Top best restaurants in Mandalay, Myanmar

Most travelers stop in Mandalay for at least two days and it is possible to discover some great food in the non-tourist restaurants. Below are the best restaurants you should try.

Lashio Lay

Although Mandalay’s Burmese population is largely made up of Bamar people, the city’s proximity to the rural Shan State has contributed immensely to the local cuisine. One of the most popular restaurants in the city, Lashio Lay is also the best place for authentic Shan fare. Freshly cooked dishes are displayed at the till, from which you can select the dishes you wish to try. Delicacies include shan tohu (chickpea-flour tofu fritters), wet tha chin (minced pork in rice) and papaya salad, with an emphasis throughout on sesame, peanut and garlic flavours.

Aye Myit Tar

Brightly lit, this simple but historic thick-walled colonial-era merchant's building houses central Mandalay's most popular upmarket curry eatery. There is a big range of chicken, fish and pork curries; all come with sides, soup and rice. Alternatively, boost your meal by choosing from the salad and vegetable dishes on the menu.

DOSE Mandalay

Since opening in October last year, DOSE has become a real game changer for Mandalay’s nightlife. Whether you are craving wine, beer, great tunes or steaks, DOSE Mandalay has it all. Of course, the cocktails are enough to tempt most inside, but with its amazing offers and mouth-watering food, do not miss out if you are visiting.

Ko’s Kitchen

For much of their history, the countries now known as Myanmar and Thailand were composed of small warring states with constantly shifting boundaries. Lanna, the northern Thai kingdom centered on culinary haven Chiang Mai, was under Burmese control until 1775. There remains a significant Thai minority in Mandalay, and Ko’s Kitchen serves the most elegant Thai food in town.

Located just west of the incredible reconstructed Mandalay Palace, it is housed in a pleasant art deco building and features a glass-walled kitchen that you can watch as you wait.

Green Elephant

This is basically Burmese cuisine for tour groups, although individuals can usually get a slightly adapted version with six or so dishes on request. The food is good, so if you are nervous about trying Burmese outside on the street, this is a solid bet, but otherwise it is local cuisine with significantly marked-up prices.

Super 81

With southern Chinese immigrants accounting for over a third of the city’s population, it is no surprise that many of Mandalay’s best eateries specialize in Cantonese and Yunnan food. Super 81 stands out in a crowded field, serving up a huge variety of dishes; there are a dozen variations of steamed duck alone, along with excellent squid and sea bass, all served in generous portions. Its labyrinthine layout only adds to the charm, with a sprawling network of rooms, terraces and roof gardens hidden behind an unassuming shop front.

Read more: Mandalay, a cultural and religious hub in Myanmar

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The best BBQ spots in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

There are many reasons to love BBQ, the mouth-watering aroma, the juicy steak, the irresistible flavor, etc. Do not hesitate to head right away to the most feast-worthy barbecues in Ho Chi Minh City anytime you are in mood for some grilling.

King BBQ

King BBQ is often referred to as one of the most high-quality grilled restaurants in Saigon. It is known for superior service as well as its delicate attention to details, providing you with the best experience at a fairly reasonable price. The restaurant offers a wide selection of meat and vegetables, as well as full access to its salad bar, soup, and dessert. The place is best for large group meetups since it can offer something to everyone at a very good price.

Here are some its branches you can try: 

• B3-10B, Vincom Center, 70-72 Le Thanh Ton street, District 1
• L5-03, Saigon Centre, 65 Le Loi street, District 1
• 208 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia street, District 3
• 515 Nguyen Tri Phuong street, District 10.
• 04 - 05b, SC Vivocity, 1058 Nguyen Van Linh, District 7
• B1-11, Vincom Quang Trung, 190 Quang Trung street, Go Vap district
• 38 Mac Dinh Chi street, District 1

TNT BBQ

Hickory-smoked, tender beef brisket and other succulent meats await to satisfy your barbeque cravings at TNT BBQ nestled in a small building off Ly Tu Trong street in Ho Chi Minh City’s District 1.

This American-owned eatery started off as delivery-only but now regularly greets a line of hungry patrons eager to sink their teeth into their famous brisket, smoked chicken, or delicious pulled pork sandwiches. TNT’s selection of equally satisfying side dishes perfectly complement the main dishes and are best enjoyed with one of several craft and local beers on draught.

Address: 1-3 Dang Tran Con, Ben Thanh ward, district 1, Ho Chi Minh City

Rom BBQ

Rom BBQ is another terrific rooftop spot for some delicious Vietnamese barbeque. The atmosphere at Rom is more peaceful than you would expect, and is a great choice for couples looking to share a romantic dinner. Rom serves up the classics for patrons to grill on their own; selections of duck, goat, chicken, and pork all come coated in different homemade sauces to sizzle on the grill. Do not miss the marinated coconut and sesame chicken with a side of lemongrass rice.

Address: 2 Luu Van Lang, Ben Thanh ward, district 1, Ho Chi Minh City

Saigon Grill

Saigon Grill is centrally located on trendy Pasteur street and boasts a fantastic rooftop view of the city. Their wide variety of BBQ dishes are packed with local Vietnamese flavour and some are cooked right on the table. This spot is perfect for anyone looking for variety, their menu includes traditional BBQ meat as well as a wide selection of seafood.

If you are famished, consider ordering one or two extras – the portions can be a little on the small side for anyone used to American-sized BBQ servings!

Address: 91 Pasteur, Ben Nghe ward, district 1, Ho Chi Minh City

5ku Station

If you are looking for a fun place to kick back with an ice-cold beer and enjoy authentic Vietnamese barbeque, 5ku Station is your place. This off-the-street grill is where locals and tourists alike mingle and devour heaps of grilled meat, seafood, vegetables, and noodles until the wee hours of the morning.

It is so good that you will do a double-take when you get the bill; 5ku is notorious for its high-quality, affordable menu. You will almost always have to wait for a table at peak dinner times, but it is definitely worth it.

Address: 29 Thai Van Lung, Ben Nghe ward, district 1, Ho Chi Minh City

Jake's American BBQ

Owner Jake has been serving delicious food across Asia for the past decade, and Ho Chi Minh City is the lucky location of his latest venture. Jake’s BBQ serves up the classic, tender, mouth-watering BBQ that southern America is known for fall-off-the-bone ribs, crispy fried chicken, slow-and-smoked pulled pork, tasty burgers and more. Jake’s is situated on popular Pasteur street, so check in here and get your Americana on.

Address: 50 Pasteur, Ben Nghe ward, district 1, Ho Chi Minh City

Read more: Best restaurants to have Chinese foods in Ho Chi Minh City

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7 popular restaurants in Chiang Mai, Thailand

Chiang Mai has hundreds of dining options, so whether you are looking for a fragrant bowl of khao soi noodles, a romantic table in an old teak house, or a chic urban venue to enjoy the local fare and do some people watching, the perfect restaurant awaits. Choose from these top 7 best restaurants below and you cannot go wrong.

The Restaurant at Anantara

The Restaurant at the Anantara Chiang Mai Resort offers breakfast, lunch and dinner to both hotel guests and visitors from outside the hotel. The Restaurant offers a fine dining experience at one of Chiang Mai’s finest five-star hotels. The outside area has riverside views of Chiang Mai and is a great place to spend sunset. The inside area has a mix of tables and booths to sit in and large glass windows so guests can still see the river and garden area.

Old Chiang Mai Cultural Center

Is it the most utterly delicious meal in the city? Not exactly. Is it a quintessential Chiang Mai experience? 100 percent. The northern Thai equivalent of dinner theater couples deliciously pan-regional meals, think slightly sweet, northern Thai-style pork curry, chile-based dips, as well as a couple central Thai dishes with traditional dance, and has been entertaining both local and foreign visitors for the last 40 years.

David’s Kitchen

David’s Kitchen is my favorite place in Chiang Mai for fine dining. This is where you go when you want to celebrate a birthday or anniversary, impress a date or just enjoy a very nice meal. Most of the menu is comprised of French recipes such as lobster bisque, escargot, and salad Nicoise. The restaurant also offers seafood selections and local recipes elevated to a fine dining standard.

The chef’s favorite dishes, and the ones he is mastered most, are beef. Reservations are highly recommended and essentially required if you want a table on most weekends or holidays, as this is one of Chiang Mai’s most popular restaurants.

Huen Phen Restaurant

This long-time favourite restaurant has been serving up mouthwatering northern Thai fare for more than four decades. It serves one of the best khao sois in Chiang Mai, along with a range of northern Thai fare prepared according to the family recipe. The non-descript open-air section is open for lunch, whereas dinner is served in an atmospheric dining room.

Good View

Good View is a Chiang Mai institution due to its riverside location, live music and good value menu, offering a range of Thai, Japanese and International cuisines. The Kantoke, a customary platter of Chiang Mai delights is highly recommended.

Mit Mai

The back hills of Chiang Mai province are home to remote communities of Yunnanese Chinese, and for several decades now, this restaurant has brought their cuisine to the city folk. Go for dishes with uniquely Chinese ingredients such as pleasantly salty Yunnan-style air-dried ham, wok-seared greens, spicy and fragrant DIY salads, and for contrast, one of the typically mild, comforting soups.

The House

This upscale, cosmopolitan restaurant in the middle of the Old City is set in a mid-century wooden house and offers an East-meets-West fusion menu and a selection of Thai favorites, too. The result is a modern, international venue to match the crowd.

Read more: Best foods to try in Chiang Mai, Thailand

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The best restaurants in Sapa, Vietnam

Visit Sapa, no matter what your goal is, your needs and expectations will be met as it is such an amazing place that offers you a chance to experience all the sights, sounds and tastes of northwest mountains of Vietnam. Sapa cuisine is also one of the most outstanding features that appeal to visitors. For those who are keen on local dishes of this mountainous area, paying a visit to best restaurants in Sapa to indulge in mouth-watering dishes is an ultimate experience.

Hill Station Signature Restaurant

A showcase of Hmong cuisine with cool Zen decor and superb views. Dishes include flash-cooked pork with lime, ash-baked trout in banana leaves, and traditional Hmong-style black pudding. Tasting sets of local rice and corn wine are also of interest to curious travelling foodies. Do not miss to try the delicate rainbow-trout rice-paper rolls, think of them as 'Sapa sushi'.

Address: 37 Fansipan Street, Sapa

Paradise View Restaurant

Located in the center of Sapa town, Paradise View Restaurant is a perfect spot for awesome meals with great ambience and beautiful view. Here, tourists can have a chance to enjoy a number of scrumptious dishes including bean soup seasoned with mountain herbs, banana flower salad, crème brulee as well as salmon hot pot. Moreover, staff of the restaurant is lovely, hospital and friendly who offers outstanding customers services.

Address: 018 Pham Xuan Huan, Sapa

Nature View

Another location in which you can dine with a fantastic view of the hilly surroundings, Nature View, stays true to its name. On the menu are a mix of delicious Vietnamese and Western food items, and the dining experience is only further enhanced by the lovely service. It is also a great place to take some time to yourself, sit outside, above the clouds, and sip some local Lao Cai coffee as you enjoy a great book. The chicken sautéed in lemongrass and basil, grilled salmon, and the yoghurt sautéed chicken are worth a special mention. It is opened 24 hours.

Address: 61 Fansipan, Sapa

Good Morning Vietnam

Good Morning Vietnam is has attractive wooden furniture and you can observe the beautiful landscape from the window. The menu includes vegetarian food, Vietnamese food, and a little bit of Western food. The recommended dishes in this restaurant are coconut chicken curry and honey duck. The amazing views are also complemented by the professional and friendly staff of the restaurant.

Address: 63B Fansipan, Sapa

Anise Sapa Restaurant

As a mid-range restaurant, Anise Sapa has a varied menu of Vietnamese food, Western food, and vegetarian food. The restaurant has a brick fireplace and is decorated with ethnic items and pictures of Sapa on the wall. Chicken schnitzel and smoked sausage are the most recommended dishes. The chef and staff are friendly, professional, and they even speak good English.

Address: 21 Xuan Vien, Sapa

Read more: What to do when you are in Sapa

Le Gecko

With Le Gecko, you can identify the integration of French classic option and Vietnamese ingredients. Being renowned for awesome French cuisine, Le Gecko is always proud to offer best aromatic food with best drink at a reasonable price. Here, you can also have a lot of choices for your meal ranging from burgers, breakfasts, steaks, salads, pork, seafood, chicken, beef and so on.

Address: 04 Ham Rong, Sapa

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The top 5 beef noodle soup restaurants in Taiwan

A visit to Taipei is not complete without having a bowl of beef noodle soup. Braised beef stewed in a steamy, savoury broth and served with handmade noodles, you cannot think of a better meal.

Yong Kang Beef Noodle

Founded in 1963, this small, family-run, two-level restaurant has a reputation as one of the city's best places for beef noodle soup. Such is Yong Kang's status that it annually sits out the festival competition for Taipei's best beef noodles, preferring to pass the baton to upcoming restaurants or so it claims. Australian beef is used for the main cuts, but the DNA of the spicy red broth can be traced to Sichuan.

Address: Yong Kang Beef Noodles, No.17, Lane 31, Section 2, Jinshan South Road, Taipei, Taiwan

Lao Shan Dong Niu Rou Mian

According to this restaurant’s signage, it is been in business since 1949. Located in the Wan Nian Building in Ximen, this basement joint’s Jia Chang Mian (NT180, approx. SGD$8).

The beef dumpling soup was also tasty, and the dumplings were much larger than others. Take note that ordering is from a chit with only Chinese characters, no photo menus here.

Address: Lao Shan Dong Niu Rou Mian, No. 70, Xining South Road, Wanhua District Taipei City, 108. B1 Level, Taiwan

Regent Taipei

The Regent Taipei is a multiple-award winner at the Taipei Beef Noodle Festival and offers a number of acclaimed beef noodle dishes at its Azie Grand Cafe. New Formosa at Azie took the festival's creative prize in 2013. It features beef slices alongside bird's nest fern, a crunchy and slightly bitter green from Taiwan's mountains.

Address: Regent Taipei, No.3, Lane 39, Section 2, Chungshan North Road, Taipei 104 Taiwan

Lin Dong Fang

Another heavyweight in the old school beef noodle stakes, this hole-in-the-wall eatery has been pleasing palates for three decades. Its beef broth contains a secret ingredient the shop claims is used in traditional Chinese medicine.

Address: Lin Dong Fang Niu Rou Mian, No.274, Section 2, Bade Road, Taipei, Taiwan

Mien Mien Chu Tao Tasty Noodle House

Spicy, clear and tomato broths are offered at this beef noodle specialist with two outlets in the city. Unlike many red braised broths served around town, Mien Mien's Sze-chuan beef bone noodle soup is searingly spicy. The soup lives up to its name with a rich flavor of bone stock, chili burn and the mouth-numbing addition of Sichuan peppercorns.

Address: Mien Mien Chu Tao Tasty Noodle House, 1/F, 1-162 Fuhua Road, Section 1, Shilin District, Taipei, Taiwan

Source Internet

9 must-eat restaurants and night markets in Taichung

Taichung is one of Taiwan’s biggest cities. In fact, it’s the second biggest by population, bigger than Taipei and second only to New Taipei City. As you’d expect from a city with over 2.7 million people, it has a dizzying number of food choices, especially in a country as food-centric as Taiwan.

1. Second Market

If you’re in the mood for traditional Taiwanese breakfast, then Second Market is the place to go to in Taichung. Open since 1917, Taichung Second Public Market is a 7,000 square meter market with over fifty shops and three hundred stalls. There you’ll find all kinds of meat, produce, and spices, as well as multiple stands selling cooked food like baozi, noodles, lu rou fan, and black tea. As you can see from the long line of people below, it’s especially popular for breakfast.

2. Chun Shui Tang (Original Shop)

If you’re a fan of boba or bubble tea, then you absolutely must have one here at the original shop of Chun Shui Tang. It’s one of two Taiwanese establishments that have a legitimate claim as being the inventor of bubble tea. The other is Hanlin Teahouse in Tainan.

If you’ve never had boba before, it’s a Taiwanese drink which at its most basic is black tea, milk, sugar, and tapioca pearls. It was invented in Taiwan but it’s become hugely popular worldwide. There are countless varieties of boba today, including here at Chun Shui Tang.

3. Fu Din Wang

Not only was it mentioned in a few blog posts, but one article described this restaurant as the place to go to in Taichung for pork knuckle. Aside from braised pork knuckle, they also specialize in lu rou fan or braised pork rice. Check out that bubbling cauldron of pork knuckle deliciousness. Taiwanese pork knuckles are slow cooked for hours until they’re fork tender and the meat is practically sliding off the bone. Fu Din Wang was packed during lunch but it looks like they do a lot of business with takeaways as well.

4. Ding Wang Hotpot (Tripodking)

Like lu rou fan and beef noodle soup, hot pot or shabu shabu is another beloved Taiwanese dish. Popular in East Asian countries like Japan and China, hot pot is a soup dish containing a variety of ingredients like seafood, thinly sliced meat, noodles, vegetables, tofu, and different types of fish and meatballs. A simmering pot of one or two kinds of soup stock is left on a burner at your table along with your ingredients. You then drop the raw ingredients into the pot yourselves to cook.

5. Smokey Joe’s

Smokey Joe’s serves mainly Tex-Mex cuisine but they do offer many global dishes as well, like burgers, pasta, and paella. Smokey Joe’s is a huge Tex-Mex restaurant with an American Vintage theme. It’s a beautifully designed restaurant with multiple dining areas and vintage memorabilia adorning every space.

6. Miyahara Ice Cream

Miyahara is the most famous place for pineapple cakes in Taichung. It’s so famous in fact, that it’s one of the most visited tourist attractions in the city. Though Miyahara is best known for its pineapple cakes, it’s beloved for its ice cream as well which you can try from their small shop at the side of the main store. As you can tell from the markings on the floor, Miyahara Ice Cream is used to serving long queues of customers.

7. Hui-Sun Coffee

Hui-Sun Coffee is a popular coffee shop in Taichung that specializes in siphon coffee, a method of preparation that produces a delicate, tea-like cup of coffee. They gave a demo of the process and it was pretty cool to see, like watching a chemistry experiment. The coffee beans produced in Huisin Forest are described as being some of the very best in Taiwan. If you’re a coffee connoisseur and are interested in trying good local coffee in Taichung, then you may want to try a cup here at Hui-Sun Coffee.

See more: 6 reasons why Taiwan should be your next adventure

8. Zhongxiao Road Night Market

Zhongxiao Road Night Market didn’t seem to have as much food variety as other night markets. But more importantly, it didn’t feel as safe. Unlike other markets that are closed to vehicular traffic, this one has stalls on either side of busy Zhongxiao Road. Zhongxiao Road Night Market was offering lu wei, a type of Taiwanese braised food which is considered a distant cousin of hot pot. Commonly eaten as a snack, it involves braising a variety of ingredients in broth, then adding spices and sauces to the cooked food.

9. Fengjia Night Market

Home to an estimated 15,000 shops, restaurants, and stalls, Fengjia Night Market is described as the biggest night market in Taiwan. It’s a popular night market with a huge selection of food choices, so if you had time to visit just one night market in Taichung, then it should be this one. You’ll find many different types of grilled seafood at Fengjia Night Market like scallops, clams, squid, oysters, sea snails, and abalone.

Source willflyforfood

Where to have local lunch in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Cambodian cuisine attracts many tourists with its unique taste. If you want to try a great local lunch, here is a list of amazing lunch spots for you.

Friends The Restaurant

Running as one of two training schools for NGO Friends International’s hospitality and chef students, Friends the Restaurant cooks up a range of creative tapas dishes, all centred around contemporary Cambodian cuisine. Dishes include palm sugar and cinnamon braised duck leg with cranberry orange relish, prawn and glass noodle salad with fresh herbs and chilli lime dressing, and sun-dried tomato hummus with crispy wontons.

54 Langeach Sros

Definitely one of Phnom Penh’s culinary bright spots, 54 Langeach Sros is a local Khmer-style barbeque and beer garden that serves a mean plate of ribs, tangy with a hint of sweetness and slightly spicy. Do not bother ordering just one plate. The ribs can take a half-hour to arrive, but they are always worth it. Goat with black ants, “fried fish on the fire lake” and crab with young green pepper are all excellent and remarkably affordable.

Mok Mony Restaurannt

Specialising in authentic Khmer and Asian cuisine, diners can enjoy their food in the tropical garden or air-conditioned glass section. The menu takes in a range of delights, including grilled betel leaf with marinated beef, Khmer red chicken curry, blue Mekong prawns and Kampot pepper squid. It also serves daily and weekly specials.

Tummy Filler Cafe and Pub

If you cannot decide whether you are in the mood for traditional Khmer or Western food, Tummy Filler Cafe in Toul Tom Pong offers the best of both worlds. Their menu boasts Asian soups, fried rice, noodles, and Khmer classics like lok lak and amok. But it also serves up Western salads, sandwiches, pasta dishes and fish and chips. Tummy Filler opens early every day with a range of breakfast foods and specialty coffee drinks. Their bar menu includes wine, beer, and mixed drinks with a selection of unique fruity and frozen cocktails.

Phka Slaa Restaurant

Putting a modern spin on Cambodian comfort food, Phka Slaa presents a range of delicious dishes that are served in style. Offering a range of breakfast options, the cool contemporary setting is a great place to indulge in a leisurely lunch and sits right around the corner from the Royal Palace and National Museum, making it the perfect spot to take a break from sightseeing.

Khmer Surin Restaurant

Spread across three floors, each offering its own atmosphere, Khmer Surin serves authentic Khmer food in sumptuous surroundings. The ground level is a great spot to enjoy breakfast, and people-watch from among the tropical foliage. Traditional Cambodian food can be enjoyed throughout lunch, taking in salads, steamed dishes, curries, soups and fried options.

Read more: 7 reasons why you should visit Cambodia at least one time

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