By Shamrina Carim
When you get all the Desi vibes strolling into your taste buds, all you can’t do is resist the imaginative flavors that burst in your mind.
Your heart looks out for so much spice and the latter part of eating Indian food is that you get to make a choice if you want North Indian or South Indian or even both cuisines!
We have put together some exciting places for you to try out around Colombo.
1. Indian Kitchen
If you are willing to experience home cooked Indian dining experience, Indian Kitchen is the go-to spot in the heart of Colombo. A pretty Indian themed restaurant built with a cozy and compact atmosphere, brings out the entity to witness a variety of Indian cuisine. The backstory of this restaurant includes that the owner was born and raised in the southern parts of India, of which the inspiration blogged up to serve Tamil Naadu, Kerala and North Indian flavors on a personalized arrangement.
Location: 357, R. a. De Mel Mawatha, Colombo
Price range: LKR 2500/- – LKR 4000/- ( 2 pax )
Opening hours: Monday – Sunday (12 pm – 12 am)
Visit them on Facebook @IndianKitchen and Instagram @indian_kitchen_colombo
Reservations: 011 711 2334 / (2) | 076 824 1111
2. Indian Summer
An absolutely aesthetic space for a typical Indian Restaurant. Indian Summer bombs flavors hailed from the owners and introducing North Indian culture in Sri Lanka. They serve a fully-fledged North Indian cuisine, ranging from Garlic Naan Rotis, Butter Chicken Curry, Tikka Masala, Manchurians and many more burst of creamy and hot served authentic Indian food. They also serve the space for special events. Another exclusive experience down this beautiful restaurant is the Indian snack High Tea platter that you can enjoy upon reservations.
Location: 11, Palm Grove, Colombo 3
Price range: LKR 3500/- – LKR 5000/- (for 2 pax)
Opening hours: Monday – Friday (11 am – 11 pm)/ Saturday – Sunday (11 am – 11 pm)
Visit them on Facebook @Indian Summer LK and Instagram @indiansummerlk
Reservations: 011 266 2112
3. Dwaraka Indian Vegetarian Restaurant
This is a one spot welcome restaurant for all vegetarians to enjoy paneers and vegetarian flavors of the same buttery spices of North Indian food. Indians and even the local fancy this restaurant to enjoy a decent vegetarian meal available with succulent assortments. They are well known for the taste of exotic North Indian vegetarian cuisine, serving healthy but hearty portions.
Location: 37, Jaya Road, Colombo
Price range: LKR 3500/- 5000/- (for 2 pax)
Opening hours: Monday – Sunday (7.30 am – 10.30 pm)
Visit them on Facebook @DwarakaColombo and Instagram @dwaraka.colombo
Reservations: 011 272 1449 | 077 116 0499 (Bambalapitiya branch)
4. Maharaja Palace
A fine dining Moghul themed restaurant is located in the central hub of Colombo, serves not just Indian cuisine, but a five star North Indian culinary experience. Maharaja Palace is one of those family dining or Desi dates that you could fancy enjoying flavorful variety of Indian spice from their menu. The restaurant is designated to provide a culinary experience that is creamy, spicy and rich in local ingredients for both vegetarian and non-vegetarian options.
Location: 1A, Rajakeeya Mawatha, Colombo 7
Price range: LKR 5000/- – LKR 7000/- (for 2 pax)
Opening hours: Monday – Sunday (11.30 am – 2.30 pm) and (6.30 pm – 11 pm)
Visit them on Facebook: Maharaja Palace Colombo Sri Lanka and Instagram: maharajapalace_sl
Reservations: 011 488 6000
5. New Banana Leaf Restaurant
The Tamil family has introduced the best secret towards the taste of all their food – Banana leaf. Infusing South Indian culture, this is a dining experience that you can inculcate by the roots of their main meals. Unlike the usual North and South Indian signature dishes available in most restaurants, they have a variety of finger mixing meals, delicious and tropically Indian. Banana leaf’s signature attribute towards their meals is the touch of Kerala and flavored spices defined on each dish ranging from appetizers to their main meals.
Location: 720, Galle Road, Colombo 3
Price range: LKR 2500/- – LKR 4000/- (for 2 pax)
Opening hours: Monday – Friday (11 am – 4.30 pm) & (5.30 pm – 9.30 pm) / Saturday (11 am – 10 pm)
Visit their Facebook: New Banana Leaf
Reservations: 011 258 4403
6. Al Maas
Al Maas is a premium Indian family restaurant serving exemplary hearty Indian meals. Their Biriyani holds a signature position in the tastings of their loyal customers. Of the favorites, they delegate the Tikka Masala, Chicken Kurma, Chicken Chettinad and seafood palates available to mix with the aroma of their exotic talented cooking. Al Maas executes an all-rounder experience for families to refresh and feel welcomed when indulging into the succulent delicacies feasted in their menu.
Location: 45, Marine Drive, Colombo 4
Price range: LKR 2500/- – LKR 5000/- ( for 2 pax)
Opening hours: Sunday – Friday (10 am – 11.30 pm)/ Saturday (11 am – 11.30 pm)
Visit their Facebook: AL -MAAS Indian Family Restaurant Bambalapitiya – Marine Drive
Reservations: 011 434 4301
7. Dindugal Thalappakatti
A franchise that caught eyes in the luxury state of dining Tamil Naadu and South Indian perimeter dishes such as Biriyani became a hit in the recent years in Colombo. Thalappakatti specialized in maintaining a food brand that coordinate with their food chain representing home-made biryani. The dishes are curated and prepared since their iconic recipes from 1957. Till to-date, this premium Indian fine dining and exclusive brand conscious Indian restaurant has spread good word about top quality South Indian culinary in Colombo.
Location: 8, De Fonseka Place, Colombo 4
Price range: LKR 4000/- upwards (for 2 pax)
Opening hours: Monday – Sunday (11am – 4 pm) & (6 pm – 11 pm)
Visit them on Facebook: Thalappakatti Restaurant Sri Lanka and Instagram: thalappakattisl
Website: https://www.thalappakatti.com
Reservations: 011 487 8787
8. Indo-Ceylon South Indian Food + Dosa King
A not super fancy ambience but this is the spot where you go when you have original South Indian food cravings. They are well-known as a 100% vegetarian and vegan South Indian café. Just as every other typical saivar kades, Indo-Ceylon serves the spice brilliance Sambar and condiments associated with their specialties. They are efficient, well groomed in their uniforms and actively serving customers to keep up the pace of the restaurant while serving flavorful hot South Indian cuisine in a busy street.
Location: 284, Galle Road, Colombo 3
Price range: LKR 1500/- – LKR 3000/- (for 2 pax)
Opening hours: Monday – Saturday (6 am – 9 pm)
Visit their Facebook: Indo Ceylon Cafe & Dosa King
Reservations: 011 257 4611
9. Indian Affair
Authentic ambience to experience from Sri Lanka’s neighboring country while preserving the core ingredients sourced locally. Indian affair is expanded to a variety of flavors coming from multiple states of India. For example, the Charminar from Hyderabad is a hit in their non-vegetarian options, providing flavors that shapes to perfection. Their meals are tangy and also spiced up with flavors, demanding your taste buds to receive more of the chunky, creamy and gravy centric cuisines available on their menu.
Location: 57, D. S Fonseka Road, Colombo 5
Price range: LKR 4000/- upwards (for 2 pax)
Opening hours: Monday – Sunday (11.30 am – 10 pm)
Visit their Facebook: Indian Affair and Instagram: indianaffairlk
Reservations: 074 020 4160
10. Sulthan Palace
If this place was a night spot that you have enjoyed and seen the dramatic changes that took place after the refurbishment, Sultan palace acquired a place in the hearts of their customers for exotic Indian food. This Indian inspired rebranding has focused on deliberately bringing out contradictory flavors into the North Indian food market over their middle-eastern dishes. A must try for a change instead of the generic kotthu nights, you receive the same vibe with different exposure and a subtle indulgence of North Indian dining experience.
Location: Dr. CWW Kannangara Mawatha, Colombo 7
Price range: LKR 3500/- – LKR 6000/- (for 2 pax)
Opening hours: Monday – Sunday (9 am – 12 am)
Visit their Facebook: Sulthan Palace
Reservations: 011 563 9919
All the above locations provide Halal certified food and are available for direct delivery (availability based on fuel condition). Check them up with Ubereats and Pickmefood as well.
Shamrina Carim
