If you've never heard of/had Burmese food, then this is the local spot to try it. The owner welcomed me in and the kindest smile and spirit. I told I did research with my fellow Yelpers and they gave me some good recs. I order the tea leaves salad, my guest has the tomato salad for starters, along with the beef special. The tea leaves salad was great but the tomato salad, oh my. And that beef special with the best fried potatoes was everything good about trying local family restaurant. It was so crispy and the beef super tender and flavorful. This is local family-owned spot, no frill just good food...good Burmese food. It's an culinary experience I'm glad I was invited to have. read more

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A family Burmese restaurant in downtown Silver Spring. It's been there for years, and loved by locals. We ordered its signature Green Tea Leaf Salad and pork belly in an onion curry. Both were good with mild flavors. The service was friendly and the atmosphere was like a home. It looked kind of old and outdated and I think the restaurant needs an upgrade. I was worried about parking in downtown area but pleasantly surprised to find a public parking lot by the restaurant. That's really cool! read more

Mandalay Restaurant & Cafe - Green Tea Leaf Salad - Burmese Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

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It has been awhile since I have been here. It was as good as I remembered it. It was my friend's first time here. He absolutely loved his dish! The service was good. They do have a small lot right next to the restaurant. We parked at a nearby public parking and walked. We ordered a little of everything. Gram Fritters- delicious and loved the dipping sauce Ginger salad - I was a little disappointed with this dish. I remembered it being more ginger. Pork Belly - omg. So tender. If you like pork belly, this is a must but pork belly is not for everyone. Chicken and Hot peppers- my partner absolutely loved this. We also ordered the Shweji - dessert to go. I couldn't stop eating it and I didn't share. Plenty of leftovers for a couple of days. Check them out. It is worth it. read more

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This is my first time trying Burmese food and it has already become one of my fave cuisines! The staff are friendly,helpful and kind. I ordered the green tea salad. It was crunchy, refreshing and earthy. 8/10 The lady recommended P07 which is the pork belly with pickled mango curry. I wish I would've chosen high spicy instead of medium spicy. But oh my goose knees was it DELIGHTFUL. They literally had me dancing in my seat, it was so good!! 100000/10! I'm going back tomorrow. read more

Came to Mandalay for lunch on Thursday and it was stunning. I've never had Burmese food so I wasn't sure what to expect and asked the staff (who I think was the owner) for some recommendations. He suggested that my coworkers and I try the Mint Samosa Chickpeas Salad, and he was so right for that. I've never had Burmese dressing before, so my palate was pleasantly surprised, and I enjoyed all the flavours. The mint came through in this salad; it felt earthy, and there was a slight tang. The samosas in the salad were such a pleasant addition. This dish was vegan but my table noted that it didn't feel vegan. The owner suggested that I get the Thursday special, which was some chicken in an onion-stew on coconut rice. I would suggest getting most dishes with the coconut rice instead of the regular rice as the sweetness from the coconut comes through in a light and balanced way. The chicken itself was flavorful also and I found myself wanting to just wolf down this meal. Can't wait to come back here. read more

Technically this is for the Mandalay DC restaurant. There is no dining in, only take out and delivery. So we had the food delivered. It arrived quickly by a woman on a scooter. I ordered mandalay chicken and was a bit disappointed with the amount of food. The container was maybe a third filled. The taste was good, especially the sauce. But for the lack of chicken, I was glad I also ordered jasmine rice salad. Now that filled the container and my tummy with deliciousness! Since my friend is vegetarian, we had it made vegetarian so we could share. And we have leftovers!! I also ordered a broth with green onions, garlic, bean sprouts, and cabbage. Delicious! My friend had vegetables in sauce. It was filled to the brim with a variety of different vegetables. It looked good! And she had leftovers. We will be ordering again (I hope) before I leave, but I'll be trying a different chicken dish. read more

For Sunday lunch, 2 friends and I decided to get Mandalay, since I don't often get the opportunity for Burmese cuisine. Just before noon, my party was the first to arrive and received seating immediately. A few minutes after, regulars started filing in, complete with custom greetings by the owner asking about travel plans friends, etc. I ordered the SF02 Catfish ChoVhin Gyaw ($21.99), a seafood entree consisting of catfish fried and sauteed with green peppers, onion, and tomato in a light brown sauce. This came with a bowl of rice and arrived w/in 10 minutes. The sauce ended up on the sweeter side of savory-sweet-fragrant in the way that pasta sauce might seem sweeter that just pureed tomatoes and paste. The catfish had nary a hint of fishiness and held a firm, though not hard, texture. read more

Mandalay Restaurant & Cafe - Burmese Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

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An absolute diamond! Went there on Father's Day and everyone there was super warm, patient, and gave great recommendations. Food was incredible (breading on the fried squash was incredibly thin and crispy), with a huge varied menu that accommodates all diets, featuring produce I don't get to see often, like bittermelon. Keep supporting this place, especially while the purple line is getting built! read more

Mandalay Restaurant & Cafe - Burmese Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

I used to love this establishment before they took a sabbatical. Food and service were awesome and authentic, reminded me of my Childhood in Burma. However, we went back yesterday for a late lunch, the food were no longer the same taste even with the same owner, the bald and fat guy likely the owner, who gave us the wrong food and the tea salad is horrendously non-burma, and didn't see any tea leaf, how can a Burmese restaurant screw up the tea salad? Fish soup tasted stale, pork curry was very tough. And the service of that bald and fat man without any smile nor courtesy ended it for me. This place used to be awesome but no longer! read more

A fantastic Burmese restaurant in Silver Spring! I recently went here with three friends for a weekend lunch and we were able to get a table immediately. Mandalay has great portion sizes, affordable prices, and great service. Additionally, there are lots of vegetarian and vegan options. I started with the KyarZan Hingar soup, which was spicy, flavorful, and very filling. I especially liked the noodles and the fish cake. I shared the Let Phet Thoke (Green Tea Leaf Salad) and the Nyat KaukSwe Gyaw (noodles with tofu). Both were great, especially the noodles. I would highly recommend Mandalay! read more

So happy Mandalay did not permanently shut down. Wonderful Burmese food. The green tea leaf salad is a must, and large enough for two people. My husband always gets the tofu and tomato hin (V2) with a medium spice level (which is quite hot, so be warned). I tried the nanjee gyaw (N5) noodle dish with pork, which was huge (had to take half home). Loved the thick sauce and soft noodles. The interior has changed quite a bit; the booths are gone and there are fewer tables, more spaced out. Only half the restaurant is used for seating, but it filled up pretty quickly after noon on a Sunday. Only open for dine-in for lunch, no longer dinner. That's OK. I'll take Mandalay however we can; just happy they're still around. read more

Mandalay Restaurant & Cafe - the famous green tea leaf salad - Burmese Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

Must try Pork Belly Hin : Outstanding dish in Mandalay restaurant. 10 out of 10 $24.99 = worthwhile every dollar. Giant pork belly pieces simmer in onions curry sauce. So delicious : Tender belly : ratio fat & meat perfect. Curry flavor tasted savory &nicely. This is the Heaven of Belly lover. Service is fine - inside restaurants is quite simple. Only location is a cons. Environment seem frustrated. (downtown Silver Spring, MD) There is construction around the area for a long time, also limit parking. Please be prepared about it if you want to dining. read more

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Mandalay is a favorite in Silver Spring with the unique flavors of Burmese food. Because of the construction on Bonifant St. the restaurant only offers dine in Tuesday -Thursday and carry out the other days. It's totally worth a weeknight dining out. The place is casual and has a Mom & Pop feel, and the food is delicious!!! The chicken with mango curry taste like South Asian mango achar or pickles. Spicy, tangy, and scrumptious. The chicken with sour mustard greens has a tangy kick (I did order spicy) and is unlike any others dish I have tasted. Highly recommend both dishes. My only disappointment was the green papaya salad which tasted more like cabbage than green papaya, maybe it was an off night ? read more

Mandalay Restaurant & Cafe - Chicken with mango curry and chicken with sautéed sour mustard greens. - Burmese Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

Arrived a little after 11:30am on the Friday after Thanksgiving. There were some parking spaces in front of the restaurant two hours free it looked from 9 AM to 10 PM per the sign. They were open, even though the open sign wasn't turned on. Hole in the wall restaurant. Only one table was filled and left when I got there. No other people came in during the time I was there, other than to pick up to-go orders. I ordered the beef with onion and tomato curry, tea leaf salad, and the shweji dessert. All of the dishes were very good, and I would order all of them again. The beef curry didn't have complex flavors, but it was just so comforting and savory. I wished there was more sauce that came with it to soak up the white rice. The waiter asked me what level of spiciness I wanted-I asked for it to not be spicy since I was feeding some of it to my toddler. They were able to give me a dried red pepper spice mix on the side for myself. The beef curry dish and tea leaf salad were enough for at least two people to share. I'm so glad I did not skip out on the dessert. I got it to go and ate it at home. It was still warm, which made it taste even better. I had no problem eating the whole thing by myself since it was small and decadent. It was dense and sweet with a coconut flavor and crunchy white poppy seeds on top. Service was okay. Had to call the guy to come back and take the rest of my order. Otherwise, he was nice to my toddler. High chairs are available and a baby changing table is in the restroom. read more

SO GOOD!!!!! We had the most amazing dinner at Mandalay. The storefront is unassuming but the dishes were incredible. We ordered the following: LetThoke Sone (Mixed Noodle Dish) Let Phet Thoke (green tea leaf salad) ThaYatThee Thoke (green mango salad) MoHingar (fish noodle soup) KyetThar Aloo Hin (chicken and potatoes) AMeThar NanNanBin Hin (Beef and cilantro) ShweHi (cream of wheat cake) Every single item was a hit! Our favorites were the mixed noodle dish and the green mango salad. The chicken and beef dishes were also incredible. AND THE DESSERT!! The most delicious buttery coconuty cake. read more

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Mandalay Restaurant & Café - Simply Unmatched! If I could eat at Mandalay every day, I would. Nothing touches the food here--it's beyond incredible. I literally dream about the Tomato Hin; it's flavorful and absolutely perfect. The noodles? Phenomenal. The samosas? Crispy, savory perfection. Every dish is packed with authentic Burmese flavors, and the quality is always top-notch. This place is a hidden gem that never disappoints. If you haven't been yet, go immediately--you're in for an unforgettable meal! read more

Food, service, and ambience was top notch. Will be returning as soon as possible. I was recommended by the sweet young lady the no 1 noodle and omg to die for. The chicken with potatoes is amazing. I can't wait to try more options!! read more

Mandalay Restaurant & Cafe - Burmese Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

The food here is stellar. I love spicy food, and they offer food that is actually spicy. Not American levels of spice. Actually spicy. Of course you can also get it not spicy, as they offer a sliding scale of spice levels. Every dish I've gotten here has been very delicious. They've got many delicious vegetarian options. Portions are large. Staff are friendly and food comes out quick. There is minimal indoor seating and the vibe is bare, so I mostly order takeout. read more

I love this restaurant and go frequently. I highly recommend the green tea leaf salad, noodle no. 6, and chicken coconut curry, or any of the specials. Enjoy! read more

We have been going to Mandalay for a number of years and have never had a dish we didn't really enjoy or had a bad experience. The food is outstanding and resonably priced. They have a large menu with meat, fish and vegetarian dishes. The service has also been very good. The ambiance isn't awesome as it lacks the polish of many competing restaurants in the area but it easy to overlook than when eating their food. The construction of the Metro's Purple Line has had an impact on the accessibility/visibility of the restaurant and made it more dificult to park in their small parking lot. I have heard this has hurt their business. It would be a shame to lose this treasure so I encourage anyone to drop in for dinner. read more

Food was excellent. We tried the spring rolls, green tea salad, pork belly hin, and let thoke sone. Everything was delicious. We got delivery and haven't been to the restaurant in years but I remember the staff being incredibly hospitable-especially to kids. Give it a try! read more

It was such a bummer that we drove all the way here for dinner and they wouldn't let us order and eat there because they are "takeout only" - really disappointed. read more

Mandalay is always wonderful. We have been loyal customers since they arrived in Silver Spring at least 20 years ago. We don't live close by any longer, but we keep coming back to this family-owned gem. There is no other food like it in the area. The tastes are exotic for the adventurous, and there is much for the picky eater to choose from, also. Thank you for treating us so well, Mandalay. read more

Great food and service. The general environment is neutral. The hot and cold noodles where great. When the food got to the table I thought I was going to bring half of the food home but ended up eating the whole thing. read more

Excellent food & service. I asked for a suggestion among the chef's specialties & was not disappointed. The Mint Samosa Chickpea Salad was divine. A lot of options. & generous portions. Spacious restaurant, ideal for groups, but cozy enough for one. Not a lot of Burmese options stateside, so glad l got to experience authentic Burmese cuisine. A true gem on Bonifant Street. read more

I have been going here for about 15 years. The food is consistently awesome. One of my favorite places in downtown Silver Spring. Business has slowed down, unfortunately, due to the Purple Line roadwork in their street, and have reduced dine-in hours, which is understandable. I am committed to continuing to eat there-- what other Malaysian restaurants are there? And the food is great. (I would encourage the proprietors to maintain a pleasant interior, minus the clutter that seems to occupy a hood 1/4 of the restaurant, for those of us who are ling-term customers and have fond memories of the awesome dining experiences there. read more

Mandalay is an experience, a destination, a special place to bring out-of-towners and good friends to enjoy the heaping family style platters. It's a place where vegetarians and omnivores have loads of exciting options. This is Burmese home cooking & nostalgia at its best, and the friendly service and relaxed ambience pairs well. Pro-tip : Come on the days they serve their slow-cooked specials (used to be Thurs and Sun) Bring an offering of a mandarin or incense stick for the beautiful shrine to the Buddha :-) read more

I'd never had Burmese food before, but Mandalay made me sorely regret that oversight. Their eggplant curry with onion sauce was a standout. Prices were reasonable, service was prompt, and I loved the vibes. read more

Mandalay Restaurant & Cafe - Eggplant curry with onion sauce - Burmese Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

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Got takeout for a group of friends recently due to a friend's recommendation. Walked into the restaurant and everything smelled so good! Vibes like you're eating in your auntie's (large) dining room, very comfortable and welcoming. Had a small issue with the order (I blame it on Grubhub) and the staff were so kind and very quickly made it right, and even gave me a free dessert to thank me for my patience. Everyone was very happy with their food, and I'll definitely be back for more soon. read more

Amazing food as always. Generous portions, which is great because you're definitely going to want the leftovers. I dream about getting Mandalay read more

Mandalay Restaurant & Cafe is the place to visit if you are looking for a different cuisine to try - Burmese! Free parking is available! The restaurant has its own mini parking lot, immediately left of the restaurant. There are about 5 spaces there, and there is street parking too. I visited during COVID times, when the restaurant's open for delivery and pick-up. Everyone inside wears a mask. FOOD: Let Phet Thoke (Green Tealeaf Salad includes fermented tea leaf, tomato, and cabbage tossed with Burmese dressing, garnished with fried garlic and crispy yellow peas, 3/5): This is also known as the SL#5. Interesting salad dish. This is a traditional Burmese salad with a diversity of ingredients that ranges from crunchy to savory. This seemed a bit plain for me though, as if something was lacking. Historically, this salad was served as a final course after settling disputes between kingdoms. Wet Thar Thone Htat Ther Hin (Pork belly simmered in an onion curry sauce with potato, 3/5): This is also known as the SP#8. Medium spice (not spicy for me). My friend recommended this special to me. It was okay. There were about 8 pieces of moderate-sized pork belly pieces with potatoes dispersed in the dish. I wished there were more vegetables incorporated though because it's heavy. NanJee Thoke (Thick noodles mixed with curried chicken strips (dark meat), onion, cabbage, and fresh cilantro tossed with Burmese dressing and topped with fried onion and carrot strips, 3/5): This is N#3. Medium spice (not spicy for me). The noodles were somewhat soggy, which happens when the cooked noodles have been out for awhile. This Burmese dressing is on the drier and mild spice side. I'm not sure if I would order it again. MeThar NanNanBin Hin (Sliced beef and fresh cilantro simmered in onion-tomato base curry, 2/5): This is B#4. Medium spice (not spicy for me). Flavor was okay. Onion-tomato base curry was nice, especially with my leftover bread to dip into. Otherwise, nothing really stood out for me. Mandalay Tofu (Light fried tofu sliced and served with lemon-soy, crushed peanuts, and sesame seed sauce, 4/5): This is also known as the V#5. This was the best entree I tried. I also got the spiciest level possible for this, and I did cry a few tears because it was quite delicious! I would definitely order this again. Numerous tofu pieces!!! I even put my rice all into this dish then ate the whole thing! The man in the front is great. He's the same one you will be conversing on the phone with. Would I come again? Overall, this was my first Burmese restaurant. I'll definitely try others and compare in the future. The menu is very vast, so I tried to order a variety! I'd come back though. read more

Mandalay Restaurant & Cafe - B4 Beef Cilantro (Top) and N3 Nanjee Thoke (Bottom) - Burmese Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

We traveled all the way from Washington, DC to eat some Burmese food. When we arrived on Friday, August 29, for dinner at around 6PM, we were so excited. To our dismay, owner said the dining area is closed on Friday, Saturday and Sunday if I recall correctly. He was quite a rude chap. Took the order, shouted our order to the cook in the kitchen, sat in kitchen area and watched TV. Restaurant was not kept clean and there was a cot in the main dining area also. We took the food and ate on the street. Food was ok. Nothing to rave about. So disappointed. Would not recommend this place. Road construction also made our walk very difficult to get here. We have had superb Burmese food in CA. read more

I came here many years ago and it was fine but then I stopped coming. Tonight I again went with two friends and had the best experience. The food was amazing, the people so attentive and helpful, the whole thing made me want to return. And the most curious thing was when I left a good tip I was told that since they had pressed the wrong button on their computer they would not be charging me for my tip! I reiterated that I really wanted to leave a tip and the woman said, No problem. We just aren't going to accept it. I have never had that experience before. At this point, the only way to get to the restaurant by car is either to go North on Georgia and turn on Bonifant toward the place or park a few blocks away and walk. This is because of construction that is blocking half the street. I sure hope they survive because very few other patrons were there tonight. read more

Just had to post that this is the best curry I've had in a LONG time... It's called Wet nan yoe hin, Burmese pork ribs simmered in an onion based curry sauce with onion and tomato... wow! The meat fell off the bones and every element of the spices was fully incorporated, i haven't tasted such a comforting food in a long time. The green tea leaf salad was a little different as well, a little bitter but flavorful. As for the service, I called to pick up around 5pm, and a nice man named Saw told me that the earliest they could do was 5:15 which was fine. When I came around 5, Saw told me that he had already given the chefs a heads up to start cooking and that he would bring the food out to me in the car! He was overall really friendly and gave me amazing recommendations about the dish. Next time, I'll have to try the pickled mango chicken! Long story short, go to Mandalay in Silver Spring if you want to be blown away! read more

Mandalay Restaurant & Cafe - Green tea leaf salad - Burmese Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

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Visited this place for the first time tonight and omg it was amazing. I ordered the chicken and potato curry, eggplant curry and spring rolls. Everything was so flavorful and fresh. This has to be the best food in silver spring. The staff was so kind and my food was packaged great. read more

I'd held off on reviewing one of our neighborhood go-to's since parking and seating were tough enough before they announced that they would be moving to a location in DC this summer, but I'm happy to show them some love in these times. I like this place better for Burmese food than some of the spots I've tried in NoVA, and I've been glad to continue supporting them via takeout orders. Their spice levels are no joke-- "medium" felt a near-death experience for friends who don't tolerate capsaicin well, and even we don't dare to get "spicy" in sauced dishes where the heat just melds into everything. Our go-to order includes: * sour mustard fried rice special with pork belly, since the sourness helps cut through the richness of the sliced pork * thick noodles with curried chicken strips (this one we typically get spicy) * fermented green tea leaf salad (the ginger salad is refreshing if you want something less funky) * squash or eggplant fritter if we're feeling extra hungry, since these are surprisingly light I've also had tasty experiences with some of their tofu and shrimp dishes! With such generous portions, we've been too full except once to try one of their desserts. The staff are super friendly and provide good service, even on nights where they're busy. read more

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Get the Sunday special slow cooked dark chicken. The chicken was so well cooked and the flavour of the curry was delicious. Fish in tamarind sauce was also very good and tender. Portion size was good enough read more

Mandalay Restaurant & Cafe - We had the Sunday special and the tamarind based sauce for fish curry. - Burmese Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

Ever since I've moved into the area, I've heard about the food at Mandalay. I'm glad that they reopened so I could try what everyone has been talking about for months. We got CH10 which is a chicken dish and the V14 which is Tofu. Both the dishes were definitely good, I'm a little disappointed to say that I didn't think they were extraordinary for the amount they're charging. I agree with an earlier review about their prices being a bit too high. Hopefully they bring down the prices so it attracts more people read more

Mandalay Restaurant & Cafe - V14 - Tofu Pinsane Or Nannanbin Hin - Burmese Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

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My sister & her husband love this place - Burmese cuisine, delicious food with some names I won't remember, great portions, reasonable prices and the staff were very friendly and funny. The place looks divey from the outside but inside is very nice. Ordered an app and 3 entrees for 3 people, and left with a lot of leftovers. FYI this review is based on a visit before the coronavirus lockdown. GOLDEN TRIANGLE - $6.99 (4 pcs) Agree with Millie S, these were like samosas but the outside were like fried spring rolls. Filled w/ potatoes, onions and green peas. As good as it sounds. NYAT KAUKSWE GYAW (N06) - $14.49 I think the servers realize it's easier to reference the menu item numbers than the names themselves, lol. We went with all their recommendations and they were all winners. Both servers recommended this one, and it was my favorite. Flat rice noodles stir-fried w/ pork, bean sprouts, lettuce, ground peanuts and topped with egg. Loved the flavor. You'll want to add their sauce for extra flavor. PEPYOKE KYETTHUN GYAW (V08) - $13.49 This dish was the favorite for my sister & her husband. Yellow beans stir-fried w/ onion, scallions and garnished w/ fried onions. Tasted like chickpeas to me. Good dish. KYETTHAR OHNNO HIN (CH11) - $14.49 To balance our other dishes, they recommended a curry dish. Chicken, green pepper, onion and tomato simmered in coconut cream sauce. Another good dish. Overall good food, friendly service and you're guaranteed to have leftovers to enjoy for later. Also great place for vegetarians b/c there plenty of menu choices. read more

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Never judge a restaurant front by its outside. Outside it looks dated. My friends and I had a get together and I was very eager to try Burmese cuisine. I was late to the party because parking in DTSS is not bliss. We feasted on dishes that I cant pronounce. I did enjoy the dessert!! The owner is amazing! The waiter Orlando amazing. You gotta check it out.. read more

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