List of Burmese dishes facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Burmese cuisine is full of exciting flavors! It includes dishes from different parts of Burma, now called Myanmar. Many local ethnic groups have added their own special touches to the food. The Bamar people are the largest group, but others like the Chin people also have unique dishes.

Burmese food often uses lots of fish products, like fish sauce and ngapi (fermented seafood). Because Myanmar is located near China, India, and Thailand, its food has been influenced by Chinese cuisine, Indian cuisine, and Thai cuisine.

Delicious Burmese Salads

Burmese salads, called thoke, are super popular! They are often mixed by hand and can be a whole meal.

Tea Leaf Salad (Lahpet Thoke)

A colorful Lahpet Thoke, or tea leaf salad.

This is one of Myanmar's most famous dishes! It's a salad made from pickled tea leaves. Imagine eating tea leaves! It's mixed with crunchy fried peas, peanuts, and garlic. It also has toasted sesame seeds, fresh garlic, tomatoes, green chilies, dried shrimp, and preserved ginger. Everything is dressed with peanut oil, fish sauce, and lime. It's a unique and tasty snack or side dish.

Noodle Salads

Nan Gyi Thoke:

Nan Gyi Thoke, a thick rice noodle salad.

This is a thick rice noodle salad. It's mixed with chickpea flour, chicken, fish cake, onions, and coriander. It's dressed with crispy fried onion oil, fish sauce, and lime. It's a hearty and flavorful noodle dish.
Khauk Swè Thoke:

Khauk Swè Thoke, a wheat noodle salad.

This salad uses wheat noodles. It comes with dried shrimp, shredded cabbage, and carrots. It's dressed with fried peanut oil, fish sauce, and lime.
Kya Zan Thoke: This is a glass noodle salad. It often has boiled prawns and mashed curried duck eggs and potatoes.

Other Fun Salads

Thayet Chin Thoke:

Thayet Chin Thoke, a fermented green mango salad.

This is a fermented green mango salad. It's mixed with onions, green chili, roasted peanuts, sesame, and peanut oil. It's tangy and refreshing!
Tofu Thoke:

Tofu Thoke, a fresh yellow tofu salad.

This salad uses fresh yellow tofu, cut into small pieces. It's dressed with peanut oil, dark soy sauce, rice vinegar, chili, garlic, roasted peanuts, and crispy fried onions. It's often topped with coriander.
Samuza Thoke:

Samuza Thoke, a samosa salad.

This is a salad made with samosas (a fried pastry with a savory filling). It includes onions, cabbage, fresh mint, potato curry, and spices. It's a mix of crunchy and soft textures.

Popular Bamar Dishes

The Bamar people are the main ethnic group in Myanmar, and their food is widely eaten.

Mohinga

Mohinga, Myanmar's unofficial national dish.

This is often called the unofficial national dish of Myanmar! Mohinga is a delicious soup with rice vermicelli noodles in a fish broth. It's made with onions, garlic, ginger, lemon grass, and sliced banana stem. It's usually served with boiled eggs, fried fish cake, and fritters. It's a popular breakfast food.

Hsi Htamin

Hsi Htamin, glutinous rice cooked with turmeric.

This is a popular breakfast dish. It's sticky glutinous rice cooked with turmeric (which gives it a yellow color) and onions in peanut oil. It's served with toasted sesame seeds and crispy fried onions.

Ngapi Jet

This is a spicy fermented fish paste or salted fish curry. It's cooked with onions, tomatoes, garlic, chili, and coriander. It's usually served with fresh or boiled vegetables on the side.

Dishes with Chinese Influence

Myanmar's food has been shaped by its neighbor, China.

Kyay Oh

Kyay Oh, vermicelli noodles in soup.

This dish features vermicelli noodles in a soup, often with pork and green vegetables. It's a comforting and popular noodle soup.

Htamin Gyaw (Fried Rice)

Htamin Gyaw, Burmese fried rice.

This is Burmese-style fried rice, often made with boiled peas. It's a simple yet satisfying meal.

Pauk See (Steamed Buns)

Pauk See, steamed buns.

These are soft, steamed buns. They can be filled with savory ingredients like pork and egg, or sweet fillings like bean paste. They make a great snack!

Si Gyet Khauk Swè

Si Gyet Khauk Swè, wheat noodles with duck or pork.

These are wheat noodles served with duck or pork, fried garlic oil, soy sauce, and chopped spring onions. It's a unique dish that's considered a special part of Burmese Chinese cuisine.

Dishes with Indian Influence

Indian cuisine has also had a big impact on Burmese food, especially with breads and curries.

Danbauk (Burmese Biryani)

Danbauk, Burmese-style biryani.

This is the Burmese version of biryani, a flavorful rice dish. It's made with either chicken or mutton and served with mango pickle, fresh mint, and green chili.

Nan Bya (Naan Bread)

Nan Bya, Burmese-style naan bread.

This is Burmese-style naan bread. It can be buttered or served with boiled peas. It's often eaten with mutton soup.

Palata (Paratha)

Palata, Burmese-style paratha.

This is the Burmese version of paratha, a flaky flatbread. It can be served with egg or mutton.

Samusa (Samosa)

Samusa, Burmese-style samosa.

These are Burmese-style samosas, which are fried pastries filled with mutton and onions. They are served with fresh mint, green chili, onions, and lime.

Regional Specialties

Shan Khauk Swè (Shan Noodles)

Shan Khauk Swè, a popular noodle dish from the Shan State.

From the Shan State, this dish features rice noodles with chicken or minced pork, onions, garlic, tomatoes, and chili. It's topped with crushed roasted peanuts and served with pickled mustard greens.

Htamin Jin (Shan Rice Salad)

Htamin Jin, a rice, tomato, and potato/fish salad.

This is a rice, tomato, and potato (or fish) salad. It's shaped into round balls and dressed with crispy fried onion oil, tamarind sauce, and coriander. It often comes with garlic, fried dried chili, and fried tofu.

Talabaw (Karen Bamboo Shoot Soup)

Talabaw, a well-known Karen soup.

This soup is a specialty of the Karen people. Its main ingredient is bamboo shoots, along with a small amount of rice and shreds of meat or seafood. It's one of the most famous soups in Myanmar.

Mont Di (Rakhine Noodles)

Mont Di, a popular fast food from Rakhine State.

This is a popular and affordable fast food dish from the Rakhine State. Rice vermicelli noodles are eaten with condiments and a soup made from nga-pi (fish paste), or as a salad with powdered fish.

Desserts and Sweets

Burmese desserts are often made with sticky rice, coconut milk, and palm sugar.

Shwe Yin Aye

Shwe Yin Aye, a refreshing dessert.

This is a refreshing dessert made with agar jelly, tapioca, and sago pearls in sweet coconut milk. It's perfect for a hot day!

Mont Lone Yay Paw

Mont Lone Yay Paw, glutinous rice balls.

These are glutinous rice balls filled with jaggery (palm sugar). They are often eaten during the Thingyan water festival.

Htamanè

Htamanè, a savory glutinous rice dessert.

This is a savory dessert made from glutinous rice, fried shredded coconuts, peanuts, sesame seeds, and oil. It's often prepared for special occasions.

Phaluda

Phaluda, a sweet Indian-inspired dessert.

Similar to the Indian dessert falooda, this sweet treat has rose water, milk, jelly, and coconut jelly. Sometimes it's served with custard and ice cream.