After not visiting this restaurant for one or two years, I was so delighted that I went back. The food has been consistently delicious all along, let me be clear on that. But for various reasons I had not eaten there for a while. Their vegetarian offerings are unusual and varied. I always like the green tea leaf salad, the tofu salad, the thin hoke (so?) noodles. On most recent visit I tried something new: fried tofu with sour mustard . The vegetarian version of the pork dish my husband loves. Soooo good. read more

Never had Burmese food before this. I really enjoyed my experience. I feel the food is similar to Laotian. I feel the restaurant has a nice atmosphere. The owner asked how we were doing at our table along with the server checking in on us periodically as well. Not overwhelming, but just enough. My only complaint about this area is the parking. It is extremely limited. They do have a small parking lot next to the restaurant, but that fills up fast and parking on the street can be just as tricky. Come prepared. read more

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

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First experience with this kind of cuisine and most likely my last. Did not enjoy it one bit. I am not saying that the food is bad but, if you enjoy this type of food then, this review won't be of help to you. I ordered the tea leaf salad which was not anything special and I was recommended to get the "CH09 KyetThar PinSane or NanNanBin Hin" which was not tasty to the point where I tried to like it but I couldn't so I asked for the bill and left mid-meal. Positives about this place: it must be good or else how does it have this many good reviews, in the short time I was there I noticed many take-out orders, staff is helpful, parking provided and there was a lot of chicken in my order. read more

A very satisfying last Yelp Luck Club. The sheer amount of food that we ordered was crazy. So crazy - that I can't remember a lot of the dishes names. Also... all of the dishes names are incredibly hard to say... so there's that. Example 1: KyetThar PinSane or NanNanBin Hin Example 2: WetThar KyetHinnGarThee Gyaw You get the point. I can tell you that it's very helpful that they have a number and letter code. I should just write those letters and numbers down next time... V03- KaYann Thee Hin- Eggplant simmered in onion base curry and garnished with fresh cilantro $10.99 It was delicious and I would surely get it again! I also tried the tea-leaf salad... i wasn't a huge fan of it to be honest. It vaguely reminded me of peeled broccoli stems with a little fish sauce and peanuts. But all the entree's that we ordered were fantastic! One of my favorites was the N06 - Nyat KaukSwe Gyaw- Flat rice noodles stir-fried with pork or chicken (dark meat), bean sprouts, lettuce, ground peanuts and topped with egg ($2 extra with shrimp or combo) $11.99 We got it with combo meats. I loved the flat rice noodles and it was really flavorful with the accompanying sauce. Could have eaten that entire dish! Many of the other dishes were stews with different meats in them. They were all tasty, and to be honest, a few of them tasted very similar. All in all, I would have no qualms going back here anytime soon. It's not hard to understand why Mandalay has 4 stars with 270 reviews. read more

Oh Baby.. The Irish say you that can't reheat cabbage - meaning that Old Loves are best left in the past. I disagree. C'mere sweetheart, I don't bite - No, wait.. Never minded a Thang that was a little bit saucy. Not to mention spicy. We all like a little pain with our pleasure. I don't even mind the Fat Man behind the bar watching us go at it. Hell, he's been watching us do this since college. And that last kiss tasted distinctly of coconut. Just like I remembered. read more

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Alright so I have a real soft spot in my heart for Burmese Food. I will not lie by saying that I know this cuisine well but after moving to SF this type of cuisine has been catching my attention more and more. I could not help but say yes to the chance of grabbing some Burmese Food when I was in the Silver Springs area. We arrived at around 7 PM and there was no line although still bustling with activity. The servers were attentive and came over pretty quickly to take our order. After looking through the menu, we decided to go with the LetThoke Sone which is room temperature, WetThar HtaMin Paung, and the ShweJi for a sweet ending. Yes I had to look up the names to remember because there is no way in heck that I could remember that. No drinks ordered this night *gasp* so I cannot comment on the drinks menu. All the food came out promptly and all of the dishes were solid. The room temperature noodles were just absolutely amazing so do not hesitate on this one and get it. We basically scraped up the entire plate hoping for more to fall out of the sky. The beef dish was good as well and reminded me of a beef with broccoli dish. This was a bit sweeter than our room temperature noodle dish so I appreciated the contrast between the two. After finishing these two dishes we were both full but were curious about trying our dessert. I have to say I was a bit disappointed by this and not something I would probably order again in the future. Overall a solid place and definitely worth checking out for your Burmese Food kick and on par with the Burmese restaurants I have had in SF. read more

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Amazing. This was my first experience with Burmese food and it was even better than the Loatian restaurant I went to. We started with the Burmese samosas and mango salad. Both were delicious appetizers and I really enjoyed the Burmese dressing on the mango salad along with the onions. I was with some vegetarians so we ordered some meals to share and they were both good - the N01 has 4 types if noodles and tofu with the Burmese dressing - and the V06 had the flat rice noodles that I love (drunken noodles anyone?) along with tofu and yellow beans. We split 2 desserts to top it off (it was a goodbye lunch so you have to gorge!) and they went well together - the ShweJi with the coconut ice cream on top. Another person in our party had Leffe which is one of my fav Belgian ales but they have the darker version - Leffe Brune which is delicious too. This is my new fav place in SS. read more

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

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Wow! If it weren't for a vegan friend's suggestion I don't know if I'd ever try so many fun dishes or even make it over to this side of town honestly. It was just three of us on a weeknight and we were sat right away. My friend has been many times so recommended we split the ginger salad. We got that and an order of samosas. I obviously Yelped this place at work before heading over and saw the coconut ice cream was not to be missed. A waiter overheard me asking my friend if she had had it before and the waiter told us there were only 9 left, so we all asked to reserve 3 for us to enjoy after our meal. Appetizers came out fast and our water was continuously refilled. The samosas were smaller than I expected but packed with flavor and plenty of filling! The ginger salad (Gyinn Thoke) was something completely new for me and it's now my goal to recreate this dish at home! Cabbage, fresh ginger, sesame seeds, dressing, something crunchy? I don't know, but my mouth loved it! I ordered the veggie dish that consisted of yellow beans, onion, and bamboo strips stir-fried with curry powder (PePyoke Hmyit Gyaw) and asked for it medium-spicy. It honestly didn't smell great but the flavors and textures were spot on! It came with a bowl of rice and was more than enough for dinner that night with enough leftovers to have today. The coconut ice cream (vegan) was such a delight! Served in an actual coconut and so creamy you wonder how it's vegan. I could have easily eaten 2 more of those guys. Absolutely delicious! If i'm in the area again I hope to try more dishes, but definitely hope there's more coconuts that can be put on hold for me! read more

Mandalay Restaurant & Cafe - V09: PePyoke Hmyit Gyaw (Yellow beans (Vatana), onion, and bamboo strips stir-fried with curry powder) - Burmese Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

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We made a special trip here, after trying another Burmese restaurant that we really enjoyed. We'd walked by Mandalay and bookmarked it on Yelp, for a future trip. Last night, when we were deciding where to have dinner, my husband said, "What about that Burmese place, we wanted to try, in SS?" We settled on it, and off we went. We were tired, and we did not thoroughly explore the menu, but I can tell you that there's something for everyone. My husband had some kind of beef dish with lots of fresh veggies (AMeThar HtaMin Paung). He said it tasted very fresh. He also ordered an appetizer of "Golden Triangles" (I giggled), and I had one. They were piping hot, and the sauce was surprising - Hot & Sour, and delicious. They were akin to a samosa, but I liked them better. My meal was the #6 Noodle dish with shrimp (don't ask me to pronounce it). I was so tired that I ordered it just like that. "Green tea and the #6 Noodles with shrimp." The waitress took pity and didn't ask me to explain. She just GOT IT. I was so pleased. The service was great! (For the record though, the dish is called Nyat KaukSwe Gyaw with Shrimp.) They also ask you for the level of spiciness you desire. We both chose "Medium," but we both like spicy food. We just weren't sure exactly what we'd be getting into if we said, "Spicy." I asked him later if his was spicy, and he said, "Not really." Mine wasn't either, so in the future, I might turn up the heat a bit. We also shared the ShweJi (Cream of Wheat with Coconut Milk and Raisins, baked in the oven). My husband doesn't like coconut, and he still enjoyed the dessert. One thing about the desserts - I didn't see any without coconut, so if you're not a fan, you might have to skip dessert. The place itself is large, if a little dated. It's one of those places where you might have to sit on a long bench strewn with tables, so your table is close to your neighbor's. It didn't bother us much, but if you get irritating neighbors, it might be. I have to let my whiteness shine through, and admit that I can't distinguish a person from Myanmar, unless they tell me, but I suspect that many of the people around us were originally from the area, which is always a good sign to me. People enjoying the food of their culture tells me that it is likely authentic (or closer to authentic), and good. And it seemed to be both. With regard to parking, there is a lot 2 doors down. You don't have to pay to park there on Sat/Sun, or after 6 PM any week day. (Read the meters carefully, so you don't end up paying when you don't need to.) Definitely recommended. read more

I haven't been here in years, and when my neighbor suggested it (as a thank you to me for looking after her pooch) I could not say no. This is a place where herbivores and carnivores can dine together in perfect harmony. Luckily my friend is very accommodating and agreed to share all veggie choices with me. We started with the fried eggplant fritters. They were okay, but nothing special or anything you couldn't make for yourself if you owned a deep fryer. We also shared the ginger salad. OMG! This was so good! You have to order this when you come. It is a cabbage salad with fresh ginger and fried garlic pieces. It is so refreshing. Be sure to ask for it without the fish sauce if you want to keep it vegetarian. For an entree we shared Tofu Ohnno Hin (tofu in a coconut cream curry sauce). As Gloria L. mentioned, they do ask you how spicy you'd like your dish. I said mild, but I should of went with medium. The sauce was good. My friend said she couldn't taste the coconut flavor. It was there, just really mildly. The tofu was kinda bland. I usually like my tofu to be marinated in something flavorful before being cooked. All in all a great meal for two for around $20.00. You can definitely share an entree, but I think I'd get the ginger salad all to myself next time. It's that good! read more

This is the first time I've had Burmese food but I have to say that I am a fan! It definitely has a distinct taste from other Asian cuisines. We came as a large group and ordered practically everything on the menu. For appetizers we tried the samosas and the eggrolls. I was kinda expecting Indian style samosas but these were different. They were small triangle shaped pastries with potato, peas and onions. They were good though! But the eggrolls were BOMB. Seriously, get these! They went quickly at the table because everyone loved them so much. We also got a Gyinn Thoke (Ginger Salad) to split at the table. It has a very strong ginger taste, so if you're into that, get it! I honestly could eat that everyday of my life. I had the KyetThar Ohnno Hin (CH11), which was chicken in a coconut milk curry and some veggies. The waitress asked us all if we would like our food mild, hot, or Burmese hot. I'm fiend for spicy food so I decided to try the Burmese hot. She tried to warn me against it, but I was feeling brave lol. While it definitely was hot, it was perfect for me. The meal itself was full of flavor. And for dessert, a couple of us split the coconut ice cream. It comes in a coconut shell which was so cute. It wasn't very ice-cream like though, probably because it was vegan. It reminded me more of Italian ice. But still good and very coconutty. The service here was pretty good. Our food came out in a timely manner and our waitress checked on us numerous times. They have a tiny parking lot and there is also some metered parking out front. The staff here were nice enough to let exchange our cash for quarters to pay the meters. Can't wait to come here again! read more

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It'd been long enough since i'd been here that I literally remembered nothing from previous visit(s?) besides a vague memory of liking it. However, Mandalay comes up so frequently as one of people's favorite Silver Spring restaurants, I was excited to finally get back in there. It's a family-owned Burmese restaurant on a low-key side street lined with several other small businesses and restaurants. There's 3 "People Love Us On Yelp" stickers at the door of varying degrees of fadedness - an excellent sign. Inside was larger than expected, casual, nothing fancy or trendy, but definitely felt like a family restaurant, which was nice. There were even what appeared to be large, frames family photos on one wall. I was Geared Up for awesome food. Unfortunately, this is where they fell short of my expectations. The tea leaf salad had great texture and crunch, but not much flavor. Our chicken in mango curry sauce was also the perfect texture and cur eadily with a spoon, but was sooo salty, each bite had to go down with a generous pile of rice to avoid a salt-licked pucker face. Our beef with cilantro in curry sauce was enjoyable, but not enough to reorder it. Out dessert of sticky rice with brown sugar and coconut, however, I'd totally get again. Delicious. Our service was casually warm, and I dig that this block feels a bit off the beaten path. All their great reviews on here and in person tell me we may have hit an off night or just ordered remarkably poorly. Mandalay's excellent reputation precedes it, and I'll certainly be back to try other dishes, and hopefully discover that tonight was a fluke. read more

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Great food for groups including vegan dishes. So glad they are back as my family's favorite restaurant for more than a decade.

Wow! This was our first time trying Burmese food and it was delicious! My husband gave this place 10/10 and he's such a picky eater! They have a large menu but the man at the front recommended the coconut curry (chicken) and we also got hot and pepper beef (there's different choices of protein). Because of Covid there's no dine-in, so we did take out. The pictures do not do justice. We also got this coconut dessert. It was delicious as well. Definitely will be revisiting this place. I can't believe we only JUST found this place! read more

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One of the more notable places to try if you're in silver spring. What's really good is the chicken Marsala special, which they only serve limited quantities of in Sunday. The salad/slaw it comes with is so damn good....I could eat buckets of it. Wish they would stop messing around and put this dish on the regular menu! One thing though--everyone mentions the tea leaf salad. I ordered it and found it to be bland. Bad batch perhaps? I'm not paying for it again to find out. read more

Mandalay is an absolute treasure that should be protected at all costs! I've never dined in, because COVID, but get take-out from here whenever I can swing it. The Ginger Salad and the Mixed Noodle Dish (LetThoke Sone) are now my favorite comfort foods. I'm a wuss about spice, so I have the noodle dish prepared mild but with the hot sauce on the side. Mixing a little in as I go makes it perfect. That dish is served room temperature, which might sound odd but I really enjoy it. Their Burmese Samosas are great. I've also enjoyed the Mandalay KyetThar (a lemon-soy-peanut chicken dish) and the AMeThar HtaMin Paung (beef with vegetables in a brown sauce). I was the first order of the day once and so they gave me a free ShweJi dessert. Also delicious. The person taking orders up front is very helpful and kind. 10/10, would recommend to everyone! read more

Mandalay Restaurant has consistently great fresh delicious meals. The staff are so refreshingly pleasant. It's a joy just to smell the aromas of all of the delicacies being prepared in their kitchen, as you walk towards the entrance of the restaurant. Their spring rolls with chicken are so incredibly crisp and tasteful that I always have to order extra ones for crisping up in the toaster oven on the next day. read more

Since the time I was introduced to this place by a Burmese friend it has been one of my favorites in the neighborhood. The food is always fresh and tasty ... and spicy if you like it that way ... and really medium is spicy enough if you like spicy foods. The extra spicy will leave you not being able to taste the flavors ... up to what you prefer. I usually always order the gram fritter salad, which is perfectly balanced and a great starter to share with others. I also love the spicy mango chicken with rice. The last few times I have gotten the mixed noodle dish with tofu - served room temperature - which is oh so yummy! The service is always pleasant and attentive and the food comes out super quick. read more

Mandalay Restaurant & Cafe - Gram Fritter Salad .. yum! - Burmese Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

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We live Mandalay! Noodles no 1. Mango salad. The owners are so kind and thoughtful. I've been ordering a dish for years with out pepper, and they are cc careful and considerate. The ingredients are fresh. Delicious. read more

The food is amazing and the customer service is excellent. Our waiter came by several times just to see if we needed anything. The food was fresh and very flavorful. My girlfriend is vegetarian so she was happy to see they had plenty of vegan and gluten free entrees and appetizers. She ended up going with the Tofu Ohnno Hin, the coconut curry was amazing. The location isn't huge but it fits a lot of people. The price was great for the quality and quantity of food. I'm a big eater so I really value large meals at fair prices. I would have to recommend the KyetThar ALoo Hin because the potatoes and chicken were immaculate. And you have to wash it down with the Double D IPA. The Mandalay Restaurant & Cafe is one of the best ethnic restaurants I've been to in Silver Spring. Five Stars. read more

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

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A culinary adventure and delight. To start, I really enjoy the spring roll and papaya salads. The spring roll salad has chicken spring rolls cut up and mixed in with cabbage, carrot and maybe lettuce slaw with their Burmese dressing. I can't have fish sauce so order a "vegetarian" Burmese dressing. So glad I can do that. I get the same vegetarian request for the papaya salad. It is light and a little spicy, with thin, strips of green papaya, carrots and onion. It is the best and most consistently made papaya salad I've had in the area. A friend ordered salad with green tea leaves, which had a complex, rich taste that I enjoyed but would have to be in the mood for. I enjoy the curry with tomato, coconut milk and optional veggies. It is sweet, savory and rich-that addictive combo! I don't care for the fried rice here; it's too oily for me. I also must caution people who like "spicy". I ordered an oil-based onion, tomato and pepper dish that singed my nose hairs. It was barely edible-and I grew up eating very hot foods! Cocktails are hit or miss. I decided to try a recommended cocktail 7 months ago. I forget the name, maybe it had the word cactus in it? Anyway, it tasted like all the cough and cold syrups from the medicine cabinets shaken over ice and poured in a glass. Most of all, I like that there are simple and complex flavors are familiar and new. I was not familiar with Burmese before frequenting Mandalay but definitely appreciate it now. read more

I love Mandalay, to the point that I'd schlep to Silver Spring from Northern Virginia pretty often. I heard today that they were back open and just called and confirmed with the restaurant! They're still in their Bonifant location, and I'm excited to visit again. Family favorites are sour mustard with soft tofu, mandalay tofu, Noodle #6 with chicken, and spring roll salad. read more

Burmese food is pretty much like Thai food mixed with Indian food. Same dishes as Thai dishes, but with strong flavors and stronger spices. It makes sense since the country sits right between Thailand and India. The curry is very good, the lamb dishes are very good, but the one thing that I would complain are that the portions are a little small. I was still a little hungry after the meal. I wish I could remember what we ordered, but the titles were so freaking confusing. I would stay away from the tomato-basil based dishes. Not that great. Also, learn from me, they have their own parking lot too. You don't have to pay for the huge parking garage for Downtown Silver Spring. read more

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I adoooore this place! The food is a mix between indian/bangladeshi and thai food, and makes for a delicious, savory, mouth watering variety of dishes. My favorite is the chicken noodle soup (or at least that's what I call it) - it's a cream based soup that has thin cut spaghetti like noodles, and pieces of dark meat chicken. Any time I'm sick, this is my first go to. In terms of entrees, this is one of the few places where I really enjoy the salads - the burmese dressing is light and tangy, and they have a variety of textures and tastes that combine deliciously in your mouth. I equally love their meat and fish entrees - I usually get them spicy, and be aware, their spicy actually means spicy. Be sure to get a burmese iced thai (similar to thai iced tea), to counter the spicyness of some of the dishes. Definitely recommend checking out this place if you're in DTSS! You really can't go wrong with any of the dishes. read more

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I got takeout from here in mid-March - right when restaurants started closing dine-in service. I stopped in first before an appointment and picked it up on the way back. The host who took my order was super nice and helpful - he was very patient since I wasn't sure what I wanted. He asked me what I like and don't like, and he pointed me to an option for a coconut-flavored curry that really hit the spot. We also got the sticky rice dessert which was perfect. Would 100% recommend to anyone who likes southeast Asian flavors. read more

A class act of a restaurant great to their very last day of operation! Hopefully their luck will change and their desired new location becomes a reality. In the meantime I've stockpiled our two favorites dishes (CH11 and N04 w/medium spice) but that'll only delay the bitter reality of their closure. I also regret not exploring their menu more but that ship has sailed. read more

Mandalay Restaurant & Cafe - Heartfelt message along with some Halloween treats given to all customers on their last day of operation at their Bonifant St. locaiton. - Burmese Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

I was introduced to this hidden gem in downtown Silver Spring from a meetup group event and so after a long day of tennis in the afternoon, our meetup group dined at this Burmese restaurant. This is also my first time having Burmese cuisine and so my curiosity also is what led me to give this restaurant a try. ATMOSPHERE & DÉCOR: The restaurant was fairly crowded with the number of tables occupied--this is always a good sign. The restaurant also had a nice separate bar area with a 50" rear-projection TV. Definitely very open floor plan restaurant and an ambience suitable for groups, family, or even a couple with their booths. Nothing special but also nothing lackluster. Rating: 3 of 5 SERVICE: The service was okay as it was a busy Saturday evening and the waitresses were quick to always keep our drinks topped and attended to our needs. Rating: 3 of 5 FOOD PORTION: For the price, the food portion is below-average. The food serving per dish is for one person as explained by the waiter. Each dish (really depending on what you order) is about $11-15. More is always good but in this case, our group of about 6 people had to order like 8 dishes and requesting for refills on rice to keep our stomach full. Rating: 2 of 5 FOOD QUALITY: For those who haven't had Burmese food, it's very similar to Thai food as they have their own selections of various curry (by color) dishes where you would choose the type of meat (chicken, pork, beef, or seafood that cost about several bucks more). Everyone ordered a dish (we collectively decided the last 3 dishes) and the dish I order (also my favorite) was the PaZun Ohnno Hin -- (Shrimp, Green Pepper, Onion, & Tomato simmered in Coconut Curry Sauce); see my upload pic of it. It is a recommend as the coconut flavor didn't overpower the taste of the curry that was made mild as I ordered and the ingredients as shrimp and vegetables were all fresh. Very tasty and colorful dish. Rating: 5 of 5 PRICING: The pricing is a little pricey (personally) for what you get in return. But at least if anyone asked me if I ever had Burmese food I can at least tell them I had them before. I would of went to a Chinese restaurant like Wong Gee or New Kam Fung or even PJ's Rice Bistro (all in Wheaton area) to get the most bang for the buck and personally Chinese food is my #1 if we're talking Eastern food. Rating: 2 of 5 With the above, I don't mind going back but this wouldn't be a restaurant I recommend because of pricing vs food portion plus finding a place to park is limiting since their parking lot is small and it's not that convenient (without walking a far distance) to park in nearby garages. read more

Mandalay Restaurant & Cafe - PaZun Ohnno Hin -- (Shrimp, Green Pepper, Onion, & Tomato simmered in Coconut Curry Sauce). - Burmese Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

I am so happy they opened back up. The Delicious food is worth the wait. I love their Sunday special. They are always warm and welcoming. This place is hands down my favorite restaurant! read more

Just had lunch here the other day and was blown away by the quality of the food here. I have tried the following: * Tofu with Brown Sauce * Chicken with peppers & coconut sauce * Tilapia with tomato & onion sauce * Coconut Ice Cream accompanied with ShweJi Everything was so full of flavor and cooked to perfection. The chicken fell apart and the tofu was lightly fried but not overly greasy. I give Mandalay 5 stars because their service was also excellent. The server was attentive and the owner even stopped by to check on us. This is a casual restaurant that has an inviting atmosphere and it's a perfect place for groups, date night, etc. Give it a try! You will be glad you did. read more

We ordered dinner from here tonight and were so happy we did. It was aromatic, had great textures, and was overall delicious. We ordered all tofu/veg dishes and the options were plentiful. I'm excited to try more of their options soon. On top of the tasty food, they gave us a free ShweJi and it was soooo good!! I'll be craving that again very soon. Thanks for your gift, Mandalay team! The dishes we really enjoyed were: Mandalay Tofu. The sauce is phenomenal. We went medium spice and it was spot on. Green Papaya Salad. So flavorful and tasty. Tofu Ohnno Hin. My partner's favorite dish with a thick coconut curry. The tofu was a prepared in a way that made it taste like a mix of fried and soft tofu. I've never had tofu like that before. Yum. The veggies in brown rice (a sane gyaw I think) was simple and perfectly executed with slightly crunchy veggies. A nice palate cleanser. I didn't enjoy the Green Tea Salad or Mohingar as much, but I think that's because I am less familiar with eating the fermented flavors in both of those dishes. I think I could learn to really like them with more experience. I'm excited to have this restaurant in our rotation and am grateful to live so close by. read more

Conveniently located a few blocks from the Silver Spring metro stop, Mandalay was decently full around 6pm on a Sunday. It was my first time trying Burmese food, and if Mandalay's menu is any indication, Burmese cuisine consists of noodles and pages and pages of different curries with vegetables and chicken, pork, or seafood. After flipping through the slightly overwhelming menu, I ended up just asking the waitress for recommendations. She really came through, recommending CH11 (tender chicken in a flavorful if slightly watery coconut curry sauce with vegetables) and the Sunday chicken special (two large pieces of chicken covered in a tasty spiced tomato-onion sauce and served over yellow rice). I didn't get to try N06 (flat noodles stir-fried with pork and beansprouts), but the person who ordered it really enjoyed it. For starters, we split SL09 (a well-seasoned green papaya salad) and on our waitress's recommendation, A03 (the Burmese fried samosas), both of which were great. The desserts were alright - D02 (sticky rice with brown sugar) was decadent and sweet, a great end to the meal. Unfortunately, D03 (the coconut ice cream) was freezer-burned and tasted like the coconut milk base had started to go rancid. Their B1 (black tea with condensed milk) had a good ratio of tea to milk. The total cost of the meal came out to ~$70 for three people - not bad for a full course meal. I also left with enough leftovers for lunch, which is always a plus. With its generally friendly, helpful service and a huge selection of well-executed, generously portioned Burmese dishes, Mandalay definitely warrants another visit. Note: After a warning from my (Asian) friends about the spice level, I went with medium spicy - I personally didn't find the spice level to be that high, but apparently, the top spice level is very, very hot! read more

COVID safe pickup, delicious, and super friendly!! My first time eating Burmese food. I'm a huge fan of the amazing flavors. Food was ready super quick. We asked if we could pay over the phone to minimize COVID risk. He let us pay over the phone and even brought the food out to the car! I asked about a dessert they didn't have, and they added in a bit of an excellent dessert that they do have that I had never heard of. :) will be coming back next time I'm in Silver Spring! read more

This is probably my FAVORITE restaurant in all of Maryland. Everything is amazing, from the staff to the food to the prices. The Kyetthar Ohnno Hin (coconut curry chicken) is out of this world. Tender pieces of meat in a ridiculously amazing sauce with the perfect level of coconut and blend of savory and sweet. Served over rice it's about as good as it gets. The Kyetthar Thoke (chicken salad) is also exceptional. It's a chopped salad served on a bed of cabbage with strips of chicken and cilantro. It's topped with fried onion and some of the best dressing I have ever had in my life. I've sampled a good portion of the menu at this point but always stick with the chicken and/or salad because you don't mess with perfection. A few things to note. First off, this is not bland suburban spice levels. If you order a dish extra spicy you better have a fire extinguisher because your mouth will BURN (I say this as a compliment to them, Mandalay is perhaps one of only a few places that's ever been able to make my dad go "woah!"). Also check out their drink menu. Not only are the descriptions hilarious but the drinks are fun, fruity and delicious. If you have a question about the menu ask the staff. They are extremely helpful and I've never felt talked down to (admittedly when I first visited I knew next to nothing about Bermese food). Overall, if you're thinking of visiting this restaurant DO IT. I cannot say enough good things about this place and I look forward to my next meal there. read more

The food was delicious! The staff were very friendly and are very cautious when people ask for burmese spicy which is not an issue for me personally but considerate for others. I went for lunch on a Saturday and the place got busy as the day went on. I will be back to try other delicious items on the menu! read more

Mandalay Restaurant & Cafe - N01 - Burmese Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

Really happy that my coworkers and I decided to try this restaurant for lunch yesterday. Unfortunately I didn't take any pictures, but I will try to make of for that with some good descriptions. The food is fantastic and was even very well received by some of the more picky eaters at my table. To start, we shared a tea leaf salad. I was skeptical at first, having no knowledge of what a tea leaf salad might taste like, but I was pleasantly surprised! It's a crunchy, refreshing combination of greens, crispy garlic, and peanuts. The more you eat it, the more it will grow on you. I had the lunch noodle special #5 with chicken. The fried egg on top was so satisfying and added a wonderful texture to the meal. The lunch specials come with your choice of a spring roll or a Burmese samosa. I opted for the samosa (never turn down a samosa). It was petite, but delicious and it came with a spicy and tangy sauce. I was reaching back for more of that sauce throughout the rest of the meal. So good! The service we received from the waitstaff and a man who appeared to be the manager was wonderful. Very attentive and willing to answer questions. So, have no fear if this is a first time food adventure for you! You will be in good hands. read more

Try the manager special dishes. The fish steak in the special sauce was fantastic. And they have several different cuts of meat with that sauce. But the way the fish steak's texture was transformative and wonderful. A little crunchy too. The papaya salad was Burmese style and flavors so that was great. We got several other dishes from the main menu and they seem to be similar to dishes you could get at Thai places.So I would order from the manager specials or ask them about the distinct Burmese dishes. read more

Legitimately one of the best "hole in the wall" places I've ever been. Food: Fantastic! Every dish we've tried has had excellent flavor, the meats are very tender and there are so many unique items on the menu! I have to recommend the Spring roll salad, for such an interesting combination of flavors, and the WetThar (pickled mango curry) as why I give this place 5 stars. The restaurant is plenty big but the locals know what a gem it is so It can fill up. Prices are not cheap and the portions are small-medium but the quality is excellent. The staff are great, we've got to know Kyaw one of the owners and they're good people! Excellent food, inviting spacious atmosphere, 5/5 no doubt! read more

Mandalay is my favorite restaurant in Maryland. Full stop. Come here if you like spicy, interesting food, and are bored with your usual choices. Nothing here is usual. Unless you are familiar with Burmese cuisine, everything here is surprising. Leave your squeemish friends at home and check this place out. read more

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

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agreed, this is about 3.5 so far. so many dishes on the menu. the fried shrimp appetizer was good and the sauce was a tangy spicy thick fish sauce, similar to a thai sauce. the gram fritters were pretty bland, nothing to write home about. I got the Beef#4 dish, beef in a spicy tomato curry with rice. The thing they do really well is make it as spicy as you like. This was really spicy. I liked the dish, but it wasn't amazing. My friend got the Noodle#6 pork. Sorta like pad thai but with wider noodles and more spice. Pretty good. I also had the gin fizz and it was quite refreshing. There's a FREE PARKING LOT outside btw. read more

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I was hopeful that this place would transport my tastebuds back to the delicious flavors of Burma. It was a disappointment. If you're looking for a hybrid of Chinese and Thai with a hint of Burmese, then this place is fine. If you're looking for authentic Burmese, you will be disappointed. Only the soup was up to par. The other two in the first just below were just okay. Our waiter was rude. And all of his recommendations fell flat. At least all of the others working seemed pleasant and nice. Overall, this was such a disappointing meal. Dishes to consider ordering: - KyarZan Hingar (S01) - Noodle soup with mushrooms, tofu, chicken, and fish cake. This dish is legit. - NanJee Thoke (N03) - Room temperature noodles with curried chicken, cabbage, and cilantro and Burmese (peanut) dressing. I liked this dish. It's a comfort dish. - Let Phet Thoke (Green Tealeaf Salad) (SL05) - variety of fresh flavors in your mouth. Extra yummy if you like green tea. NOT RECOMMENDED: - WetThar KaYann Thee Hin (P04) - Pork and eggplant. It was recommended by the waiter as the popular dish. It was forgettable. It wasn't balanced. - HtaMin Gyaw (FR01) - stir fry noodles. It's pretty much drunken noodles. It's fine if you're looking for drunken noodles. - Tofu Ohnno Hin (V13) - Tofu cooked with coconut cream curry sauce. The waiter recommended this one as a popular dish. It was runny and a little diluted. You definitely want the veggies which add more flavor. If you're looking for a simple light dish that has a hint of sweet, this dish is fine. Served over rice. - KyetThar ThaYetThee Hin (CH13) - Chicken with pickled mango. Excessively salty. read more