The Real Slim Shady- Myanmar style

Nestled in the bustling restaurant streets of Nyaungshwe, the main tourist town to see Inle Lake in Myanmar, is the rather modestly named curry house ‘Innlay Hut’. Myanmar has some of the best food in Asia: it’s a conglomeration of cuisines, whether it’s duck from China, bamboo salads from the northern Shan state, biryani from Bangladesh, massaman curry from Thailand, or traditional curry from India. Innlay Hut however has a particular quirk: it’s an Eminem themed curry house. With The Marshall Mathers LP blasting in the background, and the walls painted with various murals of the man from 8 Mile, this place really had a buzz. The waiter, who went by the name of ‘Stan’ - an Eminem number one hit in 11 countries - even went along with the act throughout the meal, throwing around various gesticulations associated with American hip-hop.  He even wore a white vest top similar to the one Eminem sported in the music video, as well as a green, white, and black floral patterned balaclava wrapped around his head. So authentic was his act, that I even had to question who the real slim shady really was. Meanwhile, his elderly mother stared out of the kitchen, rolling her eyes at the tomfoolery in the dining room. To top off the experience, the curry was actually fantastic, with butter chicken being a favourite among tourists.

Written by Guy Wilkinson

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