Melbourne’s such a cultural melting pot. We’re so lucky to have an incredible and eclectic mix of cuisines from across the globe right at our fingertips—and fortunately, a stack of options from the tiny South Asian island Sri Lanka.
While you might find fewer Sri Lankan restaurants than you would other cuisines, if you know where to look, there’s plenty of eateries in various corners of the city serving up the authentic flavours of Ceylon.
For the uninitiated (you’re truly missing out), Sri Lankan fare focuses on fresh ingredients and spices, making for flavourful curries and sides with influences from South Indian, Indonesian and Dutch cuisines.
However, unlike Indian curries traditionally made with dairy like ghee or cream, Sri Lankan cooking typically uses coconut cream—you’ll actually find coconut in most dishes given its ubiquity throughout the country. The same could be said for cinnamon, which is one of the most commonly used spices in Sri Lankan cooking.
Best eaten by hand, expect dishes like spicy fish and vegetable curries; rice; and other speciality recipes like hoppers (a thin, bowl-shaped rice pancake); lamprais (curry, rice and sambol wrapped in a banana leaf and baked in the oven); or short eats like curried pan rolls or fish buns.
Find all of this and more below with our roundup of the top 10 Sri Lankan restaurants right here in Melbourne in 2024:
Hopper Joint
157 Greville Street, Prahran
Image: Hopper Joint | Supplied
From the team behind Entrecôte (and just across the road), Hopper Joint is an 80-seat eatery in the heart of Prahran’s iconic Greville Street serving elevated Sri Lankan fare — with a focus on hoppers, obviously. The open kitchen is tailored for theatrical hopper-making views, while the atmosphere is vibrant with the scent of incense permeating throughout. The traditional hopper set is a crowd favourite at just $50 per person inclusive of one crispy egg hopper (same as a traditional hopper but with a gooey egg fried into the base), and unlimited plain hoppers, plus your choice of two curries, and sides of seeni sambol (spicy, jammy caramelised onion), and pol sambol (tangy ground coconut with lime juice, chilli and salt). A classic Sri Lankan feast that’s sure to leave your mouth tingling.
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If you opt for the traditional hopper set, every table comes with an antique brass bell to ring any time you’re ready for more hoppers (it really is all you can eat). But be warned — if you misuse the bell, you’ll incur a small ‘fine’ which is donated to a rotating charity.
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After just a drink and a snack? Hopper Joint boasts a well-rounded ‘short eats’ menu (go for the curried beef brisket pan rolls or spiced cuttlefish dosai), and a list of Lankan-inspired cocktails. The Clarified Lunuganga Lassi is a winner for a pre-dinner beverage in summer.
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Enjoy twilight tipples with Hopper Joint’s happy hour, which takes place every day from 5-6pm in the terrace and bar areas (walk-in only). It includes $5 beers, $8 wines and an $11 Peacock Pimms made with Ceylon arrack.
Araliya
1/118 High Street, Kew
Image: Araliya | Supplied
The brainchild of Sri Lankan couple Sam and Dee Wedande, Araliya was originally located in Hawthorn in the 1980s and later in St Kilda before relocating to Kew’s bustling High Street in 2021. Expect contemporary Sri Lankan-inspired cuisine with an array of veg-focused dishes — from brussel sprouts shredded with coconut to pepper-fried okra, or green beans with cashews. Sam is still at the forefront of the kitchen as executive chef, with all of the dishes his own concoctions — trialled, tested and perfected over 40 years.
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A crowd favourite is Araliya’s fresh fish of the day, pan roasted and served with a tangy tamarind, lime and pepper sauce. Other bestsellers include the jaggery braised beef wagyu; the black pork belly in a special Sri Lankan black curry; and the spice-roasted whole lamb shoulder, served with mint chutney (perfect for the whole family).
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Elevate your experience with a Sri Lankan-style cocktail. Go for the Spice Merchant, a blend of bourbon, vodka, vanilla and Sri Lankan spices; or the Annasi, comprising rum, spiced pineapple and lime.
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Aralia is a destination in itself, and diners tend to take their time and enjoy the experience over a few hours — which the team recommends. However there’s also a bar menu downstairs for quicker bites.
Lankan Tucker
486 Albion Street, Brunswick West
Image: Lankan Tucker | Supplied
Sick of avo on toast? Lankan Tucker is the answer for brunch-goers looking to shake up their usual brekky rotations. It was actually one of the pioneers in flipping Sri Lankan food on its head and introducing it to Melbourne’s iconic brunch scene, helmed by couple Nerissa Jayasingha and Hiran Kroon. Foodwise, think brunch fare with a Sri Lankan twist, plus cold drinks and loose leaf Sri Lankan tea. There’s even a take on the ‘big breakfast’, featuring a roti filled with egg, green chilli, red onion, pol sambol, red onion sambol and a creamy pumpkin curry. Add Sri Lankan sausage to really take it to the next level.
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For a real hit of nostalgia while you try some new cuisine, try Lankan Tucker’s iced milo. It’s easy to see why it’s a crowd pleaser, packed with milo mousse, milo brownie, vanilla ice cream and milk. Or, make it dirty by adding a shot of double espresso.
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Lankan Tucker’s hybrid dishes are most popular, like the Buriyani burrito, ‘made Mama’s way’ with a spiced cashew rice mixed with lamb, herbs and spices, topped with raita and an egg. The classics have a huge fan base too, like the Kotthu Roti — a popular Sri Lankan street food comprising shredded roti served with curry, veg, egg and chilli.
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When you visit, be sure to ask the staff what their favourite staff meal hack is — the team love recommending their favourite combos.
Serendib
76 High Street, Northcote
Image: Serendib | Supplied
Among the hustle and bustle of Northcote’s famous High Street lies Serendib, a classic buffet canteen-style Sri Lankan eatery serving all the Lankan faves at an affordable price point. It was actually born from a fish and chip shop in Kingsbury, where owner Dilip Kithulguruge began adding Sri Lankan short eats to the menu, before expanding to the Northcote outpost due to popularity. The restaurant is also family-owned and operated by Dilip and his two brothers, and serves everything from curry to short eats, hoppers, dessert and more.
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Did you know Serendib is actually an old Arabic name for Sri Lanka?
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Serendib’s freshly-made hoppers are a must-try — exclusively available on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, they’ve quickly become a weekend favourite.
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If you want the most bang for buck, dine in on a weekday (Tuesday to Thursday) and enjoy an all-you-can-eat buffet for only $25, or on weekend evenings for $30. The buffet includes hoppers, devilled chicken and beef curry. Plus, Serendib has recently introduced a $10 rice and curry takeaway option to help ease the cost-of-living bite.
Maalu Maalu
246 Sydney Road, Brunswick
A cosy Sri Lankan buffet eatery with a fully equipped bar and all-you-can-eat menu? Sign us up. Maalu Maalu is a Sinhala phrase meaning ‘fish fish’, used as a cry by local fishermen. The restaurant, sporting the same moniker, is Brunswick’s answer to affordable Lankan fare that caters to almost every dietary restriction — 99 per cent of dishes are gluten free, all are dairy-free (using coconut milk instead, as is the Sri Lankan way), the meat is halal, and considering almost three quarters of its customers are vegan, so is at least three quarters of its menu. The dishes are constantly revolving so on any given day you’ll get to experience a rotation of authentic home-style cooking, prepared just as any Sri Lankan Aunty would. Comfort food, the Sri Lankan way.
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If you’re sensitive to spice, Maalu Maalu is for you. The restaurant caters to all cultures so its dishes don’t quite reach the spice heights you’d see in Sri Lanka, but still come relatively close.
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While the food offering changes regularly, popular dishes have included Maalu Maalu’s dhal and boneless chicken curries, plus the sweet and sticky eggplant (or brinjal as they say in Lanka) moju — a sweet, spicy, tangy pickled eggplant dish.
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Affordable takeaway options include a $10 pack with rice, two veg curries and a meat curry; or a $14.90 pack with three veg curries and a meat curry.
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BONUS: Maalu Maalu’s new happy hour is just $15 per person from 3-5pm each Thursday and Friday. Bottom’s up!
Citrus
252 St Georges Road, Fitzroy North
Image: Citrus | Supplied
Fitzroy North’s casual Sri Lankan eatery, Citrus (which also features in our best cheap eats under $25) is akin to a family home — cosy and casual with delicious homestyle cuisine. It’s no surprise considering it’s a family-run business. For just $25, enjoy an all-you-can-eat buffet with 15-plus rotating dishes including an abundance of Lankan curries and sambol choices to boot. Wash it all down with Citrus’ signature mango lassi, or one of the traditional homemade soft drinks on offer.
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A fully-stocked bar offers a selection of wine, beers, spirits, and cocktails.
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Citrus also offers a variety of takeaway options including curry, rice and sambol packs from just $15.
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PSA for those with a sweet tooth — don’t sleep on Citrus’ watalappan. If you’re unfamiliar, watalappam is a traditional Sri Lankan creamy custard pudding made with coconut milk and sweetened with jaggery. Perfectly light for after a buffet feast.
Spicy Wicket
246/248 Blackburn Road, Glen Waverley
Further out in the city’s southeast, Spicy Wickey (Formerly Upalis) has been going strong since 2014, when it was established in Colombo before expanding to a second outpost in Australia. Founder, Sri Lankan businessman Upali Dharmadasa actually grew up in Glen Waverley and wanted to create a home away from home for fellow Lankans living in the southeast. Expect spicy curries bursting with flavour, plus all the Lankan faves including kottu roti, egg hoppers, lamprais, and string hoppers (another variety of hoppers where rice flour is pressed into noodles and steamed in a flat, pancake-like shape).
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For those who like an extra kick with their curry, Upalis has three different types of sambol on offer: seeni sambol, coconut sambol, and lunu miris — a tangy onion and crushed chilli sambol with a citrus twist.
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Dining with a large group? A banquet menu is available upon request, just ask the friendly Upalis staff.
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The lunch set menu is the best option for value, inclusive of your choice of rice, curry, vegetables and coconut sambol. It comes to just $16.95 for the vegetarian option or $20.95 for meat.
Okra
166 Rathdowne Street, Carlton
In the heart of Carlton on Rathdowne Street, you’ll find some of the most authentic Sri Lankan cuisine in Melbourne at Okra. Make sure to try the handmade pol (coconut) roti. It pairs best with Okra’s pol sambol and any dish from its curry range — including fish, goat and devilled chicken varieties — or its tempered vegetable pots which include a spicy tempered okra cooked in either a dry spice or creamy coconut base.
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Okra is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, so you can get your Lankan fix at any time of day.
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There’s plenty of options for vegetarians and vegans, such as veg pan rolls and more than 10 vegan-friendly curries including jackfruit and banana blossom varieties.
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Wash down the spice with a Sri Lankan soft drink — think ginger beer, creaming soda, or a fizzy orange barley beverage.
Mrs Hoppers
303 Exhibition Street, Melbourne
From the same team as Araliya, Mrs Hoppers offers the same vibe in a more casual CBD location. The focus, of course, is on hoppers — plain, egg, cheese, omelette, milk, you name it. There’s also pani hoppers which are a sweeter hopper variety made with coconut treacle and typically served crisp and folded in half, and can be eaten with curry. Or, for the real sweet tooths, Mrs Hoppers even offers six types of dessert hoppers — including nutella hoppers, biscoff hoppers, Sri Lankan jaggery hoppers, and more.
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Aside from hoppers, the short eats at Mrs Hoppers are a must try — go for the beef pan roll or seeni sambol bun.
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Mrs Hoppers offers a range of traditional Sri Lankan tea and iced coffee.
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Be sure to take home a slice of homemade bibikkan — a traditional Lankan coconut cake made with shredded coconut, jaggery, semolina and a mix of spices. It’s usually eaten at celebrations like Christmas and New Year’s.
Three Elephants
97 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda
Image: Three Elephants | Supplied
Three Elephants is a casual 50-seat eatery positioned in front of the former French Embassy building in the St Kilda dining hub of Fitzroy Street. Take a seat in the side courtyard on a balmy summer evening to fully appreciate the historic architecture of the Embassy's facade while enjoying a traditional Sri Lankan feast — from classic rice and curry combos (go for the spicy Negombo fish curry or Ceylon crab curry) to popular street food specialties like crispy egg hoppers or kotthu roti. Three Elephants was founded by chef Laki Wijethilake who previously worked in the regional town of Birchip and served authentic Sri Lankan cuisine to the local farming community, which inspired him to bring the same Lankan flare to Melbourne.
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Be sure to indulge in Three Elephants’ delectable short eats menu, including the popular veg pan roll or the classic Sri Lankan tuna and potato croquettes. The restaurant will also soon be hosting a Sri Lankan street food feast every Sunday — stay tuned.
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Weekly specials include Sri Lankan hoppers every Friday to Sunday; a mud crab night each Wednesday with four traditional Lankan mud crab dishes to choose from; and a 10 per cent discount every Thursday.
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If you’re after a tipple, Three Elephants offers a range of Sri Lankan-inspired drinks, including Ceylon Arrack, Colombo dry gin, and Lion lager to complement your meal.
Main image: Hopper Joint | Supplied
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