When in Sri Lanka, you must try a Sri Lankan dish for sure! Sri Lankan cuisine is very flavourful and diverse: a mix of bold spices, fresh seafood, coconut, curries, and rice you’ll want to eat again and again. In this Sri Lankan food guide, I highlight the top 10 Sri Lankan dishes you must try. From iconic curry and rice combinations to hoppers, kottu roti, sweet treats, and regional specialties. This list will make your mouth water and your travel bucket list longer.
1. Rice & Curry
Rice and Curry are a specialty in Sri Lanka. When ordering this dish, you can order a curry of fish, chicken, or mutton. Don’t expect a small dish, so don’t order different things. When ordering curry, you’ll also get vegetables, lentils, and fruits.
2. Kottu
Kottu is a spicy stir-fry of shredded roti bread with vegetables. You can also order a Kottu with eggs, meat, chicken, or cheese. I really liked this dish, but way too spicy for me!
3. Banana Fritters
A banana fritter is a fried pastry with a banana in it. This dish is served as a dessert.
4. Hoppers
Hoppers are a kind of pancake made out of rice flour and coconut milk with spices. The Hopper is served in the shape of a bowl. I don’t know why, but I didn’t like this dish at all. It had a terrible taste, and I never tried one again. Maybe I should have…
5. Lion Beer
When ordering a beer in a restaurant, make sure to ask for a local beer. Chances are that you’ll get e Lion Beer. This beer tastes good and is a light beer. The bottles are huge and have a giant sticker on it with a golden lion.
6. Noodles
Just like everywhere else in Asia, noodles are also a dish in Sri Lanka. After my encounter with salmonella in Thailand, I only eat vegetarian noodles (the chicken noodles remind me of the night I got sick).
7. Curd
Curd is a traditional homemade yogurt made from buffalo milk, which is curdled. You have to eat curd with some palm sugar. I definitely did not like this dish! It tasted like mutton, and I don’t like that taste. My mother did enjoy the curd, so I guess it depends on the person’s taste.
8. Papadam
A papadum is a thin, crisp-shaped food. It reminds me of a nacho, but the taste was different. I tasted this dish twice, and the second time, it was delicious!
9. Tea
Tea production is one of the main exports of Sri Lanka, so it’s not that strange to visit a tea plantation and drink tea.
10. Seafood
Sri Lanka is an island, so it would be logical to eat seafood. Here’s their dinner at Suriyaarana Guesthouse, made with love by our host Judith.
Which Sri Lankan dish would you like to taste?
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions Sri Lankan Cuisine
📍 Where should I try local food in Sri Lanka?
Great places to try Sri Lankan food include local markets and small eateries in Colombo, Kandy, Galle, Negombo, and along the coast (Trincomalee).
🌶️ Is Sri Lankan food spicy?
Sri Lankan cuisine often has bold spices. Curries can be medium to hot, but many non-spicy variations are available for those who prefer milder food. Just ask for no spicy when ordering food.
🍴 What are the most popular Sri Lankan dishes?
Some of the most popular Sri Lankan dishes include rice & curry, hoppers, kottu roti, lamprais, pol sambol, and fresh seafood.
🧁 What desserts are unique to Sri Lanka?
Unique Sri Lankan desserts include wattalapam (coconut custard pudding), kokis (crispy rice cookies), and sweet dumplings like aluwa and halapa.