most popular sri lankan foods among tourists

Sri Lankan rice and curry

special isn’t just the ingredients—it’s the balance. Spicy, sweet, sour, creamy, and crunchy—all in one bite. It’s food that fills your belly, and feeds your soul.

Dhal Curry (Parippu) – Lentils cooked with coconut milk and spices

Chicken Curry (Kukul Mas Curry) – Spicy curry with roasted curry powder

Fish Curry (Maalu Curry) – Tangy and spicy curry with fresh fish

Egg Curry – Boiled eggs in a rich coconut gravy

Potato Curry (Ala Hodi) – Mild yellow curry made with soft potatoes

Pumpkin Curry (Wattakka Curry) – Sweet and creamy curry with yellow pumpkin

Brinjal (Eggplant) Moju – Fried brinjals with sweet and sour flavor

Jackfruit Curry (Polos Curry) – Young jackfruit with roasted spices

Green Bean Curry – Long beans with onion, chili, and coconut milk

Beetroot Curry – Grated or sliced beetroot cooked with mustard seeds and coconut

Carrot Curry – Lightly spiced carrots with coconut milk

Coconut sambal-Make by grated coconut

Sri Lankan curry is so tasty because of a unique blend of spices, fresh ingredients, and traditional cooking methods that create layers of deep, bold flavor. Here’s why it stands out:

Rich, Local Spices
Sri Lankan curries use powerful, aromatic spices like:
Cinnamon 🌿
Cloves
Cardamom
Cumin
Mustard seeds
Fenugreek
Curry leaves
These spices are often freshly ground, toasted, and layered into the dish, giving it a rich, complex taste.

Egg Hoppers

Egg hoppers (called “Biththara Appa” in Sinhala) are one of the most beloved and iconic breakfast (or dinner) dishes in Sri Lanka. They’re fun, flavorful, and a great introduction to Sri Lankan food — especially for kids and travelers.

An egg hopper is a bowl-shaped pancake made from a lightly fermented batter of rice flour and coconut milk, with a whole egg cracked into the center as it cooks.

• Edges: Crispy and thin
• Center: Soft, spongy, with a cooked egg
• Flavor: Slightly tangy, mildly sweet, and savory from the egg

It’s light but filling, and often served with spicy sambols or mild curries.

Spelled Koththu Roti

Kottu (also spelled Koththu or Kottu Roti) is one of the most famous and loved dishes in Sri Lanka, especially among locals and tourists alike. It’s spicy, noisy, and absSolutely delicious!

Kottu is a stir-fried street food made by chopping up:

• Godamba roti (a soft, thin flatbread)
• Mixed with vegetables
• And often egg, chicken, cheese, or beef

All of it is chopped and cooked together on a hot iron griddle using metal blades, creating the signature clack-clack-clack sound that can be heard from far away!