If there’s one thing Sri Lankans take very personally, it’s their food. A single offhand comment about a dish can spark a full-blown Facebook war. And don’t even get us started on TikTok influencers. Most of them hype things unnecessarily, trying to promote everything, good and bad.
We wanted to write this article for those visiting Sri Lanka. As travellers ourselves, we know the importance of actual reviews cause time and money do not always play in our favour.
So here it is—an honest, no-fluff guide to what to eat in Colombo, straight from someone born and raised here.
Is Food in Colombo Expensive in 2025?
It all depends on where you go and what you eat. Generally, local food is pretty cheap (Rice & Curry, String Hoppers, Rotti etc). You can find cheap Indian and Asian Food, and relatively affordable Burgers and Subs. When it comes to sushi, pasta, steak, seafood, and meats in general, you'll find them more expensive.
But to be clear, Food in Sri Lanka is expensive compared to Southeast Asian countries and is more expensive in Colombo due to taxes, rent, etc. A decent rice and curry meal in Colombo would cost anywhere between 3$-4$. If you're eating out fancy, you'll spend about 10$ per person.
How can you order food in Colombo?
If you're in the mood to order, here are two apps available: Pick Me Foods and Uber Eats. I personally use Pick Me Foods (I'm a platinum member too, not to brag). It's much cheaper and it's a local brand so why not. They have really good customer service as well.
However, certain high-end shops aren't listed on Pick Me, so if I'm craving Rotisserie chicken or Sushi, I order them on Uber Eats.
Now let's get to our list. Please note that we are not sponsored by any of these places. It's our own recommendation.
Roast Bread & Coconut Sambol
Where to Find: Marino Mall Food Emporium, Colombo 03
Roast Bread, Coconut Sambol and Dhal are holy staples for Sri Lankans. We grew up eating it, and we still love it. While many hotels create fancy versions of it, everyone must try the original. If you're in Colombo, we recommend the Curry Stop at Marino Mall Food Emporium. It's traditional and hygienic and they maintain hotel standards.
It's on the first floor of the Marino Beach Hotel. It's usually available for dinner and will cost about 5$ for a Set of Roast Bread, Coconut Sambol, Dhal and Chicken Curry. They have a good Chicken Kottu too if you're in the mood.
Chicken Rolls
Where to Find: Royal Bakery, Colombo 06 / Paan Paan Dehiwala
Location (Paan Paan) - https://g.co/kgs/UK5BVkc
My husband was eager to add this to our list. You’ve probably seen those tempting fried rolls along the busy streets of Colombo. Let me share a little secret—while we loved their crispiness as kids, we were always a bit wary of eating them from random shops. I’ve had my fair share of surprises, biting into garlic peels, curry leaves, and raw spices!
If you're new to the roll scene, and not a huge fan of strong spices, we recommend you try the Chicken Roll from Royal Bakey and the Fish Roll from Paan Paan. They set the bar up. A roll would cost less than a dollar.
All Kinds of Seafood
Where to Find: The Lagoon at Cinnamon Grand / Seafish Restaurant, Colombo 02
Location (The Lagoon) - https://maps.app.goo.gl/Ais5mdLBAeVBwp4A
Yes, Seafood is expensive, and yes, Colombo locals don't go to Seafood restaurants unless it's a company party or someone's treat, but if you want to try delicious and fresh seafood from a global award-winning restaurant, The Lagoon at Cinnamon Grand ranks top on our list. The prices are pretty decent, too, and you won't find such a selection anywhere else outside Colombo.
Alternatively, you can try Seafish Restaurant, the oldest standalone Seafood Restaurant in Sri Lanka which has been around for over 50 years. Many locals have nostalgic memories of this place and they have both local and Asian-influenced dishes.
You'll spend about 25$-35$ for two people.
Jaffna Crab Pittu Kottu
Where to Find: Coffee Colombo at Eurolanka Hotel, Colombo 04
Sounds like an unusual place to try an authentic crab dish, doesn’t it? Well, not really. Coffee Colombo is part of Eurolanka, a city hotel facing Marine Drive. It’s located in Bambalapitiya, very close to Wellawatte, home to the largest Jaffna Tamil population in Colombo.
To those who don't know, Crab is best made Jaffna style. Among the huge menu of Jaffna Crab dishes, they have an innovative dish called Pittu Kottu, which comes with a Crab on top. It's a super spicy pittu made into a kottu with a generous amount of Crab curry poured on top of it. The flavours just burst in your mouth. It costs about 4$ for this dish, so worth it!
Isso Wade
Where to Find: Galle Face Green
What are you even doing in Colombo if you haven't tried Isso Wade at Galle Face Green?? This is my favourite Sri Lankan snack. Biting into a crispy shrimp wade and breathing in the salty ocean breeze always brings back nostalgic childhood memories we all had. An Isso Wade would cost less than a dollar.
Juicy Burgers
Where to Find: Burleys, Colombo 04
This Sri Lankan-born restaurant chain opened just three years ago and has grown rapidly, even expanding to Dubai. Their burgers truly live up to the hype, but my personal favourite is their corndogs—they reminded me of the spicy corndogs I once had in Bangkok.
A Burger costs about 6$, and it's the usual price you'd buy at other burger shops in Colombo. So if you're craving Burger, Burleys is our recommendation.
Fusion Chinese Food
Where to Find: Changos Park View, Colombo 05
Sri Lankan Chinese food is a unique fusion you must try. Chinese cuisine became popular on the island in the '90s, and many Chinese-run restaurants have been around for generations, passed down within families. These places may not look fancy—worn-out interiors, senior servers, and old menus—but don’t let appearances fool you. The food is incredible, though slightly on the pricey side. I highly recommend trying the Chicken Fried Rice and Chilli Chicken at Changos!
Like typical Chinese restaurants, you'll have to order portions. It would cost about 17$ for two people.
Keep in mind that Chinese restaurants use MSG in their food. Uncle Roger would say, ‘Fuiyoh! MSG is king!’ But if your stomach doesn’t approve of this royal treatment, it’s best to inform the restaurant.
Beef Soup & Colombo Street Food
Where to Find: Aluthkade Night Street, Colombo 12
Aluthkade is a densely urban part of Colombo. While you can find food vendors during the daytime, most of the street comes alive at night, so we recommend going at night, preferably after 7 p.m. There are all kinds of BBQs, Sri Lankan food, Indian food, desserts and fancy drinks as well.
One of the shops has this huge pot of Beef Bonemarrow Soup constantly on the boil right at the entrance. It's about 1.5$, and you can buy side dishes like deviled tripe and beef to accompany it. It's nothing fancy, the shop is tiny, there are no ACs, and most of their customers are local vendors and neighbours. It might not be everyone's bowl of soup, but if you're in Aluthkade Street, you can give it a try.
Authentic Spice Tea (Chai)
Where to Find: Chaiwala Colombo, Colombo 04 / Bombay Chaiwala, Colombo 03
Location (Bombay Chaiwala) - https://g.co/kgs/SFmdjPX
Recently, Chai (spiced tea) has taken the Sri Lankan food scene by storm. However, it's important to note that Chai is originally an Indian beverage. If you're looking for traditional Ceylon tea, it's widely available wherever you go in Colombo.
You can find Chai in the evenings along Marine Drive or Galle Road. Two of the most popular spots are Chaiwala Colombo, which has multiple branches around the city, and Bombay Chaiwala, located in the parking space of the Astoria Building in Colombo 03. A regular cup of Chai costs around $1 or less.
Nai Miris Sauce
Where to Find: Arthur's Pizzeria, Mount Lavinia
Nai Miris (Scotch Bonnet Pepper) is a super hot chilli pepper that's widely used in Sri Lankan curries and sambals. It's so famous that mainstream dishes like Pasta and Kottu have adapted twists using Nai Miris. Arthur's Pizzeria introduced the famous Nai Miris Pizza, which took over the Colombo food scene by storm in the recent past and they also started producing their own Nai Miris Sauce which is top tier. Sauce bottle prices start from 2$.
We have to warn you that it's beyond regular hotness, that some locals struggle to cope with its intensity. If you're a brave soul, go for it!
Sri Lankan Moor Special Dishes
Where to Find: Mummy's Delight, Dehiwala (No Dine-In)
Sri Lankan Moor cuisine is truly one for the books, blending rich influences from Arabic and Indian flavours. The Biriyani, Kebabs, and Ghee Rice you see on nearly every corner are signature Moor-style dishes. That said, the best Biriyani in Sri Lanka is often found at Muslim weddings—an experience, unfortunately, out of reach for travellers like you.
Recently, we discovered a local gem that serves all the must-try Moor speciality rice dishes. Their food is authentically local, and the prices are quite reasonable. The only downside is they don’t offer dine-in, so you’ll have to order in or grab a takeaway. A dum biriyani costs about 3$ and if you're not a heavy eater, the regular portions can be shared between two.
The Disputed 'Lamprais'
Where to Find: Dutch Burgher Union, Colombo 05 / The FAB / Perera & Sons
Lamprais is one of Sri Lanka’s most iconic dishes, brought to life by the Dutch Burgher community in Colombo. It’s basically a flavour bomb—rice, meat, and sambols all wrapped up in a banana leaf and steamed. But the most controversial point is that the OG version is almost impossible to find. Over the years, so many variations have popped up that the real dish has practically disappeared. Some people even call it “bastardization”—ouch.
For the best Lamprais, most people swear by The VOC Cafe at Dutch Burgher Union, but others say that The FAB or Perera & Sons do a solid job too (they have many branches across Colombo). You can try them all and see for yourself! Just a heads-up—they make limited batches, and it’s strictly a lunchtime meal. So get there early. A Lamprais would cost about 3$.
Bonus
Visit Food Courts
They are all around Colombo. From BAMBA to Fusion Food Court in Dehiwala, you'll get a good glimpse of what Colombo Locals actually eat. These are slightly more advanced versions of Food Streets, and they're pretty hygienic too.
Conclusion:
And there you have it—our top 12 picks for what and where to eat in Colombo! Trust me, there’s plenty more, but we kept this list short so you can realistically try them all within three days. Most of these spots are within Colombo (zones 1-15), with a few in nearby suburbs, just a 15–20 minute ride from the city centre.
If you'd like to know more about travelling to Colombo and Sri Lanka, tell us your doubts in the comments section.
Comentarios