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Stylist Loves
7 of the best Sri Lankan restaurants for a delicious dinner in London
By Amy Beecham
Updated 2 years ago
2 min read
Looking for a flavoursome and vibrant dining experience that offers something different from your usual takeaway? Here are the best Sri Lankan restaurants to try in 2023.
When it comes to mixing up your dinner rotation and treating your palate to some culinary experimentation, where do you start? If Sri Lankan food isn’t top of your list, it should be.
Famous for its sweet and spicy curries served with steaming, fluffy rice, its cuisine is perfect for solo dining as well as sharing. Think appetisers like kottu, a spicy stir-fry of shredded roti bread with vegetables, or seafood dishes like kool, a warming broth made of crab, prawns and crayfish.
For delicious flavours, unmatched hospitality and a vibrant eating experience, look no further than these seven Sri Lankan restaurants across the city.
Kolamba
Promising legendary street food made with love, head to the buzzing heart of Soho to try Kolamba. No weekend plans? Be sure to try brunch, including Sri Lankan favourites like cacklebean egg hopper with kithul-glazed bacon and the famous the red Leicester seeni sambol toastie.
Address: 21 Kingly St, Carnaby, London W1B 5QA
Karapincha
Combining fierce, vibrant flavours with bright island energy, Karapincha has more than earned its reputation as one of the best places for authentic Sri Lankan cuisine in the capital. Expect delicious dishes like kothu roti, rice boxes and devilled chicken.
Address: 45 Newington Causeway, London SE1 6DR
Hoppers
Hoppers is best known for its family-style feasting, with an exciting menu that features everything from bar bites to seafood grills and beach-side snacks. But don’t leave without ordering a drink or two, as Hoppers King’s Cross also has an extended bar, serving two of its home-brewed beers on tap, alongside sharing punches, tropical swizzles and coolers.
Address: Unit 3, 4 Pancras Sq, London N1C 4AG
Rambutan
In the bustling heart of Borough Market, you’ll find Rambutan delighting diners with diaspora Sri Lankan open-fire cooking.
Address: 10 Stoney St, London SE1 9AD
Dammika’s
Looking for wholesome, unpretentious Sri Lankan food? Look no further than Dammika’s. Menu highlights include the pan-seared red snapper curry, chicken kothu roti and the house special, rice and curry wrapped in a banana leaf.
Address: 3 Lower Grosvenor Pl, London SW1W 0EJ
Jaffna House
Known as London’s oldest Sri Lankan Restaurant, opened in 1991, Jaffna House is somewhat of an iconic dining experience. Alongside a mouthwatering selection of meat curries, it also offers an extensive plant-based menu for vegan and vegetarian visitors.
Address: 90 Tooting High St, London SW17 0RN
Paradise Soho
Billed as ingredient-focused cooking with a fiery island accent, Paradise Soho certainly lives up to its reputation. Offering contemporary Sri-Lankan dishes based on family recipes influenced by Portuguese, Malay, South Indian and Dutch cuisine, you’ll be sure to find something to enjoy.
Address: 61 Rupert St, London W1D 7PW
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