Bay of Burma

I tried their Samusa chicken dish with a mango lassi. It was spiced and seasoned amazing ! The chicken breast was slightly dry, but the other pieces were moist and flavorful. The potatoes were both crispy and soft. Great mango lassi as a little dessert! Ambiance was clean and nice. The service was attentive and fast. I can't wait to come back and try other dishes from here.

Excellent—had the BOB Chucky (that’s a beef and potato curry), and the Shwe Taung Khouk Swel (a coconut curry noodle) with shrimp. Beef was tender, shrimp was gorgeously seared. Everything tasted fantastic. The food is rich. Coconut rice was great too.

I came here the other day for lunch. They have a really great special where you get salad of the day, your choice of rice, and you can choose from either the beef or chicken curry, or vegetarian dish. The owner was super sweet and kind. It is my new favorite neighborhood spot.

Ample variety! I got chicken samosa salad and Barinie rice for dinner. I left nothing on my plates. And of course Burmese delight Tea for dessert. Surprisingly Not pricey at all for this SF downtown location, the server speaks Burmese that is A++ for me (as a Burmese). At one point, need a stronger vent to get the steam out. Cos it’s an irresistible temptation for those who pass by.

I recently had dinner at this fantastic restaurant and it exceeded all expectations. The cozy ambiance, delectable food, and welcoming staff made for a delightful experience. We savored dishes like spicy bell pepper tofu, biryani, ginger salad, platha dip, and chicken garlic noodles, all of which were superb and served promptly. However, the standout was definitely the tea leaf salad—it's a must-try! I highly recommend this place for a memorable dining experience.

Sooo good. I'm hoping Seattle where I live has good Burmese food now!

This is not a fancy place but the food here is amazing. Delicious and well flavored. The beef and chicken dishes were absolutely yummy, and rich with flavor.

Absolutely amazing! A hidden jewel of authentic Burmese food ! Had the BOB beef curry, slowly cooked and so tender and delicious… milk tea was also great! Highly recommend both the food and owners are very kind!

This is a gem in SOMA! One of the best Burmese food Ive had, in a very relaxed coffee shop like setting. The co-owners are very friendly and even kindly gave my 4 year old a free mango lassi! Would highly recommend this place.

Lovely people and amazing food - different from standard fare, even different than other Burmese restaurants I’ve been to. Fresh and not too heavy.

The Mot-Hin-Gar was delicious, totally crave-worthy! I’ve been a few times previously, and have enjoyed the food at Bay of Burma every time. This is a neighborhood gem! Anyone interested in discovering some unique comfort food should stop by and enjoy some authentic Nepalese cuisine!

I love this place. Friendly staff that always seems happy to see me. And the food is exceptional. I often get the Shwe Taung noodles, or the Bob chucky with coconut rice, and I walk away satisfied every time. I enjoy the Blue Lemonade and the Burmese Milk Tea was good too. I definitely recommend.

Super tasty! The place only has around 20 or so seats so it’s quite tiny so if it’s a busy time make sure you arrive earlier Such amazing roti and curry!! Super buttery! Also amazing service they are very sweet :)

this cozy spot is an heaven for vegans. thank you for the friendly service of the owner who uses family recipes 🥰

The food was tasty, flavorful and very tender. The ambiance and atmosphere was great. The service was fast and friendly. We had a great meal, would visit again!

We reserved a table for 8 and when we got there we realized that the restaurant was smaller than expected and the table set up wasn't ideal BUT the food and service were so good that I would definitely go back!! Even with a party of 8 and even with the not ideal table set up! If you get the chance to try this place I highly recommend it. We ordered the chicken samosas, BOB chucky and the Shwe Taung Noodles.... all of which i would order again and we're delicious! The guy that runs it was an absolute gem. Every interaction i had with him (from booking the table, to calling him to say I would be late, to my dining experience) was a pleasant one. He was friendly and determined to make our experience a positive one. I'm one very happy customer and will definitely come back any time I go to the Orpheum. 😊

What a little gem in this neighborhood!! We come here regularly -- the staff is always friendly, and the food is always amazing!!! While there are a number of great and larger Burmese restaurants in SF, Bay of Burma has some very refreshing and unique dishes that aren't seen in the other places, especially the Shwe Taung Noodles and Ginger's Spirit Salad (and of course the must have Tea Leaf Salad, but that is common to most Burmese restaurants in the city. As we understand these are more regional flavors and we absolutely love them! We love this place!!

Small restaurant with a few tables seating but we had the best time here. We had a great intro to Burmese food and a smaller menu meant the food came out fast! We were served by Ryan who had a big smile and was so kind and was excited to recommend us things to try. Food was delicious, would definitely come back again.

Absolutely amazing food, the service is wonderful! I'm happy to be here!!! Waooooo

Delicious and friendly little place. Ordered two things, and both were delicious. For the beef curry, the potato is fried and then added to the curry. This nice little touch showed their attention to detail.

My mom and I decided to try this place together while in SF and were pleasantly surprised by the quality and authenticity of the food! My mom grew up in Burma and normally isn’t very impressed with the food in the bay but she said she would come back to try more!

Wonderful Burmese food. The milk tea was wonderful (I had it less sweetened which is how I like it). The paratha layers were crispy outside and soft inside, and the curry was delicious. The beef curry was flavorful and exotic and perfect with the coconut rice.

Fantastic hole-in-the-wall with friendly service and tasty food! Not a lot of space so you may have to wait for a table, and quite honestly the seating is not all that comfortable. Despite the seating issues, I still had an exceptional experience so that is noteworthy. Bravo to the staff for being able to keep up with a packed restaurant and dinner rush in a small space. He had to do the job of taking orders at the register, preparing drinks, serving food, and waiting tables. Food was tasty and felt fresh and home cooked. The cherry on top was getting 50% off our bill because it was Fourth Thursdays in Soma West!! A fantastic dinner at an extremely competitive price point, wow! Please go support this business, let’s help them one day get a larger space :)

This is the tastiest and most authentic Burmese food I've had in the Bay Area! The tea leaf salad and the noodles are my fave!

This is a cute small restaurant. It seems to mostly be a pickup spot, but my friend and I were open to trying a different cuisine and decided to dine in. We did not regret the decision! The food was absolutely delicious. I loved the BOB chunky, their signature dish with coconut rice. I haven't had butterfly pea tea in a while and enjoyed it. Keep in mind that this place doesn't serve alcohol. The customer service was good as well. An area for improvement is having regular tables (without holes in them). The blue tea spilled into one of the holes and on my white pants.

Better than Burma Superstar and Burma Love — both on quality and price. Every single thing that I’ve had out of that kitchen (beef curry, chicken curry, keema palata, yangoon pigments) has been memorably delicious. And the cold burmese milk tea is a highlight I always come back for! Can’t wait to try every single item on their menu. The space is kind of tight but they always do their best to accommodate us.

Wow, what a fantastic dining experience! As a group of first-timers to Burmese cuisine, we were blown away by the flavors and the friendly service. The tea leaf salad was a revelation, and the swe taung noodles were simply divine. Even the milk tea was a standout! The staff was incredibly helpful, guiding us through the menu and accommodating dietary restrictions with ease. We’re already planning our next visit and can’t wait to try more of their delicious dishes. This is definitely a must-try for anyone looking for a unique and flavorful dining experience. I’ll be bringing all my out-of-town guests here from now on!

Never had Burmese food before but i would call it a mix between indian and thai. I was really impressed by the flavors and portion sizes here. Since then I've tried to get Burmese food back from but not nearly as good as this place.

John de Souza

Wonderful Burmese food. The milk tea was wonderful (I had it less sweetened which is how I like it). The paratha layers were crispy outside and soft inside, and the curry was delicious. The beef curry was flavorful and exotic and perfect with the coconut rice.

Ying Zhang

Fantastic hole-in-the-wall with friendly service and tasty food! Not a lot of space so you may have to wait for a table, and quite honestly the seating is not all that comfortable. Despite the seating issues, I still had an exceptional experience so that is noteworthy. Bravo to the staff for being able to keep up with a packed restaurant and dinner rush in a small space. He had to do the job of taking orders at the register, preparing drinks, serving food, and waiting tables. Food was tasty and felt fresh and home cooked. The cherry on top was getting 50% off our bill because it was Fourth Thursdays in Soma West!! A fantastic dinner at an extremely competitive price point, wow! Please go support this business, let’s help them one day get a larger space :)

Raman

This is the tastiest and most authentic Burmese food I've had in the Bay Area! The tea leaf salad and the noodles are my fave!

Amarachi

This is a cute small restaurant. It seems to mostly be a pickup spot, but my friend and I were open to trying a different cuisine and decided to dine in. We did not regret the decision! The food was absolutely delicious. I loved the BOB chunky, their signature dish with coconut rice. I haven't had butterfly pea tea in a while and enjoyed it. Keep in mind that this place doesn't serve alcohol. The customer service was good as well. An area for improvement is having regular tables (without holes in them). The blue tea spilled into one of the holes and on my white pants.

Alexa Loste

Better than Burma Superstar and Burma Love — both on quality and price. Every single thing that I’ve had out of that kitchen (beef curry, chicken curry, keema palata, yangoon pigments) has been memorably delicious. And the cold burmese milk tea is a highlight I always come back for! Can’t wait to try every single item on their menu. The space is kind of tight but they always do their best to accommodate us.

G Craig Johnson

Wow, what a fantastic dining experience! As a group of first-timers to Burmese cuisine, we were blown away by the flavors and the friendly service. The tea leaf salad was a revelation, and the swe taung noodles were simply divine. Even the milk tea was a standout! The staff was incredibly helpful, guiding us through the menu and accommodating dietary restrictions with ease. We’re already planning our next visit and can’t wait to try more of their delicious dishes. This is definitely a must-try for anyone looking for a unique and flavorful dining experience. I’ll be bringing all my out-of-town guests here from now on!

TP

Never had Burmese food before but i would call it a mix between indian and thai. I was really impressed by the flavors and portion sizes here. Since then I've tried to get Burmese food back from but not nearly as good as this place.

Linda

Small restaurant with a few tables seating but we had the best time here. We had a great intro to Burmese food and a smaller menu meant the food came out fast! We were served by Ryan who had a big smile and was so kind and was excited to recommend us things to try. Food was delicious, would definitely come back again.

Alexavier Muñoz

Absolutely amazing food, the service is wonderful! I'm happy to be here!!! Waooooo

Ekta Arora

I recently had dinner at this fantastic restaurant and it exceeded all expectations. The cozy ambiance, delectable food, and welcoming staff made for a delightful experience. We savored dishes like spicy bell pepper tofu, biryani, ginger salad, platha dip, and chicken garlic noodles, all of which were superb and served promptly. However, the standout was definitely the tea leaf salad—it's a must-try! I highly recommend this place for a memorable dining experience.

Bay of Burma is a hidden gem in SoMa—and it keeps getting better every time I visit. Ryan is always such a pleasure to talk to—friendly, warm, and genuinely welcoming. The rest of the staff is just as kind, making you feel right at home. I ordered takeout this time, and I was really impressed by the level of care in the packaging. Everything was carefully sealed with tape and bagged securely to prevent spills. It’s the kind of attention to detail that shows how much they care about their customers. Now the food—absolutely phenomenal. I ordered the beef curry and chicken curry, with sides of coconut rice and the chickpea pancake. The chickpea pancake was bursting with flavor, perfectly seasoned, and paired beautifully with the pickled vegetables that added a bright contrast to the richness. It was the perfect balance. The chicken curry was bold, comforting, and full of flavor. But the beef curry stole the show—tender, melt-in-your-mouth beef in a deeply flavorful sauce that paired perfectly with the slightly sweet coconut rice. Every bite had layers: savory, spiced, meaty, and subtly sweet. It was honestly hard to put into words how good it was. Bay of Burma continues to set a high bar—not just for food quality, but for service and overall experience. Whether you’re dining in or grabbing takeout, they’ll take great care of you. Highly recommend if you’re in the area—or even if you’re not. It’s worth the trip.

Excellent friendly service, clean and comfortable environment, and most importantly; tasty food! I had the tea leaf salad and loved it, but other patrons' warm dishes looked and smelled delicious as well. I'll definitely stop back in next time I'm in the area for lunch!

As you walk down the street with construction, you automatically smell goodness and boom, there's Bay of Burma. The restaurant was nice and clean. The food seemed pretty legit authentic with the flavours and spices. I opted to walk all the way here from union square for this spot bc the other "Burmese" restaurants seemed too mainstream, more a mix of Thai or some other asian fusion mixes. They were super kind. I inquired about their hot tea, and the guy said, here try it, it's on the house. I thought he'd give me a sample, then I could decide if I'd add it to my order. But he made a whole order and said enjoy! I was visiting from Toronto sharing how we don't have any authentic Burmese restaurants so I was pretty excited to try it out. He then shared things about Burma and their food/history. I strongly recommend this spot. It's even worth going out of the way.

The staff is very helpful including recommending options for vegetarians and the right portions for the number of people. The food is absolutely delicious. Since they don't serve alcohol, there is a wine/beer store next door where you can purchase drinks for dinner.

Long time customer here. The flavors are always on-point, yum! Highly recommend Shwe Taung Noodles, the curry chicken is rich, a little sweet, and perfectly balanced with all the seasonings and spices. Samusa Salad is also an easy choice with spot-on flavors all the fixings. The service is top-notch, probably because the owner is very involved in how it runs. Simply fantastic!

It wasn’t until I moved to San Francisco that I had Burmese food for the first time. I am consistently blown away by how delicious and comforting every meal from Bay of Burma is. I eat here multiple times a month and love introducing my friends to this spot. My favorites are the Ginger Spirit Salad, Dorfy Chicken, Coconut rice 🤤, and the BOB Chunky. You honestly cannot go wrong with any of the food items from here. They have indoor and outdoor seating suitable for dogs and children. Indoor seating is cozy, as it is a small space.

We live nearby and love this place. I used to bring coworkers here all the time, and everyone was always happy. The food is consistently delicious with good portion sizes. Flavorful dishes with meat that actually falls off the bone. They also have great vegetarian options and are very accommodating. Shoutout to Ken for making the experience great and giving us recommendations!

Katherine M.

As you walk down the street with construction, you automatically smell goodness and boom, there's Bay of Burma. The restaurant was nice and clean. The food seemed pretty legit authentic with the flavours and spices. I opted to walk all the way here from union square for this spot bc the other "Burmese" restaurants seemed too mainstream, more a mix of Thai or some other asian fusion mixes. They were super kind. I inquired about their hot tea, and the guy said, here try it, it's on the house. I thought he'd give me a sample, then I could decide if I'd add it to my order. But he made a whole order and said enjoy! I was visiting from Toronto sharing how we don't have any authentic Burmese restaurants so I was pretty excited to try it out. He then shared things about Burma and their food/history. I strongly recommend this spot. It's even worth going out of the way.

M P

Long time customer here. The flavors are always on-point, yum! Highly recommend Shwe Taung Noodles, the curry chicken is rich, a little sweet, and perfectly balanced with all the seasonings and spices. Samusa Salad is also an easy choice with spot-on flavors all the fixings. The service is top-notch, probably because the owner is very involved in how it runs. Simply fantastic!

Emily Quiles

We live nearby and love this place. I used to bring coworkers here all the time, and everyone was always happy. The food is consistently delicious with good portion sizes. Flavorful dishes with meat that actually falls off the bone. They also have great vegetarian options and are very accommodating. Shoutout to Ken for making the experience great and giving us recommendations!

Elizabeth

Excellent friendly service, clean and comfortable environment, and most importantly; tasty food! I had the tea leaf salad and loved it, but other patrons' warm dishes looked and smelled delicious as well. I'll definitely stop back in next time I'm in the area for lunch!

Michaela

It wasn’t until I moved to San Francisco that I had Burmese food for the first time. I am consistently blown away by how delicious and comforting every meal from Bay of Burma is. I eat here multiple times a month and love introducing my friends to this spot. My favorites are the Ginger Spirit Salad, Dorfy Chicken, Coconut rice 🤤, and the BOB Chunky. You honestly cannot go wrong with any of the food items from here. They have indoor and outdoor seating suitable for dogs and children. Indoor seating is cozy, as it is a small space.

Cory L

Bay of Burma is a hidden gem in SoMa—and it keeps getting better every time I visit. Ryan is always such a pleasure to talk to—friendly, warm, and genuinely welcoming. The rest of the staff is just as kind, making you feel right at home. I ordered takeout this time, and I was really impressed by the level of care in the packaging. Everything was carefully sealed with tape and bagged securely to prevent spills. It’s the kind of attention to detail that shows how much they care about their customers. Now the food—absolutely phenomenal. I ordered the beef curry and chicken curry, with sides of coconut rice and the chickpea pancake. The chickpea pancake was bursting with flavor, perfectly seasoned, and paired beautifully with the pickled vegetables that added a bright contrast to the richness. It was the perfect balance. The chicken curry was bold, comforting, and full of flavor. But the beef curry stole the show—tender, melt-in-your-mouth beef in a deeply flavorful sauce that paired perfectly with the slightly sweet coconut rice. Every bite had layers: savory, spiced, meaty, and subtly sweet. It was honestly hard to put into words how good it was. Bay of Burma continues to set a high bar—not just for food quality, but for service and overall experience. Whether you’re dining in or grabbing takeout, they’ll take great care of you. Highly recommend if you’re in the area—or even if you’re not. It’s worth the trip.

Iulian Vlad Serban

Absolutely amazing! A hidden jewel of authentic Burmese food ! Had the BOB beef curry, slowly cooked and so tender and delicious… milk tea was also great! Highly recommend both the food and owners are very kind!

Dawn Kwan

This is a gem in SOMA! One of the best Burmese food Ive had, in a very relaxed coffee shop like setting. The co-owners are very friendly and even kindly gave my 4 year old a free mango lassi! Would highly recommend this place.

Small place on Folsom St by 7th street in San Francisco. A few tables on the street. Burmese Cusine. Options available for vegetarians. Good Mango Lassi or Falooda. In a rush, pick-up a meal.

Make a reservation if you want to eat in, there are only a few tables. The food was good, not WOW. But def worth stopping if you are nearby and want some Burmese food.

We savored several items that left a lasting impression. BOB Chucky - Marinated fresh local beef slow-cooked to perfection. - The beef was incredibly tender, juicy, and bursting with flavor. - The addition of cilantro provided a refreshing twist. Dorfy Chicken - A traditional curry stew featuring marinated chicken with Burmese spices. - While flavorful, the chicken was slightly dry. - We noticed the dish arrived warm, possibly due to timing with our appetizers. Springs’ Plate - A sampler platter with one veg samusa, one chicken samosa, and half a palata. - The dipping sauces were a highlight, complementing both the palata and samusa. - The samusa was satisfyingly filling. Don’t miss out on their Mango Lassi, a delightful drink that strikes the perfect balance—not too sweet, but thoroughly enjoyable.

Alice Hou

We savored several items that left a lasting impression. BOB Chucky - Marinated fresh local beef slow-cooked to perfection. - The beef was incredibly tender, juicy, and bursting with flavor. - The addition of cilantro provided a refreshing twist. Dorfy Chicken - A traditional curry stew featuring marinated chicken with Burmese spices. - While flavorful, the chicken was slightly dry. - We noticed the dish arrived warm, possibly due to timing with our appetizers. Springs’ Plate - A sampler platter with one veg samusa, one chicken samosa, and half a palata. - The dipping sauces were a highlight, complementing both the palata and samusa. - The samusa was satisfyingly filling. Don’t miss out on their Mango Lassi, a delightful drink that strikes the perfect balance—not too sweet, but thoroughly enjoyable.

Service was very poor here, we reserved a table in advance and when we had got there the waiter had apparently forgotten about it and had given our table to other people. The waiter also didn’t really seem to understand our cues and tried rushing us into ordering while we were browsing the menu. The food itself was good but nothing special, I ordered the pineapple fried rice. I will say the tea was excellent! Some of the best chai I’ve had in a long time and reminded me of what I grew up with as a South Asian man.

Sathira Katugaha

Service was very poor here, we reserved a table in advance and when we had got there the waiter had apparently forgotten about it and had given our table to other people. The waiter also didn’t really seem to understand our cues and tried rushing us into ordering while we were browsing the menu. The food itself was good but nothing special, I ordered the pineapple fried rice. I will say the tea was excellent! Some of the best chai I’ve had in a long time and reminded me of what I grew up with as a South Asian man.

In person we liked this spot- got takeout and not sure what happened but it was bad. Tea leaf salad had no flavor and the curry was like no sauce and small