Urban Elephants.

[Ed Note: Urban Elephants has completely changed their menu recently. Now it's just generic fried rice, pasta and kottu varieties – nothing fancy and no Asian fusion.]

Urban Elephants is newly opened resto in Moratuwa, specialised in Asian Fusion. On a slow Tuesday with an elephantine hunger rearing its head, we headed there – hoping for some good food. 

Spoilers; the food was excellent!

Food & Drinks

Their menu is fairly simple but covers a lot. You can pick your choice of carb, a protein or two, and then your veggies. Also, there are add-ons like eggs and cheese along with a few soups. As for drinks, they’ve got you covered with iced tea and fresh juices.

We chose an Egg Fried Rice (Rs. 280) and Kottu (Rs. 300) as our carbs, a Thai Red Curry Beef (Rs. 390), and Indonesian Style Prawns (Rs. 410) as accompanying proteins and a Chopsuey (Rs. 150), and Hot Butter Mushroom (Rs. 150) as veg-based dishes. 

The Egg Fried Rice was the normal wok fried basmati rice but made perfectly to be fluffy without being oily at all. It gave off a pleasant aroma that makes your mouth water from the very first whiff.

Plentiful with bits of veggies and eggs mixed in the rice, you can easily eat it on its own, because it is that good. However, you can get the most of it by mixing it up with curry, which is what we did. The generous portion size is a plus too.

We praise any place that offers kottu for lunch and love the ones who do that and pulls it off right. At first glance, we thought this portion of Egg Kottu is gonna be heavy on oils but we were wrong.

The mild heat coming from the spices complemented the roti which made us stuffing our face with this. The thinly cut roti pieces made it easier to eat and thankfully, it didn’t stick in our mouth in an annoying way. 

There were pieces of egg, onions and green chillies mixed in with a sprinkle of scrambled eggs. They had managed to keep all the flavour elements well balanced along with the spices. You don't get any sauce or anything to accompany the kottu and honestly, it doesn't need any.

And mind you, this plate would serve two people. As for me, this is one of the best kottu’s I've come across.

The Thai Red Curry Beef came with around six sizable beef pieces soaked in a bowl of beautifully orangey gravy. Having absorbed all the spicy goodness in the gravy, the meat was delicious, and we are glad that the spices didn't overpower the fresh beefy flavours. 

If we are to nitpick, a slightly thicker gravy, enrichened with coconut cream would have been even better.

We were in for a treat with their Indonesian Style Prawns. There were four jumbo-sized, well-cooked, chewy prawns swimming about in a well seasoned, creamy gravy. The prawns had soused up all the marination – making for a succulent dish. 

The Indonesian style meat curries have this signature karawala-like flavour and this gravy was rich with that too. With hints of chilli emerging through, we wish we had some kadey paan to sweep it off the bowl. 

The Chopsuey (Rs. 150) was an assortment of veggies, that packed a fresh crunch and a bit of saltiness. There were thinly sliced carrots, bok choy, seaweed (I presume) and mushroom, stir-fried to perfection. 

This portion of Hot Butter Mushroom (Rs. 150) was another dish that we found delicious. It was fried nicely while keeping the crispiness of the batter on point, and was well seasoned with a tinge of saltiness to it. The red chillis helped to spike up its flavour. Coupled with the sheer portion size, this dish is a steal.

Drinks

As we were waiting for our order, we got ourselves a couple of fruit juices. At Rs. 300 each, these homemade juices are served in glass bottles.

Remember the slightly powdery texture you get when you bite all the way to the inner core of a ripened amberella? Imagine how surprised we were, when we found that in our drink – perfectly balanced out with the natural ambarella taste. It’s an unexpected but very much welcome twist to the drink which added to its rich, tarty flavour.

The Passion Fruit was equally delicious, with the sour and sweet notes of the ripened fruit coming through. Both of the drinks had the perfect amount of sugar, was very refreshing and not watery at all.

This is one of, if not the best fruit juice I’ve encountered – and my lunch partner agrees.

Awed by the drinks, we inquired how they came to be. The person who handled our order said that they buy the fresh fruits to ensure the quality and only makes a few of each to maintain the consistency of flavour across the board. This is a conduct we appreciate very much. 

Service and Ambience

They have a small area set up near the counter for you to enjoy a light meal.

As we were told, they are still tidying up the seating area, so for now, you have to stick to take away. Given that we ordered a lot of food, they graciously arranged a few tables and chairs in their work-in-progress dining area.

Once you go through the wooden doors, you have a concrete seat and chair set up – which we think is the outside dining area with a covered with a canopy. From what we gathered, it will be a good place to enjoy your meal once the constructions are done. 

In terms of service, the staff was quite helpful. We were advised which dishes would go along well with each other and about the portion sizes. The food got arrived within around 20 minutes, which is alright, considering that they make it freshly for every order. They also didn't forget to check in on us to make sure everything was in order. 

It seemed that the person who waited on us was the owner/ manager and that this is a family-owned venture. He talked about the dishes and ingredients with much enthusiasm and expressed how he wants to get everything set up as soon as possible.

Conclusion

In the beginning, we felt coming all the way to Moratuwa was a drag but after the meal, we felt stupid for not doing it sooner. For the price, quality and the portion sizes, they are an excellent option to grab a meal at. It’s an easy recommend. I, for one, am gonna return there even if it’s a distance away.

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.

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

The Latest MSI Limited-Edition Stealth 16 Mercedes-AMG Motorsport is Available Now

MSI, the world-leading laptop brand, proudly unveiled its latest limited-edition laptop, the Stealth 16 Mercedes-AMG

Highlights Trending

Türkiye Food Festival Unveiled at Courtyard by Marriott Colombo

Colombo, September 4, 2023 - Courtyard by Marriott Colombo, an esteemed member of the Marriott

Trending

A Pho-Nomenal Vietnamese Feast at Cinnamon Grand Colombo

Vietnamese food has made its mark on the global culinary map with favourites such as

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