Seisar restaurant., Mandalay

Many travellers coming to Mandalay go no further than Lashio Lay restaurant. Not that that's a major problem, it's very good (see seperate tip). However, if you're prepared to go a little further (about 50 yards to be precise) there is a great restaurant that seems to be largely ignored by the backpacker brigade. This is a shame because it really is very good.

The place in question is the Seisar restaurant, although I only found this out from the English menu, the sign outside is in Burmese only (see photo).

There is a large selection of predominantly Chinese dishes, including some fairly exotic selections. If chicken gizzard s your thing, you may well want to come here, and the pig's stomach with green chilli looked interesting too.

Service is friendly (isn't it always in Burma?) although English is almost non-existent. It's a matter of pointing at the menu and miming pouring draught beer etc. Speaking of which, I recommend the ABC stout, a dark beer that makes a pleasant change from the ubiquitous lager.

A good feature is that this place stays open right till the 11 o'clock curfew and seves food later than anywhere else I found in town. You can get a meal until about 2240, if you promise to eat up quickly. Worth a visit.

Favorite Dish: Hot and Sour Pork. I am fond of this dish, and this was certainly one of the better examples I tasted. Wash it down with a glass of ABC stout (see above).