The Strand Cafe in Yangon, Myanmar

Lunch at The Strand Cafe

I didn’t go to Myanmar for the cuisine. South east Asia has some of the tastiest food in the world, but Burmese specialties were not on my radar during my visit last month. Since I was staying at The Strand Hotel, I ate most of my meals at The Strand Cafe and found the menu and setting to both be delightful.

The Strand Cafe has a lively colonial vibe and gets busy at lunch when tour groups pop in for what I found to be the tastiest spot to have a bite to eat and get out of the heat of the mid-day sun. The cafe serves both colonial classics (such as curries) and southeast Asian cuisine that manages to be both delicate and satisfying and perfect for the environment.

The Strand Cafe is a light, airy casually elegant space that fits well with the rest of the hotel. While the menu isn’t extensive, all the dishes I tried were delicious and extremely appropriate for the environment. The chicken curry was not too spicy but had lovely flavor. The spring rolls were particularly delicious and the presentation was lovely.

The menu also features some local specialties, including a delicious version of Ohn No Kauk Swe, a chicken and coconut soup served at breakfast with light noodles that became my favorite dish for breakfast as well as lunch.

During the day, a woman plays the saung, a Burmese harp in the lobby outside the Strand Cafe, added to the exotic elegance of the setting.

Breakfast service is also impressive, and like so many top Asian hotels, ncluded in the room rate. Service was top-notch and eggs come perfectly cooked to order it was a nice way to finish a morning spent watching the sun rise at nearby Sule or Shwedagon Pagodas.

Even if you aren’t staying at The Strand, I’d recommend visiting the Strand Cafe for lunch or dinner during your time in Yangon. The Strand Bar is just across the hall and also worth popping by to have a drink and chat with fellow travelers.