Dagon Burmese

Dagon Burmese Restaurant Review:

It's surprising that Dagon is the island's only Burmese restaurant, given how Honolulu is renowned for its diverse ethnic cuisines. Located in a neighborhood full of eateries catering to the university crowd, the place has servers that are friendly and willing to walk first-time diners through the menu. Some dishes may look familiar, as the cooking of Myanmar often resembles that of neighboring countries. Novices may recognize hints of India in the biryani listed among rice selections, or in the spice mixture used for the curries, which cross Indian and Thai flavors. Fermented tea leaf salad is, of course, the must-order dish. It's brought out as separate components --- bright colors and textures that delight the eye and soon the palate are then mixed tableside with fresh lemon juice. Kabocha stew (with pork or shrimp) is also quite good. It's BYOB, so feel free to bring along a light wine or beer to complement your meal.