A 40-year-old San Francisco restaurant is now officially considered a national treasure.
The James Beard Foundation on Wednesday named Mandalay, the popular Burmese eatery in the Richmond, as one of this year’s six America’s Classics Award winners.
The honor is bestowed annually to restaurants it deems as “national treasures of timeless appeal that reflect the richness and diversity of our country's food culture,” James Beard Foundation CEO Clare Reichenbach said in a release.
Mandalay was the only restaurant in California to earn the distinction this year.
Sherry Dung, who has owned the restaurant with her husband, Kevin Chen, since the two immigrated to The City from Burma more than 20 years ago, said the two of them were “surprised” when they got the news.
“We are very happy right now,” Dung told The Examiner.
Mandalay, which opened in 1984, is the oldest Burmese restaurant in The City still in operation today, the foundation said. Chen and Dung took over Mandalay shortly after moving to San Francisco.
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Dung called Burmese cuisine unique because it blends flavors from India, Thailand and China, the three countries which surround Burma.
“We also consistently prepare with the freshest ingredients. That’s why people keep coming to our restaurant,” she explained.
Dung hoped that new customers who check out the restaurant as a result of the recognition first try the Mandalay special noodle — flat noodles with coconut chicken — or the green tea salad, which contains imported Burmese tea leaves rather than traditional lettuce, along with shrimp, fried garlic, toasted lentil seeds and dressing.
She added that the couple “never” thought they would win an award from the James Beard Foundation.
The America’s Classics Awards were first introduced in 1998, and have recognized more than 100 restaurants across the country since. The six winners will be honored at a ceremony on June 10 at the Lyric Opera in Chicago.
Previous San Francisco winners include Tadich Grill, Yank Sing and La Taqueria.
“I’m so thankful for our working team and our loyal customers for 40 years who have supported us. We are very proud of being a Burmese restaurant in San Francisco,” Dung said.
