Hi! Lanka provided me with my first taste of Sri Lankan Food. Of course, this food is not easy to find in this part of the country and I was pleasantly surprised when I came to know about this little eatery tucked into a small market opposite Uniworld City in Sector 31 Gurgaon.

The restaurant is small, as are the majority of eateries in this part of the town. It is mainly a delivery or take-away counter with open-air seating for the occasional guest who would like to have food right as it is cooked. The chefs have been specially trained by Sri Lankan professionals and they cook your grub right in front of you on very large hot plates. The skill with which they chop up the Kothu Roti is simply a treat to watch!

For me, Sri Lankan food is kind of a cross between Thai and South Indian food.  But it’s got its own style and dishes not found in other cuisines. The menu here at Hi! Lanka is short and concise but does the job of taking you ond a trip of savoring the most popular dishes the little beautiful island country has to offer. The most popular item on the menu is the Sri Lankan Roll (also called the Sri Lankan Chinese Roll – really!). You also have Cutlets which are served with Hi Lanka’s speciality sauce. The other few things on the menu include Stuffed Roti and the String Hopper Kothu. All these dishes have vegetarian and chicken, mutton, fish and prawn options.

And of course you have the famous Kothu Roti. It is actually freshly made Sri Lankan Godhamba Roti  chopped and mixed with a curry made from Lankan curry powder, chopped onions, carrots, fresh green chillies and tossed together with fresh farm eggs and a dash of oil. Overall, spicy and ridiculously mouth watering tasty. I’m now officially and eternally a fan of all things Sri Lankan.

One piece of advice – if you want spicy, and I do mean SPICY, this is your place. And for the faint hearted, please make sure that you have a bottle of water right next to you when you start off with your meal or ask the chef to make it less spicy!

The prices are good too – per person, it would set you off by close to Rs 250 but it is totally worth the buck. They also have a weekend barbeque night, where for Rs 300, you get unlimited servings of most of what they have on offer in the menu (and some other Sri Lankan delicacies they cook especially for these nights). Try out the Sri Lankan devilled sausages too. It is very unique in taste.

The restaurant is owned by Sri Lankan and Indian food enthusiasts, and they know what they are doing. They have started opening Hi! Lanka kiosks all over town. For example, you can sample some of their fare if you are in Spencers Hyper Store on the MG Road.

Also check out Hi Lanka’s page at Foodiebay: http://www.foodiebay.com/ncr/restaurant/gurgaon/hi-lanka-sector-31-2194.html

- Deepinder