V.
8/2/2010
Had dinner here Saturday night with my girlfriend at her request. She had been before but I never had.
The menu prices seemed a little high vs. the descriptions for the entrees, salads and sides, but it's the UES so my Brooklyn budget doesn't apply here.
We ordered enough to take home: mango salad, ginger salad, night market noodles, vegetarian fried rice, spicy beef and chicken curry. We couldn't finish it all but we had a good time trying.
The salads are really good- shredded lettuce and cabbage with crispy fried onions, and either sweet mango or tangy ginger. The ginger salad also comes with peanuts and sesame seeds.
The fried rice was my favorite- really close to an Indian flavor- and the chicken curry reminded me of Indian cuisine as well.
Night market noodles are a little oily, but my girlfriend didn't care as long as she got her stir fried duck in there. They were a really strong garlic flavor and I mean it wasn't a hint of garlic, it was a **SPOILER ALERT!!! THERE'S GARLIC HERE*** aroma wafting from that plate of noodles. We both like garlic so it wasn't an issue, really.
The spicy beef...how do I describe it? It wasn't really hot to me, but it had a slight kick to it. The sauce was really good- almost as if it had some fish sauce added to it. I just called it "low tide sauce" and that's how I'll remember it.
My first crack at Burmese food and I enjoyed it. The service was comparable to most Asian restaurants- not a lot of conversation but an attentive waitstaff and a good job of bringing out the different courses at appropriate times. -
Review from Dimitrios D.
New York, NY
9/1/2010
Burmese cuisine.
Sounds much more exotic than it actually is (if you've had Thai, Vietnamese and/or Chinese food before).
However, despite not being too drastically different from the aforementioned cuisines, Burmese food proves to be quite delicious.
I had some sort of dumplings in a red spice paste/oil. It was naturally very oily and kind of heavy, and added a richness to the food. It was not immediately hot either, but had a slow, dull burn after halfway through. Nothing unbearable; pleasant in fact.
Definitely recommended. -
Review from Jon M.
Burlington, VT
10/28/2007
I've lived in New York since Feb 07, and I travel a lot so I don't always have the time and connections to find the amazing restaurants...not the places with all the hype, but the hole-in-the-wall kind where the food just blows you away.
This was my first find. Absolutely amazing food. I'm not Burmese, nor do I know anyone who is, but I would have to assume that this is where they would come if they wanted great authentic food. I had a beef and vegetable dish in a mango sauce that came with coconut rice. It was honestly one of the best dishes I've ever had. My girlfriend chose a tamer brown sauce dish but was not disappointed one bit.
Make sure you order some Nan (or Naan) on the side, and get the coconut rice it is amazing.
The atmosphere is dated and a little grungy, but hey that's what hole-in-the-wall places are supposed to be, right? I will certainly be coming back and am excited to try some other dishes. The menu is very large with seafood, duck, chicken, beef, noodles, soups, salads, cold dishes and all kinds of stuff. Great eat!
Oh, and to top it off, i left my check card in the payment sleeve and the waiter chased me down two blocks away to give it back to me. What a nice touch and a thoughtful gesture.Listed in: National favorite restaurants
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Review from P M.
New York, NY
11/17/2007
Ordered take-out from here last night. I was blown away. The food was ridiculously good. And portions are very generous. Here's what I had:
Mohinga - egg noodles in soup. To die for. I've made its equivalent with coconut milk (called Kao Sawy) and let me tell you, it's a production. To find this here, for $9 and more than enough for two people, all i can say is WOW!
Kheema - essentially a real Indian paratha, a bit thicker than an Indian paratha (I say real paratha because I have yet to come across any Indian restaurant that does it right) with minced beef and potato curry. The beef tasted more like lamb to me (which is a plus!) and was perfectly spiced. Also $9.
I can't wait to try more from this place. -
Review from Dr L.
Manhattan, NY
2/9/2012
Came early and found very friendly service, excellent steamed whole fish, the nan was a non starter, the soft shell crab was excellent and he vegetables quite good.
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Review from Chad W.
San Jose, CA
7/31/2010 1 Check-in Here
Inexpensive and excellent. Mango salad is very good. I also enjoy the N11 noodles, basil tofu, and pork curry. I haven't had a dish that I didn't enjoy yet.
I used to live in the neighborhood so I went quite often. After moving away for 3 years, they still remembered my favorite dishes and how I liked them. I go every time I'm in the city. -
Review from Rachel C.
6/8/2010
I've been to this place on multiple occasions and I have to say it's outstanding for:
- group dinners
- cheap group dinners
- stews
- salads
- pretty much everything.
I love to pick this place for group dinners because there's never a problem with finding a table and the bill always comes out to about $20 a person even after a ridiculous meal and drinks. They make really good salads, especially the Peah Thee Thoke and the spicy green mango salad. All their dishes are reliable and solid, but I have to say that if the weather outside is cold/rainy/disgusting, get the Phet-Htoke (dumplings in hot stew). They're AWESOME.
Service is standard. Ambiance is virtually non-existent, but there are pretty paintings on the wall. Not really a date place...but if you're taking a date here, it's a cheap date place! +++
I'm rubbing my tummy as I write this. YUM. EAT HERE! Neighborhood gem and all that jazz.Listed in: My Neighborhood
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Review from Dan C.
Berkeley, CA
1/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
I love the food here. Have been coming for years, but not often enough.
Wonderfully prepared dishes at a very reasonable price.
Ate lunch here, a terrific deal at under $10.
Dinners are great with more than one person, so you can share and sample more of the great food! -
Review from Dana K.
New York, NY
12/15/2008
So, Burmese food in Burma wasn't all that memorable for me... Always on the oily side, though I did like all the noodle dishes they had. I wouldn't have chosen Cafe Mingala, but am glad I was invited there as it surpassed my expectations.
Having visited Burma, I knew that the food would have Indian, Chinese and even Thai influence. We stuck with dishes this time that were mostly Chinese like. We tried three salads, a ginger, a papaya and a tofu salad. My favorite was the ginger - basically lots of julienned ginger mixed amongst cabbage and lettuce with fried garlic bits. It was tasty, and fried garlic bits stirred memories of Burma (they used fried onions in the tofu salad). The papaya salad was spicy - which we liked. My least fav was the tofu, which was fried tofu amongst the salad.
Entrees included pineapple fried rice (which our host claimed was his absolute favorite), okra and prawns, spicy beef, and some sort of lo-mein like noodle dish with shrimp. I was most impressed with the okra dish - came out with full plump okra, simmered with the prawns, and crunchy snap peas. The fresh vegetables made it to the table without being overcooked, always a good thing. While not overly memorable, all the other dishes at the time seemed good - not oily, and good flavors.
I also think I made a good choice by ordering beer. I had a feeling the wine would only disappoint. Beer was perfect for cutting the heat of the spicy beef and the papaya salad.
The murals on the wall were also a trip - literally down memory lane. I would return - this time to perhaps branch out and try more exotic dishes - ones with Indian influence. -
Review from Justin R.
New York, NY
12/11/2007
I really can't say enough about this restaurant. Food is absolutely fantastic. Never overdone, always has the appropriate amount of sauce/spices. The Mango Chicken is sublime.
All the workers are incredibly courteous, delivery is fast if you order in, food comes piping hot, as though it was just taken out of the kitchen.
I have not have had experience with Burmese food before this, so I cannot compare it to anything, but if you're looking for all around great food that will never bore you, this is your place. -
Review from Cynthia D.
MIDDLE VLG, NY
6/27/2008
I've been to Village Mingala which I liked but this place is so much better!
The decor is simple but artsy. The walls are murals of different cities in Myanmar and a beautiful backdrop for this restaurant. In one corner there are family pictures which I found hilarious. I was a bit worried because my friend and I came on a Thursday around 7 and nobody was there. Luckily, 5 other parties showed up throughout our meal including a "regular" who brought her mother. She mentioned the basil chicken keeps brining her back. I had no problems with the wait staff.
I'm no expert in Southeast Asian food but I found everything to be tasty with great portions. Here is what my friend and I ordered:
-Keema-thousand layered pancake stuffed with minced ground beef & potato in curry sauce-which was so hearty and satisfying,
-Rangoon Night Market Noodles- fresh egg noodles with tender boiled duck in light garlic sauce topped with scallion & crispy sweet onions. a favorite at the famous Rangoon night market. This dish was phenomenal. The crispy onions on top and the slight spiciness made my day. By far one of the top 5 noodle dishes I've had in NYC. You can probably get this dish in SE Asia for a dollar but I was more than happy to pay full price for this dish. Also, I had more than enough for lunch the next day!!!!
-Classic Myanmar Phe- Htoke * boiled phet - htoke sautéed w. basil leaves & vegetable in basil sauce. It came in a clay pot but this dish was ok, It came with rice. The dumplings were nothing special and the veggies tasted like a stir fry
I will be coming back for the delicious noodles and to try the other dishes! -
Review from Peter E.
Astoria, NY
9/2/2010
Very generic tasting food. The main course was kind of oily and it was not spicy even though I asked for very spicy.
The appetizers were good.
The prices are relatively low so if you are in the mood for cheap, quick food, Cafe Mingala is the place to go -
Review from Jen A.
4/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
We had a small group and enjoyed sampling several things. Mango chicken was a lovely sweet curry with tender chunks of chicken. Spicy beef was our 13 year olds favorite, with lean slices of beef in a chili sauce. The mingala noodles were like pad Thai in tomato based sauce. Naan was warm and tender - not the Indian naan we are used to but delicious! Attentive service, in a cozy atmosphere.
