Best Food to Try in Sri Lanka : A Complete Food Guide for Travelers Visiting Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is one of the best food destinations in Asia, offering a rich blend of spices, coconut-based curries, fresh seafood, and unique street food. For travellers planning a trip to Sri Lanka, exploring the local cuisine is just as important as visiting beaches, cultural sites, and wildlife parks.

This guide covers the best Sri Lankan food to try, making it perfect for anyone searching for Sri Lanka food guide, traditional Sri Lankan dishes, or what to eat in Sri Lanka.

Rice and Curry

Rice and curry is the most common and traditional meal in Sri Lanka. It consists of steamed rice served with multiple curries such as chicken, fish, dhal (lentils), vegetable curries, sambols, and pickles.

Every region in Sri Lanka prepares rice and curry differently, making it a must-try dish for travellers who want to experience authentic Sri Lankan cuisine.

Hoppers (Appa)

Hoppers are bowl-shaped pancakes made from rice flour and coconut milk. Hoppers are commonly eaten with coconut sambol or curry and are a top choice for tourists looking for local food in Sri Lanka.

Popular types include:

Plain hoppers
Egg hoppers

Kottu Roti

Kottu roti is one of the most searched and loved Sri Lankan street foods. It’s made by chopping flatbread with vegetables, eggs, meat, and spices on a hot griddle.

Available in chicken, vegetable, cheese, and seafood options, kottu roti is filling, flavourful, and perfect for travellers exploring Sri Lanka’s cities at night.

String Hoppers (Idiyappam)

String hoppers are steamed rice noodles served with coconut sambol and curry. They are light, healthy, and widely eaten for breakfast or dinner.

This dish is ideal for travellers who want to enjoy traditional Sri Lankan food that is easy to digest.

Sri Lankan Seafood

Sri Lanka’s coastal regions offer some of the freshest seafood in South Asia. Popular dishes include grilled fish, prawn curry, devilled cuttlefish, and crab curry cooked with coconut milk and spices.

Seafood lovers should visit coastal destinations like Negombo, Mirissa, Bentota, and Trincomalee.

Pol Sambol

Pol sambol is a spicy coconut relish made with grated coconut, chili, lime, and onions. It is served with rice, hoppers, and string hoppers.

This simple yet bold dish represents the true flavours of Sri Lanka.

Traditional Sri Lankan Sweets and Desserts

Sri Lanka also offers a variety of traditional sweets, especially during festivals and celebrations. These are best enjoyed with a cup of world-famous Ceylon tea

Must-try Sri Lankan desserts include:

Watalappan (coconut custard dessert)
Kavum (oil cakes)
Kokis (crispy rice flour snack)

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