I walked into SHWE Burmese Restaurant at 11:05 am, just after opening. I was the only one there. The room was calm and unhurried, the faint aroma of hot tea rising through the quiet like a welcome ritual before the day began. Then came the pineapple fried rice with pork belly. Savory, caramelized pork belly met bright bursts of pineapple in a perfect sweet-salt balance. Fluffy rice studded with peas, carrots, and ribbons of egg. My three year old son dove in without hesitation, happily scooping forkfuls of rice and pineapple like he had discovered treasure. No negotiations. Just joy. Fifteen minutes later, box in hand, the real event began. Across melting ice. A sharp jaywalk. A cut through the gas station. A full sprint toward the train station as the gates threatened to close and my family waited. It was an unofficial, record-breaking mile fueled entirely by fried rice ambition. Once the cold air finally left my lungs, I cracked open the box. Steam rose into the winter air. The smell alone was victory. I ate every last grain on that train, a triumphant feast earned the hard way. My wife was not impressed with how close I cut it. I, however, stand by the decision. Some meals are worth the sprint. read more

SHWE Burmese Restaurant - Burmese Near Me - Rensselaer, New York

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Y'all, the ambience is cozy - the holes in the walls are some of the best foods you can find. Food was delicious, but as another person wrote - the wait is absolutely insane. When I came in there were two tables filled already (of the 6), and I literally waited 40 minutes for my entree. In the mean time they served soup and a small salad on the house I guess. The table after me got their food. I'm literally by myself and ordered an appetizer and an entree. It's taking everything in me not to just leave cash on the table for the appetizer already served and walk out. I did see uber or grub hub come in and they had to wait a little bit for their pick up order as well. Don't order the chef seafood special dining in at the restaurant. Order it to go. You'll probably get it faster..... read more

Shwe Burmese is a small (about five tables) family-run restaurant which serves Burmese food and sushi. The Burmese dishes I tried were very good. A tea leaf salad or Lat phat thoat has "Crispy pea, peanut, sesame seed and garlic oil with ground pickle tea leaf, cabbage and tomato." It was a little funky, a bit like kimchi, with a wonderful textural crunch provided by the peanuts. Palata (deep fried layered & flattened dough), commonly served at street food stalls, is reminiscent of scallion pancakes (without the scallion). In this case, it was served with a chicken, potato, and dahl stew. The saltiness of the stew was tamed by the layered and fatty dough. I might skip the chicken dumplings because those were boiled from frozen, store bought items. The pandan dessert, similar to a bubble tea, was an added extra. I'd definitely go again. read more

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A hole in a wall gem run by a sweet family. You'll often see 2-3 kids doing homework or playing video games at a table nearby while their parents/grandparents cook in the back and run the orders. I've been here a few times now and rarely are there more than 2 tables with eaters but they have a lot of takeout orders so service is QUITE slow sometimes. If you're in a rush, I recommend getting takeout instead of eating in. The wait is worth eating in though because sometimes you get a small soup, a small side of pickled cabbage, and dessert to share with the table at the end, all complimentary! Food wise, I HIGHLY recommend the mohinga, it's a Burmese fish soup. It's hearty, homey, and delicious. I've ordered one every single visit. The tea leaf salad is quite yummy as well but it could be an acquired taste for some since it has a slight bitterness flavor from the tea leaf, but still, try it (: and their chili flakes, so good that I always pack the extras into napkins to bring home... the rest of the menu is base on your preference (I've tried 3-4 other dishes) but the best were those mentioned above read more

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You know it's good when the kids are doing homework in the corner. Amazing hospitality and surprisingly delicious food. Recommend the chef special wide flat noodles! read more

SHWE Burmese Restaurant - Burmese Near Me - Rensselaer, New York

We Google search for restaurant whenever we go somewhere and we wanted to try this place since we never had Burmese food before! If you are in the rush, you definitely can't come here! There was only 2 tables but we waited at least 35 minutes for our food to come out one at a time and waited another 15 minutes for another dish to come out! Food was good but the wait was very slow! we were there for hour and half for an appetizer and 2 main course and they gave us free coconut pudding and soup for having a early dinner there! read more

We have a late lunch. Ordered off the lunch menu. Some of the best food we have had in years!! Highly recommend! It was not a quick lunch, but well worth the wait!! read more

Did not expect a legit Burmese restaurant in Albany yet here we are. This is a true hole-in-the-wall family-run business, with multiple generations of family in the kitchen and what seems like no outside help, all located in what appears to be somebody's house. This means that you may wait a bit longer for your food; I ordered to-go and it did seem like they were prioritizing dine-in orders, which I didn't mind. I've been to well-regarded Burmese restaurants in cities like LA and SF, and the food here easily holds its own flavor wise. The shan noodle salad with chicken is a fantastic example of all the inherent contrasting tastes and textures in Burmese cuisine - sweet, chewy, meaty, crunchy, shot through with tart pungency from the pickled vegetables. I was also surprised to find that the "pork" meat option in all of the stir-fried rice and noodle dishes are thick, succulent slices of pork belly, versus the lean slivers of loin or shoulder that you'd find at... just about any other Thai or Chinese restaurant. The main chef in the family supposedly cooked at five-star hotels in Burma before making his way to upstate New York - I can definitely believe that based on the quality of the dishes here, and this community is lucky for it. read more

SHWE Burmese Restaurant - Shan Noodle Salad with chicken - Burmese Near Me - Rensselaer, New York

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This restaurant is a quaint joint that could be easily missed if you aren't looking for it. It's a small restaurant, but it has a home kitchen kind of feel to it. There is limited seating, with space for a few medium sized parties of 4-5, as well as some smaller 2 person groups. The menu has a solid selection of choices that are all VERY reasonably priced (even too cheap some might say). The service was a little slow, but the restaurant seems to be run by a family, and they are very apologetic. Of course, this wasn't a problem because you just knew the food was going to be freshly cooked. And fresh it was! The waitress was very kind, welcoming us and serving us with a smile. Our order came with a small salad and a vegetable soup which were both very tasty. We started out with some chicken wings which came out nice and crispy. The sauce on the side was a Burmese bbq which had a light kick and was very flavorful. We then had a dragon sushi roll which tasted very fresh. Finally, our main course, which for me was the drunken noodles with pork belly. This dish was packed with vegetables and piled high with delicious pork belly. It was very well seasoned and was cooked perfectly. The waitress wrapped up our meal with complimentary fried banana, or at least we think it was. It very well could have come with the meal, which for the price, still makes it seem complimentary. Overall, I can't recommend this restaurant enough. If you have some time and are wiling to wait a little longer than most other restaurants, you will be well rewarded with delicious food. read more

SHWE Burmese Restaurant - Fried Bananas - Burmese Near Me - Rensselaer, New York

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SHWE is one of the most exceptional and memorable restaurants I've been to this year. The food is fabulous, but the hospitality is truly what makes it stand out. The experience felt like the home-cooked meal I wish I had had when I visited Myanmar back in 2017. I believe the family that operates the restaurant lives above the restaurant, and it felt truly warm and welcoming. Hanging on the wall was a painting of the familiar sight of Bagan, evoking memories of my own breathtaking journey there where I also encountered some of the kindest, most hospitable people of my far-flung travels. For lunch we ordered the requisite tea leaf salad, tofu curry with rice (the lunch special came with a small soup and salad), and mohinga. Everything was superb. The tea leaf salad and mohinga probably were some of the best I've ever had. I've never had a Burmese-styled tofu curry before, but this one was wonderfully flavorful. The texture of the tofu was so silky and smooth, cooked with loving perfection. Like a doting auntie, of the owners carried my fussy baby, allowing me to eat the rest of my meal in peace. They also provided a complimentary dessert, consisting of shaved ice with rose syrup, grass jelly, peanuts, and other jellies. What a truly marvelous way to end a meal! If I could give this place six stars, I would. Definitely worth a return trip the next time we are upstate! read more

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Vegan haven. Lots of choices for vegans. Had a delicious poke bowl with tofu and seaweed salad, avocado, corn, sushi rice, cabbage, carrots. The tea salad is amazing and a new dish for me- delicious crunchy peanuts. Be prepared to wait. It is just a few people making your meal. Daughter had tofu curry with vegetables and loved it. Highly highly recommend. read more

SHWE Burmese Restaurant - Vegan tofu curry with mixed vegetables. Lunch meal. - Burmese Near Me - Rensselaer, New York

This is simple comfort food, served in an environment that feels like somebody's living room. I've eaten at several other Burmese restaurants and recall more spice in the dishes, but it is what it is. Of course we had the tea leaf salad; it was OK but without the tartness I am used to. Burmese noodle soup, fish curry, a fried noodle dish were all good but mild. I did ask for hot sauce and they brought a generic version. Three of us ate as much as we wanted for $19 each including tip, no complaints there. Be aware they add a 10% service charge to the bill as you're handed it so we took that into account in leaving our usual 18 to 20% tip. read more

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The food was most amazing, the service great, but you will need lots of time, and it is like eating in your mom's kitchen. There is no way to explain this place,other than you Must Try it read more

Very good/great food. Small. Simple. Delicious. good size portions and value. Only about 4-6 tables for eat in. read more

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We LOVED our dinner at Shwe! We weren't sure what to expect, as the menu seemed to be pan-Asian, which was fine, but I didn't want Japanese, Thai or Chinese food, we wanted Burmese food. We were a party of 6. The hostess was very nice, brought out the dishes one-by-one, which worked well for us, as we were all sharing. Service was steady and friendly. (They could use a regular pitcher of water on the table, as we had to wait a few times for water--just more work for them to pour it individually.) The ambience is nothing to speak of, but it was sufficient and comfortable. Now, for the food--our favorites were the Tea Leaf Salad--every taste point met--sweet, salt, savory, sour, imami, not bitter--wonderful--would make a wonderful lunch by itself. We also loved the chicken curry, burmese wide flat noodles with pork belly, eggplant with beef, Palata: fried flatbread and veg/chicken stew, Burmese fried vermicelli, salmon in coconut curry sauce. Every dish was a home-run. Plus, the kind woman gave us all a fried banana roll with chocolate sauce and powdered sugar. I often don't leave reviews, and they didn't beg me to leave one, either. Totally earned, exceeded expectations! Whoops, no photos--ate it all up! read more

A Burmese restaurant would be hard to find in NYC ... and here it is in Albany. What a treat! The cooking is authentic from a smaller kitchen so it does take a bit longer. The spices and the way Burmese food taste is a mixture of Thai and Vietnamese, I feel. Not Chinese for sure. If you like Thai food or Vietnamese food, you will like the twist and new flavors. Off street parking. Next to a bar, I think. We felt a little unease at first with the neighborhood but it turned out all good. Worth the adventure. Besides, what other interesting restaurant there is at the outskirts of Albany? read more

Authentic, home made style Burmese food. A gem of a place in a convenient location with plenty of parking. We ordered the tea leaf salad and a few different curries, along with the pineapple fried rice. Everything was flavorful and tasty without being greasy and too salty/drenched in sauce. Even the soup included with the lunch special was very good and full of veges. Family owned and the owner was very accommodating and friendly. Strongly recommended for authentic, great Burmese food! read more

SHWE Burmese Restaurant - Pineapple fried rice was delicious - Burmese Near Me - Rensselaer, New York

I seriously enjoyed the food at Shwe, the first Burmese restaurant in the area that I'm aware of. I had a vague idea of what to expect, but the menu was still full of surprises. First off, it's small, as other reviewers have said. It seems like one room. We were there for lunch, and all the tables were occupied, for a total of probably not more than 20 people. If I arrived and saw all the seats occupied, and no one looked finished, I would head right back out the door. More on that in a minute... The dishes are cheap enough that most of our table got a salad and a main, assuming they'd be on the smaller side. Well, they gave us some free extras, so it ended up being a lot of food, but half the fun is trying all the dishes, and it was a really good value. I had to get the tea leaf salad, because I had no idea what it would be. Oh man, it was crunchy and delicious. It's cabbage and peanuts and ground tea leaves, all fried with garlic oil. It left a strong herby aftertaste in my mouth for hours, which was not unpleasant. Wife had the mango salad, which was not unlike a green papaya salad, and was also delicious. Then we got a bowl of soup which came with the entrees. Seemed to be a rich fish broth with cabbage and was very good. I had a fried noodle entree with pork, which was very good, but was similar to dishes I've had before, so wasn't blowing my mind, but it did have a deep, rich flavor. Last we got bowls of green pandan tapioca in coconut milk. A nice, sweet end to the meal, and definitely not something I've seen elsewhere around here. I should say all of the dishes seemed lovingly prepared and well-presented. But now for the bad part: the service was so slow. The dishes come out as they are finished, so your party might get two salads, then another 15 minutes later, then 30 minutes later a main, then 15 minutes later a second main, and so on... I got my main dish long after everyone else was finished. From sitting down to leaving, we were there for three hours. I'm a patient person and I definitely have a higher than normal tolerance for slow service. Everyone working there was extremely nice, and I am dying to give this place five stars, but I can't until things speed up just a little bit. read more

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I've been getting Yelp push notifications about this restaurant for weeks. So I knew I was meant to visit this business and I'm glad I finally did. Actually, it was my husband's idea. It was in the middle of the work week. He came home and suggested that he'd take me out. Sure! The name of the restaurant means gold and the walls are painted yellow with that thought in mind. It's a nice sentiment. The chef-owner Min Min Tan believes in his gold standard. The place is small, but clean and inviting. I'm Asian-American. I'm very familiar with great Asian food, but I've never been to Burma or had Burmese food before. Many of the seasonings and ingredients are very familiar. However, it's the way Min combined the flavors that makes his dishes so distinctive. Wow. There are some Asian fusion offerings including the sushi. I tried as many of the meals depicted in photos on the menu as possible because I was looking for authentically Burmese dishes. I got them. They were great! Our server, Pan, checked to see if we could handle spicy food. If you've seen us eat before, you'd know it's the spicier the better. The meals did not actually have a lot of "heat" in our opinion, but they were wonderful balances of flavorings. I'd recommend the tea leaf salad. I've never had a salad like this before. You have to like raw marinated onions because there are a lot of thinly sliced onions in this dish. There were nuts, which I really enjoyed, but those with food allergies may need to take that into consideration. There were also marinated tea leaves which tasted awesome. My fish noodle soup was delicious. The thin noodles combined perfectly with the most un-fishy smelling fish that I've ever eaten. The soup was a bit tangy. I slurped it all up. My husband's curry shrimp was unlike any curry we've had before. It was in a red sauce and it was remarkably good. We also enjoyed some coconut flavored tapioca for dessert. It was a pretty shade of green though I don't know why. It was light and not too sweet. There was a remarkable amount of care taken in preparing our meals. The ingredients are sliced and diced for visual appeal. We could hear the sounds of sizzling coming from the kitchen. Even before our food was served we could tell we were in for an amazing experience. Thanks so much SHWE restaurant! We look forward to our next meal with you! read more

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Albany is lucky to have such a delicious Burmese restaurant. I've been to Myanmar (previously known as Burma) and it's not easy to find authentic Burmese food outside the country. The decor and style of this humble space brought back so many memories of that trip. I went there as the snow was starting to fall heavily, so opted for take-out. The owner took the order and wanted me to know that he serves soup and salad with the entrees while dining in, not for take-out. The meat filling in the dumplings was so flavorful, the curry tasted great but wasn't spicy and we loved the traditional fried noodles. I really like that the food has a lot of impactful flavor without excessive spice. Be prepared for a tiny space, bright lights and nothing fancy, but delicious food. I read that the owner has worked at various Japanese restaurants, which is why he put sushi on the menu. read more

First time trying brumese food. I was the only one in the restaurant, but it took a while for the food to come out. The lady was very nice and kind. She came out to ask how spicy I wanted my chicken curry and if I was fine with fish sauce. I also ordered the mixed veggie tempura. The veggies were heavily coated but not burnt. I could still taste the veggies, and the sweet and spicy sauce was mild. The chicken curry came with a small salad and a soup. The soup was a simple shredded cabbage soup, but it was delicious. I got flavors of oregano. The chicken curry was actually smaller than I thought, but it was filling enough to eat half after eating a whole plate of the tempura, salad, and soup. If you're not used to asian fishy fermented taste, you might not like the curry. It's not those creamy Indian or Thai curries you think of. The chicken curry paired with the salad. I didn't expect dessert, but it was something I was familiar with. It was not too sweet, which was perfect. I'm not sure if there was supposed to be a flavor based on the color. I only tasted coconut. Overall, it was a very kind mom and pop restaurant that should be supported! read more

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Food was dry. Father was very nice. Place was clean. Prices were higher than expected.

I have eaten Burmese food in Mill Valley, San Francisco, and the LA area, and was always sad that we didn't have any in the Albany area. I also couldn't understand why those restaurants Americanized Burmese food, for example, by adding greens to a tea leaf salad. Therefore, I was doubly happy that we both have a Burmese restaurant now, and that it's authentic. I also managed to snap up a few photos, because the food looked so good, that we kept just dividing in. The fish soup (mohinga) and tea leaf salad are my staples at any Burmese restaurant I go to, and I loved them here. I also tried the tofu curry, vermicelli, fish curry, coconut soup, and some sort of a fried dumpling, and loved everything. It has the ambiance of a small, school, cafeteria, and the service was definitely of someone first starting out, but both were pleasant. I can't wait to come back! read more

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A home-style family restaurant that will now be a staple in my Albany cuisine. This restaurant is relatively new to the area, and I happened to discover it through Yelp. The menu options are varied, with multiple choices available for everyone's palate. I highly recommend the vermicelli noodle dish (Kyar zan kyaw) for the flavor and heartiness. We additionally ordered the chicken curry which tasted rich and flavorful. The restaurant itself is situated on the side of the road, and the interior reminds me of one's home (the family was sitting at a table nearby). The prices are very reasonable, with most prices being 7.99 or lower. This place definitely feels like you are eating out of someone's home; this makes the restaurant experience even more meaningful. read more

SHWE Burmese Restaurant - Chicken curry - Burmese Near Me - Rensselaer, New York

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Just leaving a little update to say that this place is still wonderful! The free dessert was different this time, but the delicious food and wonderful people are exactly the same. We tried a few new dishes this time and still enjoyed everything. Also, everyone isn't kidding about tiny customers being VERY welcome here. By the time we left my baby was fully prepared to abandon me for her new family. I don't really blame her: I don't cook nearly as well as her new BFFs do. read more

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Small, quiet place with just a few tables. The owner is very friendly. As for the food, it is incredible. I recommend the Burmese specialties. The curries are great, and the mango salad was a standout for me - probably the best salad I've ever had; sweet, savory, spicy, crisp, fresh, with a bit of garlic oil to add a nice heartiness. A perfect meal, really. And low prices as well. read more

Absolutely loved eating here. The duo running this place are super sweet and make you feel like you are sitting at their kitchen table and eating a meal with family. The dishes are prepared with care and so delicious. Absolutely a hidden gem! We are so fortunate to have such a diverse options in cuisines here in the capital region and Shwe is definitely one of the stars. read more

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Not sure if we went on a bad day, but unfortunately, we did not have a good experience here. The venue was small, and there was one other family of 3 when we got there. We received menus right away, but did not see our waitress again for quite a while. The gentleman at the other table had to get the waitress from the kitchen to finally order. We had to do the same. It took 1 1/2 hours just to get 2 apps. There was no communication, no water offered. When the apps came out, we told the waitress to just bag the rest to go. This took another 1/2 hour. During this time, a Doordash driver came in for a pick-up order and waited at least 40 minutes. The order was not even started when she got there. This coupled with a child in control of the big screen TV that played constant cartoons, made for a less-than-pleasant experience. We love trying new places, especially local, but this one needs a little TLC to be truly successful. Food - 4 out of 10. read more

Amazing, affordable, authentic & delicious. Friendly and welcoming too! Cannot recommend highly enough!!

Very good food, inexpensive. Curry Tofu was perfect. Soup was very good. My spouse had a chicken curry and it was also yummy. Had Burmese spring roll and it was just the right amount before the main course. A small but tasty Salad was included, also the right size for us. I had iced Burmese tea, very good, very rich flavor. Surprise, surprise- dessert! A tapioca bubble type dessert! Never had anything like it before! It was good! And finally- the owner and family came out and sang happy birthday to my spouse and they had ANOTHER dessert! Ice cream, a birthday candle and a warm banana roll! Perfect dinner! read more

SHWE Burmese Restaurant - Burmese Near Me - Rensselaer, New York

Greatttttttt job these people are no joke great spot to get food from trust me I put that on my soul no cap the eats is valid. If you don't like it then shoot it ain't for you but ima let yall know now the high rating they got isn't for no reason!!!! read more

Just tried some kimchi pork fried rice takeout and it is dewicious!! I did a search on yelp for restaurants with tasty fried rice and this place came up. I had never had Burmese food before so I was definitely interested. Reviewers were recommending the pineapple pork fried rice. I couldn't decide between the pineapple or the kimchi style so I got the kimchi this time and it has some heat to it, but not crazy heat. It's really delicious, the rice is so tasty and the pork giant chunks are amazing. This is pork belly I think I read since when do you see humongous chunks of pork like this in a fried rice, what a find! I can't wait to have something else including the pineapple pork fried rice! read more

SHWE Burmese Restaurant - Amazing kimchi pork fried rice - Burmese Near Me - Rensselaer, New York

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Caveats out of the way: the restaurant is pretty tiny, seats maybe 12 people total. That said, the food here is flat out incredible. It's a family run restaurant, the staff is super nice, and price is extremely modest. Give this restaurant a shot, you will not be disappointed. read more

Simple, family run and economical. The food was delicious and the service was very friendly. We'd love to come back.

Believe the hype. This restaurant is incredible! Good family vibes, the owners are super friendly. I went for a birthday dinner after wanting to come here for a long time. It did not disappoint. We got two incredible soups and the Burmese fried rice. We wanted to make sure we had extra to take home. We were served with delicious tea and also a tapioca pudding dessert that was super refreshing. The food was comforting, flavorful, and overall incredible. Great service, great experience. We will definitely be back. read more

I'd be happy to write a positive review of the Sweet and Sour Chicken dish at Shwe Burmese Restaurant in Rensselaer, NY! Shwe Burmese Restaurant is a hidden gem in Rensselaer, and their Sweet and Sour Chicken dish is a must-try. The chicken is perfectly cooked and crispy, and the sauce is the perfect combination of sweet and sour flavors. The dish also comes with fresh vegetables, which add a nice crunch and texture to the overall meal. What I love about this dish is that it's not overly sweet or heavy like some other Sweet and Sour Chicken dishes can be. Instead, the flavors are perfectly balanced and it's a dish that leaves you feeling satisfied but not weighed down. Plus, the portion size is generous, so you'll definitely have leftovers to enjoy later. Aye Yi, Thida and Min Min Htun know how to cook dish, excellent customer service and customers are treated very warmly to forget extremely winter weather! In Burmese sour dish calls Cho chin gyaw, . Overall, I highly recommend the Sweet and Sour Chicken at Shwe Burmese Restaurant. It's a delicious and satisfying dish that's sure to please your taste buds. And while you're there, be sure to try some of their other authentic Burmese dishes - you won't be disappointed! read more

SHWE Burmese Restaurant - Cho chin gyaw, , Sweet and sour dish! Thank Min Min Htun, Thida, Aye Yi - Burmese Near Me - Rensselaer, New York

So good! Cozy dining space, sweet staff, and really tasty food. I had trouble choosing because everything sounded good, ended up trying the Burmese noodle salad. Loved the flavors and textures, I'll definitely be back. read more

First of all, the bathroom was not clean at all, and it had a jar of dirt in the corner? I mean come on people, the bathroom was STICKY and smelled so weird I can't even explain it. Even though I never got to eat the food, I can imagine how unsettling it is to work there cause it looks like a FLIPPING MENTAL ASYLUM and the car Nextdoor looked like it had bullet holes in it and there was a kid in a chair just sitting there ominously like he just noclipped to the backrooms and I just can't. read more

Worth the wait- fresh delicious food. We had lunch specials and everything was delicious. HIGHLY RECOMMEND. 3 Minutes from Amtrak station in Rensselaer. read more

SHWE is a true gem! We ate dinner here after our train from NYC got in around 8. We were warmly greeted and quickly served. The tea leaf salad was delicious, as was the beef curry - perfectly spiced and incredibly tender. The little extra dishes they offered - soup and a cucumber and cabbage salad - were lovely additions to the meal. We will definitely be back! read more