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Food, diets & groceries
Sri Lankan food is rice, coconut and spice, with a surprising amount of it plant-based. Here's what to try, how to eat well on any diet, and where to shop if you're self-catering.
Five things to eat first
Meal budget per person per day: about $8–15 eating local, $20–35 mixing local and hotel restaurants, $50+ for fine dining. Street-food mains cost LKR 400–1,500.
Eating with dietary needs
Choose your diet to see how easy it is and what to ask for.
Useful phrases
| English | Sinhala (say) | Tamil (say) |
|---|---|---|
| No meat, please | Mas epa | Iraichchi vendaam |
| No fish, no Maldive fish | Malu epa, umbalakada epa | Meen vendaam, maasi vendaam |
| Less chilli | Miris aduwen | Kaaram kuraivaa |
| No milk or egg | Kiri, biththara epa | Paal, muttai vendaam |
| Thank you | Sthuthiy | Nandri |
Supermarkets & markets for long stays
Where locals and expats buy groceries. Most supermarkets open about 8am–10pm and take cards.
| Store | Type | Where | Good for |
|---|
Typical grocery prices
| Rice, 1 kg | LKR 250–400 |
| Bread loaf | LKR 150–250 |
| Eggs, 10 | LKR 400–550 |
| Fresh milk, 1 L | LKR 500–650 |
| Bananas, 1 kg | LKR 200–400 |
| Chicken, 1 kg | LKR 1,200–1,600 |
| Bottled water, 1.5 L | LKR 120–180 |
Estimates, reviewed . Imported goods cost 1.5–3× European prices.
Delivery apps
PickMe Food and Uber Eats deliver restaurant meals in most cities. Keells and Cargills offer online grocery delivery in Colombo and some suburbs. Pay by card or cash on delivery.
Alcohol
Sold in licensed "wine stores" and some supermarkets. No sales on Poya (full moon) days, when bars close too. Try arrack (coconut spirit) and Lion lager.