Burma Superstar

meh. No red burmese pork stew, for real? the food isn’t bad but of the offerings and no wait time you might as well just go to your favorite Chinese or Thai restaurant, you’ll get the same flavors. I personally had the ginger garlic pork and coconut rice. the pork was slightly spicey but not really garlic tasting, it tasted more of green onions. the coconut rice was light and slightly sweet. But the highlight of this place is their drink menu, mango king is tasty and falernum really makes this drink. Wait staff is friendly and prompt even when it’s busy and this place always is.

So I had been hearing about this place on foodie shows for a long time before finally coming here for lunch. Let me give a disclaimer that I have never had Burmese for before and therefore have no comparison. Closest comparisons are probably Thai and Indian which makes sense based on where the country is located.
I have to say that like most of the other reviews I don’t think it’s really worth the price for the amount of food you get. It was $ 45 for two drinks, a side of coconut rice, potato and pork curry, and the tea leaf salad.
Potato and pork curry: underwhelming. The pork was extremely fatty and left me with large leftover pieces as that’s not something I’m particularly fond of eating. The flavor was good but the portion was small.
Tea leaf salad: again I have nothing to compare this to but I did like the texture and flavor combinations going on here. Since it’s mixed at the table it was not at all soggy and you get to see everything that is in it.
Coconut rice: great companion to the other dishes particularly if you get something spicy. It’s a pretty large serving as well. The fried onions on top were a great contrast as well.
Overall I don’t know if I would go back but I will definitely be trying Burmese again.

Got to the restaurant at 12 PM on a Friday afternoon, and there was no wait. We ordered the mango chicken, pork and potato curry, with a side of coconut rice. I highly recommend getting the coconut rice.
The flavor of the mango chicken was good, and went very well with the coconut rice. However, the flavor of the raw onions and basil were slightly overpowering. Probably wouldn’t order this dish again. The pork and potato curry was delicious. The pork was very tender. Would definitely order again.
These two entrées with a side of coconut rice was an appropriate amount for two people.

I finally got to try this place after many failed attempts due to the long wait times. Tuesday night at 9:30pm and it was still pretty crowded. We only had to wait a few minutes for a party of 3 so that wasn’t too bad at all.
There was nothing special that I found about the food here. We ordered the tea leaf salad, garlic shrimp, noodles and chicken basil. Pretty basic and I didn’t find it 4 or 5 star rated food. To be honest, I only enjoyed the coconut rice which is the simplest thing you could order here.
In addition, the restaurant is too overfilled. I opted not to sit with the boyfriend because my a$$ would’ve for sure presented itself on the tabletop next to us had I attempted to get myself there lol I didn’t even need to explain myself to everyone at my table because it was self explanatory (about the junk in my trunk and the tight fit to get to the other side of the table). I can’t even imagine someone of size trying to do this and I would not be happy on «either side of the table.» See what I did there…
Anyway, service was great– very attentive and helpful even when they were close to closing. I just didn’t enjoy the food and would probably not come back.

This was my first experience with Burmese food and I was completely blown away! Coming from Chicago, a city completely lacking in this cuisine, I was really impressed and now wish we had a similar restaurant in Chicago!
We came around 9pm on a Friday night and waited about 20 minutes for a table. They try to get as many people into this small space by taking advantage of every inch of the restaurant, which for a popular location like this definitely helps get people in the door.
Food:
— Platha & dip: Delicious, sweet, coconut curry sauce served with platha (a delicious flatbread that is soft on the inside but has a crispy exterior). The coconut curry sauce was one of the best sauces I’ve had & we saved all of our extra to have on our coconut rice because we couldn’t let any go to waste
— Green tea salad: Very unique salad. I’ve never had anything quite like it and I would recommend it. The texture is great with a lot of really crunchy elements and really flavorful!
— Nan Gyi Dok: This was my least favorite. It’s served lukewarm and turned cold quickly. It’s a noodle dish with a coconut curry sauce, but there just isn’t as much flavor as the platha dip
— Curry eggplant: The texture of this eggplant is phenomenal! It’s tender and spicy enough to be enjoyable. I could eat this served atop of coconut rice for the rest of my life!
— Fiery Chicken with Tofu: Also excellent flavors and not too spicy! And mixed with the coconut rice it’s mild but complex!
— Coconut rice: The BEST RICE I’ve ever had! It’s sweet and sticky and perfect to mix with the spicy entrees!
Drinks: These were unfortunately a huge disappointment. We ordered 3 different drinks and didn’t enjoy any of them. The Mai Tai was too sweet and the others were equally undrinkable in my opinion. Our server could tell that we didn’t like them and luckily comped one of them that we couldn’t stomach.
Although the drinks were not good, the food was still so good that it easily deserves 5 stars!

After years of wanting to go to the Clement location, but never braving the parking or the wait, we visited the Oakland location. We seemed to come at the right time, as we were able to get a table as soon as we walked in. A superstar indeed! The food is so flavorful and leaves you wanting more. We had the tea leaf salad (which my non-​veggie loving husband loved — that says a lot!) and the garlic chili shrimp. If you’re ever in the Oakland area, dine here — you won’t regret it!
Forgot to mention, they have really good Chai!

Plus all the stars for the following:
The food (all the food)
The physical room (I’m looking at you Sunset location)
The neighborhood (Temescal)
«It’s like they cloned the original and put it somewhere slightly better.» –Me

I recommend the place if you are not picky about efficiency of servers and food portion/​price.
Good food BUT expensive for the portion. We ordered coconut rice, tea leaf salad, salmon, catfish curry, fiery beef, and a pitcher of mango tamarind drink, lotus chips, and bread. We paid $ 150. My complaint is the portion, too little for the price. There were 5 of us and we were still hungry after all we ordered.
Food though, were good. No complaints. My favorite was the catfish, not so much on the rest. I’ve had better tea leaf salad, and nothing special on the lotus chips either. Beef was too sweet for my liking and not spicy at all, I don’t know why they called it «fiery». Salmon was also great.
Beware, party must be complete before you can be seated.
Staff were okay, not excellent. Could improve more on efficiency and speed. More follow up would be nice, too.
Two points off for the price/​food portion and somewhat slow staff.

I was able to get a table for 11 of us at 8:30pm on a monday night after waiting for like 20 mins. I’m surprised it was so busy for a weekday night. This place is very popular as there was a bunch of people waiting outside.
I shared a Platha and dip with some others. Its basically like roti and curry. I thought it was very good. The curry wasnt spicy at all which I love. My entrée was the tea leaf salad. I decided to get it since its the most popular dish to get. Its fully vegetarian and they mix it in front of you. Its a pretty unique taste. Tastes like tea leaves lol. Definitely something to try once, but not get again. I would definitely be up for the other items on the menu.
Service was great and the food came pretty fast. Pricing is a little on the expensive side for the amount you actually get, but its very good quality. I would definitely come back.

Meh, I was very underwhelmed
2 star food; 4 star service.
First, the service:
We came here at 5 on the dot to skip the crowd and were seated immediately. The servers are all very friendly and attentive — and there are so many of them! Our table alone was checked on multiple times by at least 4 different servers. Also, our food came out within a matter of minutes. If only the food was nearly as good as the service.
What we ordered:
Vegetarian Tea Leaf Salad — 3 stars
Eh, I was not impressed. Yes the salad was interesting and had a lot of texture, but I have definitely had better salads. It felt like it was missing something.
Burmese Iced Chai/​Thai Iced Tea — 1 star
Ridiculously sweet! Both were doused in sugar/​syrup and were near impossible to drink.
Platha — 4 stars
Simple and delicious thin bread-​like appetizer. Probably the only thing I liked here.
Coconut Rice — 2 stars
The coconut rice is cooked with coconut milk so it’s sweet. I expected it to have coconut flavor, as it did, but not be so sweet. Like sweeter than sticky rice you get for dessert. But it’s topped with fried onions so you can’t really make it a dessert. This might just be a personal preference, but the rice was too sweet to be a side to our entrees.
Mango Tofu — 2 stars
I was so excited to try this dish and again so disappointed. The tofu itself didn’t taste very good and the texture seemed off. The mango sauce didn’t rescue the poor tofu quality either. It was a rather bland, if anything, sweet sauce. This dish could have been bumped to 3 stars if maybe it had a spicy component to it.
Fiery Tofu — 2 stars
Again, the texture of this tofu was weird and the dish was not memorable. It was rather bland too, and could’ve used at least a little spice.
Takeaway: I wish I had a better experience with the food here, I really do. The menu is so exciting and so unique! But the food just does not deliver.
Also, what’s with this place and making everything so sweet? It’s not even balanced with spicy. It’s just sweet. You can’t even think about dessert after a meal here… Anyway I probably won’t go out of my way to come back here again. :(

This was my first experience with Burmese food. Everything we got was so delicious and addictive in taste & texture that I had bookmarked a Burmese restaurant near where I live by the time I left San Francisco.
I hope it lives up to this amazing food:
Platha with Chicken Curry Dip
Tea Leaf Salad
Coconut Rice
Burmese Chicken
Garlic Eggplant
They sell their Tea Leaf Salad in kits here and at The Market. And now I know why!
I’m now seriously craving all of this food… just trust me & order it all!

The first time i came here I ordered the catfish curry and shared the tea leaf salad and the garlic noodle with a friend, who ordered the special of the night, the rockfish. This was also the first time I had Burmese food, and honestly, it blew me away. The meal was full of exclaims from both my friend and I as we tried the plethora of flavors from each dish. The tea leaf salad, which seems like a classic for this place, has a unique herbal hint and nutty texture. It is surprisingly heavy from the oil underneath so I would suggest sharing it with a friend. The garlic noodle was all right, nothing too memorable but I do remember it being more tasty the next day when we warmed it up in the microwave. My highlight of the night was no doubt the catfish curry… OH BTW don’t forget to order the rice because to my surprise, the curry does not come with rice. I ordered jasmine rice because I didn’t want the coconut rice to overwhelm the curry flavor. Back to the curry: it may look small but is in fact a very filing dish. The curry is much more watery compared to Indian or Japanese curry so it is perfect to eat with rice that can soak the rich flavor right up. I was able to try a bit of the rockfish from my friend and the first thing I noticed was how fresh the lemongrass used in the dish was. Overall, I had the perfect dining experience in this place the first time around.
Unfortunately, when I came back the second time, I decided to try something new and went for the vegetable curry. I had noticed from the first time that the curry here seems to have a distinct tomato flavor but with the vegetable curry, it was too much. It was too much that I couldn’t even enjoy the veggies in my dish. I had a hard time finishing the rest of my food but I decided to do what I usually do with bad alcohol: finish it as fast as I can to forgo the taste. I left feeling a bit displeased compared to the last time. The saving grace for that night was the ice cream store down the street from the restaurant.
Of course I will come back here, most likely to have that bomb catfish curry again. Hopefully, I will also avoid the long wait like I was able to last the two times.

We came here for my boyfriend’s birthday last night (because we’re both obsessed) and it was a really lovely experience.
The super sweet lady dealing with the list asked us if we were okay at a communal table, and I said «it’s my boyfriend’s birthday, we were hoping to grab a special table by ourselves.» She was completely understanding, and after waiting a few more minutes she sat us at a table near the window that was absolutely perfect. Throughout our meal she stopped by a few times to make sure we were having a wonderful experience, and was SO nice.
Our food was delicious, per usual. Garlic noodles with tofu for me, pork with ginger and chili for him, and the tea leaf salad to share. I had the mango king, a rum drink with orange blossom water and loads of mango. It is by far my favorite drink I’ve had here yet, reminiscent of something I might order pool side in Hawaii. My boyfriend had a mule made with bourbon, and said it was delicious as well.
We met a waiter over the summer that was just amazing (I think his name is Atit, and he has the funky cool hair), who somehow always remembers us and stops by our table to say hi. We keep forgetting to ask to sit in his section, but fully plan to next visit.
At the end of our meal, a bunch of the staff came to our table singing happy birthday to my boyfriend with a scoop of ice cream with a candle. It was so special, and we thoroughly enjoyed our night. Great attention to detail and going above and beyond a nice dinner.
However, we ordered something to-​go again that they forgot to give us with the rest of our left overs, which is thoroughly annoying (as it’s the second time we’ve been charged for something we didn’t receive). I suppose if you plan on ordering more food to go, you should just order it at the beginning of the meal and have it brought to your table boxed when the rest of your meal arrives.

My stars still stand & especially on Oscar night, I think it deserves such coveted rating. Why you say? Because it’s such a central location to all that is Oakland. While we waited what seemed like 5 minutes (it was really 15), we went over to the art collective next door and came out with some pretty neat art pieces. Local artists are so talented! Anyway, Burma superstar gave us the opportunity to check what else was out there. We got a phone call (which is unheard of at any restaurant establishment– at most you get is a beeper). We were told our table would be ready in 2 minutes. By the time we arrived, sure enough, the table was ready for us. The service was friendly, albeit slow but I forgive them bc it was a Sunday night. Anywho, food was superb. We ordered the rainbow salad and the pumpkin chicken curry. All excellent. Couldn’t ask for more.

We went on a Friday night about an hour before closing. We could smell the food from half a block away, and it’s a very good smell. This was my first time going there, but all my friends rave about this place. There was about 9 party’s ahead of us on the waiting list, but we were seated in about 35 minutes.
When we were seated it took about 5 minutes to get served. They had water on the table. I don’t remember the names of some of the food ordered, but from I recall we ordered the coconut rice, fried calamari and samosa as appetizers. For the main course we ordered Garlic & Chili Shrimp and a beef plate.
The coconut rice was to die for! Probably the best tasting rice plate I’ve had. The samosa plate was very good. Had alot of curry flavors in it. The garlic & shrimp was sort of a disappointment. It was all garlic and no chili. I figured since we went on the tail end of the day the food would be rushed. The beef plate was good.
Overall, I’d like to give this place another shot. The smell was exquisite, but the food could be better. The prices were somewhat reasonable, but, hey, it’s Oakland!

This review in 2 words: short and sweet. Burma Superstar in 2 words: long and salty.
Put your name on the list.
Expect to wait.
Water cups are lilliputian.
Don’t wear nice clothes unless you want them to carry the fragrance of food.
Ginger and chili pork: thin slice of pork shoulder tossed with plenty of ginger and green onion and a healthy kick of spice. Flavorful but a bit too salty. To quote my friend, «Food was exceptionally salty last night. My pee smelled like it was trying to become a master in making ramen broth all night.» His words, not mine.
Burmese beef curry: thick and stew-​like. Boss when you feenin’ for some hot and saucy on a cold night. Sweet and mild compared to the salty and spicy pork.
Jasmine and brown rice: on the dry side, but they’re a necessity with the other offerings.
I’ve not had a lot of Burmese food before, so I do not have very much to compare to. However, with all the great reviews and many different offerings, it would be great to come back for another visit. Notables to try next time: pratha and dip and tea leaf salad.

Not sure how much I can add to an establishment with a 4-​star average and over 1576 reviews except to confirm that this particular outlet of Burma Superstar fully deserves its rating and is just as dependable now as it has been for quite a while already.
The platha with chicken coconut curry dip was a solid, delicious appetizer, while the lamb curry was quite tasty and satisfying as well. Service is fairly fast and efficient, and the prices aren’t bad given the portions and quality you get. A good bet all around.

I do wish the wait weren’t so long (~45 min for a Friday night dinner) but it’s not too bad with good company and the food is definitely delicious. When you get there, make sure you sign in on the clipboard right in front of the door with your name, party size, and phone number. When your table is available, they will first call out your name (I presume they might try calling your phone next). Finally when we were seated, this is what we ordered for three people who left full and satisfied.
Rainbow Salad (22 ingredients) ($ 11)! I loved the play on textures with four different types of noodle, papaya, and onions. The flavors from the dried shrimp powder and mango made my mouth smile. I liked how there was also just enough crunch but my jaws weren’t working over time. This was a great starter to open your palate for Burmese cuisine.
Mango Chicken ($ 14). This is basically a flavorful stir fry of chicken, mango slivers, and onions with some fresh mango chunks on the side and topped with basil. I didn’t expect much given the ingredients but it had a nice creamy sauce and wasn’t too sweet. The basil also permeated throughout the dish.
Coconut Rice ($ 3). I almost would order/​eat this by itself but I rationalized my decision since it does pair nicely with the mango chicken. The rice is heavily scented with coconut and not too sweet. It also is topped with fried shallots which are a nice crispy and savory contrast. Among the three of us, we split one order.
Garlic Noodles with Duck ($ 9). It’s a solid filler dish (i.e. we need some more to get us full and it should taste good) but it was not my favorite and wouldn’t reorder. There wasn’t a lot of garlic flavor and very little shredded duck. What you’re left with is, well, just noodles topped with some cucumber and green onion. I suppose that’s okay right? Not very memorable.
Overall the food was good! I’d come back here and bring friends. On a side note one of my friends who lives near by advised against ordering takeout. She said it’s just not the same in a paper box.

Order the Salt and Pepper chicken and for a steep price of $ 10, your tastebuds will thank you. To be honest, I was more impressed with the dipping sauce than the actual chicken. It had an interesting, but yummy tingly taste! Regardless, my hungry self devoured this appetizer wth my friend.
By the way, this was my first time here and this is also my first time trying Burmese food.
I ordered a noodle dish, which I don’t remember the name. Maybe it was the Bun Tay? It was a lunch special and had chicken curry on the side. The servers mixed the ingredients together in front of me.
It was good and interesting, but definitely not a memorable dish. The chicken was good as well as the curry. For such a highly rated restaurant, this dish left me feeling «whatever.» It wasn’t bland though!
Overall, this place would be a great place for a quick bite or an ideal date spot. I’d love to order the other entrees next time!
PS: Alex is an awesome waitress!!! ;)

Tea Leaf Salad ($ 13): Burmese fermented tea leaf, romaine lettuce, split peas, peanuts, fried garlic, tomato, jalapeño, and dried shrimp.
Bun Tay Kauser ($ 13): Traditional Burmese flour noodles, coconut chicken curry sauce with masala, split yellow pea, eggs, cabbage, wonton, and fried onion.
Burmese Style Catfish Curry ($ 17): Burma Superstar’s specialty tomato-​based curry.
Coconut Rice ($ 2.75): Aromatic jasmine rice cooked with coconut milk and topped with fried onions
Garlic Noodles ($ 10.50): Flour noodles w /​fried garlic, and scallions in a red chili sauce. Topped with red onion and cucumber.
Burmese Chai Tea ($ 4): Assam tea slow-​brewed with sweet milk and spices.
My first Burmese cuisine experience was with Burma Superstar a few years ago. I’ve craved Burmese food since and apparently, it isn’t very easy to find unless you’re in the Bay Area. I has the amazing opportunity of having Burmese food in Northern Thailand and it was amazing. It also reaffirmed my love for Burmese food.
The tea leaf salad was great (again) and something I’ll order every time. I didn’t love the Bun Tay Kauser noodles, but the Burmese-​style curry was delicious. The coconut rice and garlic noodles (must be ordered as sides) were tasty; the rice went well with the curry, however, the noodles were better by itself rather than with the main dishes. The tea was nice.
If you’re a beer fan, there’s a house beer called Burma Ale ($ 8/​glass or $ 18/​pitcher).
It gets very busy, but even with the sign-​in sheet, the wait isn’t very long.

Estoy bastante seguro de que la comida en Birmania no es tan buena como aquí: casi todos los platos son deliciosos, sorprendentes, y no excesivamente caros. Lo más recomendable es el arroz hervido con leche de coco (el primer bocado es una dulce sorpresa) y el pollo frito con semillas de sésamo (agridulce, crujiente, adictivo). Lo menos recomendable, las ensaladas: por algún motivo, todas pican.
El local es bastante grande, y muy bien decorado e iluminado. Se llena muy rápido, así que si no quieres hacer cola, tienes que ir pronto.