Best 14 Sri Lankan food to try

You finally entered Sri Lanka, you discovered that the people are amazingly friendly and that the country is beautiful. But to fully discover a country you also need to try its food. No better way to integrate than also eat some local dishes. Unfortunately, I didn’t try as many dishes I wanted but I can still give you some good tips. So that when you are there you know what the best food in Sri Lanka is to eat.

1. Crab (at Ministry of Crab)

Okay, this doesn’t have to be eaten at Ministry of Crab. But if you ever want to experience the best chili crab in your life. You have to visit best ranked restaurant of Sri Lanka (and 29th best ranked restaurant in Asia) in the 400 year old Dutch Hospital in Colombo.

There are loads of places to eat crab and chili crab is the best one among them. However, if you go to Ministry of Crab, we tried all its flavors and they were all delicious but our favorite one is the pepper crab!

2. Kukul mass curry (chicken curry)

Sri Lanka is famous for its curries. And it has many variants. One of those is kukul mass curry. This is a chicken type of curry that is simple to make and every household in Sri Lanka will eat this regularly.

It is a combination of fennel seeds, cinnamon, cardamom and spices such as chili powder, curry powder, turmeric, lemon grass and curry leaves. Together with some chicken and coconut milk to make it creamy. This will be stewed for an hour. Some regions will also add some tomato paste to the base.

Of course, the best way to eat this is together with some rice or roti.

3. Parippu (dhal curry)

This parippu or dhal curry, is the most common curry in Sri Lankan households. Masoor dhal (split red lentils) are first rinsed and boiled until soft.

Fresh ingredients such as onions, tomatoes and fresh green chilies, are sauteed and mixed with tempered spices like cumin seeds, turmeric, fenugreek, mustard seeds and curry leaves will be put in a separate pan.

Of course, also here you will add some coconut milk to milk the gravy rich and creamy. The best way to eat this is as a dipping for roti or paratha.

4. Hoppers

Sri Lanka’s version of the pancakes. Made of slightly fermented concoction of rice flour, coconut milk, sometimes coconut water and a slightly bit of sugar.

While you can add every type of thing into a hopper, so it can be sweet or savoury. Sri Lanka’s favourite version would be the egg hopper. To make this an egg will be cracked in the bowl-shaped pancake.

Normally those egg hoppers will be garnished with lunu miris, a sambal of chillies, onions, lemon juice and salt. Sometimes coconut will be added to this as well.

5. String Hoppers

This is a different variant of the hoppers and normally used for breakfast. We had this a lot when we went for traditional breakfast in the places where we stayed.

The string hoppers are made from a much thicker dough then the normal hoppers. Normally it is served cold and it looks like a kind of pasta squeezed together in a very small pancake shape. String hoppers are steamed and of course normally eaten with curries.

6. Pol Sambol (coconut relish)

One of our favourite side dishes in Sri Lanka. It is a simple blend of finely grated coconut, red onions, dried whole chilies or chili powder, lime juice salt and if available some Maldive fish.

It is very easy to make this dish. The ingredients will be diced or ground and put together in a bowl. Put it tastes amazing. It goes together with everything. And if you like coconut and a bit of spices this is the dish to go for.

7. Kottu (kottu roti)

Be aware when you walk around in Sri Lanka. Listen and you will hear sometimes from a shop, spatulas and knifes clanking in a rhythm matter on the hot metal frying surface. For Sri Lankan’s this is the go to fast food.

It is a fried crispy bread known as godamba roti. The roti is normally fried in the morning, piled onto stacks and served when it ordered. Besides the roti you will get the ingredients in that you want, normally vegetables with some meat, chicken or seafood. The result is a comforting combination of salty pieces of fried dough, lightly spiced and extremely comforting.

Apparently the Dutch people love the cheese variant of this one, where they add besides the meat and the vegetables also some cheese to it.

8. Isso Vadei

They look great, easy to pick up and not too expensive. Taste for me is okay, not too special, but Sri Lankan love it. Isso Vadei is spicy lentil cakes with prawns on top. If you don’t like prawns, you also have the lentil cakes in a ball shape without the prawns.

9. Kale Mallung (kale coconut salad)

The favourite vegetable of my girlfriend, into a salad. Basically, it is kale, scraped coconut, onions, chilis, turmeric powder and salt. There is no dressing, but that isn’t required for this dish. Combina it with other side dishes and some rice and curry and you will have a great basic meal.

Update

I got so many lovely responses from so many people that give so many great advice. This article wouldn’t be any good if I wouldn’t include their recommendations in this article. So besides my 9 recommendations of food here is an additional 5 tips of food that you have to try.

10. Vadai

Fried spicy lentil balls. Ideal for vegans and based on spices and red chilli. According to Floor: “These balls are a perfect late night snack. They are crunchy from the outside and soft inside. Even better when you drunk too much Lion”

11. Devil Chicken (or prawns)

Devilled chicken, normally served with rice and marinated chicken or prawns. The name is coming from the amount of chillies that is going into this dish. Sandra mentioned you have to: “go to Villa Nature Smile in Beruwala and ask the manager to make Chicken Devil for you, a dish with Sri Lankan and Chinese influences.”

12. Sri Lankan Pancakes

Perfect dish for breakfast. It are pancakes made from coconut and filled with honey. Sweet and savoury, but mainly sweet. Highly recommended by Isabel and Saskia.

13. Pol Roti

Feudal and Imadudevvin almost killed me for it to not include this one in the list. How could I forgot pol roti. A rustic flat bread made up of flour, grated coconut with diced green chilli and onions for extra texture. A normal thing in Sri Lanka to eat for breakfast. Combine this with pol sambol and you have a perfect breakfast dish.

14. Maalu Ambul Thiyal

It is an hot and sour peppery dish. And according to Otakupuppy you have to eat this when you are in Sri Lanka. This was initially made in Ambalangoda and became a classic signature dish of Sri Lanka. The speciality of this dish is that it will last up to one week in room temperature. The tamarind which is used to prepare this dish is unique and it is called Goraka. This tamarind is used as a preservative. It is normally servec during New Year with Kiri Bath.