"Kuwait-trained chef Myo Myint cooks Bagan’s best smoked Irrawaddy fish and Rakhine curry — book Old Bagan for a quiet first date."
About Star Beam
Myo Myint learned to cook in the high-end hotels of Kuwait, then came home to Bagan and opened a small bistro of his own. Star Beam has grown into two branches, in Old and New Bagan, but the formula has not changed: home-style Myanmar cooking and a few French bistro habits, made from whatever the chef buys at the market that morning. In a temple town where most kitchens cook for tour buses, it is the table travellers single out as the best meal of their trip. See the rest of the Bagan dining guide.
The Kitchen
Myo Myint shops the market each morning and cooks across two traditions. The Burmese side is the reason to come: a Rakhine fish curry built on sour and chilli, a chef’s signature chicken curry, and smoked Irrawaddy river fish that regulars rank among the best things they ate in Myanmar. The salads are the other strength, the tea-leaf, eggplant and avocado versions in particular. The French training shows in fresh-baked baguettes, a creamy pumpkin soup and a roasted pork loin. A three-course dinner with a beer lands around $12 to $15 a head, a little above the Bagan average and worth it. Star Beam has been a top-rated Bagan restaurant on Tripadvisor for more than a decade. For what we look for in a kitchen, read our seven signs of a great restaurant, and compare the nearby Queen Restaurant.
The Room
The room is modest: a simple bistro space with hard wooden chairs that several reviewers wish were softer, plain lighting, and the chef often out front to talk through the menu in fluent English. It is quiet rather than designed, the kind of place where the food, not the setting, does the work. The Old Bagan branch is the original and the more atmospheric of the two for an evening among the temples. Service is warm and happy to handle allergies and dietary requests.
Best for a First Date
Star Beam fits a quiet first date in Bagan because the room is calm enough to actually talk, the chef-owner’s English makes ordering easy, and a shared spread of curries and salads takes the pressure off. It is unpretentious in the best way: good food, fair prices, no performance. Book the Old Bagan branch for an evening near the temples, share the tea-leaf salad and a couple of curries, and keep it relaxed. See our first-date restaurant guide for more.
Not for
Not for anyone after a polished, designed dining room. Star Beam is a plain bistro with hard chairs; the cooking is the draw, not the setting.
Frequently Asked
Is Star Beam in Bagan worth it?
Yes. Star Beam is run by Kuwait-trained chef-owner Myo Myint and is the table travellers most often name as the best meal in Bagan. The Burmese curries and smoked Irrawaddy river fish are the highlights, the salads are excellent, and a dinner runs around $12 to $15 a head. It is a plain room with hard chairs, but the cooking more than makes up for it.
What should I order at Star Beam?
Start with the tea-leaf salad, then order the Rakhine fish curry and the chef’s signature chicken curry, with the smoked Irrawaddy river fish if it is available. Add a fresh-baked baguette from the French side of the menu. The avocado and eggplant salads are also worth a place on the table. Tell the chef about any allergies; he handles them happily.
How much does Star Beam cost?
Modest. A three-course dinner with a beer comes to roughly $12 to $15 per person, which is a little above the Bagan average but reflects the quality and the fresh-market sourcing. It is excellent value for cooking of this standard in a temple town where most kitchens aim at tour groups rather than individual diners.
Does Star Beam have more than one branch?
Yes, there are branches in Old Bagan and New Bagan. The Old Bagan location is the original and the more atmospheric choice for an evening near the temples. Both run the same menu under chef-owner Myo Myint. See our Bagan dining guide for other options across the temple plain.
Reserve a Table
Reserve at Star Beam
Walk-in for most evenings. For a group or a sunset table, ask your hotel to call ahead. The Old Bagan branch is the original.
Affiliate disclosure: Restaurants for Kings may earn a commission when you book through our reservation links, at no cost to you. Our scores are editorial and never paid for.
Practical Information
AddressMain Road, Old Bagan
NeighbourhoodOld Bagan
CuisineBurmese / French bistro
PriceAbout $12–15 per person
Dress CodeNo-rules
SeatingSmall dining room; branches in Old and New Bagan
ReservationPhone / walk-in
