Came here on a business trip with my colleague and or first meal after touched down. The restaurant is big with ample parking. We were the only two customers on a Monday 5:30 and we needed help with the menu as everything looks foreign to us. Server was nice to explain and we got what we wanted. Tasty noodle soup! read more

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I really love their fermentedtea leaf salad. It's so unique and refreshing. Tonight I got the eggplant curry. At first bite I was disappointed thinking it was a little greasy not that special but... when mixed with steamed rice some kind of magic happens! The rice cuts through the grease and the curry tastes so rich... eggplant is fibrous and filling so it ended up being enough for 2 meals. My mother ordered the tomato salad which was bland. But the vegetable soup was clean and healthy and light. My son had some chicken coconut noodle soup and liked it. It was a big portion enough for 2 bowls at least maybe 3. My husband got pork belly and potato curry. He seemed very filled and satisfied. It was rich and hearty. read more

I had never had Burmese food before and this spot was a great first experience! The samosas were crispy on the outside, served piping hot and filled with deliciousness. I had the fermented tea leaf salad - the dish the waitress said was a great example of traditional Burmese cuisine. It was so flavorful and I loved the crunch. My son had a chicken curry which was filled with generous pieces of bone-in chicken perfectly cooked. The sauce was smooth and delicious. Thank you for a wonderful experience. read more

MingalaBar Burmese Kitchen - Laphat Thoke ( Tea Leave Salad ) - Burmese Near Me - Urbandale, Iowa

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Very kind and friendly service during our visit. The restaurant was not too busy, so it was very relaxed and calm while dining in. I had never had Burmese cuisine before and I felt it is fairly similar to Thai food. My dish had chicken, steak, and shrimp. They were very generous with the amount of shrimp in the dish and it was cooked well. Oftentimes the shrimp can be overcooked, but not my MingalaBar! I'd highly recommend people to check this restaurant out! read more

MingalaBar Burmese Kitchen - Special Menu - Burmese Near Me - Urbandale, Iowa

This place rocks. My partner and I had never had Burmese food but everything we tried was delicious. We ordered samosas (I was worried they'd be too similar to Indian food. They were not) to start, then I got a thick noodle dish and my partner got pork belly curry. Seriously it was so yummy. The service was phenomenal. Our server asked if we wanted to replace anything since Westerners don't always like it, but we found the flavors quite accessible. The decor is also really nice. Modern but with lots of Burmese flavor. We'll definitely be back to try more. read more

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I didn't know this restaurant was here until I saw a review on Facebook. We were seated right away. They were not busy at 7 on a Friday night. The staff was super friendly. Our waitress offered us suggestions. Per her suggestion we ordered the Somas. They were delicious. Great texture. We shared the fried shrimp appetizer and the Kyar Zan Jaw with pork. There was plenty of food for the two of us. We definitely want to go back and try more dishes read more

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The food was so good! I got the kyay oh sigyet(I think that's the dry one?) and it was so good! Everything was so fresh and tasted very good. One of my favorite places in town now. Some of my friends got the coconut chicken noodles and I tried that as well and it was also very good. Staff was friendly and helpful, it was just a little slow but so worth the wait. Ambiance was good as well - nothing standout but nice and peaceful. read more

MingalaBar Burmese Kitchen - Ohn No Khao Swe ( Coconut Chicken Noolde ) - Burmese Near Me - Urbandale, Iowa

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I've been wanting to check this place out... I've had Chinese (multiple regions), Japanese, Korean, Cambodian, Thai, Laotian, Nepalese, Indian, etc., but not Burmese as far as I'm aware. A lot of my neighbors in my apartment complex are refugees who have come to the United States due to religious persecution in Myanmar (formerly Burma). They're good neighbors and good people. I ordered takeout. But the restaurant is a large open space. A combination of booths and tables and chairs... It's a revamped Pizza Hut. When it comes to the food I was kind of punting. Looking at pictures and descriptions of the food here, on Facebook, and on their restaurant site... That really irritates my gf. She likes what's familiar. I just read. If it sounds good I order it. I'll try anything at least once. Most things twice... I decided to order the Khauk Swe Jaw with chicken. Described as a popular Burmese style fried noodles. A soy sauce-based noodle dish with a choice of meat... It was good. It was reminiscent of other similar noodle dishes I've had, but with some unique flavors (seasoning) that I couldn't quite place. I'm looking forward to trying more of their menu items. And I'll be looking to you all for some other recommendations. Because for the most part...I'm clueless in this area. https://www.mingalabarkitchen.com/ read more

MingalaBar Burmese Kitchen - Khauk Swe Jaw with chicken. - Burmese Near Me - Urbandale, Iowa

This is a gem in Des Moines. We had three dishes and all were good. My favorite was the samosas. I recommend getting the samosas and try dipping them in the sauce which is sweet and spicy. read more

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Super delicious food. Clean restaurant and what a friendly service. My family tried about 8 dishes and loved them all. My son was a big fan of pork stew with potatoes. He also devoured the chicken wings. I loved their fish entree. Absolutely loved the samosas. My dad loved the beef noodle soup. There was a lot of take outs happening. The restaurant is huge. So happy Des Moines has a Burmese restaurant. What a novelty to have this cuisine in the city. read more

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The service was great. The entrees we chose were delicious. The tamarind sauce is so good. I love how open the dining room is. It was nicely decorated and felt very welcoming. We will definitely go back. read more

I don't know why this place isn't packed every night. The food was terrific. No, it didn't arrive looking like the photos on the menu, but my god, the flavor and prep were fantastic. The BEST CRAB RANGOONS I've ever had with the best sweet chili sauce. I got #40, the Chicken Rice: dark meat cooked perfectly with rice and veggies with the most flavorful garlicky sauce on the side. Husband had #33, the Thick Rice Noodle Salad: chicken curry, veggies, and rice noodles in peanut sauce. Not a speck of food remained. We left stuffed. Immaculate and tidy restaurant in such an obscure location, not easily seen from Douglas. It's in the old stand-alone Pizza Hut. We will be going back for sure. I forgot to take photos of our food, but posting photos of the menu. read more

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Nice to have an attractive environment that's not too loud. Great date night. Lum was an excellent guide to the offerings with thoughtful service. And wow! Flavor Sensation! Asian cuisine can sometimes be soft or mushy - not this! Crispy and complex flavor profiles. The tea leaf salad was amazing! Unique and delicious. read more

This was good and my favorite was the eggplant with shrimp paste. We had appetizers which were full of meat, etc.. not sure what I didn't love but I would like to try other things on the menu. Well prepared food and huge portions. read more

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I have been here twice and I highly recommend it. The place is new, clean, and servers are very attentive. I'm not familiar with Burmese food but I really enjoyed the foods I've tried here. If you like spicy they have plenty of that but they also have a lot of comfort foods. I think the soups and noodle dishes will be perfect on a cold Iowan winter day. I recommend the Mingalabar Plate, it has a bit of everything so if your unsure of what to get this dish lets you try a little bit of something they offer there. *Fair warning if you come here expecting it to be a Chinese American fusion restaurant with generic American dishes like orange chicken this is not that place for that. This place serves authentic flavors and is definitely worth a try if your wanting to try a new flavor. read more

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This new spot opened the summer of 2022 with a Burmese menu. It used to be a Pizza Hut but they remodeled the inside and outside and it looks really pretty with plenty of parking. We tried the fried tofu appetizer. It's crispy on the outside, super soft and creamy inside. Tofu doesn't have much flavor so the real star was the sweet dipping sauce. It has a kick so be warned. I am a wuss for spicy foods but added a bit of the chili oil and it was delicious but super spicy. I ordered the rainbow salad, a mix of noodles, potatoes, tofu, raw cabbage, carrots and red onions. It was described as having a tamarind sauce so I thought it would be the same sauce as the dipping sauce that came with the tofu appetizer. Nope. It was very subtle and not sweet or sour as tamarind usually is. It's traditionally a popular street food and it seemed like it was born of a bunch of leftovers put together with a sauce. It was light but filling. It was unique so I don't know what I would compare it to but I liked it and would recommend it, especially in the summer since it's served cold. My dining partner got the store fried noodles. It has a lot of flavor and was very savory. You could taste the soy sauce and garlic. It wasn't spicy but with their chili oil it was even better. He opted for chicken and would have liked it to have more because it was so good. It was heavy on the veggies and they still had a crunch. They have dessert, boba teas, pop, beer, wine and a full bar. I would like to go back and try more unique dishes. read more

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Of all the laphet thokes I've had.. this is the second best. I am so grateful for this restaurant. I no longer have to travel the world and search for laphet thoke because it's here... IN IOWA!!!! I hope that everyone will discover this gem and help keep them in business. read more

Highly biased because I'm comparing this to the fabulous Burmese offerings of the Bay Area that I enjoyed regularly... It's a very basic dining room and presentation style. Not inadequate, but not particularly comfortable. The food itself and presentation seemed to lack a lot of enthusiasm and flare. Honestly, I would not say the food was all that appealing. When I think of Burmese food, I think of distinct but subtle flavors and satisfying textures. My recollection here is dry and somewhat bland food. It's an amazing cuisine, but I can't say it's well-represented here. The freshness also felt a little disappointing as well. Service was also adequate, but not particularly impressive or welcoming. Burma is a very ethnically diverse place so perhaps it's that I'm off in my expectations because of this. That aside, I would still expect something with more verve and energy. read more

The service was outstanding. Friendly and Helpful. Had the Honey Chicken and was the best I've ever had. Price was right too read more

Some of the best burmese food ever. And im from California! I was very impressed with the tea leaf salad, coconut chicken curry, and tofu appetizer! Delicious! read more

Had lunch here this week and it was so good. My chicken, noodle and veggie dish was so delicious and my sister said her soup was good as well. The menu has so many new things (to me) to try I look forward to going back. read more

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The food was AMAZING!!! So many different kinds of flavors hit the mouth! Do grateful to be introduced to Burmese cuisine in such a friendly family oriented restaurant! Thank you! read more

MingalaBar Burmese Kitchen - Burmese Near Me - Urbandale, Iowa

Super delicious! I totally recommend trying this restaurant. It was our first time and the customer service was superb, the food comes out fast, you definitely get what you pay for and the cost for the dishes are truly fair. We will definitely come back for more soon! read more

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Ambiance was very clean. Food was fresh and delicious. Service was excellent! Would come back again if in town.

Delicious. I'm so happy I found this place, and even more happy I could find such a place in Iowa. Please eat here so we're not left with only chain restaurants read more

We took a large group of high school students and the staff could not have been more kind. We tried appetizers and many entrees and had to share all of it because everyone believed theirs had to be the best. Everyone tried something out of their comfort zone and the food was delicious. I craved the food the rest of the week. I will definitely return every time I am in town. read more

This about the fourth or fifth time we've been here and it has always been great! We started with drinks. Tonight was $2 draws. We ordered one order of pot stickers. They were hot and crunchy, very tasty. So...we ordered another order :). I had the Shan Khao Swe with chicken. There was a good portion of chicken in the bowl, plenty of rice noodles, black beans(maybe) and some veggies such as green onion. It comes with a pickle salad (just a bit) with a bang. That was really good! We also had Puzon Hinn which is shrimp in a tomato base with Jasmin rice, pickle salad, a soup and some heat to add if you want. The Jasmin rice is the best we've had anywhere for a LONG time. The place is clean and the main waitstaff is very nice and accommodating. We have had pork belly and potato curry and a big tray of food with pork belly and beef on it and the spring rolls. Must give it a try! read more

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Interesting choices prepared with care and well presented. Friendly and helpful server. read more

The food was very good and a lovely surprise! I believe the person who served us was also the owner and she was very helpful and kind!

Their mixed veggie tempura appetizer is a must have! They also have other Asian Fusion foods as well! Excellent value!

Some of the best noodles in town. Menu is massive and contains unique dishes you won't find anywhere else in Des Moines. Portions are generous, service is great, and food is excellent. One of our favorites. read more

We were in town for work and I found this place to try with my husband. The last time we were at a Burmese restaurant was last year in Honolulu. So we were excited that there was a Burmese restaurant in Iowa. The service was very good, the food was excellent. If you all have a chance to try this place, you will be happy you did. read more

So glad that our usual place when visiting Des Moines had a 40-minute wait -- and we decided to try Burmese food at MingalaBar instead. New (opened Aug 2022), clean and friendly and prompt service. The food was delicious -- not the usual Americanized Asian fare. For different flavors and a place where your patronage is sincerely appreciated, check out this place. read more

We learned Burmese food is not for us. Nice place. Spotlessly clean. Love that. Wonderful, gracious staff. Smells great. Just not my style of food. I hope they do well as it's a nice place. read more

Delicious food! I can't remember the name of the noodle dish I had, but it came with a small side of sliced veggies with a tasty sauce. When mixed with the noodles it creates a very flavorful and delightful combination. Highly recommend checking this place out. I'll be back. read more

This place was truly amazing and such a hidden gem here in the Des Moines area. The location is clean with a beautiful interior. I love the way they set up their menu with descriptions and pictures of each dish because I'm sure a lot of people in this area are not familiar with Burmese food. The food was incredible. We ordered the fried gourd as an appetizer and it was battered to perfection, with so much crunch and flavor on the outside and then a refreshing soft squash on the inside. Everything we ordered was so tasty. There are options for more traditional dishes and also more basic options for people who maybe aren't so adventurous. The servers are so helpful and attentive. I can't wait to go back and try something different next time! What a great find. read more

My boyfriend and I are visiting from Chicago and came in on a Monday evening and had an excellent experience. Our waitress was extremely friendly and answered all our questions. We got the thayat thee thoke (mango salad) , ohn htamin (chicken curry with coconut rice) and the zakaw htamin (assortment platter served on a bamboo leaf). Everything was so flavorful. My boyfriend said their chicken curry was identical to his mom's. 10/10 will definitely be back. read more

MingalaBar Burmese Kitchen - Burmese Near Me - Urbandale, Iowa

Tried for the first time yesterday. Ordered the Shan Khao Swe and Samosas for carry out. It was perfect for fighting the head cold I have. Traveled well, but full transparency, I only live two blocks away. Going back today because it was just that good. read more

Everything ordered for delivery was awesome. Definitely a spot I want to make a point to actually visit in the regular now.

Excellent food and service. Interior was nice and also clean. Will come back again to try other dishes!