Shanmugas.

Shanmugas is probably the best place for South Indian food in Colombo (they serve North Indian as well, but this isn’t their strength). It isn’t too cheap, but the food is authentic and quite tasty – if you like South Indian cuisine, that is. While South Indian food is hugely popular in, well, South India, it doesn’t seem to have quite caught on down here on the island. This might be the vegetarian factor – as Indi said, you wouldn’t really be stopping by here post night out; Lankans love their meat. But if you don’t mind a meal without meat, this is a pretty good place to go.

The Food

The food is very good – although the South Indian menu is significantly better than the North. We ordered the South Indian thali (Rs. 490), garlic naan (Rs. 230), oothappam (Rs. 230), palak paneer (Rs. 530), black dahl (Rs. 480), lassi (Rs. 250) and a filter coffee (Rs. 100). The naan was actually quite bad, it was exceedingly oily and doughy. The palak paneer was nothing to write home about either – it was pretty bland and a bit on the watery side. The black dahl, oothappam and the thali, however, were excellent – the black dahl in particular. This was rich without being overpowering, and had a good edge of spice. The thali (this is a traditional Indian dish, made up of several curries, etc. served in small bowls on a large round plate with rice, puri, etc.) was also rather good – you get rice, papadam, puri, rasam, sambar, curd, potato, dahl, payasam (dessert) and more. It’s very filling, and you can have as much rice as you like – although you’re not allowed to share. A thali is an interesting meal, and if you’ve never had one before it’s definitely worth a try. As Indi commented, it can be hard to make South Indian food look aesthetically pleasant – this is due to the abundance of unnamed watery curries and sambars, all of which look somewhat similar – but Shanmugas was pretty good presentation wise. This is good South Indian food and pretty close to what you’d get in Tamilnadu.

They do chaats after 6pm (bel puri, pani pur, dokhla, pav bhaji, etc.) which we’d like to go back to try. If anyone else had these let us know what you thought.

The Drinks

The two famous South Indian drinks are lassi and filter coffee. At Shanmugas we found the lassi quite good (although bizarrely served with two cubes of ice) and the filter coffee disappointing. Indian filter coffee is usually served in a tumbler and dabarah – you pour the liquid between the two containers to cool down the coffee and mix in the sugar well before drinking. They served our coffee in a steel mug – which was nice, but not as fun as the tumbler-dabarah experience. They also don’t add the sugar, so you have to put it in yourself. This is probably a good thing, but I personally prefer it when they add the sugar themselves – a filter coffee is meant to be milky, strong and sweet, you don’t really need to adjust it yourself.

The Place

Shanmugas seems to have gone a bit more upmarket from my last visit, which was years ago. However, the entrance belies the interior. They’ve got a fancy looking courtyard with cobblestones and plants, but once you go in it’s pretty much your standard Chennaiesque restaurants with drab curtains and dim lights. This isn’t a pretty place to eat, nor does it have any special ambience. It’s kinda like eating at a Saravana Bavan in India – although less hectic. It’s not bad – not ugly or dirty, but not beautiful. But the food is good – don’t go here on a special date, or for a nice dining experience. It’s more about the food.

The Price

The total bill for three came to Rs. 2310, that’s roughly Rs. 740 per head. That’s not bad actually, and we had plenty of food left over. Shanmugas is expensive compared to places like Mathura, Sarasvati Lodge, etc. but the food is better, so that’s fine.

The Conclusion

Shanmugas isn’t a fashionable place to get yourself some dinner, but it is very good. The staff are helpful and the service is fast – we got our meal within ten minutes of ordering. Go there if you’d like to try something a bit different, or to have a taste of South India. It’s authentic and tasty.

Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on whatsapp

Highlights.

Latest.

KAMU.

The Sweetest Valentine’s Treat from The Sweet Room!

by Shamrina Carim February is here and love is in the air—So is the irresistible

Kamu

Sawan for Seven! A Gigantic North Indian Meal from Rosewood Ceylon

By Shamrina Carim If you’re craving an indulgent North Indian meal that brings together bold

Kamu

Culinary Adventure at Long Feng by Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo : The Chinese Food Festival 2025

If you’ve never journeyed to China, a  grand opportunity to immerse yourself in its true

Kamu

Cheers Pub at Cinnamon Grand Colombo: The Ultimate Spot for Great Vibes, Delicious Food, and Fun

By Sharon Nonis Looking for a place that blends great food, refreshing drinks, live music,

Highlights Kamu

Across Borders: A Culinary Bridge Between India and Sri Lanka Through Peshawri’s Timeless Flavors

By Vimasha Vishvadari Peshawri, a renowned restaurant chain, originated from the iconic Bukhara restaurant in

Highlights Kamu

Tenkū – a hidden Gem of the Japanese Cuisine

By Vimasha Weerawansha Ambience  The Kingsbury Rooftop offers a breathtaking panorama of the cityscape and

Highlights Kamu

Trending.

Radisson Hotel Colombo Achieves Hotel Sustainability Basics Certification

Radisson Hotel Colombo proudly announces its certification in Hotel Sustainability Basics, a globally recognized framework

Trending

Celebrate Love This Valentine’s Day at Cinnamon Grand

Indulge in the ultimate romantic experiences this Valentine’s Day at Cinnamon Grand. From an exquisite

Trending

Love This Valentine’s Day at Cinnamon Lakeside

This Valentine's Day, immerse yourself in romance with an array of exclusive experiences at Cinnamon

Trending

Celebrate Valentine’s Day in Style at Cinnamon Red

Indulge in the ultimate romantic experiences this Valentine's Day at Cinnamon Grand. From an exquisite

Trending

Mount Lavinia Hotel Celebrates World Pizza Day with Special Guest Chef Roberto Radoni

Mount Lavinia Hotel’s celebration of World Pizza Day on February 9th was an unforgettable gastronomic

Trending

A Valentine’s Day to Remember at The Kingsbury

This Valentine’s Day, let your love story unfold at The Kingsbury, Colombo. Set against the

Trending

Yamu Guide.

Colombo’s BYOB Gems: 15 Perfect Spots to Pair Your Drink with Delicious Food

by Vimasha Weerawansha Are you on the hunt for dining spots where you can bring

Yamu Guide

14 Romantic Places to Spend  February 14th – Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and if you're looking for the perfect place

Highlights Yamu Guide

Valentine’s Gift Guide for Him 2025

by Fathima Rukaiya Looking for the perfect way to show your special guy how much

Highlights Yamu Guide

9 Valentine’s Day Picks for Her 2025

By Fathima Rukaiya, With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, hearts are filled with anticipation.

Highlights Yamu Guide

New Year’s Eve at The Kingsbury Colombo

Embrace the wonder of Christmas with a world of joy and togetherness this New Year’s

Trending Yamu Guide