Foreigner Favorite Food List in Sri Lanka | Authentic Local Dishes & Traditional Cuisine
Share
Foreigner Favorite Food List in Sri Lanka
Taste of the Island — authentic dishes, trusted places, and verified experiences across Sri Lanka.
About
Sri Lanka’s cuisine is a journey of color, spice, and heritage. From coastal seafood curries to mountain tea estates, each dish reflects nature, culture, and community. Use this guide to discover what to try first and where to find it.
Foreigner Favorites — The First Five To Try
- Crab Curry (Negombo / Jaffna) — lagoon crab simmered with roasted spices and coconut milk; rich, spicy, unforgettable.
- Egg Hoppers with Lunu Miris — crisp coconut milk hopper with a soft egg center and a hot onion-chili relish.
- Ceylon Tea & Tea Trails — visit estates in Nuwara Eliya, Hatton, Ella; taste world-famous black tea at the source.
- Wattalappam — coconut-jaggery pudding spiced with cardamom and nutmeg; smooth and aromatic.
- Tropical Fruits & King Coconut — mango, papaya, pineapple, rambutan, and the naturally sweet thambili coconut.
Uniquely Sri Lankan — Dishes And Where To Find Them
1) Kiribath (Milk Rice)
Main Ingredients: Rice, coconut milk, salt
Flavor Type: Mild, creamy, ceremonial
Description: Prepared for auspicious days and New Year; often served with lunu miris or jaggery.
Health Benefits: Dairy-free energy source; easy to digest.
Mostly Available: Island-wide; homes, traditional eateries.
2) Pol Sambol
Main Ingredients: Grated coconut, chili, red onion, lime, Maldive fish
Flavor Type: Spicy, tangy, aromatic
Description: Fiery coconut relish that brightens rice, hoppers, and roti.
Health Benefits: Healthy fats, vitamin C, minerals.
Mostly Available: Everywhere; staple side at restaurants and homes.
3) Fish Ambul Thiyal
Main Ingredients: Tuna, goraka, black pepper, turmeric, garlic
Flavor Type: Sour, spicy, deep roasted
Description: Southern dry curry preserved with goraka; intense and distinctive.
Health Benefits: Protein and omega-3 rich.
Mostly Available: Galle, Matara, Tangalle; coastal rice-and-curry spots.
4) Kottu Roti
Main Ingredients: Godamba roti, vegetables, eggs or meat, curry gravy
Flavor Type: Savory, spiced, lightly smoky
Description: Invented in Sri Lanka; chopped and fried on a hot griddle with curry.
Health Benefits: Filling, high-energy meal for long travel days.
Mostly Available: Nationwide street food; Colombo, Kandy, coastal towns.
5) Gotu Kola Sambol
Main Ingredients: Gotu kola leaves, grated coconut, chili, lime
Flavor Type: Herbal, fresh, tangy
Description: Finely chopped herbal salad served with rice and mild curries.
Health Benefits: Traditionally used for focus, immunity, and skin health.
Mostly Available: Southern and central restaurants; homestyle eateries.
6) Pittu
Main Ingredients: Ground rice, grated coconut, salt
Flavor Type: Soft, subtle, comforting
Description: Steamed cylinders served with coconut milk or curry; classic breakfast.
Health Benefits: Gluten-free and fiber-rich.
Mostly Available: Colombo, Batticaloa, Trincomalee; Tamil eateries.
7) Jackfruit Curry (Polos Curry)
Main Ingredients: Young jackfruit, roasted curry powder, coconut milk
Flavor Type: Earthy, smoky, mildly spicy
Description: Slow-cooked young jackfruit with a tender, meat-like texture.
Health Benefits: High in antioxidants and fiber.
Mostly Available: Central and southern rural regions; village kitchens and traditional restaurants.
8) Kokis
Main Ingredients: Rice flour, coconut milk, eggs, sugar
Flavor Type: Light, crisp, subtly sweet
Description: New Year festive sweet fried with brass molds to delicate shapes.
Health Benefits: Gluten-free base from rice flour.
Mostly Available: Western and Southern provinces during April festivities; select sweet shops year-round.
9) Lamprais
Main Ingredients: Rice, mixed curries, sambols, egg, banana leaf
Flavor Type: Savory, fragrant, oven-baked
Description: Dutch Burgher heritage dish baked in banana leaf for deep aroma.
Health Benefits: Balanced meal with protein and fiber.
Mostly Available: Colombo and Negombo; Dutch Burgher bakeries and cafes.
10) Parippu (Dhal Curry)
Main Ingredients: Red lentils, coconut milk, curry leaves, mustard seeds
Flavor Type: Creamy, mild, earthy
Description: Golden lentils simmered in coconut milk and tempered spices.
Health Benefits: Protein, iron, and folate rich.
Mostly Available: Island-wide; every rice-and-curry outlet.
11) Coconut Roti
Main Ingredients: Grated coconut, wheat flour, salt, water
Flavor Type: Savory, nutty
Description: Rustic flatbread cooked on a hot pan; best with sambol or dhal.
Health Benefits: Good fats and fiber from coconut.
Mostly Available: Nationwide; cafes, home kitchens, beach shacks.
12) Wattalappam
Main Ingredients: Coconut milk, kithul jaggery, eggs, cardamom, nutmeg
Flavor Type: Sweet, spiced, caramel-like
Description: Ceylon Moor dessert baked or steamed to a silky custard.
Health Benefits: Minerals from natural jaggery.
Mostly Available: Eastern and Central regions; restaurants and sweet shops.
13) King Coconut Drink (Thambili)
Main Ingredients: King coconut water
Flavor Type: Naturally sweet, refreshing
Description: The orange king coconut is native to Sri Lanka; ideal natural hydration.
Health Benefits: Electrolytes, potassium, magnesium.
Mostly Available: Roadside sellers across the island; beaches and city streets.
14) Kukul Mas Curry (Chicken Curry)
Main Ingredients: Chicken, roasted curry powder, coconut milk, cinnamon, cardamom
Flavor Type: Spicy, creamy, aromatic
Description: Signature home-style curry, slow cooked for depth and warmth.
Health Benefits: Protein rich; healthy fats from coconut milk.
Mostly Available: Island-wide; homestyle restaurants and hotels.
15) Polos Curry (Young Jackfruit)
Main Ingredients: Tender jackfruit, chili, curry leaves, coconut milk
Flavor Type: Smoky, rich, slightly sweet
Description: Another regional style of young jackfruit curry with roasted spices.
Health Benefits: Fiber and antioxidants; naturally vegan.
Mostly Available: Central highlands and southern countryside.
Travel Tip
For authentic taste and safe service, choose restaurants and guides verified on TravelSriLanka.world. Look for Sri Lanka Tourism registered venues and licensed local guides.
Tourist Emergency Contacts — Sri Lanka
- Police Emergency: 118 / 119
- Ambulance (Suwa Seriya, free island-wide): 1990
- Fire and Rescue: 110
- Tourist Police (Colombo HQ): +94 11 242 1052
- Sri Lanka Tourism Hotline: 1912
- Accident Service — National Hospital (Colombo): +94 11 269 1111
- Government Information Centre: 1919
Save 119, 1990, and 110 in your phone on arrival. For tourism assistance, dial 1912 from any local network.
Disclaimer: This page is for educational and informational use. Restaurant availability, contacts, and numbers may change. Verify details with official authorities and service providers before booking. In an emergency, contact the nearest police station or hospital, or use the hotlines above.