About
Welcome to Rangoon - Chelsea, a charming gem nestled in the heart of New York City’s Chelsea neighborhood. This delightful eatery serves as a vibrant introduction to the rich and soulful flavors of Burmese cuisine. With its modern decor and cozy ambiance, Rangoon - Chelsea has quickly become a favorite among food lovers and a must-visit for anyone eager to explore the intricacies of Burmese culinary traditions.
Located at 158 8th Ave, New York, NY 10011, Rangoon - Chelsea is not just a restaurant; it's an experience. The establishment is proudly Asian-owned, women-owned, and veteran-owned, reflecting a diverse ownership that resonates with their commitment to inclusivity and community. The restaurant is wheelchair accessible and features gender-neutral restrooms, ensuring that everyone feels welcome.
One of the standout features of Rangoon - Chelsea is its extensive menu that caters to various dietary preferences, boasting many vegetarian options. For those who appreciate flavors that burst with authenticity, the Burmese Tea Leaf Salad is a highlight—crunchy, aromatic, and perfectly combined with fermented tea leaves, cabbage, and fried garlic. It's perfect for sharing, allowing you to sample the delightful flavors with friends or family.
As you explore the menu, be sure not to miss the Fried Whole Fish with turmeric rice and a selection of house dipping sauces. This dish embodies the essence of Rangoon’s culinary artistry, showcasing fresh ingredients and bold flavors. Meanwhile, if you're seeking comfort food with a twist, the Breakfast Fried Rice and Coconut Chicken Noodle present exciting, delicious options that are sure to warm your heart.
With its classy atmosphere and friendly service, Rangoon - Chelsea is ideal for both casual outings and special occasions. Whether you're dining with a group or having a private gathering, this restaurant accommodates all needs with its waiter service and commitment to providing an exceptional dining experience.
If you're new to Burmese cuisine or a seasoned aficionado, Rangoon - Chelsea promises a rich exploration of flavors that are sure to leave a lasting impression. For those eager to dive into high-quality Burmese dishes crafted with care, this restaurant is a beacon of culinary authenticity in NYC. Don’t forget to check out their array of desserts, as ending your meal with something sweet is always a worthwhile choice!
Experience the magic of Rangoon - Chelsea; you won’t leave disappointed. Call for a reservation at (917) 349-5098 and prepare for quite the culinary adventure!
“ Unexpected little surprise find on our way to Djnner last night. I'm Burmese and have been looking for more Burmese restaurants in NYC!! So stoked to find this little spot and was pleasantly surprised by the service n food. 1.) veggie curries 2. Fried chicken 3.egg curry 4.) tea leaf salad 5) paratha 6) mohinga 7.) squash tempura 8.) dessert is a must ;) Yum amazing service n great experience all arnd ”
“ Tried Burmese food for the first time!! It was interesting, I do love trying different food, flavor really strong! Started off with some hot tea, amazing!! Food was pricey for a small portion, good for sharing! So cute place, the decorations and so chic and modern. Servers were absolutely 10/10, they were so nice and sweet, attentive! Thank you for the great experience! ”
“ Really good quality Burmese food with a top-quality tea leaf salad and interesting, creative Burmese-y dishes to go with it, with plenty of vegan options. We had an 8pm reservation for dinner on a Tuesday night and it's good we did, as it was pretty full. They clearly label their vegan options, which made ordering easy. We ordered (everything default vegan below): -Burmese Tea Leaf Salad (Lahpet Thoke) ($16). Fantastic textures, fresh ingredients, with plenty of fermented tea leaves, cabbage, dried pulses, fried garlic, cherry tomato, peanuts, lime, and chili. One of the better tea leaf salads out there. Big portion. Fantastic stuff. 5/5 -Cold Tamarind Noodle ($19). This comes with wheat noodle, shredded cucumber and cabbage, smoked chili, "prawn" crackers, and a tamarind dressing. Nice crunchiness and well-seasoned, even if a little bland. Very good for a gentler dish. 4/5 -Tamarind Veggie Curry ($26). A split pea and squash-based tamarind curry, with tamarind, served with turmeric rice and spicy (not really) onion slaw. Very nice curry; the split peas work particularly well in here. Not the richest or most complex but still very tasty. 4/5 -Water Spinach & Mushroom ($9). I always miss the water spinach/morning glory/kang kong you can get in SE Asia, so when I see it available in North America or Europe, I always jump at the opportunity to try it. This side dish is pretty simple, with water spinach and seafood mushrooms. There's not much flavoring to it, other than a sort of umami character and spiciness from the red chilis. I feel like this dish needs improvement in some way. 3/5 Very friendly, fast service, and an upper end feel to the place. Very good Burmese, though we preferred Little Myanmar in the East Village for a more authentic, flavorful -- not to mention cost effective -- experience. Still, this was great. Recommended. ”
“ I came here for dinner on a Saturday. They advertise that their happy hour ends at 6pm on weekends, but it actually ended at 7pm so we got lucky and were able to squeeze in one of their signature cocktails for $12. I got the shwe pwint, which was similar to a Moscow Mule. It was a good serving size. Pleasantly tangy, but a bit too sweet. To eat, I had the Burmese tea leaf salad. It was deliciously crunchy. It included fresh chili peppers, which were quite spicy. I enjoyed them, but they might bring too much heat for some folks. We sat in the back corner of the restaurant at a table with couches and pillows. It was very cozy and would be perfect for a couple. ”
“ A solid Burmese option, in a city where they are few and far between. I was lucky enough to come with a number of friends, which meant we got to sample a large portion of the menu, including a bunch of starters. We enjoyed the tea leaf salad (a Burmese staple), Burmese Disco Fries, Keema Paratha (delicious meaty samosa-things), Squash Tempura and more. And I'm glad, because in truth I liked the starters better than the bowl I got for a main. I agonized over the decision, and ultimately went with the Lemongrass Pork Meatballs "Wat Thar Lone Kyaw". I felt like I couldn't go wrong with Asian style pork meatballs, masala ketchup, stir fry cabbage, spicy onion slaw, grape tomatoes, cucumber, all over coconut rice, especially after I added an egg. A runny egg makes everything better. Unfortunately, while the bowl was flavorful, the meatballs were dense and lacked balance. The masala ketchup was too sweet, a little hot, and the overall effect was just not what I was hoping for. My egg was also overcooked and not runny, which defeated the purpose of adding it in the first place. However, our servers were very nice, and most of our party seemed pleased with their choices. I'd come back, but I'd avoid the meatballs next time. I'm also personally glad we're not calling this Myanmarese food. Because you may know it as Myanmar, but it'll always be Burma to me. ”
“ We were pleasantly surprised by our meals here. The service was attentive, but the seating areas felt a bit cramped. It also gets quite noisy if you sit at the back of the restaurant. We chose dishes based on the server's recommendations: the golden onion fritter, Burmese lamb curry, and garlic noodles. Our favorite was the lamb curry, followed closely by the garlic noodles. I would recommend skipping the onion fritter and opting for a salad instead; the fritters weren't crunchy and didn't taste like a fresh batch. The garlic noodles were enjoyable, but nothing exceptional. The cocktails were both tasty and innovative; I particularly recommend the Lane Maw. There is Happy Hour on weekends ($6 beer, $9 wine, and $12 signature cocktails) - which we hope to take advantage of in the future! ”
“ Okay so, first night of being in Manhattan I thought to myself. I would love some Burmese food and especially the coconut rice that is served with curries. So I found Rangoon as a recommendation and decided to try it out. Love the location, small, super cute though. Plants are gorgeous there. We were quite early for dinner time so there was only two other tables with customers. Didn't need a reservation for that time which was great since I forgot to make one hehe. We ordered the infamous green tea leaf salad. I got the chicken curry and my sister the seafood curry. I made sure to mention my love for Burmese coconut rice to the waiter and did not stop raving about it to my sister. The green tea leaf salad honestly was delicious, this was my second time trying it and I have to hand it to Rangoon. Theirs is so much better than the one I tried in SF. As for the curry, it was good. But not my ultimate favorite if I am being honest. My sister's seafood curry was super salty and at the end she would not recommend :( But the main reason I am only giving four stars is because of the coconut rice! If you can call it that.... When they brought it a) it looked different b) it was super dry and c) it completely lacked coconut flavor..... I don't know what happened. Since it was so slow and we just flew in to town, I didn't want to start off this trip by being the Asian customer complaining about the rice. But to my fellow Yelpers, nope I cannot lie, it was not good. My dream of good Burmese coconut rice was broken that day lol I guess I'll have to try to recreate it at home or go back to CA to eat it where I first tried it. Other than that, it's a nice restaurant, service is attentive for the most part, and one should support their local Asian businesses. So go try their green tea leaf salad :) P.S. there's some GF options too! ”
“ Hi Lovelies! So recently I went to NYC for the first time ever. And right after coming from the air port to the hotel my sister wanted to take me to try Burmese food for the first time! Once we found the entrance of this establishment, we were greeted by quaint cute and chic decor. Very bright and light. Made us feel very welcomed! Some of their options for Burmese food wasn't gluten free. But at least I was able to try their leaf tea salad, which was marked as an authentic Burmese dish! At first it was bitter but with how it was prepared, with the dressing, and with the other ingredients in the salad it was so good! It was my favorite out of all the dishes I ate there. The service was good too! The server answered all our questions and made sure we got dishes that were gluten free. So if you wish to experience Burmese food for the first time come on down with a loved one or on your own. The place is a vibe and the atmosphere is calming. ”
“ What a fabulous lunch that was had. I love Burmese food. It's so flavorful and tasty. Rangoon lived up to all my expectations and more. I was a tad late to the party and started with apps before me. What we ordered, I had no idea, all I know is I was given remnants on plates and devoured them before the main event - Lemongrass chicken curry. The portion was perfect (took half home and had it for dinner). The staff were so sweet and accommodating. There is seating upstairs and some down. It was such a great time and just solidified my love of Burmese food. ”