Chikahiro Tamura is the owner and operator of Ietsu Japan Dining, an amazingly authentic Japanese cuisine restaurant in Downtown Yangon. He has been in Yangon since 2014, when he opened his first Japanese restaurant and began his efforts to introduce his country’s culture and food to Myanmar.

“Our fish is imported from Toyosu Fish Market directly every week, every Friday by air. It’s so fresh and never frozen. It is real, real Japanese.” The catch Ietsu imports changes with the availability in the fish markets of Japan, keeping with traditional Japanese seasonality and fare.

To pair carefully selected fish with the perfect drink, Mr. Chikahiro imports Japanese sake with care, offering his customers the best taste, not just an expected product. From Japanese whiskeys to sake, he chooses his drink with discerning taste.

“This sake,” Chikahiro Tamura waved his hands toward bottles of the Japanese rice wine, “are all hand carried because if you import it with a ship the high temperature changes the taste. So we carefully bring every single of them. It tastes good, tastes better.”

I sat down with Mr. Chikahiro to enjoy some of his soba and a little pufferfish fin sake and our interview turned into more of a discussion of passion for food. If you see him in the restaurant ask him about his soba.

“Every single day we are making fresh soba,” he explained and then he told me where he gets his raw materials. Ietsu gets their ingredients for their soba from Shan State. He is excited to be encouraging farmers to grow agricultural products instead of less savory alternatives.

You expect if someone is opening a restaurant that they would be passionate about food. Mr. Chikahiro meets that expectation and passes it. He is not only excited about the food he serves, but the culture he represents.

The food isn’t the only genuine experience that Ietsu Japan Dining offers. Private rooms for large groups and a really private VIP room with its own back entrance, a private bathroom, and a sliding bookcase for wait staff to enter and exit as needed. And what’s more, the restaurant adds to its authenticity by importing Japanese style toilets–and adventure in its self.

In the future, Mr. Chikahiro hopes to bring products from different regions of Japan into his restaurant to introduce his customers to a little more of what Japan has to offer.

“I really want to serve Myanmar local people. That’s why I am here. I did not come here to make Japanese food for only Japanese people. I really want to introduce this (Japanese food and culture) to the people.”

Try Ietsu and find the difference in authenticity and quality. Try the sushi–so good–and have some soba. Ask what pairs well with your food. Ask how to eat it. Enjoy a Japanese cultural experience as you enjoy great Japanese food.

Address: Ground Floor, Urban Asia Center, Corner of 48th Street and Mahabandoola Road, Botahtaung Twp, Yangon
Hours: 11am – 10pm

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The Spruce is part of a Singaporean chain that has now opened its first branch here in Myanmar, perhaps because of the better electricity supply, according to one Myanmar minister. Although the restaurant was deserted when I arrived, the staff told me they get some traffic from the wealthy inhabitants of the housing estate, as well as Japanese diners looking for a taste of home.

The effusive manager of the Spruce explains that the restaurant identifies as Japanese European fusion, offering distinct breakfast, lunch and dinner menus. The menu itself is impressive in its breadth, and caters to a wide variety of potential diners. Find yourself thirsty at 8am? You can get a glass of red or white wine for only four dollars. In the mood for an English breakfast? No problem. Ramen more your thing? The Spruce have you covered.

I decided to swing by for the lunchtime options – available from 11am to 2.30pm. The Spruce offers a gourmet set lunch for ten dollars, starting with a soup, and ending with the chef’s daily dessert. One dollar more will get you a homemade coffee or tea.

The Japanese/Asian options include a variety of gyoza, bento boxes, Japanese style curry and spicy pork ramen, while pasta lovers can get beef cheek tagliatelle or chicken carbonara. Meanwhile, the “Spruce Specialties” include the Spruce Burger and Fish and Chips. Naturally, I felt obligated to order myself a fish and chips. Furthermore, I asked for a Kirin at 12pm and was served a pint, which argued well and set the tone for the rest of the meal.

Let’s take a quick moment to appreciate the Spruce’s selection of drinks. Guinness (notoriously hard to get due to Myanmar booze licensing laws) and Hoegaarden are available by the bottle, as are about twenty whiskeys ranging from ten to two thousand dollars (for the Hankey 40 year Bannister.) Despite repeated requests, this reviewers drinks budget could not be stretched to accommodate the 12 year Hakushu at a cool 450 dollars a bottle. Wine aficionados will also find themselves well catered for, with French, Italian, American, Aussie and Argentina varieties available by the bottle.

My partner ordered the Salmon teppanyaki (US$ 7). The flavor of the fish itself was very good, and the salmon well cooked and moist. The accompanying vegetables were also perfectly cooked, and the miso soup was warm and savory, umami notes. If it’s anything to go by, the Japanese menu is of a high quality.

Through the meal, we enjoyed excellent service from the attentive waiters, perhaps because the restaurant was expertly concealed at the top of a building, like a secret Star in Mario 64. The staff went out of their way to cater for our needs and desires, spoke excellent English and regularly checked in to make sure we were happy with the food and service. This was Singaporean service in Yangon, and anyone looking to make a good impression on a date without dramas over incorrect dishes could do much worse.

I returned to the Spruce a week later, keen to sample the breakfast menu, pulled in by a desire for poached eggs and multigrain bread. This time I ordered the full British breakfast (US$ 8) – not English, mind you, but British.This included two eggs (I had poached) pork sausage, baked beans, smoked bacon, sautéed mushrooms, hash browns, grilled tomatoes and multigrain toast.) While the ketchup and beans were both a little sweet, in the American style, the overall dish was very solid, even if the bizarrely huge plate on which it was served threatened to overshadow the meal itself.

With warm staff, great views and a really nice selection of food, Spruce is a great up-market choice for late night dates, Brits abroad with a craving for a decent British breakfast, anyone looking for upmarket Japanese food with a good view and whiskey lovers searching for elusive bottles. Worth the struggle to find it and a good alternative to the Yangon standbys.

Address: 137 Upper Pansodan Road, Block (M8)#13-01, Mingala Taung Nyunt Township, Yangon
Tel: 09 752 341301
Open 6:30 am – 12 am

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Address: No.162, 33rd Street (Upper Block), Kyauktada Township, Yangon, Myanmar
Tel: 09 7715 50567, 09 9658 98001, 09 7825 61128
Hours: 11 am – 11 pm

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Address: Corner of Kabar Aye Pagoda Road and Kan Bae Road, Yankin Township, Yangon
Phone: 09 777 178630
Time: 12:00 PM – 2:30 PM, 6:00 PM – 11:30 PM

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Ramen Monster

Widely popular for its gargantuan Monster Ramen Challenge, it has several branches in Yangon. Personally, my experience at the Myanmar Plaza branch was amazing; the manager was really generous with the servings and the service was fast. Explore different choices in ramen such as their signature Tonkotsu or Spicy Miso choices which can be quite cheap considering their generous contents. A simple set of ramen, dumplings, and extra noodles won’t exceed 10k and make you pretty full. Don’t dig in right away, the broth is really hot—it’s not fun to singe your tongue.  

Address 1: Basement K (5/6), Hledan Centre, Kamayut Tsp
Address 2: Food City, Myanmar Plaza, Kabar Aye Pagoda Road, Bahan Tsp
Hours: 10am – 9pm

Ippudo

Located in downtown, Junction City,  Ippudo serves hot noodle soups to warm your body and soul. Ramen Ippudo, or Hakata Ippūdō as it is known in Japan whereas you may think their ramen selection which ranges from 5k to 10k, it is actually way cheaper than most high-end ramen even in Japan. Ramen Ippudo also specializes in Tonkotsu with a rich pork bone broth with a rather soft type of noodles—as opposed to the chewy al dente noodles offered by most ramen shops. So if you’re a fan of soft noodles, check Ippudo out!

Address: No. 506, Level 5, Junction City Corner Of Bogyoke Aung San Road &, Shwedagon Pagoda Rd, Yangon
Tel: 09 965 628838
Hours: 9am – 9pm

Ramen Bar

You’d expect a ramen place to be somewhere easily accessible—may it be the notorious street food haven 19th street or crowded business districts like Sule. Ramen bar, at Kabar Aye Pagoda Road and hidden by the flyover bridge, makes it hard to know about the place rather than get there. However, it does make up for it by offering some of the best ramen in the city with its reasonable price point and cozy atmosphere. We recommend you opt for the table upstairs, you’ll know why when you get there. Ramen Bar offers you a taste of Sapporo, a city in Japan, with its signature Miso Ramen which can be described as rich, savory and thick. Prices are quite cheap, taking the food’s exemplary quality in consideration.

Address: No. 17 Kabar Aye Pagoda Rd, Yangon
Tel: 09 42020 302
Hours: 8am – 9:30pm

Jan Jan Jan

Restaurants tend to get lost in the abyss that’s commonly regarded as Myanmar Plaza, with lesser-known places getting buried by BIG franchises. This may be the first time you’re hearing about Jan Jan Jan—or not—but it will surprise you with its arsenal of unique ramen combinations. From Tomato Ramen to traditional Shoyuu Ramen, Jan Jan Jan might have what you’re looking for.

Address: 3rd Floor, Myanmar Plaza, Kabar Aye Pagoda Rd, Yangon
Tel: 09 44044 0445
Hours: 10am – 9pm

Yokozuna Yangon

With a witty name, and a ramen selection that will make you smile; Yokozuna is not far from downtown. It’s a great place to grab some lunch or maybe take your colleagues out for a drink after a long day at work. Even though this is a ramen guide, Yokozuna offers Japanese rice bowls also known as dons; Pork Cutlet rice dubbed Tonkatsu in Japanese; as well as really cheap ice cream sundaes only 1500kyats. They also have great gyoza. Rewind and Ramen!

Address: Corner of Mahar Bandula and Bo Myat Htun Street, In front of Tun Commercial Bank
Tel: 09 777 445009
Hours: 11:30am – 2pm, 5pm – 10m (Closed Sundays)

KoiNobori

If you live in Star City or the Thanlyin area, and you’re just craving a bowl of warm ramen, Koi Nobori is known for its Tsukemen and Tan Tan Men—something which I strongly recommend. The staffs are really generous and they’ll give you extra noodles if you ask nicely. Previously part of Ren, Japanese hotpot place next to KoiNobori, it uses high-quality ingredients—most of which you can witness being prepared in the shop’s open kitchen. They, like every Ramen Shop on this list, give out wet towels; something which could help you relax after a hot day out.

Address: Star City-Tower A-5, Thanlyin Township
Tel: 09 262 358 468
Opens 7am – 11pm

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The inside may be small, but it was cozy enough to sit around for a few hours; that is if you have nothing else to do. We chose a quiet corner where we took off our shoes and made do with a set of seat cushions and a short-legged table. It may be hard to describe in words but here’s a picture to show for it.

Greeted with a wet towel—which was cold—and a chilled glass of Ocha, a Japanese Tea which was obvious that they knew what they were doing. Whereas my partner had ordered rather quickly, I was in a conflict of whether to order something exotic or just stick with my usual choice of Tonkotsu and extra noodles. Finally, I decided to go for the Extra Spicy Spicy Ramen (7,300 Kyats)—like the spice connoisseur I am—to pair with my partner’s rather mild Oyakodon Chicken and Egg Rice Bowl (6,800 Kyats). Looking at our provided condiments; we couldn’t help but notice a “No Outside Food.” Whereas it may be taboo for most countries but in Myanmar, most of us eat our lunch boxes—and many of us eat our lunch boxes in restaurants.

Arriving first was the Oyakodon, which looked almost fluffy and the taste was light but also fishy influenced by the dashi-based sauce they’ve drizzled on top. The egg, the main highlight of the dish was creamy and savory. It was perfect—not too strong and overpowering—just the right proportion of meat, rice, and dressing. Yet we recommend you dig in as soon as possible because it doesn’t taste nice when cold.

The Extra Spicy Spicy Ramen came in a big bowl, and it was not the spicy I expected; more heat rather than kick. Spice levels aside, the broth was rich and satisfying, more and more rewarding with every spoon. The noodles were al dente and had a certain chew to them.

Although I would’ve wanted one more slice of Chashu or Braised Pork Belly, I realize I would have gone overboard with the budget as this was rather a higher quality slice of meat. Among other toppings such as pickled bamboo stripes, exactly two sheets of nori, leeks, and chives; what stood out most was the Shoyu Tamago or Egg Marinated in Soy Sauce. While these may be common toppings, I’d like to stress the fact that it was one of the best bowls of ramen I’ve ever had—in Myanmar.

Having another glass of Ocha which proved to be a great palate cleanser, I decided to exercise my taste buds with a fleet of gyoza dumplings (3,500 Kyats). Most gyoza tend to get soggy outside with the pork stuffing getting mushy inside; however, the recipe at Yokozuna demands crisp and freshness—something I appreciated as its hard to find good gyoza. The only let-down was the number of dumplings offered to us—five amazing parcels of chewy umami pork, some of which were ruined by my soy sauce and chili oil dipping sauce.

In conclusion, Yokozuna is an underrated place. As proven in this review, they have one of the best ramen Yangon has to offer, as well as many other dishes. The furniture and composition of the whole restaurant will make you feel comfortable and at home. An honest, no-nonsense place to enjoy a few beers with your friends or just slurp a warm bowl of ramen by yourself on a cold rainy Rangoon night.

Address: Corner of Mahar Bandula and Bo Myat Htun Street, in front of Tun Commercial Bank, Botahtaung Township, Yangon
Tel: 09 777 445009
Hours: 11:30am – 2pm, 5pm – 10m (Closed Sundays)

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Teppanyaki on 48th Street x Maha Bandula Road, Botahtaung serves authentic Japanese dishes is located at the ground floor of Urban Asia Center.

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As a Japanese restaurant that specializes in eel dishes, walking through the doors of Unagami you’ll be greeted by the smoky aroma from the charcoal grill.

Unaju Tokujou, the eel set which costs $35, includes a big grilled eel on rice. The eel is very sweet and delicate and overall balanced with its own contrast flavours. This is one of Unagami’s signature dishes and the set includes a clear soup, pickled cabbage and a cup of luscious tofu as a dessert.

The traditional Japanese Hitsumabushi set includes eel layered over a bowl of rice and served with gluey grated lotus root, seaweed and spring onions and pickled cabbage and costs $30. The beauty of this set is that you can combine all the separate components together to create an entirely new dish.

As well as providing fresh eel dishes made to order, those brave enough can also order the eel organs too. The eel hearts and other organs are skewered and roasted, giving an unusual flavour and cost $3.

Unagami also serves dumplings. Choose the ones made with  eel, spring onion and garlic as it’s a dish which is only available in a few areas in Yangon. This cost of this dish is $25 and though this may seem expensive, it’s worth it to try once.

If you are a pork lover, try the Buta No Amiyakidon set. The thinly sliced pork, grilled in eel sauce, piled over the rice along with the bean sprout salad, quail eggs and Japanese ginger. This set also includes a clear soup and costs $6.

Another highlight was the ox-tongue, which was prepared and seasoned for three days ahead of serving and costs $11 for a set. Grilled over charcoal and dipped in a sweet sauce, this dish will give your taste buds a treat. The accompanying clear soup is flavoured with shitake mushroom and lotus roots, bringing out a natural sweetness.

As Japanese tradition dictates that different flavored dishes shouldn’t touch each other on a single plate, each different dish is given its own individual plate or are prettily partitioned using leaves. Guests should also bear in mind that placing main dishes on top of rice and is seem as soiling the food and so is frowned upon by Japanese etiquette. Visiting Unagami is like taking a miniature trip to Japan and it’s well-worth a visit to sample the traditional cuisine.

Address: 1F, No.9, Wai Luwun 7th, Baho Road, SanChaung Township, Yangon.
Phone: 09954774362
Opening hours: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 5pm – 8.30pm

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Situated on A Shae Gone Street and led by a Chinese owner, the two-storey café has a relaxed and welcoming vibe and a spacious and light design.

The menu takes inspiration from every corner of the world, ranging from the
deeply Instagramable traditional Macau snack gai daan jai, the bubbling egg waffle as well as selection of coffees made with a wide variety of trendy contraptions.

Confusingly, the menu layout does little help you narrow down your dining choices. Teppanyaki and Japanese dishes are grouped together, while the Worldly Inspired Flavours sections seems to only include Asian dishes, which makes the Best of Asia section seemingly redundant.

But that aside, it’s a menu with plenty of options. Much of the menu is devoted to teppanyaki, a style of Japanese cuisine that uses an iron griddle to cook dishes, so for my main dish, I chose teppanyaki noodles with black pepper sauce (3,500Ks). The giant pan-fried noodle plate arrived with carrots, radishes, corn, peas, mushrooms and a half-boiled egg and tasted fantastic.

I also ordered an iced German sweet peach and sea salt cream (3,400Ks). This turns out to be a mix of sweet and sour peach soda along with sea salt, white sugar, and cold whipping cream on top. It’s unique and visually very appealing.

As a side dish, I tried the crispy seafood dumplings (4,000Ks) that were filled with fish, squid, prawns and mussels came with sour bean sauce and lemon grass. They were crisp and packed with flavour.

To finish I couldn’t resist trying the Macau waffles with chocolate dip (3,000Ks). They were light and moreish and made all the more delicious by the chocolate sauce.

The temptation to try a selection of the other dishes, from all their various origins, was great but I managed to resist. Someday soon, I’m sure I’ll find myself there to work away from the office and then I’ll enjoy perusing the menu all day long.

Café

09 953 38808109 953 388081

Working House is a merged cafe and dining place with a wide choice for dishes mainly Taiwanese, and a few Japanese and Western. Their drinks menu highlights the sea salt cream ulong tea.

Opening Hours

10:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Price Range

$$

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