Taste of Burma: A New Culinary Gem in Queens

Myo Lin Thway's culinary journey, which began with his exquisite palata at the Queens Night Market in 2016, has culminated in the opening of Burmese Bites in Astoria, Queens, this past July.

He learned to make the delicate, flour-based flatbread in Myanmar during his youth. The process involves skillfully stretching the dough until it's diaphanous, oiling it, and then carefully griddling it to achieve a crispy exterior and tender interior.

Thway, who came to New York in 1994 to study mechanical engineering, spent decades working in the diamond district before pursuing his passion for Burmese food. He started selling palata at church fairs, then at street fairs, and eventually opened his own restaurant.

Burmese Bites aims to share the authentic taste of Burma, a cuisine that has seen a resurgence in New York with three new restaurants opening in Queens in the last year. The menu also features dishes prepared by his wife, Rebecca Nant, like laphet thoke (tea leaf salad) and airy pazun guat kyaw fritters.

While the kitchen is still settling in, dishes like baby goat curry and ohno kaukswe showcase the complex flavors of Burmese cuisine. Desserts like shwe yin aye and faluda offer sweet conclusions to the dining experience.