Peninsula Plaza, fondly hailed as Singapore's ‘Burmese Mall', houses not only little Myanmar stores but hides a serene Myanmar restaurant in its basement. Away from the prying eyes and heavy traffic of North Bridge Road, Inle Myanmar Restaurant is a 4-years old haven for the sizeable Myanmar community who misses home. From the ambience to the menu, Inle moulds a miniature Myanmar right in the heart of Singapore.

• The Vibe
  The ambience is absolutely casual, with upbeat Myanmar tunes in the background and bright, cheery shades of orange greeting your eyes everywhere you turn. Named after a fishing village-turned-resort attraction in Myanmar, Inle combines the laidback feel of a sleepy fishing village and casualness of the holiday resort within its modest premise. As you step into the restaurant, huge framed photographs featuring Inle at different times of the day allows diners a glimpse of the glorious beauty of the fishing village. Inle takes great pride in their handcrafted lampshades fashioned from uniquely Burmese fishing nets, original creations that often catch the eye of first-time diners.
• The Food
  An appetiser of Pickled Tea Leaves Salad ($4) and hot Myanmar tea ($0.50) will be an excellent foray into Myanmar cuisine – a scintillating blend of sweet, sour and spicy. Myanmar tea leaves are preserved in oil and served with savoury nuts, white sesame seeds, dried shrimp, tomato slices, cabbage shreds, fresh Thai chilli and a special dressing in a salad that bursts forth with distinctively strong flavours. Pickled tea leaves are overwhelmingly salty at first taste, but become interestingly, tasty and addictive when paired with extremely crunchy nuts. The fragrance of tea leaves and sesame lingers on in your mouth until you take a draught from the steaming cup of hot Myanmar tea. Made from tea leaves roasted with rice, this drink imparts a light aroma of glutinous rice and cleanses your tongue of the salad's taste, preparing it for the next mouthful of pickled tea leaves.

  As savoury as the pickled tea leaves salad may be, you will do better with Inle's signature Golden Century Egg Salad ($4.50) if you fancy sour dressings. Instead of the usual ominously black eggs we see in Chinese cuisine, Myanmar's version surprises with a resplendent golden hue. Served with a surprisingly sour and spicy dressing, the golden century egg tastes less pungent than its ebony comrade. Wash down the starters with a glass of Inle's fresh Tamarind Juice ($2.50), a mildly sweet drink that hides an underlying sour tinge – a guaranteed thirst quencher.

  One should not miss the Moun Hin Ga ($5.50). This traditional Myanmar dish of rice noodles in fish gravy is as representative of Myanmar cuisine as laksa is of Singapore fare. Featuring the peculiar banana tree stem, this dish includes boiling tough banana tree stems slices for a full hour till it is soft and textured to the tongue. Rice noodles are heavy-laden with the goodness of the fish gravy that looks spicier than it really is, and reminiscent of Penang laksa . Inle recommends a side of Fried Gourd ($4.50) to further savour the tantalising fish gravy. Golden fried fritters hide a refreshing, green strip of marrow-long gourd, more commonly known as bu gyaw in Myanmar, complementing the fish gravy well.

  Alternatively, the Fried Myanmar Tofu ($4.50) is ideal for an oily indulgence. Served with a tamarind dipping, the fried tofu triangles must be savoured hot to taste the contrast between the lightly fried skin and the creamy tofu goodness on the inside. Once you leave them to cool off, the tofu tastes bland and rather akin to sodden cotton wool. The world of difference in taste is determined within minutes, so this side should be more suited for a larger gathering (4 to 6 persons) where the otherwise delicious tofu triangles can be snapped up in a flash.

  If you are someone who abhor anything fishy, the fish gravy is likely out of question for you, but settle for the Oun Nau Khau Hswe ($5.50), Inle's curry noodles with chicken, which strangely tasted like a typical local curry chicken noodle. The yellow noodles are well-flavoured with the thick, aromatic curry gravy that tastes slightly sweet with only the slightest hint of spiciness. The chicken was, however, disappointingly drier than expected.

  Forgo the chicken and enjoy the full curry goodness with Inle's Myanmar Style Curry Pork ($5.50). Chunks of luscious pork, lined with fatty bits, are served in a dry curry that is made without the sinful coconut milk. As fat as the pork may be, the meat is well stewed and carries a full-bodied spice aroma of this lip-smacking curry.

  A typical meal at Inle can be very filling but one must not leave without tasting the Hpa Lu Da . Seek solace in the comfort of vanilla ice cream, grass jelly, agar agar, sago, atap seeds, nata de coco and egg pudding in this all-time favourite Myanmar dessert. Inle hand-makes their egg pudding, a highly popular item on their menu, which carries custard-like taste with a firm texture.

• The Service
  Inle's resolution to bring diners the most authentic Myanmar experience includes hiring only Myanmar staff – a perfectly wise choice since their Myanmar roots enables them to pronounce, identify and recommend dishes to customers who are quite clueless about Myanmar cuisine. The frequent refilling of ice water and hot tea is also highly admirable for a casual restaurant such as Inle.

SD Food Advisor's Take on Inle Myanmar Restaurant
Myanmar cuisine is largely uncharted territory for many but Inle certainly carries great choices for first-timers to Myanmar fare, especially with specialities like the pickled tea leaves salad and tamarind juice. Also impressive are the staff's understanding of the menu, which comes naturally with their Myanmar roots. With such rare, authentic cuisine, great service and extremely affordable prices, Inle Myanmar Restaurant is definitely worth at least a visit for the novelty.