• CLOSED: Sri Dhara Restaurant

  • (13)
    15

    Closed

  • White Vegetarian
Vegan-friendly
Lacto
Ovo
Asian
Breakfast
Sri Lankan

Serves traditional Sri Lankan dishes, also offers cooking classes. Most dishes must be ordered a few hours or a day in advance as all are made from local, fresh ingredients. Offers breakfast, curries, rice, roti. Has vegan dishes. NOTE: Reported closed to HappyCow, February 2023.


Venue map for Sri Dhara Restaurant
© OpenStreetMap contributors

13 Reviews

First Review by peterstuckings

zuckerzucker

Points +741

Vegan
26 Feb 2022

It’s worth it!

Doesn’t look inviting from the outside, more like it’s closed. But don’t be fooled and try it! The owner is so lovely and the curry mix was really good, especially for the price!

Pros: many vegan options, good prices

lisamariaschreiber

Points +1774

Vegan
25 Feb 2022

Good food for a good price

The owner is really nice and the curry we ate was super good! It looks from outside closed but it’s not! Sometimes you have to look into the garden and they will open for you.

Pros: Lots of vegan options

MHB

Points +124

Vegan
20 Feb 2020

Home cooking

Home cooked curry and rice, owner so friendly wish I could of eaten here more had tea twice and got an amazing pumpkin curry the second day

daogtonyd

Points +20

Vegan
28 Jan 2020

Best place to try local home food.

Home style cafe. Serving 3 type of lunch sets. Breakfast also available. Cooking with love but not fast. Need to preorder 30-60 minutes before. Possible phone call and order.

Pros: Mostly vegan , but also have fish

Cons: Have to preorder your meal before

babyelephant

Points +58

Vegan
01 Aug 2019

Lovely old man and great authentic food!

As we wandered the streets of Unawatuna we came across this lovely small restaurant run by an old man and his wife! We were a little lost since nothing had opened yet in the morning but the owner opened his restaurant specifically for us since he remembered us walking by the night before! What we got was delicious and authentic Sri Lankan food we enjoyed very much!

Pros: Lovely service , Friendly old man with good English skills, Tasty food

peterstuckings

Points +516

Vegan
17 Jul 2019

A real surprise

UPDATE JULY 2019 - Still open despite many places being shut after bombings. They don’t put the signs out but can still do meals.
This quaint little place is basically the front porch of a nice old art deco home on a bend in the main street. It's barely noticeable among all the flashy signage of the surrounding tourist businesses. The word 'vegetarian' is nowhere to be seen, but the cuisine is all free of animal flesh, and it's TASTY stuff. The family also offer cooking classes, and after tasting the food, it's easy to see why - because they're offering genuinely decent local dishes. For around US$2.50 there is a selection of curries with a bread or pancake known as a rotty, but a lot like an Indian paratha. They also do the traditional Sri Lankan breakfast of string hoppers, dahl, coconut sambol, tea, etc. A must-try while here. Please do support this simple family business. They don't know how good their food is!
NOTE: for most dishes you have to order in advance, preferably the day before. But it's worth the time to stop by to make an order.

Pros: Tasty, Traditional, Untouristy

Cons: No mod cons, Advance ordering

Emmyrakete

Points +63

Vegan
22 Mar 2019

Most authentic in Unawatuna

I admit that this isn't the best curry I've ever had in Sri Lanka, but for a touristy place like Unawatuna it is really affordable (380 Rs) and tasty. All the other restaurants in town have westernized their food (even the restaurants that has the best reviews on TripAdvisor). So no spices or only a few. Here you can choose whether you go for medium or spicy. At least you can get the impression of a good curry.

StacieWallace

Points +21

Vegetarian
20 Mar 2019

Lovely owners and food

Nice rice and curry but not the best among Sri Lanka. Good service and lovely owners always with a smile

Pros: Good price , Fair taste , Great service

VegosaurusVagabond

Points +3037

Vegan
03 Feb 2019

Best food I've had in Sri Lanka

I've been in the country for almost a month and this is the best food I've had to date. The family is kind and caring, and the curry is bursting with flavor. I don't know what they've done to this eggplant but it's astonishing. And only Rs 380-450 for a huge portion of various curries. Highly, highly recommend!

Pros: Almost all vegan, Delicious and cheap, Cheap

jmitvegan

Points +32

Vegan
31 Jan 2019

So delicious!!

Had the lunch menu potato curry, brinjal curry, lentil curry, pakora & papadam mix and it is AMAZING! So much flavour, I asked for spicy and it was a perfect amount. Food came out in about 15-20 minutes. 380 rupees, good size for one. Friendly staff.

incubusss

Points +44

Vegetarian
28 Jan 2019

Very good food

Friendly owner. 3 types of menu at standard sri Lankan price but very cheap for the area.

EmilyWebster

Points +46

Vegan
13 Dec 2018

Absolutely incredible

The best curry I’ve had so far in Sri Lanka and for such a cheap price!! The owner is absolutely lovely and all the curries prepared the night we went were vegan. The servings are a great size. Expect to wait up to around half an hour if you haven’t pre ordered!! Definitely a must when in Unawatuna.

Pros: Incredible food, Great price, Great staff

h108

Points +108

Vegan
06 Dec 2018

The best curry ever!

I chose this place based on the two reviews it already had here on happy cow otherwise I would have walked past without a second glance. It’s a very non-descript front with just a board with a written menu on and you have to order with the owners the day before to get your meal but it was so worth it. By far the best curry I have ever eaten. It was delicious, amazing flavours and all fresh local ingredients.

I was only sad that I didn’t get to try more and go back another night but my time ran out in Unawatuna!

Pros: Vegan curries!, The best tasting curry I’ve ever eaten , Very reasonable prices

Cons: Having to book for the following night




This page has been viewed 2320 times.