EXPLORING INDIAN DINING SPOTS IN COLOMBO

Indian food has always held a special place in the hearts of many Sri Lankans. With its rich spices, bold flavors, and comforting dishes, it's no surprise that Indian cuisine is a favorite across the country. Colombo, being a multicultural city, offers a wide range of Indian dining options, from traditional South Indian meals to spicy North Indian curries, and even creative fusion dishes. This time, I set out to discover some of the most popular Indian restaurants around Colombo. These places are known not just for their flavorful food, but also for their ambiance, service, and overall dining experience.

- By Yashmitha Sritheran

Located on Collingwood Place in Colombo 06, Aachary’s Kitchen is a small but cozy restaurant that takes Indian food seriously. From the moment you walk in, the warm lighting, neat layout, and polite staff create a welcoming vibe. It’s a comfortable spot that mixes simplicity with taste, and what really stands out here is the food.

The restaurant offers a great selection of Indian dishes, from spicy street, style plates to home style comfort food. Their focus on using fresh ingredients, authentic spices, and thoughtful cooking techniques makes each dish feel like it’s been made with care.

We started our meal with their Indian chicken kottu, which was bursting with flavor. The finely chopped paratha mixed with spicy chicken was both satisfying and spicy, a delicious blend of Sri Lankan and Indian cooking. Another standout dish was the mutton border kada parotta. The mutton was well, cooked, tender, and packed with traditional flavor, while the parotta was flaky and buttery, soaking up the curry like a sponge.

For a twist, we tried the spicy chicken cheesy pasta. While this isn't a traditional Indian item, the mix of spicy masala, style chicken and creamy cheese sauce surprisingly worked well. It had a bold taste that offered the best of both worlds, Indian spice and Western comfort.

The black pepper fish was another favorite. The fish was soft and fresh, covered in a bold black pepper coating that gave it a deep, warm heat without overpowering the dish. This one’s especially great if you like strong, spicy flavors.