There are a number of restaurants that cater for all tastes in and around Hikkaduwa. And many places are good for a drink too, you can literally bar and restaurant hop most of the way down the beach. With there being so many places to choose from, here are a few of the places we highly recommend: -
Funky de Bar - Probably the best English Breakfast on the beach and a BBQ every night, you can choose from fish caught that day, or try one their amazing baguettes.
Harbour - An amazing schnitzel menu, great coffee and their arrack chicken is a must try. They also offer a great seafood menu.
Harmony - with a massive choice on their menu, and a lovely chilled out vibe in their restaurant.
You should also try roti, similar to pancakes filled with savoury or sweet fillings. The roti shops are abit like kebab shops back home open until very very late!
Rice and curry, boiled rice with curried vegetable, shaped with spices is the typical Sri Lankan food. It can be served as lunch and dinner or sometimes as breakfast as well. Sri Lankan curries are usually hot and spicy, but demands for softening its taste can be done to cater tourists' palates, especially the Westerners'.
Fruits are also abounding in Sri Lanka owing to its sub-tropical climate. Mangoes, papayas, bananas, jackfruits, durians, rambutans, mangosteens, to name just a few, can be found everywhere in local markets according to seasons.
The seafood is in abundance, fish and seafood is caught daily from the Ocean. The Jumbo Devilled Prawns are amazing in both size and flavour. If you are a seafood lover, you will be in your element, as the variety available is phenomenal. Western Foods are available throughout Sri Lanka, in the larger towns and tourist destinations. Hikkaduwa has a wide range of restaurants serving western food, the pizza’s in Spaghetti & Co as stoned baked, and delicious.
Dining Etiquette Sri Lankan’s say that its only by eating with the fingers that you can fully enjoy the flavour combinations from the different curries - and its true. To eat Sri Lankan style start by ladling a heap of rice onto your plate, followed by the desired quantities of the different curries, then delve in with the ends of your fingers, make sure you use the right hand, and mix things up a bit to mingle the flavours. With the aid of your thumb mix a mouthful size of food lift with the same finger ends, slightly cupped and push it into your mouth with the thumb. Try not to let the food pass the middle of your knuckles. A finger bowl will appear for you to wash your fingers when you have finished.
There are a number of parties that take place on the beach and jungle side each week, you can party from sunset to Sunrise! and most nights you will be able to find a bar with a party vibe where you can drink until the last person goes home. Lion beer is the local brew, which is popular with tourist and Carlsberg is also widely available. The local Spirit is Arrack distilled from coconuts... Remember what you did last night?!