Jack Brown2024-04-28Everything was excellent and the staff were great, although they did take a while on the drinks. Standouts were tea leaf salad, noodles, duck.
Gloria Ha2024-04-28Mandalay had a big impact on me last summer -- I'm still thinking about the food today. I had never had Burmese food before, so I wasn't sure what to expect. I did some extensive Yelp searching while waiting for a table on a Monday night. We started out super strong with the fish chowder. It was aromatic and fragrant, savory, warm, comforting, and so tasty. Our waitress was thoughtful and had the soup split into 2 bowls so we could easily share it. I would absolutely get this again. The balada was amazingly flaky and buttery. The sauce was good but a bit sweet, so I preferred some of the other sauces we had later. I would get this again just because the balada was so good. The dry pan fried green beans were very well cooked. I loved the sharply savory nuggets of flavor. It tasted similar to the green beans you would get at a Sichuan place. The lychee prawn special had a great sauce that goes well with the balada. It came with 5 prawns which were less tender than I would like (I like my tender farm-raised shrimp). The mango lassi was kinda weird, a bit salty. Overall the fish chowder was supreme and the balada was also so good. Those alone were absolutely worth the wait and hype. Our waitress clearly knew her menu items and gave good recommendations. The mango chicken at a table nearby looked really good too. I'd absolutely come back.
Dave Hogue2024-04-20Well-known, well-loved, and often awarded and recognized as one the first authentic Burmese cuisine restaurants in the United States. The menu includes several traditional dishes you may not find in other Burmese restaurants that cater to American diners seeking more fusion cuisine. Service is very good, the staff are very attentive, and they will take the time to explain foods if you are unsure of what they are.
Christopher Chung2024-04-15Recent winner of 2024 James Beard Foundation America’s Classics Award !!! Stellar food and atmosphere — whether outside on the parklet terrace or inside in a quaint dining room complete with Buddhist altar. Tea Leaf Salad, wonderfully funky and satisfyingly crunchy in more than 3 ways. Rainbow Salad, near life changing, with two types of noodles, fried tofu, assorted vegetables, and tubers. Vegetarian samusa, you won’t miss the meat. Chin Mong Jaw, this dish comes with a full-rounded flavor from vegetable ferment. Nan Gyi Dok noodle, savory comfort. As a meat lover, I found the vegan/vegetarian dishes here to be top-notch. Excellent, friendly and attentive service.
Sajeev Gulyani2024-04-14The tea leave salad, samusa soup, spicy sake margarita, and curry beef were incredibly delicious.
Artak Ghazaryan2024-04-13Tasty food. The atmosphere is lively and the service is great.
Critic Reviews
James Beard Foundation
“San Francisco is one of the greatest Burmese restaurant cities in America, but of them all, Mandalay might be the best of the bunch. Open since 1984, this unfussy restaurant near the city’s Richmond District was not the first Burmese restaurant to open in San Francisco but is the oldest still in operation today.”
Yelp Reviews
“Before all the film buffs chime in, I do realize the correct quote is “that’s not the Northern Lights! That’s Mand*erlay!” but! My point! Mandalay delivered a meal the other night that was Wonder of the World-worthy. Lucky you, San Franciscans, to be privy to experiencing it on the regular. I hear that some places serving up Burmese cuisine have such high demand, you have to wait hours for a table. The good news is that Mandalay accepts reservations, but even if you don’t make one, there’s a good chance for you to experience the magic sans fast pass.” – Joi B.
The New York Times
How the Bay Area Became a Mecca of Burmese Cuisine Not so long ago, Burmese food was rare in California. Now dozens of restaurants across San Francisco are cooking samusa soup, mohinga and other favorites.
San Francisco Chronicle
Mandalay, the Bay Area’s oldest and one of its best Burmese restaurants, has won an award sometimes referred to as the Oscars of restaurants.
The Inner Richmond restaurant at 4348 California St. is one of six restaurants in the country to win this year’s James Beard Foundation’s America’s Classics Award. It honors “national treasures of timeless appeal that reflect the richness and diversity of our country’s food culture,” James Beard Foundation CEO Clare Reichenbach said in an announcement.
SF Eater
Inside this inviting bright yellow restaurant there is a wide selection of Burmese fair offered during their lunch buffet. From mango chicken to basil eggplant, eat what … A reader is partial to “the Burmese curry chicken with balada…
(415) 386-3895
