There is one problem in Sri Lanka: almost everything in the local cafes is peppered.
I don’t like spicy food, and for a long time I couldn’t find a place where I could eat normally and without fire in my mouth. Surprisingly, the solution was found in Unawatuna.
Here I found at least three places with Russian cuisine, and it was a real salvation. There are many restaurants in Unawatuna in general, but I’ll start with the Russians, in case you, like me, want to eat “at home.”
Russian cuisine: three places that really give delicious food
1) Okroshka
Borscht, noodles, dumplings, pancakes.
I ate pancakes and homemade noodles there — I especially liked the pancakes, they are delicious.
Do not include 10% of the service fee in the bill.
Okroshka, Unawatuna
Okroshka, Unawatuna menu
Inside Okroshka Restaurant, Unawatuna
2) Buckwheat
Borscht, noodles, dumplings, buckwheat with various additives.
I liked borscht (rating 8 out of 10) and buckwheat with chicken — delicious and homemade.
Include 10% of the service fee in the bill.
Buckwheat, Unawatuna
Buckwheat Restaurant, Unawatuna
3) Kebab House No.1
Here I always took draniki and salad. Russian guests also love baked fish. The hosts are very kind to all the guests. It’s such a homely place.
Do not include 10% of the service fee in the bill.
Menu Kebab Shop 1, Unawatuna
Kebab Shop 1, Unawatuna
The menu in these restaurants is local, but the food is very similar to normal European cuisine. It’s rare for Sri Lanka to find places where you can eat Russian or European cuisine without spiciness and without surprises in the form of pepper.
What else is there in Unawatuna
There are simply too many cafes on this street. There are:
- Indian cuisine
- Thai
- Swiss
- seafood restaurants
- teahouse
- dozens of tourist cafes
But I don’t particularly like Asian cuisine, and I’m afraid of Japanese cuisine in Sri Lanka – I have doubts about sanitation when working with raw fish. That’s why I chose mostly European and neutral locations.
4. Koha Surf Lounge is a place that I definitely recommend
One of the best establishments in Unawatuna. Very clean, modern, beautiful food service, pleasant staff. There is often a queue.
What we tried — everything was delicious:
- fried tuna with vegetables,
- bowls,
- good coffee (including alternative milk).
Prices are slightly above the average on the street, but quite adequate. This place is definitely worth a visit.
Include 10% of the service fee in the bill.
Koha Surf Lounge, Unawatuna
Inside Koha Surf Lounge, Unawatuna
5. Budget food at the ROTI SHOP
Opposite the restaurant Okroshka there is a small eatery with a sign “ROTI SHOP“. There’s almost always a queue.
Pancakes are huge and specific, but many people love them.
I took rice with chicken/rice with egg there several times. The price is 1000-1200 LKR, which is about 300-350 rubles.
Compared to the neighboring cafes, it is twice as cheap. The food is delicious, fresh and without pepper (if you ask).
Do not include 10% of the service fee in the bill.
ROTI SHOP, Unawatuna
Inside the ROTI SHOP, Unawatuna
6. Coconut ice cream in Bitter Bean
Of all the street ice cream shops, I chose only one place — Bitter Bean.
They make ice cream with coconut milk right in front of you: pour coconut milk, add toppings, freeze on a cold stove and roll up.
The price is about 1000-1200 LKR, that is, about 300 rubles.
I’m allergic to lactose, so this place has become a godsend.
Where to buy products (including imported ones)
If you need to buy normal food, imported products, cheese, yoghurts or French bread, it is better to go to Devata.
Seafood Food City Supermarket
A large supermarket is much better than the small shops on the streets of Unawatuna.
There are:
- imported products,
- a normal selection of fruits and vegetables,
- pastries,
- goods that are almost non-existent in small Sri Lankan shops.
Many people who live in Galle and Unawatuna go there.
French bakery Baguette French Bakery Café
There is a French bakery next to the Seafair Food City.
Good French bread, baguettes, croissants.
Important: you need to come in the morning. The bread usually ends after 13:00.
Where to eat in Unawatuna: my personal recommendations
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A remark about local cuisine and “non-spicy” dishes
As I wrote above, in Sri Lanka, almost all food is peppered, and this is really a big problem if you don’t like spicy food. Sri Lankans are sure that if they “add a little bit of pepper”, then no one will notice – but in fact, the sharpness is always felt.
In the early days, I used to say in every restaurant: “not spicy, please”, but they brought me spicy anyway. There were small chilies everywhere, which they consider the norm.
Over time, I’ve developed a strategy that really works.:
- I say several times in a row: “no spicy”, “no spicy”, “pepper zero”, “zero pepper”
- I look a person in the eye, to make sure he understands
- and sometimes I add the phrase: “If you bring something spicy, I won’t pay.”
After that, they start to be more attentive.
It’s not because they want to cheat, it’s just that they really don’t control what the cook puts in, or they consider their level of sharpness to be “soft.”
There are no problems with this in Russian restaurants in Unawatuna — they really cook without pepper.
But in local and tourist cafes, this topic is repeated all the time, so it’s better to immediately voice everything harshly and clearly.
