Forgive the quirks, the fiery Sri Lankan food at Kurrypinch is special - Review - Los Angeles - The Infatuation
"During a recent meal at Kurrypinch, a cute Sri Lankan spot in East Hollywood, we watched two servers argue over whether our table was in their section. Another night, bedlam broke out at the host stand when we showed up for an early dinner without a reservation, even though the place was all but empty. Dishes tend to land all at once, or take forever to arrive. At most restaurants, these hiccups would probably be red flags. At Kurrypinch, they’re tolerable quirks. Because once we tasted the fiery, aromatic, spice-rich cooking here, we realized it would take nothing less than a trayful of mango lassi dumped in our lap to keep us from returning to Kurrypinch regularly (that last example never happened, to be clear). photo credit: Jessie Clapp photo credit: Jessie Clapp photo credit: Jessie Clapp photo credit: Jessie Clapp Pause Unmute The menu at Kurrypinch is split between traditional Sri Lankan staples and more interpretative dishes labeled “chef’s signatures.” The best move is to order a few from each section. On the traditional side, there's the superb kottu roti, a fragrant flatbread stir-fry with the heartiness of Thanksgiving stuffing. We once witnessed three friends fight over the last bite like bratty triplets. On the fusion-y side, there's soft-poached mahi mahi decorated with fried onions over a curry-laced risotto that tastes like what would have happened if Marco Polo had carted coconut cream back to Italy. Compared to Valley strip mall Sri Lankan spots like Apey Kade and Baja Subs, Kurrypinch’s space is decidedly polished—there’s a wraparound bar if you and a date want to drink riesling or tamarind micheladas—but the dining room has enough folksy touches to give it a sense of home. And most noticeably, prices are reasonable. Entrees hover around $25 and are large enough to feed two adults, meaning you can get dinner for less than $50 per person and still have a bag of leftovers to show for it. Just don’t expect anybody to box them up for you. Food Rundown Drinks Kurrypinch has a solid selection of beer, wine, and a few cocktails like pomelo rum punch with pandan, but our favorite drinks are the non-alcoholic ones. The fresh avocado smoothie has a scoop of vanilla ice cream floating on top, and the mango lassi acts as a cooling security blanket if you decide to order the chicken curry “Lankan spicy.” photo credit: Jessie Clapp Mackerel Croquettes Our favorite of the appetizers. These crunchy fried golf balls are filled with a mix of flaked white fish, potatoes, pandan leaves, and a bold assortment of spices. Split each ball in half and smear with the peppery hot sauce on the side for an added heat boost. photo credit: Jessie Clapp Deviled Chicken Prepare for fajita-level ASMR when this sizzling plate of chile-rubbed fried chicken chunks is dropped off. Also, get ready to burn your mouth because you didn’t have the patience for it to cool before you started eating. photo credit: Brant Cox Kotu Rotti The best dish at Kurrypinch and a required order every visit. The chopped roti and vegetables come stir-fried with egg and a choice of protein, and we usually go with the spicy lamb. It’s a bold, aromatic hodgepodge of textures and flavor that will yield zero leftovers. photo credit: Jessie Clapp Coconut Chickpea Compared to most dishes here, this curry is relatively mild and straightforward. But it’s also delicious. Order this when you or someone you care about has already gone through two napkins from forehead sweat alone. photo credit: Jessie Clapp String Hopper Pilau On its own, this platter of fluffy, hair-like noodles is a bit boring. Luckily, it comes with a spicy curry of your choice (we like the slightly sweet shrimp) that wallops your lips like an MMA fighter. photo credit: Jessie Clapp Coconut Milk Risotto With Baked Mahi Mahi Even with its descriptive name, there’s no preparing for the decadence of this dish. The inch-thick filet of buttery fish is covered with a nest of fried onions and smoky housemade chili oil. Below that is a bed of lush arborio rice cooked down with coconut until it's thicker than your favorite aunt’s mac and cheese. photo credit: Jessie Clapp Kurry Beef Sandwich Yes, those are curly fries. At a Sri Lankan restaurant. And they’re good. The sandwich itself is fine, but if you ask nicely, your server might bring out a side of just fries. photo credit: Brant Cox" - Brant Cox
