Spicy Lanka

This restaurant is great. We started off with the fish patties which were great with a spicy sauce. We had the beef rhoti, chicken biryani, and mutton devil. All was great. The meals were served with tasty rice. The servers were very friendly and the atmosphere was nice. Best part BYOB.

My 1^st time trying Sri Lankan food and I like it. Modern interior with seating for about 28 people including the 4 seats on the bar. They have one unisex bathroom that is small, but clean.
I asked the waiter what the popular dishes were as a point to start. He recommended the beef rolls as an appetizer which was an excellent choice. The beef rolls came in an order of 3. The rolls are made out of potatoes and deep fried. The rolls are layered with sliced beef and served with a red sweet chutney sauce.
We ordered the chicken briyani and beef kothu for our main course. We dialed in for a mild spicy setting. The chicken was delicious, flavorful but I wish the pieces were not cut up so small. The rice was fragrant, moist and delicious.
The beef kothu was not as flavorful as I thought it would be. The kothu is a mixture of chopped up roti and rice. The flavors and texture between combining the 2 was «different»
I ordered the Masala Chai which was very good and spiced just right. You get a nice portion size for the price you pay. The service staff was very nice and helpful in explaining the dishes and gave us a little 411 on Sri Lankan food.
I would go back and try the other dishes they have on the menu. I feel there is more to offer to satisfy my palette.

3.5 stars
This was my first time trying Sri Lankan food and it was definitely an exciting experience for my taste buds. I tried the fish patties, which were stuffed with tuna and then deep fried. They came with a sweet/​spicy chili sauce which made them very flavorful. My husband ordered their shrimp curry with roti. The roti was huge! The shrimp curry had large pieces of shrimp and a nice kick to it (he ordered medium spicy). I went with the shrimp kothu roti which was an interesting dish. It was cut pieces of roti mixed in with shrimp, vegetables and egg. The flavor was there but texture wise, it threw me off. I wouldnt order that again.
Their menu isn’t large but I’d come back to give their vegetarian options a try.

I’ve been wanting to try this spot for awhile, glad i finally did i was having a me day ! It was empty on the day I chose but I wasn’t worried as I had read the reviews ! I tried the masala tea and Khotu rotti with chicken it was very flavorful soo delicious and service was very friendly !

It was my first time having Sri Lankan cuisine. If this is what it taste like they definitely sparked my taste buds. I enjoyed everything. The place was clean, the service was pleasant and timely. and their food was amazing.

Best Sri Lankan food ever. Staff is very nice and friendly. Food is delicious. Overall great atmosphere. We come here once or twice a week.

Ordered the deviled chicken (very spicy!) since it seems to be a popular dish on Unilocal.While it was very delicious, my only wish is that it was boneless meat. It looks like boneless chicken on the plate and I actually ended up swallowing a small bone. I also ordered chicken fried rice (also very spicy!) which was actually pretty good. I could taste a hint of curry. I will give this place another chance in the future, but I think I’ll just order beef dishes.

What a nice little spot out in Jamaica! Having been a fan of Sri Lankan food for many years (thanks to Sigiri, in the East Village), my wife and I knew what we were in for.
I’m happy to report that the classic dishes of Kothu & String Hoppers were on point. We shared plates of the delicate string hoppers with a side of stewed chicken. Our Kothu came loaded with shrimp (which could have been cooked a bit less — those little buggers were simply too firm), which was very toothsome overall.
For drinks, there were a few hot and cold options. We tried the hot Sri Lankan Tea, which was nice, but nothing to travel to taste. If you seek alcoholic options, it is BYOB, so pick something up nearby.
The price was nice. 2 entrees, plus the hot beverage set us back $ 27 (inclusive of tip).
A friendly woman (from Sri Lanka) acted as hostess and waitress. You can tell that this is a family place that really cares about it’s customers. If I find myself in this area again, I hope that this review will remind me to return!

I really don’t understand the hype to this place. I went twice with pretty decent expectations only to be sorely disappointed. The first time I went I ordered the deviled shrimp as well as the vegetarian thali. The veggies were tasty however inferno spicy even though I requested mild. The deviled shrimp was also very spicy to the point that the flavor became lost in the heat of the dish. Now I’m quite used to spicy food growing up eating Indian and Pakistani food on more occasions than not but the level of heat was just absurd.
Because of all the reviews, I did try to give it a second shot. No Bueno! I ordered chicken Kothu and fish patties. The fish patties were very good, a little greasy but good nonetheless. I experienced the same problem with the kothu as I did for the first time i order from this place. Full on Devils hell on my tongue. I tried to use tamarind sauce with it that I had in my refrigerator with no relief in sight. :sigh: I’m getting heart burn just thinking about it.
Twice burned (all puns intended) is all I need. I have had better Sri Lankan food! If you also want good stuff try the Kottu House in Manhattan. Great tasting food and they know how to give you spicy and flavor without burning your insides.

Soooooooo good. Soooooooo Spicy, even their mild will make your nose run, but none of it is gratuitously Spicy, everything packs as much flavor as it does kick. Order the Falooda it’ll help with the burn and is quite tasty independent of its utility. Décor is really nice and quaint especially since the place sits in a sea of ratty store front take out joints in the food desert of Central Queens. Service is fast and price is great for the quality and size of the dishes. This isn’t just a great hidden food destination, this is a food must, if you haven’t eaten Sri Lankan here, you don’t know Sri Lankan in NYC.

I have never tasted Shrilankan food in my life. This is the first time i have ever tasted, food is great and it is not spicy, i enjoyed every bit of the food. Nice and cozy small place. I will definitely go next time too. Pretty chill place with good food and cultural atmoshpere.

Four of us (wife, myself, mother in law and 8 year old daughter) dropped by on a Saturday evening and were promptly greeted and seated in their small but cozy dining room. We perused the menu and for starters, ordered fish cutlets and chicken rolls and for our mains, ordered deviled shrimp (mild), deviled beef (spicy), Godhamba Roti, fried shrimp, pittu with shrimp curry and a simple rice and curry plate (rice with two or three curries and papadam). For dessert, the four of us shared three Faluda’s. Everything was delicious and the spice levels were very manageable. The fish cutlets were fantastic and much larger than I am used to, more like round flying saucers than the usual small round cutlets in most Sri Lankan restaurants. We also got a bunch of fish patties to go and these were also very, very good. It is great to have these in the house to take to work for lunch or as a quick snack/​dinner. My wife could not stop raving about the pittu and we found all the food to be very authentic and delicious.
Parking is street parking, which was not that difficult to find. The neighborhood was quiet and seemed safe and service was good. There seemed to be only a single young lady serving But she was friendly, efficient and kept my 8 year old daughter entertained with conversation during the course of the evening.

I have never tasted Shrilankan food in my life. This is the first time i have ever tasted, food is great and it is not spicy, i enjoyed every bit of the food. Spicy mutton and chicken and roti all taste so good like you are in heaven. Nice and cozy small place. I will definitely go next rime too.

Deviled chicken man o man the tuna roll was bomb! This is a jewel I will return for sure

There are not many restaurants in Jamaica that would have me go out of my way, but this place is on a whole different level. Their food is simply DELICIOUS. To be honest, I grew up on North Indian food and am pretty familiar with South Indian cuisine. Sri Lankan food? I’d never had it before but I definitely wanted to try. Now I’m wondering why it took me so long, but better late than never right?
I came here to take out and ordered the beef devil, kotthu with beef (very spicy), and the egg hoppers. I want to note that the food was packed with a lot of care and even the napkins we were given were neatly folded and arranged. I really appreciated this small detail! As for the food, each and every bite that we took sent us into flavor paradise. The devil is so so good — tender pieces of meat that were crispy on the outside and cooked in this incredible sauce. The kotthu is the ultimate comfort food — all the flavors hit home! And I could eat egg hoppers every day for the rest of my life. Everything was delicious and I cannot wait to return to try their other dishes!
Also, the service here is great! The waiter explained to us the different types of dishes that they had and recommended his favorites. While waiting for our food, we also shared a nice conversation with him. He told us how beautiful Sri Lanka is and even offered to show us around if we ever visited! Really sweet and friendly service — I am looking forward to dining in next time to enjoy more of their amazing food!

Dear Unilocalers,
The food here is fantastic. I just had the best Chicken Biriyani of my life! The biriyani looked so delicious all I could think about was eating it that I completely forgot to take photos. Shame on me since the presentation was beautiful too. Anyone familiar with Indonesian food will see some influences in the dishes here. The chicken was perfectly fried and served on a banana leaf (I love that they use banana leaves to serve a majority of their dishes). The rice contains a variety of different ingredients, like cardomon, licorice, peanuts, etc. The rule is – if the piece of food is too hard to chew on, spit it out – it’s just for flavoring. And watch out for the occasional small bones.
My friend had the vegetable thali (get the regular size one – not mini) and it was sooo delicious. There were so many flavors we had never encountered before but just blended perfectly with each other. There is a small watery/​soupy condiment that we poured all over the rice and gave the perfect amount of umami to complement the vegetable side dishes. One of the veggies dishes was a little tough and had the texture of straw, so me being Asian I did the Asian thing and chewed all the flavor out of it and spat out the straw. At any rate, after you try the vegetable thali you will never miss animal protein again! I have ordered it a few times this week and am a little concerned if I am getting enough protein in my diet but who cares? With vegetables this delicious my body will just have to learn to adapt.
The veggie rolls – for those looking for a healthier option – is wonderful. Once again liberal use of cloves and interesting spices. They are deep fried and look like mozzarella sticks but inside there is a potato and vegetable filling. The accompanying tasty hot sauce lets you dial up the heat to your liking.
With such great reviews and star ratings why is this place not packed on a Friday night? Help show this place some love and keep this gem of a restaurant in business! You’re not here to eat the décor, you’re here to eat the food and I guarantee that it will not disappoint. And neither will their ‘A’ grade from the Dept. of Health!
For dessert try the watttalappam. This plain-​looking dessert made from coconut milk harbors a constellation of flavors and spices. It’s delish!
Food here is not Americanized in any way (thank goodness), so when you choose a level of spiciness remember that it is South /​Southeast Asian-​level spiciness. It can be 9−1−1 intense. I usually order the mild and find it to be the perfect level of spice.

I’ve only tried one item on their somewhat limited menu and it’s probably their weakest entrée according to some reviews I read. Since I was getting take out, I didn’t try their thali. Whenever I get take out, I usually get food from a variety of restaurants especially if it’s a place I’ve never been to. If the food sucks at one place, I always have other options.
I ordered the Deviled Chicken, mild, since L can’t really handle spicy foods. I really should’ve gotten it much hotter; it was somewhat bland. L didn’t think it was spicy either. You would think that with the name Deviled Chicken, even at mild it would be pretty spicy, like authentic Thai food. It’s not a very big portion. There’s some onions and peppers over small pieces of chicken with mostly bone. I should’ve gotten Kothu instead, since literally there was so little meat. It tasted a bit sweet, a lil sour. Not spicy at all. It’s def not Indian, nor Chinese, but nothing special. I know the other dishes really stand out compared to this. So if I’m in the area (doubt it)… I’d try the other dishes.
I just cannot believe how small the portion was. I literally used the smallest pan (rarely use, I have 5 – 6 pans) I had, to reheat the food. Even at $ 8. It’s more like an appetizer portion. This is Jamaica, I want value for my money unless it’s mind blowing good.
Don’t get the deviled chicken, you really don’t want to be gnawing on bones with your date sitting across…

Oh my goodness, this place was wonderful. We were recommended to it by someone, and when we visited NY last week, we got over there to check it out. We tried the Kothu Roti and the Deviled shrimp, plus had the spicy chicken roll appetizer. Everything was fabulously cooked, well flavored. It’s not Indian, it’s not Asian … it’s a real fusion of flavors and tastes, without becoming too mixed up, or an overwhelming taste blast. We asked for it spicy, and it was nice, but we could have gone hotter for sure. Of course, everyone varies on their personal heat-​tolerances, so your mileage will likely vary.
The restaurant is clean, and service is friendly. It’s not huge, yet the tables are still spaced far enough apart that you have a modicum of privacy and aren’t jammed back-​to-​back. We used public transit to get there, and that was super easy, with just a ½ block walk from the bus stop.
We left wishing we had a place like this in our home town. I’ll certainly make time for this place whenever we visit NY.

Great service and great quality food. I love the favor and selection especially the source of veggie and bean based diet. This small family owned restaurant deserves a visit from anyone going out to Jamaica for a visit or on your way to JFK.
On a wednesday night, I don’t usually like going to an empty restaurant to eat. We brave up and walk in. The owner lady was super nice to us. Offering water and not afraid of chatting with us. Definitely ask them for suggestion if you are new to Lanka food. We expected our food to be spicy but it’s just right for weakin like us. I forgot what we ordered but they are delicious. If you have trouble, ask for suggestion.

Readers will know from my reviews that I look for excellence anywhere I dine. Food is a sacred ritual for me and I like to be happy whenever and wherever I am eating.
When I cook, I am always happy and food for me should be an extension of one’s happiness and positivity.
I say all of this because I am giving Spicy Lanka a 5 star rating after my second visit. The food, is just outstanding – coupled with impeccable service and a wholesome family atmosphere, I feel as though I am with family. I am happy!
The hostess, knowing that I was not happy with my Devil’s Chicken from my last visit promised to make amends and boy did she come through (compliments to the chef). It was as spicy as Devil’s Chicken could be. I polished it off! But I was sweating
When one of my dishes came out a bit too early for me, the hostess had no problems taking it back and keeping it warm for me. That right there is outstanding service! It is these rare JEMS like Spicy Lanka that I search for throughout the 5 boroughs.
This one is a keeper and am reluctantly sharing it. Try it you’ll like it. Dishes that I had tonight include:
Devils Chicken
Curry King Fish
Okra, Eggplant, Dhal, Pickles and Rice.
All top notch.