The ongoing ethnic food boom in Tokyo has somehow bypassed some of the most interesting, savory and satisfying food in all of Southeast Asia -- the cuisine of Myanmar (formerly known as Burma before the accession of the current military government in 1989).
The reasons why some nationals still refer to the country as "Burma" while others happily use "Myanmar" are as complex as the ethnic makeup of the country itself, which has some 135 ethnic groups. This immense diversity -- compounded by influences from Myanmar's neighbors -- explains the fascinating variety in the cooking. The impression one gets when sitting down to a Myanmar meal is that it is like eating Indian, Chinese, Thai and Malaysian food -- all at the same time.
Masala-spiced curries served with paratha bread are set alongside spicy seafood noodle dishes, a kind of tofu made from yellow lentils, miso-flavored stir fries, long-grain rice and salads created with a myriad of exotic ingredients. Not all food is hot and spicy, so there is something for everyone.
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