Burma Superstar

Friendly staff accommodated our group of five during a busy lunch hour. We ordered rainbow salad, samusas, cheesy garlic noodles with pork belly, eggplant curry, chicken fried rice (my name), and a pork and potato lunch special with tea leaf salad. To start, the lunch special served was chicken with mango, not the pork that was ordered. Fortunately, it was a happy accident because it was the best dish. The rainbow salad was good but watery. The samusas were filled with potato, which would have been good if the filling was flavorful. It was not. It tasted like boiled potatoes with little seasoning. The cheesy garlic noodles lacked savoriness, it required more salt and cheese and did not even have a hint of oyster sauce as listed on the menu. The eggplant was good but the eggplant seemed like it wasn't cooked in the curry for long of at all. Also, they charge for white rice even with a curry dish. The fried rice was enjoyed by some in our party but I found it lackluster. Overall, the experience was mediocre. If the staff were not exceptional, which they were - shout out to Chuy - I would have given this a lower rating given the cost of the fare. Sure it's expensive in Alameda but no more than comparable restaurants where we live in the DC area. FYI they're are Burmese restaurants where we live.

Yum…? While Burma Superstar has good food, their dishes lack one thing or another. We started off our dining experience with the tea leaf salad. While I did not eat it personally (I’m not a big fan of salads), my peers reported that it was tasty but somewhat bitter. After that, we got the paratha and the ‘sauce’ (not sure what to call it). While the paratha was sweet, the sauce took away from the sweetness and as a result it wasn’t as sweet as I would have liked. To follow, we got the fiery tofu. It was delicious, and spicy. (Again, according to my peers) Then we got the coconut noodle soup. It was large, not coconut-y at all, and the soup was thick like gravy. Would not recommend. All in all, food was good, but make sure you don’t mind a flaw or two. Service While they only checked on us once or twice, the staff was friendly and gave great food recommendations.

After trying several other spots in the area, I keeps coming back to Burma Superstar because they truly understand flavor, texture, and value. Unlike other restaurants that serve "watered down" versions of Southeast Asian cuisine, the food here is consistently rich and intentional. 1. Tea Leaf Salad: This is easily the best in the West Bay. The mix of fermented tea leaves, fried garlic, crunchy yellow split peas, and seeds creates an incredible depth of flavor. It’s a party of textures in your mouth, savory, salty, and a little bit of a caffeine kick. It's an experience you can't easily replicate at home. 2. Chicken Curry: This is exactly how a curry should be. The chicken thighs are incredibly tender, and the sauce is a thick, aromatic stew of coconut milk and turmeric. It isn't "soupy" or thin; it's hearty and clings perfectly to the rice (or the platha!). You can tell the flavors have been simmering for a long time. 3. Value and Service: Yes, it’s a popular spot and can get busy, but the quality justifies the price. You get generous portions and professional service. You never feel like you're paying a "premium" just for the aesthetic, you're paying for top-tier execution. If you want a meal that is actually satisfying and full of authentic flavor, skip the "trendy" places and just come here. It never fails.

This place is noisy inside, and you get the regular traffic noise outside. As much as I tried to give them high rating, the main dishes were soaked with cooking oil. See my pictures of the dishes and my own plate after I finished. The food tasted good, and I can say this is the best unhealthy meal. Your cholesterol may Skype after eating this. You may want to have hot water or hot herbal tea after the meal. I have eaten at this place before. I came with a group of four for dinner and we waited almost an hour to get in because of the mass good reviews. It was great the first time. Nope I wonder if the first meal tasted good because of how hungry we were or it was too dark to see the plates. Now, would I come back again… hmmm. The food did taste good. The eggplant was good quality and it literally melted before it got to my mouth. The green beans weren’t fresh. You can tell from how faded they were and the fork couldn’t get in to poke them. I think that was the only old ingredient. I might give them another chance and maybe I’ll ask them to cook with much less oil.

We had a great dinner here!!! The portions are huge and the outdoor seating area is great for groups. We enjoyed the tea leaf salad, samusa, palutha, chicken noodle soup and the garlic eggplant. Lovely service!