Sri Lankan

London has its fair share of Sri Lankan restaurants. But the arrival of Isso in Canary Wharf this summer marks one of the first times a Sri Lankan-based restaurant group has opened in the city.

Owner Apinash Sivagumaaran happily admits he was obsessed with prawns from an early age. "You find chicken restaurants, crab restaurants, lobster restaurants, but there's no specialised prawn restaurants," he says. "and I personally as a kid loved prawns." All the prawns come direct from Sri Lanka, where as Apinash explains, "we support over 150 artisanal fishermen in Jaffna and Mannar who

Hoppers has just opened its fourth restaurant, this time in Shoreditch. And although they've been all about Sri Lankan food until now, this latest opening adds some brand new South Indian dishes to the menu. We went down to try all of them. 

Updated 20/1/25 with full details and an opening date.

It's been nearly 10 years since the original Hoppers launched in Soho. Now they're about to open their fourth restaurant, but this one is taking things in a different direction than before. Up until now, Hoppers has been known as a Sri Lankan restaurant but with this Shoreditch opening, they're bringing in more influences from South India. 

Led by Karan Gokani (who tells us more about it

Karan Gokani first launched Hoppers in Soho ten years ago. Now he's getting ready to open up the fourth Hoppers in Shoreditch. But this time he's doing things a little differently, bringing in some new South Indian influences. We caught up with him to find out what's being planned for Shoreditch.  

14/8/25 - updated with the opening date

Having already launched two London restaurants devoted to great Sri Lankan food, the couple behind Kolamba are getting ready to open a much more casual affair. ADOH! (a Sri Lankan word which is used both in greeting or to express surprise) is taking over a former Franca Manca space next door to Rules on Maiden Lane. And it's much more of a quick dine and dash

Sri Lankan cooking, Mexican street food, a fun night out in Soho? You can tick all three off your wish-list at once, thanks to a pop-up called Miris y Maíz. It all takes place at Paradise Soho, and the cooking comes from Dom Fernando (the man behind

Five years after opening in Soho, Kolamba have gone east for their second restaurant, bringing Sri Lankan food to the City. We went down to try Kolamba East.  

21/7/24 - Updated with the opening date

After finding success with their first Sri Lankan restaurant in Soho, Kolamba founders Eroshan and Aushi Meewella are going east for their second opening. 

It's opening as part of the Norton Folgate development just off Bishopsgate, which is pretty much right on the edge of Spitalfields, Shoreditch and The City. As for

Updated 13/5/24 with opening date

Four years on from opening her first restaurant Colombo Kitchen, in Worcester Park, chef and restaurateur Sylvia Perera is getting ready to bring her Sri Lankan food to Putney.

If you haven't been to the original restaurant, then the hoppers are what you're really coming to Colombo Kitchen for. Chef Sylvia grew up in Kurana taking inspiration from her Aunty Nanda's home

Updated 24/8/23 with a new opening date

You'll soon have a good reason to get stuck at Canary Wharf tube station when Karapincha, a new Sri Lankan restaurant from twin sisters Vasanthini and Dharshini Perumal, opens its doors.  You may have previously encountered the financiers turned street food traders pop-ups at food courts or even enjoyed attending one of their supper clubs

3/3/22 - Updated with the opening date

It's been promised for a while, but Rambutan is finally gearing up to open. It's the latest step in chef, restaurateur and author Cynthia Shanmugalingam's journey of exploration of her Sri Lankan roots. The restaurant, which opens in Borough Market, follows the publication of a book of the same name which shines a light on Sri Lankan cooking with a focus on

While we can't get down to Paradise's beautiful looking place in Soho at the moment, the Sri Lankan restaurant (also now owners of a shiny new Michelin Bib Gourmand) have made a move into the at-home scene. You can now get their food delivered anywhere in the UK with Hōtal Paradise. They say it's  "inspired by the casual eateries located on the spirited streets of Colombo, known as ‘hotels’

Hoppers has created Cash and Kari as an online shop selling its signature dishes and more besides. We gave their Ultimate Meal Kit a Test Drive. 

With the new lockdown imminent, more restaurants are turning to delivery and the popular Soho Sri Lankan restaurant Kolamba is the latest to join them.

They have two feasts on offer - the Ceylon chicken curry feast and a vegan version. Here's what you'll get in the box of the chicken version:

• Ceylon chicken curry
• Aromatic basmati rice 
• Dhal

Taking over the old Spuntino site, this new Sri Lankan spot feels like instant hit material with everything from the decor and snacks to drinks channelling Columbo via East London.