Royal Rangoon was one of my favorite places in Berkeley to take out-of-town guests. The food was so good, and the service was efficient and gracious in a quiet, low-key way. After my office moved from Downtown Berkeley to South Berkeley during COVID, my supervisor and I ate at Royal Rangoon a couple of times for lunch. It was like visiting an old friend after a long time, and I planned to return often, but then we started working from home again, and I'm barely in Berkeley these days. Turnover is the name of the game for restaurants in Berkeley, even old ones, but I associate that more with downtown and University Avenue. Old favorites on Telegraph should soldier on, but even the stretch between campus and our office has changed a lot since 2022. Thanks for the lovely, delicious memories, Royal Rangoon! read more

Really loved our service- great waiter with recommendations and there were multiple people making sure our waters were refilled and checking in on us. This place is surprisingly bigger on the inside, they have a whole separate room with more seating after you walk in. Really liked the tea leaf salad and nya gi dok! We also ordered the chef special seafood green stew- thought it was lacking a bit of spice or strength in flavor. Overall it seems like a great place to bring a group of friends, someone was celebrating their bday too! read more

One of the best food spots in the area! A true hidden jem. I stumbled upon Royal Rangoon and got to try the lunch special and I'm glad I did. This place is humble for how great it is. Their garlic noodles and okra + egg dishes are my top favorites. I've gotten to try other stir fry dishes as well and they don't miss. The portions are also pretty decent! The staff and service are great, and the dining area is spacious and super calm. read more

We love this place. The food is amazing and the restaurant is warm and family-oriented. We always see the same people who work there and the couple I assume are the owners, and they're so nice. Takeout is good too! We always get the tea leaf salad and the rangoon shrimp, and then we try to branch out a bit too with other dishes. Sesame beef is amazing too. Food is also so quick - often it comes out within minutes! read more

This place is a certified classic in my household! We have been coming here for many years and the quality of the food and service has remained consistently great. The vibe feels upscale but still very accessible. They are family owned and every time we come in we are greeted by the same people who remember us and it always makes us feel a part of the neighborhood! When we come in we get the same things: *Tea Leaf Salad-seriously, a MUST try- the combination of flavors is absolutely delectable *Burmese Pork Curry-my housemate isn't a big meat eater but I got her to try it and now she gets it every time! *Coconut Rice-I have TRIED to recreate this at home and never have gotten it to taste as good as theirs *Palata w/Coconut Chicken Curry-fried bread and the tastiest curry? You can't go wrong *Samosas-I actually can't believe they're vegan but just an order of this and a salad will be enough food These are just my must haves but I have tried other dishes and really liked them as well! I definitely encourage you to go to their happy hour for smaller plates and try a few things! Royal Rangoon was the first Burmese restaurant I ever tried and since then I have been to others in the area but none of them compare! read more

Royal Rangoon - Tea Leaf Salad Burmese Pork Curry Coconut Rice - Asian Fusion Near Me - Berkeley, California

So glad that Royal Rangoon is finally open for inside dining after only offering take out and delivery since the pandemic started over 3 years! I would call every so often and there was no inside dining. When my friend and I arrived here today, we were welcomed with open arms and the servers was very attentive and friendly. The restaurant reopened for indoor dining in February this year so we were trying to find time to come here as we missed their tea leaf salad, the best and their vegetable samosas! So we ordered the tea leaf salad, vegetable samosas and chicken garlic noodles. The tea leaf salad was excellent, just like before as well as the vegetable samosas! The chicken garlic noodles were a little bland so we asked for some salt. Other than that, we enjoyed the meal. read more

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This place had so many delicious options and the flavors were on bold and on point! We weren't that hungry so we only tried 3 dishes but would come back for more! Pros: lots of variety, bold flavors Cons: a little dark during the day if you sit more inside Ambiance: 4/5 Taste: 5/5 Value: 4.5/5 Service: 4.5/5 read more

Came to this place yesterday on a whim. I was delighted to see that the staff were super friendly, attentive, and passionate about what they do. They were always checking on us to make sure the quality of everything was good and that we were enjoying ourselves. Our group of four enjoyed our booth which gave us a bit more privacy in this semi intimate setting. We ordered quite a few things and every dish was a hit. The dishes here are super flavorful which I LOVED. I would absolutely come back, and recommend this spot to others! read more

Royal Rangoon - Holiday dessert - Asian Fusion Near Me - Berkeley, California

I loved this restaurant and ate here frequently when I was in college. This place rivals Burma Superstar without the long line. My partner and I had a meal here during Valentine's Day weekend and it was delicious. We ordered a tea leaf salad, zinfandel and nan gyi dok. The food came out immediately and we quickly ate everything. The nan gyi dok is very fresh and flavorful. The tea leaf salad was good and packed of crunch as usual. We were informed by the server that they had just reopened on Wednesday and we were lucky to have come in when they happened to reopen as they have been closed for two years. read more

Royal Rangoon - Tea Leaf Salad - Asian Fusion Near Me - Berkeley, California

They are back open for indoor dining!!! I've been here long long time ago (even realizing some of the yelp pics are mine from 8 years ago!) and remember their food being awesome and may be even better than the famed Burma Superstar. Came here last night to celebrate my birthday and ordered their Mohingar, Tea Leaf Salad, Basil Chili Beef, Duck Curry, and Garlic Noodles with Roast Duck. All of the dishes were delicious and especially the Moht Hingar!!! It was the BEST I've ever had and the most flavorful!! The noodles were perfectly soft and chewy too. The owner came by and said they use a special ingredient from a banana tree that makes it kinda crunchy, but I will be having this dish from this place going forward. The Tea Leaf Salad was great as usual, crunchy and fragrant from the garlic bits, and Basil Chili Beef was flavorful but not too salty. The Garlic Noodles were good and flavorful from the garlic oil. Overall one of the more satisfying meal I've had recently in the Bay. The only thing I would say is that the dishes weren't as hot as I would like, they were relatively lukewarm. Services were super nice and they checked up on us regularly. Prices are reasonable and relative to restaurant prices from 3 years ago. Family run business so definitely give your support! read more

Royal Rangoon - Basil Chili Beef, so good - Asian Fusion Near Me - Berkeley, California

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It was our last full day in the Berkeley area (mid August) when we discovered Royal Rangoon. Tea leaf salad!!! I don't know how to describe tea leaf salad dressing other than to say it''s so good that I could eat it with different combinations of veggies every day if I had an endless supply. When we got to RR, we were told by the owner that they were open for to-go orders only and would would resume indoor dining on 9/1. He was very friendly and inquired if we had any food allergies (thank you for caring!). We ordered 5 tea leaf salads and 1 mango salad to-go. We told him we were headed bacK to LA and will bring our big salad order with us. We enjoyed the salads very much, and added extra veggies. read more

Royal Rangoon - Our to-go orders : 5 tea leaf salads & 1 mango salad. - Asian Fusion Near Me - Berkeley, California

The Royal Rangoon was a lovely experience! The tea leaf salad gets mixed in front of you for so long that it's almost comical, but you can tell that the staff cares about the food and your experience. The food came out quickly, and they served us a small appetizer on the house just because their chef was experimenting! It's not exactly cheap, but for the occasional nice dinner, it's not bad at all, and my husband and I wish we'd known about it sooner. The lighting is gentle and the seating is back in its own room, making the experience feel comfy and intimate. read more

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The food served here is really good. Starting with the yellow bean tofu appetizer. Never had anything like it. Texturally more dense than soy tofu that I'm accustomed too but still silky smooth. Served with a little sweet and mildly spicy sauce and they've made a winner! The chicken curry, sesame beef and the green beans were all flavorful and cooked nicely. The chicken breast in the curry was super tender and the sauce on the green beans was really good too. Since it was my Mothers birthday they brought out a bowl of ice cream with a candle in it and we all sang her the birthday song. We ordered the Burmese cake which is made with semolina flour which made it interesting and good. The service was great but I had to ding a star because they were out of Jasmine rice and sparkling water and although the place is clean and nice their tables/booths are a bit tight. read more

The food is amazing the mango chicken , coconut rice is the best I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone in the area

Came here with my friends since they recommended it and I'm so glad I was introduced to here! I never tried Burmese food prior to this and i was not disappointed. I loved their tea leaf and rainbow salad! They also have happy hours when you can get these for a little cheaper which is great. Staff was also kind and constantly checked in with us to see if we needed anything. Their desserts I would rate a 3/5 tho read more

** The following review reflects my delivery experience during the COVID-19 pandemic. ** Give me Burmese if you please. Give me Burmese if you don't please. Burmese makes Thai and Vietnamese taste so five minutes ago. OK, that's a lie. I love it all, but I do likes me a robust tea leaf salad. Burma Superstar and Burma Love aren't the only places you can get one. Here's another one, a family-run business on Telegraph in Berkeley since 2013. The $15 Tea Leaf Salad was a culinary joy, a mix of Burmese tea leaves, fried garlic, beans, peanuts, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, lettuce, tomato, jalapeño, and dried shrimp (photo: https://bit.ly/3gAoFbK). The mixing is at your discretion, and no one will judge your lack of dexterity as you can quickly wolf it down. And you will because it was crunchy delicious. I also ordered the $19 Salmon Lemongrass Fusion, which was a grilled salmon filet served with a spicy lemongrass sauce (photo: https://bit.ly/3gtK2wI). It was pretty tasty though I wished they didn't leave the lemongrass chutes as I kept inadvertently chewing on them. I'm sure I'll end up visiting Royal Rangoon at some point because it's on several "Best of Berkeley" lists. FOOD - 4 stars...if it passes the tea leaf test, it's a winner and it is AMBIANCE - n/a...don't know yet but soon hopefully SERVICE - 4 stars...it came without damage TOTAL - 4 stars...give me Burmese if you please RELATED - Hungry for Burmese? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2WSK3Br read more

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More than 11 years and a minor name change since our initial visit, and having come through the tough covid years plus a difficult recovery from water damage caused by a leak on the floor above, Mr. Tun Lin & staff continue to deliver an exquisite, lovely dining experience. If unsure of what to order, throw a few darts at the menu and your party will end up leaving with satisfied smiles. RR stands as our go-to place for most special occasions. read more

Mango lassi was otherworldly. Fresh, nectar flavor, with unmeltable ice. The waiter hand mixed the salad for 3 minutes. Impressed with the tofu in the appetizer and main dish. First time trying yellow bean tofu. We liked all the dishes read more

Royal Rangoon - Asian Fusion Near Me - Berkeley, California

A friend recommended this restaurant to me and let me just say, we were BEYOND impressed. All the food was fantastic - the palata, samosa soup, golden fried tofu, royal noodles, and the burmese pad thai! The servers were also super prompt and friendly, making sure we had everything we need in a timely manner. We will definitely be back with more people!! read more

Royal Rangoon - Samosa Soup - Asian Fusion Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I ordered 3 items from Royal Ragoon tonight and it was the first time I tried this place. I had an awesome experience at a Burmese restaurant about an hour away from Berkeley and thought I'd try a local place. Because I recently had surgery, I ordered online delivery from Royal Ragoon (5 miles away) which they directed to ChowNow. I don't know if they are affiliated. One of the three items I ordered, garlic noodles, was excellent! I highly recommend this dish. But....the two shrimp dishes were TERRIBLE! The garlic shrimp and eggplant had sooooo much oil it was dripping from the boxed package and dripping onto the other boxes and into the bag. I would have been ok with the greasy presentation if it tasted ok, but it was awful, as well as grossly greasy! The second shrimp dish was the Bar La Chong meal and I ordered it mild. It looked good, but the shrimp were so overcooked and chewy that my son and I decided to toss the meal. I paid over $70 for the food and delivery and it was not a good experience. I hate wasting food and I don't like giving negative reviews, but after contacting the restaurant to provide feedback, I decided to share my concern - not to punish the place for completely dismissing my concerns as well as blaming delivery, but to alert others that this place is inconsistent and not customer-friendly. Go elsewhere. read more

Royal Rangoon - Just one greasy box of food delivered by Royal Ragoon. - Asian Fusion Near Me - Berkeley, California

I am addicted to the roselle leaf stir fry here. It's got such a unique flavor that you can't get anywhere else. Sometimes in the cooler months they will also have a special: a soup made with the leaves and bamboo shoots. (They can prepare the stir fry without meat or seafood if you don't like meat). It's so amazing, truly. The soup was the only thing I wanted to eat for a month during and after I had covid. The staff is super kind too. While I was waiting for my take home meal recently, they chatted with me about the ingredients in my favorite dishes, what kind of herbs and veggies they use, and gave me tips on where I could find the ingredients to try to prepare the soup at home since fhey don't usually offer it during summer months. As an aside, i honestly like their tea leaf salad better than burma superstar's. RR makes theirs with thinly sliced cabbage instead of romaine, so it has a lovely crunch and sweetness from the cabbage - it's still good the next day too because it doesn't get wilted. I think their tea leaf paste dressing has a more complex flavor than Burma Superstar too. I hope this place stays open forever! read more

It's ok. Food was bland bordering on boring. Service was friendly yet a bit helpless. The drink menu was a piece of paper that looked like it had been on the sidewalk for a few days. The room is dark, the booths tight and the seat/table ratio is off. The seats are too low or the table to high. Overall nothing really bad but then also no real reason to go either. Except- let's of parking. Many restaurants a few blocks up on Telegraph but little parking. YMMV. read more

The staff here are so kind they're the highlight of the visit, but the food is amazing. Highlights are tea leaf salad, rainbow salad, sesame tofu, and palata with vegetable curry. They're very accommodating of a vegan diet and I would guess the same is true for other dietary restrictions. read more

The food at Royal Rangoon is fantastic, and the staff are sweethearts. We prefer both the food and ambiance of Royal Rangoon over the other famous Burmese restaurant nearby, because it's quieter (no yelling necessary to have a conversation) and a much calmer experience. Their salads, soups and noodle dishes are our favorites! read more

Very nice service, good and authentic ambiance. We enjoyed the various salads and order three desserts! All delicious.

Our favorite neighborhood Burmese spot! Our go to's, which we've had at least 9 or 10 times since moving here about 6 months ago: -tea leaf salad: did you even have Burmese if you excluded this?? -sesame beef: oh nom nom nom!!!!!!! Lately it's been the perfect amount of crisp on the meat and not overly sauced. Perfection!! We've tried a handful of other items but those 2 are the ones that can't be missed!! Thanks RR for keeping our neighborhood happy and flowing with tasty food! read more

Another great dinner at Royal Rangoon. Such a lovely place! The owner and staff are warm, knowledgeable, and friendly. And the food! Fresh and delicious every time. Lots of good choices for meat eaters and vegans alike. read more

My wife and I have been going to this restaurant for the last 3+ years and always ordered rice with our meal. The portions were always the same, one container for each order of rice. But this time when we ordered, the containers were only half full. We contacted them and the staff was very rude to me on the phone. I asked to speak to the manager and they told me they were in the hospital and not available. So I sent an email to the manager explaining the service we received and to give them a chance to explain why this happened, but we never received a response from them. read more

Royal Rangoon - Container 1 - Asian Fusion Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I ordered an egg okra curry, mild, for pickup. You can't see the egg in my photo, but there was indeed an egg split into two halves inside. It had a crispy fried exterior which I haven't usually encountered, I liked that texture. The mild spice level I picked wasn't spicy at all, which is great for anyone who can't handle much spiciness. It also stayed warm an impressive amount of time inside of the plastic takeout container. Overall, the food was hearty and flavorful. read more

Royal Rangoon - Egg okra curry - Asian Fusion Near Me - Berkeley, California

Staff here is very friendly and know a lot about Burmese food - they will share details on some of the specialties of their country. The food is very good with many wonderful vegetarian options, and are careful to ask and modify any dish that needs it for your preferences. Don't miss anything with the fried tofu which is crispy on the outside and creamy soft on the inside. The rainbow salad is lovely and mixed table side. It is a great spot and very affordable. read more

I love the ambience here. So tastefully done without being stuffy. Acoustics are such that you can have a conversation without shouting. Food is delicious and authentic. Prices are fair. Service attentive without being invasive. Owner Mr. Li warmly greets his guests. I love this place. We have enjoyed many family dinners here. Easy location and parking, safe neighborhood. read more

This is absolutely one of the best restaurants in the entire East Bay. Amazing food, great service and perfect ambience. Can't recommend it enough. read more

Royal Rangoon - tea leaf salad, mango chicken and garlic noodles. so tasty!! - Asian Fusion Near Me - Berkeley, California

This is the best Burmese restaurant in the Bay Area! The owner and the staff are friendly and treat you like family. This is my favorite neighborhood restaurant by far. My husband and I have been patronizing this establishment for 10 years. read more

Samosas, coconut curry soup, and not pictured garlic shrimp. Everything was tasty. Service was amazing and it's a beautiful restaurant. Very intimate read more

Royal Rangoon - Asian Fusion Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I must say I am super disappointed because I have read the reviews and also it's highly rated here! I love Burmese food and I couldn't wait to expand the places I usually go to. I came across and ordered my favorite rainbow salad. Do not get me wrong, the order was huge and it was definitely getting the most of what you are paying for but there's something missing. Same goes with the samosas, it was okay. It wasn't something I would rave about. Both orders were missing flavors. All Burmese places that I have been to hits you with that powerful play of flavors in your mouth once you taste it. This place definitely lacked that umph and it made me sad. read more

Royal Rangoon - Samosas - Asian Fusion Near Me - Berkeley, California

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The Royal Rangoon is by far one of the best Burmese restaurants that I've ever frequented. I didn't have the best experience with the food the first time around, but after trying a few more dishes here, I've totally fallen in love. They use the freshest ingredients here and you can taste it with each and every bite! The spices are intensely enjoyable and always on point. The portion sizes are hefty and filling and the flavors are just out of this world. Food-wise, they definitely dominate with no questions asked. When I come here, I know that I'm going to receive the freshest and the most flavorful cuisine that I could ever ask for. If you're looking for suggestions, practically anything that you order will be delicious. But my personal faves are their mango salad, samosas, palata, and lemon grass chicken. They're just absolutely incredible! I've come here for both lunch and dinner and they are excellent for both! They've got great lunch specials that offer a nice variety of options. I must also mention their delicious drinks! Their Burmese milk tea and mango lassi are both incredibly tasty! If you're coming for dinner on the weekend, it probably best to make a reservation as this place gets really busy. What really sets the Royal Rangoon apart from many of the other Burmese restaurants that I've been to is their impeccable service! Friendly smiles as soon as I walk in the door, always. Promptly seated and attended to every single time. They never let a dirty dish sit on my table and they're always checking in with me while I'm there. And the real kicker: they'll remember you. That'll get me almost every time. Once you remember me and you remember what I like, you will have a lifer in me. That just goes to show how much they truly value great service. And, I truly value the Royal Rangoon. Delicious food, excellent service, and an enjoyable atmosphere. It can't get any better than that. read more

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I would choose this over Burma superstar. The food was amazing! Very accommodating for vegans. The owner also was very friendly and gave us a dish on the house. The ambiance was cozy, nice and relaxing. read more

We LOVED this place! Really friendly staff, absolutely fantastic food, sweet ambiance and central location. Favorites were the tea leaf salad and pumpkin and chicken stew. read more

Would like to come here with more people so I could try a variety of dishes. I ordered the Lemongrass Chicken with a side of Indian Burmese Rice (none included with the entrees). I was disappointed that the flavor of the sauce tasted pretty salty and rather bland- no hints of lemongrass. The chicken and veggies in it were cooked well and the best part was the basil leaves. The rice was delicious and fragrant. Friendly enough service but a bit slow even with not too many diners. We waited for someone to bring us togo boxes for awhile and watched the waiter in the corner on his phone. The dining room is large and spacious and we were seated without any reservations on a Saturday evening. read more

My daughter wanted Burmese cuisine at the luncheon following their small wedding to honor the groom's father who was born in Rangoon. Royal Rangoon was the perfect choice! We had an absolute feast that delighted everyone, most especially family members who hailed from Rangoon. The restaurant worked with us to design the menu and it was perfect. We fed the 20 guests and the helpers, And people divided up the delicious left overs. We had a vegetarian fare, fish, and meat dishes, all authentic and very very affordable. Royal Rangoon had everything ready and steaming hot(where appropriate). It was all clearly labeled and beautifully packaged. The menu included Royal Rangoon Wedding Menu Appetizers * Vegetarian Samosas * Veritable Palata (vegetarian and chicken) * Tea Leaf Salad * Rangoon Rainbow Salad (noodle salad) Small plates * Rangoon String Beans * Garlic noodles Entrees * Rangoon Chicken Curry * Mango Shrimp * Chili Fish w/ white rice I would tell you which dishes were most coveted but everyone loved everything Thank you Royal Rangoon for making my daughter's special day even more perfect! read more

Royal Rangoon - Asian Fusion Near Me - Berkeley, California