Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
EATING
In keeping with its status as the second-largest city in the land, Mandalay has a decent little
selection of places to eat. The area of greatest interest is the quadrant bounded by 84th St to
thewest,27thSttothesouth,thepalace moattotheeast and22ndSttothenorth;you'llfind
plenty of cheap, local choice here, including a fair few buffet places operated by the city's
substantial Shan community. Also of note are the chapati snack-shacks which spring up in
the evening around the junction of 27th St and 82nd St, and a few carts selling super-sug-
ary Indian sweets; you're usually most likely to find them outside the Hindu temples on 27th
St. Poking around further afield increases the range of possibilities to upper-class local fare
and Western-style grub, as well as other Asian tastes from Thai to Korean via Chinese crispy
duck.
DOWNTOWN
selling tasty treats - ideal if you're heading off on a long bike journey. Best are the
Portuguese-style egg tarts (K500) and mutton puffs (K500); you can eat on site, but it's per-
haps more enjoyable to devour the goodies in the calm police residential compound just to
the east.
Daily 8am-9.30pm.
extremely young staff run around bearing cups of tea (K250), bowls of tasty Shan noodles
(K800), samosas (K350) and the like. Also notable are a unique strain of banana pancake
(K500), and the oddly named “nutritious meal” - a curious mix of banana, boiled egg, straw-
berry cream and sweetened condensed milk.
Daily 5am-5.30pm.
enced by the crowd that's gathered around every single evening. They even have a menu of
sorts, though there are no prices on it - ask when ordering to avoid any unpleasant surprises.
You'll usually pay K1000-2000 to fill up, perhaps a little more if you plump for the “mutton
brain”, which gets you a little sheep cerebellum sitting in a curry sauce - surprisingly tasty,
though served lukewarm. No alcohol, though they're happy for you to bring your own.
Daily
3pm-1am.
Nylon
25th St, at 83rd St 02 32318;
map
.
Across the road from the
guesthouse
of the
same name, this deceptively simple place is one of Mandalay's more enduringly popular
spots with locals and travellers alike. They serve fantastic ice cream from just K600, as well
as a range of drinks (avocado shake K1000). Do note that foreigners sitting street-side are
likely to be hassled by beggars while eating their treat. For a look at how said treat is made,
pop into the preparation room out back. For a puerile laugh, step outside and look at the sign
atop the café - a splendidly inappropriate name for a brand of sweetened condensed milk.
Daily 8am-9.30pm.
