Pure vegetarians usually have limited options at fine dining restaurants. Not so at Burma Burma. Though Burmese cuisine is known for its seafood and meat preparations, the restaurant has given these a miss. But the vegetarian spread they have on offer comes as a pleasant surprise even for meat lovers.
Situated in Saket’s Select Citywalk mall, Burma Burma has outlets in Mumbai and Gurugram as well.
The cosy restaurant has beautiful interiors with colourful dolls of several Burmese tribes displayed on one wall, while the other has elements from Burmese culture carved into it — the lotus flower, the owl, fish and more.
The tea bar in the end of the restaurant boasts a pretty display of Burmese artefacts and lacquer ware as the backdrop.
I started with a Nutella-flavoured bubble tea. A mix of black tea, milk, maple syrup and chewy tapioca pearls with Nutella, it was a perfect blend and had me reordering it.
Then came the Thoke Sampler, a salad platter with raw mango salad, tea leave salad and sunflower leaves. My favourite was the sunflower salad — the leaves were fresh and left me pondering how a cuisine could utilise every part of a plant, flower and fruit so well. Besides being green, it was crisp with peanuts mixed in it.
Soups offered here are interesting too, with the “samosa soup” a clear winner. A bit on the hot side, the soup will be loved by those who like red chili flakes in their food. The other two were chickpea tohu soup and Burmese pepper soup which were minus the hot spices and rather filling.
While going through the menu a salad with white fungus caught my eye, but somehow I did not have the stomach to try it. However, if you are given to experimenting with your palate, give it a chance. It may just surprise you.
Another must-try is the Tohu mok palata, which is chickpea mash cooked with onions and tomatoes accompanied with flaky Burmese paranthas. To break it down for the common man, the parantha resembles a mini Malabari parantha and is delicious.
Then there was the tofu bun called Paukse. Soft-steamed and served as mini burgers with a crunchy tofu patty and coconut mayo. Not a fan of tofu at all, I was sceptical at first. But being a reviewer I had to give it a shot. Must say I have no regrets.
Like something crispy’ Do not forget to order the lotus stem crisps called Kyar Yoe Kyaw. They are super-thin slices of lotus stem sprinkled with paprika and curry leaves. It’s a good starter, so chomp on it with your bubble tea and relish the riot of flavours unleashed in your mouth.
Your meal at Burma Burma is incomplete without trying the Khow Suey. The restaurant offers all versions of it, be it dry, curry or medium dry. The curry is a blast of coconut, so if you don’t like coconut, best to try the dry option which is delicious too.
End your meal with their coconut jelly, which melts in the mouth. It is scrumptious when had in the form of the faluda-style dish, also called Shway Aye, or with pineapple and toffee, also called Coco Pina.
FAQs:
Where: S 25, Second Floor, A3, Select Citywalk Mall, Saket, New Delhi.
Timings: 12 pm to 11 pm.
Price for two: Rs 1,500/- Plus applicable taxes
(The writer’s visit was at the invitation of Burma Burma. Kishori Sud can be contacted at [email protected])
By Kishori Sud