Food You Must Eat in Sri Lanka (By a Sri Lankan!)

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When I tell people I was born and raised in Sri Lanka, I’ll always find people who say they have visited and every single one of those people rave about Sri Lankan food. Sri Lankan food is truly unique! It’s hard to compare it to anything really. It’s definitely not like Indian food. Not even remotely close in my opinion. I’ve been to 58+ countries and honestly, I am yet to find food that comes even similarly close to Sri Lankan food. If you are planning a visit to Sri Lanka soon, this post covers all the food you must eat in Sri Lanka!

What is Sri Lankan Food Like?

I touched this a bit in the introduction but let’s talk about this more! Like I said, Sri Lankan food is truly unique! It’s not like Indian food (I’m talking here about the Indian food you will find at Indian Restaurants across the world) because we use two completely different spice blends. Indian food contains garam masala and Sri Lankan food does not. Indian food is mostly yogurt based, and Sri Lankan food is more coconut based (There are some similarities in food found in the state of Kerala in India but that is not what most people associate “Indian food” with).

So coconut based? Is that like Thai food? No! It’s a completely different flavor profile and one that will blow your mind for sure! Our spice blends are complex and full of depth.

Sri Lanka was colonized by the Portuguese, Dutch and British for over 430 years and we have adopted some food and cooking methods from these countries as well (well, mostly the Portuguese and Dutch). I will call these out below!

Sri Lankan Spices

Did you know that the colonizers fought each other to get our land and it was all because of our spices? Cinnamon (world famous Ceylon cinnamon actually comes from Sri Lanka. Ceylon was another name for Sri Lanka back in the day) and pepper were both sought after by all 3 countries that colonized us. Today, Sri Lankan cuisine consists of a variety of spices that all come together to form our unique cuisine. Roasted curry power (made using a blend of spices), chili powder, turmeric, cinnamon, cumin, clove, ginger, nutmeg, dil, cardamom, pepper, coriander are all regulars in most Sri Lankan curries.

Where to Try Sri Lankan Food?

Strange heading right? I mean, you’re in Sri Lanka (or planning a visit), can’t you find Sri Lankan food everywhere? Yes! You certainly can! I will call where you might find the best places to try some of the food I am suggesting below!

Tips for Trying Sri Lankan Food

• Try everything! There are a few places I’m suggesting below where you can try a little of everything!
• Go slow on the spicy food. Start with a little bit of curry or sambols and add on from there!
• Use your fingers! Seriously! There is something about food mixed with your fingers that is so good (restaurants will bring you a finger bowl so don’t worry about the mess!)
• Eat from reputable places
• Most Sri Lankan food is vegan and there are lots of Sri Lankans who are vegetarians, so vegans and vegetarians shouldn’t have an issue finding food!
• Use my “how to eat it” as a guide for what to mix with what. There are really no rules but some things have been tried and tested as the best combinations for decades!

Food You Must Eat in Sri Lanka

Condiments and Side Dishes

You may think it’s strange that I am starting with this but bear with me here. You will see why I’m doing this as you read on.

Pol Sambole (Coconut Sambol)

Coconut sambol is a staple condiment in Sri Lanka and it can be eaten with just about any Sri Lankan food. It’s made out of shredded coconut and chilies that are pounded together and then topped with lime juice.

Lunu Miris (Onion Relish)

Another Sri Lankan staple. This relish is made out of chopped red onions and chilies. It can be hot so eat sparingly.

Seeni Sambole (Onion Sambol)

Seeni means sugar in Sinhala. So seeni sambol is a caramelized onion concoction but of course with spices. Don’t let the word seeni fool you though, it’s not sweet by any means! It’s my favorite of the 3 sambols and relishes. I can eat a copious amount of it in any one sitting!

Rice Dishes

Rice and Curry

Every self respecting Sri Lankan will have rice for at least one meal a day! This consists of rice, a protein like chicken/fish/beef/pork and a few vegetables, parippu (dhal) curry, pol sambol and sometimes papadums (thin and crunchy fried strips of dough). sometimes rice and curry will also include a salad (a mixture of cucumber, tomato, pineapple), a mallum (chopped up leafy greens) and a chutney (mango is my personal favorite!). Parippu or dhal curry is a staple. No self respecting Sri Lankans will eat rice and curry without parippu even if none of the other curries and side dishes are not present. Parippu is made out of red lentils and cooked in coconut milk.

The most popular meal to have rice and curry and all the other rice dishes mentioned below is during lunch. Kiribath (see below) is the only one that’s mostly eaten during breakfast. Some Sri Lankans will actually have rice for all three meals! this is not as common but rice for lunch is definitely the norm.

Let’s break down curries a bit more!

Sri Lankan curries can be classified as white, red and black. White curries are usually the mildest. They are mainly made out of coconut milk and turmeric with little to no chili. Potatoes, egg curry, beans, several other vegetables and even some types of fish are prepared in this way. Most red curries are spicy! Most meats are prepared as red curries. Some vegetables can also be prepared this way. Black curries are usually dry or has less gravy. Pork is my favorite black curry preparation.

Where to eat it: If you are in Colombo try rice and curry at Upali’s, Culture Colombo, Ceylon Curry Club. I saw lots of places all over Sri Lanka that serve rice and curry. Some are specialized rice and curry restaurants (usually served on play pots) while others are restaurants with rice and curry on the menu. You honestly cannot go wrong with rice and curry in Sri Lanka!

Kiribath (Milk rice)

Kiribath is rice slow cooked in coconut milk. It’s creamy and delicious! Sri Lankans eat kiribath usually to mark new beginnings (new year, new house, new job) or to celebrate something especial (a marriage, birth, birthday etc.). This being said, you can eat kiribath whenever you want to. Sometimes, I’ll eat kiribath because I just have a craving for it!

How to eat it: Typically with lunu miris and/or seeni sambol and a curry like chicken or a fish dish called ambulthiyal. Another popular fish dish to try it with is mackerel curry. Some people also like to eat it with sugar. try this if you want a break from spicy food!

Where to eat it: Any hotel or B&B breakfast should have kiribath on the menu. If not just ask! Most people would be happy to make it! It’s probably the easiest Sri Lankan dish to make! (so easy even I can make it!)

Lamprais

When the Dutch and Portuguese came to Sri Lanka, they intermarried with Sri Lankans. The descendant of these unions are called burghers and the burghers of Sri Lanka have a rice dish called lamprais that you must try in Sri Lanka. It would have been a real miss on my part if I didn’t add lamprai to this must try food in Sri Lanka list! Lamprais is a special preparation of rice and very specific set accompanying curries (mostly dry) and side dishes that are wrapped in a banana leaf and baked in the oven. This unique pairing of the banana leaf and the rice and accompaniments wrapped together makes for a flavor that I guarantee you would have never had anywhere else in the world!

Where to eat it: The Dutch Burgher Union cafe has the most authentic and original recipe passed down through generations! Pastry shops like Fab and Tasty also will have it, although it may not be 100% authentic (the flavor is still good though). By authentic I mean that the recipe sticks to that very specific set of accompaniments. Even the rice is a very specific variety.

Biriyani

Biriyani is by no means a uniquely Sri Lankan dish . You can find biriyani in most Indian restaurants around the world! But, I think Sri Lankan biriyani has its own flavor profile!

How to eat it: With roast chicken, a mint chutney, Malay pickle and a slice of pineapple

Other Rice Dishes

Other rice dishes include fried rice, ghee rice and yellow rice. All of these have a very specific set of accompanying curries and side dishes.

Kadeyappam

The food I am describing below is collectively called kadeyappam in Sinhala. They are eaten mostly for breakfast or dinner.

Roti

Pol Roti (Coconut Roti)

From Pita to naan to Caribbean roti, there are so many types of rotis across countries and cultures in our world. However, pol roti is uniquely Sri Lankan and different from all the other types. It’s made out of coconut and flour.

How to eat it: Dip in a meat curry (chicken, fish, beef etc) and seeni sambol or lunu miris. A bit of butter slathered on a hot roti with the above combinations is heaven on earth!

Godamba Roti

I wouldn’t say this one is uniquely Sri Lankan as the preparation is very similar to parata. But unlike parata, it’s thinner and a bit stretchy. Egg rotis are godamba roti with a beaten egg inside. Godamba roti is the basis for one f the most if not the must famous Sri Lankan dish of all time (covered below!)

How to eat it: Dip in meat curries and seeni sambol as a side dish.

Kottu Roti

Or kottu for short is probably the most popular Sri Lankan dish of all time. Kottu roti is made out of chopped up godamba roti and then mixed with eggs, vegetables like carrots, leeks and tomatoes and a meat curry (chicken is probably the most prevalent). Kottu is an absolute must eat food in Sri Lanka!

How to eat it: Kottu already has some curry in it so you don’t need a lot more but a little bit of curry drizzled over the kottu is sheer perfection!

Where to eat it: Most Sri Lankan cafes or restaurants should have kottu on the menu!

Indiappa (String Hoppers)

These are best described as soft circular steamed rice flour noodles. String hoppers are a Sri Lankan staple and can be eaten for breakfast or dinner.

How to eat it: You definitely need your hands for this! String hoppers are typically eaten with a white curry like potato or egg and a red curry like chicken or fish and pol sambol and/or seeni sambol. Pour everything on top of the string hoppers and mix well!

Appa (Hoppers)

Appa is a Sri Lankan crepe and my absolute favorite Sri Lankan dish. It’s made out of rice flour and coconut milk and is the shape of a round bowl. It has a crispy crust and a soft middle. An egg hopper is a hopper with an egg in the middle. This is another type of food you absolutely must eat in Sri Lanka!

How to eat it: Break off into bite size pieces and dip it in curries and condiments like lunu miris or seeni sambol. You can also dip pieces of the crispy edge in the egg if it’s an egg hopper with a runny yoke.

Pittu

Pittu is perhaps the hardest one to describe on this food you must eat in Sri Lanka list! It’s made out of rice flour and grated coconut, mixed together and then steamed in a cylindrical mold.

How to eat it: You need to break it a part with your fingers or a fork and top with curry (beef goes well) and lunu miris or pol sambol. A bit of liquid coconut milk also enhances its flavor.

Where to eat kadayappam: See my suggested restaurants section right at the bottom

Meats and Seafood

I covered meats a bit in the rice and curry section but wanted to elaborate a bit more. Sri Lanka is a predominantly Buddhist country with Hinduism and Islam being the 2nd and 3rd largest religions respectively. Given this, from a meat perspective, chicken and seafood is more common than beef and pork. You can absolutely still find beef and pork but it may not be as prevalent as chicken and seafood.

Meats and seafood can be prepared in several ways. These include:

Curries with gravy – The most common way to prepare meat or seafood! You must try food like Sri Lankan chicken curry, a beef curry and a crab curry! shrimp (seen on the menu as prawn) or cuttlefish curry (calamari) are also must tries!

Dry curries – Dry curries typically have less gravy and are usually darker in color. Black pork curry, ambultiyal (a sour fish dish) and sometimes even chicken and beef can be made as dry curries.

Deviled – This is a Sri Lankan way of saying spicy! the meat or seafood is cut into bite sized pieces and tossed in with capsicum (banana peppers), onions and tomatoes with a whole lot of chilies and sauces. Deviled meats and seafood is typically eaten while having alcohol!

Fried – You can sometimes find fried fish with rice and curry. Fried anchovies or whole small fish is quite common. You may also find breaded and deep fried slices of fish as well.

Roasted – Roast chicken is most commonly eaten with biriyani

Food with Foreign Influences

Not only was Sri Lanka colonized by 3 foreign countries, we have also adopted food from other Asian countries as well!

Sri Lankan Chinese

Another personal favorite! It’s Chinese food with a Sri Lankan twist! Hot Butter Cuttlefish is calamari deep fried and tossed in melted butter mixed with chili paste! Your mind will be blown! Sweet and Sour or garlic prawns is also popular and chicken with cashew is another one that most people will order.

Where to eat it: Chinese Dragon, Flower Drum

What to order: Order a carb (fried rice or fried noodles) and 2-3 meat/seafood dishes!

“Short Eats” and Starters

Sri Lankan “short eats” came from the Portuguese (I don’t think the Portuguese call it this though). These are essentially savory croquettes, pastries, buns etc. They are usually eaten in the morning or as a snack.

Cutlets

Round deep fried croquettes stuffed with fish or any type of ground/mince meat. A Sri Lankan party essential.

Patties

The Sri Lankan version of an empanada. These are usually made out of fish but they can also be made out of chicken or beef.

Pancake rolls (May be called Chinese rolls)

Thin crepes are filled with fish or chicken and then wrapped up, dipped in batter and breadcrumbs and then deep fried!

Pastries

Most Sri Lankan pastries are filled with savory and spicy fillings instead of sweet fillings. Try an egg and seeni sambol pastry or a fish pastry.

Buns

Soft buns are filled with fish (malu paan) or seeni sambol (seeni sambol paan) or even chicken. Malu paan is a food you must eat in Sri Lanka!

Vadai/Vadey

Vadai originates from India. There are two versions of it. Ulundu vadey and masala vadey. It’s deep fried and crunchy and made with either ulundu flour or lentils.

How to eat it: dip in a coconut chutney!

Vegetable and Fish Roti

These are stuffed godamba roti. The stuffing is usually fish or vegetables. After that it’s folded and then pan fried.

Desserts

Cream Caramel

This is essentially flan and a staple dessert in Sri Lanka.

Wattalappam

Wattalappam is a little more difficult to describe. Think of it as a flan (similar consistency) made out of eggs, coconut milk and jaggery.

Chocolate Biscuit Pudding

I thought this was uniquely Sri Lankan until I went to Portugal and realized they brought it over to us. Today, it’s another staple dessert along with cream caramel and wattalappam. Milk soaked Marie or Maria biscuits are layered with chocolate icing. It’s probably my favorite pudding found in Sri Lanka.

Sweetmeats

There are several types of Sri Lankan sweetmeats. These are most often made out of rice flour and treacle. These are called kavum, athiraha, mung kavum, aluwa, asmi etc. One sweetmeat called kokis actually came from the Dutch. It’s a rosette shaped crispy savory cookie.

Eclairs and Cream Buns

There is something about Sri Lankan eclairs that’s so different from the rest! Instead of cream, the inside is stuffed with soft creamy icing! You will have to try it to see what I mean!

Suggested Restaurants

If you are looking for restaurants to try rice and curry, the kaddeyappam and, sweetmeats, then try the restaurants below where you can sample all or most of it!

• Thuna Paha – This restaurant is located in a hotel called Water’s Edge. Go for dinner as they have a wider variety of food at night than during the day. I especially like Thuna Paha because it’s a whole experience and they serve the food in a traditional setting.
• Nuga Gama – Another favorite if you want to try a wide variety of Sri Lankan food. It’s set in a village type setting and cooked by ladies who are from villages. Nuga Gama is also a unique experience.
• Culture Colombo – Best if you want to try out the Kadeyappam. They have a sampler for dinner.
• 4 and 5 star Hotel buffets – Hotel buffets are a great way to experiment and sample Sri Lankan food!

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