As I just visited Sri Lanka, the first thing I did back home was try to find a Sri Lankan restaurant to make sure I could eat my new favorite dish again: Kottu!

Kottu is chopped flatbread (roti) mixed and mashed together with vegetables (and fish/ chicken/…)  and lots of aromatic spices. Together with a fresh mango lassi I immediately felt like I was back in Sri Lanka.

But it’s not just the food that makes this place authentic. It’s the whole atmosphere: plastic tables and chairs, flashing fairy lights and a lot of kitsch. In Europe you would call it a snack bar but those who have been to India or Sri Lanka know: it’s exactly what a local restaurant looks like.

The curry is always a good choice because you don’t just get a curry. It always comes with rice, dhal, papadam and two more side dishes like vegetables or potatoes. Also, the coconut roti and the typical Sri Lankan coconut chutney (sambol) are must ties.