3.7 stars. Nice looking place with an extensive menu including meat as well as vegan options and a full bar. The food was decent but it seemed more geared toward non-Asian palates. We've had more authentic Burmese cuisine in SF but this is fine for Palo Alto. Service was good and attentive. We had: Salt and pepper tofu Palata with vegetarian curry 6 piece samosas (good) Tea leaf salad (disappointing) Fiery tofu and vegetables Eggplant and Garlic (good) Jasmine rice Coconut rice Garlic noodles, bbq pork Chicken Home style fried rice (ok) Lamb Kebat (good) Lamb wok fried with tofu Steamed vegetables (mostly cabbage with sliced carrots & broccoli) Beef curry (good tender chunks of beef but the curry didn't taste like curry). Cocktail drinks are pretty good but just know that some drinks are small for the price. The best drink is the coconut one with coconut rum. We had mango ice cream for dessert which was a very generous portion but the ice cream was on the icy side and not as creamy as I hoped. It tasted decently good though. read more

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If I could give 0 stars, I would. I ordered takeout consisting of garlic noodles with pork substituted for chicken (and paid almost $3 extra for the substitution), basil chili chicken, and mango chicken. Unfortunately, there were problems with every dish: 1. Extremely small portions: The basil chicken and mango chicken portions were ridiculously small. Around 80% of the container was just onions, and the containers were only about 70% full. For the price, this is unacceptable. 2. Almost no chicken in the garlic noodles: The garlic noodles had literally only two tiny pieces of chicken. I cannot believe I paid almost $3 extra to substitute pork with chicken and received basically no chicken at all. 3. Unbelievably salty: Both the garlic noodles and basil chicken were so salty that they were inedible. I had to rinse them with water five times, and then re-cook them myself just to make them edible. I've never had to do this with takeout before. The food wasn't just disappointing in terms of flavor and portion size--the biggest issue is that it feels like the restaurant is being extremely stingy while still charging fairly high prices. Poor portions, excessive salt, and very little meat. Definitely not worth the price, and I would not order from here again. read more

Family friendly but also sophisticated, with great ambient lighting for mood--bustling on a Friday night. We had a variety of veggie dishes: the yellow pea fried tofu is a must have: the chili sauce it comes with understated, and the "tofu" slices themselves melt in your mouth like custard, unlike any tofu we've had. The samosa soup was also off the hook delicious--savory and tangy, and our other dishes: tea leaf salad and palata bread were quite good. Were burmese fans and highly recommend! read more

Really yummy, flavorful, fresh food. Super quick for takeout and pack well. Pickup experience was smooth and quick. Will order again! read more

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Nice ambiance, food in general were sour, more so than the other Burmese restaurants. Pricey as expected in downtown Palo Alto. read more

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We were recommended to check out Rangoon Ruby, a Burmese spot in the DT Palo Alto area, by one of the Stanford staff. We came here for an early dinner, and ordered: +Palata - served with coconut chicken; you can opt to sub for vegetarian curry or lamb curry +the Burmese Pad Thai - prepared with rice noodles, red bell peppers, onions, baby bok choy, cabbage, peanuts, bean sprouts, and scrambled egg; you can opt for chicken, tofu, shrimp as a protein option, so we went for the shrimp +the Country Style Beef Curry - slow-cooked with onions, garlic, potatoes, lemongrass, and spices +and, Mango Shrimp - tossed with basil, fresh mangoes, onions, and mango puree; served with fresh mango Portions were on the smaller end, and it seemed as if we were getting sampling/tasting plates. Note that they also have a GF and a catering menu. Staff were friendly, and the restaurant is narrow but had plenty of seating. +Burmese eats +small portions read more

This was the most amazing meal I've ever had! Parking is pretty difficult to find and located in a super busy area so please be mindful. We were seated right away with no reservation. The ambiance was very date night vibe and elegant. Our servers were very quick and efficient. I love that when the food was served, they ask if you'd like your food mixed do you. They also give their recommendations how to eat a dish if it's your first time there. Everything we ordered was absolutely rich in flavor and full of spices! I left feeling full, but not heavy or groggy. That's always a win in my book. They also pack your food to go. I can't wait to come back! read more

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Came here for a team dinner on a Wednesday night (had reservations). Honestly thought the food was really good! I would definitely order the Palata, crazy coconut and lamb curry again. The samosas were really good as well. Would probably visit again in my own personal time! read more

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Melvin was very attentive. He was an excellent guide thru our culinary adventure, for our first time trying Burmese food! We really appreciated how great he treated us! The tea leaf salad and all the food was incredible! read more

Wow, yelp is like a time capsule. I totally forgot I came here many moons ago. We decided to come here because Justin came from out of town to visit us and he was craving Burmese food. Good pick! Because we probably only get Burmese food once a year and it was about time. We didn't have a reservation but walked in on a Friday night and were seated pretty quickly. We ordered a number of things for 3 of us: 1) tea leaf salad: must get. So yummy 2) some beef dish: oops I can't recall the exact type but it was a popular item 3) some chicken dish: also forgot the name but it was quite heavy in the soy sauce 4) some noodle dish: again, another suggested item that I forgot the name Honestly I think I would stick with salads and noodles next time. The stir fry dishes were way too salty. Or you really need to wash it down with some coconut rice! I increased the rating from last time since I was pretty happy about every dish. Portion is a bit small for the price so definitely more for a special occasion. Ambiance was nice and romantic. read more

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My coworkers and I came here for lunch during the week. It was decently busy, but we were seated upon arrival. Food: I ordered the mango tofu with coconut rice. I also ordered a Burmese coffee. The mango tofu was delicious. The texture of the tofu was amazing. The mango tofu paired well with the coconut rice. The Burmese coffee was pretty good. I would order it again. Service: Service for lunch was a little slow for lunch time. It's only an issue only because we have a limited time for lunch at work. Otherwise, service was friendly. TL;DR - service can be a little slow for lunch service, but the mango tofu is delicious. read more

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Arrived 4:30 pm Thursday...no wait was seated immediately. Easy parking across street in lot. I believe dining should be a cultural experience. Having lived 10yrs in Southeast Asia, I was excited to try a new Burmese restaurant. We enjoyed the tea leaf salad in the covered outside seating area. Melvin explained each ingredient and helped toss the salad. He thoughtfully offered to plate the jalapeños (yes) and dried shrimp (no) on the side. Salad was visually wonderful and savory. We migrated indoors when temperatures hit 90 degrees to enjoy AC and decor. Melvin our server was friendly and chatty. His recommendations of tea leaf salad, coconut rice and chicken kebab was perfect and made our first time dining experience memorable. Chicken was moist not overcooked and coconut rice fragrant. Melvin catered to our low spice level by making the chicken kebab mild. read more

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I came here on a Sunday night and was surprised by how empty it was. That gave us a chance to really appreciate the decor inside. Service was very nice and handled allergies well. We ordered pad thai, pork curry, and tea leaf salad. The tea leaf salad was pretty strong tasting and took a bit of getting used to. Great texture though. The pad thai was definitely better than the pork curry but both were just ok. Might come here again with a big group as they have a big space. read more

For a change of pace, in late November we decided to try Rangoon Ruby which has Burmese food. We went there on a Sunday afternoon for lunch before seeing a movie at the theater right across the street. Service - The waiter was very nice when we told him we only had 45 minutes since our movie was going to start then. So he gave us just the right amount of time to check the menu and then took our order. Our food came in about 10 minutes, and my mai tai was delivered in less than 5 minutes. Food - I had the Samosa Salad which was delicious. Lots of fresh veggies and salad, with a tasty sauce and bits of samosas. My husband had the "Country Style" Beef curry, lots of beef with jasmine rice. I really like the beef dish. Drinks - I had a Mai Tai which was good but I'd probably try a different drink next time. Ambience - nice decor, restaurant was only a third full when we went that day so can't say much about how noisy it would be. read more

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Not sure why this place is called both Rangoon Ruby and Burma Ruby? It's a little confusing, but the food was good nonetheless! As someone who is always on the hunt for a good tea leaf salad, I had to try it! Their Tea Leaf Salad comes with lettuce, tomatoes, jalapenos, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, peanuts, yellow beans, dried shrimp, and my favorite part, Burmese tea leafs! It arrives at your table beautifully presented, and then the server mixes it for you. Very refreshing, and it has a great combination of textures! We also got the Palata, and I'd have to say, Rangoon Ruby's was one of the best I've had. Soft and flakey, you could really see the layers! It's served with a tasty coconut chicken dipping sauce. Wanted to try something different, so we opted for the Burmese Eggplant Curry. The eggplant had a really nice fried texture. The curry was mixed with finely chopped pieces of onion, garlic, and ginger and was less saucy than I was expecting for a curry. But even a little bit packed a lot of flavor! Definitely get a side of rice to eat with this one. read more

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Came here for dinner a couple nights ago, and overall it was just OK. Two of the bright spots - the restaurant is real nice and located in the downtown area which is always a great place to visit, and service was excellent. The staff were so friendly and attentive, which was greatly appreciated. On the food front, this is where things miss the mark. Everything was overly salty and tasted the same. This includes the Pad Thai, Tofu Lettuce Wraps, Basil Chicken, and Tofu Kebat. I was really hoping to get different flavors from each dish, and was left with a very single note meal. While nothing was specifically bad, it wasn't great either. I wouldn't necessarily recommend this place, but also wouldn't say avoid it. YMMV. read more

My coworker and I went after a crazy day at work and was greeted with great service and recommendations by our server Melvin. When the food came out, they pushed another table to ours to give us more room. The staff there was extremely nice. The food came out and was delicious. We had the Minted Jalapeño Chicken with coconut rice and garlic noodles. Drink was Green with Envy, it was so good. I would definitely come again. read more

Rangoon Ruby - Green with envy - cucumber together with jalepeno. So good. - Asian Fusion Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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Had reservations for 10 on a Tuesday evening and it was PACKED!!! But surprisingly the service was fast and efficient and the servers were friendly and attentive! It was really loud with all the people there so hearing conversations across from you was a bit hard. The food was overall really good! We ordered a bunch of dishes since we were a table of 10 and got to try a bit of every thing. Tea leaf salad was good, but the tea leaf was a bit lacking, it had more lettuce than anything. Potstickers were good with the sauce. Palatha was good and not too oily. Nan gyi dok noodles were refreshing and light. The beef curry was flavorful and the meat was tender. The tofu and vegetables were my favorite. Packed with flavor and not too salty. Shrimp kebab was delicious And the salt and pepper calamari was ok. Probably wouldn't order that one again. Overall super satisfied with our meal! Would definitely come back. read more

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(Palo Alto) Food: Palata (chicken curry) (8.8/10)- really well cooked and the chicken curry was a perfect combo to the Palata. The texture of the Palata was spot on Tea leaf salad (7.8/10) nothing special about this. A lot ingredients but it tasted like a basic salad. It just looks pretty. Tea leafs didn't really pop out. Definitely tasted the citrus of the lemon Mango chicken (8.5/10) - this was really delicious. Flavor was tasty. Could have added more mango but that's just my preference. The spice level were just right and not too over powering at all Setting: indoor. Great for date night, solo, or group. Has a mouth wash in the restroom which was a nice touch to cleanse your mouth. Service: server was friendly. Mixed the salad for us which we appreciate. Only complain is they never refilled our empty water glass throughout our stay. So you have to ask for it Price: price is a little expensive but i would come back to check out the other dishes Parking: Side streets and parking lots. Just need to drive around read more

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*LOCATION* This hole-in-the wall restaurant is located in downtown Palo Alto, off on a side street. It was barely visible when we were walking by. There is street parking and a few parking lots in the area. *WAIT TIME* There was no wait for our party of 2 on Sunday ~6:30pm. Shortly after we got seated, the restaurant became pretty full/packed. We were surprised at how popular this place was! *FOOD* -Palata w/ coconut chicken curry: nice and flaky "naan" type bread, there was a small piece of chicken in the dipping curry -Burmese eggplant curry: eggplant pieces were undercooked and too hard, the curry sauce was ok -Fiery beef tofu: decent, beef was a lil tough, sauce was thick and sweet, we asked for mild but it wasn't a teeny bit spicy at all -Coconut rice: very fragrant and coconut-y *SERVICE* Our servers were great and very attentive. Bathroom was clean. The only con was that the food took a looong time to come out unfortunately :( *AMBIENCE* Overall, the interior looked nice and service was good. We were really looking forward to the food but were a lil disappointed (maybe we chose the wrong items??). Hopefully, other people have better experiences! read more

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We went for lunch on a Tuesday, and the restaurant was completely empty! Not one table was occupied. We chose to sit outside and thankfully there was one more table taken. Strange, since Palo Alto, at lunch time, is buzzing. The food was good, but quite pricey. Desserts started at over $9 for ice-cream. Fried banana with ice-cream was about $18, quite expensive for what it was. The service was great, so I can't fault that. Would I return? Probably not. read more

Great options for vegetarians. I had the mango tofu. Our non vegetarian guest liked his chicken dish as well. Great service. Dishes came out pretty quick even though it was busy on a Friday. Tea leaf salad was great as well. read more

This is a hidden gem on the peninsula. Burmese food is delicious! And this restaurant is warm and welcoming, with knowledgeable staff and a fantastic menu. If you haven't been here please go, it will likely become a favorite of yours just as it has for me. And of course get the tea leaf salad. read more

Both the appetizers were delicious. Lettuce wrap had amazing flavors and tea leaf salad was refreshing. Red curry in entrée did not have any unique flavors. Although the tofu made with bean had perfect tofu like texture and did not taste like tofu. Good innovation Pad thai was a bit sweet but delicious. + Point Very sweet, helpful, patient server. Helped us in selecting the dish we liked according to our choice. -Point Very noisy read more

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The food was very nice. We especially liked the mango fish dish and the Burmese rice. Although the Burmese rice was a bit too salty.... But since we are all trying to cut carbs, the fact that I couldn't eat a lot of the rice was a good thing. We also had the pork stew which was delicious but a bit too salty. It was so good that I ate it and was wishing for plain rice to cut the salt. But I stuck to my diet and am going to eat the leftovers with plain rice and lots of veggies and tofu to spread the salt across more bland food. It's that good! We had the salt and pepper squid. My friends had never had it!!!! Ever! My goodness, I think I have converted two new devotees to the ranks of the salt and pepper addicted. Finally, because the portions were perfect for ladies saving themselves for dessert, we were able to have the green tea ice cream, the deep fried pudding and the seminola pudding dessert. That dessert was to die for. I'd have skipped the entire dinner and just eaten the desserts. BIG BONUS! The desserts are not too sweet!!! Flavor was wonderful. Service:. We were there at 4:30 for a 5:30 reservation. We were three former colleagues an a 100% remote project. So we had a LOT of catching up to do and asked for a table that is as sheltered from ambient noise as much as possible. We sat in the front by the window next to the entrance. It was perfect. The very best part of our meal was Melvin's service. He checked on us frequently but not too often and flagging him down if needed was so easy. That is a man with eyes on the back of his head. He also didn't hurry us away. We were there for 3 hours on a Monday night. The place filled up a starting around 7. We tipped him extra because we hogged the table until 7:30. He was a delight with a way of describing the ingredients for the dishes and cocktails. We got excellent recommendations for wine, starters, mains and dessert. He is very good at selling his wares! The perfect waiter! I liked him so much that I will be back with my foodie partner and make sure that he is my waiter again. The other servers and bus-persons were unobtrusive, helpful and courteous. Excellent experience. Finally, we had fun in the restroom (we all used the mouthwash which we thought was so thoughtful). All in all, chic stylish food and decor. Clean humming kitchen. Back of the house looked busy but in a good mood (always a good sign). The drinks were tasty! Alcohol pour was just right and their selection of mocktails was really nice. I had the Burmese Python. The others had a nice red wine and also a lychee martini. All were excellent. Great place for groups, date night, and for taking visitors out for an adventurous meal. (They hadn't had much food from SE Asia before!) read more

Excellent Burmese food and great service. Seating was easy and courteous staff. We ordered vegetarian and it was really nice and well made.

Visited Rangoon Ruby multiple times at this downtown Palo Alto location but never left a review. So here it goes. This is for my most recent visit and my husband 1st time. Tea leaf salad: (5/5) the best dish in the entire menu. Soo good that my friends and I even had this as our main meal. Fresh, refreshing, crunchy, delicious mix of their most popular tea leaf salad. Nan gyi dok: (5/5) Rice noodles mixed with delicious coconut chicken curry and topped with crispy wontons. Loved this dish. Everything came together very well. Must try! Rangoon chicken curry : (1/5) Sad looking, watery gravy, lacked flavour or any depth. Onions not blended properly. No salt. Very depressing entree and we regretted ordering this dish. (23$) And a portion of brown rice (3$) For 26$ this is not worth at all. Disappointed. Even beginners who just started to learn how to cook will make a dish better than this. Special hot sauce (2$): this is the best addition to any dish on the table. Full of flavour and punch. Service and ambiance is good. read more

Rangoon Ruby - Rangoon Chicken Curry - Asian Fusion Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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I went here last night and it was really good! The service was excellent and they provide hand towels at the beginning. The ambiance is nice and it's a good spot for date nights or family dinners. I had never had Burmese food, so I don't have anything to compare the food to, but it was yummy! We had the chicken fried rice with egg, and coconut noodle soup with chicken, egg rolls, and minted jalapeño chicken. Everything was so good and we had plenty to take home after! Definitely make a reservation if you plan on going because it was packed last night! read more

I came with a group that had six people total. We had reservations and were seated immediately. Service was fast but the quality was questionable; for example, we had to ask for utensils at three different points. On the plus side, we had someone who had a serious food restriction and the kitchen was extremely accommodating. There's also an extensive gluten-free menu! I ordered the mohinga, which was enjoyable but a little bland. I heard great things about the other dishes on the menu, so I might give those a try instead. read more

Loved the tea leaf salad but the rainbow salad could be better. The curries are pretty good, but I've had nicer Burmese food. Service is good and ambience could be fancier. read more

Rangoon Ruby - Burmese tea - Asian Fusion Near Me - Palo Alto, California

We went for a family dinner. Under our table were napkins, the seating uncomfortable and the biggest disappointment was the food. Food was average. What happened to this restaurant. After a $500 bill, left extremely disappointed, our daughter came home hungry. And they charged us for hot sauce. Jeez. Lost a customer for life. Also My rice tasted like it was sitting out- hard and unpleasant. read more

The food was delicious! We got the samosas and palata to share. Both were extremely crispy and generously filled. I got the lamb kebat and it was perfectly spicy with a range of spices and vegetables. We also got the dessert palata which came with ice cream. The ambiance was clean and more upscale, with indoor and outdoor seating. Our server was super sweet and answered all our questions related to menu items, and made great recommendations/suggestions. Definitely need to return ASAP. The vibe is a bit slower, with time to chat and enjoy your food, so it does take a bit for each dish to come out. read more

Good but nothing phenomenal. Tea leaf salad was more oily than expected. The fiery chicken tofu was pretty good but smaller in terms of portion size. The biryani was too spicy for my liking, wouldn't recommend. Tables were smaller so it was difficult to share. Overall not bad read more

Rangoon Ruby - Tea Leaf Salad - Asian Fusion Near Me - Palo Alto, California

Highly appreciate the staff at Rangoon Ruby always being so welcoming and nice. They always make sure my order is ready right when I get there...and I come by a couple times a week usually. My fave here is the paratha with chicken curry. Tea leaf salad is delicious as well. They also do catering so I'll have to try it for my next work event! read more

Let me start with I've been coming here for years. The review comes from a conversation with their amazing manager Eva who after listening to me and a small issue I had went above and beyond to ensure our issue was solved. Professional compassion even though I only wanted to be heard, she decided to take care of my wife and I. Excellent service, food was carefully made this time and was at the level we have come to love from this Resturant. In gratitude and appreciation. Eva deserves recognition for her job as manager. read more

Impressive. Nice ambiance with Chihuly-like chandeliers. Full bar with lots of cocktail options. Service is prompt and kind - that is, until they get busy, and then you need to flag folks down for water, orders, the bill. Food is decent - not the best Burmese we've had, but good. Samosa soup was a bit disappointing, but garlic noodles were great. It fills up, even on weeknights, so go early. read more

Been to Rangoon Ruby PA location numerous times and being vegetarians our standard order is : Tea Leaf Salad - good texture and string taste with peanuts Samosa Soup-delicious and tasty Spring Rolls-got cold and soggy ! Fiery Tofu & Vegetables-spicy and tasted flavourful Eggplant with Tofu-well cooked and the combo with tofu comes out very good overall good experience read more

Some places just become part of your life. Rangoon Ruby is one of those for me. I have been coming here for over ten years, and somewhere along the way I fell in love with Burmese food through this kitchen. What I love most is how the flavors quietly carry influences from so many regions. You can taste hints of Chinese techniques, Indian spices, and Thai-style brightness, all woven together into something that feels completely its own. It is not fusion for the sake of it. It is Burmese cuisine standing confidently on its own. I always end up getting a little tour of flavors when I eat here. The tea leaf salad is still a favorite. Bright, savory, layered, and somehow comforting every time. The basil chili beef and the mint jalapeño chicken never disappoint either. Familiar, bold, and deeply satisfying without being heavy. But what really makes Rangoon Ruby special for me goes beyond the food. We were taking our daughter here from the time she was born. As she grew, it became her favorite place to eat. To this day, she chooses to celebrate her birthday here every single year. Her go to dishes are the veggie kebab, the tea leaf salad, and the pea leaves. One of the things I love most is how many thoughtful and delicious vegetarian options there are, which makes it a place everyone can enjoy. Over time, it stopped feeling like just a restaurant and started feeling like family. From the warmth of the service to the consistency of the food, Rangoon Ruby has been a constant. Friendly, welcoming, and full of heart. Grateful for the meals, the memories, and the many more still to come. read more

8/7/2023: As always when traveling, I never know whether a restaurant I dined decades ago still exists. Therefore, I find it's imperative religiously checking YELP! searching excellent, enjoyable, dining reviews and more importantly, the establishment's location which I greatly depend logistically such as parking close to the restaurant as well as attending my next business appointment. First I must mention, I was tired eating questionable, ". . . What kind of food is THIS?," i.e., not knowing whether the food served at establishments are either organic, GMO or PLASTIC/FAKE VEGAN . . . Second, I vehemently, seriously reject inhaling fake Chinese, Hawaiian or WHATEVER bland cuisine found in El Dorado/Placer/Sacramento Counties . . . Third, I wanted raising my olfactory senses inhaling exotic spices, and finally, fourth, I wanted eating organic, Halal quality vegetables, fruit, and meat: Welp~Rangoon Ruby was close fulfilling all my preferential requirements . . . As depicted by all the photos I took: Surely, the flavors highly satisfied my olfactory senses despite, my dining bill was highly exorbitant. Nevertheless, I will return to Rangoon Ruby inhaling more of their mesmerizing spices used for their Burmese Cuisine, indeed! read more

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Service! Oh boy. Where to begin. We weren't handed menus or even directed to the QR code. I had to ask for a menu. We sat with our menus for a while and eventually I had to wave down our waitress so we could order. We were checked on once. I also had to wave her down to get more water. We ordered: Tea Leaf Salad: It was good. The dressing is different and fresher than other Burmese restaurants I've been to. I thought it needed more salt. Nan Gyi Dok: This is one of their highly recommended dishes. The chicken was good - tender and flavorful. The noodles were mushy. Not sure if that's how it's supposed to be. I thought it would have more bite. They had outdoor seating. It was a little chilly out side so we ate indoors. It wasn't full so it seemed dim and depressing. read more

Rangoon Ruby - Nan Gyi Dok - Asian Fusion Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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