Sri Lankan Food by Region: What to Eat Where

Sri Lankan food changes as you travel around the island. Here is a short guide to what each area is known for, so you can look for the right dishes wherever you are.

Colombo

Colombo brings everything together: Sri Lankan home cooking, street food, Chinese-Sri Lankan dishes, Indian food and international restaurants. Look for kottu, short eats and rice and curry. Evening street snacks are popular around Galle Face Green, and Wellawatte is known for Tamil and South Indian food such as dosa and vegetarian meals.

Galle and the south

The south is known for fresh fish and seafood. Look for ambul thiyal (a sour fish curry), prawn and crab dishes, and hoppers. The area around Galle Fort also has many cafes, and breakfast menus often include egg hoppers and fresh fruit.

Negombo and the west coast

Negombo is a fishing town, and seafood is the main attraction. Expect fish, prawns, crab and cuttlefish, grilled, curried or devilled, and often priced by weight.

Jaffna and the north

Northern food has its own character. Jaffna is known for crab curry, a spicy seafood soup called Jaffna kool, strong roasted curry powders and dishes made with palmyrah.

Kandy and the hill country

In and around Kandy you will find rice and curry made with fresh local vegetables, kiribath for breakfast and plenty of tea. Cooler weather suits the hot, spiced dishes of the region.

How to use this guide

• Treat it as a starting point. Every restaurant cooks differently, so the menu matters more than the region.
• Ask your server what is fresh today, especially for seafood.
• Look at the menu and prices before you go. TableTalk shows menus for the restaurants listed in its marketplace.