The Best of...Burma Superstar

People waiting to eat at Burma Superstar (and this is only at 5 PM)

When you're first getting to know a new city, you rely on the advice of the veterans - where to explore, where to shop, where to eat.  These opinions are often quite varied and provide a diversity of excellent options.  However, in each of these categories, there tends to be a few standouts that get mentioned over and over again.  When I first moved to San Francisco, I heard a couple of suggestions repeatedly.  I had to check out the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park.  I needed to go pirate shopping at 826 Valencia.  And I absolutely had to eat at Burma Superstar.  ASAP.

Tea leaf salad

Lamb kebat

I quickly heeded this advice and now go to Burma pretty regularly, especially when I have guests in town who I want to impress with the gustatory delights of this fair city.  While most of what I've sampled at the Superstar has been super, there are a handful of dishes that have kept it so high on my list.  Much has been written about this establishment and all that it offers, so I'll keep it brief and informative.  Here are my top six dishes to order at that Grande Dame of San Francisco ethnic eating - Burma Superstar:

 1) Tea leaf salad - It's a miraculous mix of salad  fermented tea leaves imported from Burma, tomatoes, lettuce, fried garlic, sesame seeds, peanuts, and split yellow peas.  The salad is an incredible mélange of textures, held together by the pungency and almost gritty moisture of the tea leaves.

2) Samusa soup - This vegetarian soup brings together a rich red broth with cabbage and lentils, but the real stars are the broken up bits of fried samusa that soak up the soup, becoming moist and chewy in a manner reminiscent of fried Mexican dishes that become even more delicious as they soak up salsa an guacamole.

3) Burmese chicken casserole - Baked in a clay pot with raisins, nuts, and the chicken is braised to the point of unthinkable tenderness.  Comfort food at its best.

4) Lamb kebat - Tender morsels of lamb stir-fried to perfection with onions, mint leaves and loads of chilies.

5) Coconut rice - This sweet and rich rice would be more than satisfying on it's own, but when paired with the aforementioned lamb, it is transcendent.

6) Pea shoots - So simple, yet so flavorful.  Fresh greens, perfectly sautéed to retain their crispness.  These are a perfect addition to any Burma meal, allowing you to feel somewhat virtuous while stuffing yourself full of lamb and rice.

 So did I miss anything?  The yellow bean curry?  The heat cutting room temperature Superstar noodles?  Let us know if there are other dishes that should have made this list.