The Best Burmese in San Francisco

Pagan Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4 (620) • $$

"Don't be put off by the name of the restaurant. The Burmese and Thai food is the most sophisticted, delicate food of its kind. I have had meals with friends and family several times in the restaurant and twice had takeout sophisticated enough to call "catering." Everything was delicious."

Teni East Kitchen

★★★★☆ 4.3 (490) • $$

"Oh my goodness! This place was amazing! If we lived closer we would eat here all the time! Everything we ordered was so flavorful from the green beans with tofu to the tea leaf salad to the coconut rice. What I was especially impressed by was their tea leaf salad...I didn't expect a kale based salad but it was AMAZING and I was surprised to find that I even prefer it this way. Highly recommend!"

Burmese Kitchen

★★★★☆ 4.3 (449) • $$

"Excellent burmese food!The tea leaf salad was delicious - no romaine or anything like that, just some cabbage and all the special delicious good stuff. The roti with potato curry surprisingly was surprisingly flavorful, highly recommended.Wow, wow, wow for the pork with pickled mango - tender, tangy, hard to stop eating!Similarly the beef with lemongrass, although milder flavored, was rich, tender, and totally satisfying.Garlic noodles were the only meh dish of the evening, they could be skipped.Overall this was *much* better than our last takeout from one of the more famous Burmese restaurants."

Taste of Burma

★★★★☆ 4.3 (415) • $$

"Taste of Burma is another good Burmese restaurant in Daly City. I came here on a Saturday for lunch and although a couple of tables were occupied, there was no wait for a table. We ended up ordering the samusas, tea leaf salad, coconut chicken soup, and nan gyi dok. The food came out in a reasonable amount of time and portions were okay to a bit small. The samusas were crispy and filled with potatoes, onions, and spices that tasted delicious. The order came with 5 pieces for $7.99. This was a great appetizer and was served with their house sauce. The tea leaf salad ($13.99) was good, however, it was not bursting with flavor as some of the other tea leaf salads I've had. The portion wasn't very big as well, but we still enjoyed the tea leaf salad. The coconut chicken soup ($12.99) was creamy and very enjoyable. Nan Gyi Dok ($12.99) is thick rice vermicelli with coconut diced chicken, red onions, cilantro, fried onions, and fried wonton skins. It was also very good, but reminded me of the coconut chicken soup, just without the creamy thick soup. Overall, the experience at Taste of Burma was really good. The staff was friendly, polite, and patient as we took awhile to eat and chat. The restaurant was clean, calm, and small. The bathroom was in good condition as well. The location is in south Daly City, a little closer to South San Francisco, in a small plaza on a hill. There is a small, but crowded parking lot. Taste of Burma is a good choice for Burmese food in this area."

Yangon

★★★★☆ 4.4 (330) • $$

"Came all the way from the east bay to come here and it did not disappoint. The service was phenomenal!! Our waiter was very attentive and helpful when ordering. Salt and pepper fish 10/10Eggplant 10/10Chow Fun 10/10The food was hot and flavorful and the ambience was very nice. Will definitely be coming back."

Green Elephant Gourmet

★★★★☆ 3.5 (331) • $$

"I can't believe I've never reviewed this restaurant before - this was an ole favorite of ours a few years ago.We decided to all come back the other night and eat inside - such a nice change...The owners and all their staff are so kind and friendly. Food is very consistent here.The menu is divided into a Burmese section and a Chinese section. I do know that the Burmese Tea salad is often ordered but we haven't yet tried it.We ordered two standard favs: Seafood Tofu soup - large portion with soft silky tofu, nice chunks of scallops and shrimp perfectly cooked, some mushrooms, peas and diced carrots and egg whites whipped through a clear broth. We also got the minced shrimp lettuce cups - a bit pricey but very nicely done and presented. Kids were super hungry so two orders beef chow fun (with actual noodles lol) - beef is like velvet. And we tried a new special of spicy garlic eggplant and chicken - see photo. Plus two sides of rice - and not one bite leftover to take home from this feast.Quick and attentive service = very clean and nicely lit. A neighborhood gem."

Teakwood

★★★★☆ 4.1 (213) • $$$

"Teakwood is an absolute gem near Hayes Valley, by the owners of Burma Love! I made a reservation for five about a week in advance, and our dinner at 5:30 PM on a Monday started off in a quiet and peaceful atmosphere. The restaurant filled up around 6:30 PM, but even when it got busier, the ambiance remained cozy and welcoming.The tea leaf salad was the star of the night--bursting with flavor and texture, a true must-try! But every dish we had was incredible. We shared the chicken garlic noodles, which were perfectly seasoned, and the lemongrass steak, cooked to perfection with a great balance of flavors. The aged duck curry was rich and satisfying, while the dayboat scallops were beautifully seared and fresh. The plancha calamari was tender with just the right amount of char, and for dessert, the coconut panna cotta was a perfect ending--light, creamy, and indulgent.To top it off, the Letters from Myanmar cocktail was a delightful highlight! It was refreshing, STRONG and balanced, with a unique twist that complemented the meal beautifully.The service was impeccable--attentive without being overbearing. Our server was knowledgeable about the menu, answered all our questions, and made great recommendations.If you're looking for a dining experience that combines exceptional food, a relaxing ambiance, and stellar service, Teakwood is the place to go. Make a reservation, come hungry, and don't skip the tea leaf salad! I'll definitely be back to explore more of their menu."

New Burma

★★★★★ 4.5 (133) • $$

"Ordered for takeout via Uber Eats on a Sunday evening, and it was so delicious. A cozy spot next to a good amount of offices, probably very popular during the week for lunch.We ordered:- Tea Leaf Salad with Lettuce: So crunchy and so many different flavors and textures. A must order!- Platha with Coconut Curry Chicken Dip: the platha was buttery and flaky and chewy and paired so well with the curry. Delicious!- Eggplant with Garlic Sauce: you can't go wrong with saucy fried eggplant. This was a great flavor explosion.- Mint Chicken: A deceivingly simple dish but was so tasty and had a great punch of flavor despite looking simple. No wonder it's one of their most popular dishes.- Coconut Rice: I could inhale multiple bowls of this. Light, fluffy, savory, and sweet all in one bowl. Service was quick, food was ready when we got there! Really great Burmese spot."

Burma Spice

★★★★★ 4.6 (109) • $$

"Burma Spice has been on rotation lately because everything is flavorful and cooked well. I've had the Tea Leaf Salad, Eggplant Shrimp with Garlic Sauce, Fiery Tofu with Beef, Garlic Noodles, and Fiery Chicken. The atmosphere is comfortable for a casual drop in or a nicer dinner and conversation doesn't compete with a noise level. There are TVs, so maybe that changes if there's a big game on but hasn't been the case the e multiple times I've been.My only nit is that the service is a tad slow. Friendly, but not on an expected cadence. It's getting better, so maybe as a newer restaurant they're fine-tuning the training or they're finding their rhythm. I'm sure I'll be back (again) in the next few weeks."

Ar Har Ya

★★★★★ 4.8 (90) • $$

"Oh hell yea! I think this is the literal translation for Ar Har Ya! This is a wonderful little restaurant in the Financial District area. How often do you get to have Burmese food? Turns out, it's the same as Myanmar food. They have a wide selection of curries and such that I'd never heard of. I asked them to make some recommendations. It's obviously run by ma and pa who seem to have left life in Burma in order to open their curry shack here! It's delicious- a depth of flavors that you don't get at any other cuisine's kitchens. The Masala was fragranat and delighted with their coconut rice (they had like 3 options for rice) The places to sit and eat inside were few, most people seem to do take out. I wish I could keep coming back- their seafood smelled amazing."

Burma Silver Star

★★★★★ 4.5 (77)

"SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESS I really enjoyed my dining experience tonight, I came here on a Wednesday night with my husband and mom, and we were greeted right away with owner So. Who is so incredibly hospitable! Welcomed us with warm tea from Burma and gave us recommendations on what to order as well.We ordered the tea leaf salad, lamb curry, and pan tay noodles which were all incredibly delicious!The tea leaf salad is not oily at all compared to other places I've had it and I think some people below complained about the portion sizes but actually I thought it was well portioned. Lamb curry also came with a decent amount of lamb so I didn't think they skimped on the meat.The pan tay noodles reminded me of the Chinese chow mein but spiced a bit differently. It came with this Burma dry chili that I LOVED u must put some on your noodles for extra ummmmf!! Everything tasted so wholesome and home cooked.We then chatted with the owner for a good 15 minutes, where he explained that a lot the raw materials he uses are from Burma because quality is just not the same sourcing from local.Overall, I would 100% come back here and try other dishes!"

Burma Classic

★★★★★ 4.6 (38)

"This place is soooo delicious. We got the pumpkin curry with tofu, ginger salad, tea leaf salad, vegetarian samosas and salt and pepper tofu. Everything was fantastic. I really loved the pumpkin curry--the taste was excellent and satisfied that fall itch. The salads were also top notch and were very refreshing. The tofu was one of my favorites, and both the tofu and samosas were great with the sauce they provided. Would definitely order from here again!"

The Hidden Bistro

★★★★★ 4.8 (29)

"Wow! The Hidden Bistro is a ghost kitchen that dishes out tasty food. There wasn't a storefront sight or restaurant identification when you arrive. Just make sure you're at the correct building number. I saw people walking out with a pizza box and other types of packaged food. I preordered and got my food delivered to my car. The person was nice and said they tried to keep the food warm (I was late for my pickup). I can't not say enough how smart the food was packaged. There were no leaks! I got home and the food was still warm! They flavors were bright but not too strong or spicy. I love spice and spicy so next time I will ask to bump it up. Tea leaf salad:Wow! I really loved the fermented tea leaves. It was more like spinach and not too funky. It was vegetarian so no dried shrimps or fish sauce was used. Veggie Biryani:The tamarind sauce that came with this dish was so good. They were generous with the portion of food and I the veggies were cooked really well. I'm not talking overcooked mush, but texture and crunch heaven. Massaman Roasted Vegetable Curry:Oooooo this was comforting and warm. I would order this again with more sliced chili peppers ;) The coconut rice was exceptional. This is a rich dish that went well with the perfectly cooked vegetables. Don't be weirded out by the ghost kitchen concept. There's nothing ghostly about these flavors and business model. The food rocks!"

Yamo

★★★★☆ 3.8 • $

"Yamo dishes up yummy and flavorful Burmese/Chinese cuisine in the heart of the Mission. I went here recently for a bite with my uncle. Yamo is a hole in the wall yet don't expect five star dining ambiance yet the charm of the hole in the wall is where it's at like Beck. Me and my uncle met travelers dining here hailing from Germany and Sweden. I also met a local who lived in the Mission and moved out of state yet when he lived in SF would dine here daily and every time he visits he always comes here.Yamo has been here since 2005. Yamo is run by Michelle and her mom. Michelle is tough and runs a tight ship. Food is super affordable for San Francisco and friendly yet tough love service.Lines usually line up out into the block. Michelle and her mom hail from China. Many vegan options on the menu.We split the samosa aka Burmese style samosa. They were good. I have had better. I have had worse.We each got the Yamo Chili Spinach Noodle dish. It hit the spot. It was quite alright. Tasty, veggies, and tofu. Filling and affordable aka most affordable entree in SF by far. We would return for the vibe and to try more of the menu aka the Papaya Salad looks on point.Cash only.We'll be back!"

Burma Love

★★★★☆ 4.1 • $$

"The ambiance for this location has nice vibes, great for group dinners! It gets pretty busy so better to make a reservation if you can. The food is always consistent and tasty. Love the tea leaf salad!"

Burma Superstar

★★★★☆ 4.1 • $$

"Mmmmmmm my favorite place for Burmese food! Highly recommend a reservation to sit inside, but outside in the winter isn't too bad with the fire/heat lamps.Highly recommend the tea leaf salad, my favorite dish here. It is a fermented tea leaf dish tossed with a crispy mixture of nuts, chickpeas, sesame seeds, fried garlic, with lettuce. Contains shrimp powder and fish sauce. They normally mix it for you at the table. We ordered multiple of this dish and they came out pre-mixed and they left 1 to mix and show us at the table.I enjoy the Lamb Burmese Style Red Curry too, but you can get it with other meat such as beef or chicken too. Goes great with the coconut rice which you have to separately order. The coconut rice is sweet with a strong coconut flavor, pairs well with the burmese style red curry!First time trying the spicy noodles, it was definitely more sweet than expected. Tasted like a sweet and spicy noodle, tangy with pea shoots, red bell peppers, scrambled egg, shredded cabbage, and crushed peanuts.Another dish I enjoy here is the fried chili catfish, tossed in fried garlic, fried onions, and chili flakes. It has bones, so many people don't like having to pick the bones out.Finally got the try the Burmese Ale! We were unsure about ordering it, so the server offered to bring us a sample. We liked it and ended up ordering a pitcher."

Mingalaba

★★★★☆ 3.8 • $$

"Cute hole in the wall in downtown Burlingame. They get packed so get there early. We ordered a chicken curry, noodles, and coconut rice. Everything was delicious! We will come back and try other items. The place is small and there is only one bathroom - be mindful of crowding that back space that also shares with the kitchen and waitstaff. Highly recommend otherwise."