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Colombo

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Food & Street Eats

Sri Lankan food is rice and curry at lunch, kottu off a hot griddle at night, hoppers and string hoppers, and short eats from bakery counters all day. Jaffna adds its own crab curry, and Colombo has lamprais from its Burgher kitchens.

Places travellers love for this, verified by local editors.

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The short answer

A lively coastal town near the international airport, shaped by fishing, Catholic heritage, canals and beaches. Most visitors need 1–3 days. Best time: december to April.

Food & Street Eats: questions people ask

What food should I try in Sri Lanka?

Rice and curry, kottu, hoppers and string hoppers, short eats, and crab curry in Jaffna. Drink king coconut from a roadside stall.

Is street food safe to eat in Sri Lanka?

Generally yes, if you choose busy stalls where food is cooked fresh in front of you. Drink bottled or filtered water rather than tap water.

How much does a meal cost in Sri Lanka?

A rice and curry lunch at a local place costs about LKR 500 to 1,000. Restaurants aimed at visitors charge more.