If I get asked where I’m from I say Notting Hill. When prodded a bit more like ‘no, but where were you originally from?’ I say Totteridge. I dislike people whom I hardly know probing about what kind of egg I hatched from, does it matter whether it's an ostrich or a quail? No, but what I can categorically state is that I’m no Burmese and neither is my dining companion (couple of her blogs suggest she’s English). As well as not knowing any Burmese peeps or ever having been to Rangoon, I’m thereby disqualified from passing a judgement on whether the meal we had here was authentic. I’ll just end the review with either: I’m coming back or not on your nelly.
This is only my second ever Burmese meal, I had my very first one…here. Well you see that throws another problem, according to London Eating there’s only one other Burmese; which is effectively a kick in the teeth as far as comparable references go. Some quick facts about Mandalay restaurant- it has been around for fourteen years (I thought the dining room might pre-date that), it’s pork free (Halal)* and for those partial to some grape juice, the House Wine here is only £8.50 a bottle. 
I’ve decided that I’m no longer going to speak ill of the road to Mandalay; Edgware Road has its merits, albeit ever so marginal. The service here is extremely friendly despite the usual lost in translation sitcom. If budget is tight, Mandalay offers some of the cheapest lunch deals in the capital (from £3.95). MsMarmitelover and I went full veggie from the À la Carte.
A-KYAW-SONE
Mixed vegetable fritters that are similar to toned down pakoras.
BOTTLE GOURD --- BOO-THEE HIN-CHOI actually enjoyed this clean tasting soup that was made from a vegetable that's also known as a calabash.
NOODLES COCONUT VEGETABLES --- OHN-NO KHAUK-SWEA traditional Burmese street staple that is similar to the Malaysian Laksa but only milder. Pretty good.
LENTIL RICE --- PAI HTA-MINA strangely stodgy rice dish that was by enla tasty enough
AUBERGINE WITH POTATOES --- KHAYAN THEE & AH-LOO
A more delicate take on the usual Indian brinjal bhaji
SPICY BAMBOO SHOOT CURRY --- MYIT-SUT HIN
A more delicate take on the usual Indian brinjal bhaji
SPICY BAMBOO SHOOT CURRY --- MYIT-SUT HINMy favourite dish, hot and sour excellence.
The Mandalay experience quite clearly illustrates the Indian and Thai influences on the cooking style. None of the dishes exhibited any kind of elaboration or sophistication in tastes and looks, but ultimately I found the meal enjoyable to eat. For those folks out there who find dining Indian a challenge, I think Burmese would be an ideal halfway house. There is only one quibble and that is the mains, they’re on the small side. Otherwise a confident recommendation assured and I’m coming back.*This halal tag can be quite confusing when tagged with certain cuisine, if you take Malaysian for instance, a non-Halal laksa is more authentic and evidently more superior whereas the halal beef rendang works best the other way. So I can’t tell for sure if the OHN-NO KHAUK-SWE I’ve had here twice is close to the real thing or plainly faux. The mind boggles.
444 Edgware Road London
W2 1EG
www.mandalayway.com
My first encounter posted on London Eating here.
SPECIAL ASSORTED FRITTERS --- A-KYAW-SONE
NOODLES-COCONUT & CHICKEN --- KYET-THA OHN-NO KHAUK-SWE
3 comments:
Mandalay is authentic-ish (speaking as someone who is Burmese) though the halal-ness is actually a major fail IMHO - and in fact Burmese people love pork.
For example, that bamboo shoot curry really ought to have had big fat chunks of pork belly in it :)
My review's here
MML- I thought so. Read your review; excellent insight and I'm better informed now about Burmese food. Thank you.
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