How to Explore Sri Lankan Cuisine on a Trip to Kandy

As the second largest city in Sri Lanka, Kandy is not only a cultural epicentre synonymous with the Temple of the Tooth but a holiday destination every tourist should visit at least once during a tour of the island. Home to some of the country’s finest natural wonders and botanical gardens, the hill station is also the perfect place to uncover the flavours of Sri Lankan cuisine. Here are 6 signature dishes every traveller should sample during a sojourn in the sacred city.

Hoppers

As a popular meal option that’s consumed for both breakfast and dinner, hoppers are Sri Lanka’s answer to crepes. Made using a batter that’s a combination of coconut milk and fermented rice flour, hoppers are decidedly crispier than their European counterparts and feature a sponge-like centre that’s sometimes topped off with a sunny-side-up egg. Served at most restaurants across Kandy town, hoppers are consumed with a spicy onion sambal and a curry, although they can just as easily be enjoyed on their own due to their pancake-like flavour and texture. The ideal pick-me-up for those who prefer lighter meals, hoppers are also available in a sweet variation that’s commonly referred to as “Pani Appa.”

Chicken Curry

As a staple curry that’s prepared daily in Sri Lankan households, chicken curry is another local dish travellers should savour during a trip to the hill capital. As a regular feature on local restaurant menus, chicken curry is a local dish that tourists vacationing at Hunas Falls Hotel Kandy shouldn't miss during a food tour of the hill capital. As a spicy concoction that's a popular addition to rice and curry meals, this aromatic side dish features an array of herbs and condiments and owes much of its flavour to the coconut milk that’s added during the last stage of the cooking process.  Seasoned with curry leaves and a dollop of gamboge paste, the chicken meat infused into the curry is tender and succulent.

Fish Ambul Thiyal

Seafood fanatics in search of a traditional Sri Lankan fish curry should look no further than this sour fish dish that’s prepared using tuna. Although the dish hails from the southern coastal towns of Sri Lanka, Fish Ambul Thiyal has become a popular side dish for rice and curry meals all across the island nation. Marinated in a sour blend of Gamboge paste, black pepper, salt and lime, the tuna fish is placed in a clay pot and slow-cooked for several hours to achieve the characteristic tangy taste of Fish Ambul Thiyal. Often paired with a lentil curry and steamed rice, this sour fish dish is a popular addition to lunch parcels as the spice mix preserves the fresh taste of the tuna for several hours.

Kottu Roti

If there’s one street food item all tourists must enjoy during a getaway in Kandy at family hotels in Sri Lanka, it surely has to be a plate of Kottu Roti. Sold by street-side vendors and served at high-end Kandyan restaurants, Kottu Roti is a fusion dish that traces its origins to Sri Lanka’s Tamil populace. Godamba rotis ( a type of local flatbread) are thinly sliced using two metal choppers before the shreds are infused with an array of stir-fried vegetables, meat, egg or seafood items to create this mouth-watering meal. Easily accessible at venues including the Kandy City Centre and the small restaurants down Peradeniya Road, Kottu Roti is a crispy and spicy dinner option for those with big appetites.

String Hoppers

Noodle fans holidaying in the cool mountains of Kandy, on the other hand, must order a plate of string hoppers for breakfast or dinner, as this is another Sri Lankan favourite that tourists adore for its mild flavour. The rice flour noodles are poured onto circular nests and steamed to create “string” hoppers, which are usually served alongside a bowl of coconut sambal and dhal curry. The Kandy Market Hall is perhaps the best place in the city to dig into this delicious breakfast dish, although string hoppers are also sold in bulk by street-side food carts.

Watalappam

Reigning supreme among traditional Sri Lankan desserts, Wattalappam is a decadent treat that sweet-toothed visitors shouldn’t miss during a food tour in Kandy. Although the dish is associated with Eid celebrations and the country’s Islamic community, this delectable combination of jaggery, eggs, coconut milk, nutmeg and cardamom is a constant at local celebrations and widely available at most Kandy restaurants and sweet shops. A must-try dessert for lovers of flans and puddings, the custard-like consistency is what makes a bowl of Watalappam irresistible after a hearty meal.