Aung Burma

I’ve been wanting to try Aung Burma, the sister restaurant to Aung MayLika in Benicia, for quite a while. I’ve been hesitant because of its location in downtown Concord, but the location was not a problem.

Because our reviews are restricted to a 10- mile radius from Rossmoor, we never wrote a review on the Benicia restaurant, one of our favorites. Well, folks, Aung Burma did not disappoint. In fact, the food and service were excellent, and the same family runs both places.

The Benicia location is great for a day’s outing because it has a beautiful patio, and it’s in an interesting historical city on the water. The Concord location has available street parking with two close handicap spots. It also states that there is a parking lot close by.

I have been warned that the area is quite busy on Thursday because there are scheduled activities in the park across the street.

Address: 2151 Salvio St., Ste. E, Concord, CA 94520 Phone: 1-925-332-7957 Website: www.aungburma.com Distance from Rossmoor: 9.2 miles Ease of parking: Easy free street parking and a free parking lot nearby Noise levels inside: Low Outside seating: Yes, on the side Hours: Monday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Lunch specials: Yes, Monday through Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., no holidays Price range: Full menu $11-$30 per dish; lunch combo, $16-$20.

Some menu options we tried: (Concord)

Samosas, lettuce wraps, tea leaf salad, spicy noodles, sesame chicken, mango swai, lemongrass tofu, mango and strawberry ice cream. (Additional items tried in Benicia previously) palatha, butter noodles, mango shrimp, Crab fried rice, sweet sticky rice with ice cream.

Spice levels: You can choose between mild, medium and high. On our tea leaf salad, we asked for jalapeño on the side, and they accommodated us.

Individual checks in groups: Up to four per table.

Take out and delivery: Yes Bar: Yes Happy hour: No Remarks: There were six people in our party, and with tax and tip it cost $28 a person. It was a weekend, so there were no lunch specials. Everyone raved about the food. The shrimp lettuce wraps were moist and perfect for six. The tea leaf salad can be ordered with romaine or cabbage or a mix of both. We had both. It was flavorful and full of crunchy nuts and seeds. The mango dishes never let us down, and the swai was no exception. I prefer the mango shrimp only because it’s not fried, while the swai, delicious as it is, is served fried. The sesame chicken was very good, and will likely be ordered again. The samosas were OK but not a favorite because of their texture.

It’s more fun to go with a group because you get to try different dishes. I also recommend the weekday lunch specials that have smaller servings but the same wonderful flavors. All in all, a great experience and a new go-to lunch place.

Send any feedback or questions to xadelphi@yahoo.com