What to eat in Sri Lanka? Here's my guide to Sri Lankan cuisine
What does Sri Lankan cuisine have to offer? You'll find out more about it in this blog.
SRI LANKAFOODTRAVEL
Sri Lankan cuisine is a vibrant tapestry of flavors, influenced by the island's diverse cultures and history. It has its roots in South Indian cuisine, but over time, it has developed its own unique identity, incorporating elements from Portuguese, Dutch, and Malay culinary practices. Key herbs and spices, such as curry leaves, cinnamon, and pandan, contribute to the aromatic depth of Sri Lankan dishes.
Coconut is also a staple ingredient, used in various forms, including milk and oil. Shredded coconut is used in the countries famous sambol. National dishes include rice and curry, where a variety of curries made from vegetables, fish, or meat accompany rice. Another beloved dish is hoppers, a bowl-shaped pancake made from fermented rice flour, often served with coconut sambol or egg. The combination of spicy flavors and fresh ingredients showcases the rich culinary heritage of Sri Lanka, inviting food lovers to savor its delicious offerings.
The combination of spicy flavors and fresh ingredients showcases the rich culinary heritage of Sri Lanka, inviting food lovers to savor its delicious offerings.
Local food is very affordable. You'll be able to find a full plate of rice and different types of curries for around €3-5. Drinks are around €1-2.
Western food is on the more expensive side, ranging from €7-€15, depending on how fancy the place is you pick. In the South there's a lot of cute and boujee café's with a lot of food options. So if you've had enough of rice and curry on your travel, don't worry! In that case you can always find yourself a nice fatty hamburger or a healthy smoothie bowl.
Some people compare Sri Lankan cuisine to Indian cuisine and while do they do have some similarities, Sri Lanken cuisine is still different and unique in its own way. The difference is in the spices and coconut based dishes and is definitely more spicy than Indian cuisine. I'd say give it a try yourself!
My personal favorite! A plate comes out with various types of curries and hoppers or rice on the side. It reminds me of a Thali in India.
We had this in Weligama, at a restaurant called Miru. They were actually finished at the time we arrived, but they decided to cook a fresh batch for us. The people were really sweet and generous and the food was unreal and so affordable. I came back three times!
Breakfast time! Pol roti (coconut roti) with vegetables and my favorite drink, a fresh watermelon juice.
This is Kottu, or kothu. A noodle like dish made of roti, chopped on an iron sheet with vegetables and a protein of choice like chicken or beef. The sound of chopped roti is iconic, you can hear it on every corner of the street
Banana & nutella roti always hits the spot
This cute fruit is called mangosteen. There's little bulbs inside like garlic. The taste is sweet and the texture is soft. They're in season between May and September.
Rice with chicken, curry vegetables, sombol on the side, topped with papadum. 12/10 with this view!
