How to Eat Like a Local in Sri Lanka – Remarkable Dining Experiences for the Visitor

A visit to the charming nation of Sri Lanka would be incomplete without savouring the local foods just as the locals do. Since the island features several different climates suitable for the growth of diverse crops and rearing various animals, in addition to abundant seafood, you will find that many kinds of dishes can be enjoyed here. Provided below are some suggestions for typically enjoying Sri Lankan foods. 

Talk with the locals

Although this could seem rather obvious, to truly enjoy the authentic flavours of Sri Lankan food, you should mingle with the locals so that you can find out where the genuine dishes can be enjoyed. You must put aside your guidebook and interact with the locals if you are serious about discovering authentic local cuisine! Since Sri Lankans are generally friendly people, they will be happy to tell you about their favourite restaurants and eateries. You could even be invited to their home for a hearty local meal. 

Eat using your hands

You will often find that a plate of Sri Lankan food would be visually attractive and colourful, with the distinctive aromas of spices like cinnamon, curry leaves and cardamom adding to the experience. Finally, the taste itself will be rich and strong with sometimes contrasting flavours.

When eating a plate of Sri Lankan rice and curry in the local manner – with your hands – you should take a little of each curry on your plate and mix them with some rice; then you should roll this mixture into a ball and push it into your mouth with your thumb. Remember, only use your right hand and not the left.

Image by Kavinda F from Pixabay 

Have some rice and curry, string hoppers and hoppers

Your visit to Sri Lanka would be incomplete without enjoying some genuine Sri Lankan rice and curry, which is a local staple. When you order rice and curry, you can expect to get a large portion of rice, a fish or meat curry, a couple of vegetable curries and some dhal (lentil) curry.

A rather different Sri Lankan food would be hoppers, which resemble pancakes albeit with a crispy outer section (shaped liked the sides of a bowl) and a soft fluffy centre. Egg hoppers are also a popular variation. Hoppers are often consumed during the evening. Another Sri Lankan favourite would be string hoppers which happen to be clusters of thin noodle-like strands made using rice flour. 

Enjoy high tea

For a rather different dining experience in Sri Lanka, take the opportunity to enjoy high tea which is sure to appeal to the discerning visitor. At a quality high tea, you will be able to enjoy treats like chocolate dipped strawberries, croissants, mini doughnuts and a selection of specially prepared chocolates accompanied by plenty of freshly brewed tea.

You will have the chance to savour high tea in an idyllic setting in Sri Lanka’s cool highlands, surrounded by beautiful gardens, lovely flowerbeds and verdant tea estates. An accommodation choice to consider where you could also enjoy high tea as described above would be Oliphant Boutique Villa by Amaya which features one of the pleasingly located Nuwara Eliya restaurants in the hill country. 

Savour kiribath, kottu roti, seafood and fruits

Kiribath or milk rice is a food that is usually prepared for special occasions such as festivals, the traditional New Year, weddings and birthdays; it can be enjoyed by itself or with curries and sambols (relishes).

Offering very different flavours and textures would be kottu roti, which happens to be a very popular Sri Lankan street food. The main ingredient in kottu would be shredded godamba roti, a local flatbread. To prepare the kottu, the chefs will cook and shred the pieces of roti, vegetables, spices and meat with metal implements.

Seafood will be another local highlight with delicious freshly caught fish, crab, lobster, squid and prawns prepared in different ways. Sri Lanka also features an abundance of tasty fruits such as bananas, pineapple, mango, papaya, mangosteen, watermelon and so on. With so many options, you are sure to find dining experiences that catch your fancy in Sri Lanka!