A waiter at Onyx restaurant carries a plate of beef ribs and salad.

IT took Martin Shin, owner of Onyx, a few years to find his niche in Myanmar’s rest-aurant scene. After peddling Korean-style Western fare for a year, he opened Onyx in 2004, with one main objective: Quality western food at reasonable prices.

“Some people tell me my prices are cheap but I say, ‘No, this is how much the ingredients cost.’ Onyx is just cheap compared to other Western-style restaurants,” Mr Shin says.

This ethos has made Onyx a popular dining option for both locals and foreigners.

“Our business now is nearly all word of mouth. Regular customers introduce their friends to Onyx, who then tell their friends – we haven’t had to advertise for the past three years,” he says. “But it’s not just about price, people say they enjoy the food and they like that we serve big portions. Most people come here for the beef because not many restaurants in Yangon serve beef. Of course, many locals prefer the pork or chicken.”

Peppers Diner’s stuffed chicken with spinach is one of many mouthwatering Western options.

There are also a few other secrets to Mr Shin’s success.
“It’s a cosy place in a good location, close to where many people live,” he adds.
With an eye-catching bar that dominates the restaurant and a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere, Onyx is popular with large groups of diners.

Just around the corner from Onyx, Peppers Diner creates a similar vibe with its Western-style décor and booths.

“When we first opened in 2003, there were hardly any Western-style restaurants in Yangon. We thought it was important to make a happy, relaxed environment where people can have some food and a few beers with friends,” says manager Charoon Choowala.

The BBQ pork ribs and buffalo wings are the most popular dishes on the mixed Thai-Western menu, Mr Charoon says.

While both restaurant owners admit atmosphere is important, Mr Shin is quick to emphasise Onyx’s main function: filling hungry stomachs.

“Serving the food is the most important thing. If you haven’t got good food, people won’t want to eat at your restaurant.”

Until the end of March, Peppers Diner is offering cus-tomers who buy two bottles of Tiger Beer a free bottle.

Peppers Diner — No 14/20, Than Lwin Road, Bahan township. Tel: 512423
Onyx — No 135 Dhammazedi Road, Bahan township.

Tel:524 271