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Pa Lian

4.9 (847 reviews)
ModerateBurmese, Halal, Noodles
Open • 11:30 am - 2:00 pm, 4:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Updated 3 weeks ago

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PA LIAN ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Casual
Classy
Good for kids

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Recommended Reviews - Pa Lian

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Tofu Gyaw  ( GF
Francine S.

An absolutely incredible food experience that I would travel back in a heartbeat for. There wasn't a bad thing that we ordered, but the tofu gyaw and tea leaf salad were out of this world. They were great with helping us customize the level of spice to our taste. Everyone should be blessed with Burmese food at least once in their lives!

egg rolls
Rohit G.

Pa Lian was extremely highly rated, so we had to check it out while we were in the area. After trying several different dishes, we could definitely understand why it receives so much love! ATMOSPHERE: The restaurant had a casual, clean, and welcoming atmosphere. It was definitely a more "lowkey" experience, but it was a comfortable place to enjoy a relaxed meal. FOOD: We ordered the chicken noodle soup, egg rolls, goat curry, and tea leaf salad. We really enjoyed all of the food, but the rich and flavorful goat curry was definitely the standout! The tea leaf salad was still pretty good, although it was not quite as flavorful as we were hoping it would be. SERVICE: The service was exceptional from beginning to end. Everyone was kind, attentive, and welcoming without ever making us feel rushed. Our server was patient with us and even gave us a free dish when dishes were taking a bit longer to come out. PRICE/VALUE: Prices were pretty standard for the area and felt reasonable for the quality and portions. PARKING: Parking was easy and convenient with a large lot outside. Overall, this was a very solid four-star experience, and I would gladly come back for the goat curry!

Mahak M.

My mom's mom lived in Burma, and while I didn't know her very well, her recipes were a staple in my life. I've only had certain Burmese dishes at the hands of a few women in my family, and I use those experiences to feel connected to this part of my history. This restaurant brings all those flavors and emotions alive for me. Beautiful soups, spicy salads, luscious noodles, I crave this place constantly. It's a shame that I don't live in the state and can only have it once every few years.

Moh-hin-gar
Julian G.

Wonderful hospitality greeted us as we sat down for a late dinner. The place was nearly empty but we were made extra comfortable and offered hot tea as we perused the menu. Pretty quiet for a Saturday night, however with nice music playing in the background I felt right at home. Rare to find Burmese restaurants outside of the West Coast. Naturally, the first thing I ordered was the tea leaf salad, followed by moh-hin-gar and nangyi dok with beef. All 3 dishes were delicious and I would order them again. There were a lot of vegan options too. I don't often think of the suburbs as a dining destination, but this was certainly worth the stop on the way back the city from West Chicago.

Entrance
Miranda M.

Overall, an authentic Burmese place with cozy vibes! We went on a Friday morning and it was quiet and peaceful. They gave water bottles instead of cups, and that was a new experience! The coconut curry noodle was a 10/10! It was creamy with lots of fried beans. Rakhine Monte was too spicy for me even though they did say it's for spicy lovers! They have much bigger portion than we expected and the fried tofu was super yummy too! I'd definitely come back when I am in the area next time :)

Coconut noodles
Padma A.

This was my first time trying Burmese food, and I was pleasantly surprised by the amazing flavors and the wide variety of vegan and vegetarian options. The restaurant is clean, cozy, and conveniently located in a strip mall next to Chinese and Indian restaurants . Chef-owner Tom greeted us warmly and got us seated right away. It's BYOB, so feel free to bring your favorite drink to enjoy with your meal! We ordered quite a spread -- the fried tofu with chimichurri sauce (so good!), their famous green tea salad (unique and flavorful, definitely an acquired taste), coconut curry noodles, goat curry, and vermicelli noodles. Everything was fresh, delicious, and beautifully presented. Would love to come back with the family.

Tea- Leaf Salad ( Gluten free)
Audrey H.

What's wonderful experience! We walked in not knowing much about Burmese food and walked out with 2 favorite dishes. Luckily the host/server recognized our lack of experience and immediately took control to tell us what we needed to get based on any food allergies and what our spice tolerance was. Great hospitality! He recommended the Tea Leaf Salad, we both enjoyed the crunchy fava beans, peanut against a plain backdrop of cabbage. The fermented tea leaves brought a wonderful tartness and Unami to the dish. Second course was KaukSwe-Thoke with Chicken was delightfully sweet and spicy at the same time. The room is nicely laid out in a storefront near the Jewel.

Interior lighting.
Greg R.

I was visiting from the San Francisco Bay area, and a lifelong friend took me to lunch here. It definitely reminded me of the flavors and quality of the Burmese food from home. I'd rate it on par, or even better, than San Francisco's Burmese options. Service was much friendlier here, that's for sure! Tawk was a delightful host...making jokes along with dish recommendations. Sadly, we gobbled up the food before I remembered to take photos. D'oh! I highly recommend the Tea Leaf salad--a Burmese staple and a real treat if you haven't had it before. Very flavorful and just a hint of spice (don't eat the sliced peppers if you're spice-adverse, but we devoured them). We also had Shan Noodles (B8). I also recommend that. A mild to medium spice level and very tasty. Generous portions. Two dishes was enough for two though I wish we had tried the spring rolls or samosas too--we might have had leftovers if we had! The restaurant itself is inviting and clean. They did a good job considering the location in a strip mall. The lighting looks nice, and the textured walls add to the inviting ambience.

B01. Moh-Hin-Gar ( National Dish) (Halal).
Spenser W.

A culinary delight! If you haven't had Burmese food before, this is the real deal and is worth the trip from Chicago. My partner is Burmese and also loved the food. We had the tea leaf salad, which had just the right blend of crunch and spice. The samusas were hot and flesh and the flavor of both the mohinga and coconut chicken noodle dish I had were phenomenal. And of course the service was impeccable. The owner was very friendly and accommodating. We can't wait to be back and try the tofu salad and Shan noodles next time.

Tofu Gyaw - Homemade yellow chickpea fried tofu
Adriana F.

Update April 2025: This Burmese gem has been our go-to since 2019, and it continues to exceed expectations every single time. Whether it's a casual dinner or an outing to lift a friend's spirits--as it was on this visit--the experience is always exceptional. The ambiance is simple yet joyful, with bright splashes of color that echo the vibrant flavors of the food. We shared some of our favorites: the classic Tea Leaf Salad (a must!), the savory Beef with Fermented Black Bean, and the comforting Pe-Eih-Kyar-Kwe--crispy fried bread with chickpea, perfect for sharing. One of the things I love most is being able to bring my own wine from my collection, which makes the experience feel even more personal and festive. A special shoutout to Tawk, who always greets us with a smile and makes us feel like we're having dinner at a friend's home--warm, welcoming, and full of heart. And congrats on finally launching a website--long overdue and well deserved! This place is a treasure. Consistently delicious, lovingly run, and a joy to return to again and again. _______________________________________

C04.Ginger Salad ( Top Hit ) V/ Gluten Free
Brandi B.

Fantastic. I came in, I didn't know what to order just that I wanted it vegan or vegetarian and healthy. I ended up trying the ginger salad and Kaukswe- Thoke. Both fabulous, and interesting to have food that's supposed to be served room temp or slightly cooler, but the ginger salad...omg I ate some, tried the Kaukswe- Thoke which was great as well but had to come back for more of the salad. Fresh crunchy and extremely flavorful. Some of the best vegan food I've had in the area. The guy was super friendly, and concerned with any allergies I may have had and suggested the perfect dishes when I asked his opinion. The place was spotless and smelled impressively clean. Im not from the area, but I will definitely be back.

Most of their cozy dining room, viewed from the entrance.
Howard L.

Well, I finally got this renowned Burmese restaurant off of my bookmark list.   It's a little out of the way for us, but the wife and I had a fun and delicious weekday lunch time visit.  They have a lot of interesting looking menu items but we went with B03 Khao-Swe or coconut chicken ramen noodle soup ($17.99) and B08 Shan noodle with shredded beef curry ($18.99).   I'll go with 4 stars for our outing.  Both of the dishes were served lukewarm and would have been better if served hotter.  There was only us and another party of 2 at our Wednesday lunch time.  It didn't take long for the food to arrive and that actually made the lukewarm temperature even more surprising.  Tawk was our friendly server though he kind of shook off my temperature observation, noting that the dishes will get colder sooner or later, lol right.  We really liked the flavor of the B03 coconut chicken noodle soup and the thick ramen noodles were good and fresh.  We got both dishes medium spice and that was about right for us though B08 had a little more kick with the chili oil used.  Both dishes were unique and very flavorful.  The proteins in both dishes were in numerous small shredded pieces.  The portion size of B03 was fine but we thought the $18.99 B08 shan noodle dish was a little pricey for the portion size. The strip mall restaurant is cozy and contemporarily decorated.  Their table setting comes with a bottled water serving. They also had a nice easy listening YouTube like video playing that sounded like the Coffee House SiriusXM music station and that was a nice touch.  Overall, nice place to have a somewhat unique and flavorful meal.

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1 year ago

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Tawk Z.

Thank Adriana for your support

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5 months ago

Lovely change of pace with authentic Burmese flavors! We enjoyed the samosas and the chicken curry!

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10 months ago

Excellent food and service! If you have never tried Burmese cuisine before, I highly recommend Pa Lian.

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10 months ago

Ordered Tea leaf salad to go and it was delicious and excellent service while waiting must try. And looking forward to coming here again

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Pa Lian Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Pa Lian

Do you have zabiha halal meat?

The menu stated halal but we did not further clarify

Are you open for dine in yet?

We are back to full service dine in as of Nov 1st. See you soon

Who is the halal meat supplier?

Are you open for dine in?

Yes. As of oct 1st, 2022 we are open for full dine in service

Hello Tawk. Are you open for dine in? I would like very much to take my family here for a meal. I'll call tomorrow to double check. Hope you're well.

We are not open indoor dine in at this point. Just take out. Thank you for your support

Is everything halal?

Chicken ,Goat and Beef is Halal

Are you offering pick up delivery currently?

Yes

Is your menu posted online? I would like to order carry out. Thank you!

Yes. Pls look Menu post on September in Yelp. You can also look at Google

Is this BYOB?

Yes

Does this place have gluten free options? Love Burmese food!

Yes. We have several gluten free dishes

Are the soup broths Pork-free? I've hear that Pork broths are popular even in non-pork soups and dishes.

Our daily soup ( Chicken Bone Broth ) if prok free

Any gluten free options?

We have several gluten free dishes

Does this place serve halal food?

Our goat meat is halal

View All 15 Questions

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