Top Burmese
{{Short description|Burmese restaurant in the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area}}
{{Infobox restaurant
| embed =
| name = Top Burmese
| title =
| logo = Top Burmese logo.png
| logo_width =
| logo_alt =
| image =
| image_width =
| image_alt =
| image_caption =
| mapframe =
| pushpin_map =
| map_alt =
| map_caption =
| map_size =
| established =
| closed =
| current-owner =
| previous-owner =
| manager =
| head-chef =
| chef =
| pastry-chef =
| food-type =
| dress-code =
| rating =
| street-address =
| city =
| county =
| state = Oregon
| postcode =
| country = United States
| coordinates =
| seating-capacity =
| reservations =
| other-locations =
| other-information =
| website =
}}
Top Burmese is a small chain of restaurants serving Burmese cuisine in the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area, in the United States. Owners Kalvin and Poe Myint started the business in 2019.{{Cite web|last=Russell|first=Michael|date=2021-12-10|title=Top Burmese's fermented tea leaves might be tame, but golden samosas leave you wanting more (restaurant review)|url=https://www.oregonlive.com/portland-best-restaurants/2021/12/top-burmeses-fermented-tea-leaves-might-be-tame-but-golden-samosas-will-leave-you-wanting-more-restaurant-review.html|access-date=2022-02-03|website=The Oregonian|language=en|archive-date=2022-02-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220202221008/https://www.oregonlive.com/portland-best-restaurants/2021/12/top-burmeses-fermented-tea-leaves-might-be-tame-but-golden-samosas-will-leave-you-wanting-more-restaurant-review.html|url-status=live}}
There are multiple outposts in addition to the original restaurant on 21st Avenue in northwest Portland's Northwest District. Top Burmese Bistro Royale has operated in Beaverton since 2020, Top Burmese Burma Joy opened on 23rd Avenue in the Northwest District in 2021, and Top Burmese Ambassador opened in Hillsboro in 2022. Top Burmese expanded beyond Burmese cuisine with Old Asia Teahouse, which opened in Beaverton in 2023. Top Burmese began operating at Portland's Moda Center in 2024.
Description and history
= Original restaurant =
Top Burmese began as a "virtual restaurant" in early 2019, operating via delivery and take-out. Delivery platforms included DoorDash, Grubhub, Postmates, and Uber Eats, and order could also be picked up at the kitchen on 16th Avenue in northwest Portland's Northwest District.{{Cite web|last=Jackson-Glidden|first=Brooke|date=2019-02-12|title=A Delivery-Centric Burmese Restaurant Just Opened in Portland|url=https://pdx.eater.com/2019/2/12/18221194/top-burmese-delivery-portland-opening|access-date=2022-02-03|website=Eater Portland|language=en|archive-date=2021-10-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211027195955/https://pdx.eater.com/2019/2/12/18221194/top-burmese-delivery-portland-opening|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=With Top Burmese, the Cuisine of Myanmar Officially Lands in Portland|url=https://www.pdxmonthly.com/eat-and-drink/2019/03/with-top-burmese-the-cuisine-of-myanmar-officially-lands-in-portland|access-date=2022-02-03|website=Portland Monthly|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-11-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211105152439/https://www.pdxmonthly.com/eat-and-drink/2019/03/with-top-burmese-the-cuisine-of-myanmar-officially-lands-in-portland|url-status=live}} The first Top Burmese restaurant has operated on 21st Avenue in the Northwest District, since September 19,{{Cite web|last=Jackson-Glidden|first=Brooke|date=October 4, 2019|title=Portlanders Can Now Eat Fermented Tea Leaf Salad on NW 21st|url=https://pdx.eater.com/2019/10/4/20899171/top-burmese-restaurant-opening|website=Eater Portland|access-date=February 3, 2022|archive-date=October 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191007184618/https://pdx.eater.com/2019/10/4/20899171/top-burmese-restaurant-opening|url-status=live}} 2019.{{Cite web|last=Jackson-Glidden|first=Brooke|date=2019-09-19|title=Korean-American Barbecue Spot Kim Jong Smokehouse Has Closed on NW 21st|url=https://pdx.eater.com/2019/9/19/20874170/kim-jong-smokehouse-closing-top-burmese-restaurant-opening|access-date=2022-02-03|website=Eater Portland|language=en|archive-date=2021-10-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211027195927/https://pdx.eater.com/2019/9/19/20874170/kim-jong-smokehouse-closing-top-burmese-restaurant-opening|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=Top Burmese Introduces Portland to the Flavors of Myanmar, and They'll Bring It Right out to Your Car|url=https://www.wweek.com/restaurants/2019/05/14/top-burmese-introduces-portland-to-the-flavors-of-myanmar-and-theyll-bring-it-right-out-to-your-car/|access-date=2022-02-03|website=Willamette Week|date=15 May 2019 |language=en|archive-date=2021-08-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210815161708/https://www.wweek.com/restaurants/2019/05/14/top-burmese-introduces-portland-to-the-flavors-of-myanmar-and-theyll-bring-it-right-out-to-your-car/|url-status=live}} The menu includes laphet (fermented tea-leaf salad with sunflower seeds, sesame, and peanuts), samosas,{{Cite web|date=May 8, 2021|title=The Top Five Places to Eat in Portland This Week|url=https://www.wweek.com/restaurants/2021/05/08/the-top-five-places-to-eat-in-portland-this-week/|website=Willamette Week|access-date=February 3, 2022|archive-date=July 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210717234133/https://www.wweek.com/restaurants/2021/05/08/the-top-five-places-to-eat-in-portland-this-week/|url-status=live}} and paratha served with paprika and turmeric-based curries.{{Cite web|last=Woo|first=Nick|date=2019-06-05|title=Portland's Incredible Southeast Asian Restaurant Scene, Mapped|url=https://pdx.eater.com/maps/best-portland-restaurants-thai-vietnamse-burmese-indonesian|access-date=2022-02-03|website=Eater Portland|language=en|archive-date=2021-06-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210615021428/https://pdx.eater.com/maps/best-portland-restaurants-thai-vietnamse-burmese-indonesian|url-status=live}} The restaurant is most known for the tea leaf salad.{{Cite web|last=Pierce|first=Pamela|date=2020-02-07|title=Understanding the Origins of Top Burmese's Famous Tea Leaf Salad|url=https://pdx.eater.com/2020/2/7/21125545/burmese-tea-leaf-salad-portland-top-burmese|access-date=2022-02-03|website=Eater Portland|language=en|archive-date=2020-02-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200216132913/https://pdx.eater.com/2020/2/7/21125545/burmese-tea-leaf-salad-portland-top-burmese|url-status=live}}
= Outposts =
Top Burmese Bistro Royale opened in Beaverton in 2020{{Cite web|last=Jackson-Glidden|first=Brooke|date=2020-02-21|title=Burmese Tea Leaf Salad Is Coming to Beaverton|url=https://pdx.eater.com/2020/2/21/21147596/bistro-royale-beaverton-restaurant-opening|access-date=2022-02-03|website=Eater Portland|language=en|archive-date=2020-03-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200307122332/https://pdx.eater.com/2020/2/21/21147596/bistro-royale-beaverton-restaurant-opening|url-status=live}} and has an "Indian-influenced" menu. Robots help serve food at the restaurant.{{Cite web|title=From dairies to restaurants, robots could be the future of food|url=https://www.opb.org/article/2021/08/27/pacific-northwest-food-robotic-milking-machines-robot-restaurant-servers/|access-date=2022-02-03|website=Oregon Public Broadcasting|language=en|archive-date=2022-01-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220130165129/https://www.opb.org/article/2021/08/27/pacific-northwest-food-robotic-milking-machines-robot-restaurant-servers/|url-status=live}}
Top Burmese Burma Joy (or Burma Joy Noodle House) is located on 23rd Avenue in the Northwest District and has focused on Chinese-inspired noodles since 2021.{{Cite web|title=Top Burmese Opens Burma Joy Noodle House in Northwest Portland|url=https://www.wweek.com/restaurants/2021/09/06/top-burmese-opens-burma-joy-noodle-house-in-northwest-portland/|access-date=2022-02-03|website=Willamette Week|date=7 September 2021 |language=en|archive-date=2022-01-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220131171038/https://www.wweek.com/restaurants/2021/09/06/top-burmese-opens-burma-joy-noodle-house-in-northwest-portland/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=Jackson-Glidden|first=Brooke|date=2021-09-13|title=New Northwest Portland Restaurant Burma Joy Explores the World of Chinese-Burmese Noodles|url=https://pdx.eater.com/2021/9/13/22672185/burma-joy-opening-northwest-portland|access-date=2022-02-03|website=Eater Portland|language=en|archive-date=2022-01-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220131170819/https://pdx.eater.com/2021/9/13/22672185/burma-joy-opening-northwest-portland|url-status=live}} The restaurant served Tea Leaf "Laphet" Dumplings during The Oregonian
Top Burmese Ambassador opened on Hillsboro's Main Street in 2022.{{Cite web|last=Russell|first=Michael|date=2022-02-02|title=Top Burmese heads to Hillsboro with upcoming 'fondue and grill'|url=https://www.oregonlive.com/dining/2022/02/top-burmese-expands-with-new-hillsboro-restaurant.html|access-date=2022-02-03|website=The Oregonian|language=en|archive-date=2022-02-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220202220728/https://www.oregonlive.com/dining/2022/02/top-burmese-expands-with-new-hillsboro-restaurant.html|url-status=live}}
Top Burmese for the first time branches beyond Burmese cuisine with their new restaurant concept centered around tea. Old Asia Teahouse & Restaurant features assortment of loose leaf tea from various regions, paired with pan Asiatic dishes from Burma, Singapore, and Malaysia. Top Burmese's Old Asia opened in Beaverton in 2023.{{Cite web |last=Wong |first=Janey |date=2023-02-09 |title=The Top Burmese Team's Next Restaurant Will Explore Asia's Rich and Varied Tea Culture |url=https://pdx.eater.com/2023/2/9/23593210/old-asia-teahouse-beaverton-restaurant-opening |access-date=2023-02-21 |website=Eater Portland |language=en}}
Top Burmese began operating at Moda Center starting with 2024-25 NBA Season in October 2024, selling its popular samosas, night market style chicken wings, Burmese curries, and salads.{{Cite web |title=Rose Quarter - Concessions Guide |url=https://www.rosequarter.com/plan-your-visit/concessions-guide |access-date=2024-10-16 |website=www.rosequarter.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Portland Trail Blazers Launch 2024-25 Season With Divisional Matchup Vs. Golden State |url=https://www.nba.com/blazers/news/portland-trail-blazers-launch-2024-25-season-with-divisional-matchup-vs-golden-state |access-date=2024-10-23 |website=www.nba.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2024-10-22 |title=Portland Trail Blazers games at Moda Center: What to know before you go |url=https://www.kgw.com/article/sports/nba/blazers/portland-trail-blazers-games-moda-center-guide/283-3d7f9e72-0f59-4b1b-a9b8-1e725263c1f3 |access-date=2024-10-23 |website=kgw.com |language=en-US}}
File:Top Burmese Robots.png|Food service robots at Top Burmese Bistro Royale
File:Portland, Oregon (July 2, 2022) - 197.jpg|right|Sign for Top Burmese outside Burma Joy, 2022
File:Portland, Oregon (July 2, 2022) - 154.jpg|Exterior of Burma Joy in northwest Portland, 2022
File:Top Burmese Moda Center.jpg|alt=Top Burmese Restaurant Portland Oregon|Top Burmese concession at Moda Center
Reception
Nick Woo included Top Burmese's Ametha Ohn Htamin in Eater Portland
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{portal|Food|Oregon}}
- {{Commons category-inline|Top Burmese}}
- {{Official website|https://topburmese.com}}
- {{TripAdvisor|17320713}}
{{Northwest District, Portland, Oregon}}
{{Restaurants in Portland, Oregon}}
Category:2019 establishments in Oregon
Category:Asian restaurants in Portland, Oregon
Category:Burmese diaspora in the United States
Category:Restaurants in Northwest District, Portland, Oregon