Mandalay Kitchen
383 University Ave W, St Paul, MN 55103, United States+1 651-219-5887
About This Place
Nestled in the heart of St. Paul, Mandalay Kitchen is a standout Burmese restaurant that offers an authentic, heartwarming culinary experience blending Burmese, Thai, and Karen influences. Located at 383 University Ave W, this gem is a must-visit for food lovers seeking dishes that truly celebrate Southeast Asian flavors with a comforting homemade touch.
Step inside and you’ll immediately notice the inviting atmosphere—casual yet vibrant, with attentive staff who add to the experience without being intrusive. The menu is a treasure trove of unique, beautifully crafted dishes that speak to both adventurous eaters and those seeking familiar comfort.
Begin your meal with appetizers like the perfectly crisp Chicken or Vegetarian Egg Rolls or the addictive Fried Stuffed Tofu, each bite bursting with fresh, satisfying textures. The Tea Leaf Salad (Lahpet Thoke), a Burmese staple, is a highlight—offering a harmonious blend of herbaceous, tangy, and umami flavors that reviewers consistently rave about for its authenticity and balance.
For mains, the Kuay Teow Reua Boat Noodle and Yangon Beef Curry showcase slow-cooked depth and rich, tender flavors that fill the palate with warmth. Vegetarian and vegan diners will appreciate the thoughtfully prepared options like the Pad Krapow and the comforting Knyaw Pumpkin Curry, both packed with fragrant spices and perfectly balanced, creamy sauces.
Stir-fry dishes such as the Pad See Ew and Pad Thai demonstrate mastery over classic Southeast Asian street-food favorites, full of fresh vegetables, perfect noodles, and the ideal savory-sweet seasoning. The Burmese Fried Rice stands out as a hearty, deeply flavorful choice that feels like a warm embrace on a chilly day.
Guests repeatedly praise Mandalay Kitchen for its genuine, home-made quality that stands apart from typical takeout fare —“nothing ever looks or tastes phoned in,” says loyal diner Cam S. Hillary Barbetta highlights the “uniquely delicious” nature of the food combined with “high-quality all around,” while Julia Nelson-Troska points out the attentive service and ample vegetarian options as reasons to return. For those seeking true authenticity, Chad’s review of the mohinga and samosas speaks volumes about the generosity and depth found in every dish.
This restaurant is more than just a place to eat; it’s a culinary journey that awakens the senses and invites you to explore rich, layered flavors crafted with care and passion. Whether stopping in for a quick takeout lunch or lingering over dinner, Mandalay Kitchen makes every mouthful memorable and every visit something to look forward to.
For an unforgettable Burmese dining experience in the Twin Cities, Mandalay Kitchen is simply unmatched—warm, authentic, and bursting with vibrant flavors you’ll crave long after your meal ends.
Contact details:
383 University Ave W, St Paul, MN 55103, United States
Phone: +1 651-219-5887
Service options
Delivery Takeaway Dine-inHighlights
Fast servicePopular for
Lunch Dinner Solo diningAccessibility
Wheelchair-accessible entrance Wheelchair-accessible seatingOfferings
Alcohol Coffee Comfort food Healthy options Small plates Vegan options Vegetarian options WineDining options
Lunch Dinner Dessert Table serviceAmenities
ToiletAtmosphere
Casual Cosy QuietCrowd
Family friendlyPayments
Credit cards Debit cards NFC mobile payments Credit cardsParking
Free of charge street parking Free parking lot ParkingOpening Hours
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Monday
Closed -
Tuesday
11:00 AM - 08:00 PM -
Wednesday
11:00 AM - 08:00 PM -
Thursday
Closed -
Friday
11:00 AM - 09:00 PM -
Saturday
11:00 AM - 09:00 PM -
Sunday
11:00 AM - 08:00 PM
Map & Directions
Visitor Reviews
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Cam S
1 month agoThis place is so good. The food is amazing and feels really home made in the best way. Nothing ever looks or tastes phoned in, and there are always unique menu items. Highly recommend.
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Hillary Barbetta
1 month agoThis place is uniquely delicious. The food is flavorful and fantastic. The staff was really nice and attentive. I can see myself becoming a regular here. High quality all around. There’s no place in the Twin Cities quite like Mandalay Kitchen. You gotta try this place.
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Julia Nelson-Troska
3 month agoGreat restaurant! Highly recommend the lahpet thoke (fermented tea leaf salad), which is a balanced blend of herby, sour, umami, and sweet flavors. My partner and I were seated immediately, service was fast, and our waitress was kind. Great selection of vegetarian friendly options if you have dietary restrictions or preference. Will definitely be back!
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Chad
3 month agoSecond time eating here as I am only in St. Paul a few times per year, but after the first time, this restaurant was on my mind as soon as I landed at MSP. This time around I got samosas and mohinga. The samosas were so crispy and the filling was warming on a cold night. The mohinga was perhaps one of the most authentic dishes I’ve had in quite some time. It’s a generous portion and I left very satisfied. I do wish I had ordered the Tea Leaf Salad again, but I wanted to explore more of the menu. Lots of solo diners here, and it feels very comfortable and laid back. Until next time!
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Jay Shen
3 month agoI feel blessed to say that one of the best restaurants I have ever been to in the United States is literally right here in the Twin Cities, because the food here is heavenly to the point of me consistently returning despite living far from the establishment. In terms of food, there is a mixture of Burmese, Thai, and Karen dishes, and each one that my friends and I have ordered has been a hit. The tea leaf salad has amazing texture because of peanuts and fried garlic, which provide crunchiness, and has amazing flavor because of lemon juice, fish sauce, and tomatoes. The noodle salad has a light taste without adding the given lime piece, and then the rich nutty taste gets evoked and elevated upon adding lime juice. The zaap crispy has very well-seasoned fried chicken pieces, and medium spice level gives it a good amount of flavor. The shan khao soi is so creamy and tasty that even tasting the curry broth itself is a sensational experience, and the chicken leg included literally has "fall off the bone" meat. The boat noodle has a mixture of sweetness and savor, while the sweet flavor does not overpower anything at all. Finally, the mohinga clearly has fish cake flavor and texture fully infused, making it authentically delicious. We also ordered the knyaw iced salad, which was a mixture of ice along with crackers and other types of sweet ingredients. I thought it was very similar to a type of Vietnamese dessert called chè ba màu (three color pudding), and fully enjoyed it. The establishment only had one dessert, and I thought that was sufficient. While the street contains many excellent restaurants, I personally believe that this establishment stands out in terms of taste. I must also mention that since my friends and I arrived when barely anyone else was there each time we had gone there, we never experienced any service delays that some have mentioned in their reviews. I probably will give this place a 5 rating anyway even if I experience slowness, although I hope I don't.
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Jonathan & Hima Leach
3 month agoAmazing food! The pumpkin curry was flavored perfectly and had the perfect amount of spice! The samosas were also good. Everything tasted homemade and you could taste the love put into the food!
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Maihlee Y.
3 month agoCame here on a Friday, around 1:30pm. Not too busy. Parked in the parking lot behind the business, and it’s very small that’ll fit like 4 vehicles. However there is street parking available. Interior is very cute and more modern looking. Pretty cool to see that they have upstairs seatings too. We got the Burmese stuffed tofu (spiciest), the chicken Yangon samosa, along with the ground pork pad kaprow (spiciest) and the zaap crispy (medium spice). We wanted the zaap crispy with the chicken and added pork belly but then I think the waitress misunderstood so the meal only came with Pork belly. We also got the iced Vietnamese coffee drink. First off, let me say that everytime I go to a restaurant I will usually order medium spice, and it never really comes out spicy. I’m Asian so I love spicy food, and a lot of restaurants tend to not make their food as spicy so that is why I ordered two dishes to be the spiciest. I used to eat a lot of spicy food, but now I only eat it now and then but can still tolerate spicy food. When I say the spiciest level was spicy, it was spicy! If you eat spicy food on a regular, this level of heat might be ok. However, if you only eat it every now and then - you may not be able to finish or enjoy your food because it’s too spicy. The Burmese stuffed tofu spice tasted like it had dried chili flakes along with chili oil. The appetizer overall was ok to me, however my partner thought it was good. Although I am not mad that the appetizer was cold (I’m not sure if this was intentional because of the spice level), this wasn’t an extraordinary appetizer. They just cut the tofu and stuff it with some cut up veggies. The samosa came out hot. Overall it was ok to me. Not a lot of chicken meat, there was very minimal grounded chicken meat in the so when you bite into it and look, it almost looks like pieces of scrambled egg. The samosa wasn’t very flavorful to me, it was a little bit on the dry side. The ground pork pad kaprow (spiciest) was good, but it was too spicy for me to enjoy the dish for what it is. If you love spicy and eat spicy food everyday, this would be a great option. However since I only eat spice every now and then, the wasn’t really a smart idea. The spice seemed to consist more of fresh Thai peppers. As mentioned, we wanted the zaap crispy with the chicken and added pork belly (medium spice) but then I think the waitress misunderstood so the meal only came with Pork belly. This was good meal, as we didn’t make this meal too spicy. The pork belly had flavors of dry rub laab. Did not taste any spice. We also got the iced Vietnamese coffee drink. I’m not sure what we were expecting, but it literally just tasted like the “Mr. Brown Ice coffee” in a cup with ice. The food was ok to me, but if you’re looking for a place with bigger portion to fill your stomach because you’re hungry, and you can really eat, I’d say this place may not be it since it’s a bit on the medium pricer side, esp with it being a bit more modern. However if you are wanting to try new stuff (stuffed tofu and samosa), this would be a nice place to visit.
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Lindsey Hiner
4 month agoYum! We stopped in for a quick dinner and were pleasantly surprised by how fresh and flavorful it was. We shared the Tea Leaf Salad and Yangon Beef Curry and basically licked our plates. Can't wait to return to try some of the noodle dishes!
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