YANGON is the cuisine capital of Myanmar; a melting pot of the country’s national races, it is blessed with a diverse mix of regional cuisine. Add to that a healthy dose of international menu options and you can happily eat to your heart’s content.

The last few years has seen a dramatic rise in the popularity of Shan noodles on the streets of Yangon. Simple, nutritious and quick, this dish is the choice of hordes of city workers, who chow it down for lunch, and schoolchildren, who can be seen eating it with their parents after a long day at school.

Due to the popularity of the dish there are now many Shan noodle restaurants in the downtown area – with that comes the challenge of finding a good one.
And according to popular opinion, Nan Htike, located on Bogyoke Aung San Road, is leading the charge.

The restaurants waitress staff, sharply dressed in green uniforms, take care of what appears to be hundreds of people each day. With a large al fresco dining area that can and does accommodate about 30 diners at a time, getting a table is not always assured. Fortunately, the customer turnover at Nan Htike is fast and furious and within a few minutes a seat in the shade often appears, allowing you to rest and avoid the blazing sun for a while.

Menu choices abound but Nan Htike is renowned for its Shan noodles, myay oh mee shay (hot pot) and ngar htamin (fish rice), dishes that have become a Timeout staple.

Meal sizes are sufficient to quell your hunger but not large enough to make you fall asleep at the office after lunch. The meals are even better when accompanied by a deliciously cheap fresh fruit juice.

Nan Htike is a must for anyone wanting a taste of real Myanmar cuisine. The cheap prices and prompt service will keep you coming back to one of Yangon’s best Shan noodle options and are proof that, like wine, expensive is not always better.