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If you’re anything like us, you’ll be well and truly addicted to Ohno Khao Swe – the creamy, coconutty chicken noodle curry goodness that can be lapped up in tea houses all over Myanmar. While Mohinga may be our official national dish, Ohno Khao Swe is arguably the most famous, as it is thought to be the predecessor of the much touted Northern Thai dish Khao Soi, which has – perhaps rather unfairly – muscled in and stolen the show, spawning copy cats in restaurants across the globe and even its own internet fan sites.
But urgh, who wants that kind of gaudy fame?
While we patriotically promise to always hold the original Burmese Ohno Khao Swe closest to our hearts, that isn’t to say we’re not up for a bit of cross culinary pollination, should the occasion arise.
And arise the occasion has!
The “Ohno Khao Swe Burger” (yes, you read that right) is now on the menu at Yangon’s Union Bar and Grill (42 Strand Road), courtesy of Chef Aung Thein Oo and his seemingly limitless imagination.
We know you’re wondering how the hell this is going to work, so let us explain:
Chef Aung first cooks up some tender, juicy chicken with onion, garlic and chili powder, before adding chickpea powder and coconut cream to get the rich, spiced flavor we all know and love infused throughout the meat. The chicken is then formed into a burger “patty”, served in a homemade brioche bun with lettuce, bean sprouts, fresh coriander, homemade Pe’ Thwe (bean blood) and crispy fried egg noodles. In keeping with the traditional teahouse inspiration, the burger is served with vegetable tempura and a tamarind dipping sauce instead of french fries, to mimic the vegetable garnish that would normally adorn the noodle dish.
See, simple/totally inspired.
The Ohno Khao Swe Burger can be yours to Instagram then eat for a cool MMK14,000, but you can cut that price tag in half every Tuesday between 3pm and 10pm until the end of August with “Buy One Get One Free Burgers” as part of Union’s Monsoon Promotion. Mother Nature, do your worst – we’ve got half price burgers down here.
And if you’re too cheap even for that, there are 10 chances to try the burger for free. Simply “like” the Union Bar & Grill Facebook page and share their Ohno Khao Swe Burger post. The Union team will contact the winners on Thursday night.
Beware though. It’s quite possible this burger is just as addictive as its muse. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.
