Sri Lanka Food Guide 2026: Where to Eat Rice and Curry, Kottu, Hoppers and Seafood
The classic dishes, and the places with the best Google reviews to try them
Friday.lk
4 min read · Checked 26 October 2026
This guide lists the places in Sri Lanka that Google Maps users rate highest, with how many people reviewed them and their opening hours. Every place below was listed as open on Google Maps on 26 October 2026. Tap a name to open it in Google Maps before you go, because hours and prices change.
- Sri Lankan restaurants: MARU - Galle Fort, rated 4.9 from 3,555 reviews.
- Kottu: Lio Periosa, rated 4.9 from 604 reviews.
- Hoppers and string hoppers: Spice & Herb, rated 4.8 from 664 reviews.
- Seafood: Dhana's Curry Pot, rated 4.8 from 4,400 reviews.
Good to know
- Rice and curry is the everyday meal: rice with several vegetable, lentil and meat or fish curries. Ask for "less spicy" if you are not used to chilli.
- Vegetarians eat well in Sri Lanka, but some vegetable curries are cooked with dried Maldive fish. Ask if you do not eat fish.
- No alcohol is sold on Poya (full-moon) days, including in restaurants.
Sri Lankan restaurants
Restaurants Google Maps shows for "rice and curry" in Colombo, Kandy, Galle and Ella, ranked by rating and number of reviews. Check the menu before you go.
Rated 4.9 from 3,555 reviews · Hawaiian Restaurant · Moderate price
Hours: Daily 10 AM - 10 PM
24 Hospital St, Galle 80000
Rated 4.9 from 1,510 reviews · Sri Lankan Restaurant · Moderate price
Hours: Mon Closed; Tue-Sun 6:30 AM - 9:30 PM
Ella
Bees Honey Cookery & Restaurant
Rated 4.9 from 1,382 reviews · Sri Lankan Restaurant · Moderate price
Hours: Daily 7:30 AM - 10 PM
kithal, Ella, Station Rd, Ella 90090
Grandma's Kitchen Restaurant Ella
Rated 4.9 from 1,238 reviews · Sri Lankan Restaurant · Moderate price
Hours: Mon-Fri 11 AM - 10 PM; Sat 11 AM - 9 PM; Sun 11 AM - 10 PM
No 24 Station road, Ella 90090
Rated 4.9 from 772 reviews · Restaurant · Moderate price
Hours: Daily 11 AM - 8:30 PM
Central, Matara Rd, Ahangama 80650
Rated 4.8 from 3,561 reviews · Sri Lankan Restaurant · Moderate price
Hours: Daily 11 AM - 10 PM
No.91, near the tunnel, Ella 90090
The Bungalow Galle Fort - Restaurant & Cocktail Bar.
Rated 4.8 from 3,049 reviews · Restaurant
Hours: Daily 11 AM - 10 PM
3 Church Cross St, Galle 80212
Double Barrel Restaurant Galle BYOB
Rated 4.8 from 1,030 reviews · Restaurant · Moderate price
Hours: Daily 11 AM - 11 PM
289 Wakwella Rd, Galle 80042
Kottu
Places Google Maps shows for "kottu" (chopped roti stir-fry), ranked by rating and reviews.
Rated 4.9 from 604 reviews · Sri Lankan Restaurant · Moderate price
Hours: Daily 10 AM - 10 PM
18 New Lane I, Galle 80000
Kurumbunkz Kandy Hotel & Restaurant
Rated 4.7 from 888 reviews · Restaurant
Hours: Daily 7 AM - 11 PM
3D Sangamitta Mawatha, Kandy 20000
Lucky Fort Restaurant And Cooking Class And Boat Rides
Rated 4.7 from 716 reviews · Sri Lankan Restaurant · Moderate price
Hours: Daily 12 - 9 PM
07 Parawa St, Galle 80000
Rated 4.7 from 708 reviews · Sri Lankan Restaurant · Moderate price
Hours: Daily 8 AM - 9 PM
32 A9, Kandy 20000
Rated 4.7 from 654 reviews · Sri Lankan Restaurant · Moderate price
Hours: Daily 12 - 10 PM
12 Parawa St, Galle 80000
Hoppers and string hoppers
Places Google Maps shows for "hoppers" (appa), ranked by rating and reviews. Hoppers are often served in the evening.
Rated 4.8 from 664 reviews · Restaurant
Hours: Mon 10 AM - 10 PM; Tue 9 AM - 10 PM; Wed-Sun 10 AM - 10 PM
92e Ampitiya Rd, Kandy 20000
Rated 4.6 from 3,563 reviews · Buffet Restaurant
Hours: Daily 6 AM - 10:30 PM
Lobby Level, Colombo 00200
Rated 4.6 from 643 reviews · Restaurant · Cheap
Hours: Daily 7 AM - 7 PM
Ahalepola Kumarihami Mawatha, Kandy 20000
Rated 4.5 from 1,781 reviews · Sri Lankan Restaurant
Hours: Mon-Thu 11 AM - 10:30 PM; Fri-Sat 11 AM - 11 PM; Sun 11 AM - 10:30 PM
No. 2&3, Dutch Hospital Shopping Precinct, 8 Hospital St, Colombo 00100
Rated 4.4 from 511 reviews · Restaurant · Cheap
Hours: Daily 7:30 AM - 9 PM
Sri Dalada Veediya, Kandy 20000
Seafood
Seafood restaurants on the coast, ranked by rating and reviews.
Rated 4.8 from 4,400 reviews · Restaurant · Moderate price
Hours: Daily 11:30 AM - 10 PM
Bandaramulla, මිරිස්ස 81740
Rated 4.9 from 590 reviews · Restaurant · Moderate price
Hours: Mon-Sat 12:30 - 10:30 PM; Sun Closed
125, 2 Lewis Pl, Negombo 11500
Rated 4.9 from 568 reviews · Seafood Restaurant · Moderate price
Hours: Daily 9 AM - 9:30 PM
100/8 b Palangathure, Negombo 11410
Moi Galle Fort Restaurant, Bar & Cafe.
Rated 4.9 from 559 reviews · Restaurant · Moderate price
Hours: Mon-Sat 8 AM - 10 PM; Sun 8 AM - 10:30 PM
50 Leyn Baan St, Galle 80000
Rated 4.8 from 2,577 reviews · Seafood Restaurant
Hours: Mon Closed; Tue-Sun 10 AM - 10 PM
Beach Rd, Negombo 11540
Sea Gem Authentic Sri Lankan Cooking
Rated 4.9 from 489 reviews · Restaurant · Moderate price
Hours: Daily 9 AM - 10 PM
Harbour Road, Mirissa
How to choose in a minute
- Sri Lankan restaurants: best rated is MARU - Galle Fort (4.9). Most reviewed is Matey Hut Ella Sri Lanka (3,561 reviews). Open latest: Double Barrel Restaurant Galle BYOB, until 11 PM.
- Kottu: best rated is Lio Periosa (4.9). Most reviewed is Kurumbunkz Kandy Hotel & Restaurant (888 reviews).
- Hoppers and string hoppers: best rated is Spice & Herb (4.8). Most reviewed is Graze Kitchen (3,563 reviews).
- Seafood: best rated is Fish & Crab Restaurant (4.9). Most reviewed is Dhana's Curry Pot (4,400 reviews).
More on Friday.lk
Common questions
Where should I eat in Sri Lanka?
On Google Maps, the best-rated choices with many reviews are MARU - Galle Fort (4.9 from 3,555 reviews), Little restaurant, Ella (4.9 from 1,510 reviews), Bees Honey Cookery & Restaurant (4.9 from 1,382 reviews). Checked on 26 October 2026.
Kottu in Sri Lanka: which are rated best?
On Google Maps, the best-rated choices with many reviews are Lio Periosa (4.9 from 604 reviews), Kurumbunkz Kandy Hotel & Restaurant (4.7 from 888 reviews), Lucky Fort Restaurant And Cooking Class And Boat Rides (4.7 from 716 reviews). Checked on 26 October 2026.
Hoppers and string hoppers in Sri Lanka: which are rated best?
On Google Maps, the best-rated choices with many reviews are Spice & Herb (4.8 from 664 reviews), Graze Kitchen (4.6 from 3,563 reviews), Hela Bojun Hala (4.6 from 643 reviews). Checked on 26 October 2026.
Seafood in Sri Lanka: which are rated best?
On Google Maps, the best-rated choices with many reviews are Dhana's Curry Pot (4.8 from 4,400 reviews), Fish & Crab Restaurant (4.9 from 590 reviews), Mr. Seafood (4.9 from 568 reviews). Checked on 26 October 2026.
How did you choose these places?
We searched Google Maps for each type of place in Sri Lanka. We kept only places Google lists as open, inside Sri Lanka, with enough reviews for the rating to mean something. Then we ranked them by rating, giving less weight to places with few reviews. We did not get paid to include any place.
Where this comes from
Ratings, review counts, opening hours, price levels and addresses are from Google Maps (Places API), checked on 26 October 2026. Google Maps users write the reviews; Friday.lk does not change them. We do not list prices because they change often.
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