Taste of the island

Eat & Drink

The best places to eat in Sri Lanka: rice and curry kitchens, south-coast seafood shacks, Galle Fort cafes and Colombo dining, with the dishes to hunt down. 265 eat & drink are listed here, each with its season and how to reach it.

Rice and curry feasts, beachside seafood, hopper carts and strong sweet tea.

Eat & Drink 265

Tables worth travelling for

All eateries

Kenmare Restaurant ★ 5.0 Reel Crazy - Tangalle Sport Fishing Tours ★ 5.0 Seavibe Fishing Center Hikkaduwa ★ 5.0 Nishikigoi LK to Kottawa Farm ★ 5.0 Aththurugiriya fish farm ★ 5.0 Blue Fish Aqua | Polonnaruwa ★ 5.0 Prasanna Aquarium & Fish Farm ★ 5.0 Hirusara fish farm ★ 5.0 PANP ORNAMENTAL FISH FARM *(PANP මින් මැදුර)* ★ 5.0 Aquazone fish farm Pvt. Ltd kurunegala ★ 5.0 Excel Fish Farm Center ★ 5.0 Aquarium and ornamental fish farm ★ 5.0 malawi fish farm ★ 5.0 Sandaruwan Betta Farm ★ 5.0 Lanka aquarium fish farm ★ 5.0 Suhaib Prawn Farm | Shrimp Aquaculture ★ 5.0 Blue water fish farm ★ 5.0 Aquaclub Ornamental Fish Breeding Facility ★ 5.0 TNS ORNAMENTAL FISH FARM ★ 5.0 KST tilapia company (Pvt)ltd ★ 5.0 Aquaking ★ 5.0 D & D Ornamental Fish Farm ★ 5.0 Mariza Fisheries Company (Pvt) Ltd ★ 5.0 Seafood R J Aquarium and Farm ★ 5.0 Nithila Fish Farm ★ 5.0 Kumaragala Ornamental Fish Farm ★ 5.0 Water Dog fish farm Pvt Ltd ★ 5.0 SM Aqua Kurunegala ★ 5.0 Asahi Koi Farm ★ 5.0 JD'S KITCHEN ★ 4.9 Sri Lankan Mirissa Deep Fishing With Radinu ★ 4.9 Diving Deep Sea Fishing Bentota , River Fishing Bentota ★ 4.9 Abid's Restaurant Sri Lanka ★ 4.8 Family Life’s Good Kitchen ★ 4.8 Cafe Chicking Srilanka ★ 4.8 Fast food Heritage Colombo Restaurant & Cafe ★ 4.8 HalalSri Lankan Yoroko ★ 4.8 Japanese Fish park & Floating Restaurant ★ 4.8 Francis Enterprises (Pvt) Ltd ★ 4.8 Bow Fishing Lanka ★ 4.8 Exotic Discus ★ 4.8 Fishing Tours with Fishing Vibes Srilanka ★ 4.8 Sportfishing Lanka ★ 4.8 Lanka Pets Aquatics ★ 4.8 Green Valley Aquacultures (Pvt) Ltd ★ 4.8 NS Guppy farm gampola ★ 4.8 Big Plate ★ 4.7 Halal Cinnamon Grand Colombo ★ 4.7 WILDISH ★ 4.7 Asian No. 1 Dewmini Roti Shop ★ 4.7 Sri Lankan Manhattan Fish Market ★ 4.7 Seafood Madras Darbar Indian Restaurant ★ 4.7 Indian Manjal Hotels and Restaurant (Pvt) Limited ★ 4.7 Indian Amma Nissa One Galle Face Mall ★ 4.7 Sri LankanFamily Shikisen Japanese Restaurant ★ 4.7 Japanese MAYs TABLE ★ 4.7 Thai Cafe 🍵 Japan ★ 4.7 Japanese AQUA Pazza ★ 4.7 ItalianBar Cafe 113 ★ 4.7 Family INDUMATHY CAFE ★ 4.7 Mirissa Deep Fishing Tours ★ 4.7 Nano Fish Corner ★ 4.7 RS Fishing Tackles ★ 4.7 DIRO Aqua (Pvt) Ltd ★ 4.7 Ravi Fish Farm & Sons WR Fish Farm ★ 4.7 Ocean Enterprises Sri Lanka. ★ 4.7 Sasindu Aqua Farm ★ 4.7 Hiru Aquarium Farm ★ 4.7 Shangri-La Colombo ★ 4.6 Restaurant Graze Kitchen ★ 4.6 Buffet Tilapiya Colombo | Best BYOB Restaurant ★ 4.6 SeafoodAsian Hadramiah - Multi Cusine Restaurant مطعم الحضرمية اليمني - مليجاواتا ★ 4.6 PLATES ★ 4.6 SunsetBlu ★ 4.6 SakeColombo By Tsukiji Uoichi Japanese Restaurant ★ 4.6 ChineseJapanese Cuisine Colombo - Courtside ★ 4.6 Family Nuga Gama ★ 4.6 Sri Lankan Virticle by Jetwing ★ 4.6 The Dining Room ★ 4.6 Royal Colombo Golf Club Restaurant ★ 4.6 Capital Bar & Grill ★ 4.6 Bar Shang Palace ★ 4.6 Green Hill ★ 4.6 Real Fish Point Weligama ★ 4.6 Seafood Minketha Aquarium (Pvt) Ltd ★ 4.6 Jay Sea Foods Processing (Pvt) Ltd ★ 4.6 Aqua Paradise Ornamental Fish Farm ★ 4.6 SOYSA AQUARIUM & ORNEMENTAL FISH FARM ★ 4.6 The Bayleaf ★ 4.5 ItalianBar The Lagoon ★ 4.5 Seafood Culture Colombo ★ 4.5 Sri Lankan Ceylon Curry Club ★ 4.5 Sri Lankan Kuuraku Japanese Restaurant ★ 4.5 Japanese Central All Day Dining ★ 4.5 New Giragama Tea factory & Restaurant ★ 4.5 Park Street Warehouse - Restaurant & Pub ★ 4.5 Chill Colombo ★ 4.5 The Avenue colombo ★ 4.5 Sri LankanSeafood Long Feng - Cinnamon Lakeside ★ 4.5 Chinese Chola Authentic Indian Restaurant to Kynsey Road ★ 4.5 Indian Talawakelle Tea centre ★ 4.5 Cafe The Water Kingdom ★ 4.5 Tropic Sri Lanka ★ 4.5 Seafood Nuwa Fish Farm ★ 4.5 NMS Koi Fish Farm ★ 4.5 Slic Lanka Fisheries (Pvt) Ltd ★ 4.5 Seafood The Koi Company Sri Lanka ★ 4.5 Junior Kuppanna Restaurant - Sri Lanka ★ 4.4 Indian The Gallery Café ★ 4.4 INDIAN KITCHEN ★ 4.4 Indian The Sanctuarii ★ 4.4 IndianThai FLOW ★ 4.4 Harbour Court ★ 4.4 Ranbath Organic ★ 4.4 VegetarianSri Lankan Al Reem Restaurant ★ 4.4 Kolamba Kade ★ 4.4 Nelum Kole - Kotte ★ 4.4 Sri Lankan Maqara Restaurant ★ 4.4 Sri LankanCoffee MENYA HANABI SRI LANKA ★ 4.4 Japanese Ocean Seafood Restaurant ★ 4.4 Seafood Table by Nyne ★ 4.4 Bar Jing Season Chinese Restaurant ★ 4.4 ChineseCafe The Leaf Lamprais - Colombo ★ 4.4 Hobby Fishing tackles ★ 4.4 Oceanpick (Pvt) Ltd ★ 4.4 Seafood HARITHA FISH FARM ★ 4.4 Minma Farm International Retail & Wholesale outlet ★ 4.4 Tilapia.lk ★ 4.4 tropical fish hub ★ 4.4 wasana ornamental fish farm ★ 4.4 Shanmugas ★ 4.3 Vegetarian The Sizzle Colombo ★ 4.3 Light House Galley ★ 4.3 Isso - Prawn Crazy ★ 4.3 SeafoodFast food King of the Mambo ★ 4.3 Garton's Ark Restaurant ★ 4.3 Palmyrah Restaurant ★ 4.3 Sri Lankan Anjappar Authentic Indian Chettinad Restaurant ★ 4.3 Sri Aiswariya Vegetarian Restaurant ★ 4.3 Indian Somerset Tea Center ★ 4.3 Cafe The Fish Stop Aquarium ★ 4.3 SRI LAK FISH MARKET - PANADURA ★ 4.3 Seafood Fresh Fish ★ 4.3 Seafood The Fishery ★ 4.3 Seafood Oscar Fish Farm (Pvt) Ltd ★ 4.3 City Fishing Tackle 🎣 ★ 4.3 Aqwest Farm ★ 4.3 Café on the 5th ★ 4.2 Sri LankanCafe Indian Summer Restaurant ★ 4.2 IndianFine dining Saraswathie vegetarian Restaurant ★ 4.2 Vegetarian Monsoon Colombo ★ 4.2 Mayura Hotel ★ 4.2 Sri Lankan Cyril Rodrigo's Green Cabin ★ 4.2 The Chef Ceylon ★ 4.2 Sri Lankan Colombo Kitchen ★ 4.2 Buffet Aqua Land SL Farm ★ 4.2 Guilan Sea Cucumber Hatchery & Farm - Sri Lanka ★ 4.2 Chola Authentic Indian Restaurant - Wellawatta ★ 4.1 Indian Sea Fish Restaurant ★ 4.1 SeafoodBar Yarl Hotel ★ 4.1 Sri LankanFamily The Colombo Food Court ★ 4.1 Easwary Seafood (Pvt) Ltd ★ 4.1 Seafood Lumbini Aquaria International Pvt Ltd ★ 4.1 Thuruliya Aquatics ★ 4.1 Kosgama Ornamental Fish Farm ★ 4.1 Monster Fish Aqua SL ★ 4.1 Lanka Seafood ★ 4.1 Seafood Dwaraka Indian Vegetarian Restaurant- Bambalapitiya ★ 4.0 Vegetarian New Banana Leaf Restaurant ★ 4.0 Sri Lankan Raja Bojun Sri Lankan Restaurant - Corporate/ Private Catering Services, Deliveries & Takeaways ★ 4.0 Kumar's Sri lankan Hut ★ 4.0 Tropical Aquatic Fish Farm ★ 4.0 Pathum Fish Farm ★ 4.0 Fishing Sri Lanka ★ 4.0 Ashi fish farm ★ 4.0 S.S.A Ornamental Fish Farm ★ 4.0 Aqualified International (Pvt) Ltd ★ 3.9 Taste of Asia ★ 3.8 Sri Lankan Lotus Leaf Restaurant ★ 3.7 Sri LankanChinese Rasa Bojun ★ 3.6 Sri Lankan Cichlid Sri Lanka Pet Fish Farm ★ 3.5 PERERA fish Farm And Hatchery ★ 3.4 SD Fish Breeding Farm AquaGem Fish Farm Gayan fish farm ★ 5.0 OASIS Fish Farm ★ 5.0 Orenda Fish Farm ★ 5.0 W yatiyana ornamental fish farm ★ 5.0 Isuru Fish farm ★ 5.0 Aqua monster ★ 5.0 SK aqua farm - dambulla ★ 5.0 AVORA AQUATICS ★ 5.0 Fisherman.Lanka ★ 5.0 Kothmale fish farm ★ 5.0 Prime Aqua Fish Lanka ★ 5.0 Rah aquarium ★ 5.0 Blue Lagoon Aquaculture (Pvt) Ltd ★ 5.0 Nedagamuwa Fish Farm ★ 5.0 Dreams fish Farm ★ 5.0 Star fish breeders and growers ★ 5.0 Best Quality Koi Fish Farm ★ 5.0 Raja Prawn Farm ★ 5.0 fair fish lanka exports ★ 5.0 Jerman Lanka (PVT) Ltd ★ 5.0 Nishi Fish Farm - නිශී විසිතුරු මසුන් ★ 5.0 Fish farm ★ 5.0 Aqua Friends Fish Farm Melsiripura ★ 5.0 Lucky fish farm ★ 5.0 Asiri aquarium & fish farm ★ 5.0 Bhagya Iron Works & Fish Farm ★ 5.0 Aqua home betta fish farm ★ 5.0 Weligama Dock ★ 4.9 Ranmasu Aqua Farm ★ 4.9 Cookoo's Fishing Spot ★ 4.9 Senanayake Samudraya Fisheries Harbour aka Inginiyagala Fishing Harbour ★ 4.8 Ministry of Crab 4.7 Ministry of Crab Lakruwan Fish Farm ★ 4.7 Theevan peddy fishing jetty ★ 4.7 Ocean Aura ornamental fish farm ★ 4.7 Bentota River Safari & Deep Sea Fishing by VTS Lanka ★ 4.6 Monster Fish Enthusiast ★ 4.6 Galmanduwa Fish Farm ★ 4.6 NAQDA Carp Breeding Center - Udawalawa ★ 4.6 CRJ Ornamental Fish Farm ★ 4.6 K. S. Aquarium ★ 4.6 Upali’s by Nawaloka 4.5 Upali’s by Nawaloka Blue Field Tea Center ★ 4.5 Taprobane Seafoods (Pvt) Ltd ★ 4.5 Seafood Sarani Aquarium Fish Farm ★ 4.5 Kiribathgala ornamental fish farm ★ 4.5 Sappers' Leisure Bay ★ 4.4 National Aquaculture Development Center (NAQDA) ★ 4.4 Cod-Bay - Ceylon Fishery Harbours Corporation ★ 4.4 Dikkowita Fisheries Harbour ★ 4.4 Fresh Water prawn farming and training center ★ 4.4 Lellama Fish Market Negombo ★ 4.3 Seafood C. M. Fish Canning (Pvt) Ltd. ★ 4.3 Secondary Fish Market ★ 4.3 Seafood SAWI Ornamental Fish Farm ★ 4.3 Yoshin Aqua Ornamental Fish Farm ★ 4.3 Galle Fish Market ★ 4.2 Seafood Ornamental Fish Breeding Centre ★ 4.2 Oasis Fish Producers ★ 4.2 தென்னமரவாடி (தென்னவன் மரபு அடி) | තෙන්නමරවාඩිය | Thennamaravadi ★ 4.2 Negombo Fish Market ★ 4.1 Seafood Whole Sale Fish Market Complex ★ 4.1 Seafood Ever Green Fish Farm ★ 4.1 Adma Agro ★ 4.0 Kakkaitivu Fish Market - Jaffna ★ 4.0 Seafood Ceylon Fisheries Corporation Fish Outlet ★ 4.0 Seafood Ocean Dreams Fish Farm ★ 4.0 Fisheries Harbour / Fishing Port - Weligama ★ 3.9 Ceylon Fisheries Corporation Store ★ 3.9 Seafood Stilt Fisherman sri lanka ★ 3.6 St.Anthony's Fish Nets ★ 3.5 AQUA HOME ORNAMANTAL FISH FARM - IMPORT | RETAIL | WHOLESALE DISTRIBUTION ★ 3.0 Pukkulam Fishing Point ★ 3.0 F.A.Dry Fish Stores ★ 3.0 Panama Fishing Community ★ 3.0 National Aquaculture Development Authority of Sri Lanka ★ 2.3 GW Fish House farm Oranda fish farm Silver betta fish farm

Where the food scenes are

Colombo

The capital runs from hotel buffets and modern Sri Lankan tasting menus to Galle Face Green isso vade carts at sunset.

Fine diningStreet food
Galle Fort

Boutique cafes, courtyard restaurants and sunset rooftops inside the Dutch walls, the island's prettiest coffee scene.

CafesBrunch
South coast

Mirissa to Tangalle: pick your fish from the ice display, priced by weight, grilled with garlic butter, feet in the sand.

SeafoodBeach dining
Jaffna & the north

A different kitchen altogether: Jaffna crab curry, dosa and kool seafood broth that reward the journey north.

Crab curryTamil cuisine

Dishes to hunt

Kottu roti The clanging late-night classic After dark
Egg hopper Crisp rice-flour bowl, soft centre Breakfast
Crab curry Negombo and Jaffna's masterpiece Must try
Lamprais Burgher banana-leaf parcel, weekends Hunt it down

Order rice and curry at lunchtime when the spreads are freshest, and finish with curd and kithul treacle.

Beyond the plate

Kottu theatre Any busy junction after 7pm, follow the clanging
Seafood by weight South-coast beach restaurants, pick from the ice
Plain tea ritual Roadside kades island-wide, sweet and strong

Know before you go

Lunch is king. Rice and curry is a lunchtime institution, spreads are freshest and cheapest between noon and 2pm.
Spice levels are real. Ask for less spicy and nobody blinks. Curd, coconut milk or a hopper cools the fire better than water.
Cash for the kades. Small local eateries and street carts are cash-only. Cards work at hotels and bigger restaurants.
Drink smart. Bottled or filtered water only, and a roadside king coconut (thambili) is the island's best rehydration.
The full food guide What to eat in Sri Lanka, dish by dish See restaurants on the map

Common questions

What dishes must I try?

Rice and curry, an egg hopper, kottu roti, pol sambol, a Jaffna crab curry if you’re up north, lamprais in Colombo, and watalappam for dessert. Wash it down with a king coconut.

Is Sri Lankan food very spicy?

It can be, but heat is adjustable, just ask for it “less spicy”. Coconut milk in many curries mellows the chilli, and sambols on the side let you control it.

Is it easy to eat vegetarian or halal?

Very. Vegetable, lentil and jackfruit curries are everywhere and naturally dairy-free (coconut, not cream). Halal food is widely available, especially in Colombo, the east coast and Muslim neighbourhoods.

Is street food safe?

Generally yes at busy, high-turnover stalls where food is cooked fresh and hot in front of you (kottu, hoppers, isso vadai). Drink bottled or filtered water and ease into the spice.