With some 10,000 Burmese living in Japan, there are now several Burmese restaurants in town to delight the palate.
Yatana was the first Burmese restaurant to open in Tokyo, in 1991, in the center of all ethnic centers, within whiffing range of Shin-Okubo Station, and has been featured on Japanese TV several times.
Yatana is strong on Burmese hospitality and features two floors of dining and karaoke. From 11am to 3pm they serve an all-you-can-eat buffet for ¥1,000 on the first floor, while the Gold Room upstairs offers various set menus starting at ¥700 to ¥900. And the coffee’s just ¥100.
The intrepid visitor will notice Burmese men puffing on sei-bo-lei (Burmese cheroots) provided by Aki and Charlotte free of charge to all Tokyo Journal readers. Since Burma had a long history with Britain, most Burmese are fairly fluent in English. So it’s easy to strike up a conversation. The Tokyoite with a sweet tooth can enjoy faluda (Burmese pudding, ice cream, two types of jelly, condensed milk and tapioca served in a large glass).
Tokyoites in search of Buddhist values will be interested to hear the story behind the statue of Buddha adorning the Gold Room and to learn about the special toothbrush that was used to clean the teeth of the Great Maha Myat Muni Buddha of Mandalay in Myanmar. This is the only statue whose face is washed with twelve types of perfumes and essences every morning. There are only twelve such toothbrushes a year (one every month) given away by the monk Yedaw Saya Daw.
Enjoy Burmese cuisine and make new friends in a truly Burmese setting.
Open: Everyday 11am to midnight
1-11-31 Hyakunincho, Shinjuku-ku
Tel. 3361-1349 |
