The sad part is that most people visiting the island often give Colombo a miss because they find it boring. Every itinerary includes driving straight to the beautiful beaches in the Southern Province from the airport.

If at all tourists should do something in Colombo is, explore the Sri Lankan food. Sri Lanka boasts of a fascinating culinary heritage. The cuisine is an amalgamation of local produce with spices and recipes brought to the island over centuries by Arabs, Indians, Dutch, English, and Portuguese.

Food in Sri Lanka is really great and nutritious and makes for a complete meal.

On your next visit to the island, don’t go in for the usual Thai, Italian, and run-of-the-mill options, instead visit restaurants that serve authentic Sri Lankan cuisine. The flavour and texture of their cuisine is something you won’t find anywhere in the world.

To make things easier for you, we’ve narrowed down on some of the best restaurants in Colombo that serve authentic Sri Lankan food.

Best Restaurants in Colombo

1. Kaema Sutra

Address: Shangri-La Hotel 1, Colombo 00200, Sri Lanka

Kaema Sutra is the brainchild of Bollywood celebrity, Jacqueline Fernandez and Dharshan Munidasa, one of Sri Lanka’s best-known celebrity chefs.

It is a new-age restaurant that takes Sri Lankan cuisine to a whole new level. It is more on the expensive side, but an exciting fine-dining option in Colombo. The restaurant is located in a renowned hospitality chain, Shangri-La group of hotels. From Sri Lankan tapas to traditional rice and curry, they have it all.

Of course, you may find similar food options at a much cheaper price, but if you truly want to experience the beauty of Sri Lankan hospitality in a tranquil and refined setting, Kaema Sutra should be on your list.

Our favourites include – Euro Hopper, boneless chicken curry and ambul thiyal. For dessert, order their sweet hopper, which is a sweet pancake filled with strawberries and cream.

2. Curry Leaf

Address: Sir Chittampalam Gardiner Mawatha, 2 Lotus Rd, Colombo 00100, Sri Lanka

Curry Leaf is another upmarket restaurant serving authentic Sri Lankan food in Colombo. They do an amazing spread of fresh seafood and local cuisine. It is a buffet restaurant that is open only in the evenings.

The restaurant is a hot-spot for tourists and locals, alike. Think kottu, hoppers, rice, pittu, string hoppers, curries, and sambols. The buffet is priced at $16 per person. Though it is quite expensive, it is one of the best buffets in the city.

3. Ministry of Crab

Address: Old Dutch Hospital Complex, 04 Hospital St, Colombo 00100, Sri Lanka

Ministry of Crab has been highly reviewed among the best restaurants in Colombo. It is a venture of ace cricketers, Kumar Sangakkara, and Mahela Jayewardene.

The restaurant is housed in the historic Dutch hospital building. As the name suggests, the restaurant serves the best crab in the country. The colossal crab weighs 1.2 kg and can suffice for at least five people. They have medium-sized crabs available too. It’s fleshy, succulent and highly juicy.

Besides the king-sized crabs, we would recommend you try the butter crab, clay pot prawn curry, pol sambol, garlic, and leek fried rice, kangkun garlic, and egg. They serve great cocktails too.

If you plan to visit this stellar seafood restaurant, make a reservation ahead of time. Visiting Ministry of Crab is definitely one of the best experiences when in Colombo. Though it’s extremely expensive, it’s worth it.

4. Upali’s by Nawaloka

Address: 65 Dr. C.W.W Kannangara Mawatha, Colombo 00700, Sri Lanka

If a satisfying and authentic Sri Lankan dining experience is on your list, head to Upali’s then. If you ask any local where to find the best Sri Lankan food in Colombo, nine out of ten will name Upali’s.

They have a strict Sri Lankan menu. Their extensive spread can satisfy the taste buds of a spice lover. You’ll find sambols, rotis, curries, rice, and a dedicated vegetarian menu as well.

The place is not as expensive as Kaema Sutra, but not as cheap as street food options either. If a good sit down dinner with a satisfying meal is on your mind, they have you more than sorted.

We would recommend their black mutton curry, cuttlefish curry, sambol, and lentil curry and pol sambol. They also have a set lunch menu that comprises of three vegetables, papadams, dry fish, sambol and curried gravy. The lunch thali costs $2.25.

For drinks, they have some basic thirst quenchers. The restaurant is located in the heart of the city and is family-friendly.

5. Dutch Burgher Union

Address: 114 Reid Ave, Colombo 00500, Sri Lanka

Set in a colonial-era club, Dutch Burger Union is one of the most chilled out and best restaurants in Colombo. Though the name has Burgher in it, the food served is nothing close to the fast-food favourite, burger. Burghers are instead a small Eurasian ethnic group in Sri Lanka.

Their authentic Sri Lankan spread features meaty curries and rice wrapped in banana leaves. Their yellow rice is a favourite with tourists. A signature dish at DBU is lamprais, a dish which comprises of rice with vegetable and, meat wrapped in a banana leaf and cooked. This dish alone costs $3.

Though many locals claim that the standard have gone down, it is still popular with tourists visiting from Europe. In drinks, their iced-coffee and mango juice is just right to take you through the sweltering heat.

If you want a decent Sri Lankan spread in a laid-back setting, this should be on your list.

6. Hotel De Pilawoos

Address: 146 Galle Rd, Colombo 00300, Sri Lanka

Though we already covered Hotel De Pilawoos in our ‘street food in Sri Lanka’ blog, we just had to make a mention of it here again. As discussed earlier, Kottu roti is a big deal in Sri Lanka. It is one of the best dishes Sri Lanka has to offer. Flatbread cut into strips and mixed with meat, vegetables, egg, and cheese sounds like a complete meal in itself!

Though the name says ‘hotel’, it is nowhere close to it. Instead, it is a shady restaurant serving some authentic Sri Lankan delicacies. If you’re ready to compromise on ambience and hygiene, you should definitely consider visiting one of the many Hotel De Pilawoos.

There’s no other dish we would recommend here. Besides that, Hotel De Pilawoos is extremely pocket-friendly. For dessert, try their chocolate kottu.

It is definitely not for the faint-hearted. Late at night after a big party, consider heading here. The best part of the place is that it’s open 24/7.

7. The t-Lounge by Dilmah

Address: Chatham St, Colombo 00100, Sri Lanka

What’s a visit to Sri Lanka without trying their teas? If you are a tea addict, this place is a must visit. The tea lounge is extremely charming and has an extensive menu of hot teas, cold teas, and large bites.

While coffee shops are blooming in every part of Colombo, it’s nice to see places dedicated to tea. They do tea-based cocktails, mocktails, milkshakes, smoothies and even tea-inspired food. We would recommend their cinnamon ice cream t-shake, minty Oolong, and caramel chocolate dessert.

If you’re a tea lover, this place will be paradise for you. The ambience is pretty chilled out. Whether you want to catch up with friends or find a quiet place to work, T-Lounge by Dilmah will actually surprise you.

8. Mayura Hotel

Address: Sri Kathiresan St, Colombo 01300, Sri Lanka

Located inside Pettah Market, Mayura Hotel is no fancy deal but is an epic place for the best crab you would have ever had. Though the name says hotel, it is not one. It is instead a restaurant.

Besides real Sri Lankan cuisine, they do authentic Tamil food. Tamils are an ethnic group of Sri Lanka. They mainly live in the North and North-Eastern parts of the country and makeup 11.2% of the population.

Three dishes they serve in the restaurant includes rice, curry, and crab. The meal is served in the most authentic way possible, on a banana leaf. Their curries are predominantly chicken, mutton, egg, and seafood.

Most tourists visit Mayura for the crab. It’s bright red, succulent and oh-so-tasty. While a portion of rice and curry costs $1, an ordinary piece of crab would be $1.75. That’s still quite reasonable compared to Ministry of Crab. Other dishes we would recommend include octopus curry, prawn curry, and Sri Lankan omelet.

It gets very crowded around lunch and dinner time, hence; make sure to get there early. If you’re not in the mood to dine-in, you can opt for a takeaway too.

These are our picks for best restaurants in Colombo serving authentic Sri Lankan food. If there’s any other famous restaurant which you would want your fellow readers to know, please feel free to make a mention in the comment section below.

Planning a food trail in Colombo will leave you with an experience of a lifetime. You can take our word for it.

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Owing to this, for very long, great coffee was very hard to find in Sri Lanka. Despite the influx in the number of cafes, there was always a problem with the quality of coffee served. One could only find a cup of coffee that was good enough to give a caffeine kick not to satisfy one’s thirst for a mean cup of coffee.

Did you know? Before Sri Lanka came to be known as a tea country, it was the biggest exporters of coffee, alongside Brazil.

However today, things are changing. The coffee shop epidemic has spread all around the world, and Sri Lanka is no exception.

The capital city, Colombo, has a handful of coffee shops that not just make a great cup of coffee but artisan coffee too.

It’s amazing to see how the coffee shop culture is catching up in every city in the world. Today, cafés are not just viewed as a place to quickly grab a drink on-the-go. It has, in fact, become a humble abode for artists to spend time or simply read a book.

Driven by the rise in the flexibility of working-from-home, millennials prefer working from these coffee shops as most of the outlets have free availability of Wi-Fi.

Most of the coffee shops in Colombo use locally sourced beans to prepare the beverage. However, there are a couple of cafés that import the best quality coffee beans from around the world.

Also Read: What to Eat in Sri Lanka? 10 Must-Try Dishes!

Best Coffee Shops in Colombo

If you are stepping foot in the island country for the first time or have already been here before, sipping the beverage in a quaint cafe has to be on your list. Here’s us, filtering down the best coffee shops in Colombo where most caffeine cravers unite for a freshly ground cup.

Cafe Kumbuk

Address: 3/1 Thambiah Avenue, Independence Ave, Colombo 00700, Sri Lanka

Hours: Monday to Sunday – 9am to 6pm

Café Kumbuk is a gorgeous coffee shop run by a mother-daughter duo. Tucked away from the hustle-bustle of the city in Colombo backstreet, the café is a heavenly abode for coffee lovers. It is nestled in a place that was earlier a house-turned-office and now a café.

After achieving much success with their first initiative Café Kumbuk, the duo decided to spread their wings further with Plus Nine Four (now defunct).

The owners strongly feel the need to support local vendors and farmers. Hence, most of their fruits and vegetables are sourced from small scale suppliers. They have made a commitment to go local in everything they do.

Their passion for coffee makes them one of the finest cafes in the city.

On their menu, you’ll find a variety of coffee-based beverages. Our favourites are the cappuccino, iced coffee and a lot more. The best part is that all their coffees can be enjoyed hot or iced.

The coffees are topped with artisan cream. *Drool*

Besides coffee, they have an extensive menu of smoothies, teas and juices.

Their range of cakes and pastries are made from scratch on a daily basis by their in-house chef. So don’t forget to try that as well.

If you like some small plates and mains to go with your coffee, they have you sorted with savoury options too. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options are there too.

Price: A good cup of coffee costs $2.5 while a meal for two would be $10-12.

Coco Veranda

Address: 32 Ward Pl, Colombo 00700, Sri Lanka

Hours: Monday to Sunday – 7am to 1am

Coco Veranda is a huge hit with locals. Their coffee, dessert, drinks and sandwiches are held in very high regard by the people. They currently operate in two locations in Colombo – 03 and 07.

If a strong cup of coffee and English breakfasts are your thing, you definitely to make a visit here.

A caffeine addict will definitely be spoiled for choice as they serve everything right from an Americano to a Macchiato, Cappuccino and white chocolate mocha latte. They even do amazing Italian hot chocolates too.

The cutest part of the café is that they have something for everyone. They’re definitely a one-of-a-kind café that has something for babies too, known as the Babyccino. It’s free for children less than 5 years of age.

You’ll also find iced coffees, frappes, milkshakes and tea lattes. Besides their much talked about all-day breakfast, they have some small plates, salads, seafood, and meat and poultry options too. The sad part is that there’s very little choice for vegetarians. However, their egg-free cakes and desserts are to die for.

Price: A mean cup of coffee costs about $3.5 while a meal for two would be anywhere between $15-20.

Also Read: How to Spend One Week in Sri Lanka: A Personal Experience

Kopi Kade

Address: 15/3 Stratford Ave, Colombo 00006, Sri Lanka

Hours: Wednesday to Sunday – 12pm to 9pm

Nestled in the busy streets of Stratford Avenue, Kopi Kade (Translates to Coffee Shop in Sinhalese) is the brainchild of Australian-Sri Lankan, Nimeshan Namasivayam. He has worked in the coffee industry for 15 years. He is a coffee roaster and a professional coffee taster. In Colombo, Kopi Kadi is one place which takes their coffee very seriously.

Besides roasting his own coffee, he imports quality coffee from the United Kingdom, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand.

Kopi Kade is not just a coffee shop, but a coffee school too. The creator conducts classes on Mondays and Tuesdays to teach people how to brew a perfect cup of coffee.

They serve macchiato, cappuccino, mocha, affogato, latte and espresso. Their hot chocolates are great too.

To go with the coffee, they have an extensive menu that comprises of Sri Lankan short eats. The best part of this coffee shop is that all the food served is made in-house without the use of preservatives. The menu is a fine balance of vegetarian and non-vegetarian options and hence there is something for everyone.

Whether it’s catching up with a friend or looking for quiet spot to read, Kopi Kade is definitely the place to be.

Price: A cup of coffee costs $3 while their savoury dishes start at $4.

Also Read: The Everyday life of a Local Sri Lankan Family

Butter Boutique

Address: 70 Rosmead Pl, Colombo 00700, Sri Lanka

Hours: Monday to Thursday, Sunday – 8am to 8pm Friday and Saturday – 8am to 11pm

Coffee and cake is definitely a match made in heaven. Butter Boutique is a star patisserie and coffee shop in Colombo that stands true to the fact.

Most locals in Colombo are familiar with the place. If you ask anyone where you get a cake and caffeine fix, chances are they’ll all lead you to Butter Boutique.

Most of the coffee beans they used are imported from different parts of the world including Brazil, Ethiopia, India, Timor and Guatemala. It’s medium to dark roast and wash-processed coffee.

It took the owners years of practice to create the perfect cup of coffee. The coffee they serve is distinct because of their state-of-art coffee machinery – La Marzocco.

Caffeine addicts should try their coffee drink called Magic. Steamed milk is poured over a double ristretto and served in a smaller 160ml cup.

Their iced mocha and latte is delicious too. If you do happen to visit, don’t just go for their coffee. The desserts and cakes are to die for. Their popular confections include Nutella Scrolls, Apple Cinnamon Scrolls, Lemon Blueberry Cake and so on.

Though the coffee shop is slightly on the pricier side, it is worth a visit.

Price: Their most expensive slice of cake costs $4 while a mean cup of coffee is $3.

Though Colombo is primarily a tea drinking city, you will find a handful of coffee shops that will satisfy your thirst for a mean cup of coffee. The above five listed coffee shops are our favourite picks.

If you know of any places we have missed out that serve a great cup of coffee in Colombo, share it with us in the comment section below.

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If finding the best food experiences are on your bucket list, consider visiting Sri Lanka next. A cuisine rich in flavour and spice, Sri Lanka has plenty of mouth-watering options for every kind of food lover.

While restaurants and cafes are in abundance in the country, the street food shouldn’t be given a miss. The real taste of Sri Lankan food can only be found on the streets and eats of Sri Lanka.

In fact, there are some dishes that have originated in the food streets and have now made their way into fancy restaurants.

Street food in Sri Lanka is full of surprises. Though you will find Indian influences in the spices and pickles served in the streets, Sri Lankan cuisine is a lot creamier and zestier.

Coconut is an important element of Sri Lankan cooking. While coconut milk is used in curries, dedicated coconut is widely used in pickles and sambols. Other spices that are commonly found in Sri Lankan dishes include chilli, cinnamon, cumin, curry leaves and cardamom.

Also Read: 8 Best Restaurants in Colombo Serving Sri Lankan Food

Eat breakfast like a local

There is a plethora of street food vendors and road-side cafes in Sri Lanka. The best way to enjoy Sri Lankan cuisine is by getting a taste of all the authentic delicacies, right where they originated. We’re about to engulf you on a gastronomic tour through the eats and streets of Sri Lanka like none other.

Galle Face Green

If you’re in Sri Lanka’s capital city, Colombo, there’s only one place to start and that’s Galle Face Green. The area is a cross between a park and a beach. The huge promenade is used for rallies and parties. That’s exactly where you can sample Sri Lanka’s rainbow of street food.

Wander along Galle Face Green in the morning and you’ll find cooks juggling small woks over an open fire and cries of cooks yelling orders at each other. It’s a sight not to be missed as every cook is on a mission to dish out hoppers to hungry diners.

String hoppers make an important part of Sri Lankan breakfast. It is also one of the most popular dishes in the country. These steamed rice noodles are served with coconut sambol, dhal and other sauces.

Apart from string hoppers, another Sri Lankan favorite is a dish called hoppers. It is a bowl-shaped pancake made from a mixture of coconut milk and rice flour. Savory hoppers generally include toppings of your choice including eggs, meat, cheese, fried onions and coconut sambol.

On the same street, you will also find hoppers with sweet fillings like honey or coconut palm syrup.

Short Eats on the go

The street food vendors and road-side stalls in Sri Lanka are experts in preparing short eats and snacks. One must-try dish when in Sri Lanka is Kottu.

For those wondering, Kottu is a mix and mash of leftover rotis, colourful veggies, meat, cheese and eggs garnished with raw onion and chilli. It is relished by the locals and tourists alike. The description might sound unpleasant, however, try it once and your taste buds will be left craving for more.

Besides eating Kottu, watch it being prepared. It’s a sight to enjoy. Try getting a video too. The dish is usually available late in the evening to late nights. With all the ingredients thrown onto a flat sizzling grill, you’ll see the chef rubbing metal blades into a jumping action.

Though numerous restaurants serve Kottu, the dish is best eaten in hawker style.

Nana’s on Galle Face Green is the best place to try Kottu. The original Nana’s opened here in the early 1980s. Though it no longer exists, the legacy lives on. There are plenty of similar no-fuss restaurants that claim to be the original Nana’s – Nana Kings, Nana Rauf and Nana Toina.

Most of these stalls overlook the iconic Galle Face Green Hotel. You’ll find numerous locals frequenting the place. Don’t expect something fancy in terms of presentation because in reality Kottu isn’t pretty.

It is a messy pile of comfort food that is extremely tasty. Other specialities you must try at Nana’s include egg naan, devilled cuttlefish and crab. To quench your thirst you can order Sri Lanka’s popular beverage – Elephant Ginger Beer. Within this basic setting, tourists will definitely enjoy an eating experience next to nothing.

Hotel de New Pilawoos is another street café where you can enjoy Sri Lankan delicacies at few pennies rather than pounds. While the stalls on Galle Face Green are open until 11pm, Pilawoos is open 24/7, satisfying the hunger pangs of locals usually post a club night or wedding party.

Also Read: 5 Best Coffee Shops in Colombo 

Samosas at Pettah Train Station

Take a stroll around Pettah’s central station. You’ll find numerous vendors and food stalls selling short eats and Sri Lankan delicacies.

Vegetables samosas are a staple. Though they are practically found all over the city, they’re most popular here. These triangle-shaped treats make a wonderful snack on the go. Chicken samosas are the most popular, but you’ll find beef and vegetable versions too. Besides the train station, you’ll also find some great samosas near Red Mosque in Pettah.

Other dishes you can try at Pettah include achcharu, isso vade and Bombay Sweets. Norris Hotel, which is a bakery and not a hotel, has a good variety of short eats.

Pettah Market is also the hub of fresh fruits and vegetables. Wood apple is one such fruit that is native to the country. The exotic fruit is used to make juice. Though it appears as a coconut from the outside, once the fruit is cracked open, the flesh is to be had with a spoon. When in Pettah, don’t miss having it. You’ll find hundreds of vendors selling fresh wood apple in great quality.

Head to the beach for Seafood

When in the tropical country, seafood can just not be given a miss. The best food experiences in Sri Lanka are all about fresh seafood. As the name suggests, the best place to grab yummy seafood is the beach. During the evenings in most of the coastal beach towns, you’ll find hundreds of hawkers setting shop to start catering to flocking crowds on the beaches. In Hikkaduwa, Unawatuna, and Mirissa, you’ll find street hawkers setting up a few tables on the beach.

Ditch Ministry of Crab and head to these eats and streets of Sri Lanka instead. We cannot guarantee the hygiene factor, but here you will find authentic seafood. From lobster to fish, crab, and prawns, you’ll find it all. If at all you suffer from any allergy, be careful.

Most of the meals on the beach are served with chips, fries, and salad. A complete seafood meal can cost you $10 per person. Dining on the beach is always an experience second-to-none. The tropical breeze, sound of the ocean and a chilled beer or coconut water is all you need.

Rice and Curry at Upali’s

Rice and curry is the national dish of Sri Lanka. You’ll find it on almost every menu. Sri Lankan Dahl bears strong similarities to the Indian counterpart. However, the one served here is richer in texture and spice.

It usually consists of fresh coconut, spices and chillis. Upali’s by Nawaloka is one such eatery in Sri Lanka where you must try their rice, curries and dahl. They serve authentic local cuisine boasting of scrumptious flavours.

Street food in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia

You cannot possibly miss the Pani Pol, also known as sweet coconut pancakes in Dehiwala. You’ll find numerous vendors on wheels that make this tasty dish with fresh coconut and sugar. Besides Dehiwala, Wellawatta area also serves some amazing Pani Pols.

On the other hand, Mount Lavinia is famous for its seafood specialities. There are many seaside restaurants that serve butterfish, snapper, squid, lobster, crab and king prawns. There are variety of seafood restaurant to choose from and beach food stalls that prepare the dish to your liking by blending sauces and spices.

Foodie tips

To find the best food experiences in Sri Lanka, eat like how the locals do. Always remember: a great food experience doesn’t have to necessarily be expensive. In fact, the simple and affordable dining spots are the most memorable.

• Once you arrive in Sri Lanka, ask your hotel staff or tuk-tuk driver where they eat. You can even ask them to recommend the popular streets and eats of Sri Lanka.
• When you are on the lookout for street food dining options, look where locals are dining, not tourists. These are the places where you’ll generally find affordable yet sumptuous food. Ask the waiter or steward what their signature dish is and order away. It’s always a good idea to look around and see what others are eating.
• The cleanliness, quality and hygiene of food streets in Sri Lanka cannot be guaranteed. Therefore, if you face any kind of allergic reaction, discontinue eating something that did not suit you.

You can also read our blog on the 10 must dry dishes in Sri Lanka.

Have you relished street food in Sri Lanka in other places apart from the ones mentioned in this blog? We would love it if you could let our readers know in the comment section below.

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Besides the tea plantations, enchanting temples, and idyllic beaches, the local cuisine served in Sri Lanka draws a large number of tourists every year. They set out on a food trail to see the varied options the beautiful island has to offer.

When visiting Sri Lanka, there are two things you must know about their food. Rice and curry are two staples when it comes to any type of meal served. The pearl of the Indian Ocean is often referred to as the Island of Rice and Curry too.

Sri Lanka’s incredible cuisine makes use of locally-grown tropical fruit – coconut and jackfruit, fresh seafood and an arsenal of spices to satiate every traveler’s hunger pangs. The curry concoctions and tasty dishes have shaped Sri Lanka’s food culture. While fancy restaurants such as Ministry of Crab serve the best seafood, it is street stalls and home kitchens where you’ll actually find authentic, Sri Lankan cuisine.

There’s a common misconception that the food served in Sri Lanka is mainly for meat-eaters and seafood lovers. However, there’s very little truth in that as there are plenty of dishes that suit vegetarian taste buds as well.

On your next voyage to the teardrop of India (nickname for Sri Lanka), here are some exclusive dishes prepared by the local Lankans which you must try.

Warning: The article will make you hungry!

Kottu Roti:

Most roadside food stalls make this signature Sri Lankan dish – Kottu. When you hear clanking of metal on metal in a nearby Sri Lankan market, it means Kottu is being prepared. Often referred to as Sri Lanka’s hamburger, it is the go-to food for the locals. Though the dish closely resembles fried rice, it is made with roti (Indian flatbread).

At the beginning of the day, the street food vendors prepare rotis and stack them up. The dish features pieces of broken roti mixed together with finely shredded vegetables, meat, spices, ginger, garlic, egg and cheese. The beauty of this dish is that it is made on a flat iron skillet with a person quickly working his hands with two blunt knives. So, even if you are a mile away, you’ll be able to tell that Kottu is being prepared. Locals and travellers find this dish extremely comforting since it is lightly spiced.

Also Read: 10 Amazing Things to do in Sri Lanka

Hoppers:

A Sri Lankan delicacy that is prepared with rice flour and locally referred to as appa or appam is a portion of very popular breakfast food in Sri Lanka. The batter is made with rice flour, coconut milk and a hint of sugar. Typically, there are two versions of hoppers served. The first one closely resembles a pancake while the second resembles noodles. The pancake version involves a ladle of batter fried in a small wok. Hoppers are served in both savory as well as sweet forms. The most popular of them all is the egg hopper wherein an egg is cracked in the middle of the bowl-shaped pancake creating an ‘egg in the hole’.

On the other hand, string hoppers are prepared with the help of a noodle press. The rice flour batter is pressed into the device and then steamed. They are then eaten with coconut sambal, dahl curry and a coconut milk curry.

Sour Fish Curry:

Ambul Thiyal is one of the most popular seafood dishes throughout the island. The flavourful curry is prepared with tuna and a unique blend of spices including turmeric, black pepper, cinnamon, garlic, pandan leaves and curry leaves.

The most important ingredient in this dried fish curry is dried goraka (Malabar tamarind) which gives the dish its unique tangy flavour. Initially, the curry was prepared to mainly preserve a different kind of fish in Southern Sri Lanka. However, soon it became a favourite picnic curry with the locals. It is often eaten with rice, roti bread or string hoppers.

Kukul Mas Curry:

Apart from seafood, you’ll find a variety of dishes that use chicken as their staple ingredient. The Sinhalese (people of Sri Lanka) prepare an authentic chicken curry that is an amalgamation of spices such as fennel seeds, cardamom, cloves, and cinnamon sticks. A marinade is prepared with hot oil and more spices including chili powder, curry powder, turmeric, lemongrass and curry leaves.

While the dry ingredients give the chicken a beautiful texture and aroma, the real flavor comes from two base ingredients which are rich coconut milk and tomato puree. It tastes best when had with steamed rice or roti bread.

Dhal Curry:

Parippu or dhal curry is a favourite in every Sri Lankan household. The curry is similar to the Indian dal except that the Sri Lankan version is a bit more concentrated than diluted. Split red lentils or masoor dal is used for the preparation. The curry is prepared with a beautiful blend of spices including cumin, turmeric, fenugreek, curry leaves and mustard seeds, and sautéed with onion, tomato and green chillies.

To give the dhal curry a creamy and rich texture, it is often finished off with a splash of coconut milk. In certain parts of Lanka, more coconut milk is added so that it can be relished as a soup. However, the original dhal curry is served with string hoppers, rice and appam (pancake).

Also Read: Breakfast with Elephants in Sri Lanka

Lamprais:

The Dutch community had a huge influence on the Sri Lankan delicacy and culture. A Dutch word which translates itself to a ‘pack of food’ is something you will find all along the island and is difficult to resist.

It comprises of boiled eggs, eggplant, Dutch-style beef balls, rice and sambol chilli sauce all wrapped in a banana leaf and steamed. Cloves and cinnamon are the main spices used which make the pork, lamb or beef tender and flavourful.

Green Jackfruit Curry:

As mentioned earlier, the Sinhalese love their jackfruit as it is available throughout the island. The amazing tropical fruit is consumed at various stages of ripeness, from very ripe and sweet to green and starchy. For the Polo curry, the jackfruit is cut into small chunks and boiled until soft.

It is usually sautéed in onions, garlic, and ginger and slathered with a whole lot of spices including mustard seeds, turmeric, chili powder, curry powder and pandan leaves. The final step is to add coconut milk and reduce it till it evenly coats all the jackfruit cubes. Since jackfruit has a similar starchy texture to potato, it tastes amazing with roti and hot rice. The curry is mostly consumed for lunch. It is a great choice for vegetarians visiting Sri Lanka.

Kiribath:

By now, it’s pretty obvious that Sri Lankans love coconut milk more than anything else. Nearly all their dishes have a hint of coconut. Another popular coconut-based dish is Kiribath. It is a rice cake that is soaked in coconut milk. It is a local dish prepared during festivals and special occasions.

Though it may sound like a sweet dish, in reality, it is mostly served as a savory item. When served as a breakfast dish, it is cooked with onion sambola and a mix of spices. When the rice is cooked with honey and bananas, it makes a lovely sweet dish. Even if you are not a big fan of coconut cream, you must give kiribath a try when in Colombo.

Wood apple:

If you walk through the local Sri Lankan market, chances are that you will see food stalls serving wood apple. Native to Sri Lanka, wood apple is a Southeast Asian fruit that is the size of a de-husked coconut. Since it has a pungent aroma, it I almost impossible to miss.

The inside of the shell has a dark brown paste that resembles a tamarind pulp and fermented raisins. The fruit is consumed by the locals on a regular basis as it aids digestion and has a large number of health benefits. Few food stalls also prepare a wood apple smoothie/juice with jaggery and water.

Achcharu:

Derived from the Indian word ‘achar’, achcharu is the Sinhalese word for a pickle. It is had as a side to enhance the flavor of any ordinary meal. The flavors are bold, crunchy, spicy and full of zing. Different fruits and vegetables are used in the preparation of achcharu. People’s favorites include mixed vegetables, ambarella, mango, and pineapple.

Compared to other cuisines of the world, Sri Lankan food oozes with punching flavors. Many people say that the food served in Sri Lanka is not for the timid eaters since it is spicy with powerful flavors.

Another thing native to Sinhalese cooking is the predominant use of cardamom and curry leaves. Since most of the spices are grown within the island, they are bursting with flavor and can turn any bland dish into a highly appetising meal. Every household in Sri Lanka has its own unique way of preparing a dish. For example, rice and curry prepared in the Southern province will taste completely different from that prepared in the East.

Whichever parts you visit, don’t be afraid and intimidated by the strong flavors the dishes have to offer. A big bowl of rice and a tongue-searing curry is something you will definitely relish.

Have you been to Sri Lanka lately and tried some dishes apart from the ones mentioned in this blog? We would really appreciate it if you could let our readers know.

Bon Appétit!

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The post What to Eat in Sri Lanka? 10 Must Try Dishes! appeared first on Sri Lanka Tourism.