Kotuwa

Sri Lankan restaurant · Institution Hill ·

Kotuwa

Sri Lankan restaurant · Institution Hill ·

Street food, curries, crab dishes, and hoppers with bold flavors

Information

46 Kim Yam Rd, New Bahru, #01-03 School Block, Singapore 239351 Get directions

@michelinguide

48,244 Postcards · 8,023 Cities

"Moved to this spot in 2024, Kotuwa is named after the CBD of Colombo. From quintessential Sri Lankan street food to curries, every bite is loaded with big flavours. Seafood is their strong suit, especially crab prepared in myriad ways. With its balanced, layered flavours and the subtle warmth of cinnamon, the crab curry really stands out. Hoppers – crispy pancakes made with fermented rice – are perfect for mopping up the delicious curry sauce." - Michelin Inspector

https://guide.michelin.com/en/singapore-region/singapore/restaurant/kotuwa

Kotuwa

@michelinguide

48,244 Postcards · 8,023 Cities

10 MICHELIN Guide Hotels in Singapore with MICHELIN Guide Restaurants

"Anchoring the ground floor of Wanderlust, this Bib Gourmand Sri Lankan restaurant is dedicated to the culinary treasures of Colombo and excels in seafood, especially a range of crab creations. The crab curry dazzles with harmonious, intricate flavours elevated by cinnamon, best savoured with hoppers—crisp rice pancakes—and paired with cocktails bright with fruity notes, aromatic herbs, or Sri Lankan spirits, each named after mythical creatures from Sri Lankan folklore." - Mikka Wee

https://guide.michelin.com/en/article/dining-out/michelin-hotels-with-michelin-guide-restaurants-singapore

Kotuwa

@silverkris

10,029 Postcards · 2,272 Cities

Meet the Neighbours: Little India, Singapore - SilverKris

"A Michelin-starred Sri Lankan restaurant that represents a contemporary, high-end take on the neighbourhood’s dining scene, offering celebrated Sri Lankan cuisine and elevating Little India’s culinary profile with fine-dining credentials." - Lester V. Ledesma

https://silverkris.singaporeair.com/inspiration/arts-culture/heritage/neighbourhood-spotlight-little-india-singapore/

Kotuwa

@silverkris

10,029 Postcards · 2,272 Cities

3 charismatic hotels in colourful neighbourhoods - SilverKris

"The hotel’s on-site restaurant is helmed by a chef formerly of a Michelin-starred establishment and serves robust Sri Lankan flavours, making it a key draw for guests seeking high-quality, locally inspired cuisine without leaving the property." - Levin Tan and Joshua Zukas

https://silverkris.singaporeair.com/inspiration/hotels-resorts/hotels/hotels-asia-trendy-neighbourhoods/

Kotuwa

@silverkris

10,029 Postcards · 2,272 Cities

Home-cooking recipes by top chefs from around the world - SilverKris

"A celebration of Sri Lanka’s robust and vibrant dining culture led by Rishi Naleendra, who draws on childhood memories of curries, sambols and preserves. The family-inspired prawn curry is a nostalgia-laden signature at home: it uses prawn heads and shells for a toasted, spiced base with lemongrass, curry and pandan leaves, tamarind and coconut milk, finishing with lime; it’s intensely flavorful with leftovers adaptable as a pasta sauce." - Vanessa Tai

https://silverkris.singaporeair.com/inspiration/food-drink/restaurants/home-cooking-top-chefs/

Kotuwa

Vinny

Google

Never tried Sri Lankan food before. Definitely a unique food experience. A bit on the spicy side, but manageable for those who can take mild spice. Some dishes resemblance of Indian dishes, but most have their unique difference. Worth a try in a group so you can order more to share. Ambiance is Mello for nice dinner, but you can see the hustle and bustle of kitchen and staff running around. Unfortunately, the wine and drinks are on the pricy side. For average to below average wine will be $130. Decent to above will be $300+. 1:1 corkage.

Mano R.

Google

Kotuwa by Chef Rishi Naleendra delivered an incredible dining experience — easily one of the most memorable meals I’ve had in Singapore. The food is bold, vibrant, and deeply flavorful, with every dish showing layers of spice and balance that make Sri Lankan cuisine so special. I had the Jaffna Duck Curry, Kaju Curry, Malu Baduma, assorted croquettes, and hoppers — each one excellent in its own way. The duck curry was rich and aromatic, with tender meat and perfectly balanced spice. The Kaju Curry was creamy and comforting, the Malu Baduma beautifully seasoned and full of character, while the croquettes were crisp and bursting with flavor. The hoppers tied everything together — light, delicate, and the ideal companion to all the curries. The ambiance was lively yet cozy, with warm lighting, great music, and attentive service that made the experience even better. The staff were friendly and knowledgeable, and the whole vibe felt inviting without being formal. It was also my first time at the New Bahru area — such a pleasant surprise with its creative, laid-back energy that pairs perfectly with Kotuwa’s food. Definitely a must-visit spot in Singapore. Make sure to reserve ahead — it’s absolutely worth it.

Geneieve Sarah T.

Google

Heard that the food here was good so I decided to try it out for an occasion! Overall, portions size was just nice and I really enjoyed the flavours in every dish but there were a few standouts: ⭐️ Matti (one of my favs) which is Venus clams cooked in coconut and curry leaves butter — honestly would come back for this ⭐️ Mali Kirata (another one of my favs) crispy fish in yellow curry other stuff we ordered: - Poricha ercha, fried beef cheek - Lamb shank - Egg hoppers - having been to Sri Lanka before, this was good but expensive for a street food item - Condiments: pol sambol, seeni sambol and wambatu moju - Yellow rice - was enough for my table of 4, goes great with the dishes

Daniel B.

Google

Let’s start with the food is really good. Coming in here, you are bombarded by the scent of the spices and I was immediately craving for rice and curry. The staff would not recommend rice but their roti instead but I think you can’t go wrong ordering at least a half bowl. The curry in their dish is just so yummy, goes really well with rice. Also their rice portion is big, the half bowl portion was enough for me. The duck curry, pork ribs and cashew nuts are especially amazing. Remember to get them all!

Pavithra J.

Google

I went to kotuwa with my friends from different countries who were eagerly waited to try Sri Lankan food. We all loved hoppers and egg hopers, but needed to buy condiments separately for hoppers. Loved crab cutlets and watalappan too. And it’s usual to suggest kottu as a must try Sri Lankan food. But for a surprise chicken kottu was not good as I expected. I didn’t feel like it was a Sri Lankan kottu. Jackfruit kottu was good compared to chicken kottu. And condiments were flavorful. For their prices I think food quality must be better.

Stephanie H.

Google

We went there for a dinner. It’s a pretty small facility and all the tables are pretty tightly appointed. The food was okay. Nothing extraordinary that would make us go there again. The lamb shank was average. We have had better at regular restaurants. Considering Kotuwa is a Michelin recommended restaurant, we were not that impressed. The service was average as well. We would have appreciated if they had cared to change our plates after the appetizers. But we used the same plates for the appetizers and the main course. Not Michelin standard. Overall, it’s worth a visit to go there once if you never had a Sri Lankan food before. But nothing out of the ordinary. I would rather go to one of the Indian restaurants instead. The prices don’t match the quality either. It was pretty disappointing.

Google

Really enjoyed my meal here. Flavors were strong and balanced. Every dish tasted great. The crab was meaty and fresh, but honestly you’re not missing out if you try the other mains too. Good service throughout.

Anju P.

Google

Several veg options. Food is very very spicy even if ask for less spicy version. Music is too loud and apparently volume cannot be turned down. While the service staff are very good, the staff at the entrance are unfriendly and almost make you feel unwelcome. The restaurant has only 3 desserts, no cakes. If you bring an outside cake for a celebration, they charge a “cake-age” fee of $16. No soft drinks are available.