YANGON — If a quiet little eatery offering a soul and jazz ambiance, fine food and friendly staff sounds appealing, try Fatman in Dagon Township.
The Fatman Steak Bistro & Cafe opened for business in May this year and is growing rapidly in reputation and popularity.
The cozy bistro brings something different to the Yangon food scene, combining fine food with indoor and street-side dining and offering a well-prepared and delicious menu from fresh locally sourced ingredients at affordable prices.
“Big Mike,” the hands-on manager and one of the five young Myanmar co-owners of the bistro/cafe, describes the concept of the venue as being a place to relax, chill out with friends, listen to soul and jazz and even take advantage of the community notice-board to buy and sell items or inform others of upcoming events.
Big Mike draws on his years of growing up in the United States, combined with extensive travels in Canada, Australia and Japan, to create a cosmopolitan feel at the eating house.
The restaurant is situated in Dagon’s Bo Yar Nyunt Street, close to the intersection with Nawaday Street, and a mere stone’s throw from downtown Yangon.
The drinks menu is quite comprehensive for a small establishment. Apart from an extensive range of Barista coffees, hot chocolates, teas and smoothies, the cafe offers a wide selection of Italian, Argentinian, Australian and French wines, local and imported beers and an impressive range of cocktails.
For appetizers, Fatman offers teriyaki and bulgogi beef and chicken skewers, along with Myanmar-style ngamouk rice crackers.
Burgers are one of the house specialities, both classic style in beef, chicken or pork, or in a variety of other styles.
The signature “Fatman’s burger” is a chunky 250 grams of flavorsome local minced beef, topped with shredded cheese, crispy bacon, and accompanied by a side order of fries. As the menu boasts, “This is BIG.”
For a main meal you can try the Fatman’s pan-seared beef, chicken or pork steak, seasoned with what are described as the “bold” flavors of spices and aromatic herbs. The meal comes with generous helpings of sauteed vegetables, mouth-watering grilled butter corn cobs and “Fatman’s Slaw.” As with the burgers, the main meals come in teriyaki or classic style.
Among other menu highlights are slow-cooked BBQ pork chops, chicken Kiev, pork cordon bleu and classic rosemary-flavored pork.
Fatman Bistro may be small in size, but it’s got a big heart and will suit anyone looking to enjoy a fine lunch or evening meal with friends in a comfortable and mellow environment.
This story first appeared in the September 2013 print issue of The Irrawaddy magazine.
