Kandy Muslim Hotel is not a hotel, but it’s a very popular stop for biriyani, kottu and the likes, down the main street at Kandy’s center. It’s a much bigger, cleaner version of a Colombo kottu kade, and the food is actually pretty good and cheap.
The Food
We went for a beef and cheese kottu (Rs. 300) and chicken biriyani (Rs. 230). The portions were big – points for that. The kottu was pretty spicy with plenty of veggies and chunks of beef in it, and not a lot of cheese but just enough. Would rather go for the kottu than the biriyani here if we had to choose.
The biriyani served plain with just a bowl of gravy was ordinary, but the chicken came well roasted, tasted great and was an obvious highlight. At the end of the meal it felt like good value for money, considering the portion size and the fact that everything tasted good.
We also got the wattalapam for 70 bucks, but it was unfortunately kind of watery and not as sweet as it should be. Kind of a bummer because you’d think a Muslim Hotel would be all about dat wattalapam (before you get butthurt, I’m Muslim so I’m allowed to make that stereotype).
Service & Ambience
Like we said before, the Kandy Muslim Hotel is like a way bigger, much cleaner version of a typical kottu kade you’d find in Colombo. It’s pretty crowded downstairs usually, with mostly a whole load of tourists, but the upstairs is quieter and nicer in general. Also you get a nice view of Kandy’s busy main street from the windows up here.
It’s a very old building so you’ll see signs of that in the styling of the wooden staircase and the big tinted glass window upstairs. Something about the place reminds me of a little Hyderabad restaurant, from its old style to the little curtained cubicle in the corner of the upper floor, usually used for privacy by Muslim women who cover their faces.
The food arrived fast and our waiter, an old uncle type, was quite friendly. They’re probably a little chattier when you know a bit of Tamil.
Conclusion
We liked the Kandy Muslim Hotel. It’s clean and seemed efficient. It’s a simple and accessible stop for a good lunch that doesn’t cost a lot.
