Here are top 5 dishes that you have to try when you travel Yangon.
Step outside your culinary comfort zone and seek out authentic Burmese tastes, like the hearty national dish, mohinga, a fish soup with lemongrass and tea leaf salad. Add some heat with local-loved chilies. Culinary delights like crisp-fried garlic, curry, roasted peanuts, and lime all play roles in traditional Burmese cuisine. You'll eat very well, and most meals won't break the bank.

In an airy, downtown two-story colonial bank building, Monsoon Restaurant serves Thai, Cambodian, Vietnamese, and Laotian cuisines. Locals arrive for a casual lunch but the dinner crowd is equally lively. Sip a lemongrass martini and order for the beef Thai curry and Vietnamese spring rolls.

Tucked away from Yangon's hustle and bustle is Le Planteur. Imagine an old colonial house with a garden oasis that often hosts the likes of VIPs like Mick Jagger and the President of Switzerland. Run by Eric Eppisser, a Michelin-starred chef, the food is French Asian fusion. Try the tealeaf salad, Tajima wagyu, giant prawns, and sip something from the extensive French wine collection.

Escape the midday heat inside the storied Strand Cafe in the middle of the iconic Victorian-style Strand Hotel. Expect an airy, intimate setting with ceiling fans, rattan chairs, and teak touches. High tea is a delight and lunch is all about spring rolls, mohinga, and a Burmese specialty ohn no kauk swe, a chicken and coconut soup. Afterwards, pop by the Strand Bar for a cold Dagon Lager.

The Green Elephant sits in an old world colonial mansion off the beaten track. Nab a table in the garden under a canopy and sample local delectables like coconut rice, pork with red curry paste, grilled lobster, lophet thake (pickled tea leaf salad), and lentil soup. Wash it all down with a tall, cold bottle of Myanmar beer and check out the gift shop before you leave.

Don't miss the lively Feel Myanmar Food. Inside you'll find a more formal dining area, while outside offers generous and more casual seating. Just pick your plate of choice from an enticing spread and find a seat. Start with the thoke (spicy salads) and make room on your table for bountiful portions of coconut rice, nara bread, prawn curry and braised pork. Vegetarians will find much to love here, too.