Sri Lanka is a paradise for food lovers, each dish is packed with flavour, that is rich in culture and has some diverse influences.
You could enjoy a fragrant rice, a multitude of curries, to street food snacks and so much more.
But if this is your first time to Sri Lanka, then you might be wondering where do I start? What are the must try dishes in Sri Lanka?
Well, Shams lived in Sri Lanka for half of her life and she has taken me on a real foodie journey over the years. We have visited street food vendors, eaten rice and curry from a banana leaf to high end restaurants.
We have experienced it all and understand the difficulties of finding affordable places to eat, what traditional Sri Lankan dishes to try? And making sure you have an enjoyable food journey.
So, whether you’re a backpacker searching for the best street food, or just looking to try authentic Sri Lankan cuisine, we have it covered with these 9 must-try foods in Sri Lanka.
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Why Sri Lankan cuisine is a must-try
Sri Lankan cuisine has a real mix, from Indian, Malay, Dutch and Portuguese influences within their dishes. And you’ll also discover a complete regional variation, from curries in the north, coastal seafood dishes and there is plenty of vegetarian or vegan options available.
Many of the dishes you’ll come across include ingredients such as coconut, rice and plenty of aromatic spices.
The traditional Sri Lankan food, is a large part of their culture and hospitality and one you should embrace while travelling in the country.
9 Must-try Sri Lankan food
We have travelled to many regions of the country and tried different dishes along the way, which is why we have handpicked the must-try foods in Sri Lanka.
Rice and curry
Rice and curry are the staple dish of Sri Lanka, which consists of rice and multiple choices of curries that go with it.
The curries are normally seafood, meat, vegetables and lentil, which are accompanied with condiments, that blend well to make this an iconic and affordable dish to eat in Sri Lanka.
For the best places to eat rice and curries is in a local homestay, traditional Sri Lankan restaurants, and small huts along the side of the road.
In Colombo, our favourite spot for a good rice and curry is Nelum Kole. You’ll get a taste of real authentic Sri Lankan spicy food, with little tourists and you can tell how good it is, because this is normally packed out daily with locals.
Hoppers
These delicious bowl-shaped hoppers, are very similar to a pancake and served up plain or with an egg in the middle.
These are typically eaten at breakfast or as a snack, but you can enjoy this as a lunch or evening meal, if you choose.
Although served normally with a condiment, you can enjoy this bowl with either a meat or vegetable curry.
You can buy these at a street food stall or at local eateries and in your hotel.
Kottu
This is the ultimate street food in Sri Lanka, made from chopped rotti, stir-fried with vegetables, eggs, meat and spices.
This dish is flavourful, filling and interesting to watch its preparation, with the clicking sounds as the roti is chopped and mixed with the other ingredients over the hot cooking plate.
This is a great quick dish, if you’re looking for fast food style cuisine in Sri Lanka.
Pol Sambol (coconut condiment)
This spicy mix of chilli, onion, lime, coconut and Maldivian fish is one of our favourite condiments, that we include in all our Sri Lankan dishes.
It normally adds a little punch and flavour to the dish, but in our opinion, it really brings it to life and ties it all together.
Although we eat it with most of our dishes, it normally comes with your rice and curry.
String hoppers
Another of our favourite, is these thin rice noodles that’s served with a coconut sambol and curry.
String hoppers are normally served at breakfast, but we’ll often eat them for lunch and for dinner.
If you want to dive into Sri Lankan cuisine, then you can normally eat these from a local homestay or in a restaurant or your hotel during breakfast.
Parippu (lentil curry)
Parippu is a creamy dhal curry, made from dhal, coconut milk and spices.
Depending on who makes it, dhal curry can be super spicy, while others are quite mild. If you can’t handle your spices, make sure you choose a mild parippu.
Because this is made from lentils and coconut milk, this is perfect for vegans.
You can order this with any rice and curry dish.
Gotu kola (green leaf condiment)
Gotu kola or also known as Centella asiatica or Indian Pennywort, is a green leaf that is chopped up finely and mixed with coconut, lime and spices.
This is another favourite of ours, that we pile onto our rice and curry dishes.
It has a more earthy taste and is said to have some incredible health benefits, including a detox food.
This is a must-try along with your rice and curry and is normally served in many authentic Sri Lankan restaurants.
Watalappam
This is a very sweet and rich pudding and believed to have originated in Malaysia.
It is made with coconut milk, jaggery and spices, before it is steamed and served.
It reminds us of a set custard, but has so much flavour. I have cooked Watalappam from a recipe, which turned out very well and Shams family enjoyed every spoon.
However, the dish can really depend on the quality of the jaggery, if you don’t have some good jaggery, it doesn’t have the full taste.
Homemade watalappam is far better than the shops and bakeries the sell them.
Wood apple juice
Sri Lanka has a wide variety of tropical fruits including wood apple.
Wood apple has a unique, tangy, sweet-sour juice which is made from the wood apple fruit.
It can be refreshing, but it definitely has a distinctive taste that I don’t like, yet Shams doesn’t mind.
If you want to try something different and unique, then wood apple juice, is something of a must try in Sri Lanka.
Fresh wood apple juice is sold in juice bars and roadside vendors.
Pro tip: Be careful of where the water is sourced for your drinks, especially fresh homemade wood apple juice. Tap water isn’t as purified as some western countries, which could result in an upset stomach if consumed. Ice is also something to avoid if made from tap water.
Sri Lanka is a good location to travel to on a budget, you can eat like a local at locals prices, visit some beautiful ruins or beaches, just to name but a few. But here are 6 more reasons you’ll love travelling Sri Lanka on a budget.
Best places to try authentic Sri Lankan food
Most of these dishes can be found anywhere in the country, from the capital, down south to the east coast and north of the island.
You may find the different variations in the taste or the way the dish is cooked in the different regions, but that’s what makes Sri Lankan cuisine unique.
For street food hotspots, Galle Face Green, in the islands capital of Colombo is a popular spot, such as kottu, or small bites and snacks to eat.
Down on the south coast of Sri Lanka, you could pick up some tasty street food at little stalls along the beachfront.
For a good rice and curry, Colombo is packed, from Nelum Kole, Ranbath and more.
If you need some recommendations on the best places to eat authentic Sri Lankan rice and curry, then check out our guide on best places to eat in Colombo.
For fine dining, for those with a few extra $s to spend, then you’ll find top-rated Sri Lankan restaurants in Colombo and the luxury hotels dotted around the country.
Learn to cook traditional Sri Lankan cuisine
One of the unique experiences in Sri Lanka, is by taking up a cooking class, to learn more about Sri Lankan cuisine.
This is a hands-on experience, learning to cook hoppers, sambols and traditional curries.
On your return home, you could then host Sri Lankan theme nights for family and friends, where you can share your knowledge and your travel memories with the ones you love.
I’m lucky, since Shams cooks authentic Sri Lankan rice and curry on a regular basis, when we are back home. And we have even entertained family and friends, with Sri Lankan cuisine, to inspire them to travel to this beautiful island.
You can book onto one of these cooking classes:
- Colombo cooking class
- Ella traditional cooking class
- Cooking class in Galle
- Cooking class in Nilaveli
Tips for enjoying Sri Lankan food like a local
To really dive into the authentic Sri Lankan foodie experience, then embrace the Sri Lankan culture by:
- Eat with your fingers: The authentic way to eat Sri Lankan food is with your hands. I have eaten Sri Lankan dishes with my hands and with cutlery and the taste is far better with your hands. Wash your hands with soap and water prior to and after eating. Always use the right hand, when eating with your fingers.
- Ask locals for recommendations: The locals are the best people to know where the best places to eat are. Over the years, we have discovered some real treats and we have written a detailed guide on best and affordable places to eat in Colombo.
- Sri Lankan food is spicy: If you are not use to the high levels of spice, or don’t like spicy food, then always ask for the mild dishes.
- Try something once: We will always try something once to establish if we like the food or not. There is no point going to a new destination and saying you don’t like it, when you have never tried it. You’ll be surprised at how delicious and flavourful Sri Lankan cuisine really is. Don’t be afraid, just try something new.
Conclusion
As you explore Sri Lanka, you’ll not only discover the vibrant history and culture that this wonderful country has to offer, but you’ll be taken on a vibrant journey through bold flavours, deep-rooted traditions and an island that loves its spices.
You’ll want to indulge on a comforting plate of rice and curry, dig into the sizzling kottu roti, savour your taste buds for parippu and all the other incredible dishes that will take you on a story of Sri Lanka’s rich culinary journey.
Head to a bustling street food stall, stop at one of the many small restaurants at the side of the road for a rice and curry, or take on a cooking class and learn all about how to make authentic Sri Lankan dishes.
And don’t forget to try eating with your hands, just like a local, for that extra connection with the food.
Sri Lankan cuisine is bound to leave a lasting impression, that will bring you back for more.
Continue your travel planning, with these useful posts:
- Temple etiquette – Does and Don’ts
- Travel guide to Sri Lanka
- Must see attractions in Colombo
- Must see attractions in Galle
- Best beach destinations in Sri Lanka
- Affordable places to stay in Colombo
- Must see attractions in Sri Lanka
- How to go on safari at Yala National Park
