Given the current situation in Myanmar, I cannot recommend making any travel plans to this country. Please refer to your government’s travel safety guidelines ahead of making any travel plans.

This time, 2019, I would be in Yangon for several days. Armed with what will henceforth be known as “Elelta and Dana’s Yangon Foodie Guide,” I tasted a variety of Burmese cuisine, from ethnic Wa foods to foods from the Shan state, to traditional Chinese food (from Myanmar’s large Chinese diaspora!). I tried it all, with a variety of cocktails and tropical fruit juices to wash it down with.

So behold.

The Dana and Elelta Yangon Foodie Guide

Brief Introduction to Elelta and Dana, and the Yangon Foodie Guide

As part of my insane travel schedule/life, in November 2019, I traveled from Afghanistan to the Maldives. And by December, I had to be in Austria for graduation. Where to fill the time, with the world as my oyster?

Of the people I have met through my life in Kabul, three of them had or now have connections to Myanmar. Two of the three lived and worked there previously. And though I didn’t know it at the time, but a third would be moving there by the end of 2019. The choice of Yangon literally went like this:

L: We could do Yangon.
There’s a little more character than BKK (Bangkok)

D: Waaaaay more character.
And I do really love Yangon
For a long weekend we can eat well and go to some cute places

Dana was all for picking Yangon. But what about Elelta? I didn’t know it at the time, but when asked to pick a country that you felt had impacted you the most, Elelta chose Myanmar, because of her experiences from living there before. Mine? Cook Islands. Someone else? Lebanon. Another? Yemen. Ya, we are a diverse group of humans. All gathered together in Afghanistan, of all places. Back to Yangon before I get too nostalgic..

The idea for a long weekend in Yangon was born out of the promise of eating well and the hope of being positively impacted for life.

And that is the premise behind the creation of the Yangon Foodie Guide. Without further ado…

1. Rangoon Tea House (RTH)

As I was thinking of how to describe the Rangoon Tea House, or RTH to the expat community, the phrase “grand dame” of Yangon restaurants kept popping into my head. Although it’s probably not an apt description in technicality, that’s what I want to call it. The Grand Dame of Yangon.

When I was in Yangon, I visited the Rangoon Tea House twice, at different times of the day. And both times, it was completely packed to the brim. There is also an upstairs bar/seating area (where the restrooms are) but I never saw them seat anyone in that section.

As a Yangon Foodie, doesn’t this look delicious?

Please allow me to introduce the utter delightful dishes I ate at RTH. Yes. This is one person’s consumption – no judgment.

• Soft-shelled crab bao – absolutely delicious. It combines two things I love – soft shell crabs and baos. For me, it wasn’t a knife and fork action, but a “take a huge bite and hope for the best” method.
• Nan Gyi – thick rice noodles, with crispy (shrimp, I think) chips and shredded chicken. Because of the curry paste (I think), it was a little dry, similar to the dry like peanut butter. However, the order comes with a little bowl of broth or consomme to wash it down. You can order it with either chicken or fish cakes.
• The famous pennywort salad (myin kwa ywet thoke) – this was probably my absolutely favorite thing at RTH! Pennywort is a leafy vegetable uncommon to western cuisine, which I have rarely encountered in my food adventures. The salad was absolutely delightful, and the crispy shallots on top were to die for. The lime added a light and refreshing touch to it. I ordered this both times I went to RTH – it’s that good!
• Grilled pork neck – for someone who has been living in a Muslim country and thus deprived of pork, this grilled pork neck was quite possibly one of the most delicious things I’ve ever eaten – period! Tender, fragrant and grilled to perfection! Described on the menu as “200g tender pork neck marinated overnight in tea leaf tapenade, grilled over an open fire” 6500 ks | $4.40 USD
• The BFF dessert – right when you enter RTH, there is a large display counter of all of their desserts. Do yourself a favor and get one!! They are delicious. The BFF comes highly recommended!
• Salted caramel brownie with vanilla ice cream – Ok, really… could this ever go wrong??? No. It was a little too big for one person, given all that I had eaten already. But REALLY. GOOD. 7500 ks | $5 USD

(Not pictured and not tried by yours truly, but recommended by the Yangon Foodie Guide: banana blossom salad!)

Unfortunately, I cannot find a good version of the menu online, so I could only include the prices for the grilled pork neck and the brownie. Ironically, the brownie was probably the most expensive thing that I ordered, at 7500 ks. Also, I think RTH is classed as a $$$ restaurant in most lists. As an expat, and given the long list of things I ordered above, (and if you add in cocktails, which I hear are great at RTH) you could probably easily spend $15-20 USD at RTH.

Rangoon Tea House: Ultimate decision: absolutely worth it and amazing! For foodies and non-foodies alike! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

2. Root Kitchen and Bar

Root is a delightful “ethnic Wa” restaurant, located in the 5th ward of downtown Yangon. The Wa people are an ethnic group who live primarily in northern Myanmar (in parts of Shan and Kachin States) and Yunnan, China. The food at ROOT is a wonderful blend of modern and traditional flavors, and their cocktail menu, fun and exciting. The food is also intended to be served tapas/family-style, so everyone can try some of each dish. However, being the solo traveler that I am, that just means I’ll still order a bunch and eat it all. Behold – my first Wa experience!

• Grilled pork belly (Regular order) – The first thing that came out was this amazing grilled pork belly. So tender and expertly grilled. 5500 ks | $3.75 USD
• Wa Tang Clan cocktail – How could you not order a cocktail with this name? Not to be confused with the Wu Tang Clan, the WA Tang Clan is Gold Rum, cinnamon syrup, lemon, ginger, and ginger ale. Deliciously made. I want to go back and try more of their cocktails! 7000 ks | $4.75 USD
• Stir fry beef with bamboo shoots – I think if I had to rank each of these dishes at ROOT, this may be my least favorite, although it was still really delicious! I think the bamboo shoots were slightly pickled and had a bit of a sour taste. Maybe you don’t know, but I am not a huge fan of pickles or pickling. But I am a huge fan of bamboo. For me, I guess what I wanted was regular bamboo shoots and beef. But alas. Still really good, and worth a try! 6500 ks | $4.40 USD
• Stir fry green beans with minced pork – This is just a classic dish in many ethnic Chinese cuisines. Very rarely can a restaurant mess up a green beans and pork. Classic and nostalgic. 5000 ks | $3.40 USD

(Not pictured and not tried by yours truly, but recommended by the Yangon Foodie Guide: moik! Moik is made from brown rice, and is like a “Wa risotto”. The pumpkin moik or beef or pork were specifically recommended. The Wa people eat three different kindsm of moik: dry, wet and soupy. ROOT mainly serves the wet moik.)

ROOT was definitely one of my favorites too. My only regret was that I didn’t have more meals in Yangon in order to go and try more different Wa foods. I loved everything I ate, but especially that grilled pork belly and Wa Tang Clan cocktail!

The regular menu can be found here. There is also a “visual menu” found here, which also provides an introduction to the Wa peoples and cuisine.

ROOT: Ultimate decision: So, so good! and fun to try a new cuisine! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

3. Xi Yang Yang Xiao Long Bao – 喜洋洋小籠包

Anyone who knows me, knows that Xiao Long Bao (or “XLB” as seasoned connoisseurs will call it) are probably my all time favorite thing to eat. Din Tai Fung (the famous Taiwanese franchise) is an age-old favorite. Wherever there is a Din Tai Fung, there will be a Lannie eating an XLB and a pork-chop fried rice. Now, XLBs are obviously not Burmese cuisine, but rather Shanghaiese in nature. The Chinese diaspora brings the XLB to Yangon. Right now, the ethnic Chinese population in Myanmar stands at about 30-40% of the population. So, it’s not totally out of left field that a Chinese restaurant makes it onto the Yangon Foodie Guide.

Before I go into the food, I wanted to comment on the first photo of just the table settings. You’ll see that the bowls, tea cup, and plate are all covered in plastic wrap. Though wasteful, it’s supposed to denote that these bowls have been expertly sanitized for your clean eating experience. This is very typical in Asia and you’ll come across this in many different countries.

I have so many questions about this. Does this mean that they outsource all of their dishes to a company to wash and then wrap up? Or do they have a wrapping machine in the back that washes and wraps? If you’re going to wash it yourself, do you need to wrap it? So many questions.. But I digress, and onward to the food!

• Beef noodle soup – I ordered this because of nostalgia. I have very fond memories of regular, if not weekly, beef noodle soups when I was in college. Beef noodle soup is also a favorite meal in Taiwan, where I spent a lot of time in my youth. This one at Xi Yang Yang did not disappoint! Served with thick noodles typical to a beef noodle soup, and with flavors reminiscent of my past. I don’t know how much this cost, but it should be fairly reasonable.
• The Xiao Long Bao – pork soup dumplings. For me, the general rule of thumb is, if there are soup dumplings on the menu, don’t faff around and try ones with different flavors – i.e shrimp, crab, truffle, whatever. You name it, I’ve probably tried it and felt disappointed by it haha. Go for the classic pork. The XLB has two main components to grade the experience on: the soup and the skin. There needs to be an adequate amount of soup. The soup cannot have dried up or been lost due to a puncture in the dumpling skin. I am happy to say that not only was there adequate soup, which was extremely flavorful, but the dumpling skin also maintained its integrity throughout the eating experience. This is a bold thing to say, but I feel comfortable in saying this – on par with Din Tai Fung. 2000 ks | $1.35 USD for 4 pcs, 4000 ks | $2.70 USD for 8 pcs.

(Not pictured and not tried by yours truly, but things I would have liked to try: pork chop fried rice, scallion pancakes, black sesame buns! Sounds great, doesn’t it?)

Xi Yang Yang was everything that I wanted out of a nostalgic Chinese meal, full of all of my favorites.

Sincerely, someone who has gone around the world and tasted tons of beef noodle soups and xiao long baos in their day.

Xi Yang Yang: Ultimate decision: Get yourself there immediately! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

4. Shan Yoe Yar

Shan Yoe Yar is a restaurant specializing in ethnic Shan cuisine. The Shan people are part of the Tai ethnic group, based in South China and Southeast Asian. The Shan mostly reside in the Shan State, but also in the Mandalay Region, Kachin and Kayin States in Myanmar. Outside of Myanmar, the Shan people inhabit communities in Thailand, Laos, India, and south China.

Shan Yoe Yar has multiple locations, including its original one housed in a renovated teak house in the Lanmadaw district of Yangon. I went to the location in Sule Plaza, due to its close proximity to the Sule Pagoda. If you go to the Sule Pagoda for vibrant sunset, it’s only a 5 minute walk to Sule Plaza for a nice dinner at Shan Yoe Yar. Tourism and food in one!

When I walked into Shan Yoe Yar at Sule Plaza (a shopping mall in downtown), I was excited to order a famous Shan noodles. I had tried them previously, at 999 Shan Noodles and liked it. I looked all over the menu at Shan Yoe Yar and did not see it. When my server finally arrived, I asked about it, and apparently there is a breakfast menu where the noodles are! Shan people typically eat their Shan noodles for breakfast, but is also eaten at any time of day. Makes sense! Now, with both menus, I was ready to go.

• Shan Noodles (khao swe) – thin rice noodles with chicken or pork, cooked in tomatoes, which is served either dry or with broth (soup). I got the dry version, which came with soup on the side. However, it’s not dry as you would think. It’s still sopping in broth, and by the time you start to eat it, the rice noodles have absorbed a lot of the flavor of the broth. Delicious!
• Chinese kai lan with stir fried pork rinds – this dish was just ok. I was in the mood for a large veggie dish, and that certainly fit the bill! The pork rinds added a nice salty flavor but I thought the texture distracted from it. I’d never eaten cooked pork rinds before and the crispiness turns into a sogginess.

I washed all of this down with a delightful papaya juice. If I had more time, more meals available or more stomach, I would have loved to try a smattering of other dishes. I think perhaps with the kai lan, I just chose wrong. It’s also possible that dining at the original location in the teak house would have been more of an experience than a restaurant inside a shopping mall. All things to consider for the future! I could find a copy of the English menu online, but this restaurant would be in the $$-$$$ range.

Shan Yoe Yar: Ultimate decision: Try it out and go to the teak house for an experience! Go with friends and try more dishes and report back. ⭐⭐⭐ 1/2

5. Sarkies Bar at the Strand Hotel

If RTH is the Grand Dame of Yangon, the Strand Hotel would be the male equivalent. I present to you, the Major Domo of Yangon – The Strand Hotel. Built in 1901, this Victorian-hotel was once the most luxurious, opulent hotel in the British empire. If I were going to the hotel back in the day, I would not be allowed in because I am non-white. The luxury was originally intended only for white clientele. Thankfully we are living in the 21st century now.

The Yangon Foodie Guide also includes great cocktails.

It was a hot, Burmese afternoon when I walked into Sarkies Bar at the Strand Hotel. You come in from off the streets, where the street vendors sell fruit and street snacks, and the sun beats down on you. You’re transported from hot Yangon, to an air conditioned, Victorian hotel of yesteryear. It was quiet and empty for the afternoon, and perfect for a cocktail. I had arrived during happy hour, so there was a selection of cocktails for $7 USD.

I chose the Strand Sour, which sounded like it’s signature cocktail. Mandalay rum, lime, sugar and bitter. Absolutely refreshing!

Sarkies Bar: Ultimate decision: Luxurious, opulent, and likely expensive outside of happy hour. The Strand Sour was fantastic though! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

6. Sofaer & Co

Back in 1906, the Sofaer & Co building was commissioned by the son of an Iraqi immigrant to Yangon and served as a center for commerce during its time. It was renovated in 2016 and converted into a restaurant named after its original name. The ceramic tiles are particularly special, a geometric pattern of green, gold, burnt sienna and lapis lazuli, shipped directly from Manchester, UK, at the time of construction. The steel beams supporting the ceiling come from Lanarkshire Steel Company in Scotland. Pretty cool, isn’t it? What kind of restaurant would a building named “Sofaer & Co” house? Mekong-fusion cuisine. I was super excited to try this!

When I arrived at Sofaer, I promptly ordered a Pansodan Old Fashion, 7000 ks | $4.75 USD. The first one I ordered is on the left. Is it just me or does it look like water with a little orange coloring in it? I complained and got a second one. Though still watered down, it was better. For $4.75 USD, I wasn’t going to complain a third time, and decided to just go find a proper cocktail when I was done.

I heard a story that the restaurateur’s mother used to be a bun cha street vendor in Hanoi. That made me even more excited, despite drinking water and whisky while waiting for my food. Vietnamese food (especially bun cha) is one of my favorite cuisines, which I do not get enough of while living on the go!

• Morning glory salad – I love morning glory as a vegetable. It’s also known as water spinach (or kangkong) and very popular in Asian cuisine. This salad had a very generous portion of beef and an oversized shrimp chip that came with it. It was good, flavorful. But a little too meaty for something that I wanted as a salad.
• Bun Cha – Most times I walk into a Vietnamese restaurant, I will order some bun cha and possibly some egg rolls. Although I hadn’t had bun cha in over a year at this point, I hoped it would be phenomenal, but it was just average. And while average bun cha isn’t bad, it was a disappointment considering I hadn’t had it for so long.
• Mango sticky rice – I was really looking forward to this mango sticky rice. I flew through Bangkok on my way to Yangon, and usually when I am in the Bangkok airport, I buy a mango sticky rice to go. But I was so exhausted from my flight, I didn’t manage to this time. So Sofaer for the win! Right? Wrong. I expected some coconut milk drizzle on the sticky rice, but it was dry, which made the actual sticky rice flavorless. With most foods, I don’t like a lot of sauces or drizzle, but come on. Mango sticky rice has to have the coconut drizzle. and lots of it! Disappointment…

This was the most disappointing meal that I had during my time in Yangon. From the watered down old fashion, to the meaty salad, and the underwhelming mango sticky rice.

Sofaer & Co: Ultimate decision: Skip this, but maybe stop by to see the old building ⭐1/2

7. Gekko

If you went to Sofaer & Co and wound up disappointed as I did, fear not. Gekko, a Japanese restaurant known for its yakitori grill and cocktail lounge, is on the other side of the Sofaer building (and around the corner). Luckily, you can marvel at the ceramic tiles from Manchester and the steel beams from Scotland in a trendy new setting, while drinking a delightful cocktail.

When I came to Gekko, during their happy hour, I really just wanted a snack and a cocktail. I promptly ordered two salmon hand rolls (unpictured) and a Hanami old fashioned for 4000 ks $2.72. I rounded out the evening with a dram of Kirin Whisky’s Oak Master. It was nice…but I like my scotches better. (… is that the plural of scotch? scotchs? ..)

I bet the yakitori there is great too. Just based on my limited experience of salmon rolls and whisky cocktails, I still really enjoyed it.

Gekko: Ultimate decision: Really fun place with great drinks and sushi! ⭐⭐⭐⭐

8. Babett at Hotel G

When I was in Yangon, I stayed downtown at the Hotel G. The hotel stay was great but also so was the restaurant downstairs. From the expat community, I hear Babett is the place to go to for a nice brunch. I had breakfasts covered in my stay, so I never tried their actual brunch service. But I can say from just my regular hotel breakfasts and my lunch at Babett when I first arrived, the food is delicious!

• Mohinga – Generally considered the national dish of Myanmar, Although normally a breakfast food, hawker or street stalls everywhere serve Mohinga throughout the day. Because I had my mohinga at a hotel breakfast, it would of course be a little different than the street variety. At its core, mohinga is fish soup and chickpea flour. I loved how the chickpea flour thickens up the fish broth and gives a little cushion to mute the fishy flavor. The rice vermicelli also soak up the broth, which give the noodles this wonderful flavor and richness. I loved the fried fritters on top to add a crunchiness and texture to the noodles.

It is served with rice vermicelli, dressed and garnished with fish sauce, a squeeze of lime, crisp fried onions, coriander, spring onions, crushed dried chillis, and, as optional extras, crisp fried fritters such as split chickpeas (pè gyaw) (ပဲကြော်),^[2]urad dal (baya gyaw) (ဘယာကြော်) or gourd (bu thee gyaw) (ဗူးသီးကြော်) or sliced pieces of Chinese donuts (အီကြာ‌ကွေး), as well as boiled egg and fried nga hpè fish cake (ငါးဖယ်ကြော်).

From Wikipedia’s description of Mohinga

• Please note that mohinga is not served on the regular or brunch menu, and is only available as a breakfast option for hotel guests. However, I wanted to introduce you to mohinga (the national dish) and give you an option for western dining. I don’t need to introduce my carbonara pasta and grilled asparagus (or provide a rating for it), which I had ordered off of the regular menu at Babett. But just a quick comment to say it was delicious and if I needed a solid western meal, Babett is the place to go for it.

9. Allamanda Inn

Numbers 1-8 on the Foodie Guide have all been vetted and eaten by yours truly. For this entry, the recipient of the original Foodie Guide, stayed at the Allamanda Inn and has kindly offered a photo and review, in the form of a haiku.

#YangonFoodieReviewHaiku

The steak at the Inn,

that is named Allamanda,

is okay. Thumbs Up.

-A

So, in case people are wondering about the description – why “okay”? why “thumbs up”? The answer is simple – really amazing, great steaks are rare and expensive. “Okay” steaks, on the other hand, are plentiful. But especially when you are an expat living in Southeast Asia, a steak deemed as just “okay” is in fact a “thumbs up.” It’s pretty darn good and was never going to be earth shattering. (I hear). But also, the review in haiku form is a nod to our dear friend who is currently championing the hashtag #humanitarianhaiku on Twitter.

Besides the steak, Elelta noted Allamanda’s great tagines and salads. While this review will not have a rating in the end, come for the steak (or salads), stay for the delightful garden. And see if you can come up with a better #YangonFoodieReviewHaiku for Allamanda. It’ll be fun, trust us!

10. All others I did not try, but are included in the Yangon Foodie Guide:

Both Dana and Elelta inundated me with so many food recommendations that I could not eat all of them in the time span of 4 days! The below are some places that I did not have time to try, but were included in the original guide. These locations are mostly outside of downtown Yangon, and are included in the Google Map below.

• Sharky’s – an artisan-based restaurant, which promotes local and organic foods, with locations in Yangon and Bagan! I visited the Bagan location years ago and the was really delicious and fresh. There are several locations in Yangon, including one next door to Rangoon Tea House! Be like Elelta and go for ice cream at Sharky’s on Sundays!
• Yangon Bake House – Elelta specifically recommended this bakery, as she used to live near this shop and it would be her weekend breakfast joint. Yangon Bake House also supports women’s initiatives, giving apprentice opportunities to empower women with disabilities.
• Onyx Wine Tree – despite the name, this is a Korean steak house!
• Cask 81 – a whiskey bar with great reviews and a shred of lingering regret that I didn’t visit! (Cask 81 is currently in the process of relocating. Check the link for updates on their progress!)
• Fuji – Elelta describes it as the place for sushi in Yangon, whereas Dana’s description places the caveat on being “for sushi in Yangon”. Wherever the emphasis, this (or Gekko during happy hour) would be your sushi fix.

Parting Thoughts

Firstly, a general comment about service in Yangon. You’re better off if you recognize that the service industry is still in its infancy, and make efforts to proactively flag down servers whenever you need something. Don’t wait – you may be waiting forever.

All in all, Yangon is a delicious destination. I think that Thai and Vietnamese cuisines, the obvious culinary powerhouses in the Mekong region, tend to overshadow Burmese cuisine and Myanmar as a foodie destination. But the food and cocktail scene in Yangon is going through a renaissance and I cannot wait to go back and try more food!

Are you a Yangon Foodie, but want an organized food tour instead? With an exclusive discount?!

Exclusive discount for blog readers:
5% for 1-2 travelers,
10% for 3-4 travelers.
Use discountcode
5%YFTviaLannie for 1-2 persons & 10%YFTviaLannie for 3-4 persons.
Valid for Yangon Food Tours, Manadalay Food Tours, and their bamboo bike and motorbike tours.

Love the Yangon Foodie Guide? Pin it for later!

Looking for a place to stay in Yangon?

Look no further than Hotel G, a wonderful boutique hotel in downtown Yangon! Click below to read a review, and click here to book!

Disclosure: Please note that the above booking link in this post is an affiliate link and if you go through them to make a hotel booking, I will earn a commission. I share these links because they are related to the post and not because of the commission I receive from your purchases. The decision is yours whether to click through and make a booking through these links.

Need some ideas on things to do in Yangon?

Please note that some products or referrals in this post are affiliate links (in green) and if you go through them to make a purchase or booking, I will earn a commission. I share these product and booking links because they are related to the post and not because of the commission I receive from your purchases. The decision is yours whether to click through and make a purchase through these links.

Acknowledgements

I would not have made this Foodie Guide were it not for Dana and Elelta, the authors of the guide, and Anthony, the original recipient of the guide. As a travel blogger, I find inspiration everywhere, including from those nearest to me. No clue who these people are? I introduce them in this post. Enjoy or dislike the food highlighted in our guide? Leave a comment for Elelta and Dana! or me!

Lannie

Lannie is a perpetual wanderer and loves to share her travel adventures and the food she eats along the way with everyone.  She works during the day while bouncing around the world and dreams about new places and faces at night!  She has a home on the magical Isle of Islay in Scotland, where the whisky flows freely and happily.

Click on the blue icons below to follow her on social media!

lanniesfoodandtravel.com/index.php/about-me/

When I was in Oaxaca in April, I visited Olvera’s restaurant, Criollo. Honestly, I wasn’t impressed with it.  However, having a weakness for tacos, and wanting to see what a world class restaurant was like, I made reservations for Pujol’s 1:30 pm taco omakase.  The reservations, made about a month in advance online, required a credit card number for a “guarantee” (in case I cancel..).

Location of Pujol

Pujol is in the Polanco neighborhood of Mexico City, on a side street (Tennyson) off of Masaryk.  It was a nice walk down the shopping street, Masaryk, where LV, Gucci, Ferragamo and Starbucks are.  I walked to Pujol from a morning visit to the Museo Nacional de Antropología, which was a nice 20-30 minute walk away, if you didn’t keep walking in circles like I did that day…  But I digress.

Nestled on an unassuming street, you may not notice the entrance to the restaurant.

Arrival to Pujol Mexico City

Once inside, they seated everyone with the 1:30 pm taco omakase at the bar.  Each course comes paired with a drink.  The price is the same with or without the pairing.  I’m not a big alcoholic beverage drinker, so as the post and the courses continue, you’ll see how my drinks fared.

Also, before I begin, a big shout out and thank you to Mike, the electrician from Houston, who was my taco tasting companion and source of conversation during the meal. 

2022 update: Mike, the electrician from Houston, googled Pujol in Mexico City and found my blog! He emailed to say hello and that he found my post. Got to love the power of the internet!

Without further ado… the Pujol 8-course Taco Omakase.

1. Street Snacks

For local Mexican diners, the baby corn came with the husk intact, and the Mexicans next to me ate the husk. I didn’t realize it was edible! For us foreigners, the husk is peeled back and we only eat the corn.

Before we move on from the street snacks amuse bouche… The little blue corn puff…  For those of you unfamiliar with escamol (the white toppings on the blue puff), it is a Mexican delicacy.  Some people may be squeamish about it, but escamol is the edible larvae and pupae of ants.  Yes, that’s right.  Ant eggs.  Before you say anything… let me just say one word.  DELICIOUS!!!!  Don’t knock it til you try it!

2. Uni, Beans Tetela

Inside the tetela was black beans. Served with a uni (sea urchin) pico de gallo.  The uni pico de gallo was AMAZING, both on the tetela and on its own.  My favorite course!!

For those of you new to my blog, I was particularly pleased at the uni dish being so delicious.  To find out why, see my other post about sea urchins, here.

Drink Check:

New addition: Atolli, Mexican Pale Ale.  Made from corn.  2 courses, 2 drinks.

3. Eggplant Taco, Hoja Santa, Humus, Shisho

I spy a new drink – white wine.

4. Amberjack Taco, Avocado, Seaweed

(served with Mexican sake)

5. Scallop Tostada

(Dressed with lemon, sesame oil, and served with tequila)

Thinly sliced raw scallops lined the crispy tortilla, resulting in a delightfully fresh and crisp tostada.  I’ve never had scallops or a tostada like this!!

More than half way through – let’s keep going on this taco omakase!

6. Seabass Taco al Pastor

7. Softshell Crab Taco, Cucumber, Shiso

I love soft shell crab and shiso peppers!!  And the combination in a taco was amazing!!  So delicious.  Definitely my second favorite course!

Drink Check:

From L to R, drinks for courses 7, 6, 5, 4, and 3.  Water on the very right.  In here there is: tequila, mezcal, sake, rose wine, another beer and white wine.  You can mostly guess which is which. However, since the liquors are all kinda clear colored, I kind of forgot.  You’ll forgive me though.

8. Enmolada, Hoja Santa Tortilla

And now, for Pujol’s famous Mole Madre, aged 1681 days, or almost 5 years!!  The flavor is much richer and tangier than the normal mole.  I’m not a huge fan of mole in general, so this one wasn’t spectacular to me.  It’s definitely unique, I’ll say that!  From the NY Times’ T Magazine,

“Pujol’s mole madre is a contemporary version of [celebratory dishes]. Our own paste is reheated twice a day and is ‘fed’ with new mole whenever we are down to 10 liters. This Solera system gives us a mole that is exponentially more subtle and complex than your average mole. Additionally, since the mole is getting reheated through the months, ‘it has now been alive for more than 400 days’ the recipe adapts to seasonality and the ingredients change accordingly. It might have hazelnut or almond or macadamia or a mix of all three. The same is true for the tomatoes, the fruits, even the chiles.”

Since that review, the mole madre I tried had continued to age another 1,200 some days!

And with that nugget of information, the taco omakase finished on a high note of the legendary aged mole.

Dessert in the Garden

After, we were escorted out to the garden area for dessert.  Enormously tall trees, surrounded by lovely greenery, kept us company during dessert. Delightfully charming outdoor area to enjoy our desserts. However, it was uncovered… and I understand that Mexico City is known for their notorious but reliable 5 -7 pm heavy rain showers (according to locals).

9. Gaznate, Sake Kasu

From L to R: a plum, a cream roll, matcha green tea, and ice cream (i forgot the flavor) with ginger. In the upper right corner is the cloth napkin from our omakase, with a corn kernel pattern on it. They said we could keep it as a memento. Nice touch.

Even though the photo and description above goes L to R, we ate it R to L… They suggested it this way.  Although the plum was good, I was quite disappointed that it was the end.  Especially since I could have had the below pictured cream roll as the last delicious sweet taste in my mouth. But no.  I was good at following instructions.

But just as my disappointment couldn’t be any greater, the wait staff shuffled out one by one. With Beauty and the Beast’s “Be Our Guest” playing in my head, out came the real dessert.  You can see the beginnings of that in the background of my plum photo above.

And now, here is the real dessert.

The thinnest, lightest, most delicious fried churro I’ve ever had!!!  This was definitely the best way to end the taco tasting… if it truly ended with the plum, this review would have gone sour at the end.  But no!  PUJOL’S TACO OMAKASE.  AMAZING TIL THE END.

Parting Thoughts on Pujol’s Taco Omakase

I HIGHLY recommend trying Pujol’s Taco Omakase, if you:

1. want to eat at a world class restaurant
2. like tacos
3. want to try world class tacos
4. don’t mind dropping 2,998 Pesos | $160 USD for 8 tacos and 8 drinks
5. like having 8 different alcoholic beverages in one sitting (or if you don’t drink alcohol, if you like having 8 different non-alcoholic beverages in one sitting… btw, alcohol or not, the cost is still 2,998 Pesos)
6. are not afraid to eat ant larvae/pupae or sea urchins
7. want a souvenir (used by yourself) cloth napkin… (and finally)
8. don’t mind spending 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm eating lunch
9. WANT TO EAT AN AMAZING MEAL!

Restaurant Information

Pujol | map
Tennyson 133, Polanco
11550 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
Phone: +52 55 5545 4111
Reservations Required 
1:30 pm Taco Omakase 2,300 MXN | $115 USD
Prices, as of 20 April 2021

If using Uber, set the address to “133 Tennyson” (actual address), NOT “Pujol”, which will direct to their old location.

Need some help planning your foodie fun trip to Mexico City?

• Luxury hotel suggestions:
  • Hyatt Regency Polanco and JW Marriott Polanco are both within 10 minutes walking distance to Pujol!
  • Centrally located in the Reforma neighborhood, Hilton Mexico City Reforma and Mexico City Marriott Reforma Hotel are also fantastic options.
• More foodie adventure suggestions:
  • Check out the Must-Try Street Foods in Mexico City from Chef Denise, including all the favorites I had on this trip!
  • Instead of Pujol’s Taco Omakase, how about joining a Taco Crawl with a food critic?
  • Join Candelilla, Mexico City’s hidden supper club;
  • Experience a dinner exploring Mexico’s cuisine, from before and after Spanish colonization.

Please note that some products or referrals in this post are affiliate links (in green) and if you go through them to make a purchase or booking, I will earn a commission. I share these product and booking links because they are related to the post and not because of the commission I receive from your purchases. The decision is yours whether to click through and make a purchase through these links.

Keep Pujol Taco Omakase on your radar for later?

Ya, pin it for later

Lannie

Lannie is a perpetual wanderer and loves to share her travel adventures and the food she eats along the way with everyone.  She works during the day while bouncing around the world and dreams about new places and faces at night!  She has a home on the magical Isle of Islay in Scotland, where the whisky flows freely and happily.

Click on the blue icons below to follow her on social media!

lanniesfoodandtravel.com/index.php/about-me/

Most tours and dinners include hotel pickup/drop off, which is really convenient.  If they don’t pick up on time, the island is a small circle.  Trust that they’ll be along shortly, because they always are.  (same with the bus!)  Everything is on island time.  So relax, sit back, and enjoy the awesome things to do and eat in Raro.

But first, if you haven’t read my post on Cook Islands food, I suggest you start there!

1. Captain Tama’s Lagoon Cruizes

For my first full day in Rarotonga, I scheduled a BBQ Lunch and Lagoon Cruise with Captain Tama.  It was NZ$79 | $52 USD, which included snorkeling, lunch, a coconut demonstration and sarong show.  The ship was crewed and the tour hosted by a few, young Cook Islander men.  Good humored and full of fun, they took us out from Muri Beach to a beautiful area of blue seas for some snorkeling.  I went in for a bit, but it was a bit cloudy under the water from the current, and man… that current was insane!

Watch this video on YouTube.

After snorkeling, we headed back towards the Muri area, and docked off of an uninhabited island across from Muri. Captain Tama (and maybe another tour company) set up a small dining area with facilities on this island for use during the day.  The crew were busily getting lunch prepared, and were grilling fresh fish and bananas.

From the paw paw (papaya) up top and clockwise, grilled banana and grilled onions, fresh grilled mahi mahi, bread, cole slaw, potato salad, and a sliver of a coconut slice.

I won’t give much else away, but here are a few photos from their coconut demonstration.  No photos of the sarong show.  Why?  I was selected as the model for an introduction to how to tie sarongs or pareos.  shrug..

Really fun time with the crew that took us out that day.  It’s a warm welcome to the Cook Islands and an introduction to their fun loving personalities.

2. Progressive Dinner

After a few hours of rest and relaxation on my patio lounge chair, in the evening, I set out for what’s known as the Progressive Dinner (NZ$99 | $66 USD).  This is a dinner tour, where each of the three courses are eaten at a different family’s house.  Each course came with lots of stories and an introduction to their family and land.

It was a really busy night for the Progressive Dinner… there were probably close to 40 people there.  I guess that’s a bit unusual, and it’s normally a much smaller group, which is how I imagined it. 

At dinner, I met a nice Australian couple on their honeymoon, and an interesting retired New Zealander, Polly.  Polly has been coming to Raro since the mid-1990s, and lives for a few weeks or months there every year.  She’s been coming to the Progressive Dinners for at least the last 5+ years when she’s in Rarotonga, and she keeps coming for the great food and lovely people that host and take part in it.  I wish I talked to her more, because I think she must have great stories to tell.

Without further ado… the progressive dinner.

2.1 First Course

2.2 Second Course

What do you recognize on my plate from my earlier post, introducing food in the Cook Islands?

iSpy list:

• paw paw
• poke
• umu
• rukau

One of the best things to do in Rarotonga, in my book? Eat with friendly locals and hear their stories about life in the Cook Islands.

2.3 Third Course

Parting thoughts on the best things to do in Rarotonga

For my first full day on Rarotonga, not bad, right?  Captain Tama and the Progressive Dinner were both GREAT introductions to the warm and fun-loving spirit of the Cook Islanders. Definitely, if you’re looking for two of the best things to do in Rarotonga, consider Captain Tama’s Cruise and the Progressive Dinner. You won’t regret it!

– Useful Information –

• Captain Tama’s Lagoon Cruizes – NZ$79 | $52 USD, daily, 11 – 3 pm.  Pick up, drop off, and lunch included
• Progressive Dinner – NZ$99 | $66 USD, Mondays and Thursdays, 5 – 9:30 pm.  Pick up and drop off included

Love it?  Pin it!

When you travel off the beaten path, make sure you’re covered with Travel Insurance. You never know when you’ll need it! Get a quote below.

Lannie

Lannie is a perpetual wanderer and loves to share her travel adventures and the food she eats along the way with everyone.  She works during the day while bouncing around the world and dreams about new places and faces at night!  She has a home on the magical Isle of Islay in Scotland, where the whisky flows freely and happily.

Click on the blue icons below to follow her on social media!

lanniesfoodandtravel.com/index.php/about-me/

In total, I spent 5 full days here. With action packed days, it was enough to eat, see, and do almost everything. This time, I was so lucky to have a travel buddy and super planner with me, who took the reigns of planning and execution and I just toddled along for the ride. It was a welcome change for someone who has gone at it alone for, at least, the last 9 countries. So, thank you Stef for being a super researcher, patient translator, and great friend!

So without further ado, here is my list of how Oaxaca melted my heart.

1. Visit Oaxaca for the People

Without a doubt, a city is only as welcoming as their people and Oaxaca is filled with warm and kind people. Let me just give you a few examples, which I just find so heartwarming and delightful

• the guard at the stamp museum who showed us how to open each of the vintage post boxes,
• the server at TacoVilla who went through the whole menu to make sure we understood each item (and then gave us a complementary order of sopapillas at the end of our meal!),
• all of the lovely locals who always greeted us with a smile and a Buenos Dias (good day!) either on the streets or in a restaurant,
• and even making sure to ask if we were enjoying our food, even if they were customers themselves!!! They wanted to make sure we were enjoying ourselves in their great city!

2. Quality of Life, also related to the people

Some of my fondest memories of this trip involve how local Oaxacans take time to enjoy life. During the day, the Zocalo is a lively square near the center of town filled with street vendors, shoe shiners, and elotes. On a Friday night, there were musicians and people dancing to the music while others were just sitting or standing around enjoying the evening.

One night, we took an hour and a half bike ride around the city, through an organization called Mundo Ceiba. Even though it was a little confusing at check in and the start of the ride, the organizers did an amazing job corralling and leading at least a hundred people. It wasn’t a hundred tourists though. Mostly they were locals of all ages with their families, enjoying the evening and the city they call home.  

The route went outside of the city center (Centro) and made its way into the smaller neighborhoods. The organizers kept cars at bay (with people holding up traffic) and through a loudspeaker and music, kept everyone engaged and their spirits high. For 70 pesos (approximately $4 USD) per person, it was a great way to get to know the city.

Another night, we ran into a wedding in town, which included a large procession with puppets, music, and dancers.  It was wonderful to see and be a part of.  Also, a warm congratulations to Adriana and Omar, who had a beautiful wedding in town that week

3. Wonderful Places and Spaces in Town

Oaxaca is just an amazing town center, with lots of character and charm everywhere you turn.  Looking into doorways and windows were a favorite activity of mine, because you never know when you will stumble on an art gallery, modern art exhibit, or restaurant.

3.1 Ethnobotanical Garden – Jardin Etnobotanico de Oaxaca

The Ethnobotanical Garden (Jardin Etnobotanico de Oaxaca) is a wonderful space in town, directly next to the main church. 

They offer English tours on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 11 am (2 hours) for 100 Pesos | $5.55 USD.  The tours give you an introduction to plants native to the area and a history of its domestication.  We were told that the tour usually sells out, and there are often people waiting in line before the garden opens at 11.  It’s true, there were people lined up, but the week we were there was an off week, and the town was unusually quiet.

3.2 Stamp Museum

Down the street from the garden, is the local stamp museum.  It’s very cute, and has a bigger and more interesting collection than you’d imagine.  It has a nice cafe and sitting area in the back and a cute gift shop in the front.  It’s free, so it’s worth a short stop on your way in or out of the gardens.

3.3 Amate Books

When roaming around town, you’re bound to come across Amate Books, which is a charming, local bookstore near the center.  So colorful and the decorations celebrate the indigenous local cultures.

3.4 Museum of Textiles

While walking around town, you’ll also come across the Museum of Textiles (free admission).  The museum is a charming space with rotating exhibitions of modern and traditional textiles, including textile-related art.  It closes at 8 pm, so there’s plenty of time to stop by.  There was a little. party going on when we stopped by one evening,

4. Visit Oaxaca for the Fun Day Trips!

We took two day trips out of the city, and they were both well worth it and easy to do!

4.1 Monte Alban

On the first trip, we went about half an hour outside of town to Monte Alban, which is a UNESCO heritage site known for its post-Classical archaeological ruins.  Monte Alban was built atop a mountain, with its architecture drawing inspiration from the hills and mountains.  It was the political and economic center for the Zapotecs.  Monte Alban is also featured on the back of a 20 Peso note.

We took a round trip bus from Oaxaca city to Monte Alban.  There were several providers, which could all be the same company.  The one we took was outside the Hotel Rivera del Angel, on Francisco Javier Mina (street), near the November 20 market.  The bus left Oaxaca on the half hours, in the morning, and returned from Monte Alban on the hour.  The journey takes about half and hour, winding up a mountain and through small villages.  The roundtrip ticket cost 55 Pesos |~$3 USD.  Alternatively, you could sign up and take a guided tour.

Please note that some products or referrals in this post are affiliate links (in green) and if you go through them to make a purchase or booking, I will earn a commission. I share these product and booking links because they are related to the post and not because of the commission I receive from your purchases. The decision is yours whether to click through and make a purchase through these links.

Entrance into the site cost 70 Pesos, and tickets can be bought via credit card using a digital kiosk.  There is a small museum with some artifacts and history, in Spanish only, and a small cafe.  We spent between 2-3 hours here, which was plenty of time to walk through each station and to read the corresponding plaques, which gave information in Spanish, English, and Zapotec. 

But be aware, there is little shade and the distance between buildings and structures can be harsh under the midday sun.  There are locals selling hats and umbrellas outside the entrance, in case you forgot yours.

4.2 Mitla, and the surrounding areas

It’s possible to see a bunch of really interesting places with a day trip outside the city.  It’s not that far, distance wise, but the countryside is vastly different from town and is worth making arrangements to go.  From research, I understand that hiring a private driver is fairly normal and easy to do. Had our Airbnb host not offered to shuttle us around, we would have found our own.   

Our full day tour took us to Arbol del Tule, Mitla, Hierve el Agua, and Mercado de Tlacolula.  Visiting Teotitlan del Valle (a textile, artisan village) would have been possible as well, but we took our time with a long breakfast and an extra visit with an artisan mezcal producer. 

Read all about the day trip to Mitla and surrounding areas

5. Visit Oaxaca for the FOOD

I know I consider myself a food expert, but in reality, I just like eating it. And enjoying it! And boy did I enjoy eating food in Oaxaca!

My fellow blogging friend will do better at explaining all the Oaxaca Street Food we ate. Considering she is an expert chef, I won’t describe everything we ate in detail. But, I will say – the freshly made tortillas were amazing!  You could smell the corn as you took each bite. 

Everything was made with fresh tortillas of varying thicknesses, colors, and levels of softness or crispiness.  These tortillas were often accompanied by beans, cheese, guacamole, meat, mole, and other veggies.  The google map has each spot we ate at marked down.  The real winner was Itanoni, which is known for its corn and tortilla products.  A little bit outside of the center of town, IT WAS SO WORTH IT!

All the places we ate at are listed on the map at the bottom of the post! Try them all!

Parting Thoughts on Oaxaca

So even though this post is more pictures than words, there is just so much to love and to share about Oaxaca. There’s just too much, especially on the food front, to do a proper recap, but everything worth mentioning is included in the Google Map below. 

In short, Oaxaca is a magical place that will capture your heart and soul.  Throughout your whole stay, you’ll probably comment about 10 times a day how charming a place is, how lovely that place is, and what a wonderful quality of life they have there.  And then you’ll know – you’re hooked on Oaxaca too!

I hope I’ve given you a few reasons to visit Oaxaca or at least to put it on your radar for the future. It’s delightful, the people are warm and lovely, and it’s absolutely delicious!

Please note that some products or referrals in this post are affiliate links (in green) and if you go through them to make a purchase or booking, I will earn a commission. I share these product and booking links because they are related to the post and not because of the commission I receive from your purchases. The decision is yours whether to click through and make a purchase through these links.

Planning to visit Oaxaca?  PIN IT!

Travel Insurance

When you travel off the beaten path, make sure you’re covered with Travel Insurance. You never know when you’ll need it! Get a quote below.

Lannie

Lannie is a perpetual wanderer and loves to share her travel adventures and the food she eats along the way with everyone.  She works during the day while bouncing around the world and dreams about new places and faces at night!  She has a home on the magical Isle of Islay in Scotland, where the whisky flows freely and happily.

Click on the blue icons below to follow her on social media!

lanniesfoodandtravel.com/index.php/about-me/

1. Titanic
2. Game of Thrones.

I can confidently say that Titanic Belfast is arguably the BEST MUSEUM I’VE EVER BEEN TO, and therefore the best thing to do in Belfast!  But no need to trust me.  Trust the “World’s Best Tourist Attraction Award” it won at the World Travel Awards (aka Tourism Oscars).

Now, in the time of COVID, you need to book your tickets in advance. I booked a student ticket for “The Titanic Experience”, at 15.50 GBP ($22 USD), which included the Titanic exhibits (self guided), as well as entry to the SS Nomadic – the White Star Line’s last remaining Vessel, and original tender boat to the RMS Titanic. 

But we’ll get to the Titanic in a bit. First thing’s first. Food.

Disclaimer: this post contains only iPhone photos, out of laziness and exhaustion from carrying my camera gear.

Please note that some products or referrals in this post are affiliate links (in green) and if you go through them to make a purchase or booking, I will earn a commission. I share these product and booking links because they are related to the post and not because of the commission I receive from your purchases. The decision is yours whether to click through and make a purchase through these links.

1. Pre-Museum Breakfast in Belfast

My day started near the Botanic train station.  Nearby is Maggie Mays Belfast Cafe, which its website boasts as the “best home cooking in Belfast”.  Beware, it’s cash only.  I didn’t really know what Northern Irish breakfast was like, but after lots of smoked salmon and eggs in Scotland, I was ready for a change.

As an American, cheesy beans on toast is not a thing. In fact, beans are rarely a breakfast item. But when in Belfast, do as the Northern Irish do.

In case you were wondering, this breakfast is definitely a knife and fork activity.  Pretty delicious and extremely filling, it keep me full for several hours.  And then I set off on a long walk, about 2.5 miles (50 minutes), from the Botanic area to Titanic Belfast.

2. En route to the Titanic Belfast

Long meandering is very much my style, mainly because you get to see lots of the city by walking.  Taking the train is also an option – its an easy route from Botanic to the Titanic Quarter station.  But the more I walk, the more I am able to eat by the time the next meal rolls around. Titanic Belfast is located across the River Lagan from the rest of the city.

Along the way, you’re able to pass City Hall, many charming Victorian buildings, the Albert Clock (commemorating Prince Albert, Queen Victoria’s husband), and the Spirit of Belfast.

The Albert Clock (lower left) was built on marshy, reclaimed land near the river, and as a result has begun to lean.  Nearby, is the Spirit of Belfast sculpture (lower right), which like all sculptures in a capital city, has some kind of controversy surrounding it.  The Spirit was built after a city-wide competition for a sculpture, and won a majority of votes.  However, it didn’t stop someone from adding a banner with the bold word “FAIL” to the front of it in 2012.

2.1 The Salmon of Knowledge

When you come out of the city area, and reach the riverbanks of the Lagan, you are greeted by the Big Fish, or the Salmon of Knowledge.  Yes, there is a Salmon of Knowledge in Belfast. I mean, if I didn’t already tell you that I thought Titanic Museum was the best thing to do in Belfast, I’m sure visiting the salmon of knowledge would have been your guess.

The Salmon was built to commemorate the return of fish to the River Lagan in 1999.  Development of the river areas, reclaiming land, and changes to the river that almost entirely changed the landscape of Belfast … all of this aided in the loss of marine life to the river.  But thankfully now, the fishies are back again.

And then onward, to the Belfast Harbour and the SS Nomadic.  All along the river, there are signs with historical facts about Belfast and its shipbuilding industry.

3. The Titanic Belfast

When I arrived to the museum, my friend texted me, asking about my plans for the day. I was about to visit the Titanic museum, I said.  To which she replied, “Why is there a Titanic Museum in Belfast?”  Great question.  The Titanic was built in Belfast!  In their dry docks, with their laborers.

The museum was built on the original site of the shipyard where Titanic was built.  It is a large, squarish building, with at least 6 floors of exhibitions. 

At first, this made me a little nervous, because big museums can be… boring, if not curated properly.  But I can say, without a doubt, the museum was fantastic!  Very interactive, a lot of videos and audio files to listen to.  The exhibits expertly used technology and computer animation to give facts and offer perspective into size or volume. 

It even started out with a history of Belfast section, which I very much appreciated, introducing the various industries that gave rise to Belfast’s industrialization… for example, linens, whiskey, and finally, shipbuilding. Back in the day, Belfast was the number one producer of linens made from flax – really cool, right?

Exhibits at Titanic Belfast:

• Boomtown Belfast
• The Shipyard – which includes an amusement park-like ride through a recreation of a shipyard and moves through a scale replica of Titanic’s rudder (it’s enormous!  but poorly lit, so no good photos or videos)
• The Launch – launch into Belfast Lough – May 31, 1911
• The Fit-Out, including a sample of each class of cabin, and a 360 degree computer generated tour through Titanic’s levels (shown in the bottom right photo of Prince Harry and Ms. Meghan Markle’s visit below)
• The Maiden Voyage – the journey from Southampton to Cherbourg, then Cobh, and then finally, across the Atlantic
• The Sinking – April 14/15, 1912
• The Aftermath
• Myths & Legends (including media portrayal)
• and finally, Titanic Beneath – a video and exhibit floor about the wreckage and rediscovery of Titanic

I probably spent about 2 hours in the museum, and about half an hour in the SS Nomadic tender. Admission to the SS Nomadic tender came with my Titanic ticket. 

The Nomadic is a tender boat, used to ferry passengers to the Titanic and its sister ship, the Olympic.  It was built in the spillways next to the Olympic and Titanic in the Harland and Wolff shipyards. 

No matter what, the Nomadic is not as exciting especially when you come there directly following the world’s greatest museum.  But it was an interesting small vessel and worth the visit since you’re in the neighborhood.  Charlie Chaplin, from the photo above, was one of the famous people that had used the Nomadic back in the day.

Please note that some products or referrals in this post are affiliate links (in green) and if you go through them to make a purchase or booking, I will earn a commission. I share these product and booking links because they are related to the post and not because of the commission I receive from your purchases. The decision is yours whether to click through and make a purchase through these links.

4. Lunch at Yardbird Belfast

Afterwards, I backtracked my original path, walked about 20 minutes towards the Albert Clock, in search of my lunch spot, Yardbird.  Yardbird specializes in free roaming, roast chicken.  Marinated for 24 hours and roasted on a spit.  Lunch is served from 12-5 pm, so there’s plenty of time to take advantage of their 5 GBP lunch specials (SO LEGIT).

Naturally, I ordered a lunch special.

The meat from the chicken was literally falling off the bones!!  After I finished… I was … still hungry.  (HEY!  I walked A LOT!)  And the table near me had an order of corn on the cob, so instead of ordering just a corn, of course, I ordered a second lunch special.

Although Yardbird isn’t the best thing to do in Belfast, like the Titanic Museum, it sure could be! I don’t have to explain how delicious it is – from my second helping, it’s pretty obvious.

5. Wrapping up the day

Full bellied and immediately satisfied, I left Yardbird to make my way home.  Along the way, I passed by Pottinger’s Entry.  There are several other entryways along the side off of the High Street in Belfast, but this is the most obvious with the big sign.  Curious, I peaked in, which revealed an alleyway and and a pub tucked behind it.

6. Parting Thoughts on my day in Belfast

Sometimes large museums can be daunting. You may struggle to keep your attention. But not Titanic Belfast! All of the exhibits were well-thought-out and very interesting. Even now, a few years later, I can still remember specific details about the exhibits. Belfast’s history is rich and diverse. You’ll learn so much by visiting Titanic Belfast.

If you’re willing to spend the time to learn, then Titanic Belfast is definitely the best thing to do in Belfast. Absolutely the most interesting museum I’ve ever been to!

Be sure you eat a hearty breakfast before. Nothing is worse than losing energy in a big museum! Aaaaand, maybe follow it up with an amazing roast chicken lunch or two!

7. Titanic Belfast Visitor Information

1 Olympic Way, Queen’s Road,
Belfast BT3 9EP
Phone: +44 28 9076 6386
Website
Hours of operation: Check the website for up to date opening information.

2021 ticket prices

• Adult: 19 GBP ($26 USD)
• Child (5 – 16): 8.50 GBP ($12 USD)
• Child, under 5: FREE
• Family pack (2 adults, 2 children): 46.50 GBP ($65 USD)
• Essential carer: FREE
• Student (Mon – Fri only): 15.50 GBP ($22 USD)
• Senior (Mon – Fri only): 15.50 GBP ($22 USD)

8. Half Day Itinerary Recap

• 9 AM: Cheesy beans on toast at Maggie May’s | map
  • walk past City Hall, Spirit of Belfast, Albert Clock, Salmon of Knowledge
• 10:30 AM: greatest museum experience at Titanic Belfast | map
• 1:45 PM: double lunch specials at Yardbird | map
• Explore Pottinger’s Entry, along with other Entry’s
• 3 PM: Fin

Pin it for later!

Lannie

Lannie is a perpetual wanderer and loves to share her travel adventures and the food she eats along the way with everyone.  She works during the day while bouncing around the world and dreams about new places and faces at night!  She has a home on the magical Isle of Islay in Scotland, where the whisky flows freely and happily.

Click on the blue icons below to follow her on social media!

lanniesfoodandtravel.com/index.php/about-me/

YES – and it’s incredible!

I was introduced to Eat Walk Edinburgh by my sister and brother-in-law, who had a delicious experience with them the previous year. Never one to turn down a great recommendation, I selected the Edinburgh Old Town and New Town food tour.

1. Hotel Du Vin

When I set out for the food tour, it was a brisk, February afternoon in Edinburgh.  Not too cold, but definitely a chill in the air.  The food tour began at Hotel Du Vin, a luxury hotel in the Old Town, housed in a series of old stone buildings.  Back in the day, the location was once the town’s poor house, insane asylum, science laboratory and blood donation center.

At Bistro Du Vin, we met our guide, Alan, and began our first course – smoked salmon. I’m not sure if people realize, but Scotland has an incredible seafood industry. And their salmon is famous! Unfortunately most of it is imported, so if you get the chance to eat Scottish seafood locally, take it!

The smoked salmon was absolutely delicious!  So light and refreshing. A great start to the Edinburgh food tour. 

On the way to our second stop, we passed by some cute shops and interesting landmarks in town.

2. Makars Gourmet Mash Bar

Our next stop on the Edinburgh food tour was Makars Gourmet Mash Bar, which calls itself “healthy, Scottish comfort food.”

We tasted some ox-cheek braised for 5 hours over mashed potato, with a side of black pudding. After being braised for so long, the ox cheek melted in your mouth. Our comfort food was paired with raspberry gin from the Edinburgh Gin Distillery. The bubbly (raspberry gin and prosecco) was light and perfect.  Beware… I was definitely a little tipsy afterward.

The above photos of the oxtail and black pudding is only a sample portion for the food tour.  Imagine my surprise when I went back the following day, and the regular portion was huge!

3. Scotch Malt Whisky Society

An Edinburgh Food Tour is not a real tour without whisky! The Scotch Malt Whisky Society is a members-only whisky tasting club and the host for our next tasting. I love that the food tour gives you access to an exclusive whisky club in Edinburgh.

What better way to pad your stomach for the upcoming whisky, than with some haggis, neeps and tatties!

Haggis comprises of sheep’s heart, liver, and lung, along with some minced mutton or beef. Combine it all with oatmeal with spices. It is stuffed into a sheep’s stomach and boiled.  Haggis is illegal in the US – it has something to do with the sheep’s lung! So, I really didn’t know what to expect.

It was actually really good – very hearty and heavy.  All of these ingredients separately, I may not have enjoyed as much.  But together, it’s pretty darn tasty and I highly recommend it. At least to try!

Findlay’s of Portobello, a family run butcher shop, made the haggis that we tasted.  Fun fact, most haggis that you see on any menu will have the name of the butcher shop it comes from.  Locals often have a favorite butchers for their haggis. 

The haggis came with a tasting of whisky, at 62% alcohol. As my first foray into whisky, it was smoky and too harsh for me. At the time, I was not a whisky drink. That changed. I really enjoy the sophisticated, complex flavors and smells. You just have to find the ones you like, since they are all so different from each other!

Fun facts about Scotch Whisky

I’ve written a more technical introduction to Scotch after my visit to Islay – Scotland’s whisky island. So head over there if you want to learn a bit more, coming from an island devoted to the spirit!

Now. Onto the fun facts that I learned.

Whisky is normally a clear-colored spirit, but the color comes from the oils in the wood cask that it sits in.  The whisky we tasted is a lighter color than you’d imagine. Most whiskys have a caramel color added to it in the blending process. That way, each bottle looks the same color and tastes the same. 

The whiskies they have at the Scotch Malt Whisky Society are unblended. Each cask tastes slightly different from the other, unlike what we are used to in mass production exporting.  Each bottle at the society is bottled into their anonymous bottles, labeled only with a number (corresponding to the distillery and cask number) and the color sticker of the taste profile. 

Also, two side notes about Scottish whisky. 

1. Whisky is spelled W-H-I-S-K-Y (without the E) in Scotland, Japan, and Canada. Whiskey, with an e, is American or Irish;
2. Apparently, 85% of Scottish whiskys are aged in bourbon casks shipped from the US.

From the first time I visited the SMWS Member Rooms on this Edinburgh Food Tour to now, I’ve collaborated with the SMWS several times. For those wanting to read more about my experiences and the benefits of memberships, read all about:

• an outdoor virtual whisky tasting, on Islay’s famous Three Distilleries Path;
• an exclusive whisky tasting in the Glasgow member room of SMWS;
• all the benefits of becoming a member of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society!

And now that you’re an expert on whisky and haggis like I am, onto the next stop! From here on out, I was full on tipsy and red.

4. Le De-Vin

Our next stop was a French wine bar, Le De-Vin, housed in an old Tudor building, where we snacked on a charcuterie plate with French and Scottish cheeses.  I love soft cheeses, so this was obviously a huge favorite of mine.

There was an option to snack on this with a beer, but no more drinks for me! Not on this tour anyway. I still need to be able to walk to dessert.

Also, don’t forget to take a good look at the chalkboard wall inside Le De-Vin. Notable Scots on the left (William Wallace, Sean Connery, and Billy Connolly among others), with notable French on the right (Edith Piaf and Joan of Arc and others).

5. Ghillie Dhu

The final stop on the Edinburgh Food tour – the Ghillie Dhu (pronounced with a hard G, the gilly doo), where we had some dessert.  The Ghillie Dhu is a solitary, male fairy, who lives in the northwest highlands. Although he’s described as relatively timid, he also has a wild side. Those fairies… gotta watch out for their antics!

So the dessert. It was a chocolate cup, with some whisky cream inside.  Topped with a cookie.  I think it was their Ghillie Boozy Cranachan, but don’t quote me on that. Typically a cranachan is a raspberry and cream dessert.

But the Ghillie Dhu take on the cranachan is also worth trying! Think of the ingredients – chocolate, whisky cream, cookie, raspberry drizzle. What’s not to love?

6. Become and honorary Scot on your Edinburgh Food Tour

Bellies full and probably buzzing, you are on your way to becoming an honorary Scot.  According to Alan, requirements for the title of honorary Scot:

• Haggis – check
• Whisky – check
• Irn Bru – complete on your own adventure.  You can’t miss the bright orange cans of fizzy energy.

It’d be too easy, if you were made an honorary Scot after taking one tour, right?

7. Parting Thoughts on the Edinburgh Food Tour

And that’s it for my Edinburgh food tour on my first trip to Scotland! And what a great introduction to Scottish food.  The Edinburgh food tour opened my eyes to the gorgeous, fresh produce and ingredients that Scotland is full of! Although Scotland isn’t known for it’s food, the food scene is definitely on the rise!

To conclude and reiterate my love for food tours… Food tours really are the best!! The next time I’m in Edinburgh, I want to try their other tours, just to taste different foods and get introduced to new restaurants!

If you’re ever in Edinburgh, I highly recommend Eat Walk Edinburgh!

For other Scotland food inspiration and other Edinburgh activities;

• learn more about a hearty and filling Scottish breakfast;
• if you’re going near Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, definitely try the tasting menu at Monachyle Mhor;
• visit the National Galleries of Scotland for free;
• stop by Holyrood Palace and say hello to the King at his official residence in Scotland!

Haven’t figured out how to get to Edinburgh yet? Consider the overnight sleeper train from London and arrive refreshed ready to eat your way through Edinburgh!

8. Edinburgh Food Tour recap + Discount Code

Tour provider: Eat Walk Edinburgh
Total walk length: 2 miles
Total food tour length: approx 3.5 hours
Please check their website for the latest covid-19 and social distancing requirements.
Costs before discount below:

• 2020 food tour for 2 people is 79 GBP | $99 USD per person,
  • 3 people 75 GBP | $94 USD per person,
  • 4 people 71 GBP | $89 USD per person,
  • 5 to 8 people 67 GBP | $84 USD per person.
• 2021 tours costs 67 GBP | $84 USD per person.

Exclusive 5 GPB discount for blog readers:
Use discount code LT5OFF
Valid until June 2021

1. Smoked salmon at  Hotel Du Vin | map
   • Pass by Greyfriars Bobby Bar and Maggie Dickson’s bar
   • Walk down Victoria Street
   • pass through Lady Stair’s Close alleyway, which is a fun little alley, that of course I forgot to take a picture of
2. Eat too much Scottish comfort food at Makars | map
3. Try not to drink too much at the Scotch Malt Whisky Society | map
4. Nosh on some charcuterie at Le De-Vin | map
5. Finish up with some dessert at a traditional Scottish bar, the Ghillie Dhu | map
6. Fall in love with Scottish cuisine and tell everyone about this amazing food tour in Edinburgh!

Hungry for an Edinburgh Food Tour?

Pin it for later!

Lannie

Lannie is a perpetual wanderer and loves to share her travel adventures and the food she eats along the way with everyone.  She works during the day while bouncing around the world and dreams about new places and faces at night!  She has a home on the magical Isle of Islay in Scotland, where the whisky flows freely and happily.

Click on the blue icons below to follow her on social media!

lanniesfoodandtravel.com/index.php/about-me/

As it turns out, I was the only one on the tour with Armann (solo travel for the win!). Along with being a licensed tour guide, Armann is also a classically trained chef and a former member of the Icelandic national hockey team!  He said long winters make you find different hobbies to try out!

Disclaimer: (23 June 2020) I’ve just confirmed that Akureyri Food Walk is no longer operating. However, Reykjavik Food Walk (their sister company) is! There is even a discount code at the bottom of this post! So keep reading for some fun Icelandic food and discounts!

Please note that some products or referrals in this post are affiliate links (in green) and if you go through them to make a purchase or booking, I will earn a commission. I share these product and booking links because they are related to the post and not because of the commission I receive from your purchases. The decision is yours whether to click through and make a purchase through these links.

1. Introduction to Northern Icelandic (Akureyri) food

Icelandic food has come a long way since the days of just salted cod and lamb.  Armann said that when he was growing up, all he knew was lamb and cod.  To have access now to produce and different kinds of fruits and vegetables was something that was unheard of 20 years ago.  Many people complain about the price of Icelandic food, and yes, it is quite pricey, but I can say with confidence, the quality of Icelandic food is also very high.  Lamb and cows are raised in the utmost conditions, with little to any antibiotics.  They are free range and enjoy nature often. 

There is even a dairy farm outside of Akureyri that has mechanized everything, so the cows live in a climate-controlled barn, with little machines that clean the barn (basically, Roomba for barns), and are fed automatically.  Armann told a story of taking a group of Indian Hindus to that dairy farm , and it literally brought tears to their eyes as to how well these cows were treated. Happy cows make happy cheese, and apparently 95% of Iceland’s cheese comes from Akureyri.

Icelandic fruits and vegetables are now grown in greenhouses around the country.  They are currently trying to perfect greenhouse conditions to grow bananas!  I also know there is a famous tomato greenhouse and restaurant located outside Reykjavik (which I will not have the chance to visit).

Alright, back to the Akureyri food tour.

Stop 1: Greifinn Restaurant

Of course, we had to start out with a Viking Beer, a local Akureyri brew. The beer was nice and refreshing and perfect to pair with the langoustine soup and salted cod! The salted cod is from the best salted cod fishery in Akureyri, which has been in business for 6 generations! Really delicious! 

The langoustine soup is similar to a lobster bisque – rich and creamy. Langoustine is a small lobster, that people have only started treating as food in the last 10-20 years. And I’m so glad they did!

Stop 2: Strikið

The next stop was Strikið, where it was a cod-filled tasting! For starters, the candied cod and tuna tartare were really unique and delicious! Yes, I know that “candied” cod is also pickled, but it would be rude to refuse food on a food tour.  I’ve never had a pickled meat before. Have you?  yum.. After the starters, we were served a delightful roasted (regular) cod, paired with barley and roasted carrots. Really fresh and tender cod, delightfully roasted.

Stop 3: Bláa Kannan

I’m so glad this was the final stop on our Akureyri food tour. The big, beautiful, blue building (“bbbb”) is a landmark in town. I walked past it several times earlier, and never really figured out what it was. Turns out, it’s a restaurant, with an extremely cozy interior. This “bbbb” is home to Bláa Kannan, a local coffee shop and cafe, known for marital bliss.

Sorry, what? Just kidding, not marital bliss, the “marriage bliss” dessert! “Marriage Bliss”, a dessert made of oatmeal and rhubarb jam, served with ice cream.  Named so, because if the wife makes this dessert, the husband will never leave!

Parting Thoughts on my Akureyri Food Tour

And that was my first evening in Akureyri, eating my way through their great eats!

Overall, it was a wonderful food tour. I had great conversation with Armann, who was very knowledgeable.  I did a lot that first day in Akureyri, haven’t I?  The night isn’t over yet!

In my next post… the hunt for Northern Lights and all the misconceptions about Northern Light activity!

For other things to do in Iceland, consider:

• Try hunting for Northern Lights – Akureyri (Northern Iceland) is perfect for that!
• Go horsebackriding on gorgeous Icelandic horses – in summer and winter!
• Visit Lake Myvatn, but also try to have a better trip than me! Check out a Tale of an Awful Tourist.
• Have a spa day at the Blue Lagoon!

Disclaimer: During this food tour, I was posting to Akureyri Food Walk’s Instagram account. I was not sponsored, nor did I receive any compensation. It was just a fun thing to do, and thank you to Egill at Akureyri Food Walk for letting me collaborate with you!

Please note that some products or referrals in this post are affiliate links (in green) and if you go through them to make a purchase or booking, I will earn a commission. I share these product and booking links because they are related to the post and not because of the commission I receive from your purchases. The decision is yours whether to click through and make a purchase through these links.

Information on Akureyri & Reykjavik Food Walk

Akureyri Food Walk – sadly no longer operational.
Their sister company, the Reykjavik Food Walk is open and taking bookings.
Cost: 13,900 ISK | $101 USD
Cost after discount code below: 12,510 ISK | $91 USD

For 10% off, use discount code FOODANDFUN

Lannie

Lannie is a perpetual wanderer and loves to share her travel adventures and the food she eats along the way with everyone.  She works during the day while bouncing around the world and dreams about new places and faces at night!  She has a home on the magical Isle of Islay in Scotland, where the whisky flows freely and happily.

Click on the blue icons below to follow her on social media!

lanniesfoodandtravel.com/index.php/about-me/

Please note that some products or referrals in this post are affiliate links (in green) and if you go through them to make a purchase or booking, I will earn a commission. I share these product and booking links because they are related to the post and not because of the commission I receive from your purchases. The decision is yours whether to click through and make a purchase through these links.

Before the Montreal Food Tour

I had to wake up at 9 to repack my suitcase and make the switch from riding boots to snow boots. There may or may not have been a little slip on black ice last night, which promptly landed my derriere on the ice-covered pavement.

So now, snow boots – out! Riding boots – in! Most of my luggage had to be slightly rearranged. 

1. Bagels at Crew Collective

After repacking, checking out, and leaving my luggage downstairs, I set off straight away to Crew Collective to meet Justin, my Old Montreal Food Tour guide, and the rest of the group.  Crew Collective sits in the wonderful old gilded-age headquarters of the Royal Bank of Canada.

At Crew Collective, freelancers rent “office space” from the collective and also sell higher end breakfast, bagels, and coffee to help pay the rent in this massive old bank atrium.  It’s a great use of a historical building and they’ve helped to preserve a lot of the interior. It reminds me of co-working spaces that my friend E frequents often.  In fact, it’s highly possible he has been here.

A quick note about the delicious, but not too decadent, smoked salmon bagel with veggie toppings.  Justin explained to us that, like New York (which shares a lot of similarities to Montreal), a large wave of Eastern European Jewish immigrants came to Montreal prior to WWI, around the same time as many of them migrated to New York, and brought along with them their traditions of bagels.  An open face bagel with fresh smoked salmon, cream cheese, and veggies was just the thing I needed to help get my day going.

2. Desserts at Cookie Stefanie

The Montreal Food Tour continues onto Cookie Stefanie! A delightful local dessert shop, specializing in gluten-free baked goods. We only tried the gluten-free carrot cake, which was delightfully moist, likely due to the surprise pineapple inside!

3. Poutine at Restaurant Taberna

Can you really do a Montreal Food Tour without eating some poutine? Nope!

Hailing from the fair province of Quebec, poutine is a regular part of Canadian cuisine. The main ingredients comprise of french fries, topped with cheese curds and brown gravy. No one knows the exact origin, but poutine first appeared sometime around the 1950s in Centre-du-Québec. It is now a defining feature of Canadian cuisine, and some call it Canada’s national dish!

We tried the poutine at Restaurant Taberna, which is a Portuguese restaurant. The poutine was special, with two different kinds of cehese curds and Portuguese sausage in addition to the brown gravy. It was SO GOOD! I absolutely loved it!

4. Sausage and Duck Carpaccio at Bistro-Brasserie Les Soeurs

Bistro-Brasserie Les Soeurs is as an artisan microbrewery, housed in a former nunnery! We tried a sausage and the duck carpaccio there, but unfortunately it was my least favorite stop.

For me, duck is easy to get wrong, and difficult to make well. Although I’ve had beef carpaccio and enjoyed it, the duck carpaccio was too thickly-sliced, too chewy to eat. I don’t see on the menu anymore (as of 2020), so perhaps they removed it due to feedback. Not sure! But either way, it’s a lively environment, and if craft beers are your thing (or former nunneries), check it out!

5. Poudding Chomeur at Soupesoup

Disclaimer: As of 26 February 2019, Soupesoup filed bankruptcy. Google seems to believe that some locations are still open but I cannot confirm this. If someone in Montreal could let me know in the comments, that would be great!

The tasting at Soupesoup was our dessert. Deliciously-made Poudding Chomeur, i.e. bread pudding with real Quebecois maple syrup! Warm, sweet, and absolutely delicious! If Soupesoup is still around, go and try it!

Sights along the way

Parting Thoughts on the Montreal Food Tour

It was a wonderful tour to introduce me, not only to Canadian food, but also to Montreal as a city. I’m grateful that they ran this tour in the dead middle of winter, despite being the off season!

If you’re going in the winter, bundle up, and walk slowly – no one likes slipping on the ice, even if you’ll be comforted by a bunch of food after!

Montreal Food Tour Recap

Tour provider: Local Montreal Food Tours
Cost: Adult $64.99 CAD | $48.99 USD,
Adult + Alcohol $78.99 CAD |$59.99 USD
Total food tour length: approx 3.5 hours

1. Smoked salmon and cream cheese bagel at Crew Collective & Cafe | map
2. Gluten Free (GF) carrot cake and espresso at Cookie Stefanie | map
3. Portuguese sausage poutine at Restaurant Taberna | map
4. Sausage and duck carpaccio and beer at Bistro-Brasserie Les Soeurs Grises | map
5. Poudding chomeur at Soupesoup | map

Lannie

Lannie is a perpetual wanderer and loves to share her travel adventures and the food she eats along the way with everyone.  She works during the day while bouncing around the world and dreams about new places and faces at night!  She has a home on the magical Isle of Islay in Scotland, where the whisky flows freely and happily.

Click on the blue icons below to follow her on social media!

lanniesfoodandtravel.com/index.php/about-me/

I don’t talk much about my trip to Myanmar, and you all will find out why later. Let’s just say, for now, that I still carry scars from this trip.  Don’t worry, obviously I am still alive and functioning and writing to you today.  The story will come soon.

1. Morning at Shwedagon Pagoda

I started out in Yangon, where I spent the morning roaming around Shwedagon Pagoda, or the Golden Pagoda (for obvious reasons).  Everyone who goes to Yangon simply has to go there.  It’s the primary monument in the city.  There are surprisingly few tourists there, but booming with locals.  Locals enter free, tourists pay.  I think I paid about 9,000Ks (or about $6-8).  I understand they raised their rates again recently to 10,000Ks for tourists.  And it honestly would not surprise me if it is raised again in the near future.  Oh, and because this is a place of worship, you’re asked to remove your shoes before entering.

And here it is, the Golden Stupa itself:

You can actually see the sparkles a little better in this video I took.  Look at the top.

I mean, there’s a lot here for guys and gals who like gold and sparkles.

After roaming around the complex in the heat, I was happy to see a vendor selling whole coconuts outside.  I sat and drank the coconut water as I people watched.

2. Lunch at 999 Shan Noodle Shop

After the refreshing coconut water, and putting my shoes back on, I made my way back to the entrance to look for one of those taxis.  I took out my phone and showed the driver on google maps where I wanted to go. I was headed to 999 Shan Noodle Shop for a bowl of noodle soup.  The driver did give me some grief and of course, over charged me by quoting a fixed price, instead of a meter.  Sometimes, no matter what they tell you in guidebooks about being persistent about meter fare vs fixed price, there’s nothing you can do but continue to argue with the driver and end up still paying the fixed price.  Of course, I did not, and have not, walked off in a huff.  So whatever.  I roll my eyes, and it’s the cost of being a tourist.

I chose this noodle shop because it was open early, had good reviews, and honestly there’s nothing more I love than a good bowl of noodles.  It was one of those places where, the longer you sat down, the more tourists walk in.  Apparently they all read the same reviews I did.

3. Burmese Foot Spa & “Hidden Gem Yangon”

After lunch I went roaming around in the neighborhood down in the direction of two things: traditional Burmese foot spa and the result of my googling “Hidden Gem Yangon.”

First, the Sapel Traditional Burmese Foot Spa was amazing, and I had a great foot massage there.  So relaxing and a welcome break from the heat outside!!  {I literally could not tell you how much it was or how long it was for, since it happened almost a year ago, but it was a nice break in my day.  I also could not tell you why, if you look at their trip advisor page, there are pictures of the tribal women with rings on their necks.  They do NOT have these women in the spa just sitting there weaving…}

And Hidden Gem Yangon… tada!  This banana shop.

Yes.  Literally walked by, tried not to stare, and took a singular photo of this amazing banana shop.  It’s hard to do that, by the way.  Walk and try not to stare, while obviously staring.

4. Woops! Snack on my way to a Food Tour

Anyway, I had to make my way back towards the Sule Pagoda for my food tour.  On my way there, it’s true, I stopped for a snack.

And yes.  It is stored within that wine barrel.  Eating here, was not a tourist trap (notice plastic chairs) and if memory serves me, cost a cool 1,500 Ks ($1).

Now, back towards the main town square and my food tour waiting for me.

Interested in my Foodie Guide to Yangon? Click here!

5. Yangon Street Food Tour

So, in the end, I didn’t take many pictures on my food tour.  My tour guide was very nice, and explained that Myanmar food had a lot of chickpeas, cilantro, and spices.  A lot of the street food we tried were fried snacks.  Although it was good, they make ugly pictures.  But here is a lovely stall owner and some of the fried snacks she was selling.

Exclusive discount for blog readers:
5% for 1-2 travelers,
10% for 3-4 travelers.
Use discountcode
5%YFTviaLannie for 1-2 persons & 10%YFTviaLannie for 3-4 persons.
Valid for Yangon Food Tours, Manadalay Food Tours, and their bamboo bike and motorbike tours.

We also stopped by a different Shan noodle place.  The noodles were pretty good, but I think by that point, I was too full.  And then on top of that, we stopped for dessert.  At this point, I am regretting my sweet tofu dessert from five seconds ago.  But I put on my determined face, and finished the food tour with this lovely dessert drink.

Conclusion

So, following my street food tour, which included several bags of leftovers for the road, I took another poorly negotiated taxi back to my hotel.  I didn’t mention this earlier, but I booked a hotel just for the day – a pretty nice room (with shared facilities) at Wai Wai’s Place, for $26.  When I arrived in Yangon that morning at 9:20 am, I had less than 12 hours before I had to catch a bus to Bagan around 8 pm.  I basically went from the airport and dropped off my bags in my room, had a juice at their rooftop lounge, and then set off for Shwedagon Pagoda.  Why was it so crucial to get that $26 room?  For the shower, after roaming around all day in the heat, before boarding a 10 hour bus to Bagan.  Worth it?  Absolutely.

So thanks for reading all the way until the end.  And if you realized there was nothing particularly unspeakable about my Yangon post, tune in, next time, for the conclusion to “what happened to Lannie in Myanmar that makes her not like to talk about her trip.”

Half Day Recap:

• 10 AM: Delighting at golden stupas at Shwedagon Pagoda | map
• 12 PM: Touristy shan noodles at 999 Shan Noodles | map
• << explore downtown and passing through Chinatown >>
• 1 PM: Relaxing Burmese Foot Massage at Sapel | map
• << meander back to downtown, stop at banana store, Sule Pagoda >>
• 4 PM: Street Snacks Food tour with Yangon Food Tours

Lannie

Lannie is a perpetual wanderer and loves to share her travel adventures and the food she eats along the way with everyone.  She works during the day while bouncing around the world and dreams about new places and faces at night!  She has a home on the magical Isle of Islay in Scotland, where the whisky flows freely and happily.

Click on the blue icons below to follow her on social media!

lanniesfoodandtravel.com/index.php/about-me/