Winner of Restaurant of the Year for MYANMORE Awards 2017.Ye Htut Win AKA Sharky needs no introduction—he is an institution in his own right in the Myanmar food and beverage industry. The audience rose to their feet to congratulate Sharky on winning this award. No stranger to the awards, Sharky told Myanmore, “After 20 years of hard work, it’s me and my team that have earned it.”
Ye Htut Win AKA Sharky needs no introduction. He is an institution in his own right in the Myanmar food and beverage industry. In 1996 he returned from Switzerland where he had risen from mopping floors at Wendy’s Burgers to becoming owner of some of Geneva’s most exclusive bars, he created the still famous nightspot The Cactus Club. A maverick foodie at heart, he had begun to retrain as a farmer whilst still in Europe with the aim of becoming Myanmar’s first artisan baker and cheesemaker.
He opened his first shop on the veranda of his mother’s house in Golden Valley, and soon became a favorite amongst the small expat crowd. His company now includes three restaurants – the flagship branch on Dhammazedi Road, the heritage building on Pansodan Street, and the newly renovated restaurant in Bagan, in the theatre of the Shwezigon Pagoda. The company also has farms countrywide – especially in Bagan where they continue to lead the way in Myanmar grown produce, including; rocket, microgreens, figs, basil and a variety of other herbs and vegetables.
Never one to let the grass grow under his feet 2018 will be another extremely exciting year for Sharky. The Bagan restaurant and farms will continue to develop and put out a number of new exciting products and dishes. The Dhammazedi Road branch deli will expand, whilst the restaurant will begin offering a new high-end dry aged steak concept menu. Most notably, Pansodan Street Sharky’s is reopening as an Italian Restaurant and Bar, with dishes designed in cooperation with Chef Christian XXX from the Strand Hotel and a botanical cocktail menu designed by European mixologists. The new concept bar will also hold a late licence and will host regular sets from Yangon’s leading DJs.
Sharky will continue to be a leader and an inspiration to the dining and nightlife scene in Yangon, and Myanmar for many years to come. Congratulations on your award, and we look forward to another exciting year of excellence and innovation from one of Yangon’s favorite fathers.
