Happy Noodles, Yangon

I have been living on a diet mostly made out of rice and expensive western food since arriving in Yangon and when a friend recommended Happy Noodles, apparently a nice noodle house with beautiful settings and reasonably priced dishes, I was more than happy confirm a date right on the spot: same day, lunch time.

Like most establishments in Yangon, be it local or foreign owned, the place is quite a challenge to find. A nice little bungalow with great outdoor seating options and lush greens, the place reminds me of my grandparents place, minus a few mango trees and grandma's dishes. There are more than 20 tables outside and 10 inside, although I must insist sitting outside because of the view.

All meals here come with a side of preserved veges and...wait for it...crispy pork skins!!! There is absolutely nothing more awesome than this. Oh maybe if you dip the pork skins into the house sauce...yumz!

crispy pork skins

preserved vege

awesome sauces

Our orders came within 10 minutes of ordering, really fast for Yangon standards. first came the beef noodles with flat noodles (Ks2,200), the broth was filled with beefy goodness but at the same time, clear and refreshing, really similar to the ones I had at Kuang Fei back home.The dish was filled generously with thick beef slices too, really value for money.

beef noodles

Next to come was the completely opposite to the clear, refreshing beef noodles, pork colon noodles (Ks2,200). The soup was thick and chunky, filled with pieces of pork intestines and the noddles, chewy and bouncing in my mouth. Add in some of the pork skins and I had my first mouthful of gang-bang in Yangon.

pork colon noodles

Last but not least, the quin-essential of Burmese noodles, Sett-Che or dry noodles (Ks1,800), served here with a spoonful of  chicken broth and bits of roast pork. Again really chewy, simple yet flavorful dish.

Sett-Che

We ordered a side of spring rolls (Ks2,200) for good measure too but unfortunately, the rolls were too oily and tasteless for me. Maybe its just me as my friends were happily munching them away.

spring rolls

In essence, Happy noodles is probably one of the best places for one to have a taste of all the different noddles dishes in Myammar (there are more than 30 noodle choices on the menu). A lot of side dishes and most of the waiters speak good English. Give this place a try when you are in town.

Here's a map for you readers. Happy Noodles is located off Inya Road, look out for the big signboard along Inya Road near BME & Burgerjoint. Most English speaking taxi drivers would know the place.

Happy Noodles Cafe & Restaurant
62 Inya Road,
Kamaryut Township, Yangon.

Tel: 01-525112

Operating hours: 
daily from 11am to late


doggyjames says...great place for lunch and after dinner drinks, beer served here so why not?

Sights & Sounds of Yangon - part 1

One of my favorite hobbies in Yangon is to take a walk around town with my trusty camera, and try to get a picture of how the "normal people" live their lives during the weekends. Downtown Yangon is probably my favorite part of town, as the toilets there are cleaner most amenities one would expect would be there.

Blending into the crowd, I would be easily be looked as a local guy if not for my stupid-ness in learning the local language tourist-sy clothing and pose. No matter what one would say about this beautiful city, I still feel as if it is my first day in town, discovering something new every time I take a walk be it a new restaurant, teahouse, temple or just the great energy locals have here.

typical street scenes in town

The market in downtown is truly something every tourist must experience. Although the vendors are selling similiar items compared to ones in Malaysia, the vibe is just amazingly different. One of my favorite spots to get fresh seafood, even the auntie knows me now and what is my usual! Fresh giant prawns for less than USD1 a piece anyone?

fruits everywhere!

the auntie

mandarin orange season

lap cheong everywhere!

What I find serene about this place is the picture below. These uncles just chilling around playing chess, without a care in the world.

relax bro!

While I would not say I want to stay here for the rest of my lives, it is a good break from the hustle & bustle of a major Asian metropolitan city.  Walking around town, chilling in a local teahouse with a local cigarette and a hot bowl of mohinga, there is nothing I want more for day out in town.

More pictures coming soon, nawt hma twayt mal!

Lunch, Yangon Style

It's about 3 months since I've left the hustle & bustle of Kuala Lumpur and came to this beautiful country for my new job. One food option which reminds me most of home is probably what every Burmese national have been having for the most of their lives, and it's surprisingly very similar to mixed rice, or nasi campur I used to get back home.

There are no proper name for these kind of establishment, people here just call them tea houses and there are no short supply them them in Yangon, every single street here no matter main roads or small backlane alleys are filled with these little shops, usually with just a few tables and short stools for a quick lunch, or just hanging around sipping tea, very similar to KL's mamak stalls.

There is one place I have grown accustomed to during my time here, without even knowing the name. Located just around the corner from my office, this is where most of my colleagues come for lunch, or goes missing during the 3-4pm unofficial tea time.

modest little tea house

with modest settings

Being a foreigner with absolutely zero knowledge of the local language, what I always do is to go up to the food and point out which one I'd have for the meal. Good thing the show owner understands my silly gestures and seems to have very good patience putting up with this idiotic foreigner looking and slowly deciding what he'd have while blocking everyone else's way. (I am about 2 times the size of an average Burmese person, so there)

what a spread

It is worth noting that most of the dishes which accompany the customary rice here is usually curry, notoriously loaded with an unhealthy amount of oil I might add! Apparently the reason behind that is the generosity of oil poured onto their food reflects the shop owner's generosity. Who am I to judge then?

Lunch here typically comes with a bowl of clear broth, and also raw vegetables with hot dipping sauce. I have never had the guts to consume those raw vegetables but the soups were usually very delicious, even for a hot, humid day!

It is worth noting that most of these dishes come in a very, very small portion, you would get a piece of lamb and a piece of potato if you order the lamb curry, or just a few small pieces of anchovies if you decide on those. That being said, despite the oiliness, I always enjoyed the meat curries here though I have never fancied fried anchovies even back home. This is really the case of if it looks good, eat it!

lamb, or rather mutton curry

the vege is generally very good!

fried anchovies, for those who love them

One thing which really surprised me in Myanmar is the rice. The best rice I've ever had, anywhere else! I have grown up with Thai fragrant rice and Japanese rice but seriously, Burmese rice is in a league of their own. They are really fluffy, and releases an almost hypnotic aroma which you would not find anywhere else.

best rice u'd ever have

apparently its customary to place an extra plate of rice
without even asking for one

Prices here are very cheap considering the variety of food available, and this shop is located in the city centre. The bill came to around 4,500Ks or slightly over USD8, enough to feed four person.



doggyjames says...wif you have the chance to visit Myanmar, stay away from the tourist oriented and air-conditioned restaurants once in a while and you are bound to be surprised!

Sai's Tacos, Yangon, Myanmar

Mexican food in Yangon sounds like something that comes out from a science fiction movie, that's exactly my thoughts when a local friend told me about this little place hidden in Bahan, Yangon's equivalent of Bangsar in Malaysia. I have fallen in love with the local food in Yangon since I arrived little over 2 months ago and although I wouldn't mind having Burmese food for lunch everyday, the stomach was craving for something a little different. So one fine afternoon when work in the office was not too demanding, I decided to drop by this place, located in an old school bungalow among Yangon's elites.

The restaurant serves tex-mex favorites such as quesadillas, tacos and burritos in a modest setting among the pretty buildings around the area. Rattan chairs and wooden tables provide a simple yet comfortable among the hustle and bustle of the big city, among with a lot of greens in its garden. Air conditioning was not available due to the small generator they have, but I was not complaining as I enjoyed sitting outdoors anyways.

the interiors. picture courtesy of mmtimes

The menu here is quite interesting. You get to customize your own meals, from the type of meat (beef, pork, chicken) to the toppings (beans, salsa, rice etc). I decided to get a burrito (Ks3,000) with the works (mexican rice, cheese, black beans, mango salsa). Preparation took little more than 10 minutes and before I knew it, I was having one of the best burritos I had ever had washed down with their delightful American style iced tea (Ks500). The burritos was filled with generous portion of ingredients, the meat was well marinated and the combination of ingredients would give anyone a mouthful of orgasms. One portion was enough to fill one's stomach for a few hours but being the greedy pig I am, I decided to go for another order, this time a beef taco again with the works.

the burrito

The Taco (Ks2,200), despite smelling and looking really good, was a bit of a disappointment for me. The taco shell was crunchy but was obviously store-bought. The beef tasted really dry this time, probably because the ingredients were not wrapped together like the burrito. And they could be a little more generous with the sour cream, the cheddar cheese I ordered was missing as well.  I went back to Sai's a few days later however and ordered the soft taco instead, and the soft one tasted really good.

The taco, a slight disappointment

It was a decent surprise to find a decent Tex-Mex restaurant in Myanmar, even in KL I had trouble finding one. The restaurant is quite hidden and the small signage is the only clue on locating the place. Food quality and value wise, one of the best in Yangon. Best of all, home delivery is available for an extra Ks2,000!

Sai's Tacos, Yangon
32A Inya Myaing Road,
Bahan Township, Yangon

Tel: 01-514950

Operating Hours: 
Weekdays: 11am - 9pm
Weekends & Public Holidays: 8am - 9pm



doggyjames says...a decent surprise in Yangon, a break from local food at times.

See-Chat in Yangon

When I first arrived in Yangon, what I first noticed is the number of road side stalls here selling noodles, stir-fry food and other yummies. This is where the locals ate for the past few decades and from what I heard from colleagues, although hygiene maybe an issue, the food offered at these stalls are generally very tasty and cheap. Fits my bill just right so I've made a point to check out one of these stalls near my office during lunch time.

one of the road side set ups. image courtesy of myanmartimes

One of the most common food at these stalls are See-Chat or dried rice noodles, usually served with a simple sauce made from fish sauce, oil and a dash of soya sauce. Really good stuff this, simple yet delicious. The noodles are very light and springy, much like a very good kuey teow back home in Malaysia. And the pricing is very competitive as well, usually around Ks700 for a serving, or about USD1. The noodles usually comes with a bowl of hot chicken or pork broth knows as sup pyote and a side of cold cabbage salad.

yummt simple see-chat

sup pyote

cold salad comes with the noodles

Most locals are content with just the see chat, but not us Malaysians. A side order of kyat or fried chicken dish and hin dee hin ywet or fried vegetables were in order. The chicken dish was stirfried with onions, carrots and long beans with a little bit of soya sauce and the vegetables with a sauce made from soya sauce and tomatoes. The cost? less than Ks 1000 or USD1.50 for each.

very simple yet delicious chicken stir fry

stir fry veg

Like I said before, good food comes in run down, dodgy looking road side stalls. With see-chat at least, that's the case in Yangon!

doggyjames says...these stalls can be found all over the streets of Yangon, and you will never go wrong with the see chat here. I say try it while you are in Yangon and if you are lucky enough not to catch any stomach virus, this would be one of the most memorable meals of your life!

Ku Ku in Yangon...?

So...was walking around my favorite shopping mall in Yangon and found this...

kuku now available for takeaways...

They serve some suspicious tube-like fried items...was too scared to takeaway any...heh



random picture by doggyjames

YKKO Kyay-Oh & BBQ, Yangon, Myanmar

One thing I noticed when I first stepped into this mysterious land is that there are no fast food franchises, no international coffee chains nor anything like Malaysia's Old Town or Paparich. It almost seems like there are no franchised eateries at all. Then I notice this brand name all over town, YKKO, a local franchise specialized in Burmese noodles and BBQ. I made it a point to try out one of these outlets as there is nothing I like more than a hot bowl of noodles soup on a lazy morning.

One late morning after countless amount of alcohol the night before a good night's sleep, I finally get to try this place. Hangover a good night's sleep and hot soup, there is no other better combination.

The YKKO branch I visited was in Junction Square, where I do my weekly grocery shopping. It was about 2pm and the lunch crowd was just leaving so it was relatively easy to get a seat. Environment was nice and cozy, and the wonder smell from the kitchen was intoxicating indeed.

One thing great about this place especially for those who can't speak or read a word of Burmese, English on their menus!

I decided on a standard kyah-oh, vermicelli noodle in a bowl of fragrant pork & fish based soup with loads of pork balls, minced pork, pork intestines and a quill egg or 2. kyah-oh is apparently one of Myanmar's national dish, simple yet taste great. This being a franchised restaurant there were quite a bit of MSGs in the soup but the meat portions was really generous, and for the first time I almost couldn't finish my meal! A standard chili sauce, which is much more fragrant with the strong presence of garlic and onions was served to go with the noodles.

simple yet superb sauce

crazy amount of pork bits!

And then I found something in the soup that I did not expect at all...pork brains! I have only eaten pork brains on a few rare occasions before this but I must say, this is surprisingly one of the best I have ever tasted! It's fresh, fragrant and the textures superbly smooth and custardy!

never would I imagine pork brains are standard here!

And the price? Less than 3000Kyats or USD 4 a portion! I must say It would seem expensive for local standards but considering the fact that this is an air conditioned franchised restaurant, it was not too bad at all.

YKKO has over 10 branches across Yangon alone, and it is hard to pass by a day without seeing a branch. The one I went to was in Junction Square but the list of YKKO branches can be found in the website below.
Most of the staffs at YKKO speaks decent English.

YKKO Junction Square branch

Junction Square, Room(S-201), Between Pyay Road &Kyuntaw Street,
Near Agriculture(Bus Stop), Kamayut Township.

YKKO Facebook Page

YKKO website

Operating hours depend on the location, if it's in a shopping centre it would be closed around 9pm-10pm. If it's along the streets they go well into the night.

Doggyjames says...One's journey in Myanmar would not be complete without a taste of Kyay-Oh. I would guarantee you would love this dish if you are into hot porky soups.

Win BBQ Shop, Yangon, Myanmar

Mingalabar (hello in Burmese) all! I am now in Yangon for a month now and let me introduce one of Yangon's most famous night activities....eating!

One of the first place I was brought to is 19th Street in Downtown Yangon, famously known as BBQ street for well...the sheer amount of BBQ shops here! Any taxi driver would know this place so you need not be scared not being able to find the place!

the famous 19th street

The particular shop I went to is called Win Restaurant, a typical Myanmar BBQ shop set up with a few wooden tables and stools with a bbq stand outside this shop with cheap beer on sale (the most popular beer here is Myanmar beer, about 1,500Kyats or USD2). Think of Jalan Alor without the airconditioning and minimal amount of tourist.

For 3 person we order a rather large meal consisting of fried flat noodles (something like Malaysia's Char Kuey Teow but with less dark soya sauce and tonnes of meat!), BBQ items including squid, chicken meat & ass, pork ribs, quill eggs, vegetables and a rather decent sized talipia fish, which standard size is about 1kg each filled with herbs, lemon and cilli. That and a large serving of kangkung fried with garlic for good measure. oh and there is a dish of Burmese style omelet somewhere in the picture.

all these goodies just for 3 very, very greedy fellas

And we were served with a simple sauce made from cooking oil, vinegar, lime juice, chilli and other spices. Wouldn't say I love it at first but it has grown on me now.

simple yet great sauces

And how do one order if one does not speak a word of Burmese? Well just hop over to the bbq stands and point your way to food heaven!

dont worry, most of the items are clean & fresh...well, MOST.

And how much did all these yummies, plus 6 large bottles of cold, refreshing Myanmar beer cost? About 24,000Kyats (USD28). Would say it's the cheapest in the world but hey, surely much more affordable than KL! The prices varies but would be cheaper at places where there are no tourists.

I must say Myanmar is a hidden foodies paradise. More food adventures from Yangon coming up very soon!

No maps for this one because of diplomatic issues between Myanmar & Google, lol.

Win Restaurant
19th Street,
Yangon, Myanmar.

Operating Hours:
Daily from 11am - 12am



Doggyjames says...yummy, economical, totally awesome!