This was the WORST pho I have ever had in my life. I am Vietnamese. I know pho. I've had pho in Vietnam and at mom's. It is my favorite food. I can tolerate sub par pho but this was the absolute worst. The broth was cloudy (should be clear), tasted like it came from a bag of spices with the wrong spices (not fresh cinnamon, anise seed, etc and just not at all like pho), there was hardly any meat, and they served it with lemon. Pho is served with lime. The whole thing was wrong. I would never come here again for pho. I'm not sure I would return for other food off the menu. I will go to Indy for a bowl if I can't get a bowl of mom's.
(1)
Thomas C.
A review of Mandalay needs to be divided into two parts: the Pho and the Non-Pho. 1) I am a Seattleite for whom Pho is not just a occasional "ethnic" treat but a main staple of my diet. While it is true that the Pho at Mandalay is a buck or two more than in Seattle or other big cities, it is by far the best place to get Pho in town. The broth is incredible, the veggie plate is abundant and fresh, and the noodles are cooked perfectly. Ask for your beef rare if you prefer 'pho tai' when you go to a Vietnamese place. Read my review on phofever.com for more. 2) The non-Pho food is exquisite, if you know what to order. It is a very interesting combination of ingredients that includes Indian, Thai, and Vietnamese flavors. Noodles are their specialty - try the N9 for a delicious Burmese take on Pad Thai with thick homemade noodles that resemble udon noodles. The appetizers, for me, are the show-stealers. Try the paratha, clear rolls, tea leaf salad, and samosas. Very, very satisfying stuff that could easily substitute for an entree or two. Finally, the owners of this restaurant are truly great people that treat their employees and customers like family.
(5)
Anna W.
In my tour of Asian restaurants in Bloomington this weekend, I'd say Mandalay was probably my least favorite. The atmosphere was okay- kind of diner-ish. The waitstaff was, however, amazing. We must have had the pickiest, noisiest, most annoying table ever and the waitress was a gem. The food was okay. I had pho, which is apparently their most popular dish, and I didn't think it was anything special. In fact, it seemed pretty bland to me. I also thought the prices were a little high, but at the same time, I wasn't able to finish my meal (which is pretty rare for me).
(3)
Yvonne M.
The mango shake, is by far the best I've had so far in Bloomington and Indy. I had the chicken coconut curry and its a bit sour for my personal taste and my bf had crispy chicken salad which I think it's pretty good since I used to write off anything that says salad. The salad had onions, cilantros, cucumber and crispy chicken. pretty unique I'd say. They have menu that comes with pictures of dishes which is really helpful and foreigners friendly or when you're lazy to read the dishes details. The servers although friendly, I feel like we were rushed from looking at the menu to ordering to collecting our plates and check. This is prolly not a good place for people coming in for long chatty hangouts or dates. Mixed feelings but I'd come back to try out other dishes.
(3)
Dalia M.
I love Pho in this weather and was so happy to find this place after a year of being in Bloomington. Solid pho, your typical decor of a Vietnamese restaurant, prices are normal. There could be more meat with the entire meal. Their delivery is a bit annoying - delivery fee and the packaging causes the rice noodles to clump together and to the styrofoam box - there has to be a better way to do this. Pho for a cold? The best.
(3)
Jeremy P.
i went back to Mandalay and it smelled much better. i highly recommend their Pork with Mango pickles dish. hell yeah!
(4)
Sue Y.
The only authentic Pho place in town!! Quality was not that stable though, cannot come here for anything during summer. But absolutely love their fried paratha going with sugar (serve yourself on table). Make sure you know how to eat a pho... Once I saw people leaving the vegetables on the plate instead of pouring them in the soup, you guys missed a ton
(4)
Charcy L.
Really like their beef noodle soup and coconut juice, I like eat the coconut in juice, which is delicious! Thai ice eat is also good^^
(4)
Xiaohui W.
I really like their beef Pho. That should be their signature food. Also the fried salmon with tamarin source is also really good. As for the price, it's a bit more expensive than other restaurants around.
(4)
Dan P.
This restaurant gets 4 stars because of the paratha app with yellow peas. That was amazing. The entrees were also good. I had some fish/rice/shrimp entree that I won't attempt to spell. It purported to have salted fish in it, but there was very little. I tasted a delicious salt bomb a few times and assume that was the fish. The dish was good, but light on fish. The wife ordered potato curry, which was good as well. Service was excellent. The restaurant is a little noisy, but not a problem. Mostly it was a child who belonged to the staff yammering with the staff.
(4)
Robin K.
One of my first favorite restaurants in Bloomington! I lo-o-ove their noodles, Thai iced tea, and starters. My mouth wants to start drooling just thinking about it!
(5)
Bawi M.
I went to Mandalay Restaurant with a friends last week and i love it.... their tea leaf salad was sooo delicious.
(5)
Krista R.
For some strange reason it's hard to find good pho in Bloomington! I popped my pho cherry here, and have been back many times. I always get the avocado shake because it's damn tasty. Recommended if you like Thai. Or if you're awesome.
(4)
Sarah H.
Based on prior reviews, I was looking forward to trying the beef Pho. I ordered delivery, but my order arrived with no broth. Pho is clearly a noodle soup, and indeed, the restaurant's menu shows the dish in broth. I called the restaurant and was told that broth was not served with the dish, and that I would have to pay extra for an additional delivery. Luckily, I had some chicken broth at home, although it wasn't an ideal flavor to pair with beef Pho. I would be interested in trying the beef Pho again, but I will not be ordering delivery from this restaurant anymore.
(2)
Tuosan G.
I really do like the fired catfish, pork carry, and the avocado shake. Very delicious.
(4)
Robert B.
Very interesting menu that does not overly cater to "American" Asian food. Great and friendly service. Reasonable prices. Last time 5 of us went and had a great time sharing different dishes and all of them good to really good.
(4)
Britta M.
Don't go here if you expect to have basil with your pho(even if they have it as part of the dish on the menu.)
(2)
Angela P.
This is a sweet little place with really good food. We wanted to try some of the more "authentic" stuff on the menu so we ended up having the pork with mango pickle and the dish that has the dried and salted fish (I could never pronounce the name). Both dishes were really good, although the fish in the second dish was just a bit too strong for my personal taste. My dining partner loved it. I had no idea what to expect with the pork, but it was surprisingly mild and something I could eat a ton of without getting sick of it. It was Friday night and the place was very busy, so we felt a bit rushed by the servers, but otherwise the service was friendly and attentive.
(4)
Ellen G.
I loooooveeee this place! Get the avacado shake. Great for vegetarians.
(5)
Katie B.
One of the only places in town with pho, but the food is usually bland, the service crappy & the hours ridiculously random.
(2)
Joshua G.
Wonderful. I had the tea leaf salad and the tomato-based eggplant curry, and both were excellent. Nice people, too. (Thought I'd mention, the food is quite different from the old Burmese Gems that used to be in the same location, and which I also loved.)
(5)
Andrew L.
The Pho is very good (I always go with the pork over the chicken and beef). I would also highly recommend their chicken eggrolls. Contrary to some of the other reviews, I have never had bad service here.
(4)
Jessica V.
Killer coconut curries! Only thing that gets this place docked a star is that they don't serve alcohol so you can't get a crisp beer to cool your palate in between bites of spicy curry! But get their fried bread that you dip in sugar. This is a good break from the spice.
(4)
Caleb F.
Great food. Coconut juice! Coconut rice was Delicious. Also, try the chicken teriyaki and mushroom with tofu.
(5)
Ann M.
I do truly love this place and while I've had a number of entree items, I've gotten the pho most of the times I've been here because it's both delicious and pretty much the best you can get in town. I do vary up the appetizers - the tea leaf salad, the clear rolls, the samosa and the chicken satay are all excellent. I appreciate the small and homey feel of the restaurant as well - they are always quite friendly, which isn't always the norm in Bloomington. If you are reading this on a Monday or during the last week or two of the year, you'll probably be sad to learn they are closed. But come back later! You'll be glad you did.
(5)
Kunal K.
I loved this place while I lived in Bloomington. I could eat the pork curry with mango pickle for the rest of my life, every single day, and I would die a very very happy man. This is a perfect mom-run joint. In part I loved the place because the waitress is such a mom. She would serve the rice in your plate and also gave me a soothing lemon tea with honey on a day my throat was killing me(it really works!). She would also give you a tasty free appetizer. And then once you are done she will pack up your leftovers nice and tight for you to take home and enjoy the deliciousness the next day. Even my own mom does not pamper me like that. The food is really good, and the pork curry with mango pickle is my hands down favorite. Make sure you tell them how many "stars" you want on the spiciness chart. I always went for 4 and the mom/waitress would always double check to see if I could handle it. Yes, I grew up on indian food. Yes, I can handle it. Now that I have moved away from Bloomington, I truly miss being pampered like a baby at Mandalay and I truly miss its spicy deliciousness.
(5)
Matthew W.
Really great place. Had pork curry w/ mango pickle and eggplant curry with some mandalay fritters. The fritters were not the tastiest, but had great texture. The pork and eggplant were fantastic, especially the pork. I will be coming back here often!
(4)
Orlando A.
Favorite bloomington restaurant, hands down. Although it's the food that keeps me and my circle coming back weekly, I'll start by saying that the ambiance and service are great. unpretentious, no gimmicks. fresh, modest flowers on the tables, homey vernacular decor. Marla is as described, such a mom! There's no place I feel so sincerely welcomed. She even told me i should park behind her car when 4th street is full. All the vegetarian items are addictive. the fried onions with yellow beans are something for the imagination. The free appetizer is something i crave at all hours of every day. Saying "Mandalay!" is like yelling "fire!" among my friends. They take it very seriously and get pissed if you're kidding.
(5)
Abbie H.
I love Mandalay! When I was vegan I really appreciated all of the clearly marked menu items. My favorite appetizer is the bean fritters with the chili sauce. Yum! They also have a few smoothies that are really good. I almost always get the yellow beans with fried onion. So good! Really, anyone who has tried this dish (especially if they are a vegetarian) orders it the next time! The service ranges, but I think that accompanies the chill environment. The co-owner/waitress, Marla, is so sweet and is willing to work with you on modifying a dish to your taste. Very helpful and they pack up all your leftovers at the end. :) My only complaint is that the vegetarian dishes are the same price as the meat dishes. You can't tell me that that beef costs the same as my beans. But the food is just too good to stop me!
(5)
Robert S.
I only go for the beef pho. Everything else is just ok
(4)
Lia L.
Ok, the service here is not great. But if you're looking for pho, chicken egg rolls, or summer rolls in bloomington then this place is the place you want to. By far the best pho in bloomington.
(3)
Kara H.
Josh R. just about summed it up for Mandalay. The family that owns it is really nice and their girl that runs around the tables is adorable! It's a cute spot to chill at if you're in the mood for random (mostly Burmese) Southeast Asian dishes. But if you're going for authenticity, I'd suggest sticking with the Burmese choices. My favorite are the curries! Just a note though- if you like spicy food tell them to make it spicy beforehand, otherwise all they bring out is the Sriracha sauce.
(3)
Josh R.
I update to encourage you to eat a Paratha while at Mandalay. It's crispy and chewy and full of something indescribably delicious. I actually had to close my eyes when I took my first bite of it.
(5)
Emily W.
This place is just ok. I got the coconut chicken curry and it was very bland. The chicken tasted like it was boiled. There are better places around bloomington.
(2)
Ian O.
Eat at Mandalay! I stumbled upon this quaint restaurant about a year ago and since then I've eaten there more times than I care to admit. The food is amazing and the owners are really nice and clearly passionate about the place. The wife, Marla, your server--every time--went to culinary school in Burma (Myanmar). She taught her husband how to do everything so he's always in the back cooking (also she'll talk your ear off if you're interested). You can tell she cares about the food because she won't let you make certain substitutions or use the wrong sauces with the wrong dishes because it wouldn't be authentic. Burmese cuisine is deliciously influenced by those of China, India and Thailand. If you like any or all of these styles of food then you'll be into this place. Dishes are very savory and never too greasy. Though, if you have finicky friends or parents, there are dishes available to those more comfortable with Americanized Asian food, but if you're going to a Burmese restaurant why not try some kick-ass Burmese food? Ask her for suggestions. She'll do you up right. My personal favorite is the Burmese take on the Vietnamese staple Pho. This full-flavored noodle soup is served steaming hot so they can throw in the raw, thin-sliced meat of your choice and it will cook on its way to your table. It comes with a plate of fresh items to dump in at your discretion which add to the flavor and texture of this dish, as well as bottles of hoisin and chili sauce. It's also one of the cheapest things on the menu. If you're a big eater they also serve it in a large size in a bowl that's bigger than a small child. I've found that this is the perfect size to split between two people for a cheap lunch (really fantastic on a cold, dreary day). The not-so-fishy Fish Soup is another of my favorite menu items. It's rich and filling and comes with a pleasing array of ingredients to sprinkle on top. If someone else at your table is getting pho then she'll be sure to let you know that the hoisin and chili sauce are not for you, you're not allowed to put them in your soup. That's what the chili powder is for, silly. If you love fish then this dish will blow your lid off, if you're kind of into fish (like me), you'll love it, and if you hate fish then you might just discover how it can be served without tasting like the briny deep. The appetizers are all pretty great. The samosas are my favorite in town. But if you find yourself constantly debating whether or not you should get an appetizer with dinner, worry no more. At dinnertime they always serve you these tasty squares of fried chick pea flower with homemade sauce even if you don't ask for it. As was mentioned above, the avocado shake is really something special. It involves sugar, milk and an entire avocado. This might not sound the most appetizing but trust me, it's terrific. If you want a rich dessert with all those good fats and other superfood benefits then this is your jam.
(5)
S V.
It really is as good as it gets. Looks like home converted to a restaurant....so feels good in there. Excellent staff who are very friendly and the food is great too. Lot of good authentic recipes to pick from...including for people like me...being a vegetarian.
(5)
Anthony C.
Excellent restaurant: got the pork curry w/ burmese dried mango and it was fantastic. Definitely my favorite restaurant on 4th and something different than the run of the mill indian and thai places.
(5)
Nan M.
I decided to try Mandalay Restaurant after my former roommate suggested that I taste their avocado shake. (At the time, I was basically only eating avocados.) However, on my first trip to Mandalay, I didn't even get one! Maybe I'll try to make them myself first. I did order the fried rice with tofu and egg. It was surprisingly delicious; perfectly filling and salty. My boyfriend got the pho, which he reported to be excellent. He's from Seattle, where cheap and tasty pho can be easily found. Mandalay is the first restaurant in Bloomington where he's encountered good pho. Unfortunately, it was a few dollars more than I think the food was worth. Most of the dishes are $10-12, but I don't think rice and a few veggies are worth $10. The ambiance left something to be desired. The decor was fine, and it'd probably be lovely to sit outdoors in nice weather. However, they were playing loud country music, which was odd. Overall, I'd give Mandalay Restaurant three stars for food, but I have to take away two stars due to the price and atmosphere.
(3)
Ally L.
I was pretty disappointed the Mandalay. thinking it would be excellent judging from all the stellar reviews on yelp. The food just did not taste good. The pork curry w/ mango pickle which had huge hunks of tough pork in it and all the food tasted like the way the restaurant smelled...stale. Can't speak of the service since we ordered takeout. Maybe I just went on a bad day, but I wasn't impressed.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Tiffany H.
This was the WORST pho I have ever had in my life. I am Vietnamese. I know pho. I've had pho in Vietnam and at mom's. It is my favorite food. I can tolerate sub par pho but this was the absolute worst. The broth was cloudy (should be clear), tasted like it came from a bag of spices with the wrong spices (not fresh cinnamon, anise seed, etc and just not at all like pho), there was hardly any meat, and they served it with lemon. Pho is served with lime. The whole thing was wrong. I would never come here again for pho. I'm not sure I would return for other food off the menu. I will go to Indy for a bowl if I can't get a bowl of mom's.
(1)Thomas C.
A review of Mandalay needs to be divided into two parts: the Pho and the Non-Pho. 1) I am a Seattleite for whom Pho is not just a occasional "ethnic" treat but a main staple of my diet. While it is true that the Pho at Mandalay is a buck or two more than in Seattle or other big cities, it is by far the best place to get Pho in town. The broth is incredible, the veggie plate is abundant and fresh, and the noodles are cooked perfectly. Ask for your beef rare if you prefer 'pho tai' when you go to a Vietnamese place. Read my review on phofever.com for more. 2) The non-Pho food is exquisite, if you know what to order. It is a very interesting combination of ingredients that includes Indian, Thai, and Vietnamese flavors. Noodles are their specialty - try the N9 for a delicious Burmese take on Pad Thai with thick homemade noodles that resemble udon noodles. The appetizers, for me, are the show-stealers. Try the paratha, clear rolls, tea leaf salad, and samosas. Very, very satisfying stuff that could easily substitute for an entree or two. Finally, the owners of this restaurant are truly great people that treat their employees and customers like family.
(5)Anna W.
In my tour of Asian restaurants in Bloomington this weekend, I'd say Mandalay was probably my least favorite. The atmosphere was okay- kind of diner-ish. The waitstaff was, however, amazing. We must have had the pickiest, noisiest, most annoying table ever and the waitress was a gem. The food was okay. I had pho, which is apparently their most popular dish, and I didn't think it was anything special. In fact, it seemed pretty bland to me. I also thought the prices were a little high, but at the same time, I wasn't able to finish my meal (which is pretty rare for me).
(3)Yvonne M.
The mango shake, is by far the best I've had so far in Bloomington and Indy. I had the chicken coconut curry and its a bit sour for my personal taste and my bf had crispy chicken salad which I think it's pretty good since I used to write off anything that says salad. The salad had onions, cilantros, cucumber and crispy chicken. pretty unique I'd say. They have menu that comes with pictures of dishes which is really helpful and foreigners friendly or when you're lazy to read the dishes details. The servers although friendly, I feel like we were rushed from looking at the menu to ordering to collecting our plates and check. This is prolly not a good place for people coming in for long chatty hangouts or dates. Mixed feelings but I'd come back to try out other dishes.
(3)Dalia M.
I love Pho in this weather and was so happy to find this place after a year of being in Bloomington. Solid pho, your typical decor of a Vietnamese restaurant, prices are normal. There could be more meat with the entire meal. Their delivery is a bit annoying - delivery fee and the packaging causes the rice noodles to clump together and to the styrofoam box - there has to be a better way to do this. Pho for a cold? The best.
(3)Jeremy P.
i went back to Mandalay and it smelled much better. i highly recommend their Pork with Mango pickles dish. hell yeah!
(4)Sue Y.
The only authentic Pho place in town!! Quality was not that stable though, cannot come here for anything during summer. But absolutely love their fried paratha going with sugar (serve yourself on table). Make sure you know how to eat a pho... Once I saw people leaving the vegetables on the plate instead of pouring them in the soup, you guys missed a ton
(4)Charcy L.
Really like their beef noodle soup and coconut juice, I like eat the coconut in juice, which is delicious! Thai ice eat is also good^^
(4)Xiaohui W.
I really like their beef Pho. That should be their signature food. Also the fried salmon with tamarin source is also really good. As for the price, it's a bit more expensive than other restaurants around.
(4)Dan P.
This restaurant gets 4 stars because of the paratha app with yellow peas. That was amazing. The entrees were also good. I had some fish/rice/shrimp entree that I won't attempt to spell. It purported to have salted fish in it, but there was very little. I tasted a delicious salt bomb a few times and assume that was the fish. The dish was good, but light on fish. The wife ordered potato curry, which was good as well. Service was excellent. The restaurant is a little noisy, but not a problem. Mostly it was a child who belonged to the staff yammering with the staff.
(4)Robin K.
One of my first favorite restaurants in Bloomington! I lo-o-ove their noodles, Thai iced tea, and starters. My mouth wants to start drooling just thinking about it!
(5)Bawi M.
I went to Mandalay Restaurant with a friends last week and i love it.... their tea leaf salad was sooo delicious.
(5)Krista R.
For some strange reason it's hard to find good pho in Bloomington! I popped my pho cherry here, and have been back many times. I always get the avocado shake because it's damn tasty. Recommended if you like Thai. Or if you're awesome.
(4)Sarah H.
Based on prior reviews, I was looking forward to trying the beef Pho. I ordered delivery, but my order arrived with no broth. Pho is clearly a noodle soup, and indeed, the restaurant's menu shows the dish in broth. I called the restaurant and was told that broth was not served with the dish, and that I would have to pay extra for an additional delivery. Luckily, I had some chicken broth at home, although it wasn't an ideal flavor to pair with beef Pho. I would be interested in trying the beef Pho again, but I will not be ordering delivery from this restaurant anymore.
(2)Tuosan G.
I really do like the fired catfish, pork carry, and the avocado shake. Very delicious.
(4)Robert B.
Very interesting menu that does not overly cater to "American" Asian food. Great and friendly service. Reasonable prices. Last time 5 of us went and had a great time sharing different dishes and all of them good to really good.
(4)Britta M.
Don't go here if you expect to have basil with your pho(even if they have it as part of the dish on the menu.)
(2)Angela P.
This is a sweet little place with really good food. We wanted to try some of the more "authentic" stuff on the menu so we ended up having the pork with mango pickle and the dish that has the dried and salted fish (I could never pronounce the name). Both dishes were really good, although the fish in the second dish was just a bit too strong for my personal taste. My dining partner loved it. I had no idea what to expect with the pork, but it was surprisingly mild and something I could eat a ton of without getting sick of it. It was Friday night and the place was very busy, so we felt a bit rushed by the servers, but otherwise the service was friendly and attentive.
(4)Ellen G.
I loooooveeee this place! Get the avacado shake. Great for vegetarians.
(5)Katie B.
One of the only places in town with pho, but the food is usually bland, the service crappy & the hours ridiculously random.
(2)Joshua G.
Wonderful. I had the tea leaf salad and the tomato-based eggplant curry, and both were excellent. Nice people, too. (Thought I'd mention, the food is quite different from the old Burmese Gems that used to be in the same location, and which I also loved.)
(5)Andrew L.
The Pho is very good (I always go with the pork over the chicken and beef). I would also highly recommend their chicken eggrolls. Contrary to some of the other reviews, I have never had bad service here.
(4)Jessica V.
Killer coconut curries! Only thing that gets this place docked a star is that they don't serve alcohol so you can't get a crisp beer to cool your palate in between bites of spicy curry! But get their fried bread that you dip in sugar. This is a good break from the spice.
(4)Caleb F.
Great food. Coconut juice! Coconut rice was Delicious. Also, try the chicken teriyaki and mushroom with tofu.
(5)Ann M.
I do truly love this place and while I've had a number of entree items, I've gotten the pho most of the times I've been here because it's both delicious and pretty much the best you can get in town. I do vary up the appetizers - the tea leaf salad, the clear rolls, the samosa and the chicken satay are all excellent. I appreciate the small and homey feel of the restaurant as well - they are always quite friendly, which isn't always the norm in Bloomington. If you are reading this on a Monday or during the last week or two of the year, you'll probably be sad to learn they are closed. But come back later! You'll be glad you did.
(5)Kunal K.
I loved this place while I lived in Bloomington. I could eat the pork curry with mango pickle for the rest of my life, every single day, and I would die a very very happy man. This is a perfect mom-run joint. In part I loved the place because the waitress is such a mom. She would serve the rice in your plate and also gave me a soothing lemon tea with honey on a day my throat was killing me(it really works!). She would also give you a tasty free appetizer. And then once you are done she will pack up your leftovers nice and tight for you to take home and enjoy the deliciousness the next day. Even my own mom does not pamper me like that. The food is really good, and the pork curry with mango pickle is my hands down favorite. Make sure you tell them how many "stars" you want on the spiciness chart. I always went for 4 and the mom/waitress would always double check to see if I could handle it. Yes, I grew up on indian food. Yes, I can handle it. Now that I have moved away from Bloomington, I truly miss being pampered like a baby at Mandalay and I truly miss its spicy deliciousness.
(5)Matthew W.
Really great place. Had pork curry w/ mango pickle and eggplant curry with some mandalay fritters. The fritters were not the tastiest, but had great texture. The pork and eggplant were fantastic, especially the pork. I will be coming back here often!
(4)Orlando A.
Favorite bloomington restaurant, hands down. Although it's the food that keeps me and my circle coming back weekly, I'll start by saying that the ambiance and service are great. unpretentious, no gimmicks. fresh, modest flowers on the tables, homey vernacular decor. Marla is as described, such a mom! There's no place I feel so sincerely welcomed. She even told me i should park behind her car when 4th street is full. All the vegetarian items are addictive. the fried onions with yellow beans are something for the imagination. The free appetizer is something i crave at all hours of every day. Saying "Mandalay!" is like yelling "fire!" among my friends. They take it very seriously and get pissed if you're kidding.
(5)Abbie H.
I love Mandalay! When I was vegan I really appreciated all of the clearly marked menu items. My favorite appetizer is the bean fritters with the chili sauce. Yum! They also have a few smoothies that are really good. I almost always get the yellow beans with fried onion. So good! Really, anyone who has tried this dish (especially if they are a vegetarian) orders it the next time! The service ranges, but I think that accompanies the chill environment. The co-owner/waitress, Marla, is so sweet and is willing to work with you on modifying a dish to your taste. Very helpful and they pack up all your leftovers at the end. :) My only complaint is that the vegetarian dishes are the same price as the meat dishes. You can't tell me that that beef costs the same as my beans. But the food is just too good to stop me!
(5)Robert S.
I only go for the beef pho. Everything else is just ok
(4)Lia L.
Ok, the service here is not great. But if you're looking for pho, chicken egg rolls, or summer rolls in bloomington then this place is the place you want to. By far the best pho in bloomington.
(3)Kara H.
Josh R. just about summed it up for Mandalay. The family that owns it is really nice and their girl that runs around the tables is adorable! It's a cute spot to chill at if you're in the mood for random (mostly Burmese) Southeast Asian dishes. But if you're going for authenticity, I'd suggest sticking with the Burmese choices. My favorite are the curries! Just a note though- if you like spicy food tell them to make it spicy beforehand, otherwise all they bring out is the Sriracha sauce.
(3)Josh R.
I update to encourage you to eat a Paratha while at Mandalay. It's crispy and chewy and full of something indescribably delicious. I actually had to close my eyes when I took my first bite of it.
(5)Emily W.
This place is just ok. I got the coconut chicken curry and it was very bland. The chicken tasted like it was boiled. There are better places around bloomington.
(2)Ian O.
Eat at Mandalay! I stumbled upon this quaint restaurant about a year ago and since then I've eaten there more times than I care to admit. The food is amazing and the owners are really nice and clearly passionate about the place. The wife, Marla, your server--every time--went to culinary school in Burma (Myanmar). She taught her husband how to do everything so he's always in the back cooking (also she'll talk your ear off if you're interested). You can tell she cares about the food because she won't let you make certain substitutions or use the wrong sauces with the wrong dishes because it wouldn't be authentic. Burmese cuisine is deliciously influenced by those of China, India and Thailand. If you like any or all of these styles of food then you'll be into this place. Dishes are very savory and never too greasy. Though, if you have finicky friends or parents, there are dishes available to those more comfortable with Americanized Asian food, but if you're going to a Burmese restaurant why not try some kick-ass Burmese food? Ask her for suggestions. She'll do you up right. My personal favorite is the Burmese take on the Vietnamese staple Pho. This full-flavored noodle soup is served steaming hot so they can throw in the raw, thin-sliced meat of your choice and it will cook on its way to your table. It comes with a plate of fresh items to dump in at your discretion which add to the flavor and texture of this dish, as well as bottles of hoisin and chili sauce. It's also one of the cheapest things on the menu. If you're a big eater they also serve it in a large size in a bowl that's bigger than a small child. I've found that this is the perfect size to split between two people for a cheap lunch (really fantastic on a cold, dreary day). The not-so-fishy Fish Soup is another of my favorite menu items. It's rich and filling and comes with a pleasing array of ingredients to sprinkle on top. If someone else at your table is getting pho then she'll be sure to let you know that the hoisin and chili sauce are not for you, you're not allowed to put them in your soup. That's what the chili powder is for, silly. If you love fish then this dish will blow your lid off, if you're kind of into fish (like me), you'll love it, and if you hate fish then you might just discover how it can be served without tasting like the briny deep. The appetizers are all pretty great. The samosas are my favorite in town. But if you find yourself constantly debating whether or not you should get an appetizer with dinner, worry no more. At dinnertime they always serve you these tasty squares of fried chick pea flower with homemade sauce even if you don't ask for it. As was mentioned above, the avocado shake is really something special. It involves sugar, milk and an entire avocado. This might not sound the most appetizing but trust me, it's terrific. If you want a rich dessert with all those good fats and other superfood benefits then this is your jam.
(5)S V.
It really is as good as it gets. Looks like home converted to a restaurant....so feels good in there. Excellent staff who are very friendly and the food is great too. Lot of good authentic recipes to pick from...including for people like me...being a vegetarian.
(5)Anthony C.
Excellent restaurant: got the pork curry w/ burmese dried mango and it was fantastic. Definitely my favorite restaurant on 4th and something different than the run of the mill indian and thai places.
(5)Nan M.
I decided to try Mandalay Restaurant after my former roommate suggested that I taste their avocado shake. (At the time, I was basically only eating avocados.) However, on my first trip to Mandalay, I didn't even get one! Maybe I'll try to make them myself first. I did order the fried rice with tofu and egg. It was surprisingly delicious; perfectly filling and salty. My boyfriend got the pho, which he reported to be excellent. He's from Seattle, where cheap and tasty pho can be easily found. Mandalay is the first restaurant in Bloomington where he's encountered good pho. Unfortunately, it was a few dollars more than I think the food was worth. Most of the dishes are $10-12, but I don't think rice and a few veggies are worth $10. The ambiance left something to be desired. The decor was fine, and it'd probably be lovely to sit outdoors in nice weather. However, they were playing loud country music, which was odd. Overall, I'd give Mandalay Restaurant three stars for food, but I have to take away two stars due to the price and atmosphere.
(3)Ally L.
I was pretty disappointed the Mandalay. thinking it would be excellent judging from all the stellar reviews on yelp. The food just did not taste good. The pork curry w/ mango pickle which had huge hunks of tough pork in it and all the food tasted like the way the restaurant smelled...stale. Can't speak of the service since we ordered takeout. Maybe I just went on a bad day, but I wasn't impressed.
(2)