In Illinois, finding a great place to eat is as easy as spotting a cornfield. There are countless greasy spoons serving American favorites like burgers and dogs, hundreds of Italian eateries, and no shortage of steakhouses, taquerias, Chinese restaurants, and Greek diners. But one thing you'll be hard-pressed to find? Authentic Burmese food. That rarity, combined with tastes that can't be found anywhere else in the state, is what makes the best restaurant in Illinois stand out from the others.
Pa Lian Burmese Restaurant, located at 254 E. Geneva Road, is a family-owned restaurant specializing in cuisine from Myanmar, formerly known as Burma. Using fresh ingredients, Pa Lian creates dishes using traditional recipes and methods to bring new flavors to the Prairie State. In 2023, Yelp named the restaurant as the No. 2 best in the Midwest and No. 1 in Illinois.
Customers say that dishes warm both the belly and the heart here.
Start your meal with a yummy fried appetizer — Tofu Gyaw (fried tofu made from chickpeas), Samosas, Kaw-Pyan Gyaw (spring rolls with a sweet and spicy sauce, and Pe-Eih-Kyar-Kwe (fried bread with cooked yellow peas and fried onion) are great starters for an entrance into Burmese food.
Samosas are my go-to, but the spring rolls are also calling my name.
Next, move into soup mode with a rich bowl of Ohn-No-Kauk-Swe — the restaurant's most popular dish. It's a hot bowl of coconut chicken soup filled with egg noodles and topped with bean fritters, sliced onion, lime, cilantro, and chili powder.
Don't forget to squeeze the lime!
Salad lovers should opt for the Tea Leaf Salad, a beloved dish that mixes fermented tea leaves with salad oil, fried fava beans, yellow beans, peanuts, sesame seeds, cabbage, tomato, and lime.
Another favorite is the fresh squid salad — squid tossed with Burmese dressing with shredded cabbage, tomato, shallots, red chili pepper, and cilantro.
The restaurant offers both vegetarian and meat options, with some vegan substitutes available. Proteins like pork, chicken, beef, seafood, and goat are featured alongside fresh veggies, rich broths, and hearty potatoes to make for a filling, yet light, meal.
It's no wonder Yelp praised the eatery's "deliciously authentic dishes" — the only of their kind in the entire state.
Make sure to leave room for something sweet. Reviews mention the mango ice cream is the perfect way to end this Burmese culinary adventure.
So, would you try out Pa Lian to see if it lives up to its reputation as the best restaurant in Illinois? Where's your favorite place to eat in the state? Tell us in the comments! Start planning your visit by checking out the Pa Lian Burmese Restaurant website and the Pa Lian Burmese Restaurant Facebook page. Want to showcase some Burmese pride with decor inspired by one of the culture's most beloved dishes? This gorgeous hanging wall art shows a modern, minimalistic interpretation of tea leaf salad — the perfect piece for any food lover.
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