Delicate nests of steamed rice flour noodles, traditionally served for breakfast or dinner with coconut gravy and sambol.
4 top-rated spots found
Palmyrah Restaurant
Red & White String Hopper Set with Mutton Paal Poriyal
Jaffna Sri Lankan
Β· $$$
Β· Kollupitiya (Colombo 03)
β β β β Β½ 4.4
1,250 reviews
ClassicLocal LegendAuthentic
9.6
Flavor
7.8
Value
8.5
Vibe
Widely considered the gold standard for Northern Sri Lankan cuisine in the capital, Palmyrah has maintained generational recipes for over 40 years. Their string hoppers are prized for their delicate, non-sticky texture and are best paired with their legendary Jaffna Crab Curry or Mutton Paal Poriyal.
π 328 Galle Rd, Colombo 00300, Sri Lanka Β· View on Maps
Upali's by Nawaloka
String Hopper Set with Pol Sambol & Kiri Hodi
Traditional Sri Lankan
Β· $$
Β· Cinnamon Gardens (Colombo 07)
β β β β Β½ 4.5
2,100 reviews
ClassicFamily FavoriteConsistent
9.2
Flavor
8.5
Value
8.8
Vibe
Upali's is the go-to for 'homely' Sri Lankan food served in a refined setting. Their string hoppers are consistently soft and fresh, served with what many locals consider the best Pol Sambol in the cityβperfectly balanced in lime and spice.
π 65 C.W.W. Kannangara Mawatha, Colombo 00700, Sri Lanka Β· View on Maps
Saraswathie Lodge
Fresh Steamed String Hopper Set (Vegetarian)
South Indian / Tamil Vegetarian
Β· $
Β· Bambalapitiya (Colombo 04)
β β β β β 4.2
950 reviews
Local LegendHidden GemBudget Friendly
9.4
Flavor
9.8
Value
6.2
Vibe
This is the quintessential 'saivar kade' experience. The string hoppers are steamed in massive batches and served piping hot. It is a high-volume, no-frills spot where the freshness of the product is guaranteed by the sheer speed of turnover.
π 191 Galle Rd, Colombo 00400, Sri Lanka Β· View on Maps
New Banana Leaf
String Hopper Biryani
Sri Lankan Fusion
Β· $$
Β· Kollupitiya (Colombo 03)
β β β β β 4.0
1,013 reviews
Local LegendSpicyMust Try
8.9
Flavor
9.2
Value
5.8
Vibe
While most places serve string hoppers as a bread substitute, New Banana Leaf is famous for transforming them into a main event. Their String Hopper Biryani is a cult favorite, featuring delicate noodle nests infused with rich biryani aromatics and served on a traditional banana leaf.
π 720 Galle Rd, Colombo 00300, Sri Lanka Β· View on Maps