Thursday 18 April 2013

The best place to eat around Bagan





Some people might not agree with me, but I found that Burmese food is not the best in the world. It is tasty, there's a great variety of curries and noodles, but to me it was never spicy enough, or had too much cabbage, or was just bland. I was thrilled when I found a lot of restaurants with food from around the world in Nyaung Oo (2 km from Old Bagan), and this little restaurant is my top choice.








 The Wonderful Tasty Restaurant is located in one of the most popular roads in Nyaung Oo. There are a lot of other bars with tasty food there, and I tried almost all of them, but this place stole my heart completely.

The restaurant is one of those that combine western style decor with Asian simplicity. You sit at a nice, wooden, clean table, while the kitchen is hidden behind a dirty cloth. There are also cupboards and shelves with photographs and memorabilia, which shows that the family who runs the place, also lives there. The squat toilets are hidden in a yard, where chickens, pigs run freely, and the neighbors store their supply of rice and wheat. There is also a big, old Bagan-style temple in the yard, which looks a bit out of place, but is very mysterious at the same time.


But the decor and toilet inconveniences aside, The Wonderful Tasty can bring you so much culinary joy that you will be screaming for more.
On the menu there is a choice of Burmese, Nepalese, Tibetan, Thai and Indian food. There are also a couple of really tasty western options. Chickpea soup is free and served before every meal, and it is worth dining there, just to taste it.
Except that, I recommend Tibetan Mo Mo, which was one of my favorites.



There is also a great choice of freshly made shakes, which will not only refresh you, but will fill you up a little, too.
Try the ginger and lemon tea, if you feel like you're getting a cold, or need something warmer during the cold Burmese nights.
The only thing that is slightly annoying for a westerner is that you need to wait a long time for your meal. At one point I waited around 30 min for my sweet and sour chicken...but hey! it was well worth it!


I'm curious what you think about Burmese cuisine. Don't be shy! Leave a comment! 

4 comments:

  1. Jo,
    I have never experienced Burmese food but look forward to it. I am a fan of Asian foods overall!

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  2. Yeah, I was not wowed by the food either. Good find!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks! If you visit Bagan again, you need to try it out!

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