Cafe Mandalay

We came for the Burmese food. It was delicious! My husband says the food reminded him of his nan's cooking. Loads of vegetarian options. We even ordered another set of meals to take home for later. Quite a small place, with one member of staff doing everything, but that suited us just fine as we weren't in any hurry.

I visited Cafe Mandalay with my partner recently and unfortunately it was a very disappointing experience. The restaurant is extremely small with very limited seating, and the overall decor felt quite run-down and cramped. It didn’t feel like a comfortable place to sit and enjoy a meal. The food was the biggest issue for us. We ordered the tea leaf salad and found it extremely bitter — I could only take one bite. I also tried a noodle soup dish which had far too much ginger, which completely overpowered the rest of the flavours. We also had a chicken dish which was probably the most acceptable thing we tried, but overall the food just wasn’t enjoyable. Another issue was the price. For what is essentially a very small café-style place, the food felt extremely overpriced for the quality and portion size. The restaurant also had political posters and images on the walls, which felt a bit unusual for a dining environment. The only positive part of the experience was the service — the staff were polite and friendly. Overall, I personally don’t understand how the rating is so high. Sadly, based on our visit, it’s not somewhere I would return to.

I had a really pleasant visit to Cafe Mandalay. The atmosphere was cosy, relaxed, and welcoming, with a lovely local feel. The food was fresh, tasty, and full of flavour, and everything was nicely prepared. The staff were friendly and attentive, and the service was smooth. I really enjoyed my time there and would happily come back again.

A hidden gem. Very tasty and authentic Burmese food. Staff are very friendly and are happy to offer suggestions if you're unsure of what to order. A great spot for lunch.

Had a lovely Burmese breakfast called 'bogyoke' - yellow split peas topped with caramelised onions, served with naan bread.