It’s a world of flavours awaiting you here in Sri Lanka. This guide spotlights some of the must-try foods to sample on your Sri Lankan adventure.

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How would a Sri Lankan describe Sri Lankan cuisine? They’d probably say something to the effect that it’s a carnival of flavours. You have rice and curry as the mainstay, but there’s a lot more to it. You may have had Sri Lankan food in your country, but to taste real authentic Sri Lankan food, you should visit Sri Lanka.

Sri Lankan Cuisine 

Spices, coconut, rice, leafy greens, and exotic fruits and vegetables are the main pillars of Sri Lankan cuisine. They all come together to create a fiesta for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Food is a big part of the local culture, and Sri Lankans put a massive amount of effort into cooking. For all three meals, you’ll have a combination of dishes. There’s always a carb-like rice accompanied by an assortment of meat and vegetable curries. For lunch, you might get a salad along with rice and curry, and for dinner, Sri Lankans like to eat something simple but complex in the technique of making it.

Dining Options 

Restaurants, street food stalls, and rooftop establishments offer a diversity of dining options. Beaches are lined with small-scale vendors selling delights like hoppers and prawn fritters. If you go down to the beach in the evening, you’ll see carts selling roasted peanuts and boiled chickpeas with scraped coconut and chilli sambal.

Most tourist hotels feature on-site dining facilities for tourists as well. If you’re planning to visit the upcountry, you’ll find many restaurants in Kandy serving authentic Sri Lankan culinary fare to be enjoyed alongside stunning views of the hilly terrain. Some of these restaurants are found within the premises of properties such as Theva Residency.

Rice and Curry 

You’d be hard pressed to find a Sri Lankan household that doesn’t serve rice for one meal at least, if not for all three. Rice, brown or white, is coupled with a variety of veggie curries and meat or fish curries.

Sour fish curry and chicken curry are local favourites eaten with rice, bread, or roti. Dhal curry is so popular that it’s the de facto national dish. Other delectable must-tries include Gotu Kola salad, eggplant pickle, and Polos.

Is Sri Lankan Food Healthy? 

Sri Lankan food is entirely healthy. Just moderate the amount of rice you eat and replace it with veggie dishes, and you have a complete, nutritious meal. Leafy greens such as Gotu Kola and Kathurumunga, for example, are recommended by Ayurveda and have anti-inflammatory properties.