Myanmar cooking class in Yangon: Market to table with local cooks

Cook Myanmar dishes from scratch in a downtown kitchen, not just watch a demonstration.

A hands-on cooking class in central Yangon where you visit the local street market, then return to the kitchen to cook five traditional dishes (Kachin beef or fish, banana bud salad, fermented tealeaf salad, pumpkin curry and sago pudding) alongside local instructors, eat what you've made, and receive digital copies of the recipes. The class runs 3.5 hours and includes all ingredients, water and local coffee.

The experience

The class starts at the street market in downtown Yangon, where you walk through the stalls with your instructor to see what's in season and learn how market life works here. You'll pick up the fresh ingredients and exotic produce you'll cook with, then head back to the kitchen. The instructors (local women who teach the class regularly) handle all the prep work so you can focus on the cooking itself rather than chopping and measuring.

You'll make five dishes: Kachin beef, fish or mushroom (an aromatic dish with fresh herbs and spices from Kachin State); banana bud salad (using the flower bud prepared the local way); fermented tealeaf salad (the famous Myanmar version with fried beans and fresh vegetables); pumpkin curry (a quick dish that brings out the natural sweetness); and sago and palm sugar pudding (a traditional dessert made with locally made palm sugar and fresh coconut cream). Each one is something you can recreate at home once you've learned the technique. After cooking, you sit down together to eat the meal and talk about life in Myanmar.

The class includes all the food you cook and eat, bottled water, good local coffee and the instructor fee. You'll get a digital copy of the recipes before you leave. If you have dietary requirements (vegetarian options are available), let the operator know when you book.

What’s included

• All ingredients for the five dishes.
• bottled water.
• good local coffee.
• instructor fee.
• digital copies of the recipes.
• the meal you cook and eat together in the dining room.

Before you book

Days and timesSaturdayDeparts at 09:30

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Under 12: can't be booked

GroupUp to 6

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Stroller-friendly

Operated by Sa Ba Street Food Tours

Is this one for you?If you're free for a morning or afternoon and staying in central Yangon without a car, the downtown location means you can walk to the market and kitchen: no transport to arrange. The class works for solo travelers and small groups, and children can join if accompanied by an adult.

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Top questions

What's the Kachin beef dish like, and is it spicy?

Kachin beef (or fish or mushroom as alternatives) is an aromatic dish loaded with fresh herbs and spices unique to Kachin State in northern Myanmar. The heat level depends on how much chili you add during the cooking lesson, so you control the spice to your taste.

Do I need cooking experience to join the class?

No experience is required. The instructors do all the prep work so you can focus on the cooking techniques themselves, and they teach you step by step through each dish.

What happens if I have a dietary requirement or allergy?

Vegetarian options are available, and the operator can work with specific dietary requirements if you let them know at the time of booking. Tell them what you need so they can adjust the menu.

How long does the whole class take, and when do we eat?

The class runs 3.5 hours total: market visit, then hands-on cooking in the kitchen, then sitting down to eat the meal you've made together at the end.

Will I actually learn the recipes well enough to cook them at home?

Yes, you cook each dish yourself during the lesson, and you'll receive a digital copy of all the recipes to take with you, so you can follow them step by step in your own kitchen.