Entering a new country, I am always excited to experience the local cuisine for the first time. One of my first questions to locals that I meet is always where is their favourite place to eat. Following my usual string of enquiries, I quizzed my taxi driver for the best place in Yangon to try Myanmar food. More than willingly he whipped out a business card for the best place to eat. The place that locals themselves go for a good meal. Satisfied with my enquiry and in possession of cards for several restaurants, I was excited for dinner time to come around.
Another travel habit of mine is asking other locals for advice and usually this information crisscrosses. To my delight the staff at Myint Myat Guesthouse all suggested the same restaurants that my taxi driver had kindly advised us. Daw Dee Saw was definitely the favourite restaurant for Myanmar food for locals. After a few days of sampling Myanmar cuisine in Yangon, I too agree that Daw Dee Saw is the best of the bunch (also most affordable restaurant).
Figuring out Yangon’s grid system was simple and the long walk to 29th street commenced. A mix of smells, some pleasant and others quite unfortunate, filled my nostrils as we continued towards the restaurant. The market and food stalls lining the streets kept my eyes busy and I was surprised that no stall owner hustled us for attention. This was a great change to the constant babble of salesmen in Bangkok.
Almost giving up on the search for Daw Dee Saw due to underestimating the walk, we stumbled across the entrance. I peered inside and soaked in a cafeteria style restaurant with trays of food already prepared and a team of eager staff to help you settle in. Our host for our meal quickly got to work explaining each dish and before we knew it we were being seated at a table with rice, soup and vegetables all complimentary with our selected mains and beverages not too far behind.
I had a quick taste before taking some snaps of the sensational spread but was soon consumed by the feast and had demolished the mouth watering meal before I got a chance to take any photos to share. So you are just going to have to go there for yourself. I had in one meal developed a taste for authentic Myanmar cuisine and couldn’t wait to sink my teeth into more of the local foods the country had to offer.
Eating at a restaurant is definitely more pricey than street food but for two people, a large and amazing spread of food with drinks cost a total of 6500 Myanmar kyat which is the equivalent of 6.5USD at the time of the visit.
After leaving Yangon and visiting many other restaurants, I do miss Daw Dee Saw restaurant and can’t wait to enjoy the experience again…one day.
All opinions are subjective to the writers personal travel experience. The writer travelled at her own expense.