Sri Lankan street food is all the rage, all year round. The locals love their spicy, salty and sweet, so the choices are endless. The beauty of street food is that no matter where in the country you are at, you are bound to get your delicious fill of local delicacies that will have you craving more. Whether its the blend of spices that will blow your mind, the creamy homely curries, sweetmeat that will satisfy more than just your sweet tooth, Sri Lanka has got you covered on the street food front. Without further ado, let’s get down to the best of the best street food you must try when you wander the local streets.
Kottu:
Thsi is the ultimate Sri Lankan street food, that is also the go-to comfort food among Sri Lankans. No matter where you go, and who you ask, we guarantee that Kottu is at the top of their favorite food list. Authentic to Sri Lanka, Kottu is a delicious combination of godhamba roti, vegetables, egg, meat, and sometimes, cheese. There is no end to the number of items you could add to your plate of Kottu, so you could customize it to your preference or try any of the already available flavors. The process of making Kottu is music to the ears, as the chefs chop up the ingredients with knives that move at the speed of lightning.
Isso Wade:
One of the most beloved street food items in Sri Lanka, especially if you’re at Galle Face beach, Isso Wade deserves all the praise in the world. So simple and scrumptious, these prawn treats taste luxurious even though they are extremely inexpensive. For about LKR 100, you could get a bag full of them. The humble Isso Wade is sold by individual vendors along the side of the beach, and are a mixture of gram flour, chilli, and spices, and topped with at least three prawns that are then deep fried into a flat cake. They are served with a flaming hot sambal, onions, carrot and lime, although taht’s entirely up to you to decide.
Achcharu:
If you are in Sri Lanka, or have been to this amazing land of food, you know that street vendors selling bags of chopped up fruits is a common sight. Whether you’re in a train, bus, or making a stop for a quick snack, chances are, there will be people who sell Achcharu. Achcharu literally translates to pickles, but it isn’t the traditional western version of it that is made with vinegar and salt that we are talking about here. This take on a pickle traditionally involves a tropical fruit (such as mango, pineapple, amberella, guava, veralu or woodapple) that is chopped, squashed or sliced and then sprinkled or mixed with a combination of chilli powder, salt, lime and sometimes sugar. What can we say? Sri Lankans love spice so much that even their fruit snacks are hot!
Manioc Chips:
One thing we can all agree on is that when it comes to street food, fried takes the crown. Sri Lankans eat a lot of fried snacks, but a classic that has stayed popular over many generations is Manioc Chips (Magnogkka Pethi as the locals call it). They’re also known as Cassava or Tapioca (yes, the same ones they make boba out of). It’s the local equivalent to Pringles. They come in different shapes, sizes, and flavors. You could get them cut like French Fries, small crisps, square chunks or strips. Another Sri Lankan favorite is boiled manioc with a side of hot onion-chilli paste.
Pani Pol Pancakes:
Never trust someone who doesn’t like Pani Pol. Although, it is called “pancake” in Sri Lanka, they resemble more of a crepe, even though, the cooking process differs from that too. All the technicalities aside, the only thing you have to know about these coconut milk treats stuffed with jaggery and caramelized coconut filling is that they are heavenly. The sweetness isn’t overpowering, but it hits you just right, perfectly complementing the coconutty tingle that we all love. Order at least 6 per person, because this is not a street food that you would want to share.
Photos sourced from Indi Samarajiva, Jerome Dacq, Shehal Joseph, Mathias MH, amenderson2 and Dennis Sylvester
