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Top Restaurants at Inle Lake - Best Restaurants

Top Restaurants at Inle Lake - Best Restaurants

By Wendy Updated Oct. 26, 2022

Where are the best restaurants around Inle Lake in Myanmar? Find the finest fare around the lakeshore or in villages near Nyuangshwe or Tuanggyi.

Travelers tend to focus on scenery rather than food. After a couple of days staying at Inle Lake, however, you are likely to become a fan of some great restaurants. No matter how long you plan to stay at the lake, this article will help with foraging for food.

Dining at Inle Lake

Located at the heart of the Shan Plateau, Inle Lake is surrounded by mountains, forest and humble villages. Shan-style food is considered representative of Burmese cuisine.

Cooks here are eager to bring out the authentic taste of the natural ingredients, and tend to use less oil and spice than in other regions of Myanmar.

Local specialties include Shan-style noodles, yellow rice cakes, khor poat (cake made of black sesame seed and sticky rice), Shan-style tofu (made of flour ground from yellow split peas) and htamin jin (mixed salad of meat and veggies kneaded into round balls), to name just a few.

When talking about Inle Lake, people refer to the lake itself yet the region is divided into three sections: the lake, Nyuangshwe and Tuanggyi. While the lake is the primary destination, restaurants, food vendors and cheap noodle shops are all around.

Nyuangshwe, the major town not far from the lake is the commercial and transportation hub, home to some decent eateries, as is Tuanggyi, the capital town of Shan State.

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Top Restaurants Around Inle Lake

Near the Lakeshore

Golden Kite - Asia Highlights’ Top Pick

The Golden Kite boasts of being the oldest restaurant at Inle Lake. To begin with, it was a small Italian bistro, but now it has three branches along the lakeshore.

The oldest branch is in Nyuangshwe village, where the owner claims to have obtained her recipes from an Italian lady from Bologna. A recently-opened restaurant near the Indein pagoda complex serves some new dishes, different from the usual Italian ones.

Pastas and pizzas are made to order, hot from the oven and flavorsome. The best part about dining here is the open view of the surrounding pagodas and the gentle breeze after boating under the sun for a long time.

Location: (Indein Branch) near the Indein Pagoda Complex, Inle Lake

Category: Italian

Cost: USD 25 to 40 per person

Halal and vegetarian-friendly: not so much

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Eyeful Lake

This is a floating restaurant close to the marketplace of Nampan village.

Consider yourself lucky if you happen to be here during a market day. The 5-day market commences at the dock not far away once every 10 days, and you will observe busy river transportation and boat vendors loading and unloading their merchandise.

A boat will take you to the steps of the restaurant, where the owner welcomes you with a big smile. There are two big fishing basket nets on display out on the dining deck, facing the lake. Waiters will explain to you in good English how they are used to fish and fishing.

The menu is not exactly extensive, but you will have access to all the typical local food you could wish for. Fish is caught fresh from the lake and steamed with lemon juice. Soup is light yet flavorsome with local home-made ingredients.

Location: Pauk Par Village, Nampan, Inle Lake

Category: Burmese

Cost: USD 20 to 35 per person

Halal and vegetarian-friendly: yes

Green Chilli Restaurant

Located in Nanpam village near a local boat workshop, the original building for the Green Chilli Restaurant was built in the 1950’s by a local silk merchant.

It’s a 10-minute boat ride from the village to the restaurant. Once reached, the restaurant indulges you with a nice cozy ambiance and dining experience on a posh verandah.

In addition to the Burmese and Thai menus, Intha cuisine is highly recommended. Intha food stresses locally-produced ingredients and few highly-processed foods such as fermented fish and beans. Try out the Intha soup, Intha-style stuffed fish and veggie rolls, while viewing the tranquil waterway lanced with floating gardens.

Location: Near Nampan Village, Inle Lake

Category: Burmese, Thai

Cost: USD 20 to 40 per person

Halal and vegetarian-friendly: yes

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Away from the Lakeshore

The French Touch

The French owner of The French Touch is an experienced photographer with a strong passion for food and the beautiful things of life. Stepping into this charming venue, you will first be hypnotized by the fragrance of a good espresso.

The restaurant, or rather a café, opens from breakfast till night. The brightly-painted orange exterior stands out in the midday sun, inviting you to an unforgettable lunch.

Home-made lemon mayonnaise goes well with various pub grub such as burgers, pizzas and sandwiches. Top it all off with a dainty avocado-and-onion salad, dressed with rich lemon juice and accompanied by Shan rice crackers. A documentary highlighting local lifestyles is played during your meal; the proud producer is the owner.

Location: Kyaung Taw Shayt Street | N0 23, Myo Lac Quarter, Nyuangshwe, Inle Lake

Category: French, Burmese

Cost: USD 15 to 40 per person

Halal and vegetarian-friendly: not so much

Inle Heritage House – Asia Highlights’ Top Pick

Serving in its triple capacity as a restaurant, a cat sanctuary and a specialty lodge, Inle Heritage House is a family-friendly restaurant away from the lakeshore. If you are traveling with kids, take them out to the back yard where they can learn about all kinds of vegetables.

Offering organic and fresh fare, the owner would obviously love her guests to dine healthily. Play with the cats for a while after the meal. Cooking classes are also available here.

The restaurant plays a role in the hotel’s training project for hospitality. Young chefs bring on quite a feast, including fresh-veggie spring rolls, steamed banana flowers, Inle stuffed fish grilled with herbs, and bamboo-shoot salad.

Location: Inpawkhon Village | Inle Lake, Taunggyi

Category: Burmese

Cost: USD 25 to 40 per person

Halal and vegetarian-friendly: yes

Red Mountain Estate

Best known for fine wine and local brews, Red Mountain Estate is also a good place to go for dinner. Dinner time comes complete with a gorgeous sunset view of the lake. The restaurant is located on the mountain slope, a good stopping point on or conclusion to a cycling trip around Inle Lake.

The venue enticed a master winemaker from France and equipment was brought from Italy, along with the grape plants, making it a true treasure in a country where alcohol is otherwise rarely seen.

Red Mountain has a traditional Burmese menu fused with international fare. Its most tempting part is a platter full of small portions of typical Intha dishes, including brown bean fries, Indian leek salad, fish filled with herbs, crispy fried tofu and rice mixed with minced fish.

A delicious Burmese meal can be perfected by a nice bottle of local whisky.

Location: Taung Chay Village Group, Nyaung Shwe

Category:Burmese

Cost: USD 25 to 35 per person

Halal and vegetarian-friendly: not so much

Don’t miss out on Inle Lake during your Myanmar trip. Once there, just release any anxiety and enjoy the fascinating overwater lifestyles, alongside the scrumptious Shan cuisine. Take the first step today and create your own trip to Myanmar (using the tailor-make button).

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