Step into this vividly adorned Sri Lankan gem where generous buffets and mouthwatering dishes like Lamprais promise an unforgettable culinary adventure.
"At Lakruwana’s all-you-can-eat, BYOB, $20.99 weekend buffet, we once observed a table of men washing down bites of pork curry with whiskey and coke at noon, and we wondered why we spend Saturdays doing anything else. On weekends, there's often a line for lunch at this Stapleton Heights spot, but once you get a table you will be faced with one and a half hours of pure, unadulterated buffet time. Fill up your plate with Sri Lankan dishes like egg curry, deviled chicken, dal, and a particularly great but easy-to-miss, melty eggplant, which is usually towards the end of the line of warm clay pots." - willa moore
"The knockout Lakruwana is one of several Staten Island Sri Lankan restaurants. It is also one of the most unique restaurants in New York. When the weather allows, take the Staten Island Ferry (itself a completely fun NYC experience), or rope in a friend with a car, and head here. There’s is an all-you-can-eat buffet and the space looks like it's straight out of an antique mall." - Emma Orlow, Eater Staff
"Lakruwana on Staten Island might have the best AYCE deal of anywhere on this guide, but it’s only available on the weekends. For $20.99, this bright, lantern-filled Sri Lankan spot offers a buffet laid out with exceptional pork curry, several vegetable dishes, dal, and more. The buffet is on from 12:30-9:30pm, and if you show up at a peak meal time, there will probably be wait. Thanks to a 90-minute time limit, it shouldn’t be too long, and you can reward your patience by eating your weight in egg curry and eggplant under the watchful eye of a Buddha statue. Lakruwana is also BYOB, so bring a bottle of champagne to make your own mimosas." - will hartman, willa moore, neha talreja, bryan kim
"Most South Asian restaurants no longer offer all-you-can-eat lunchtime deals, but Staten Islander Lakruwana is a holdout. The buffet, deposited in a series of ceramic and wooden pots that snake around the walls of the space, includes at least 20 dishes, breads, and condiments. It’s $20.99 for lunch and dinner." - Eater Staff
"Staten Island is home to a number of stellar Sri Lankan restaurants (many within a short distance of the ferry stop). Lakruwana excels at dishes that combine a bounty of herbs and spices, such as the green chili-spiked kothu roti (a popular street-food dish where flaky flatbread is often stir-fried with eggs) or a salty-and-sour lassi. Reservations are required for outdoor dining." - Tanay Warerkar, Bao Ong
