Sri Lankan Food: What to Eat & What to Know

What food should I try in Sri Lanka?

If it's your first visit, start with some of the dishes that are part of everyday Sri Lankan food culture.

Rice & Curry

Rice and curry is one of the staples of Sri Lankan food.

It isn't one specific curry. A typical meal can include rice with several different vegetable curries, dhal, sambol, meat or fish and other accompaniments.

The combination can change from restaurant to restaurant and even from day to day.

If you want to try a little of everything, rice and curry is one of the best places to start.

Hoppers

Hoppers are bowl-shaped pancakes made from a fermented rice-based batter.

You may see:

• Plain hoppers
• Egg hoppers
• Sweet hoppers

They're commonly eaten with curries and sambols and are especially popular for breakfast or dinner.

String Hoppers

String hoppers are thin steamed rice-flour noodles pressed into small nests.

They're commonly served with curry and coconut-based accompaniments and are another very common Sri Lankan meal.

Kottu

Kottu is made by chopping pieces of godhamba roti together with vegetables, egg, meat or other ingredients on a hot cooking surface.

You'll often hear the distinctive sound of the metal blades while it is being prepared.

If you want something filling and distinctly Sri Lankan, kottu is worth trying.

Short Eats

Short eats are small savoury snacks that you'll find in bakeries, cafés and roadside shops.

You may come across:

• Fish rolls
• Vegetable rolls
• Samosas
• Cutlets
• Pastries

They're useful when you want something quick rather than a full meal.

Is Sri Lankan food very spicy?

It can be, but spicy does not always mean extremely hot.

Sri Lankan cooking uses spices such as chilli, pepper, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves and curry leaves, but the amount of chilli varies considerably between dishes and restaurants.

If you don't normally eat spicy food, tell the restaurant when ordering:

Not too spicy, please.

For a more specific request, you can ask for less chilli.

Keep in mind that some sambols and accompaniments can be quite hot even when the main dish isn't.

What if I don't eat spicy food?

You can still eat very well in Sri Lanka.

Rice, dhal, vegetables, eggs, seafood, roti, hoppers and many other dishes can be prepared with different levels of heat.

Instead of assuming that everything will be spicy, tell the person taking your order what you prefer.

If you're particularly sensitive to chilli, ask about the specific dish rather than simply asking whether the restaurant's food is spicy.

What should vegetarians know?

Sri Lankan cuisine has a large variety of vegetarian dishes.

Dhal, vegetable curries, sambols, hoppers, string hoppers, roti and many rice-and-curry combinations can be vegetarian.

However, if you are strictly vegetarian or vegan, don't assume that a dish is suitable just because it contains vegetables.

Ask about:

• Fish
• Dried fish
• Maldive fish
• Meat stock
• Egg
• Dairy

This is particularly important with sambols, curries and sauces.

What if I have a food allergy?

Tell the restaurant clearly before ordering.

If you have a serious allergy, do not rely only on the name of a dish. Ask what ingredients are used and explain the severity of your allergy.

For severe allergies, carry any medication you normally require and do not assume that a dish is safe simply because the main ingredients appear suitable.

Is Sri Lankan street food safe to eat?

Street food can be an excellent way to experience local food, but use normal food-safety judgement.

Look for places that:

• Have a steady flow of customers
• Prepare food fresh
• Keep ingredients handled appropriately
• Have good overall cleanliness
• Serve food hot when it is meant to be hot

Busy local places can often be a good sign because food doesn't sit around for long.

If something looks poorly handled or has been sitting uncovered for a long time, choose somewhere else.

Where should I eat in Sri Lanka?

Do not limit yourself to restaurants aimed specifically at tourists.

Local restaurants, small family-run establishments, bakeries and busy cafés can offer some of the most interesting food experiences.

A simple rule is:

That does not guarantee quality or safety, but it can help you find places that are part of everyday local life.

What about seafood?

Sri Lanka's coastline means seafood is an important part of the local food scene.

Depending on where you travel, you may find:

• Fish
• Prawns
• Crab
• Cuttlefish
• Squid
• Lobster

If you're staying on the coast, asking what seafood is fresh that day can be more useful than choosing something simply because it appears on a menu.

What should I drink?

Ceylon Tea

Sri Lanka is famous for its tea, particularly from the central highlands.

Tea is available almost everywhere, but visiting a tea-growing area gives you the opportunity to understand more about how it is grown and produced.

King Coconut

King coconut is a variety native to Sri Lanka and is commonly sold along roadsides and in local markets.

It is a simple way to cool down while travelling in the heat.

Fresh juices

You'll also find fresh fruit juices and other local drinks in many cafés and restaurants.

When buying fresh drinks, use the same basic food-safety judgement you would anywhere else.

What should I know about eating times?

Sri Lankan meal times can be different from what you're used to.

Some local restaurants have specific breakfast, lunch and dinner periods rather than operating continuously throughout the day.

If you're travelling between destinations and know you'll need lunch at a particular time, don't assume that every restaurant will be open whenever you arrive.

This is particularly useful when travelling through smaller towns or rural areas.

A simple way to experience Sri Lankan food

Do not try to eat everything in one day.

Try a few different styles during your trip:

And don't be afraid to ask locals or your accommodation where they personally like to eat. Some of the best recommendations won't appear on a tourist list.