19th Street Food in Yangon (Myanmar)

Chinatown is an area teaming with food and for many the best starting point for exploration is 19th street where you’ll find vendor after vendor of charcoal grills, cooking all sorts of meats, veg and marinades from shop house barbecue restaurants. This is the place to go for street food in Yangon; outside seating, bustling local life and a boozy night scene. 19th Street connects between the Maha Bandula Road and Anawratha Road in the vibrant Chinatown area.

What is Yangon’s 19th Street known for? The appeal is the atmosphere as much as the food: open-air barbecue stalls, tables spilling onto the street and groups gathering over grilled meat, vegetables and beer. Look at what is cooking in front of you, choose busy stalls and explore surrounding Chinatown streets for more snacks. See our Burmese food guide for more dishes.

2026 update — 19th Street today: This is my original account of Yangon’s Chinatown in 2014. The street is still known for barbecue, beer stalls and lively weekend evenings, with activity reported there in 2026 coverage of Yangon nightlife. However, Myanmar’s security situation has changed considerably since my visit. The UK government’s Yangon advice warns of volatile conditions, possible township-specific curfews and security incidents that can affect restaurants and places visited by foreigners; other governments may advise against all travel. Check your own government’s current advice and local conditions before making plans. The hotels and restaurants named below reflect my experience at the time, rather than a verified list of businesses operating today.

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19th Street Chinatown: Yangon’s Local Watering Hole

During Thingyan, this neighbourhood was also my base for the New Year celebrations. I spent much of the festival in and around 19th Street, where the food stalls and local drinking scene sat alongside the water fights. For the full experience, including the nearby temple rituals and the street celebrations, see my Thingyan Water Festival in Yangon story.

The first time visiting 19th Street my entire meal came for free. The same night I return and again I eat for free. This was down to luck really, as a lone traveller I order food, sit to eat when local Burmese invite me to join them and later offer to pay my bill. Hard to say no, and probably insulting to refuse so I accept. Both times the bill was modest, with big Myanmar beers making up most of it.

So as I sit boozing with the locals they tell me about the significance of 19th street in Yangon and how it has always been the place to go boozing. It was in fact, at one time, the only place to go boozing. With past regulations on alcohol and group congregations it was Chinatown which the government were most reluctant to crack down on mainly due to the Chinese population and culture in the area.

To date this hasn’t changed and 19th street still makes the perfect place for booze, barbecue and local banter. When staying nearby I go for the cheap Daw Htay Hotel in the street parallel (Sint Oh Dan Street).

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The Best Restaurants

Where to stay near Yangon Chinatown: During my original visit, I stayed close to 19th Street to be within easy reach of the barbecue stalls and evening atmosphere. For current accommodation options rather than relying on my old hotel recommendation, compare hotels near 19th Street Chinatown on Trip.com. Listings include places around downtown Chinatown, such as Best Western Chinatown Hotel, Hotel Grand United – Chinatown and Pan Pacific Yangon. Check individual availability, reviews, accessibility and local security conditions before booking; this is an affiliate link and I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

As always the best restaurants are the busy ones and while it maybe hard at times to find a seat I advise holding out or try squeeze into a seat where possible. The bulk of the restaurants are found at the bottom end of 19th street (Maha Bandula Road) and stop roughly half way up. I have eaten at the quieter restaurants (e.g.

Aung Shwe Oo, first on left) and I now understand why they are quiet (tough meats, rude people). The popular ‘backpacker’ restaurant which also gets the thumbs up on Tripadvisor is KOSAN 19th St. Snack & Bar. Otherwise follow the locals.

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In and Around Chinatown

The Maha Bandula main stretch is one of the busier for street food in Yangon and surrounding the entrance to 19th street you’ll find countless fruit stalls, day and night, selling all sorts of local, exotic fruits; durian, rambutan or whatever’s in season. The area varies from with street food from delicious shan noodles and fried street foods to insects and cooked innards.

Again, to be safe, eat where the locals eat. If in the area and don’t fancy the street food there are all sort of restaurant options from ‘Tomo Sushi Restaurant’ to ‘Uncle Fat Fried Chicken’.

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19th Street Yangon: Frequently Asked Questions

Where is 19th Street in Yangon?

19th Street is in downtown Yangon’s Chinatown, between Maha Bandula Road and Anawrahta Road. On our visit, the liveliest barbecue stalls were concentrated towards the Maha Bandula Road end. It’s a useful starting point for exploring the surrounding Chinatown streets.

What food is 19th Street in Yangon known for?

The big attraction is street-side barbecue: skewers of meat, vegetables and other ingredients cooked over charcoal grills, with plenty of beer and conversation. Beyond 19th Street, Chinatown also has fruit stalls, noodle dishes and fried street food. See my wider guide to Burmese food for more local favourites.

Is 19th Street better for food or nightlife?

For me, it was both. The barbecue was a good excuse to pull up a plastic chair, but the atmosphere — tables spilling onto the street, locals meeting friends and glasses of Myanmar beer — was just as memorable. This describes my original visit rather than a guarantee of today’s nightlife.

What is the best time to visit Yangon’s 19th Street?

Historically, the evening was when I enjoyed it most, as the barbecue grills fired up and people gathered to eat and drink. Operating hours and the situation on the ground can change, so don’t rely on a 2014 travel journal for present-day opening times.

How do you choose a barbecue stall on 19th Street?

I generally followed the crowds and looked for stalls where food was being cooked fresh. You can inspect the skewers before ordering and choose what appeals, whether that’s meat or vegetables. The places mentioned in my original story reflect my own experiences at the time, not a current restaurant ranking.

Is it safe to visit 19th Street in Yangon today?

This article records my experiences in Yangon in 2014. Myanmar’s security situation has changed substantially since then, and conditions can vary even within cities. Before making travel plans, consult current official advice, including the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office’s Myanmar travel advice, rather than treating this archive as a current safety recommendation.