53/3 Ramakrishna Road, Colombo 6
Open 10 AM to 10 PM (weekdays), 7AM to 10.30PM (weekends)
Shanmugas is one of the older and more reputed vegetarian Indian restaurants. They're definitely pricier than most places but the food is very good and the service is excellent.
Shanmugas is one of the oldest and most reputed vegetarian Indian restaurants in the city. They're comparatively pricier, but the food is very good and the service is excellent.
Shanmugas is right up there among the top South Indian restaurants in Colombo. They offer a varied and extensive vegetarian menu with pretty much all the classics. However, while you can stuff your face for under Rs. 500 at more casual spots, Shanmugas will set you back somewhere between Rs. 600 - Rs. 1000 depending on how much you order.
We started off with the ulundu vadai (Rs. 75 each) which was golden brown, warm and tasty. This is served with a cocnut chutney and sambar, both of which were quite nice. The vadai itself was slightly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside with a good mix of spices.
The ghee masala dosai (Rs. 420) was one of the best I've had in a while. Ghee dosai in general tastes pretty good but this one had a great balance of flavour, texture and creaminess. What made this that much better was the masala which unlike most places was not spicy. I actually prefer this since you can really enjoy the flavour of the potato masala. Besides the masala you also get the sambar and two chutneys, so when you combine all three it just makes for a great combination.
The chili parota (Rs. 380) is a dish that certain South Indian restaurants offer. It's basically like a spicy parota kottu with a mix of onions and chickpeas, served with a raita. This portion was easily enough for two and very spicy, so the raita really does help to balance out the heat. Although it's spicy it's also flavoursome which makes you keep going back for more.
The onion kulcha (Rs. 200) actually had a lot more than just onion going for it, with a good amount green chilli in there as well. In terms of spiciness, this was probably the hottest because we found ourselves biting down on chillies quite often. This did make this one slightly less enjoyable than the others, but chilli buffs will likely enjoy this one.
To go with all the above we also got a Gobi mushroom fry (Rs. 550) and a paneer tikka masala (Rs. 550) both of which turned out be pretty similar in terms of preparation with the latter being creamier with more gravy. The paneer was milder in terms of spiciness whereas the mushroom was extremely spicy, but still very flavoursome.
Shanmugas is actually just a big house that's been converted to a restaurant. They've got a good amount of seating, but we still highly suggest you reserve ahead because this place is packed to capacity by 7.30 PM, after which you need to sit around till a table opens up.
One thing that really impressed us was the service which was adequately fast, very courteous and professionally managed. The waiters were friendly, very well spoken and quite helpful when ordering, while the managers overlooked and delegated the juniors very well.
Shanmugas is one of the best South Indian restaurants in Colombo. The food is generally very good, if a bit on the spicy side and the service is professional and well managed.
Shanmugas is one of the older and more reputed vegetarian Indian restaurants. They're definitely pricier than most places but the food is very good and the service is excellent.
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.
සිංහල ෂන්මුගාස් දකුණු ඉන්දියානු බොජුන් සඳහා කොළඹ හොඳම තැනයි. ඔවුන් උතුරු ඉන්දියානු කෑමත් පිරිනමනමුත් ඔවුන්ගේ ශක්තිය එය නොවේ. අහර මිළ අඩු නැත. එහෙත් කෑම අව්යාජය. රසවත්ය. දකුණු ඉන්දියානු කෑම දකුණු ඉන්දියාවේ තරම් ඊට පොඩ්ඩක් දකුණින් ඇති ලංකාවේ ජනප්රිය නැහැ. ඒ ඉන්දි කියන හැටියට නම් ලාංකිකයෝ මස් කන්න කැමති නිසා. මාංශ රහිත කෑම වේලක් කන්න කැමතිනම් මෙතන හොඳ තැනක්.
Address
53/3 Ramakrishna Road, Colombo 6
Directions
Shanmugas is down Ramakrishna Road, off Galle rd, in Wellawatte. It's at the end of a small lane right before Marine Drive.
Contacts
Report InaccuracyOpen 10 AM to 10 PM (weekdays), 7AM to 10.30PM (weekends)
Cuisine
Price Range
Dish Types
Ratings Breakdown
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2/5
Please remove the delivery tag. I live in Dehiwela and they refused to deliver it.
3/5
it's quite out of the way, but an OK place for south Indian vegetarian food. Far from, Colombo, far from Galle Road and down another by lane. However there are enough parking spaces near the restaurant.
This is an OK place for south Indian vegetarian food. No meat or alcohol and they don't allow you to bring in your own bottles either. The food is the usual wayside south Indian fare but at a much higher price and without the worry about hygiene.
The lunch time specials are the Thalis. There is one called "unlimited Thali' but they have no interest at all in seeing what needs replenishing on the plate. You have to draw the attention of a Waiter and ask for replenishments. But in cheaper places there is no big deal about "unlimited" but they routinely go round with curries and rice ever ready to top up.
The food is OK . Comes semi warm but its nothing to rave about. The coffee however is fantastic although extra small in size.
Air conditioned, sparse, dingy and no decor. But clean and brightly lit toilets
2/5
Even though they say they deliver… they deliver only up to Galle road and That is walking distance to this place. better take that delivery tag away.
My favorite place ever! Being a vegetarian, i regularly order take out. Try the North Indian Thali, not too spicy but not too bland either. They make a superb Button Mushroom curry and to-die-for payasam ( a south indian, lassi like drink with vermicelli)
We often visit Shanmugas, food is awesome i have fallen in love with their spicy Wada Pav. But they have become expensive and the portions are getting smaller & smaller.
This is an awesome place - not many like them around for great vegetarian food…like the atmosphere too, so casual. Haven't been there recently to be honest, but might just make a visit soon to touch base.
shanmugas website given on this page is broken [ http://www.shanmugas.com/aboutus.html ]. it should be [ http://www.shanmugas.com ]. please stay away from " vegetable Nasigoreng, just had it, its awful. This menu item was delivered by Lankafood Ltd on behalf of someone to a family member today. Its very oily aswell.
"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." - Actually, I beg to differ, you would be surprised with the large number of Lankans that are switching to a pure vegetarian diet. Vegetarianism is hugely popular among the Buddhists and the Hindus who consist of most of the country. Plus this place is ALWAYS full when we go there. Always.
You guys should check out Sri Durga, a fairly new south Indian restaurant that's opened in Nawala. Its located near Open University just past the bridge as you go towards Nawala junc. Initially they had only a take-away service, but recently they've introduced a dine-in area which is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Food is good.
I sooooooooo agree with the above… sri durga is fairly new hence the food is excellent… they serve north and south Indian food and serves best vegetarian I've tasted… food is very reasonable… some of the food sri durga serves I've not had in any other Indian restaurants in Colombo. do check out the breakfast where they have some awesome dishes. they do serve north Indian food as well, infect a massive north Indian vegetarian selection…
do check out a fairly new restaurant called "sri durga" in nawala. excellent north and south Indian food. infect they have a massive north Indian selection. superb out door place. they have some fantastic signature dishes…
have been there several times ! Excellent food & service!! Loved the dosas, Chili paneer, Ulundu wagey and butter naan :)
Shamugas revolutionised South Indian food when it launched over a decade ago.
Prior to shanmugas the only options available was decidedly more down scale (no A/C, more grotty, shared tables); Shanthi Vihar, Sarasvathi Lodge, Mayura Lane, Sea Street. Prior to chutneys at Cinnamon, this was the ONLY place in Colombo one could have a pseudo upmarket saivar meal, and was a great place to take expat or foreign vegetarians (it reminded me of the Singaporean saivar restaurants when it first launched; fast & clean food, but not cheap).
Sadly standards have slipped in the last few years, especially with the idly, thosai & vadai preparations. They also used to do one of the best butter beans, but not anymore (I would buy naan from here & butter chicken from Saras restaurant & also make my own paneer from scratch at home - the best indian meal).
They used to also do some great chaat/north idian street food (especially the pao bajji).
It's still decent, but I now get my saivar kadé fix from Sri Surya on Sea Street. Their idly & thosai are easily the best in Colombo.
p.s. a correction is needed in your previous review in 2012: lassi isn't south indian, it's a Punjabi concoction & also famous in the Sindh province.
Shanmugas is also one of the few places in Colombo one can try "Indian style Chinese". It's quite unique and some of the dishes are pretty tasty; but spicy.
They also serve most dishes "dry" or "wet" - minimal saucing or slathered in gravy. Lollipop chicken is one of my favourite starters.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Chinese_cuisine
Gobi manchurian (cauliflower battered in cornflour & deep fried & then stir fried) http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gobi_manchurian
If anyone ever visits chennai, you have to try the food at Cascades Restaurant. It's an instituition.
This places makes me happy. I am not a vegetarian. I usually leave vegetarian places feeling deprived. But Shanmugas keeps me coming back. If I could find a place that does vegetables and rice like Shanmugas and serves meat, the Chowhound would be very grateful. Shanmugas gets 5 stars for food. The ambiance is pretty basic.
Shanmugas is quite a nice place with Indian food with real taste and good portions. Prices are bit high when compared to other similar range restaurants. Staff need to be more efficient specially for delivery and take-away orders. Recommend Chapati Kuruma…
Very poor customer service. Really disappointed after I arrived there. I never suggest my family or friends.
Really poor customer attitude by the manager. He thinks its fine to argue and lecture to customers who come there only for the food. He is not even fit to be a security guard as I have seen better service at way side eateries. The food while expensive is high quality though.
Plan to take this up with their higher management as he needs immediate attention.
2/5
Sumaiya Yoosuf
Please remove the delivery tag. I live in Dehiwela and they refused to deliver it.
3/5
GayanP
it's quite out of the way, but an OK place for south Indian vegetarian food. Far from, Colombo, far from Galle Road and down another by lane. However there are enough parking spaces near the restaurant.
This is an OK place for south Indian vegetarian food. No meat or alcohol and they don't allow you to bring in your own bottles either. The food is the usual wayside south Indian fare but at a much higher price and without the worry about hygiene.
The lunch time specials are the Thalis. There is one called "unlimited Thali' but they have no interest at all in seeing what needs replenishing on the plate. You have to draw the attention of a Waiter and ask for replenishments. But in cheaper places there is no big deal about "unlimited" but they routinely go round with curries and rice ever ready to top up.
The food is OK . Comes semi warm but its nothing to rave about. The coffee however is fantastic although extra small in size.
Air conditioned, sparse, dingy and no decor. But clean and brightly lit toilets
2/5
Sjt Abeyrathne
Even though they say they deliver… they deliver only up to Galle road and That is walking distance to this place. better take that delivery tag away.