We made our way to Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo for their “A Celebration of Thai & Chinese” buffet, and the moment we stepped into the restaurant, the vibe was clear dimly lit, a little moody, but in the best way. It wasn’t overly bright or flashy, which worked well with the theme. The space was styled to match the evening’s focus, with little details that nodded to both Thai and Chinese culture without going over the top. The live music playing in the background and the view of Beira Lake outside added to the laid-back atmosphere. What really stood out, though, was the staff genuinely helpful, always around when needed, and made the whole experience feel easy and enjoyable.
The Thai and Chinese buffet at Cinnamon Lakeside offered a refreshing take on two of Asia’s most vibrant culinary traditions. While the spread wasn’t massive, it felt thoughtfully put together. Instead of quantity for the sake of it, this was a more curated experience that let each item shine. It was just the right amount to enjoy everything without feeling overwhelmed, and that balance made the meal even more satisfying.
Soups & Bread Corner
We started off with soup, served directly by the chefs. It was a nice, straightforward way to begin the meal warm, light, and just right to get things going.
Right next to it was the bread corner and honestly, no buffet feels complete without trying the bread. It’s something we always go for, and this one didn’t disappoint. Soft, fresh, and still warm, it paired well with just about everything else on the plate. Simple, but worth grabbing.
Salads & Live Stations
The salad corner was a live station where chefs prepared fresh salads right in front of us, adjusting the dressing and spices to suit individual tastes. You could choose from salads with meat, seafood, or just vegetables, all of which were fresh, flavorful, and delicious. It was a nice, light way to start before moving on to the richer dishes.
Appetizers & Carving Corner
After the salads, we made our way to the starters. The dumplings and spring rolls were our favorites, soft, well-filled, and served warm. There was a decent variety too, with meat, seafood, and veggie dumplings to pick from. The seafood ones were especially nice, something you don’t always see done well. Alongside those, they had prawn toast and Thai-style fish cakes, which were both flavorful and not too oily.
Just next to this section, there was a live carving station where chefs were slicing up freshly cooked chicken and pork. You could choose your portion, and they had a few different sauces on the side to go with sweet, spicy, and savory options that worked well depending on what you paired it with. It was a nice setup if you wanted to build your own plate based on what you liked.
There was also a section with skewers of different kinds of meat and seafood grilled and served on sticks. It was great to pick and choose what you liked, and the prawns ended up being the favorite of the night, it was well-seasoned and cooked just right.
Mains
The main dishes offered a solid mix of Thai and Chinese options, and everything was well-prepared and easy to pair. One of the favorites from our table was the Pad Thai available in both chicken and vegetable versions. It had the right amount of flavor and was just the kind of comforting, well-balanced dish you’d expect. The noodles were perfectly cooked and not too greasy, which made it easy to go back for seconds.
There was also a variety of rice and noodle dishes, along with both vegetable and meat-based curries. From spicy chicken curry to milder seafood options, the flavors worked well together without being too heavy. You could easily mix rice or noodles with any of the curries depending on your preference. The vegetable options weren’t just there for variety they were genuinely tasty and stood up well alongside the meat and seafood dishes.
Desserts
The dessert section was one of the best we’ve seen at many restaurants, thanks to its variety and unique options. Along with a fresh fruit platter featuring tropical fruits like lychee and passion fruit which was a favorite they also had coconut jelly served with sweet fruit, which was another highlight. If you love lychees, this part of the dessert spread is for you. The ice cream corner was a standout as well, especially the vanilla ice cream topped with lychee, which was creamy and refreshing and quickly became one of our favorites. They also offered several other flavors to try.
Final Thoughts
What really stood out about this buffet was that the spread wasn’t huge, but everything was so good that it didn’t need to be. Cinnamon Lakeside nailed it with their selection quality over quantity made all the difference. The food was genuinely tasty, the service friendly and attentive, and the atmosphere relaxed without feeling too formal. A Celebration of Thai & Chinese hit the right notes between comfort and flavor, making it a great option for anyone wanting a satisfying meal that doesn’t overwhelm. This is definitely worth checking out if you want a well-balanced and enjoyable dining experience.
Dates: 25th – 27th July 2025
Time: 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Venue: Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo
Price: LKR 8,000 nett per person
Visit their Instagram page here, Facebook page here and their Website here.
