[2025 Update] Rangoon Ruby: A Taste of Burma in the Philippines

Burmese cuisine is known for its vibrant flavors and unique ingredients, and now Filipinos can experience it for themselves at Rangoon Ruby, the country's first authentic Burmese restaurant.

Located in Alabang, Rangoon Ruby is a collaboration between Max Lee, Executive Chef of Rangoon Ruby US and Rommel Ng, co-founder of Buffalo’s Wings N’ Things and President of G2G All Spice Eatery Group Inc. Their shared vision is to create a platform for cultural exchange while contributing to elevate the local dining scene with exciting culinary offerings and diverse flavor experiences.

Burmese cuisine showcases influences from neighboring countries (India, Thailand, and China) through the use of fresh ingredients and bold spices, so one can surely encounter familiar dishes on the menu with a twist.

Here are some of the dishes we tried during the media preview:

The Vegetarian Samosa is packed with mashed potatoes, onions, and spices, with a side of their signature tamarind sauce.

Vegetarian Samosa - P249 (3 pcs) / P479 (6 pcs)

Eat this flak, buttery Palatha on its own or pair it with chicken coconut (or pork belly).

Palatha - P279

The irresistible Fried Pork Belly Strips pair well with the sweet chili + fish sauce dip.

Fried Pork Belly Strips - P349

The highlight (for me) was the Tea Leaf Salad (Laphet Thoke / လက်ဖက်), a traditional Burmese salad that's earthy and tangy. This fragrant salad features fermented tea leaves imported from Myanmar, fried garlic, yellow beans, peanuts, sesame and sunflower seeds, lettuce, tomatoes, green chilis, dried shrimp and zested with lemon.

Tea Leaf Salad - P499

Noodles are an integral part of Burmese cuisine, and for this occasion, we were served Nan Gyi Dok (Coconut Noodle / နန်းကြီးသုပ်‌) which has thick round rice noodles doused with coconut chicken curry.

Nan Gyi Dok - P499

Then came several entrees ranging from meat to vegetable choices. This was when things took up a notch as these dishes were all prepared with a medium spice level.

The Chicken Biryani hits you at the onset (but I love the chicken's smokey flavor) while the Beef Kebat delivers a slow-burning heat that lingers on the palate. On the other hand, you'll forget that the Pork Belly Curry is spicy when eaten with the coconut rice.

Chicken Biryani - P499

Pork Belly Curry - P449 | Coconut Rice - P129 (solo) / P379 (sharing)

Beef Kebat - P649

We were so full at that point, but I do appreciate their wok stir-fried dishes, the Soy Chili Eggplant and signature Ruby Shrimp.

Soy Chili Eggplant - P349

Ruby Shrimp - P799

*Tip: Request for milder spice if you are spice-averse like me or go extreme for heat lovers.

The Burmese iced tea with black tea base and Dragon fruit shake (with milk) were served between bites, which helped keep the spicy flavor at bay.

Burmese iced tea - P199 | Dragon fruit shake - P229

The night ended with a choice of sweet (Creamy Coconut Mousse), savory (Mont lone yay baw မုန့်လုံးရေပေါ်), or a refreshing treat (Shwe yin aye ရွှေရင်အေး).

Creamy Coconut Mousse (coconut panna cotta and chewy tapioca with palm jaggery syrup) - P299

Burmese Duo (Mont lone yay baw; made from glutinous rice flour and palm jaggery, topped with shredded coconut) - P299

Shwe yin aye (Burmese 'halo-halo') - P299

Here are my personal favorites: 

• All the starters: Samosa, Palatha (on its own), Fried Pork Belly Strips (lightly battered and not oily
• Tea Leaf Salad
• Pork Belly Curry with coconut rice
• Burmese iced tea (not too sweet)
• Creamy Coconut Mousse

[UPDATE 15 January 2025] I returned over the 2024 holidays with my chosen family and we were able to dine inside with our dog (she was in a cart and was wearing a diaper)! Happy to support a pet-friendly business <3

Whether you're a seasoned foodie or simply looking to try something new, Rangoon Ruby is a great place to explore the delicious world of Burmese cuisine. Visit them at the Festival Mall Alabang's East Wing (Upper Ground Level) near Tim Hortons / The Landmark Alabang. Follow them on Facebook and Instagram at @rangoonruby.ph for updates.

*Disclaimer: I received an invite to try the dishes before the opening (thank you!) but all views/opinions are my own. I paid out of pocket for our meals during my second visit.