Top 5 Seafood Restaurants in Colombo Sri Lanka - Island food at its best

A tiny hole-in-the-wall restaurant that serves up the best spicy crab curry in Colombo. Yarl Eat House is one of those dependable places that has survived for decades thanks to its great food. Situated on Station Road - Wellawatte, it’s hard to spot if you’re casually passing by and looks more than a little doge, but don’t be fooled by its small size or dimly lit location, the crab served here packs plenty of juicy meat and bags of flavour. The food is cheap and plentiful; a plate of crabs generally comes with either rice or roti, served with three to four vegetable curries and chutney. Aside from crabs, Yarl’s also serves up fat prawns swimming in thick gravy and a spicy cuttlefish curry.

A beachfront restaurant, located in the suburbs of Colombo, the Station serves up a tasty combination of Sri Lankan, Chinese and Thai cuisine, but the stand out dish is the hot butter cuttlefish! For the uninitiated, hot butter cuttlefish is strips of tender cuttlefish (calamari) fried in a light, crispy batter, and seasoned with the perfect blend of spices. A plate of delectable hot butter cuttlefish and a cold beer is the perfect way to end a busy day, and the Station provides both. Do note the Station is a popular restaurant for families in the area and can get crowded during the weekends. It is advised to reserve a table if you’re going on a weekend.

Not only is this one of the best restaurants in Colombo, it is also one of Asia’s top 50 for the year 2018! Nihonbashi serves up the best Japanese food in the country, especially when it comes to fresh sushi. Located in the heart of Colombo, Nihonbashi is the brainchild of renowned chef Dharshan Munidasa and is best known for its excellent tuna, which they apparently get straight from the fisheries before the rest are exported to Japan. The menu at Nihonbashi includes everything from the most delectable cuts of sashimi and crispy tempura to exotic eleven-course meals served with your choice of sake or wine. The restaurant’s setting features a zen-like an ambience complete with a rock garden and bamboo walls. Private dining rooms are available, plus, there’s a Yakitori Garden outside if you want to have a cold beer al-fresco before heading inside to feast.

While the best seafood in Colombo is invariably the slow-cooked kind served at most restaurants like Rare at Residence for instance, but if you are in a rush, then head over to the Manhattan Fish Market for reliable, fast seafood. The prices here are on the expensive side when compared to other fast-food franchises but, the food is fresh, tasty and filling. You can choose from an array of seafood including scallops and dory, served either baked or fried, and accompanied with steamed rice or bread, vegetables and French fries. Located in Colombo 3, its central location makes it a top lunch choice for shoppers and workers in the area, so you can expect it to be quite busy during most days. If you’re going with a large group, reserve a table ahead.

A seafood restaurant and bar, this is one of those unique places where the seafood is so fresh, it's still moving. Diners have their choice from an assortment of lobsters in a tank, choose how they want it cooked, and then order sides and sauces to accompany it. Prices can vary depending on the weight, but the portion sizes are large and worth paying a bit more for if you want something fresh. Side dishes including steak fries, Cajun cauliflower, and crab infused mac-n-cheese among others. The restaurant also has an extensive wine selection, with over 250 American and French wines, specially picked to compliment the seafood.