Ngapali Beach Myanmar – Best Places to Eat

Ngapali Beach has quite a good range of food options although as this is a typical seaside town you can expect there to be an emphasis on fish and seafood.

Along the main road in Ngapali Beach (which is called Main Street) you will find a selection of eateries although they all offer up pretty much the same types of dishes and there is often not much to differentiate them.

What to eat in Ngapali Beach

One of the signature dishes in Ngapali Beach is the toothsome prawn curry with coconut, and you will find this in almost every restaurant in the area. Due to the ethnic mix in Ngapali Beach, you will also find Burmese, Thai, and Chinese plates, with the big resorts serving up Western fare if you fancy a change.

Budget

It is fair to say that food in Ngapali Beach is a little pricier than other parts of Myanmar and it can be tough to find really cheap spots to grab a quick bite. In previous times there were a range of simple local beach shacks on the main beach that would sell noodle and rice dishes for a few dollars, although many of these have been closed as they did not have official permits to operate. As a result, it remains to be seen if they will reopen any time in the future, and this means that you will most likely have to eat in proper licensed restaurants and cafes.

One of the few picks left on Ngapali Beach that does serve cheap bites is the Green Umbrella which is a much loved favourite of both locals and visitors. You can get tasty seafood curries here as well as simple choices like fish grilled over hot coals and dishes cost around USD2.50 which is significantly cheaper than many other choices. The restaurant also has delightful sea views that stretch out over the Bay of Bengal.

Mid-range

Many of the best picks in Ngapali Beach are located right on the main beach such as the Pleasant View Islet Restaurant which sits at the southern end. If the tide is high you may have to take the free boat shuttle to the islet but this makes for a rather special experience. The food here is mostly seafood and fish curries as well as Western dishes like pasta mixed with seafood. You can expect to pay from USD4 for a main meal but the venue makes it more than worth it.

Another popular choice, located on Ngapali Road is Zaw II which is known for its traditional Rakhine dishes, so if you fancy trying some local flavours then this is a solid pick. Be warned however that some of the plates and curries are pretty heavy on the chili so make sure to let the staff know in advance if you would like it a little less hot. As with the Pleasant View Islet you can get mains from around USD4.

Top End

If you want to eat at one of the resorts then you can expect to pay anything from USD10 upwards depending on what you choose. One of the most popular places to do this is Catch at the Bayview Beach Resort which has Western choices like pizzas and burgers with chips as well as upscale fish dishes like barracuda steaks.

Also in this price range is the Sandoway Resort Restaurant in the Sandoway Resort which offers upscale versions of local dishes like tea leaf salad as well as pasta dishes and seafood plates. Dishes here usually start at USD9 and can go up to USD50 for more elaborate seafood options.