Highly recommend. I walked in having looked at the menu but didn't know what I wanted. The restaurant was clean, staff was very helpful and friendly. To be honest, I don't know what I got but it was a vegan noodle dish and very good. My mother had the beef with black bean, but the best item was the GINGER SALAD! I said it was my first time and asked for recommendations. The salad was amazing! I cannot begin to describe what it's similar to. It's not sweet it's a more savory salad. It's gingery but doesn't taste like cleaner. Very crunchy and fresh. It's just delightful.

Oh man! There are nearly zero restaurants of this cuisine here--it's so hard to find. We came with a group and I'm so glad this place exists. The restaurant is clean and the staff are so helpful and thoughtful. What we got: Tea leaf salad - Solid, staple order. You can choose your spiciness level. It has so many fun textures and packed with flavor. Mohinga (catfish noodle soup) - I grew up having an aunt that made this for us. So this holds a special place in my belly and my heart. Again, you can choose your level of spiciness. If you think catfish is weird, it's not. You hardly realize it's there. I'm used to a wider rice noodle, but this was good too. It's savory but bright from the squeezed lemon (I'm used to lime). This one had a fun ingredient that added a bit of a crispy bite to some spoonfuls--maybe it was like a fried broad bean or something? Not sure, but 100% hit the spot. Fries chickpea? - This was surprisingly more delicious than I expected. The chickpea was more like tofu texture, and the batter flavor was just really tasty. Portions are pretty generous, so depending on how hungry you are you could definitely share and eat family style.

Tofu Gyaw: this tofu was delicious!! I've never had chickpea tofu before. It came out piping hot and crisp on the outside but silky smooth on the inside. Sauce was great Moh hin gar: I loved the crunchy bean parts. Tbh I couldnt even find the catfish. Was it just catfish broth? In any case, it was a nice noodle soup Kyarzan Thoke: this was very unique and delicious as well. Medium wasn't too spicy. Portion sizes are pretty big. prices are a bit high though ($17-20). Decor is very nice. The dim lighting and clean interior make it a great date spot. They give you water bottles instead of water, which u thought was kind of an odd choice. Service was fast and friendly.

Hidden gem located in a strip mall in Wheaton! Clean, cozy, affordable. Finding good tasting vegan options in the Chicago suburbs can be tough but this place definitely lived up to our expectations! We let the owner order for us and everything we had was fabulous! The chickpea tofu with a sour and spice dipping sauce was so different than any tofu we have had and it was delicious! Really missing out if you haven't ate here yet! Only thing we didn't like was they use water bottles. Hoping that's something they can change in the future to be more planet friendly

If you have not tried it yet Just Do It!! Is getting better. We met friends from Chicago, a group of 7, we enjoyed each dish tremendously and had lots of fun. Our friend drive 45 to 60 minutes every few months to enjoy their delicious cooking. Service is excellent and the atmosphere is inviting. Always a great experience.

6/5 stars! As a Southeast Asian person whose partner is Burmese, I am so happy that Pa Lian offers amazing Burmese dishes that satisfy my soul :) Flavors are incredible, the service is outstanding, and the restaurant is clean, classy, and homey all at the same time. The drive from Chicago to this restaurant is absolutely worth it, everytime. (It ranges from 45-90 minutes depending on traffic. Because of the drive, we also take it as an opportunity to visit the Morton Arboretum, which is about 15-20 min drive from the restaurant. The perfect day!) We have eaten at the restaurant and ordered takeout. We enjoy doing both! Eating in and then ordering takeout for the next few days. Must Try: - Tea Leaf Salad: It's savory and has incredible textural variety. - Moh-Hin-Gar (the national dish): My favorite Burmese dish of all time, this is a catfish soup with rice noodles, a boiled egg, fried lentil, and other toppings that will delight your taste buds. Perfect for a cold day but really for any season! I love how this is presented when you eat in the restaurant (see my photos). It's also a perfect portion size! Additional Must Try (to be honest, the whole menu probably but here's what I had! I loved it all): - Tofu gyaw: Burmese yellow fried chickpea tofu. Crispy and delightful especially with the sauce. - Tofu salad: Burmese tofu is often made of chickpeas! So yum and fun texture, with very savory taste. - KaukSwe Thoke: wheat flour noodles in Burmese sauce - Nangyi Dok: Rice udon noodle in Burmese sauce *A note on spice level: I handle spice pretty well, and even the mild level felt pretty hot! They don't play around with their spice!! I love this place. And every time we see the owner, he is always smiling and welcoming! It's clear how much care he puts into the food and restaurant, and it is so appreciated. Thank you for bringing Burmese cuisine to the greater Chicago area!

I was visiting in the area and this was my first time here or to any Burmese restaurant. I've had food made from my Burmese friends and liked it so I thought I would try this. The food was flavorful. We didn't try anything that I wouldn't have again. The hard part was just picking a handful of things to try. The spring rolls were fresh and tasty. The fried chickpea tofu was more like a savory biscuit rather than gelatinous. The sauce on it was good. Two entrees that we got were the beef with pickled mango, which is not sweet, and the squid salad. The squid salad was my favorite. It was crispy, fresh, and citrusy like ceviche. We also tried the coconut soup which was ok, but my least favorite. Over all, the food has a flavor profile between Indian food and Chinese, but not really like Thai. The restaurant was very clean and simple in styling, but modern. The bathroom was also very clean. The night we went, there was only the one host/waiter, who was very busy, but also attentive. My friends also loved everything they tried. I would recommend this restaurant to try.

Solid Burmese restaurant that was recommended by a friend who is familia with authentic Burmese cuisine. I got the Tea leaf salad and the Khow Suey. I wish the salad came with a protein option, considering its price point. The broth was very tasty and the lentil crisps was a nice touch. Overall, the food was very fresh and tasty. They do have limited hours so please check before planning a trip, so we especially if you're going from the city since it is a hike.