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Sri Lankan food is in a world of its own. The use of fresh local ingredients alongside some age-old recipes makes for a delicious meal wherever you go. Most dishes are packed with herbs and spices ensuring amazing flavour. I did find that there are certain similarities with Indian cuisine, but I like to think of them as two members of the same family. Sri Lankan food can be quite spicy and it is usually eaten with rice and/or bread. It is also commonly eaten with your right hand. Whenever you see a small restaurant, packed with locals all eating with their hands, that’s when you know you are on to a winner. Here is my list of 20 Must-Try Foods in Sri Lanka, prepare to feel hungry!!
1. Kotthu
Kotthu is a nationwide favourite in Sri Lanka and you are sure to try it at least once during your time in the country. The unofficial national dish is made with roti, spices and vegetables fried and chopped in a unique fashion. If you ever feel hungry for kotthu, follow your ears and you will find it due to the loud metal-on-metal cooking technique. You can commonly add ingredients such as egg, chicken or cheese. Personally, I enjoyed it with some tomato ketchup and any sort of spicy curry sauce that they offered.
2. Roti
Similar to kotthu, you will find roti all over Sri Lanka. Whether you decide to eat it savoury or sweet, roti is a perfect snack or breakfast. My favourite fillings were either egg, cheese or vegetables. This is a cheap and reliable meal. This particular roti is heavily packed, more than most were. Your average roti can be eaten on the go.
3. Hoppers
A Breakfast food that is a favourite amongst travellers. Hoppers originate from India and are made with fermented rice batter and coconut milk. They look similar in texture to a really thin pancake. They are cooked in a small wok-like frying pan in order to shape them into a bowl. My favourites were egg hoppers, the bowl shape had a fried egg in the centre. If the egg was runny, then that was even better. A good restaurant will serve some curry sauce or sambal with hoppers for extra flavour.
4. String Hoppers
Very different from the above, string hoppers are made from rice batter and squeezed and shaped like thin noodles. They are then shaped into a disc shape and served in stacks of ten, usually for breakfast. They can be a bit dry and monotonous in taste so make sure to make heavy use of any sauce that is served with them.
5. Samosas
Another Indian food that has made its way to Sri Lanka, samosas are a perfect snack to grab on the go. They come in very handy to eat on any journey or even in between meals. You will commonly find these in any small local restaurant, known as a hotel. They will be in a glass case either at the till or at the front of the shop. I would recommend the smaller samosas, they are crunchier and usually better filled.
6. Devilled Foods
As the name suggests, this is a hot and spicy food that can be found all over the country. Usually, this dish involves meat and is served with rice. If you are a fan of spicy food, this is a must-try. It is also a rare chance to eat meat in Sri Lanka.
7. Dosa
Possibly my favourite food in Sri Lanka. Dosa is a type of pancake that is made from a fermented batter. It resembles a very thin crêpe. It is usually served stuffed with different fillings, the most popular being masala dosa. Masala dosa is stuffed with potatoes, vegetables and spices. You can get a whole host of fillings though, cheese, egg, onion and even just plain. You usually find the best dosas at specialised local restaurants.
8. Dhal
A healthy and light curry that originates from India but can be found all over Sri Lanka. Typically made from Lentils, dhal is a staple food in most Sri Lankans’ diets. Dhal is a common curry to find due to it being delicious and very inexpensive to make. It is also very nutritious and a meal I often crave when at home. It is better eaten with bread than with rice, in my opinion.
9. Paratha
Paratha is a type of flaky flatbread served with curries, most commonly dhal. It can be a bit greasy at times but it is great for dipping into your sauce and soaking it all up. Also useful when eating with your hands.
10. Jackfruit Curry
As strange texture as Jackfruit is, it makes up for it with amazing flavour. It almost looks like chicken when served which can lead to some confusion when tasting it. It can be a bit stringy in texture but it is delicious. Not as commonly found as I would have liked, try this curry any chance you get.
11. Brinjal
This is the local name for what is an eggplant curry. For this dish, the eggplants are cooked until they are almost overdone, then topped with soy sauce and sugar to make them very sweet. A little bit of spice is usually added to give a bit of heat. It is commonly eaten with rice and a mix of other curries.
12. Ulundhu Vadai
Although shaped like a doughnut, they are actually made from lentils and then deep fried. The inside, however, is quite doughy and they are a tasty side order to soak up some of that curry juice. You will typically find these in the front cabinet of local restaurants.
13. Fried Rice
It seems like every country in the world has its own version of fried rice and Sri Lanka is no different. This version is usually made with basmati rice and isn’t as flavourful as in other countries. You would typically add a curry sauce that is served with it to spruce up the taste. It is a quick and reliable meal though. You can also commonly find fried noodles at the same restaurants.
14. Pumpkin Curry
I have loved pumpkin ever since I had it on a roast dinner in Australia. I was delighted to find out that pumpkin curry is commonly served in Sri Lanka. The pumpkin is cooked until very tender and typically served in a mild curry sauce. It is eaten with rice and is usually served with more than one other curry dish.
15. Potato Curry
With its heavy use of cumin seeds, this curry reminded me of Aloo Jeera in India. The big difference between them though was the potato curry came in a sauce. It was a mild and creamy curry that was still very flavourful. Eat it with some rice and bread for a very filling and healthy meal.
16. Isso Wade
This Sri Lankan street food is an acquired taste. They are made with split peas, shaped like a pattie and topped with fresh whole prawns. Isso wade can be served alongside fresh vegetables and a curry sauce. They are very fishy but if you are a seafood fan then you will love these.
17. Curd
I didn’t know what to make of Curd when I first tried it. It is a dairy product made from coagulating milk with an acidic substance. I expected it to taste quite sour. In fact, it was delicious. Hard to put my finger on what it tasted like, it reminded me of a mix between fresh yoghurt and cream. This is a very common dessert in Sri Lanka.
18. Kithal
Made from liquid Jaggery, this syrup is served most commonly alongside curd or in juices. It tasted like sharper, stronger honey with a similar texture. It is very sweet but delicious at the same time.
19. Woodapple Juice
I have only ever seen this in Sri Lanka. The wood apple is not the most appealing of fruits to try with its stinking outer shell and less-than-pretty insides. Mixed with some sugar and put in a blender, this juice is hugely popular all across Sri Lanka. It is definitely an acquired taste but once you get past the smell, it’s not that bad.
20. Tea
No list could be complete without including tea in it. Sri Lanka is one of the world’s largest producers and the locals love it. They drink it as a way of washing down a meal. While black tea is readily available, sweet milk tea is usually the cup of choice here. If you are a tea fan you could very well find yourself drinking multiple cups a day during your time in Sri Lanka.
So there is my list, 20 Must-Try Foods in Sri Lanka. All of these delicious eats can be found in local, budget-friendly restaurants across the country. In Sri Lanka, there is no need to pay big money for your food. The best food comes from eating where the locals eat. Don’t worry about food hygiene or freshness, instead use your common sense. If you see a large number of locals eating somewhere then the food is good and safe, most probably with a high turnover. Don’t be afraid to eat with your hands, locals do it every day and it hasn’t harmed them. Instead, get yourself a few different curries and some rice, mix them all together and enjoy the amazing tastes. Sri Lankan food is incredible and I’m sure you will have a great time eating there, I know I certainly did!!
To read more about my time in Sri Lanka click here. Alternatively, you can read my Sri Lanka Travel Guide by clicking here.
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Some of these look great! I’m never very good at trying new foods abroad and usually go vegetarian as I’m super fussy with meat, but there looks some incredible dishes here! I’d love to try the roti!
Nikki|www.thoselittlemoments.net
look so delicious 😉
They all look so amazing. I can’t wait to try them all next week when I go to Sri Lanka for the first time. I heard the food is similar to India, but a bit more on the mil side. My mouth just watered now.
I am a Sri Lankan…and would like to congratulate you on nailing it when it comes to the choices you had made! May be you were a Sri Lankan on your previous birth….