Order Pa Lian Takeout or Delivery
PA LIAN · YELP ASSISTANT
Ask Yelp Assistant
Pa Lian Photos
Business Info
Pa Lian Popular Dishes
PA LIAN ATMOSPHERE
You might also consider
More like Pa Lian
Recommended Reviews - Pa Lian
Start your review...
Reviews With Photos
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!
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!
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.
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.
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 :)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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. _______________________________________
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.
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.
1 year ago
What a lovely halal restaurant!! Such a gem. Great service and very cute ambiance. The playlist was great! read more
Really good food and service. Burmese is something I can't find very often. Had the national soup dish. It was delicious. It had a lentil base and lots of things to put in. The tea leaf salad was good and a must try if you have never had it. We also got the Kaukswe Thoke. It was very tasty but be warned, we ask for hot and it was really really really hot. read more
Business owner information
Tawk Z.
Thank you
1 year ago
2 years ago
Abundant parking, nice fast service and the three below delicious dishes made this dinner enjoyable. Moh-Hin-Gar - Thin rice vermicelli in catfish fish and bean broth, garnished with boiled egg, lime, cilantro, crispy lentils Tofu Salad - chickpea tofu tossed with burmese dressing and garnished with shredded cabbage, fried onion and cilantro. Kyarzan Thoke - Beef Bean thread warm vermicelli tossed with burmese dressing garnished with boiled potatoes, shredded cabbage, cumber and fried onion, chickpea . read more
Business owner information
Tawk Z.
Thank you
2 years ago
The place is clean and modern, the service is impeccable. The food is the star of the Show. My daughter and I have been there twice now. We always start with the Tea Leaf Salad. It's the best combination of crunch, spice and sweet. It's so good. Portions are perfect for sharing. We ordered a noodle dish with chicken and the beef dish with rice. We are not only full but we usually have a little something to take home for later. Our server Tawk never led us astray with recommendations read more
I have had this place bookmarked to try for a while. Depending on the source, I've read we have only one or two Burmese restaurants in the entire state of Illinois. Either way, Pa Lian is the only one I'm familiar with. Husband and I were finally in the area and had a chance to stop in. My first impression was that the interior decorating is very nice. The restaurant is long and narrow, but plenty of room when we visited for lunch. We were seated right away, by, I presume, the owner. He could not have been more attentive and helpful. Cannot fault the service! Similar to some local Indian restaurants, our table came pre-stocked with bottled water. So, no free tap water here. Just pretend you're on vacation! I ordered the somewhat famous Ohn-No-Kauk-Swe, or as I've heard it call, Burmese Coconut Chicken Noodle Soup. Husband was indecisive for a bit about what to order, but with some guidance from the owner, he ultimately settled upon the beef (chicken optional) udon dish. I think it's called Nangyi Dok. Our food came out quickly. My soup arrived with the broth in a bowl and the noodles and such in a separate dish. I was told this was so all the ingredients would hold up in the event I needed to bring home leftovers. It was not too much for me, however, and I finished it all. The broth registered to me as thin, but tasty. It had a bit of a kick, but not too spicy (indeed, you add the chili flakes yourself from the toppings dish). I would eat this again, but if given the choice between this dish, or pho, or panang curry, I have to say I would prefer either of the latter. But those are some of my top tier favorite dishes. Between our two meals, my husband and I both preferred mine, which is not to say his was bad. I think either the udon or the coconut chicken noodle soup would be safe choices for a first foray into Burmese food. I have also heard good things about the fermented tea leaf salad, or the fried tofu appetizer (which is actually chickpeas), so if I come again, I would try those too. I will note that this was a pretty pricey lunch, though - about $50, all told. So that might forestall too quick a return trip. I would say Pa Lian is worth a stop in, just for the chance to try something a little different. It was a very welcoming environment to learn about a different type of cuisine, and to mix up our usual dining routine a little bit. read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
Super good food!!!! Ramen was good and so was their spring roll salad!!!! BUT LET ME TELL YOU- their green tea cheese cake IMMACULATE! Service was also great and the music playlist a vibe for sure! Definitely will be coming back! read more
The food quality here is pretty good. A lot of different flavors come out and this is the only Burmese place in this area. Quality- the Siam noodles were my favorite. It had a bit of heat and tasted fresh. The noodles were light and the toppings (peanuts, green onions, chicken bits, onion, sesame seeds and lime) added a lot of textures to it. The fish was pretty good, it was fried well and there a good amount of meat that comes off it. The beef and potato was over cooked. The beef was super dry because of it. Quantity- we didn't get much for each entre. The fish was smaller than expected for a 21 dollar dish. The beef and potato dish barely had 5 pieces of beef. I would have liked more. Also,rice is not included which is insane. An entree should come with rice automatically and not include a 2 dollar charge. If it's really hurting the bank then include it in the original cost of the dish. This place feels a bit cheap for that reason. At least they didn't charge for the bottled water. Atmosphere- nice welcoming clean atmosphere. Service- the owner is pretty nice. read more
First time trying Burmese food and loved every bit of it!! The flavors were so unique and unlike any sort of Asian takeout I have had before. My favorite dish was the Kuakswe thoke and I will be ordering that again for sure the next time I come! The staff was also super nice and the restaurant is very well kept:) definitely worth the drive out to Wheaton read more
I was visiting in the area and this was my first time here or to any Burmese restaurant. I've had food made from my Burmese friends and liked it so I thought I would try this. The food was flavorful. We didn't try anything that I wouldn't have again. The hard part was just picking a handful of things to try. The spring rolls were fresh and tasty. The fried chickpea tofu was more like a savory biscuit rather than gelatinous. The sauce on it was good. Two entrees that we got were the beef with pickled mango, which is not sweet, and the squid salad. The squid salad was my favorite. It was crispy, fresh, and citrusy like ceviche. We also tried the coconut soup which was ok, but my least favorite. Over all, the food has a flavor profile between Indian food and Chinese, but not really like Thai. The restaurant was very clean and simple in styling, but modern. The bathroom was also very clean. The night we went, there was only the one host/waiter, who was very busy, but also attentive. My friends also loved everything they tried. I would recommend this restaurant to try. read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
I've been jonesing to try Pa Lian for a few months & finally went today for the first time. The positive reviews & unique entrees was the draw. Kind of in an ambiguous spot near downtown Wheaton strip mall. Glad I used GPS for location. Okay so had the tea leaf salad & a small cup of ginger chicken broth soup which was very tasty & unique (salad) hard to describe but let's just say a party of flavors in my mouth~nutty, crunchy crispy, citrusy & fresh! Oh and small slices of peppers on the side if you prefer a kick of spiciness! I've NEVER had Burmese food before which is a blend of India China & Thailand Needless to say worth a visit Especially if you have a palate for something different than typical Asian or Indian fare. Your taste buds will thank you! read more
4 months ago
2 years ago
Highly recommend. I walked in having looked at the menu but didn't know what I wanted. The restaurant was clean, staff was very helpful and friendly. To be honest, I don't know what I got but it was a vegan noodle dish and very good. My mother had the beef with black bean, but the best item was the GINGER SALAD! I said it was my first time and asked for recommendations. The salad was amazing! I cannot begin to describe what it's similar to. It's not sweet it's a more savory salad. It's gingery but doesn't taste like cleaner. Very crunchy and fresh. It's just delightful. read more
11 months ago
Burma is situated between a number of countries including China, India and Thailand so I was excited to try Burmese food and see if my hypothesis of some small blending from the surrounding countries might be uniquely Burmese. Yep. The deep spiciness, samosa, and curry of India and the Thai curry and noodles and freshness of their salads. So rich and fulfilling. This place is definitely a hole in the wall (unassuming) and very clean with attentive service. Plenty of parking. We had a plethora of dishes and would do them all again. This is definitely a keeper! read more
1 year ago
Khao suey with tofu was excellent! Perfect flavor and spice. Crunch of the peanuts in the sauce was lovely. read more
5 years ago
It's the only Burmese restaurant in Illinois, and you need to eat here. I just ate there last night and I'd eat there today if I could. This restaurant has been on my radar for a year, but it won't take me a year to eat there again, now that I know how good it is. I don't think I'll last a week before I need it again. We showed up at 7:15pm and it looked like it was closed, but the really nice owner told us he'd have food ready in 20 min. And he did. With fried chickpea tofu, ginger salad, beef with pickled mango, bone broth soup, Shan Noodles, and samosas, we had a variety of things to try. I literally loved every single thing I ate. You can't even know how excited I am to have leftovers in my fridge read more
1 year ago
The Moh-Hin-Gar was amazing, and the bottle of water was a thoughtful gesture by the host. Not everyone likes drinking from a cup, so I really appreciated that. The host was very kind and brought the food out quickly--it was delicious! If anyone is craving Burmese food, I highly recommend this place. read more
2 years ago
Amazing authentic Burmese food. Great host and ambience. Taste was authentic and as if you're eating at home. Definitely recommend this place and would visit again. We also got a special treat from the host as my wife is of Burmese origin. All in all made our visit very special. read more
2 years ago
1 year ago
2 years ago
1 year ago
4 years ago
Pa Lian is located in a sleepy strip mall in Wheaton. The restaurant is beautifully decorated! We were a table for two and we ordered Ohn-No-Kauk-Swe which is a chicken noodle broth soup and Shan Noodle with ground beef. Both dishes were flavorful and the spice level was perfect. The soup was warm though and not hot. It was super nice of the restaurant not to charge us for bottled water. I wish there were more options for dessert. Our waiter was attentive and we appreciated that! read more
Business owner information
Tawk Z.
Thank you
1 year ago
The food and the staff was outstanding! The restaurant was neatly decorated and the vibes were there. The pricing is also pretty good. My friend and I enjoyed the tea green salad, chicken coconut curry noodles, but the star of the show was the "KaukSwe Thoke" with chicken. The noodles, the spice, the chicken tied everything together. I'm a regular because of how good the food is. This is my favorite cuisine now. Everything was 1000/10. read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
Delicious vegan options with a different and tasty flavor profile. Staff is proactive inquiring about dietary preferences and restrictions. We'll be back! read more
2 years ago
This place is nothing short of a hidden gem. It's one of the only, if not the only Burmese restaurants left in Chicagoland. The customer service and communication were great. From the minute we were on the phone to place the order until we came to pick up the food, there was only kindness and gratitude shown to us. The owner went above and beyond to ensure satisfaction. This family owned business strives for freshness in all of his food as traditional Burmese should be eaten. We started with two appetizers: the fried tofu and veggie spring rolls. These were perfectly crispy and the texture was soft on the inside. The sauces that paired with them were tangy and sweet and paired nicely together. The two salads we tried were the tea leaf salad and ginger salad. Both of the salads were amazing! They were fresh with hints of cabbage, peppers, crunchy seeds and lentils, ginger, lemon and herbs that made the experience an all around splendid one. I would highly recommend these salads. The two entrees we ordered were the chicken in bean paste gravy and noodle kauk swe gyaw. The chicken in gravy entree had tons of flavor and was strong with aromas of garlic, ginger, and beans. It was very tasty. The noodles were even better with hints of spice flakes, a roasted sauce and chicken pieces went really nicely with the noodles. We ended with a green tea cheesecake and it was the perfect amount of sweet. It helped cool the meal down. Overall, I must say the food is beyond expectations and the hospitality is even better. The interior was pleasant and I want this business to make it thru and grow to be even more popular as more people try it. Burmese culture is rich and I hope more people give it a chance. The last thing I would like to say is they were kind enough to send a message on each order. Come check them out ASAP! read more
2 years ago
1 year ago
2 years ago
Stopped by here with my boyfriend after a long walk at cantigny, and I have to say this place has the best noodles I've ever tried. We also ordered the samusas that were excellent with this sauce that was just the perfect pair to everything. Our server was very attentive and informative as it was our first time there. I really appreciated how clean the whole restaurant was, it was a calm and simple atmosphere which I loved. Will definitely come back if I'm in the area or just make the drive! read more
More info about Pa Lian
254 E Geneva Rd
Wheaton, IL 60187
Directions
(331) 716-7905
Call Now
Order Takeout or Delivery
Start Order
Visit Website
https://palianburmeserestaurant.dine.online/locations/900371?fulfillment=pickup
Full menu
Hours
Payment methods
Food & Alcohol
Indoor Amenities
Outdoor Amenities
Other Amenities
From the Business
More Info
Health Score
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 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
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
You might also consider
Why does Yelp recommend reviews?
136 reviews that are not currently recommended
The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.
8 years ago
8 years ago
9 years ago
8 years ago
7 years ago
9 years ago
6 years ago
8 years ago
8 years ago
8 years ago
7 years ago
8 years ago
8 years ago
8 years ago
8 years ago
9 years ago
8 years ago
8 years ago
8 years ago
8 years ago
