Dhawalagiri Hotel.

If you’re a commuter who passes Maradana, the Dhawalagiri Hotel is something you absolutely cannot miss (well, you can, but then you’d be missing Maradana).

‘Hotel’ is a fancy name for this establishment, but then again, almost all our saivar kadeys have grandiose names. It’s either ‘palace’, ‘villa’, ‘hotel’ or something like that. Anyways, moving on…

Dhawalagiri is smack dab in the middle of Maradana, just a short distance from the junction and almost right opposite Zahira College. Given that Maradana is one of the most populous and crowded areas of Colombo, and that there are at least five schools in the vicinity, the Dhawalagiri Hotel is almost always full. You will find a plethora of people here, ranging from families and couples to harried individuals seated at water-sloshed tables, gulping down their food, and then hurrying back out into the big, bad world.

Food & Service

Serving quintessential South Indian staples like thosais and vadais, Dhawalagiri doesn’t disappoint. They also serve the regular fried rice and idiappa, but we went for a spread of thosais and two types of vadais. 

The place was packed when we got there, but crowds in these places move really fast so we didn’t have to wait long before a table emptied itself. Okay so, it didn’t exactly empty itself… Sandesh and I shared it with a suspicious looking bag left there by its previous tenant (who came and claimed it like 15 minutes later). We were barely seated before a waitress came over and asked us what we wanted, and our orders (‘one of everything you have for each of us, please’) came by within two minutes.

We went there for a late lunch at around 2:30 PM, and most of the food had been wiped out by then. Ergo, ‘one of everything’ at that time were leek vadais, ulundu vadais, plain thosai, masala thosai, paper thosais and string hoppers (which we didn’t really try out). 

However, the first thing to arrive were the sambars and the chutney, which were brought in huge aluminium buckets and spooned generously on to our aluminium platters. The saivar doughnuts AKA ulundu vadai and leek vadai arrived a few minutes later.

We found the leek vadai (foreground in the photo above) to be a tad too dry and heavy, and didn’t find it all that palatable. The texture was interesting though. It seemed to be made out of a different dough as opposed to the fluffy dough used for ulundu vadais. In addition to being a dark, murky brown, it also had a tinge of green in it, which made its appearance intriguing to look at.

However, neither Sandesh nor I were blown away by this, especially after we dug into the ulundu vadai (background in the photo above). Those beauties were piping hot, fluffy, and crispy, and disappeared within minutes. 

We enjoyed the masala thosai a lot as it had the perfect crisp-yet-soft texture, and the masala had a nice flavour to it as well. It was generously peppered, but it wasn’t overpowering and enhanced the overall flavour.

The paper thosai and the regular thosais were not remarkable — we found the regular thosai to be a teensy bit rubbery and stale.

Sandesh also tried out their tea, which was ‘milky with a unique taste’. He liked it though, so their tea gets a pass.

Ambience

This is a saivar in Maradana. To most people, that’s self-explanatory, but if you’re new to the place, let me elaborate. This isn’t the calmest or nicest place in town. Not even close. There’s a very slap-dash atmosphere, the tables are hastily wiped with a damp cloth (if they’re wiped at all), so it’s in a perpetual state of watery-ness.

Service is friendly, helpful and hasty at the same time, so it’s best that you know what you want to order without spending time pondering over it. The floors are littered and probably only see a broom at the end of the day, but other than that, it doesn’t look too appalling.

Conclusion

This isn’t the cleanest area in the hood, but that’s obviously only to be expected. The food is filling, but the prices are a mystery because there are no menus to be seen. They give you a total at the end of your meal, and soon as you pay up, they take away the piece of paper the bill was written on as well.

Our bill for all of this came up to Rs. 450, including two Milo packets and the tea, so we think that’s really, really good. If you want a quick, filling, and cheap meal while you’re around Maradana, hit the Dhawalagiri Hotel up — it’s totally worth it.

Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on whatsapp

Highlights.

Latest.

KAMU.

Indulge in Japanese Culinary Bliss at Minori Restaurant

By Sahasni Gamage Nestled within the luxurious Granbell Hotel, Minori Japanese Restaurant offers an unparalleled

Highlights Kamu

Experience flavorful Singaporean delights with a modern twist at Shiok!

By Sahasni Gamage We recently had the pleasure of dining at Shiok Singaporean Restaurant, which

Highlights Kamu

7 Fantastic Pizza Places to Try in Colombo

By Shamrina Carim Colombo, the vibrant capital city of Sri Lanka, is a haven for

Highlights Kamu

High Tea Guide for 2023

You and your friends decide to meet up after your last farewell, get together or

Highlights Kamu

Excel World Legacy Food Court launches Indi-Arabia Menu

By Hashini Pathirana https://www.tiktok.com/@yamusrilanka/video/7252917491427511560 Experience a culinary journey like no other at Excel World's launches

Kamu

A Taste of Jaffna at Flavoured by Cinnamon Red

By Hiruni Herath Flavoured at Cinnamon Red is enclosed by stunning views of the Colombo

Highlights Kamu Uncategorized

Trending.

Shangri-La Colombo and Shangri-La Hambantota’s customer-centric ethos wins top awards at WTA 2023

Shangri-La Colombo ranked Sri Lanka's Leading Hotel, Leading Business Hotel and Leading Hotel Suite 2023.

Trending

Browns Hotels & Resorts Celebrates World Tourism Day with an Insightful Forum

Key industry experts convene to inspire action for sustainable tourism in Sri Lanka. World Tourism

Trending

Santhosh Narayanan is coming to Jaffna

"Sounds of the South - Yaazh Gaanam - A Santosh Narayanan Concert" The biggest musical

Trending

Radisson Blu Resort Galle recently organized a delightful wine-tasting occasion

Radisson Blu Resort Galle recently hosted a delightful wine-tasting event on September 17th, showcasing an

Trending

Hilton Sri Lanka Collaborates with VOICE Area Federation to Enhance Community Resilience and Combat Hunger

For a brighter and secure Sri Lanka, fostering sustainability via community farms and kitchen programs.

Trending

Galle Face Hotel Presents ‘Yaalpana Santhai’ – A Gastronomic Journey into Jaffna Cuisine

Colombo, Sri Lanka – The Galle Face Hotel, an iconic landmark in Sri Lanka's hospitality

Trending

Yamu Guide.

Spotting Blue Whales in Mirissa with Chaminda Whale Watching

The whale watching tour in Mirissa Start time: 6:30am Duration: 3-5 hours depending on sightings

Highlights Yamu Guide

The Rise of Plant-Based Diets: Benefits and Challenges

By Shamrina Carim In recent years, plant-based diets have surged in popularity, drawing attention for

Highlights Yamu Guide

6 Things to Do at One Galle Face

Set against the panoramic backdrop of the Indian Ocean "Colombo’s first prestigious shopping mall is

Highlights Yamu Guide

7 Things to do at Colombo City Center

By Shanali Fernando 1. Shop till you drop A stunning integrated lifestyle destination set in

Highlights Yamu Guide

Wedding Venue List 2023

By Shanali Fernando When envisioning your wedding day, you may find yourself torn between various

Highlights Trending Yamu Guide

8 Places to get an Eid Sawan this Hajj Festival

The Muslims celebrate Hajj globally on the 29th of June, 2023. No doubt, along with

Highlights Yamu Guide