Pa Lian Burmese Restaurant ( BYOB)

Pa Lian Restaurant in Wheaton, IL is an absolute gem, especially if you want to experience authentic **Burmese cuisine**. Burmese food is a wonderful blend of flavors influenced by Indian, Thai, and Chinese cooking—fresh herbs, bold spices, fermented ingredients, and perfectly balanced savory, sour, and spicy notes. We tried **all the vegan items**, and every single dish was outstanding. The flavors were deep and comforting, yet light and fresh at the same time. You can really taste the care and authenticity in the cooking, and it’s refreshing to find a place that offers such a thoughtful and delicious vegan Burmese menu. The service was warm and welcoming, and the cozy atmosphere made the whole experience even better. If you’re curious about Burmese food or looking for excellent vegan options in Wheaton, Pa Lian is a must-visit. Highly recommended—we’ll definitely be back!

As a Burmese person, I was thoroughly impressed with the authenticity and flavors that reminded me of home. The tea leaf salad was perfectly crunchy and refreshing, a must-try if you're new to Burmese cuisine. The moh-hin-gar (catfish soup) was flavorful and comforting. The kyarzan thoke was also solid. The atmosphere is cozy, and the service was attentive. Highly recommend! Also, it’s BYOB ;)

Every dish was really good. The flavors are amazing, and you can tell that the sauce has a lot of different flavors in it like cilantro, garlic, onion, chili, coconut, milk, curries, and lime juice, and so much more. It’s amazing how flavorful food is and we were so impressed with every single dish. The owner is very responsive and works very hard, and the chef was amazing. The ambience is really good. Free Parking in an area with a strip mall. No wonder they have a 4.9 average on Google with 1500 reviews. Now we see why. We will definitely come back again. It’s not easy to find Burmese food in general and definitely not such an excellent restaurant or Burmese food. Plus we really enjoyed the music! It included the videos w the music.

Amazing cuisine! Flavorful, light, but hearty. I recommend having shareable dishes and definitely recommend any noodle soup, the warm noodle salad, and the beef dish. I’m glad I tried this restaurant out en route from the airport. Vegan and vegetarian options available.

Wonderful food and great service. They have multiple vegan options. We tried the tea leaf salad, khao suey soup, and chickpea tofu. All were delicious and even better having shared the various dishes, which complimented each others flavors. Will be back to try the other vegan items. The chickpea tofu is a must try.

The national dish was absolutely perfect on a chilly fall night! The broth was savory and soothing and did not taste fishy at all. Loved the generous portion size that left me satisfied. The noodles were easy to pick up and slurp. Service was so friendly and warm. Highly recommend!

My family went here because I was looking for something different than normally eat, and I’m super glad I found this place on google! The service was great, and the the food was so tasty. Some of the best salad I’ve ever tasted, and the noodles were so good! Definitely coming back for more.

Great food! Tea leaf salad was amazing, as was the chickpea tofu. Delicious sauces that are hard to describe. A friend recommended the fish crazy and it’s an incredible dish.

The food is spectacular! The chickpea tofu is so flavorful, unique, and spongy with an incredible herby sauce that gives a slight kick. They have an extensive amount of vegan options that will keep you full and satisfied! The service is warm and welcoming. The location is in a strip mall, but once stepping inside, you wouldn't ever guess. From the food to the artwork, it's a wonderful cultural experience.

Me and my bestie had lunch at Pa Lian and it was a special treat . The owner is a super , wonderful , amazing human being . He made us feel 11/10 . Me and my friend are vegetarians and it is hard to find really great vegetarian food. However , the owner was super welcoming and recommended several dishes that did not disappoint . The ginger salad was Devine. and and a combination of textures and flavors . The noodle dish was superb , we ate every morsel of it and felt divine . Do not hesitate to try . You will.be pleasantly surprised

We happened to be in the area and were excited to know that there's a burmese place...after trying quite a few of the dishes, I should have known to set my expectation accordingly. After all, we are in the midwest. After having said that - i would order the following again : The tea leaf salad (though it's very salty for some reasons, but I enjoyed the spices and texture of the salad) The Shan Noodles - good texture and flavour. Stay away from: Any beef dishes (we got 3 out of the 4 beef entrees, all the beef "cubes" are like beef jerky cubes swimming in brown sauce. Sauces are toned down so each dish's distinct flavour is very subtle (almost lost). It's as if they just pour different brown sauces to the same beef jerky for these 3 dishes. KaukSwe Thoke - I am probably the only asian who doesn't like mushy noodles. Moh-Hin-Gar - the worst moh-hin-gar I had - again, flavour is so toned down that it's almost bland. A tip if you go - Ordered the "authentic spicy" level for a slight kick. It's not really spicy at all.

Comfy place with a casual atmosphere. The service is great, good-humored and courteous. We went last week (Feb 2024) after a friend's recommendation and we were not disappointed: some exotic spices combination with more than 3 vegan options available. I'm the only vegan in the family, but in a coincidence we ordered 3 vegan options and I we sampled from each other. Two of the options had shredded "Beyond Burger" as ingredient: super yummy. If you ever tasted Beyond Burger, you'll know what I mean. Burmese people like hot food (apparently) and even after we asked the waiter for "no hot at all" the food came slightly chili-hot, but it was bearable and well-seasoned, so we're good. Along with my family there were another 4 or 5 tables occupied with patrons (that was about 1/4 of its capacity), mostly young adults in their 25-30 years old range. We plan returning in a couple of weeks to try out different dishes listed on the menu.

If you have not tried it yet Just Do It!! Is getting better. We met friends from Chicago, a group of 7, we enjoyed each dish tremendously and had lots of fun. Our friend drive 45 to 60 minutes every few months to enjoy their delicious cooking. Service is excellent and the atmosphere is inviting. Always a great experience.

The food quality here is pretty good. A lot of different flavors come out and this is the only Burmese place in this area. Quality- the Siam noodles were my favorite. It had a bit of heat and tasted fresh. The noodles were light and the toppings (peanuts, green onions, chicken bits, onion, sesame seeds and lime) added a lot of textures to it. The fish was pretty good, it was fried well and there a good amount of meat that comes off it. The beef and potato was over cooked. The beef was super dry because of it. Quantity- we didn't get much for each entre. The fish was smaller than expected for a 21 dollar dish. The beef and potato dish barely had 5 pieces of beef. I would have liked more. Also,rice is not included which is insane. An entree should come with rice automatically and not include a 2 dollar charge. If it's really hurting the bank then include it in the original cost of the dish. This place feels a bit cheap for that reason. At least they didn't charge for the bottled water. Atmosphere- nice welcoming clean atmosphere. Service- the owner is pretty nice.

Solid Burmese restaurant that was recommended by a friend who is familia with authentic Burmese cuisine. I got the Tea leaf salad and the Khow Suey. I wish the salad came with a protein option, considering its price point. The broth was very tasty and the lentil crisps was a nice touch. Overall, the food was very fresh and tasty. They do have limited hours so please check before planning a trip, so we especially if you're going from the city since it is a hike.

I was visiting in the area and this was my first time here or to any Burmese restaurant. I've had food made from my Burmese friends and liked it so I thought I would try this. The food was flavorful. We didn't try anything that I wouldn't have again. The hard part was just picking a handful of things to try. The spring rolls were fresh and tasty. The fried chickpea tofu was more like a savory biscuit rather than gelatinous. The sauce on it was good. Two entrees that we got were the beef with pickled mango, which is not sweet, and the squid salad. The squid salad was my favorite. It was crispy, fresh, and citrusy like ceviche. We also tried the coconut soup which was ok, but my least favorite. Over all, the food has a flavor profile between Indian food and Chinese, but not really like Thai. The restaurant was very clean and simple in styling, but modern. The bathroom was also very clean. The night we went, there was only the one host/waiter, who was very busy, but also attentive. My friends also loved everything they tried. I would recommend this restaurant to try.

6/5 stars! As a Southeast Asian person whose partner is Burmese, I am so happy that Pa Lian offers amazing Burmese dishes that satisfy my soul :) Flavors are incredible, the service is outstanding, and the restaurant is clean, classy, and homey all at the same time. The drive from Chicago to this restaurant is absolutely worth it, everytime. (It ranges from 45-90 minutes depending on traffic. Because of the drive, we also take it as an opportunity to visit the Morton Arboretum, which is about 15-20 min drive from the restaurant. The perfect day!) We have eaten at the restaurant and ordered takeout. We enjoy doing both! Eating in and then ordering takeout for the next few days. Must Try: - Tea Leaf Salad: It's savory and has incredible textural variety. - Moh-Hin-Gar (the national dish): My favorite Burmese dish of all time, this is a catfish soup with rice noodles, a boiled egg, fried lentil, and other toppings that will delight your taste buds. Perfect for a cold day but really for any season! I love how this is presented when you eat in the restaurant (see my photos). It's also a perfect portion size! Additional Must Try (to be honest, the whole menu probably but here's what I had! I loved it all): - Tofu gyaw: Burmese yellow fried chickpea tofu. Crispy and delightful especially with the sauce. - Tofu salad: Burmese tofu is often made of chickpeas! So yum and fun texture, with very savory taste. - KaukSwe Thoke: wheat flour noodles in Burmese sauce - Nangyi Dok: Rice udon noodle in Burmese sauce *A note on spice level: I handle spice pretty well, and even the mild level felt pretty hot! They don't play around with their spice!! I love this place. And every time we see the owner, he is always smiling and welcoming! It's clear how much care he puts into the food and restaurant, and it is so appreciated. Thank you for bringing Burmese cuisine to the greater Chicago area!

Wow! What a hidden gem! I took my family to Pa Lian yesterday, and we thoroughly enjoyed everything about the visit! Our server did a great job of ensuring that we had what we needed, and even gave our 2 year old a beautiful shade umbrella as a gift! It made her (and the rest of the families') day. We got lamb, chicken, and beef dishes and each of them had were equally delicious. The samusa appetizer was incredibly good as well. It's a small place in a humble location, but I also appreciated how clean and quiet it was. Win all the way around!

Abundant parking, nice fast service and the three below delicious dishes made this dinner enjoyable. Moh-Hin-Gar - Thin rice vermicelli in catfish fish and bean broth, garnished with boiled egg, lime, cilantro, crispy lentils Tofu Salad - chickpea tofu tossed with burmese dressing and garnished with shredded cabbage, fried onion and cilantro. Kyarzan Thoke - Beef Bean thread warm vermicelli tossed with burmese dressing garnished with boiled potatoes, shredded cabbage, cumber and fried onion, chickpea .

Pa Lian is a family owned and run Burmese restaurant located in Wheaton. It's the only Burmese restaurant that I'm aware of in Chicagoland. Even more reason why you should check it out! The exterior is very unassuming. Once you enter, the interior is very clean and feels a touch upscale. Service is very friendly and you're greeted by the owners or family. I came with a couple friends and started with the tofu gyaw which is made with chickpeas. It comes with a delicious red sauce that's sweet and spicy. We also had the kaw-pyan gyaw appetizer, a crispy egg roll filled with noodles, cabbage, and carrots. This comes with a sweet chili sauce. In terms of main dishes, my friends and I went family-style and had the tea leaf salad, KaukSwe Thoke, and goat curry. The tea leaf salad was so varied in all the different textures and crunch that accompanied each bite. Definitely a light yet satisfying salad. The KaukSwe Thoke was a wheat flour noodle dish with broccoli. We chose chicken for the protein, and it was delicious. I love curries and the goat curry reminded me why. It was spicy, seasoned with ginger, garlic, and onion and the goat was tender. The potatoes also soaked up the curry beautifully. This dish came with rice, but we asked for more since it came with a small bowl to start. This was my first Burmese meal, and it definitely won't be my last. Pa Lian is a must try.

Stopped by here with my boyfriend after a long walk at cantigny, and I have to say this place has the best noodles I've ever tried. We also ordered the samusas that were excellent with this sauce that was just the perfect pair to everything. Our server was very attentive and informative as it was our first time there. I really appreciated how clean the whole restaurant was, it was a calm and simple atmosphere which I loved. Will definitely come back if I'm in the area or just make the drive!

5 stars for this place! I've never dined in, only take outs so far but the place is always clean and tidy. The owner is very friendly. My husband and I get two orders of their Nangyi Dok (chicken, mild) at least once a week. The dish is super fresh and flavorful, hits the spot every time!

First time trying Burmese food and loved every bit of it!! The flavors were so unique and unlike any sort of Asian takeout I have had before. My favorite dish was the Kuakswe thoke and I will be ordering that again for sure the next time I come! The staff was also super nice and the restaurant is very well kept:) definitely worth the drive out to Wheaton

Really good food and service. Burmese is something I can't find very often. Had the national soup dish. It was delicious. It had a lentil base and lots of things to put in. The tea leaf salad was good and a must try if you have never had it. We also got the Kaukswe Thoke. It was very tasty but be warned, we ask for hot and it was really really really hot.

Truly such a fantastic Burmese restaurant! My sister and I came here on a Sunday and had the whole place to ourselves. The owner, who was just absolutely incredible and generous, was our server and was always willing to help explain any food item. The place itself is bigger inside than it seems from the outside, and it was super clean. I've never had Burmese food so I really didn't know what to expect. My favorite item was the Ohn-No-Kauk-Swe which is almost like ramen except with a creamier broth. All the additions and noodles came on the side which I loved! This soup was so rich and the extras were delicious, too. I loved the Shan noodle dish, too - the closest thing I think I can compare it to is almost like pad Thai. The fried tofu was phenomenal with the accompanied sauce. The flavors here are definitely different and very yummy. We got the tea leaf salad which I see was a popular salad; it was good but VERY bitter. Definitely an acquired taste. I will absolutely come here again to try more Burmese dishes! Such a great owner, space, and food.

Burmese food was a new experience for me. Kind of cross between Indian and Chinese, which makes sense if you know geography. The owner serves and is very funny if you engage him. We've eaten here the last two times we've been in Wheaton. Definitely one of the best places to eat in town.

Excellent! Pa Lian was recommended by a friend. We read the reviews in advance and couldn't believe how many people raved about the restaurant. We had a great meal there. Authentic food. Well-prepared. Highly recommended.

Burma is situated between a number of countries including China, India and Thailand so I was excited to try Burmese food and see if my hypothesis of some small blending from the surrounding countries might be uniquely Burmese. Yep. The deep spiciness, samosa, and curry of India and the Thai curry and noodles and freshness of their salads. So rich and fulfilling. This place is definitely a hole in the wall (unassuming) and very clean with attentive service. Plenty of parking. We had a plethora of dishes and would do them all again. This is definitely a keeper!

Great little hole in the wall. The owner is fast, friendly, and funny. The food was well flavored and something new! I definitely think that it may help to change the layout a bit to be more "comfy" and fast casual where it is an environment you'd want to go to catch up with friends. It looks very fancy! Also, make sure if you order spicy, you can actually handle spicy. I thought I could, but I could not LOL. Will definitely be back!

I have had this place bookmarked to try for a while. Depending on the source, I've read we have only one or two Burmese restaurants in the entire state of Illinois. Either way, Pa Lian is the only one I'm familiar with. Husband and I were finally in the area and had a chance to stop in. My first impression was that the interior decorating is very nice. The restaurant is long and narrow, but plenty of room when we visited for lunch. We were seated right away, by, I presume, the owner. He could not have been more attentive and helpful. Cannot fault the service! Similar to some local Indian restaurants, our table came pre-stocked with bottled water. So, no free tap water here. Just pretend you're on vacation! I ordered the somewhat famous Ohn-No-Kauk-Swe, or as I've heard it call, Burmese Coconut Chicken Noodle Soup. Husband was indecisive for a bit about what to order, but with some guidance from the owner, he ultimately settled upon the beef (chicken optional) udon dish. I think it's called Nangyi Dok. Our food came out quickly. My soup arrived with the broth in a bowl and the noodles and such in a separate dish. I was told this was so all the ingredients would hold up in the event I needed to bring home leftovers. It was not too much for me, however, and I finished it all. The broth registered to me as thin, but tasty. It had a bit of a kick, but not too spicy (indeed, you add the chili flakes yourself from the toppings dish). I would eat this again, but if given the choice between this dish, or pho, or panang curry, I have to say I would prefer either of the latter. But those are some of my top tier favorite dishes. Between our two meals, my husband and I both preferred mine, which is not to say his was bad. I think either the udon or the coconut chicken noodle soup would be safe choices for a first foray into Burmese food. I have also heard good things about the fermented tea leaf salad, or the fried tofu appetizer (which is actually chickpeas), so if I come again, I would try those too. I will note that this was a pretty pricey lunch, though - about $50, all told. So that might forestall too quick a return trip. I would say Pa Lian is worth a stop in, just for the chance to try something a little different. It was a very welcoming environment to learn about a different type of cuisine, and to mix up our usual dining routine a little bit.

This is the first time I've seen a Burmese restaurant. The Khausa was on point and flavors were great! The restaurant was clean and inviting.

The fried tofu was really good. It came with 6 pieces. It had the perfect texture. I got the udon noodle dish- nangyi dok. It had a lot of flavor for sure. I got medium spicy which ended up being super spicy. Next time I would get no spicy. But overall it was pretty good and filling for one portion. My sister got the Shan noodle and said it was good. My friend got the curry and said it was alright. Nice service. Restaurant is clean, located in a strip mall with plenty of parking. It was not busy on a Friday night when we went, plenty of seating. I removed a star... I got pretty sick afterwards for 24 hours...

We were in Wheaton to enjoy the weather and walk one of the trails, so we decided to give Pa Lian a second shot and get takeout. This time we ordered Shan Noodles w/ beef and Ohn-No-Kauk-Swe. The Shan Noodles were thin noodles. A bit spicy for my son, but perfect for me. There was a limited amount of beef in there, but overall a pretty tasty dish with the green onions and what I think were peanuts. The Ohn-No-Kauk-Swe is a chicken noodle soup dish. The soup was packed in one container and the various toppings in another. This dish was awesome. The noodles that came with this were thick and long and had a nice texture. The toppings all complimented the soup nicely. I really liked the crispy fritters that were included, as well as the chili powder. I didn't find any chicken in the soup, but it was a satisfying soup. Both dishes were flavorful and we enjoyed them, but the proteins were sparse. This may be normal for Burmese cuisine. Not sure since it's a new cuisine to me.

So this place is fine, but it's not great. It was certainly clean if stark. There was no "service" to speak of, just a guy who gave the food and bottles of water. My dish - goat - was good overall if blah. Oh, and the menu is outdated - things no li get on there.

Amazing food in a authentic and casual atmosphere. I loved everything I had, especially the ginger salad. So fresh and different than Cantonese. I would say the experience is a bit between Indian and Thai. If you ask for spicy, you'll get it! If your tolerance is low for spicy food, ask for spicy on the side...

Great food, great service and clean environment. The dishes are very well balanced. We asked for side condiments such as smoky chilli peppers and fish sauce since we have some that cannot tolerate heat and for a vegan friend. Many selections available for vegan. We ordered tealeaf salad, ginger salad, fried tofu, Nankyi toke (udon style noodle), Shan noodles, Kaukswe, chicken with bean sauce and Mohingha. We enjoyed every dish. We'll be back again.

I'm fairly adventurous in my dining, but this was my first time experiencing Burmese cuisine. For those unfamiliar with it, I'd describe it as somewhere between Indian, Thai, and Chinese -- which makes sense given Myanmar's (Burma's) geography. The restaurant was cute and clean (not totally expected given its bland strip mall exterior), the service was attentive, the menu had many options, and the food was fresh and delicious. Pricing...average for the area. Don't skip dessert!

Went back a second time for my wife's birthday. She was trying to order for my picky daughter and I guess it was perceived too long by the server/owner. He just walked away. It wasn't' that busy and it was a special occasion and you'd think he'd be a litte more patient. I wondered if it was a Southeast Asia thing but my wife is from that part of the world and definitely said it was not. She said she will not return again due to what she felt was rude treatment. Too bad because the food is pretty good. Portions a little small and charging for rice is criminal with an entree at an Asian restaurant. If you want something to drink other than the bottled water or pop you're out of luck. Don't know if it's BYOB but it should be. Also, not a place for kids. The food is a little complex for a picky eater. Rude service loses another customer. I didn't really notice the first time but my wife felt he wasn't very patient with me and I knew exactly what I wanted! QR code menus are pretty tacky.

Pa Lian is located in a sleepy strip mall in Wheaton. The restaurant is beautifully decorated! We were a table for two and we ordered Ohn-No-Kauk-Swe which is a chicken noodle broth soup and Shan Noodle with ground beef. Both dishes were flavorful and the spice level was perfect. The soup was warm though and not hot. It was super nice of the restaurant not to charge us for bottled water. I wish there were more options for dessert. Our waiter was attentive and we appreciated that!

It's comfortable and welcoming interior, with a nicer ambiance than I expected... I went there with 4 friends and we decided we'd experiment and share as it was our first time there. It's an "BYOB" place, so we brought drinks to share and had water there. Service was outstanding - our server was very helpful and made a number of great suggestions: We started with the Tea Leaf Salad, the Ginger Salad and the Shrimp Salad, and then moved on to Chicken Mango and Beeef with Fermented Black Bean. Everything was great, and we'll be back to try mor.... we loved it, and I'll look forward to coming back again!

The spice level here is legit but it is delicious. We ordered medium spicy and we usually can handle spice and we found it spicy. Everything was so good. The fried tofu appetizer was awesome and made of chickpeas. We loved the tea leaf salad as well as squid salad. The mango beef was good and kind of like a beef rendang but sweeter. We got the national dish which was a catfish broth soup with noodles, boiled egg and spices. It was very unique. We will be back to try more. Service was friendly and restaurant was clean.

Great gem of a place and what a find. I was doing a somewhat random search for places to eat with a couple of friends last night and yelped in to Pa Lian. Loved the place. It's a small restaurant in a strip mall in Wheaton and the signs mostly say Burmese outside. The service was really good. Our waiter was super kind. He helped us navigate the menu to find both vegetarian and non-vegetarian options. I would say they have a lot of meat options and I wish they had a few more vegetarian options on the menu. Like there's a whole section for each of beef, chicken, and lamb, but the vegetarian options are within the noodle section. But I had the Shan Noodle with Beyond Meat and it was really really good. Loved the food. The flavor is savory and umami. I'm excited and plan to look for other Burmese places closer to me. If you've never had Burmese food, you must try it at Pa Lian. I'm definitely planning to be back and also refer everyone I know.

I have a new favorite restaurant! I took 2 of my adult sons, recommended by my wife. We ordered about 7 dishes. All great. Best spring rolls. Ginger lemongrass cabbage salad was a new taste - One son's favorite. Crazy fish (whole fried Tilapia) my favorite. Try the fried tofu with the sauce. Many new flavors. The menu has at least another 7 dishes to return for.

It's the only Burmese restaurant in Illinois, and you need to eat here. I just ate there last night and I'd eat there today if I could. This restaurant has been on my radar for a year, but it won't take me a year to eat there again, now that I know how good it is. I don't think I'll last a week before I need it again. We showed up at 7:15pm and it looked like it was closed, but the really nice owner told us he'd have food ready in 20 min. And he did. With fried chickpea tofu, ginger salad, beef with pickled mango, bone broth soup, Shan Noodles, and samosas, we had a variety of things to try. I literally loved every single thing I ate. You can't even know how excited I am to have leftovers in my fridge

The goat curry is good although the meat was lamb and not goat. If your order shrimp please make sure that they are deveined. Our pieces were randomly deveined. When I brought it up with the waiter he did not seem to think it was a big deal.

You need to try Burmese food ASAP! It is so refreshing!! Ginger salad and some noodles... the samusas. It all just simply smacks!

A Burmese restaurant with labeled vegan items in the west suburbs of Chicago? Yes please! Having grown up close by, I was used to the area offering a variety of ethnic foods from all over the world, but Burma never had representation prior to Pa Lian. I ordered take-out and while the menu does a decent job of letting you know what is vegan or can be made vegan, it's not fool-proof enough and feels incomplete. I got a Kaw-Pyan Gyaw ($7.50 for three) which are Burmese egg rolls. They are large, but retained too much neutral oil in the wrapper, leading to a bland, oily flavor. The Pe-Eih-Kyar-Kwe ($7.50) consists of small pieces of fried bread with a split pea dipping sauce, akin to the consistency of hummus. This dish was great, though I wish the dipping sauce had more spice to it. I also got a tea leaf salad ($13), made vegan (the only dish on the menu with a "make vegan" checkbox). This was easily the best tea leaf salad I've had (and I've had a bunch, coast to coast), with a perfect interplay of crispy and soft, salty and not. I've had the tea leaf salad at Burma Superstar in San Francisco, which is fine (and famous), but didn't quite wow me the way Pa Lian's did. The KaukSwe Thoke ($12.50), vegan by default, is an udon noodle dish with interesting spicy seasoning. I liked it. Lastly, the Um-Tam Hin Gyo ($11), vegan by default, is a soup consisting of preserved mustard greens with other vegetables. The soup base didn't exactly burst with flavor, but the thing comes together on a whole. That said, the mustard greens weren't cut up, so trying to eat them with a spoon was impossible because they're so huge and long. I can't wait to try the new vegan items Pa Lian is cooking up for 2022. This place is a winner and I'm glad it's around.

I can't say I'm familiar with Burmese food so can't compare but we really enjoyed our meal. There were seven of us so we decided to order family style to try a variety of dishes. We started with vegetarian spring rolls, hot and fresh but a bit greasy, deep fried, right? We then ordered two salads to share, Ginger Salad and Shrimp salad. Both were unbelievably delicious. I'd go back for those two dishes alone. We also ordered two noodle dishes, one with beef and the other chicken. You can pick your spice level. A bit greasy but tasty with crunchy garlic. The chicken with gram bean was just okay, more cauliflower pieces than chicken. Someone in our group wanted to be adventurous and order a whole fried tilapia fish. The group enjoyed but again too greasy for me. Lots of gluten free and halal options. We walked away full and happy to try a new cuisine and would definitely go back. They close at 8 pm so can't show up too late! It wasn't crowded by our 7 pm arrival so service was prompt and attentive.

The food was absolutely delicious. The presentation was incredible. The restaurant was very clean. I will return to this place for dinner again. I also would highly recommend. We had several vegans in our group ant there food was also amazing

'Loved it all! Very unique flavors that were so good, and memorable enough to make me want to go back with friends. We started with the Tofu Kyaw. Then the very popular Tea Leaf Salad, the Shan Noodle dish, and finally, the Fish Crazy. I loved all of it but the Fish Crazy was my absolute favorite! I would do it all again in a heartbeat.

What a Great place! The food is unbelievably tasty and so well spiced. This is definitely not fine dining. The food is served in to go containers and paper plates. We did get real flatware though. One is allowed to BYB and we were given real wine glasses. Yelpers get 10% off on their first check-in for the entire party. The owner Tom is super friendly and most helpful. There are numerous options for vegans and for people eating gluten free. Tom suggested what to order and everything was delicious. He even brought us some things to taste so we would know for next time. The food definitely has an Asian flair but not like any other mainstream cuisine. The spices and combinations are not like Thai, Chinese or Japanese, yet the noodles and veggies are similar. I highly recommend giving this place a try. You will not be disappointed!

Both of my Ex-wavies are very good cooks, so my standards are high, and I am skeptical when it comes to restaurants. I have explored a lot of Burmese/Myanmar restaurants all over the country, since I am in the military and I have been moving around a lot. This restaurant blew me a way not only with the quality and taste of the food, but also with cleanliness and customer service. The owner/the Chef, Mr. Pa Lian literally came out and conversed with me. Very nice guy though. I've had some really good and not so good Burmese/Myanmar food in the past, but this Pa Lian restaurant deemed one of the best there is.

Lovely hidden gem located in a Wheaton strip mall. Packed with wonderfully diverse clientele. Only one server but he was quick and efficient! We are pescatarians and had the egg rolls (delicious and right off the fryer), the ginger salad which was totally AMAZING and I am obsessed with and two noodle dishes which were good but not the best ever. Will go back to try more!

Wasn't sure what to expect, but was extremely happy with my food and the service was extremely friendly and helpful. It was the first time eating this style of food and can honestly say. "Go Try it!"

So, I've been dying to try this place for awhile. Since I live in Milwaukee, driving down to Wheaton, Illinois is a rather long haul. But, it's the only Burmese place I know of in the Midwest. Finally, I took the family and gave Pa Lian a go. The fried bread was really tasty. The sauce for it was even more tasty, we're off to a good start. The tea leaf salad was good, but not Bay Area Burmese amazing. The chickpea tofu was yummy. And, the noodles were good but not mind-blowing. We were a bit put off by the bottle of warm water on the table and no tea or anything great to drink on the menu outside of American soda. Overall, it's fantastic that Pa Lian exists. It's far better than most places. But, given I've been to actual Burma and eaten one of my top 5 meals of all time in Bagan, and lived on the West Coast where Burma Superstar has a line around the block, Pa Lian didn't quite send me to nirvana. Still, it was good, better than good. And, that says a lot.

Best burmese food hands down ! Must try, loved all the dishes, well worth every bit of it. Friendly and courteous customer service as well. Must try - kaut swe thot, all curry, coconut noodle soup, tea leave salad

Really good and tasteful food! We got the Oh-Noh-Kuak, Tofu Kyaw, Moh-Hin-Gar, and Tea Leaf Salad. They were all great.

Our meetup group of 12 csme here tonight and we loved it! The food is truly authentic. Fresh, bursting with flavor, and exotic. Its possible to have food prepared spicy or not spicy according to your preference. This place is a hidden gem and we're coming back! Service was friendly and prompt too.