What does kottu roti mean?

The name refers to the chopping action and sound of cutting godamba roti on a hot griddle with two metal blades.

Godamba roti chopped with egg, onions, leeks, carrot, spiced gravy and your choice of meat.

It can be. We cook it to your preferred heat, mild to hot.

Where did kottu roti come from?

It is usually traced to Batticaloa on Sri Lanka's east coast in the 1970s.

Is kottu the same as kothu parotta?

They are related. Kothu parotta is the South Indian version made with parotta; Sri Lankan kottu uses godamba roti.

Do you make cheese kottu?

It is not on our menu. Our Kottu Roti is $13 with an egg omelette.

What Is Kottu Roti?

A Sri Lankan street food of chopped flatbread stir-fried with egg, vegetables and meat. Here is how it is made.

Kottu roti (also spelled kottu, kothu or kottu roti) is a Sri Lankan street food made by chopping flatbread on a hot griddle with egg, vegetables, spice and meat. The name comes from the chopping: "kottu" refers to the sound and action of the two metal blades cutting the roti on the griddle.

How it is made

A cook starts with godamba roti, a thin, stretchy flatbread. On a hot flat griddle they add oil, onions, leeks, carrot, egg, a spiced gravy and the meat, then chop everything together with two blades until the roti is cut into small pieces and coated in flavour. It is served hot, straight off the griddle.

What it tastes like

Savoury, a bit chewy from the roti, with spice you can dial up or down. It is a full meal on its own. Common versions are chicken, mutton, egg or vegetable.

Try ours

We make kottu fresh to order on weekends, for pickup or Uber Eats delivery in range. All meat is HMA-certified halal.

How to get it

New to kottu? Start with chicken, medium heat. We are a weekend kitchen, so pickup is from our Scarborough location on Saturday and Sunday, 12 to 5. If you are inside our Uber Eats delivery range, we can also drop it at your door.

Order on Uber Eats for delivery in range.
Call or text (647) 449-2924 to set up weekend pickup.
Feeding a group? Ask about halal catering in Scarborough.

Kottu at Blessed Kitchen

Our Kottu Roti is $13 and comes with an egg omelette. It is chopped to order on the griddle with godamba roti, egg, vegetables and curry gravy. Chicken is standard; ask for beef or mutton. For a party, ask about kottu trays.

Allergy notes

Some of our dishes contain egg (kottu, egg masala, watalappan), dairy (yogurt sambal), fish (maasi sambal is made with dried Maldives fish) and nuts (green pea cashew curry). If anyone has an allergy, tell us when you order and we will tell you what to avoid.

Where kottu came from

Kottu is generally said to have started in the east of Sri Lanka, around Batticaloa, in the 1970s, as a way to use up leftover roti. It spread quickly through roadside stalls and is now eaten across the island, by every community, mostly in the evening.

A short kottu glossary

Kottu, kothu, koththu: all the same dish, spelled differently. "Kothu" is closer to the Tamil.
Godamba roti: the thin, stretchy flatbread that gets chopped.
Cheese kottu: a newer version with melted cheese stirred through. We do not list it.
Dolphin kottu: roti cut into larger strips instead of small pieces. We do not list it either.
Kothu parotta: the South Indian cousin, made with layered parotta instead of godamba roti.

How people eat it

Kottu is eaten with a spoon or fork, straight from the plate. Many people like a little extra curry gravy on the side to add as they go. A cold drink helps; in Toronto that is usually a Mango Lassi ($6). Kottu is a meal in itself, so you do not need rice alongside.

Kottu vs fried rice

Both are stir-fried on high heat with egg and vegetables, and both are evening favourites in Sri Lanka. Fried rice (from $20 with chilli chicken) is lighter and travels better. Kottu is heavier, chewier and best eaten fresh. Read more in kottu roti explained.