Top Burmese Burma Joy — Restaurant in Portland

I paid for terrible food and service so you don’t have to.

First off, the good: the interior was delightfully decorated, and the cocktails and tea leaf salad were on point. The clever turmeric martini had me hopeful for the meal. The tea leaf salad was likewise a hit, full of flavor and texture. But that’s where it ends.

The bad: pale yellow mango lassis that tasted primarily of yoghurt with a distant hint of a dim memory of the flavor of mango. Garlic noodles with so much fresh cracked pepper on them the garlic was completely lost. “House special” chicken meatballs that arrived cold and pink inside. And a coconut curry completely devoid of flavor served over hard, dry 1cm nuggets of theoretically-braised beef. All of this compounded by the fact that the restaurant was clearly understaffed for a holiday weekend Friday night during a heat wave. Our waters were filled once at the beginning of the meal, our meals took 40 minutes to arrive, and when it did, it arrived by the novelty robot unaccompanied by a server. I didn’t know if we were supposed to take the food off it ourselves, as I had only seen it arrive at a table with a server in tow.

The ugly: I personally feel so terrible sending food back that I rarely do it. Tonight I sent back the beef and the garlic noodles. I complained about the mango lassi and the meatballs but didn’t feel right sending them back as they were ordered by our kids, who can sometimes be finicky eaters. The server comped us the uneaten garlic noodles, but only comped 1/2 of the price of the Dinty Moore braised beef stew. Which I guess was fair as I had eaten half of it in hopes of finding a silver lining in the brown gravy. But I’ve never seen a restaurant comp half of a meal. And there was no further effort to remediate our experience, just a wan apology delivered with a weary blank stare. I gather they were just happy to see me and my family leave their establishment. I have to say the feeling was mutual.

Giving two stars because there were some great items on the menu and I did dig the interiors but the overall experience was one I will not be repeating even if I find myself starving to death north of...

Stepping into this Burmese restaurant was like entering a flavor paradise. From the first sip of the samosa soup, a fragrant and tangy broth brimming with lentil-stuffed samosas, I knew I was in for a treat. The menu was a vegetarian's dream, with a plethora of options that went far beyond the usual afterthought veggie dishes. The star of the show was undoubtedly the Ohno Khauk Swe, a creamy coconut noodle soup that was both comforting and complex. The silky noodles were perfectly coated in the rich broth, and the toppings added a delightful crunch and burst of flavor. But it wasn't just the noodles that impressed; every dish was a testament to the chef's skill in balancing flavors and textures. The service was as exceptional as the food. The staff was attentive, friendly, and eager to guide us through the menu. They were knowledgeable about the dishes and happy to offer recommendations. The drinks were equally impressive, each one a refreshing complement to the meal. From the tangy tamarind juice to the fragrant Burmese milk tea, every sip was a delight. What truly sets this restaurant apart is the passion that shines through in every aspect. The food is made with love, the service is warm and welcoming, and the atmosphere is vibrant and inviting. It's a place where you can truly relax and savor the moment, knowing that you're in for a culinary adventure. If you're looking for an authentic Burmese dining experience with an abundance of vegetarian options and top-notch service, this is the place to be. It's a culinary gem that will leave you...

I just need to say that this is my first time reviewing a restaurant in YEARS because this place absolutely blew us away! I've walked past Burma Joy a million times but this was the first time we decided to try it, for my boyfriend's birthday dinner.

Cocktails to start (try the Burma Blue if you like fruit loops cereal milk!) and perfect chicken samosas. They had a super subtle perfumey-quality that my boyfriend couldn't taste but I thought was amazing. The main course was what stopped the show though! We got the 3-curry taster feast, with (left to right) was the tea leaf chicken, pumpkin, and beef stew. My boyfriend and I are both big eaters and were starving but we still had leftovers (also, you can have refills of the jasmine rice, which was great because we went through our first helping really fast). I can't describe how delicious all three were, but the beef stew was probably the best thing I've eaten in a long time. No words, you just need to try it!

For dessert, we were treated to their cute robo-waiter bringing us the Burmese dessert cake, which the staff was kind enough to bring us on-the-house. It had a strong coconutty and buttery flavor, and the texture was slightly jelly-like thanks to agar. It was super unique and soooo yummy.

And I can't finish the review without saying how FANTASTIC our service was - I kick myself that I forgot our waiters name, but he was so kind and attentive to us. All in all, this is one of my new favorite restaurants and hands down my favorite restaurant on NW 23rd. Please try it if...