How Spicy Is Sri Lankan Food, Really?

The honest answer about Sri Lankan heat, what to order if you are cautious, and why the spice is not there to hurt you.

People ask this before they order and they are usually bracing for bad news. The honest answer: yes, traditionally it is spicier than most Indian restaurant food served in Canada. But that is a much smaller problem than you think.

Why it runs hotter

Sri Lankan cooking uses more chilli than most South Indian cooking, and it uses roasted curry powder, which tastes more intense even at the same heat level. There is also less dairy in the food. Indian cuisine leans on cream and yoghurt to soften heat. Sri Lankan cuisine uses coconut milk instead, which rounds heat rather than muting it.

The heat is not the point

This is the bit worth understanding. The chilli is not there to make you suffer, it is there for balance against the coconut, the sourness of tamarind and the depth of the roasted spice. Take the heat out entirely and the dish tastes flat, not milder.

What to order if you are cautious

Biryani. It is aromatic rather than hot, and it is the safest thing on any South Asian menu. After that, a coconut-heavy curry or a dhal, which is soft and comforting. Avoid devilled dishes on your first visit, they are the spiciest things on the menu and they are meant to be.

Just ask for mild

Any kitchen worth eating at will adjust the heat for you. This is normal and nobody is judging you. Say mild, and mean it, and you will get food you can actually enjoy.

The middle path

Order one mild dish and one at full heat and share. You get to taste what the food is actually supposed to be without committing your whole meal to it. This is what we would recommend to almost anyone trying Sri Lankan food for the first time.

Come try it

We are a family-run halal Sri Lankan and Indian kitchen in Scarborough and we will happily cook to your heat level. Read our guide to the best Sri Lankan dishes to try, or if you are feeding a mixed group, see how we handle catering, where we always include a mild option.