In Illinois, finding a terrific place to eat is as quick as spotting a cornfield. There are a great number of greasy spoons serving American favorites like burgers and pet dogs, hundreds of Italian eateries, and no scarcity of steakhouses, taquerias, Chinese restaurants, and Greek diners. But just one factor you will be tough-pressed to uncover? Reliable Burmese foodstuff. That rarity, merged with tastes that can’t be uncovered anyplace else in the condition, is what would make the greatest cafe in Illinois stand out from the other folks.
Pa Lian Burmese Cafe, located at 254 E. Geneva Highway, is a relatives-owned cafe specializing in cuisine from Myanmar, formerly acknowledged as Burma. Applying fresh new elements, Pa Lian generates dishes making use of classic recipes and methods to provide new flavors to the Prairie Condition. In 2023, Yelp named the cafe as the No. 2 ideal in the Midwest and No. 1 in Illinois.
Buyers say that dishes heat each the stomach and the coronary heart listed here.
Start out your food with a yummy fried appetizer — Tofu Gyaw (fried tofu made from chickpeas), Samosas, Kaw-Pyan Gyaw (spring rolls with a sweet and spicy sauce, and Pe-Eih-Kyar-Kwe (fried bread with cooked yellow peas and fried onion) are excellent starters for an entrance into Burmese food.
Samosas are my go-to, but the spring rolls are also contacting my name.
Next, transfer into soup method with a rich bowl of Ohn-No-Kauk-Swe — the restaurant’s most well-liked dish. It is a warm bowl of coconut chicken soup crammed with egg noodles and topped with bean fritters, sliced onion, lime, cilantro, and chili powder.
Will not overlook to squeeze the lime!
Salad lovers should choose for the Tea Leaf Salad, a beloved dish that mixes fermented tea leaves with salad oil, fried fava beans, yellow beans, peanuts, sesame seeds, cabbage, tomato, and lime.
A further preferred is the refreshing squid salad — squid tossed with Burmese dressing with shredded cabbage, tomato, shallots, red chili pepper, and cilantro.
The cafe presents both equally vegetarian and meat choices, with some vegan substitutes accessible. Proteins like pork, hen, beef, seafood, and goat are featured together with contemporary veggies, abundant broths, and hearty potatoes to make for a filling, yet gentle, meal.
It is really no ponder Yelp praised the eatery’s “deliciously genuine dishes” — the only of their sort in the full point out.
Make guaranteed to go away space for a little something sweet. Assessments point out the mango ice cream is the excellent way to conclude this Burmese culinary adventure.
So, would you try out out Pa Lian to see if it life up to its name as the best restaurant in Illinois? Where’s your preferred place to take in in the point out? Inform us in the comments! Start off setting up your check out by examining out the Pa Lian Burmese Cafe internet site and the Pa Lian Burmese Cafe Fb webpage. Want to showcase some Burmese satisfaction with decor encouraged by a single of the culture’s most beloved dishes? This gorgeous hanging wall artwork demonstrates a modern-day, minimalistic interpretation of tea leaf salad — the ideal piece for any foodstuff lover.
OnlyInYourState may well gain compensation by affiliate links in this short article.
Handle: Pa Lian Burmese Cafe, 254 E Geneva Rd, Wheaton, IL 60187, United states
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.