Having never eaten Burmese food before, Mandalay had been on my to-do list for several months now! Last night we finally had the chance and were not disappointed! What Mandalay lacks in decor, it more than makes up for in quality of food and value for money! Having no idea what to order (if you're not familiar with Burmese food, you'll be at a bit of a loss), we asked the waitress what she reccomended. She suggested the pork curry (red curry base) and the coconut shrimp curry. She was absolutely spot on! Both were excellent with very dynamic tastes - the likes of which I have never experienced in an Indian or Japanese curry before. I will definately return and will have a hard time ordering anything else, though I am excited to try the numerous options offered on the menu! The food was provided quickly. My only regret was that I ordered my curry with "medium" heat, instead of taking the hot option. I found the medium option to not be spicy enough for my tastes. My fiance, who also ordered her dish with medium spiciness, agreed. On the question of service - it was polite and prompt. The waitress did ask us for drink and appetizer orders almost as soon as we sat down, which was a bit irritating, but, it does seem like a place with many regulars, so, perhaps she thought we knew what we wanted when we walked in the front door. I certainly will next time! read more

On a recent visit I ordered the Mandalay KyetThar which is served room temperature. It's described as "White meat chicken strips boiled, and served with lemon-soy, crushed peanuts, and sesame seed sauce". Sounds pleasant enough... they forget to mention that it's quite spicy. The waitress advised that the sauce could only be served very spicy or moderately spicy. Mild was not an option. I like spicy, but I know better than to order something very spicy until I understand exactly what that means to a specific restaurant or cuisine. My dining companion ordered the Shrimp in Tomato Onion Curry, also ordered moderately spicy. We decided to split everything. Thank God we ordered them moderately spicy. Both dishes had that sneaky burn that you don't notice at first, but which continues to get spicier and spicier the more you eat, until your lips are tingling and your mouth is quite literally on fire. Water won't help you, the rice is little comfort, and it tastes so damn good that you just keep eating making matters worse. As an added bonus I unwittingly ordered a small bowl of the AChin Yay "Lemon and garlic with hot chili sauce". "It makes things a little hotter" said our lovely waitress. I didn't realize that Satan made a hot sauce, but apparently he does. It's called A Chin Yay, and it comes from Burma. It definitely makes things a little hotter. I put some on the Shrimp Curry and the first bite actually made me cough. I am also smart enough to know not to douse my food with an unknown hot sauce until I have gauged the intensity of what I am about to eat. Needless to say, the AChin Yay was used only sparingly after that. Despite the intensity of the heat (which I actually love), this is really fantastic food. Everything is fresh and tasty, with simple presentations that highlight the direct flavors of the dish. Service was incredibly attentive and friendly. Our waitress gave us many suggestions and we felt like she helped us to choose wisely. www.hardypartyreview.blogspot.com read more

I hate to say this to you Mandalay, but I think you're a bit average. If you've never had Burmese (myanmarese?) food before, then please, give this restaurant a chance. It's an interesting fusion of Thai, Chinese, and Indian with a bit of kick (especially if you request it "spicy"). The vegetarian selection is great, the best being the coconut curry tofu (splurge a dollar for the peppers and tomatoes). However, the actual taste of the food is nothing spectacular. The flavors are not as dynamic as Indian food, and the curry is not quite as good as thai. Also, the serving sizes (and bowls of rice) can leave a bit to be desired especially when it comes to the appetizers. It pains me to give this place an average rating, I take many out of town guests here and it's definitely worth checking out. However, I probably won't frequent it too often unless the quality of the food improves. read more

I had been wanting to eat here for a while, since Myanmar is on my list of where I'd like to vacation next. So with no experience in eating food from that nation, I ventured in and was looking forward to trying new things. The mango salad I ordered was pretty good. Having traveled to Southeast Asia often, I love mango salads. The version here adds julienned cabbage, which is unusual. I liked it because it was different. I also ordered fish that was cooked in some spicy tomato-type sauce, though it wasn't spicy and lacked flavor, so I was disappointed. Unfortunately, I doubt I'll come back. The server, who looked like he probably owned the place (or his family owns the place), was disgusting. He simply came to my table and blurted out "What do you want" - that was his way of asking me what I'd like to order for dinner. Now, having lived in NY for some time, I'm used to "rudeness." This big guy seemed like he was from the Bronx, and was slovenly and unprofessional. After putting in my order, he just left. read more

I've never had Burmese food before, but after a bit of Wikipedia research, I found out it's an amalgam of Indian, Vietnamese and Thai cuisine. Uhhh, yes please? Mmmm...maybe not with this restaurant. The service was fine because I was seated promptly and even though it was busy my water was refilled often. They had a large vegetarian menu, but I finally decided on V15 (HtaMin Paung). I ordered it medium spiciness, but I should have ordered it hot because I could barely taste any hotness. Overall the dish was pleasant, but they weren't kidding with the "brown sauce" description. It tasted as dull as the name. My friend ordered the tofu coconut curry which was much more tasty, but I can't believe they charged extra for adding veggies. Maybe I was spoiled when I lived in Seattle where I could get 50% more curry for half the price, but 10 bucks does seem a bit much for a dish that likely won't yield any leftovers to box up. Anyways, I'll have to agree with others when they say this place is quite average. I'm still looking forward to eating more distinct Burmese food somewhere. read more

Let Phet Thoke (green tea leaf salad), green papaya salad, Nyat KaukSwe Gyaw with pork The decent The noodle was fine hot, slightly greasy, nice mix of veggies and meat. The taste was very ordinary though nothing exciting. This dish really was pad see eew with a different name. The bad Green tea leaf salad was a mix of a weird fermented green tea leaves and a bunch of green cabbage. It wasn't unpleasant but it seemed like something that requires a certain perspective. The taste isn't why it's bad it was the over use of the shredded cabbage and over use of a unbalanced dressing. The green papaya salad had the same problem, too much cabbage and over dressed. If you have no clue what real Burmese food tastes like, or real asian food in general, then this place is decent, but seriously is not a 4 star restaurant. If you want a better experience food-wise, go to Chinatown. read more

For six months I have been in mourning. With the passing of Burma Road Restaurant, a misunderstood, under appreciated haven of southeast asian and chinese cuisines, where was I going to get some of those exotic flavors? Then last night I stumbled onto the Mandalay Restaurant and with my wife, had the chance to sample three of our favorite dishes. We began with the dish we miss the most. Tea Salad. For those who haven"t had this exotic delicacy, forget what you know about salad and approach it with an open mind. As you bite into it, the crunch is more substantial than you get in most western salads. Then a dizzying array of flavors compete for your interest. The fermented pickled tea leaves distinguish themselves from the other elements because they are the one flavor that I have never encountered in Western cooking. It may be a little unsettling with the first bite, but over time it can become a savory note in the symphony of flavors that is this salad. Garlic, onion, ginger, cilantro and fish sauce all compete for your attention. The kitchen will add the level of heat you desire, but I suggest low heat if this is your first time trying this dish. One of our entrees was the mixed noodles, served at room temperature. Again, really good mouth feel as the assorted shapes of the noodles played off the fried onion, carrots, peanuts and sesame seeds. The dish is dressed in a garlicky fish sauce with a hint of cilantro that all works well together. Our other entree was the sour mustard greens with chicken. Like the tea salad, the sour mustard greens feel unfamiliar the first time you sample them. You may not be sure you want to embrace them the first time around. But be patient. You will be rewarded with a delicate and unique medley of flavors that will grow on you over time. I am so relieved to have access to cuisine of southeast asia again. These three dishes were all masterfully composed and executed. I look forward to working my way through the menu. read more

Vegetarians: Try the papaya salad, which comes with cabbage, onion, carrot, and a deliciously salty Burmese dressing. As for entrees, I liked menu item V-6: "Nyat KaukSwe Gyaw." It's stir-fried noodles with bean sprouts, peanuts, fried tofu, and small yellow beans. Not sure what's in those beans, but they are tasty. read more

We've been eating here since Mandalay was a doughnut shop by day and a restaurant by night in College Park. We were crushed and relieved when the owners of their building sold the site. Crushed because we no longer had easy access to the delicious food; relieved because if we'd eaten there any more often we would have had to take second jobs there to support our Mandalay addiction. But it was worth the seemingly endless wait for them to reopen. The food is still excellent and now they have a bar. Plus, a much better, larger space! They allow you to select how spicy your food is. The medium is a little on the low side of spicy to me. The mild ... YAWN. Try the pork with bitter melon for something different. My husband is crazy about the curry salmon. Even though a meal without an appetizer can run you less than $10 a head, I selected moderate for the price range because I can never pass up the Gram Fritters for an appetizer and usually have the ShweJi for dessert. Something to note: They do not take reservations and on weekends the wait to get a table can be long. The son who is built like a bouncer does not care if you're in a hurry and will be quite stern with those who attempt to whine their way to a table. read more

Ok, the first thing you will need to get over is the decor of the place, which is a bit 1970's. I really think they could update the carpet and put in dividers in the space so it doesn't seem like a giant room. I guess I prefer more intimate spaces. That being said, the food is quite tasty. I recommend the mango salad. I had a beef dish here and asked them to make it spicy, which they did. Spice level was good, but you definitely need to be used to spicy food or you will have problems. My dinner companion ordered a noodle dish that seemed to be lacking in chicken. The food is an interesting combination of Thai and Chinese, it's not quite like either, but if you've eaten both you will be familiar with it. It is actually a nice change of pace from the common Thai food you can get in the area. read more

keep coming back for the coconut curry chicken and eggplant fritters! really nice staff always

Um, fantastic. I'm a white girl with a strong spice tolerance, and I usually end up disappointed with the level of spice in my spicy food. Not here. I ordered a vegetarian tofu asian pepper dish, which they told me would be spicy, and it was phenomenal (and almost uncomfortable). My fiance, on the other hand, ordered their first noodle dish (they dishes here are numbered, because I don't think they expect too many people to speak passable Burmese), and it was fairly spicy but also delicious. I've never had Burmese before; it's sort of a like a Thai/Indian/Chinese hybrid, and I was intrigued by the room-temperature nature of the noodles. They were delicious, though -- tangy, fascinatingly textured, packed with flavor. Their house amber (I think) was also tasty. They have three dessert options -- a sticky rice, vegan coconut ice cream, and a baked cream of wheat/rasin/coconut milk concoction which is like a coconut pudding cake. The last dessert is perfect, and calmed my burning mouth. The service was great, and they do take-away. read more

I love this place, if you like vegan food it's a paradise. Awesome noodles, tofu, curries, etc. If you like spicy food ask for "Burmese Spicy" for a challenge. The coconut ice cream is fantastic, and it's served in a coconut shell. There's something for everyone on the menu. read more

This is my go to Burmese restaurant. I always get the Gyinn Thoke which is the ginger salad and Let Phet Thoke which is the green tea leaf salad. The salads are so fresh and well prepared. So far all the dishes I've tasted are yummy! My two favorites are WetThar KaYann Thee Hin which is pork and eggplant in an onion brown sauce with cilantro AND AMeThar ASane Gyaw which is beef with carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage in a brown sauce. Only, the service is not always good. It depends on who is the server. If it's one of the owners then you're in good hands, if it's an employee then there usually is an attitude that comes with the person... read more

Haven't had authentic Burmese food in a long time since I had moved from Cali to NC, but decided to visit DC and to my surprise there are some Burmese restaurants here! I got the coconut noodle soup, which was delicious although it didn't come with the garnishes I'm normally used to eating at home and restaurants. The somosas were amazing, tasted just like my moms. I got the mohinga to go, so I can not wait to try it. Everything was at a reasonable price and place looked really nice for a Burmese restaurant. read more

After multiple visits this spot gets a 1. I would rate it a zero if Yelp allowed. Now first let me validate what some of the other patrons stated - the food is good. I can't call it great as the curry is watery and greasy, the tea leaf salad is too tart and they haven't elevated to the level of offering brown rice yet. Come on Mandalay--step up your game, dude. But, if you want some ok tasting food, this spot is good for that. But having had Burmese food on the west coast, (Burma Superstar)--Mandalay needs to go back to the drawing board and like Lauren Hill famously once said, "come again." Onward to the multiple issues! The wait staff and management are rude. In fact, I can honestly state this is the WORST service I've encountered in the DC Metro Area....ever. Try it out for yourself and see. It seriously reminds me of that Dave Chapelle Show Kinko's skit. Ridic. These folks also seem to be striving for some authentic, remote, Burmese countryside atmosphere because I have yet to have a meal there when they've had the lights on - granted, I've eaten there before the sun has gone down but me thinks that perhaps these fools don't want me to actually see my dish since it has been proven we eat with our eyes, not our mouths. Finally, the first time I went to Old Mandalay, I parked in the rather small (but so glad they have it) parking lot. Before I could make it to the front door however, some restaurant staff ran out to tell me I couldn't park there if I wasn't going to eat at the restaurant. When I told him I was indeed making my way to the restaurant before he so rudely assumed I wasn't, he turned on his heel and didn't say another word. Mandalay, you may be the only game in town offering Burmese cuisine, but I hope you smell what the San Francisco Bay is cooking (Burma Superstar) because your karma is gonna catch you. read more

We were going to Silver Spring for a show decided at the last minute to turn to Bonifant St to check out Mandalay, didnt know it was that close! I always wanted to try it. The guy who served us was friendly and casual like the other servers I asked him for recommendations he said the pork and pickled mango and the chicken and potato curry. We went with those but started with the fermented tea leaves salad loved the crunch from the freshly fried garlic chips. It's a very tasty salad. I also ordered their dried shrimp sambal at the last minute just out of curiosity. Loved the sambal it was so spicy and yummy. As for the curries - they were good but was not mind blowing. I would definitely go back perhaps try some other dishes but the tea leave salad and sambal would be on my order list! read more

*4.5 The food here is so delicious and different! A large group of us--13--came here for dinner Friday night, because we wanted to eat in Silver Spring, and I'd seen the great reviews this place had on Yelp. We started with several of the appetizers: baya gyaw, Burmese Samosa, KawPyant gyaw, and PaZun gyaw. I tried most of them, and they were delicious! My favorite was the samosa, but I also loved the baya and the KawPyant. And everything comes with this yummy dipping sauce that we all agreed added an extra nice flavor and wasn't too spicy. The menu is almost overwhelmingly long, but I found two very appealing dishes under the Chef's Specials on the second page, so I didn't dig deeper on the options. I got the mote nyinchin htamin gyaw with chicken, which was so good-- and a huge portion! We were able to get 3 large portions out of it in the end. Another time I wish they'd gone lighter on the oil and heavier on the sour mustard. I went with medium spicy, which was just right. Anyone at our table who ordered their dish 'spicy' wound up regretting it; the spice was way overdone to the point of being unable to really taste the food, plus profuse sweating. And two of these people are South Asians who grew up on spicy food! We didn't get a chance to try the desserts, but I would like to another time, especially since for once I have options with my dairy allergy! I so look forward to coming back here many times to keep tasting this great combination of South and East Asian flavors! read more

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Ginger salad forever! I have been coming to Mandalay for years, and I have never had a bad experience. The food is always delicious, the prices are very reasonable for what you get, and on the average the service is fast and friendly. I like spicy food, and this restaurant will make it as spicy as you want it. The vegetarian options are delicious. The eggplant curry, yellow beans, and house tofu dish are my go-tos. If you like samosas, you have to try theirs; they are smaller than an Indian samosa and made with wonton wrappers that get nice and crisp around the filling. The dipping sauce is super yum. Their cocktails are fine, but I usually opt for a beer or just water because the food is the star of the show. read more

Not impressed. Pros: Mandalay has a good selection of vegan dishes at moderate prices ($10 or less). Water constantly refilled. Pleasant wait staff. Cons: The food is mediocre. The quality was fine, but maybe Burmese food just doesn't please my palate. I love the flavors of Thai, Indian and Chinese food, but they don't match so well together. I had V10 (tofu with hot pepper in tomato curry sauce), which was basically a tomato stew with tofu. The V4 (vegetables with brown sauce) is a dish you can find at any Chinese (Vegetables with Garlic Sauce) or Thai restaurant (Pad Pak Ruam). Only, their sauce was sweeter and slightly thicker. The Papaya Salad was not very appetizing. It had a very odd texture to it, which I assume is from sugar granules (palm sugar is used in papaya salads). It didn't have the wonderful tang of Thai Papaya Salad. While Burmese has cuisine of their own, it is certainly influenced by the surrounding regions. I recommend Mandalay for vegans/vegetarians looking to try something new. I, on the other hand, wouldn't be returning here. read more

Mandalay is solid. Yes yes it's up in Silver Spring, for those DCers who don't want to head out to MD or VA, but it is metro accessible. The restaurant is just blocks from the Silver Spring metro on the red line. The value is incredible. You get decent sized entrees for roughly $10 (particularly for vegetarian) each. The menu is incredibly overwhelming, but the staff are always happy to offer up a recommendation. I've had the V04 A Sane Gaw (Broccoli, cauliflower, carrot, cabbage with brown sauce) and the V13 (Coconut cream curry with tofu) and both are excellent. I ordered them both mild, but I may have to step it up next time. Gotta be careful though -- a few of my friends who ordered spicier dishes informed me that these chefs bring the heat. Definitely worth the trip out of DC. And if you live in Silver Spring and you haven't been here, what have you been doing?! read more

Came in on a Saturday evening with 3 friends. There was an open table at the door with 4 seats and set up. They sent us to the bar for 20 minutes (where there was no bartender) and then directed us to the table. Then we were given menus and no one came to check on us for another 15 minutes. When they dropped off the drinks, one member in our party said she needed another moment to look at the menu. That translated to another 20 minutes waiting. One of my friends asked how hot was their hot. The waitress said "melt your face off, crying". The mild had no spice at all... not even a tang. The medium was what I would have expected a mild to be. Despite this, the food tasted great. The real gem is the coconut ice cream - made with coconut milk and not actual milk. No one wanted dessert, but I ordered it anyway and everyone else ate it. read more

This place has the most adorable bar menu in existence. All of the drinks have acknowledgements and detailed descriptions. Read it. The food here is simple & excellent. Go with a group, order family style, go to town, order the mango salad. read more

I try not to spend money eating out, but when I do, it's usually here. Mandalay is unarguably a price-performance winner for the $10-12 entree range. It's my tendency to repeatedly order green curry chicken at south Asian restaurants, but of the half-dozen people I've eaten with here, nobody has had a dish not worth their while. We love the Burmese formula of geographically and gastronomically bordering India, China, and Thailand. You owe it to yourself to try every dessert, starting with the unbelievably delicious cream-of-wheat-based ShweJi; my fiancee and I struggle not to order every dessert choice every time. The dishes are served authentically in that they can be spicy for the weak-palated. I like to feel the heat, so I order the dishes spicy. I once offhandedly ordered a dish "very spicy", not knowing that this specifically means "like grandma makes it;" orderer beware. There is a small selection of reasonably well-picked Asian import beers; the house beer is better than expected. Several waitstaff cover your table, which in my experience has contributed to responsive service. As noted elsewhere, the kitchen closes 30 mins before close, and the portions are no more than 1 meal's worth. Spurn the megachains that taste the same from California to Miami in favor of this gem. read more

So delicious. It took me a couple of visits to commit, but I'm all in now. My esteem for Mandalay definitely increased when I began doubling up on their salads. I don't even get an entree any more. The tea leaf salad is delicious. It has a bit of bitterness (not sure that is the right descriptor) that I wasn't expecting at first. Now that I'm accustomed to it, though, it definitely add a layer to the flavor. You also can't go wrong with one of the shredded salads (papaya, mango, ginger). They are all delicious and light. They make a great entree on a hot evening. Finally, I highly recommend that tofu salad. Generous slices of tofu and a nice crisp flavor. A bit more filling than the others but still pretty healthy. The one place where Mandalay is a weak is the dining experience. The restaurant is a nice size but the decor needs some sprucing up. It's clean, don't get me wrong. Just a bit worn. Also, the service is odd a bit random. You're never sure who is waiting on you. Sometimes the food comes quickly. Other times it's slow. The number of other diners never seems to affect this one way or the other. Oh, and the sticky rice with brown sugar is pretty amazing. Just watch out; it's hot. Small drawback of a really great, casual restaurant, though. read more

I've been to Mandalay a few times now and love it! Burmese is certainly a less common Asian cuisine in the U.S., so for those who have never had Burmese food it reminds me of Thai but with a little twist. Slightly different textures and flavors. I recommend ordering family style so you can sample all their wonderful foods! Definitely order one of the salads because they are different than western salads. Very fresh with more complex flavors and crispier vegetables. The SL05 (Green Tealeaf Salad) and SL08 (Mango Salad) are both delicious. For main dishes, I've had N01 (LetThoke Sone), V13 (Tofu Ohnno Hin), and CH09 (KyetThar PinSane), all of which were wonderfully savory! My favorite is the N01 Mixed Noodle Dish. And for dessert, both the Shweji and the Sticky Rice are yummy. The Shweji actually reminds me of an Indian dessert. Another reason I like this place is that when you ask for spicy, they give you spicy! It definitely lives up to my South Asian standards. Beware if you're not a spice fiend and stick with the mild/medium level of heat. Because this is a family-owned restaurant you'll see the same friendly and familiar faces when you enter. You might even see their chubby little Asian boy doing his homework at a table. ^^ Bottom line, this is great ethnic food made by great people! read more

I guess I had great expectations for the place (a friend had recommended it as well), but I was disappointed. The food was bland and overcooked. I probably won't go back there, even to try it again. Oh, and a post-script: if you are there at their closing time, they will turn off the lights on you and lock the door EXACTLY on-the-dot. So be warned if you sit too long at the table, even if others are in the restaurant.... read more

Wow. Can't wait to go back! Two words. Onion curry. Experienced Burmese food here for the first time this evening. My only regret is that we were just a party of two; I'd have loved to try a LOT more of the menu! Met a friend for a "girl's night" dinner. She'd been here several times but it was new to me. First things first ... parking can be a little tricky, but there's a small public lot with meters one lot down from the restaurant. On weekends or other busy times, plan for parking to take a little while. Service ... ours was good, if a tad haphazard. But it was much enhanced by the ...manager? owner? I'm not sure? ....but the gentleman who stopped by our table several times, first to help us make menu choices and later to see if all was well. He was extremely helpful in guiding our entree choices. We'd initially picked two items that were both at the tart/sour/vinegary end of the spectrum and he encourages us to pick one that was more different. We bounced a few options around with him and he helped us make two good and nicely-contrasting choices. Ambiance ... none. It's a medium-sized establishment, with a strip-mall aesthetic. Don't go for the ambiance. Go for the FOOD. Seriously. For instance, the onion curry. The dishes I sampled had one foot in Chinese cuisine, one in Indian, and one in Thai ... and the blend is fabulous. Lots of curry sauces, but unlike most Indian curries I've had. Lots of use of fish sauce in unexpected ways. Can get spicy but stays richly flavored, even when not spicy. We started with the squash fritters ... think tempura squash sticks but MUCH more lightly battered than most tempura, crispy and light and not greasy, paired with a nicely tangy sweet-and-sour type sauce. Entrees were shrimp with veggies in the aforementioned (fabulous) onion curry, and chicken sauteed with sour mustard, and cilantro. The shrimp was perfectly cooked, tender and flavorful, sauteed with green pepper, onion, and tomato, and the onion curry was amazing ... I'd like to buy that sauce by the gallon jug! The chicken dish was large chunks of dark meat simmered with onion in sauce, and was tender and satifying, if slightly more salty that my usual tastes run. We'd asked for "medium spice;" I'd consider the spice level in our entrees to be a little on the light side of medium, but the flavor in both was so lively and complex that I didn't feel I was missing spice at all. Did I mention how good the onion curry was? We finished up splitting the sticky rice with brown sugar and coconut, and I thought it delicious. I'm not much of a dessert eater, but this was light, not cloyingly sweet, and was a delightful end to a very fine meal. I'll be going back, soon .. with more people! I want to sample everything! read more

I've been here many times. In fact this is the one restaurant I look forward to going about once a year for my birthday and any other time this would be a 5 star review. HOWEVER, I came here last night and had a pretty miserable experience. I will gladly update my review should I ever try this place again. Normally, the service is fantastic. Last night (Saturday night), we made a reservation earlier that day at 7pm for 5 people, and waited only 15 minutes for our table which was no biggie. Apparently they were super busy - everyone was running around like vegan chikkins with their heads cut off. We initially sat at our table, with 4 cups of water (5 people) 3 dinner menus, 2 drink menus, for about 20 minutes before the host/manager guy took our order. We then spent the next hour and fifteen minutes of our dinner being brought food, plates bussed, given our check, brought our receipts by what appeared to be anyone but an actual server. It was a pretty sucky experience to essentially be ignored for the entire dinner, only to be helped (bussed) by the wonderful bus staff. I really hope they got our entire tip (which was already included for a party of 5... odd). But they probably didn't. There was a table of 6+ that got there after us, right next to us, that had an actual server and what appeared to be a good experience. The food was great, no problems there. I get it they were busy, but we absolutely got shafted and that's not cool, and quite disappointing honestly. read more

I've been going to Mandalay since they were a humble hole-in-the-wall restaurant in College Park. It is one of my top restaurants in the DC area and I simply adore the beef dishes. I like my food hot and spicy and they rarely fail to deliver on either count. Burmese food, as geography would indicate, is a hybrid of Thai and Indian food. Not being an expert on the culinary nuances of either types I will merely say that the Burmese food at Mandalay is mostly curry based, but with large number of non-curry (including some noodle) dishes. There is something for everyone between the pork, noodle, beef chicken and vegetarian options. I typically go for the beef dishes, spicy. But be warned, they can really crank of the heat. Fortunately, you can order what level of spiciness you want, so even a person with a low heat tolerance can order any dish on the menu. First timers would be best served ordering medium or mild the first time there to gage their relative tolerance. And no trip to Mandalay is complete with out the ShweJi (cream of wheat). This sweet treat is served warm is an excellent end to a delicious (and filling) meal. read more

This quiet street has a Thai restaurant across the street in what looks like a row house, a tattoo place next door, a used book store, and the Kefa cafe. A nice eclectic collection just beyond the standard downtown fare. I liked this place and have never had Burmese before. I went with a Tofu curry and was not disappointed. Staff was courteous and the force was strong with the woman who filled the water glasses. Every time I took a sip, she was refilling the glass within maybe 10 seconds of my putting it down. I do believe that they may have a dedicated person on staff to tend to this. Seeing this astonishing feat alone with worth the visit. read more

Never had Burmese food? Well, don't miss your chance at Mandalay. My husband and I ordered the Noodles #6 and the Tofu Ohno. We were both very satisfied. The two dishes beg to be compared to drunken noodles and a Thai coconut curry, but we were surprised by the differences in flavor. Service and atmosphere were nothing special, but didn't take away from a fun experience trying something new. Oh and if you are going for a birthday, make sure to tell your waiter. They play happy birthday from the sound system in the ceiling to let the whole restaurant know. read more

Found this place on accident because it showed being closed, but after driving by we were intrigued. The atmosphere is a little blah, but not reading any reviews we had an amazing experience with food and service! We all commented how we felt like we were eating at some friends house. The waiter gave very personal feedback on what is best for our ordering and made us feel welcome in every way possible. I was personally torn between the egg and rice noodles and after someone else with me went with the egg I was then forced to do the rice. Both were worthy of ordering again and I imagine on a repeat experience I would have the same problem making up my mind. Really good combo of meat mixed with egg, veggies and noodles. I also took a liking to the green tea leaf salad which was extremely yummy and great way to start the meal. So overall this place was a winner and the worst thing going for it is the decor and atmosphere inside, but that was such a minimal part of our experience that I will still leave the fifth star because I would make sure and visit this place again! read more

This was my first time with Burmese food, so I can't testify as to any level of authenticity. I can, however, attest to a level of yumminess. My friend and I ordered a vegan fritter (I totally can't remember the name of it -- I believe it's the first thing listed on the menu) to start off the night that was pretty good -- very light with a similarly light sweeter dipping sauce. My main dish was fried tofu in chili sauce, while my friend had a rice noodle and tofu dish. The tofu seemed like it may have been pressed -- it was very dense. When I ordered, the server asked me if I knew the dish was spicy. I didn't, but said that was fine, as I like spicy food. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the food was actually spicy! It wasn't too spicy for me, but my friend (who also likes spicy food) was actually a little taken aback by the heat. I admit that I was happy to have some rice to cut the heat a bit so I could fully enjoy the flavor. My friend's noodle dish was spicy and more mild than mine. The rice noodles were cooked well and both dishes were very flavorful. The best part was dessert. We shared a vegan pineapple ice cream that was made with coconut milk. It came frozen in a baby pineapple! We were both pretty psyched with the presentation and it tasted really good -- so good, in fact, that if they sold it in pints, I would probably purchase it. read more

Wow. What a find. Great food from Mandalay. Great selection of appetizers and beers to start. Did the spring rolls and pototo rolls. Loved them both with the spicy sauce. For main entrees, we had the chicken in curry sauce, shrimp with vegetables and a pork rice dish. All were cooked well and had scrumptious flavors. They do a great job here. Nice service and the ambiance is ok. Best of all is the price. Entrees were only $10.99 to $12.99. So, great place to eat at a very affordable price. read more

I've been to this restaurant about 20 times in the last six months, and I think I've eaten three meals MAX on Mandalay's menu. That's how good those three meals are - I don't even need to explore the others. If you're like me and you like to eat food so spicy that your brain smolders, get to Mandalay. The food at this restaurant deserves five stars, as does the service. The ONLY reason I've given it four stars is because they're serving food that is incredibly spicy, yet charge extra for more than the little bowl of rice that comes with every entree. I feel conflicted even depriving them of that fifth star, because I shouldn't be mad at them for serving what they say they'll serve, right? Especially because I'm specifically seeking out said food. So maybe it's not logic or rationale that's giving only four stars, but the part of me that still remembers the (self-inflicted) pain of KyetThar ALoo Masala Hin (dark meat chicken with ever-so-lightly fried potatoes in tomato-onion curry with masala) - aka CH-10 for my non-Burmese speaking brethren - without enough rice. Don't worry if you don't like to suffer while you eat, you can choose your spiciness level. They'll warn you off maximum heat if you seem hesitant or ask too many questions about how hot it might be. Other highlights include: Burmese samosa appetizers; Shweji, which to be honest I don't even remember what it even is, I just know it's awesome; and coconut ice cream - yeah it's out of a real coconut. whaaaat In short: go there, now. read more

Food was really good, flavorful, and service was fast. I had the beef with cilantro (B1) and the boo thang ordered a fried catfish dish that was simmered in a curry sauce (SF1). Both were excellent but I tip my hat to the beef dish because it was just so delicious, beef was tender, flavors were great, and it had just the right amount of heat. I opted for the "spicy" which was a nice amount of heat but not to were you burn your lips off. My only critique is out of my desire to take home leftovers. I feel like the portions were smaller than most restaurants. Which, you know, I don't always have to be a porker and have a massive plate of food but it is nice to take some home for next day eating. read more

Chicken 11, spicy with a ginger salad. Perhaps I should branch out. I moved from Columbia some years ago to College Park. I looked for a place nearby and saw Mandalay on another website. Hmmm, Burmese? Ok, I try it. I drove up Route 1 only to find out that they moved. I saw the new address and tromped over to Silver Spring to check it out. I guess I was set on Burmese. To my surprise the place had a lot more charm than the pre-fabricated stuff popping up only a few blocks away. Yet it wasn't dumpy like a lot of old Silver Spring. I had a chance to talk to the owner and I've always been a curry lover so he gave me a few options. After countless visits, I'm stuck on one or two items. I branch out occasionally and have never been disappointed. The place is unpretentious but good. There's no million dollar koi pond or temple or anything like that. It's just good food with an interesting twist. Oh and by the way, their spicy isn't insanely hot. I had a Thai roommate years ago who could eat from a smelting furnace. In comparison, Mandalay is tame. Enjoy. read more

Do you know the way to Mandalay? This is, perhaps, my favorite restaurant in the Silver Spring area. Amazing, delicious food which is almost certainly like nothing like you've ever tried before. Nothing in the area anyway. Their salads are amazing, and I am no salad person. But then, Mandalay salads aren't like most salads. My favorite is the grean tealeaf salad, which sounds awful and tastes wonderful, and by god you've never eaten so much tealeaf in your life. My girlfriend, by contrast, prefers the unripe mango salad, which is also deserving of stellar reviews. Those are just the salads though. The entree menu is just as good. I'm a vegetarian by preference and this place has plenty for me to love. May I recommend the V08 (a yellow bean dish) or the Mandalay Tofu? And get dessert. The dessert is amazing too. More often then not when I've been there the owner himself is wandering around serving customers, and who can dislike that? Point being, go. Really. I know that a block away there are chain restaurants galore that attract far more money and attention. That's silly. Walk a block. Go to Mandalay. You won't be sorry. read more

Delicious Burmese food in an unassuming place. Excellent customer service. Enjoy the mango salad. So refreshing.