Let’s journey through Burma’s most popular foods, where the culinary scene is a vibrant burst of taste sensations. 

From the bustling streets of Yangon to the serene villages of Mandalay, Burmese cuisine captivates with its diverse array of dishes and aromatic spices. 

With every bite, discover layers of cultural influences and culinary traditions that will surely be a highlight of any visit to this fascinating country.

Staple Foods in Burma

These staple foods are nutritious and universal, forming the basis of countless delicious dishes in Burmese cuisine.

1. Rice: Rice is a fundamental component of Burmese cuisine and is typically consumed with almost every meal.
2. Fish: Fish is a significant protein source in Burmese cuisine, often prepared grilled, fried, or in curries.
3. Noodles: Noodles are widely enjoyed in Burma and are featured in dishes like Mohinga (fish noodle soup) and Shan noodles.
4. Vegetables: Various vegetables such as cabbage, eggplant, and okra are staples in Burmese cooking and are used in curries, stir-fries, and salads.
5. Lentils: Lentils, predominantly yellow split peas, are commonly used in Burmese cuisine to make dahls, soups, and side dishes.

Let’s go! 20 Most Popular Foods in Burma

1) Lahpet Thoke (Tea Leaf Salad)

Pickled tea leaf salad combining sour, slightly bitter tea leaves with shredded cabbage, sliced tomatoes, crunchy, deep-fried beans, nuts, and peas.

Adding some garlic oil, slices of tangy chilli, and garlic is typical and elevates the flavours.

Laphet Thoke is one of the most beloved dishes in Burmese culture. 

2) Mohinga (Fish noodle soup)

Mohinga is Myanmar’s national dish, a hearty, herb-infused soup featuring lemongrass and rice noodles. 

Traditionally enjoyed for breakfast, mohinga is typically garnished with crispy split-pea fritters, soft-boiled duck eggs, and fishcakes.

Topped with roasted chilli flakes and shredded coriander leaves, it’s a flavourful sensation!

3) Nan Gyi Thoke (Rice noodle salad)

Nan gyi thoke, a beloved breakfast staple, is enjoyed daily by many. 

Often likened to Burmese spaghetti, this dish features round, thick rice noodles (‘nan gyi’) tossed in a specially prepared chicken curry. 

It’s a flavorful delight topped with coriander, crispy fritters, and boiled eggs. 

4) Tofu Nway (Warm Tofu)

Tofu Nway, also called “warm tofu,” is a cherished dish among the Shan Tribe in northeastern Myanmar. It comprises a thick porridge prepared from chickpeas and accompanied by various ingredients. 

It’s served with rice noodles and chunks of marinated pork or chicken, all topped off with a generous pour of spicy chilli oil.

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5) Burmese Tofu

Burmese tofu, crafted from chickpeas, differs from Shan tofu, crafted from split peas – both distinct from the usual soya beans. 

Experience Burmese tofu through crispy fritters (tohu kyaw), with a fluffy interior and a tangy tamarind dip. 

Or, enjoy it sliced in a salad (tohu thoke) with a zingy dressing. You can also enjoy it warm atop a bowl of spicy noodles.

6) E Kyar Kway (Fried dough)

E Kyar Kway is a favourite breakfast option among the people of Myanmar and is readily available in small and large tea shops. 

These golden dough delights, made from wheat powder, are deep-fried to savoury perfection in hot oil. 

Enjoy them dipped in coffee or tea for the most satisfying breakfast experience.

I adore simple foods in Burma such as this.

7) Mote Lin Ma Yar (Husband and Wife Snacks)

This Burmese street food, affectionately known as “husband and wife snacks,” is very much loved by locals and is super tasty. 

These precious, crispy bites are like receiving a warm hug!

Spoonfuls of rice flour batter are poured into a sizzling cast iron pan with multiple round moulds to prepare them. 

Half the mixture is topped with ingredients like quail eggs, spring onions, or roasted chickpeas. Then, like a husband and wife, the two halves are joined to form endearing round cakes.

Don’t miss tasting these delicious dessert foods in Burma.

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8) Myin Kwa Yuet (Burmese-style pork curry)

Myin Kwa Yuet is a flavorful Burmese-style pork curry and one of my all-time favourite foods in Burma.

It features tender chunks of pork cooked in a rich, aromatic curry sauce made with spices such as onions, garlic, and ginger.

Myin Kwa Yuet is typically served with steamed rice or noodles, and it should be on your list of foods to eat in Myanmar!

9) Mote Lone Yay Paw (Sticky rice balls)

Mote Lone Yay Paw is a renowned traditional Burmese sweet, translating to ‘rice ball on the water’.

Crafted from sticky rice flour and palm sugar, it holds a special place in culinary celebrations.

You can find this yummy snack food in Myanmar from many street food carts and vendors.

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10) Burmese Tea

Tea shops are everywhere in Burma. Tea is rooted in the culture and daily life, and Burma is renowned for its quality tea production. 

These bustling establishments are filled with locals enjoying lively conversations and aromatic brew. 

For many, tea shops offer more than just a beverage; they provide a social hub for gathering, chatting, and relaxing outside the confines of home.

11) Bein Mont (Savoury Street Pancake)

Bein Mont is one of the most popular street foods in Burma.

Bein Mont is a savoury pancake made from a batter of chickpea flour mixed with water, turmeric, and salt.

It’s cooked on a flat pan, then filled with toppings such as crispy fried chickpeas, chopped onions, and sometimes chilli flakes or other spices for extra flavour.

The pancake is folded to encase the filling, creating a deliciously crunchy and satisfying snack.

12) Samosa Thoke 

The samosa Thoke is a classic Burmese street food resembling the Indian samosa chaat. However, these are smaller samosas filled with potatoes and chickpea powder. 

These deep-fried pastries are dipped in a plain Burmese curry and garnished with mint leaves, sliced onions, tomatoes, cabbage, and brown chickpeas.

13) Ohn No Khao Swè (Coconut Chicken Noodle Soup)

Ohn No Khao Swe, also known as Coconut Chicken Noodle Soup, boasts a unique flair similar to Khao Soi noodles in northern Thailand or Laos.

This mouthwatering dish features wheat noodles submerged in a delicious curry infused with chicken and coconut milk. 

Pimp your bowl with a hard-boiled egg, crispy noodles, sliced onions, chilli powder, and fish sauce to suit your taste preferences. A squeeze of lime or lemon juice is essential; it enhances the flavour. 

I eat this dish regularly when I stay for extended lengths of time in my favourite city in Thailand, Chiang Mai.

Read my food guide to Chiang Mai’s best restaurants and places to eat.

14) Shan-style noodles

Shan noodles are a beloved dish and a culinary hallmark of the Shan Ethnic group. 

Shan noodles are universally found in tea shops and local markets. They feature thin rice noodles served in various ways. 

You can appreciate them as a soup simmered in chicken or pork broth or a salad tossed with chicken gravy, sesame, and roasted peanuts. 

Both versions are kicked up a notch in flavour with pickled mustard greens and chopped leek, so add it to your bowl, just as the locals do!

15) Mont Phet Htok (Burmese Snack)

Mont Phet Htok is a traditional Burmese sweet snack. It consists of a pyramid-shaped rice dumpling filled with grated coconut and jaggery (unrefined sugar made from sugarcane).

The filling is often cooked in sugar or jaggery syrup before being enclosed in the rice mixture.

The dumpling is then wrapped in banana leaves and steamed until cooked through.

Mont Phet Htok is a popular sweet treat enjoyed during festivals, ceremonies, or as a snack.

16) Htamin Jin (Fermented rice)

Htamin Jin is a savoury Burmese Shan dish featuring turmeric-infused rice compressed into a disk and topped with pieces of freshwater fish and garlic oil.

Served with sides of leek roots, raw garlic cloves, and deep-fried pork rinds, it offers a range of pungent and spicy flavours.

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17) Coconut Rice

In Myanmar cuisine, coconut rice is a fragrant dish made by cooking rice with coconut milk and grated coconut.

It’s creamy, subtly sweet, and often flavoured with aromatics like lemongrass or ginger. 

This versatile dish can be served as a side with curries or as a main course, topped with fried shallots or fresh herbs for added texture and flavour.

18) Kyaw – Snack foods in Burma

Burma’s streets are lined with a variety of beloved fried delicacies. 

Alongside classic deep-fried samosas and pancakes, you’ll discover an array of options, including all the fritters such as dahl fritters, prawn fritters, onion fritters, whitebait fritters, and tofu fritters.

More options include spring rolls, sweets, fried bread, and noodles topped with crispy deep-fried garnishes.

19) Kaut Nyinn Paung (Sticky rice)

Kaut Nyin Paung is a breakfast staple food in Myanmar, though it’s also enjoyed during afternoon tea. 

This dish is readily available in markets and tea shops throughout the country.

It consists of steamed sticky rice, either brown or white, accompanied by peas, sesame powder, salt, and shredded coconut. 

It pairs well with tea, dried fish, and even deep-fried tempura for a comforting meal or snack.

20) Si Hta Min (Yellow Sticky Rice)

Si Hta Minn, or yellow sticky rice, represents simplicity, comfort and delightful flavours. 

When it comes to this dish in Burmese cuisine, it is typically accompanied by steamed peas and baked dried fish, a balanced combination.

It’s sprinkled with fried onion and sesame powder for added flavour. 

We’ve reached the end of our list of most popular foods in Burma! Have you tried Burmese cuisine? What is your favourite dish? Let us know in the comments below.

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Are you searching for more of the best foods in Southeast Asia? Check out my post about the 12 best Thai dishes to try.

If you plan to visit Thailand, our 26 Best Travel Tips For Thailand is a helpful tool to ensure you have the best time!

You may also enjoy reading about the 20 Most Popular Foods From Laos, another culinary gem!

For some of the BEST variety of street food, head to Malaysia and try these 20 Best Foods in Penang; it’s a serious tasty food adventure.