Burma Superstar — Restaurant in San Francisco

There is nothing more upsetting than being disappointed from a super hyped rating from a restaurant. Yes, just like anyone else, we had to put our names down and wait for about an hour or less to get a table for 6 which we honestly didn't mind at all since we were prepared for the long wait. We in fact enjoyed having a drink and some snacks at Bitter End which is 1 min from Burma. When our table was ready we were able to be at the restaurant in less than 5 minutes - what a winner!

We get there and the first thing I noticed was how hot the place was - it's a fairly small space and super duper crowded but surprisingly not that loud. Reading all the reviews on yelp, we shared a veg curry which everyone said was nice but i didn't try it, the tea leaf salad which was really fresh and lovely, the garlic chilly prawns which were recommended by the waiter instead of the pumpkin prawns and honestly the prawns were perfectly cooked but there was really an overload of garlic which one could only realise after the meal when all the smells come back to your nose (not so pleasant the aftermath), the chilly beef - i'm a bit puzzled on this one as I think we ordered lamb but it tasted like beef so not sure which one we got but it was really nice and flavourful and lastly we shared the catfish curry. The catfish was the one I was looking forward to and it ended up being super duper fried and dry, so dry you couldn't scoop out the flesh from the skin :( - what a sad meal that was. I've had catfish curry before At Champa Garden in Oakland Laotian style and was superb and in another thai restaurant on grand Ave and it didn't disappoint so i was looking forward to the next satisfying experience from Burma, but I was left sad...I didn't analyse the food and how it tasted then and there because honestly between the 6 of us and the great energy at the restaurant we were having such a nice time and despite the fact that there was still a long line outside no waiter pushed us to leave eventhough we were done with our meal, had paid the bill and was just sitting and chatting away - I thought this was nice of the staff. So when I was trying everything I really enjoyed all of it but after I went home my tummy started rumbling and had a bit of loosies so least to say i didn't feel well and didn't sleep well through the night and since got few shivers I got panicky that could have been food poisoning - but luckily I was fine so not sure what happened there but definitely was something from the food and perhaps too much of the garlic.

Overall, I'm glad I visited this highly rated place but honestly I was let down. I just can't get over that overly fried catfish :'( and how hot it was inside the restaurant! I'm still gonna give this place the benefit of the doubt and try it out one more time, If i ever have the time to...

After hearing so much hype, my husband and I made it to this spot on a late Saturday afternoon for lunch. There was no wait at 2PM and we walked right in. A friendly hostess greeted us right away and we got a corner table.

The menu is quite extensive with all kinds of options including salad, soup, noodles, meat and even desserts. They also have daily lunch special even for the weekends so that is a great deal.

We started with their famous tea leaf salad and lamb samosa as appetizers. We were being quite ambitious because it turns out the salad is huge and comes with unique fermented tea leaf, deep fried peanuts, seeds and some items I cannot recall over a bed of lettuce. The flavor is very unique and tasty. I really enjoyed the texture and flavor and was kind of full already. The lamb samosa reminded me of their Indian counterpart but less curry with an Asian flavor dipping sauce that is sweet and tangy. By this point, I was 75% full.

For entrée, I opted for their Bun tay Kauser (chicken curry over egg noodles) and my husband ordered the chili lamb special. Both came in again, huge portions. Honestly, my noodle dish was nothing special; it was a mild yellow curry with really tender chicken but the noodles were very soggy. I am not sure if it is normally that soggy or they overcooked it. Nevertheless. the curry tasted fine but nothing special. Chili lamb with rice was very good and it is similar to what we have tasted in some Chinese restaurants but then again, Chinese and Burmese food do share some traits in common.

Overall, it is a great restaurant with unique dishes and somewhat creative menus when it comes to their dessert options and teas. I would love to return to try...

If you’re on Clement Street in San Francisco and your stomach is craving bold, spiced flavors, Burma Superstar is definitely one of those neighborhood treasures worth battling the crowds for. From the moment you step in, the aroma of garlic, toasted nuts, and chilies sets the tone — you know you’re in for something special.

One of the standout features here is how friendly it is to vegetarians and vegans. The menu includes a dedicated vegetable & tofu section, with dishes like red curry with tofu and eggplant (available mild or extra spicy) . You’ll also find Superstar Vegetarian Noodles — traditional Burmese noodles tossed with tofu, cabbage, potato, cucumber, and chili sauce — a refreshing, room-temperature dish. The Rainbow Salad, served vegan or traditional, is a colorful medley of 22 ingredients. And of course the iconic Tea Leaf Salad (often mixed tableside) is a must-order, and is often offered in vegan form as well.

If you love crispy, savory snacks, their chips (especially the garlic chips or golden crispy garlic chips) are excellent — they deliver that addictive crunch and deep garlic flavor that you’ll keep snacking on between plates.

On the flip side, this place is notoriously busy. They don’t accept reservations, so you’ll likely face long waits — sometimes 30 to 60 minutes (or more) during peak dinner hours. Also worth noting: parking is very limited in this neighborhood. You’ll probably have to circle the blocks or hope for a rare street spot.

All told, Burma Superstar offers an electric, flavorful Burmese dining experience with solid vegetarian options and standout crunchy chips — but patience and some luck with parking...