Mike L.
Yelp
When I think back to the my first time trying Burma Superstar, it's ridiculously impressive how far they've come. From their singular, original location on Clement Street in SF, through various iterations of offshoots and expansions, their family tree of restaurants has now grown into the double digits under a growing number of names. Now, after spreading across the entirety of SF, as well as into the East Bay, it's awesome to see that they're now expanding their footprint towards the South Bay!
Compared to the homely decor and cozy vibes of the original Burma Superstar, the newest Burma Love is adorned with a far trendier concept that's even fitted with a fully stocked bar. Thankfully, though, they're still mostly the same where it matters the most - the menu. Having already taken a peek at it online before coming here, we weren't surprised to see that the lineup of the lunch menu is slightly different and narrower than the dinner menu. However, there was still plenty for us to choose from and most of their dishes appear on both, including staples like their Tea Leaf Salad, Mohinga, Samosa Soup, and the Burmese Fried Chicken friends had recommended to me!
-- THE LITCHI EXPRESS - Hangar One Rose Vodka, St. Germaine, Lemon Juice, Aquafaba, Lychee-Dragonfruit & Rosewater Syrup, Lychee Fruit, Rose Crystals...$18
I don't usually go for martinis, but this one was pretty tasty. The overall flavors were pretty balanced - the pour of vodka in this was just right, the lychee was central but not overly intense, and I liked how the lemon juice added just a bit of acidity to cut through everything.
-- FIERY MANGO - Thai Chili Infused Tequila Blanco, Mango Cordial, Cointreau and Lime Finished with a Tajin Rim...$17
Much like the first time I ever tried a mangonada, this initially seemed just okay, but it grew on me as I kept going. Between the chili in the tequila and the Trajin rim, the taste of chili was overwhelming, but I liked how the mango offset the spice more and more I do wish the mango had been ever stronger, though.
-- TEA LEAF SALAD (Laphet) - Fermented Tea Leaf Dressing, Nuts & Seeds, Garlic, Tomato, and Sweet Baby Gems...$23
Something about this one didn't feel the same as Burma Superstars, but it was still really, really good! The lettuce and tomatoes were very fresh and I loved how the nuts, seeds, and garlic chips added some crunch. The fermented tea leaves were the star, though - just oh so delicious!
-- MOHINGA - Fish Chowder, Garlic, Ginger, Lemongrass, Cilantro, Shallots, Soft Boiled Egg, and Pea Chip...$23
The inverse of the Tea Leaf Salad - not only did this look better than the one at Burma Superstar, but it tasted better, too. While the flavors in the soup were the same (rich and hearty), serving most of the components separately made a huge difference, as they all stayed fresher and didn't get soggy.
-- SHAN CURRY NOODLES - Rice Noodles, Chicken Tomato Curry, Soft-Boiled Pasture Egg, Ground Peanuts, Pickled Mustard Greens, Sweet Soy, and Chili Crunch...$25
Honestly, I was a little skeptical of this one, but this actually wasn't bad. The chicken was very moist and the sauce had a nice punch, albeit a little heavy on tomato. As for the noodles, there was a good amount of it, but I wish it had more of a chewy bite to it.
-- B.F.C. - Burmese Fried Chicken, Sesame Seeds, Sweet Heat...$26
My friend felt like this was a bit Americanized, but I'm not going to lie - I thought this was great! The chicken was still slightly crispy despite the sauce on it and I liked how there was just a touch of heat. Plus, the portion was HUGE! In fact, it was so generous, we couldn't even get close to finish this.
-- CHILI-GARLIC PRAWNS - Onions, Arbol Chili, Jalapenos, Thai Basil, Koji Rice, Garlic Chips...$27
While there wasn't anything "bad" about this dish, it was easily my least favorite dish of our meal. The prawns were all plump and meaty, and I liked the garlic chips, but the sauce was underwhelming (not much chili flavor or spice).
In addition to the food, service here was pretty spot on, as well. The servers were friendly and responsive, checking on us often to refill our waters and to see if we needed anything. Plus, one of them even paused to make sure we got any photos we wanted of the Tea Leaf Salad before he started to mix it.
Besides how awesome it is to see Burma Superstar's success lead to another outpost in their family of restaurants, the other thing I like about this particular Burma Love is their Set Lunch Menu. Starting at $29 (exact price depends on your choices), you get an individual-size portion of their Tea Leaf Salad, choice of a main dish, choice of two sides, and Rice. Perhaps not the cheapest lunch around, but certainly a great way to try several dishes at once! Whether it be for that or just to get some awesome Burmese food in Menlo Park (with easy parking and hardly a wait!), I'll most definitely be back!