Have you ever tasted some of Sri Lankan’s incredible street food?
One of Sri Lanka’s largest cities is Colombo. Colombo will always remain a top travel destination for foodies, whether they prefer street food, traditional Sri Lankan Dishes or south Indian dishes. Therefore, if you’re new to the area and searching for the best street food in Sri Lanka, you shouldn’t miss out on these top spots.
Best Sri Lanka Street foods near me. PS: This is not a ranking of 1-10 in any sort, they are just our top pick by food bloggers.
I can understand if you are afraid to try street food in Sri Lanka due to concerns about hygiene. There are additional specifics in this page on How safe is the street food in Sri Lanka
Here are some delicious Sri Lankan street food dishes that you must try at least once.
Kottu roti is arguably Sri Lanka’s most famous street food—and once you’ve heard it sizzling away at a roadside stall, it’s hard to forget! To make kottu, cooks take strips of godamba roti (a type of flatbread), toss in crunchy vegetables, an egg or two, and sometimes your choice of meats like chicken or beef. Everything gets chopped, mixed, and fried together right on a hot griddle using two metal blades. In fact, the rhythmic clattering of those blades is such a signature part of the process that you’ll likely hear kottu being prepared before you even spot the stall.
There’s also a variation known as string hopper kottu (or indi appa kottu), where cut-up string hoppers—delicate steamed rice flour noodles—stand in for the roti. Both versions are packed with flavor, thanks to generous spices and fresh ingredients.
A fun tip: kottu is mainly an evening specialty and typically becomes available after 5 pm. So, if you’re searching for an authentic Colombo night-time bite, keep an ear out for the unmistakable metallic melody wafting from the nearest street vendor.
Open : 2:30 PM – 2.30 AM
Badam Milk, Lemon, Orange, Passion/ Water Malon
Location : Aluthkade
Open : 2:30 PM – 2.30 AM
BBQ, Mandi, String Hopper Biriyani, Chicken 69, Thairo BBQ Portion (Egyptian, Israel & Iran BBQ)
Location : Aluthkade
Open : 2:30 PM – 2.30 AM
Beef Soup, Beef Babath, Egg Rolls, Samosa
Location : Aluthkade
Open : 2:30 PM – 2.30 AM
Sprite + Lemon + Pepper , Mandarine + String Drink + Pepper
Location : Aluthkade
Open : 2:30 PM – 2.30 AM
Club Sandwich (Chicken/ Beef), Shawarma
Location : Aluthkade
If you’ve been exploring Colombo’s food scene, you’ve probably heard echoes of metal on metal from street vendors slicing up kottu—a classic Sri Lankan street food that’s hard to miss. Traditional kottu, sometimes called kottu roti, is made by chopping up roti (a flatbread) with a mix of vegetables, spices, eggs, and, if you like, chicken or other meat, all cooked together on a sizzling griddle.
But there’s another delicious twist on this favorite: string hopper kottu, or indi appa kottu. Instead of roti, this version uses string hoppers—delicate, steamed rice flour noodles woven into soft little nests. The vendor chops up these string hoppers and tosses them on the grill with veggies, seasonings, eggs, and your choice of meat, much like regular kottu. The result is a softer, lighter, and slightly different texture, making string hopper kottu a must-try for street food adventurers looking to sample all the variations Sri Lanka has to offer.
Keep an eye—and an ear—out at Aluthkade or your local street food court to watch (and listen to) the creation of either kottu or string hopper kottu. Both are fun to experience and offer their own spin on Sri Lankan comfort food.
Are looking for a Restaurants, appearing in Google’s, our directory listing should be a top priority for your Restaurants.
Classifylanka allows your business, to List your Restaurants for FREE on our website. Reach new customers from around the Sri Lanka! We promote your Restaurants and Food Outlets through out our website. Don’t hesitate to contact us because we are here to help you.
Suhail
Classify Lanka Directory is a place to popularize your Business and generate leads in Sri Lanka. Get reviews and grow business reputation online. Your company profile can include contacts and description, products, photo gallery and your business location on the map.
© 2019-2025 Classify Lanka All Rights Reserved.
