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    SHWE Burmese Restaurant

    4.6 (62 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 2:00 pm, 4:00 PM - 9:00 PM
    Updated 1 month ago

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    SHWE BURMESE RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - SHWE Burmese Restaurant

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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!

    Fried Bananas
    Greg P.

    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.

    Shan Noodle Salad with chicken
    Andrew W.

    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.

    Tofu Curry
    Kathleen S.

    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!

    Vegan tofu curry with mixed vegetables. Lunch meal.
    Kristin K.

    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.

    Burmese noodle soup with fish
    Otis M.

    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.

    Mixed Vegetable Tempura
    Kent P.

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

    Pineapple fried rice was delicious
    Anderson L.

    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!

    Tea leaf salad
    Ryan H.

    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.

    Tea Leaf Salad. Amazing. Expect raw onions.
    Pauline L.

    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!

    Mixed Vegetable Tempura
    Dalena H.

    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!

    Tea leaf salad.

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    10 months ago

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

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    1 year ago

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

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    2 years ago

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

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    SHWE Burmese Restaurant Reviews in Other Languages

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    Burmese Bowl

    Burmese Bowl

    4.6
    (90 reviews)
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    Who would have guessed you can get unbelievably good Burmese food in the mountains of western Mass?…read moreThe tea salad is the best I have had since leaving San Francisco (miss you Burma Superstar). Funky, garlicky goodness with lots of crunch. The Jet Noodle with Chicken - my kid devoured these noodles. If you love garlic this is heaven. Nice chewy noodles and tasty chicken. Big portions as well. Tom Yum Soup - tangy and sour the way that tom yum should be. Excellent soup base. Note if you order online, it doesn't allow you to select a protein so we got charged the full price without being to pick a meat. best to call in the order. Braised pork belly curry special - the meat was so tender and the curry was packed with flavor. So so good! The ambience is very casual. Walk in only. Kid friendly and can handle large groups. Also some tables for outside dining. The portions are large so you get your money's worth!

    I came here with my folks and their friends the other weekend and had the best time. Burmese Bowl…read morecame highly recommended and they did not disappoint! This family-owned restaurant boasts plenty of seating, a cozy home-like atmosphere and incredible flavors. The portions were great and the service was absolutely wonderful. I've come to learn that they are a staple in the area and it's clear why. I ordered the pad thai and it was just scrumptious. I had a few bites of my dad's pho and it was equally as impressive. I look forward to coming back the next time I'm in the area. I'll probably order the tea salad, based on fellow Yelp Elite John H's review. 5/5 in my book!

    Photos
    Seating area
    Seating area
    N5. See Jet Noddles Salad (serve with clear chicken broth soup) Chicken/Pork with garlicy noodle &  California Roll
    N5. See Jet Noddles Salad (serve with clear chicken broth soup) Chicken/Pork with garlicy noodle & California Roll
    Outdoor facade

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    Outdoor facade

    SHWE Burmese Restaurant - burmese - Updated June 2026

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