I have been going to Mandalay since 2000, and I keep going back, although less frequently due to lower income in retirement. Their Burmese food is not only the most authentic in the wider Bay Area, but it is consistent, delicious, always fragrantly exciting. Check out Ching Mong Jaw, which may not appear on the menu (if online) = a mixture of pickled greens, tomatoes, bamboo, shrimp (or tofu). It is so flavorful that I eat it slowly to savor all the different flavors... and I always leave enough for a second meal; I just don't want it to end. The Mo Hinga, fish soup with noodles, pepper flakes, lemon and crunchy toppings - also something to savor. Best I have had and I have specifically sought out Burmese food wherever I am. The wait/restaurant staff are courteous, kind and helpful, if busy (because the restaurant is almost always busy). A long time ago, I admired the Burmese shirt that the waiters and hostess wore. I asked about them and they allowed me to buy one! I am CRAZY about this place. It's my birthday and celebration choice. read more

First impressions are so hard to overcome. Mandalay has been my preferred Burmese/Malaysian restaurant in SF forever. While folks loved to rave about Burma Superstar, I came here for its more homey and community feel. Recently, it looks like they got recognition from James Beard, which changed the population who came here. Since I wanted it to stay around longer, I don't mind. Overall, the food is very good. It has more authentic items like the Burmese Fish Chowder or Tea Leaf salads, as well as Thai and Chinese style Asian food. On warm days you can choose some of the lighter fare and on cold days, there's warm and comforting choices. What soured my last experience was the initial staff. I came in the early evening, with a service dog, and the staff who greeted me was noticeably uncomfortable. They immediately asked if I could sit outside, while gesturing toward the dog. Since it was a cold night, I asked to be seated inside. The staff consulted with 2 other staff members, specifically about the dog, until another staff came to inform me that all inside tables were reserved. The restaurant was half empty. I informed them under ADA, I can't be treated differently due to the dog, but they vehemently insisted there were reservations. Rather than argue, we agreed to be outside in the cold. When I began to sit at one of the outside tables, they insisted I move to another table in the corner. It felt very much like I was being treated differently. After we sat down, the service was quick. I've never had such a fast meal at a sit-down restaurant - we were in/out in 45 minutes. While we were eating, I saw multiple people go in and get seated inside. In fact, for the majority of the time we ate, the people arriving were seated immediately. I could give them the benefit of the doubt that these were all reservations, if I didn't clearly hear their staff ask how many people were in their party. If they had a reservation, why would that question be needed? Further, because we were seated outside, I kept having to be mindful of people walking their pet dogs and potential aggression toward the service dog. This happened multiple times as people were doing their evening dog walks. The sad thing is that I would have considered this place a 5-star rating were it not for the first interaction with staff. The food was great (as always). The service was quick. And despite us being outside, they came and checked in with us many times. First impressions are very hard to overcome, and the feeling of being unwanted never left me as I dined. In hindsight, I really should have just left. read more

It's another "been a long time" spot. Ironically, my last time dining here was before Yelp was even born. When I worked less than three blocks away, over 40 years ago, my coworkers and I occasionally lunched here and had dinner a time or two. The restaurant was a client of my employer. Plus, a coworker was Burmese which made ordering a lot easier. Besides a dinner sometime after that with an out-of-state friend, I returned for a family style dinner for 4-5 of us. After reuniting with some friends from grammar school days, five of us found an opportune time to meet for a Friday dinner reunion here. Having a 6:15 pm reservation, I dropped the other guests off at the restaurant as I looked for parking, fortunate in finding a space kitty-corner from the restaurant. Our party of five was seated at a table next to the cash register in the rear right section. The menu is two sided on one page besides specials that our server told us about. Given the size of our group, we ordered a family style meal with the assistance of our server. I started with the Burmese iced tea (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&select=YOqKQksvSOR1owQB_AVC9Q). It is very similar to the other popular Southeast Asian country's iced tea made with condensed milk. Frankly, I can't tell the difference. For our meal, we shared the following, family style: Starters a. Samusa, chicken (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&select=KPy5vCVpV1-o07ZRr9b02w) - A mix of grounded curried chicken and potatoes. b. Tea leaf salad (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&select=Rhym78L97Qsu5O_z2GrpDA) - Salad prepared with imported Burmese tea leaves, toasted with lentil seeds, grounded shrimp, fried garlic, green pepper, sesame seeds, peanuts, and dressing (grounded shrimp and peanuts were kept separate due to a diner's allergies). One of their signature dishes, the mix of ingredients meshed well together. Here's what it looks after tossing (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&select=eOxyeZVzAEg7l9Rn-Z9MSw). Since I was okay with the segregated ingredients, I added them to my plate (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&select=yupuArsIAGajITrJDPZ6tA). Mains c. Chili beef (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&select=qOwue_tSXqFp9d91XL5Y-Q) - One of the three specials that we tried, this was a stir fry of tender beef pieces with a variety of peppers, spicy and not. Jalapenos, red and yellow bell peppers, Szechuan peppercorns, and green onions. The flavors are bold and the beef was tender. If you are spice sensitive, do be wary of the jalapenos, peppercorns, and the peppers with seeds. d. House special lambchop (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&select=vuYo_HzCnoLKQoy-S6J0Fg) - Another of the daily specials, this was an interesting presentation. The lambchops were cooked medium well, tender and nicely seasoned. There was a bed of sauteed onions and red and yellow peppers in the center as well as asparagus spears. Everyone enjoyed this since this isn't a very common protein. e. Dry pan fried green bean (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&select=DfkySvWpTorA_rM1sRjZxg) - Pan fried string beans, ginger, chili sauce, and grounded shrimp (withheld do to food allergy); very clean dish and the green beans were cooked perfectly, still crunchy. f. Country chicken (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&select=jrBMsj9mkMP3GhNWKXkqHg) - The third of the daily specials, this was a bone-in chicken, half I believe, that included a drumstick and thigh covered in likely a green curry sauce (wasn't described and we didn't ask since our conversation was too engaging). It came with serving of rice topped with fried garlic and pickled vegetables. I was already pretty full after the above and the noodles to come so I only had one serving. g. Mandalay special noodle (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&select=9UOv1twqqT_iRFdwRRuRZg) - Burmese flat noodle with mild coconut chicken, yellow peas powder, lime juice, onion, and fried thin noodle on the top. Like the tea salad, this came to the table deconstructed and the server tossed the dish like the salad. The dining room was a little more than half full when we arrived, filled up as we dined, and about 3/4 full when we left almost two hours later. The servers (several) were responsive in removing empty plates and refilling water glasses. The outdoor dining area was also about half full when I arrived with only one table used when we left. We enjoyed our meal as the dinner organizer who lives in the neighborhood recently dined with another friend, having a nice meal too. Looking forward to returning and trying more menu items. read more

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It's one my friends favorite restaurant so we had to try it out. Mandalay Restaurant made it to the Michelin guide in 2015 and 2016. Beautifully decorated space, there was a diamond crested Buddha. The service was amazing. The ladies were super sweet and courteous. We tried a bunch of things: leaf salad, Singapore noodles, hot and sour soup, lamb and potatoes stew, flatbread and side of coconut rice. Most everything tasted great but it was lacking spice. The flatbread, soup and Singapore noodles were my fave. I wasn't a fan of the lamb dish. Overall, great place to checkout read more

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We went there on a weekend but make sure to do your reservation in advance. They check! The place has limited seating and is super crowded even to stand in the wait area. We had reservations so luckily got a table that was reserved soon. After seating the service was slow. Understandable given the crowd in the dining area. However they only have like one person that takes manual orders and others just wait the tables. We got the famous tea leaves salad and string beans however ended up loving the beans more than the salad. One thing I can say is the drinks were outstanding!! Must get one :) For mains we got pumping curry and the chicken mandalay noodles . Great taste but loved the vegetarian options more than non vegetarian ones read more

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Overall solid but pricey. Not sure what all the hype is around Burmese restaurants in SF because they have all been fine but not amazing or anything. Favorite item by far was the tea leaf salad; nice depth of flavor and texture. Mandalay chicken is really just orange chicken. Chili lamb was good; not that spicy. Kaw soi tasted like a milder and more liquidy version Thai khao soi. The steam sweet potato cakes were fine; not too sweet but just pretty plain. read more

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I have been going to Mandalay for over 20 years, and it is one of my favorites in San Francisco. If you don't live on that side of the city, it's a bit of a trek to Mandalay's location the border of the inner and outer Richmond, but it is well worth it. My friends and I shared a few dishes, and I ordered the mango chicken - which admittedly isn't the most traditional Burmese dish, but I love it. Actually, I hadn't been to Mandalay in years, but the flavors were just as I remembered them, and I would even say perhaps even more delicious than I remember. In addition, we shared a ginger salad, which is made in the same style as the typical Burmese tea leaf salad, but with ginger - it was excellent! Service was friendly and prompt, and the atmosphere is sort of what I think one would expect for a family run Asian restaurant in the Bay Area - they have added (or enlarged) a lovely shrine to the Buddha. They do allow reservations in the evenings, but on the weekends (at least for lunch), I wasn't able to make a reservation, so if you go at peak lunch hour on a Saturday, you may end up having to wait for a table. Overall, I love this place, and I will try and come back every time I am in SF. read more

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A fun restaurant that is actually walking distance to Burma Superstar. I found their items to be comparable although I seem to enjoy certain items more at others. Must-orders are the tea leaf salad (5/5), balada (5/5), mandalay noodle (5/5), and nan gyi dok (4.75/5). I found that the nan gyi dok is more creamy whereas the mandalay noodle has more of a sour/refreshing taste to it! The mandalay beef was just okay for me because it was super crispy when it first came out but started getting less crispy as dinner progressed. The coconut rice was very flavorful and I'd recommend! read more

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Top-tier service! The servers consistently stopped by to give water, take away plates, clear the table for dessert, which was a nice service to have. When they brought out the tea leaf salad, they had ingredients sectioned out on the plate and mixed it for you! Another nice gesture was we ordered one paratha, one tea leaf salad and one Mohinga, but they seemed to understand that we're sharing all these dishes. When they brought the Mohinga out, they split into two small bowls for us. My only complaint is the Burmese tea. I am a huge fun of Burmese and Thai tea and I know what I had wasn't Burmese tea. Mango lasi was good, not too sweet. We got Falooda for dessert, and it tasted refreshing and came with generous amount of jellies. It's a good dessert to have after a heavy meal and it's plenty to share with another person! I didn't take photos but we also got paratha with curry dip. It wasn't super greasy and the dipping curry was delicious. read more

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My first experience with Burmese food!!! We went as a stop along our journey through the crosstown trail and we were NOT disappointed. Got there right when it opened at 4:30 and it already was busy. The inside is cutely decorated with hanging lamps and fun colors. Our server was very friendly and had great recommendations for what to order. Favorite items: tea leaf salad (portions are small!), rainbow salad, and the delicious special noodle. Trust me I will be revisiting Burmese food for sure. read more

I don't think I've ever had standalone Burmese cuisine before, but Mandalay definitely set the bar high for me. The Balada was by far my favorite dish here. The pancake was just so crispy and light, almost like a croissant, and the curry dipping sauce was fantastic. Not super spicy, but enough kick to make sure you know its a curry. If I were to go back, I would just order this twice instead of a standard entree. The Mandalay special noodle is mixed in front of you and features a cleaner flavor. Each ingredient stands out on its own despite being mixed in together, and overall is a very light dish that leaves you feeling refreshed rather than heavy. Overall fantastic spot, would recommend. read more

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We had a fantastic birthday dinner at Mandalay for a group of eight. We sat outside in their heated parklet, which made for a really comfortable and festive setting. The service was attentive all evening and the food was excellent. We started with the vegetable pot stickers and vegetarian samosas, both great for sharing. Then we had the table-side mixed tea leaf salad and the mango salad, along with their house special samosa soup (we ordered a double). They thoughtfully portioned it so everyone at the table could enjoy it, which was perfect. For the main course we shared three entrées - a curry chicken, a pork with vegetables and a green beans dish with four orders of steamed rice, and it was more than enough food for everyone. We ate family style and shared. To finish, we had the fried banana and the creamy rice dessert--such a nice sweet end to dinner. read more

Mandalay Restaurant - Tea leaf salad - Burmese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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TLDR : Great place, delicious food and quick service Such ana amazing place for some Burmese food. Loved their mango and tea leaf salads. The chili lamb and the special noodles were amazing. The ambiance is nice and cozy for a good meal with friends and family. Overall a great experience. read more

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Everything we ordered was absolutely superb! The papaya salad was one of my favorites -- so flavorful and perfectly balanced, with chilies and oil on the side if you want an extra kick of spice. The basil eggplant was delicious, cooked just right and full of rich flavor. The chili lamb was incredibly tender with no gamey aftertaste at all -- you honestly wouldn't even guess it's lamb! The fish dish was amazing too, perfectly prepared. We left completely satisfied as always... burp! (Excuse me! ) read more

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Thinking about which cuisine we haven't had in a long while and Burmese food came up. We've been to Mandalay Restaurant years ago and wanted to revisit this spot. It was very busy when we got there, but we managed to grab a table after a few minutes. They decorated the ceiling with LED lights, so it was difficult to take pics of the menu without having some of the lighting reflect back! ***OUR PICKS*** TEA LEAF SALAD ~ salad prepared with imported Burmese tea leaves, toasted with lentil seeds, grounded shrimp, fried garlic, green peppers, sesame seeds, peanuts and dressing. This dish is very popular and always a nice starter. Enjoyed this tasty salad! So different from the typical leafy salads. Though seeds can get stuck in your teeth. Grab some toothpicks. 4/5 MANDALAY SPECIAL NOODLES ~ Burmese flat noodles with mild coconut chicken, yellow pea powder, lime juice, onion and fried thin noodles on top. Good coconut flavor but it wasn't as tangy as we would have liked so we asked for more lime slices for added zing! 4/5 VOLCANO BEEF ~ recommended by the server. We thought the sauce was a bit too sweet and needed some balance. 3/5 Their food is about 4 stars, but it was expensive for small portions. Nothing was leftover and we didn't start off starving. My guy was still hungry after this, so he topped off after we got home. read more

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Came here for my first time dining out at a Burmese restaurant! Was very difficult to decide what to order since there were so many unique dishes that looked delicious. - Mandalay special noodle: fried egg noodles and rice noodles in a yellow chicken curry sauce. Felt a bit sweeter than Thai yellow curries I've had in the past - Tea leaf salad: chickpeas, peanuts, tomato, sesame seeds, and some fried onion/garlic mixed in a tea leaf dressing. Very refreshing! - Mango chicken: my fav of the night! Amazing mix of sweet, savory, and spicy. I've never had cooked mango before and I'm a fan The restaurant was very colorful and full of decor inside and had plenty of seating! Walked in on a Thursday evening with no wait and experienced very quick service. The only thing is that the portion sizes were a bit small given the price, it was over $80 after tax and tip for the three dishes read more

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Can't say I loved it can't say I hated it but pancake appetizer was heavily oiled with no flavor and the main dishes were tiny for $23 The pork belly was great, noodles were good but again surprisingly expensive for the portion I would recommend searching elsewhere considering food price etc read more

We had a wonderful dinner here on a Sunday evening. Even though the place was busy, we lucked out and were seated right away, no waiting! ​The service here is truly exceptional. Everyone was friendly, and we were fortunate to have Shelly as our server. She is a genuinely warm person who provided perfect menu recommendations and ensured our food arrived quickly. The service was fast and attentive throughout the meal. ​For the food, the Noodles were the absolute highlight; they tasted fantastic and are a must-order! The Tea Leaf Salad and Chili Tofu were also delicious. (The Samusa Soup was the only item that was just average for us.) ​The ambiance is lovely, and for those driving, there was plenty of street parking available, which is always a plus. Highly recommend this spot!! read more

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The place was so beautiful on the outside and on the inside! The restaurant was decorated with traditional ornaments and arts. The place wasn't super busy but it wasn't empty either, seemed like there were a few returning patrons from viewing their interactions. Staff were very friendly! It looked like a family establishment. The menu was very straightforward and traditional. We weren't very hungry so we only ordered a few dishes to share but wow the food was amazing! I wish we ordered more stuff. Definitely recommend all the dishes we got! Cant wait to go back and try more dishes! This place is definitely a GEM! read more

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My last few visits has now put Mandalay at the top of my list for Burmese restaurants around SF. The most visit visit took place last weekend. My friend wrote her name/number on a paper wait-list, we were pleasantly surprised that a real person called to share that the table is ready. If Mandalay incorporated a digital waitlist and notification system, it'd be a real game changer! Prices have definitely gone up over the years. A tea leaf salad now costs $20! Not sure about other days of the week, but weekends they seem to include specials. Our table of 5 shared the branzino fish special, it was very unique looking, and the taste wasn't bad either. The entree included sweet/sour sauce, which isn't my fav, but others in the group liked the dish. The hit entree of the night was the spicy chicken with aspragus, everything was sauteed nicely, and not too spicy, just the right amount of kick. This paired really well with the coconut rice (rice not included, ordered rice as a side). Overall, service was attentive. They close at 9pm, last call for the kitchen was 8:40pm, and by 9:15pm, bright lights came on and most cusotmers were scrambling to leave. The staff isn't shy about ushering people out. There are a handful of Burmese restaurants in this part of SF, and Mandalay has kept up with the competition. I'll be back again in the future. #18/2025 read more

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I had been hearing about this place for a while and finally tried it. I'm so glad I did! This restaurant is absolutely worth the wait. Everything we ordered was so good! The flavors are vibrant and I could tell they use high quality ingredients, which really makes a difference (the incredible mango they use!) I'm looking forward to going back to try other items on their menu! Quick Tip: even if you join the yelp waitlist, make sure you check in with the host when you get there to make sure you're officially added to their list. read more

Mandalay Restaurant - Tea Leaf Salad - Burmese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Oh my... I love this place. The food is EXCELLENT. So many delicious flavors with fresh and aromatic ingredients. The service is great; accommodating and professional. The atmosphere is cool. Somewhat casual, but very decorative and almost festive. I recommend trying everything on the menu! I've been here twice, and I shall return. read more

Mandalay Restaurant - Burmese Style Noodles - Burmese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I have enjoyed every dish I have gotten here so far. The service is always friendly and courteous--even when they are busy. My most recent visit involved a group of 11 folks and the staff was very accommodating. Everyone left happy and full! My favorite dishes so far: Mandalay Eggplant (the eggplant was perfectly fried and crispy on the outside and nice and soft on the inside with a delectable sauce), Mandalay Special Noodle, and Basil Spicy Pork. All of their drinks are also fun and yummy! I recommend this restaurant to any of my friends and family who are visiting and want to try Burmese food. read more

We arrived on a busy Sunday night and thankfully were seated. They crammed 4 of us into a small table that would typically be for teo people. I noticed they were cramming the last few tables with 2 more seats as compared to the other tables that eere filled beforehand. Service is a bit too attentive as I felt we were asked the same questions 3 times. ie asked if we wanted dessert 3 times, asked about being ready to order, etc. Although, this is certainly better than bad service. We got the tea leaf salad, nan gyi dok, mandalay chicken, crispy half chicken, and 2 coconut rices. The food was fresh and quickly arrived one after the other my favorite was easily the mandalay chicken. It had so much meat and flavors mmmm. Tea leaf salad was great in that it was!'t too crunchy. Most tea leaf salads feel like they'll break my teeth and this one was fine. Overall, very delicious and top tier food. read more

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A staple for authentic Burmese food, verified by my Burmese peeps. Gotta get the go to's, tea leaf salad, catfish stew, chicken coconut stew, eggplant and Burmese noodles. All good every time I go. Doesn't deviate which makes this place a solid choice for Burmese everytime. read more

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This was my first time eating Burmese food and it was delicious. We came here with six people there was a long line so it's important to make a reservation in advance. Especially if you come with more than one person. Our server new the menu front to back and give us some wonderful recommendations. They took into accounts are dietary restrictions we had two vegetarians and two shellfish allergies as well as lactose intolerance. We sat outside and it wasn't too bad if they had heaters. They had string lights and it was a really nice cozy vibe. No one was overly formal some people did dress up more. We tried various foods and the total came out to about 127 per person. The food was great and I would definitely come back to try other options. For me this feels like a special occasion vibes and not a weekly dinner place. read more

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Burmese food is unique. I started with the tea salad. It's delicious. Presentation is amazing with the stirring in front of you. Lots of different flavors and textures, it's inviting. Also had the soup samosa. The samosa was soggy but the sourness of the soup had different layers. Great. The special noodles was also enlighten my taste buds. It was good. The curry was soso. It's a combination of an Indian and Chinese curry. I'm not a fan of either. My grief was slow service but friendly. Nice try. read more

They are James Beard winner for a reason. I thoroughly enjoyed my dinner there. Great food, attentive service and good ambience. - Mango chicken: it was so tender, a little sweet from the seasoning and tanginess from the mango. - Mohinga the fish chowder doesn't have that strong fishy taste. Good but not great. - Beef curry: good curry flavor, different from other curry I had - Tea leaves salad: great crunch, good flavor but very small portion. They doubled the portion for our table of 4 but I still think it was small. - Balada: prata with sweet curry sauce. My least fav of the meal. Nothing stood out read more

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I've tried this restaurant countless times... and I must say it's a hit every time. I've never had a bad meal or dish ever. The customer service is very friendly and accommodating. I have tried a good portion of the menu but keep coming back to the Volcano Beef, tea leaf salad, mandalay special noodle, and chicken with asparagus. The servers remember us even though it's been a long time. This is my favorite Burmese restaurant. read more

I highly recommend this place! The tea leaf salad is so interesting and flavorful. All of the dishes had really good quality ingredients and interesting flavors. The service is also great, everyone went over the top to make us feel welcomed and taken care of. They explained all the dishes to us when we had questions, and everything came out fast and fresh. read more

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The decor in this restaurant is beautiful and imaginative. The servers were friendly and attentive and our lunch was delicious . Everything was very fresh and fragrant with spices; pan fried okra prawns, coconut rice, tea leaf salad and coconut chicken noodle soup. This was the best okra I have had anywhere, still firm and bright green and the sauce was amazing. Great restaurant. read more

Mandalay Restaurant - Part of the interior - Burmese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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This was my absolute favorite meal the last time I visited San Francisco - I ordered far too much food for one person, but it was all so good. I got the tea leaf salad and the Mandalay special noodles, which was both so delicious. Both are must get dishes, but especially the noodles. So so yummy - I would go back and get these. I also tried their Mandalay special dessert, which is a bunch of fun random things like rice crackers and ice cream and jelly. This meal really sparked so much joy. read more

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Roaming alone here today. Still the food is so tasty. I used to come here often when I lived in SF. It does not change a bit for the food quality and good services. However, the price is definitely increasing. I still see the owners come to greet the customer and take order themselves. Wait only a few minute to be seated today. Full house tonight. Lot of people celebrate the birthday. Fun atmosphere today which made my roaming alone not that bad. Must have here is tea leaf salad! read more

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Came here on a weekend and it was busy! The wait was about 20 minutes. Even if it was busy, the workers were patient and friendly! Ordered the fried eggplant, mandalay special noodles, pumpkin curry, and mandalay chicken. Everything I ordered was awesome. I'd definitely come again!! read more

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It was my first time trying this restaurant and I ordered to-go. I ordered what seemed to be the top 4 dishes - tea leaf salad, noodles, mango chicken, and coconut rice. What I liked most was actually the coconut rice as it was perfectly seasoned, and I liked the sauce of the noodles a lot as well so I enjoyed that dish. They were both tasty, but I found the tea leaf salad lacking the veggies as it was mostly the peanuts/sides and the mango chicken didn't come with much chicken. Every dish felt like there was attention to detail and flavor overall. I love the homey feel of the place. Pickup service was accurate and easy at the front. Sit-downs look like they write their name on a paper waitlist. It's SF street parking. I like that they have an outdoor seating! read more

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The tea leaf salad here might be the most authentic (?) in town, but it was too salty for me personally. The focus is on the tea leaves for sure. After eating a few bites, the server asked me how the tea leaf salad was, and I asked her if they had any cabbage or lettuce for me to add to it. She agreed to ask the kitchen and bring me something, but she never returned with any cabbage or lettuce haha. I guess she didn't like my request lol. The other two noodles we got were good. We were here for an early dinner so we were one of the few tables. Different servers stopped by every 3 minutes to ask how we were doing. It got real annoying. They might need to assign servers to certain tables. I like when servers stop by once or twice once the food comes to see if we need anything else or want to order more items but they kept interrupting. The owners need to hire some friends or secret shoppers to try out the restaurant. Of the Burmese restaurants in town, I like the decorations here the most. The bright yellow walls and wall art make me feel like I'm in a SF Burmese restaurant vs some other city. I think it be nice if they hung even more lanterns or umbrellas from the ceilings. Instead of the Christmas looking garland, they should use fake versions of plants that are native to Myanmar. The plates/dishes they use are cute too. read more

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I got Mandalay for takeout, and I have to say I may even like it better than Burma Superstar!! Their beef curry was incredibly tender and flavorful, the special noodles were so munchable, and the tea leaf salad was fresh and delicious with more toppings than leaves! I love the amount of delicious Burmese restaurants around, and this one is up there! read more

Such a good time! The ambiance is super nice and colorful and speaks true to the Burmese culture. The food was so flavorful and complex without just having one strong flavor or incredible heat. We got the chicken curry and the noodles and the table side preparation of the noodles was such a nice touch and fun to watch. Also think they prepared it a lot better than we would have. The staff was attentive and did a good job managing the huge crowd and also the folks waiting in line to come get seated as well. Definitely want to go back for nice homey food. read more

Mandalay Restaurant - Burmese Style Curry Chicken - Burmese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Came here for lunch with a friend after eyeing it for a long time. The dishes really lived up to the hype! The interior is decorated very culturally rich and vibrant and it almost felt like you're in Burma. We got three dishes to share. All the dishes have amazing texture and flavor. The tea leaf salad is amazing! Everything was mixed together to give a super crunchy texture and rich flavor. But it's not a salad in the traditional sense so don't expect too much greens or veggies. We also got the mandalay special noodle and mandalay beef. The beef is sweet and tangy with a crispy texture. The noodle is cooked perfectly with very rich flavor from the curry chicken. The service was very attentive and fast. They also help mix the dishes and explain the ingredients. Would love to come back to try more! read more

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Always fun. Always terrific food. Always very chilly -- bring a sweater! And decorated beautifully! read more

Mandalay Restaurant - Ginger Salad Noodles - Burmese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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