Sigiri

Warning: this unassuming eatery will ruin you for all future Sri Lankan food. Their black pork curry, chicken lamprais, appams and string hoppers are ridiculously flavorful, with spice levels tailored to your taste buds' whims. BYOB? No problem - grab beers from the bodega down the street. Ambiance? Who needs it when the food's this good? Just don't forget your wallet (cash only, folks!). We revisited after years and left wondering why we ever stayed away. come for the curry, stay for the food coma!

I'm so glad a friend who is from Sri Lanka suggested Sigiri! Service was fast because I ate here on a weekday and it was early in the evening. My Nelli (Indian Gooseberry) Sri Lankan Cordial tasted like kiwi and mint. I would get the Chicken Biryani on the regular it was that fantastic-the chicken leg was crisp on the outside and tender on the inside. There was more chicken and a boiled egg under the rice! The saffron and raisins enhanced the flavors of the herbs! The Watalappam shocked me. It wasn't what I expected, but the cinnamon, nutmeg, and cardamom made the dessert enjoyable. I'll be back! Be mindful that it is cash payment only when you are preparing to dine in.

Sigiri offers authentic Sri Lankan cuisine with bold, flavorful dishes. From spicy curries to hoppers and kottu roti, the food is a delicious exploration of Sri Lankan flavors. It's a great spot for a unique and satisfying culinary experience

I've been wanting to go here for years and finally got the chance when I was in town and I walked an hour from my hotel. It was totally worth it and the crab curry is phenomenal. The staff was super friendly and had a nice chat. I got some chicken lamprais to go even to try it. It wasn't as good as the crab curry but that would be a tall feat to match. I can't wait to go again when I'm in town. The only thing is that I would order mild as the spice level is pretty high even when I got medium.

This tiny, no-frills spot is tucked away above a specialty foods store, making it so easy to miss. We got the Sri Lankan crab curry, black chicken curry, and aappa. I could tell that the crab was quite fresh because the meat had a nice firmness and a hint of natural sweetness. The curry was thin like a broth. It had decent flavor but lacked the bold intensity I was hoping for. The black chicken curry had tender, bone-in pieces of meat with the flavors infused all throughout but its taste was reminiscent of Chinese herbal medicine that wasn’t really my thing. The aappa had a great contrast in texture: the edges were super crispy and toasty, while the center was soft and fluffy. Taste-wise, I think it needed a bit more coconut flavor to really be notable.

Hot hot hot! Very flavorful and tender meats but the spice really got to me. I ordered the blackened curry and the heat exceeded my expectations. I think I surprised the staff with how I was able to handle the spice. Great place if you like spicy food.

Review from a Sri Lankan: A cute, family-run spot that feels authentic. One of the better Sri Lankan places in NYC, but not the best I’ve had. Service is a bit slow, but understandable for a small place. The mutton curry was mostly bones, but the chicken kothu was solid (don’t order medium or above unless u really can handle spice) Overall: 7/10 – a good intro for someone new to Sri Lankan food.

A Sri Lankan Gem in New York: “Ayubowan,” meaning long life in Sinhala, is a traditional greeting on the island, so at the Sigiri, New York restaurant I’d say “Ayubowan” to a long life of happy bellies in the city. If you are into ethnic dining, Sigiri, New York is the spot for you. Good Lankan food is hard to find internationally but at Sigiri, New York, it’s the real Lankan deal! The cuisine here is so authentic for me as a native Sinhalese lady and journalist/ professor. Simply delicious. Get ready for a spice shot though - the song “Some Like It Hot,” by Robert Palmer should be playing here non stop in rhythm with the dishes you will palate. I’ve travelled the world and dined at the finest Michelin star restaurants and the most humble street hawkers alike, as a journalist and student. When I touched down at Sigiri on the east side of New York my heart was joyous and my tummy on a culinary voyage of simple bliss homeward bound to my roots through to my Kandyan heritage. I recommend the chicken lamprais (a very hearty portion indeed, mildly spiced, with a yummy fish cutlet ) which I savored with relish. Plus the pol (Ceylonese word for coconut) roti is out of this world - simply divine! Try the string hoppers and lentil curry too. These are great options for vegetarians plus vegans. For the pescatarians (and even non pescatarians) the fish cutlets are out of this world - very authentic indeed. I was thrilled to bump into the passiona (passion fruit) cordial as a beverage which is a family favorite. Oh summertime beverage bliss ! The daily rice and curry lunch set is also not to be missed. It’s a great deal to be savoured for only 15 dollars. Two vegetables and one meat or fish combination plate. Served until 330 pm on weekdays only. Top your meal off with a traditional Ceylonese dessert - watalappam. It’s a Sri Lankan crème caramel made with rock palm sugar (jaggery). It’s almost as good as my grandmother’s home made version. Oh the family heritage nostalgia! The staff at Sigiri are warm, welcoming and friendly - a lovely touch of Sri Lankan hospitality in America. Prices range from modest to affordable depending on the seafood or meat ingredients in the dishes you order. Sigiri is an earthy dining spot, nothing fancy, just down to earth and hearty. It’s great for an amazing rice and curry lunch or cosy ethnic dinner. Dine early if possible, as it’s a small restaurant of 15 tables, that fills up on weekends fast. There’s also a bring your own wine or beer policy at the restaurant. I wish you a fabulous dining experience at this little Sri Lankan gem in New York. Enjoy!

I went here to this small cash only Sri Lankan restaurant a while ago while walking home from work. The guy serving was friendly and the food was excellent. I didn't bother with a drink and decided between ordering the Kotthu Roti to compare to the versions at Anjappar/a few other spots but I decided to go with the Chicken Lamprais instead. Said Lamprais was $20 as it was listed as a Dutch Influenced "Special Occasion" dish of flavored rice served with chicken, fish cutlet, deep-fried boiled egg, ash plantain, and eggplant wrapped & baked in a banana leaf to give this dish a unique flavor. This was an excellent take on Lamprais and nicely spicy with a notable amount of chili and black pepper. There was also a bit of sweetness from the ash plantain or cooked eggplant I presume. The piece of chicken there which presumably was cooked as a black curry was very tender while the egg had a nice light fry though I couldn't taste much of the fish cutlet. This was a very good version and I'd go back for it. I also got the Watalappam for dessert for $6 listed as a rich pudding of Malay origin made of coconut milk, brown palm sugar, cashew nuts, eggs, and various spices including cinnamon, cloves cardamom, and nutmeg. While small, the pudding was rich and sweet with some spice presumably primarily from the cinnamon. It was tasty as well. I'm happy that they didn't lower the spice levels and found the food excellent. Would go back with a group of 4 or so and try a bunch of the dishes here.

Mom Lives across the street, didn't know this place existed for 20 years. In any case parked the car in front and just stumbled upon it. It's off street level and easily missed. The place is small, a converted NYC railroad flat, looked worn-out. Ordered Crab Fried Rice, Dhol Vode - lentil patty with traditional Sri Lanka spices and Beef Cutlet - ground beef, veggies and spices, deep fried in batter The fried rice was OK, tasty, fluffy, The Dhol lentil patty, just skip it, more like a week old dried baguette or trying to bite through an ice cube - watch your teeth. Beef Cutlet - where is the beef? The condiments were quite spicy but otherwise this not a memorable meal BTW this is a cash only and BYOB

Great Sri Lankan food. The fish patties were a little dry on the inside but had a great crispy and flaky shell. The vegetable spring rolls were like a samosa on the inside but a mozzarella stick on the outside, very fun. The entree portion sizes were a bit small but delicious. The kotthu roti was my favorite (loved the mix of noodles and rice), but the calamari was also good (and a bit spicy). The black pork curry was also good, but I would've preferred it with rice (which it didn't come with) than the appa the waiter recommended we get with it (as an additional order). I was worried about spice levels, and it was pretty spicy but not unbearable! The place is small but they were kind enough to move some tables to fit our group of six. No line when I got there at 7:30 on a Friday, but it filled up by the end of our dinner. My friends noticed service was slow but I enjoyed being able to take my time.

Reading through the reviews, I feel like too many people are missing the best items on this menu. Must haves on your table are the hot calamari with peppers and scallions as an appetizer + the crab curry with a side of string hoppers for an entree. Getting this plus another rice based dish or the kotthu would be the perfect order for 2 people. The calamari is a sleeper hit, which is like a deluxe version of a basic fried calamari you'd find at an Italian or Mediterranean restaurant with butter, spicy peppers and scallion sauce. Amazing. Crab curry with string hoppers is one of the best value crab dishes in the city and delicious. Can't to wrong!

First time trying Sri Lankan food! Appetizer sampler was pretty good, though I only really enjoyed one which I believe was the fish roll (top). My favorite dishes were the crab fried rice and the hoppers (aappa) which look and taste like thin crepes. You're supposed to pair it with curry but I liked eating it plain.. The chicken lamprais didn't really stick out to me. The chicken curry was a little dry. The kotthu roti was interesting but also didn't really stick out to me. Minus the crab fried rice and hoppers, the rest of the food had overwhelmingly strong spice flavors and it was honestly a little too much for me. I felt like I couldn't really taste the food itself because all I tasted were blends of spices. Idk if that's simply what Sri Lankan cuisine is. If so, then it's probably not my cup of tea (im sorry) but the food seemed to be a hit with everyone else and it's a popular restaurant so I'd say give it a try at least once! The service was fine and the interior is super cozy but a bit cramped. A very tiny spot but feels intimate and more personal in that way appetizer sampler: 8/10 hoppers/aappa: 10/10 crab fried rice: 10/10 chicken lamprais: 7/10 chicken curry: 7/10

Excellent but too spicey. I I am very familiar with spicy food and I've even lived in Sri Lanka. However, there were almost no non-spicy options at this restaurant.

Torn. I give them credit for giving us the space to have fun. Bought out the restaurant for a decent amount. That said, I knew going in that we wouldn't get our money's worth in terms of food. Essentially we built a prix fixe menu but the limits they placed on choices and portions meant we'd easily be ahead if we ordered a la carte. However, I also have to recognize the value of essentially having the entire space for a private party. Food wise, it was solid. But considering the style of food, it's way too limited. That they allowed BYO was a big reason we chose them. All in, it was a good time. Appreciate them putting up with our chaos as we drunkenly watched playoff baseball.

A tiny casual restaurant for Sri Lankan fare in the East Village Because it's on the smaller side, service was a tad slow, but nothing bad. Also, by virtue of being so cramped, the place is on the louder side, and I struggled to hear my friend sometimes. I ordered the Vegetarian Koththu Roti with mild spice, and they took the "mild" request way too seriously, so there was literally no spice in my dish. It was pretty tasty anyways, but don't make my mistake.

Warning: this unassuming eatery will ruin you for all future Sri Lankan food. Their black pork curry, chicken lamprais, appams and string hoppers are ridiculously flavorful, with spice levels tailored to your taste buds' whims. BYOB? No problem - grab beers from the bodega down the street. Ambiance? Who needs it when the food's this good? Just don't forget your wallet (cash only, folks!). We revisited after years and left wondering why we ever stayed away. come for the curry, stay for the food coma!

A cozy spot East Village spot serving up Sri Lankan eats -- everything is super flavorful and definitely packs a punch heat-wise. It's cash-only, but they have an ATM downstairs. We walked in on a Wednesday afternoon and were able to get seated immediately, but definitely recommend coming with a smaller group. I would recommend eating family-style so you can try everything! The Vegetarian Kotthu Roti was my absolute favorite, so flavorful with tons of veggies! The Dry Fish curry was really unique -- it's in a coconut base but the fish itself is cured, which has an interesting flavor and texture. I've never had anything like it before. My one knock is that the service is really slow BUT that wouldn't stop me from coming back soon!

The Kotthu roll was incredible - even as leftovers. The pol roti was good, I just wish the coconut flavor was a bit stronger and the chicken was well cooked but the curry was very simple. In general this place is simple, clean, and quiet. Great and quick enough for lunch

If you like spicy food and trying a lot of new Sri Lankan dishes, this is the place for you! We ordered the vege lunch special and the chicken lunch special and it was amazing. Everything was pretty spicy, but the flavors were incredible. This is definitely a hidden gem and the dining space fills up pretty quick. Shoutout to our server who gave me a whole jug of hot water when I asked for some We also ordered the Coconut Roti and that was soooo good. The texture and flavor, 10/10 and what is the recipe?! I honestly don't even know what we ate in the lunch special, but all of the curries, lentils, and etc. we're incredible. Also, I'm vegetarian and it was such a nice surprise to see how many options there were for me :)

I almost couldn't find Sigiri while I was staring directly at it. It's that small, and is half a floor up, next to a few other restaurants that are more heavily decorated and signed. I was close to giving up, but very glad I didn't. My experience with Sri Lankan food in the past has been getting to try a whole lot of smaller dishes within one order, and I wanted to continue that here but it wasn't exactly clear how. The waiter steered me right: the 'lunch special' rice and curry, which came with, well, it felt like everything. Dal, snake gourd curry, string bean curry, potato curry, some soy balls, and a bowl of rice, of course. The waiter warned me each curry would be tiny, but it really wasn't. I was stuffed at the end. The dal was really layered and complex - and coconut based, I think. The snake gourd curry was quite pickled. My favorite was the string bean. I'm not sure what was in it other than string beans, but whatever it was, it made an unappealing-sounding vegetable exciting. And true to form, all of it was very spicy. They didn't even ask me how hot I wanted it, and the receipt said 'mild' at the end, but despite what the receipt said, I was crying the whole time I was eating.

Cash only. Sigiri is a smallish restaurant serving up some authentic Sri Lankan cuisine. We ordered the apperizer platter, appa, kothu rotti and lamprais and everything was very good. The food is on the spicier side and while some dishes you can pick your level of spice others have a little bit of heat packed in. Food does take a while to come out as other reviews have mentioned, but I was happy to wait.

This Sri Lankan restaurant is a must visit every time I visit New York. The service is friendly and the ambiance is casual at this small restaurant in the East Village. I have observed that there are mostly Sri Lankans or South Asians dining here, which is a good sign of the authenticity and quality of the food. Visitors will have to go up a small staircase to enter and the stairs can be slippery in the snow/rain so be careful. Sri Lankan cuisine isn't easy to come by so I suggest trying these classic dishes while here. Egg Hoppers, a rice flour and coconut milk based bowl-shaped wafer with a soft egg in it. A must try for an appetizer or you can have it with a curry. I prefer it as an appetizer and enjoy it with the onion sambal. Chicken Lamprais, a rice dish served with chicken, fish, and vegetables wrapped and cooked in a banana leaf. Kotthu Roti, a dish made of stir-fried sliced roti (a tortilla-like bread) served with a protein (chicken or beef), vegetables, onions, and egg. Think of this dish like a combination of a spicy fried rice and migas. Deviled Cuttlefish, an advanced placement dish of cuttlefish sautéed with tomatoes and peppers in a spicy Sri Lankan sauce. This dish is generally spicy hence the name deviled. You can choose other proteins but I recommend cuttlefish as it's very Sri Lankan. Beware of the spice level. I have a decent spice tolerance but I felt medium spice creeping up on me during my meals here. I would suggest mild spice for most Americans. If you like Indian food, switch it up and give Sri Lankan cuisine a try!

Small, inconspicuous, no frills spot with yummy food. Cash only & BYOB. The Calamari (not pictured) is a MUST. It was by far the best calamari we've ever had. We also got the crab fried rice, which I would skip next time. We also got the Crab Curry which was tasty but a lot of work to get the meat, and quite salty. Service was nice and a lot quicker than we expected. We went on a Friday night around 7:30/45 and got a table within 30 mins.

Amazing food. True Sri Lankan food. Best in the area. I did not like the waiting time but overall the food makes up for that. Loved it!

Was in search for a Sri Lankan resto in Manhattan and this seemed to be the only one that popped up. Walked in on a Sat night without any waiting. It's a small restaurant in East Village. The aappa was pretty good. Very crisp and light. Tasty. Even more so than other hoppers I've had. This is very snackable. Must order when you're having Lankan food. Kotthu roti chicken: also pretty good. I'd say quite comparable to one's I've had in Sri Lanka. Chicken black curry: this was pure yums. Heavy on the spice with cinnamon and cardamom. Must eat with rice. So good and flavorful. Also got the dal which was pretty good. Overall, the food at Sigiri was pretty legit and honestly a lot better than I expected (even my Sri Lankan friend said so!). Prices were very reasonable. Would definitely come back especially to try more of their curries. That said, service needs a bit of work. Our server was hella slow and inefficient and wasn't the warmest. But hey, the food's good enough that would come back

Good spot for Sri Lankan food! Ordered the appetizer platter, chicken curry, and the yellow rice. The appetizer platter included two of four different appetizers. The chicken was a little bit dry; the yellow rice was delicious and I'd definitely order it again. The restaurant is a bit small and I do not think they take reservations, so we did see some customers waiting outside when we left. The servers are quite nice and checked in with us about the food.

One of the best meals I've had in NYC. It's hard to find, cash-only with the inside not bigger than a wide corridor, all ingredients for an amazing meal clearly. Vadas came with this irresistible coconut chutney, and the appa pancakes were soft and fluffy in the middle and perfectly crispy outsides. Kottu roti was like a exploded stuffed paratha, or like noodles, hard to think of an analogy. It was full of flavor, spicy and served with a yellow soupy chutney which I could drink a bowl of on its own. One hard-working man (Dhananjaya) runs the whole show and helped us with customizations and recommendations.

Here, I discovered the joy of sweet drinks with basil seeds. Sigiri, I am forever in your debt.

My husband was in NYC on work and picked up some food from Sigiri NYC since we live in NJ. The food was a resounding disappointment. I am Sri Lankan, so I know how this food should taste. The brinjal moju was burnt! The brinjal was like little black pieces of carbon. My dogs would turn up their nose at this. The pittu was dry and felt like saw dust in the mouth. The pittu was supposed to come with an onion sambal which it did not. The watalappam dessert was chintzy in size and painfully sweet and lacking flavor. The lamprais, I took a tiny mouthful, and it tastes a little off. So now I'm afraid to eat any more in case it has gone bad. The portion sizes on the moju, watalappam, and black pork curry are tiny. The black pork had large chunks of fat with arteries attached to it...yuck! How can they serve food like this in good conscience?! The prices listed on the website are not what we were charged. I should have paid $68.50 for this according to the website but paid $83.50 in cash (which is what was requested when I placed the order). What I paid for is a bunch of inedible garbage. I understand that everything costs a lot of money, so I would have paid without complaint if I got something decent in return. It's a shame and certainly not representative of the rich and flavorful food that is Sri Lankan food. Needless to say, I will not go back and I will NOT recommend this place to anyone. What a sham!!

First when we got there they were closed @11:30am. So we waited, they quickly got things together ands we ordered. Now I've been to Sri Lanka and I know all about the food and serving sizes! I ordered beef rolls (no mutton) it was as big as my palm! Made out of potatoes with slivers of beef? Next came the goat curry in a banana boat dish, we all know how deep that is, but there were 4 pieces of actual goat, the test was BONES! I really wanted to scream, but next was the Dahl also came in a banana boat, enough to serve to ONE person, she had a teaspoon and I had a teaspoon, Kotu was the ONLY good thing we had and a huge bowl of rice! Just to say as well the food wasn't even HOT! I'm Sri Lanka, they eat with their hands, thereby the food should be lukewarm! This wasn't near that! All that for $62.80! Nowhere were there any signs to be seen stating ONLY CASH!! So we had to scrape up $62.80 plus a tip! Now we don't live in the village, we just came for the LOUSY FOOD! I wouldn't send my enemy there! I I'm sorry I didn't take a picture!

Went here with a friend to grab a bite and catch up. My friend is Indian and shared she has been here quite a few times. This was my first time having Sri lanken food. I was not very adventurous with the menu because I wasn't too hungry. I only had the crab fried rice and it was delicious. I also had Sri lanken brand soda cream flavor which was good. The space is very small and narrow and the bathroom felt like you were put in the chokey Matilda was put in , but the server was nice. The service was so-so. My friend had to remind server about order and getting the check a few times. She did not love the spring roll that she ordered, but said her entree was fine. I would say if you're in the area and in the mood for south East Asian cuisine check this place out. For me it's out of the way so I wouldn't go out of my way, but I was satisfied with my meal.

We were visiting New York for the spring break and found this Jem of a place tucked in a small space but the food was delicious . We had Appa and kottu with a delicious curry . The server was not the usual friendly chatty Sri Lankans we find all over the world But recommend anyone who craves Sri Lankan food !

Recently met a friend here for dinner, and it was a unique experience! We had never tried Sri Lankan food, so I can't tell you whether it was authentic, but I can tell you it was good! We were craving something new and different, so we decided to check this place out. We ordered a few different things to try family-style - two orders of the Kotthu Roti - one chicken and one vegetarian, "Sigiri Special" Chicken Curry, and Black Pork Curry. Finally, we had two desserts, Falooda and Banana Fritters. Everything was flavorful but I would say my favorite was the Black Pork Curry. This is a small restaurant (maybe 10-12 tables) and when we came in around 6:30 it was pretty empty but by the time we finished our meal, there was a line at the door. They were also packaging up take-out orders the whole time. The server was great. I also liked that it was BYOB, we stopped and picked up some drinks at East Village Wines about 2 blocks away. The restaurant is cash only. Overall, although it was a solid experience, it was not anything that left me thinking "I can't wait to go back." Which could be a good thing, since I live on the opposite coast!

For a late night takeout dinner, I got a generous amount of food which included 6 square chunks of pepper pork which were dry & tasteless because it was overcooked. The green beans were also over cooked. However, the white rice was under cooked. The curry was too spicy for me. The small restaurant is on left side at the top of metal stairs. A large festive ceremonial mask & small weaved baskets dangling from the ceiling reflects its Sri Lankan culture. The staff was nice & welcoming.

If you like spicy food then Sigiri should be high on your list. From the moment you walk in you will be hit in the face with a potent spice scent. The pol roti is the best dish. It's kind of like a fried rice, but is made with coconut roti. The deviled chicken is also an amazing stir fry option It's BYOB so it's a fun, relatively inexpensive night out with a couple of friends

I've never had Sri Lankan food before so was 100% down to come through when my friend discovered this place. Loves: + The chicken lamprais was good and a huge portion + Appetizer sampler allowed us to try different things, but be warned that everything was fried Not so love: - Food took an awful long time (~45mins) to come out after ordering. - The waitress told us to order more food if we wanted when we arrived bc she said the kitchen would close 30min later. We didn't. Then a group shows up an hour later and ordered food normally. *shrug* - Cash or Venmo only I'm not sure how many Sri Lankan spots are in the city but if this is the only one, I would highly recommend that you eat some nibbles before you come so you don't have to worry about a potential long food wait. :)

Why does this restaurant serve beef and pork? The biggest and major religion in Sri Lanka is Buddhism and Buddhists cannot eat beef and pork. This a Sri Lankan restaurant. I live in Edison, New Jersey, United States of America, North America.

If you're South Asian like me, it would be a shame if you haven't been to Sigiri. I recommend coming here on a weekday for lunch because I've been here on a weekend and for dinner and the wait is hell. Now, the food, I don't eat red meat so I definitely feel like I'm missing out on the Pork. I see people ordering it all the time and it looks delicious. But to backtrack a bit, I've never known Sri Lankan food before even though I'm Indian and they are so close by geographically, I feel like I should know more. The spices and ingredients are similar to South Indian cuisine - curry leaves, mustard seeds, coconut oil and milk. The Kotthu Roti, is basically scrambled roti with egg and other spices. The Roti is essentially sliced and diced and the result is So. Good. We got the chicken biryani today, which was genuinely underwhelming. For anyone who's grown up eating biryani, the Indian way, it's a marriage of meat, spices, rice, science and a blessing from the Gods. Now I understand there are many ways to make a biryani but this was my least favorite. In the world. The chicken was presented as a side with the rice. The chicken was dry and did not taste great. The rice was...confusing. The star was clearly the king fish curry and aapam. This is the food I grew up with and they couldn't have perfected it better than they did here at Sigiri. They even allow you to choose a spice level, the medium by the way is spicy on a Thai spice scale. We also got the Dhal Wade which is as good as it gets. Overall, come here if you are looking for something new and if you love coastal South Indian type food. The service is also fantastic, really nice folk who took great care in making it the best experience for us. We'll be back to try other things on the menu .

Cash only establishment. Very tight space but manageable. Servers were friendly. We were a party of 4. We ordered aappa, chicken kotthu roti, ulundu vadai, cuttlefish curry, black pork curry, and beef veggie stew. There was virtually no space left on the table once everything was served. This was our very first time trying Sri Lankan food. Everything was packed with heat. If you cannot handle spicy foods, this is probably not the place for you. One of my friends cannot handle even a teensy bit of spice and she couldn't eat anything except rice and cuttlefish curry. The cuttlefish curry was underwhelming. It was on the blander side for us. The beef in the beef veggie stew was really tough. We didn't really touch it. My favorite combo was a piece of the aappa topped with chicken kotthu roti, some rice, and a glop of the sauce that came with the ulundu vadai. I genuinely hope this isn't an offensive combo because it really was yummy and I'd go back to the restaurant just for that.

Had a fantastic lunch here- pork curry, lunu miris, pol sambol, seeni sambol, kotthu roti & appa hoppers. My mom is from Sri Lanka and the food did not disappoint in any way! Will definitely be back on my next visit.

Went to Sigiri Sri Lankan restaurant in Manhattan, NY, today. All the food was very flavorful. The lamprais was a mix of chicken, fish cutlet, egg, plantain, and eggplant over a seasoned rice and wrapped in a banana leaf. Each bite was packed with flavor. It was nice, delicate, and balanced. The black chicken curry was incredibly spicy but also extremely delicious. There was a deep, rich flavor to it, and the chicken was so tender that it fell off the bone. The sauce was incredible, especially over the hoppers and the rice. Portions were huge, and it was well worth the price. BYOB. Many dairy free options. Chicken Lamprais $20.0 A Dutch Influenced "Special Occasion" dish of flavored rice served with chicken, fish cutlet, deep-fried boiled egg, ash plantain, and eggplant wrapped & baked in a banana leaf to give this dish a unique flavor. Black Chicken Curry $18.0 (limited) Bone-in chicken curry with house special Sri Lankan black curry powder. Aappa Hoppers $12.0 Wafer-thin, bowl-shaped pancakes made from a fermented batter of rice flour and coconut milk. Includes 3 plain hoppers and 1 egg hopper with a choice of Sautéed onion sambol*, Lunu Miris* or coconut sambol* | (Traditionally eaten with a choice of curry)

I tried going here a few months ago and wasn't able to get any service after sitting down for over 30 minutes so we left, but I recently ordered take out from here and I have to say that the food is really good. It is a little oversalty but the flavors and textures were amazing. I got the beef kotthu roti and my girlfriend got the chicken curry with rice. The kotthu roti had an great chewy texture and the chicken curry was flavorful. I will say like everyone else on here, this place does not joke about their spice at all. The spice has a build up heat that really adds up and my girlfriend's mild curry was a little too hot to finish, but it tasted good. I would probably come back if I was craving this specific food, but for take out only due to my past experience with the service

It's not often you find a Sri Lankan spot in the city, and personally as a South Indian, this is as close to my mom's cooking I've found in NYC which is a compliment of the highest caliber! Everything was flavorful and spicy in the best way possible. The hoppers, black pepper pork, kothu roti. I'm very much looking forward to coming back when I'm missing the flavors of home. Place is cash only and surprisingly busy for a late Wednesday night dinner.

We had an amazing experience here. The restaurant was small and intimate. The staff was super friendly and helpful with menu selections. The food was really good overall. We ordered the Kotthu Roti which was my favorite thing we ordered. Also we ordered the Appetizer Sampler which included 2 Dhal vade, 2 fish cutlets, 2 Sri Lankan Vegetable spring rolls, and 2 fish spring rolls. Between the three of us dining we all had a favorite item , the whole plater was pretty good. The Black Chicken Curry was really good as well. The last thing we ordered was the Beef Stew. This is where they lost the 5th star for me, the beef was extremely tough. Basically inedible. The stew itself was amazing, the broth and veggies. But the beef was supposed to be the star and we couldn't eat any of it. We mentioned it to waiter and he just kind of shrugged it off. Otherwise great meal.

Cash only and slightly on the more expensive side, but they do a pretty good job of making things spicy if you ask for it, and it was really good. Only warning is that it's certainly a slower restaurant that cooks with love. You won't be in and out fast. The chicken kotthu roti and beef fried rice were our favorites, although the chicken biryani was really good as well - just a little harder to share given that the chicken was bone-on. We also ordered the Sri Lankan crab curry which was certainly flavorful and the crab fell right out of the shell in the best way... It just didn't quite feel worthy of its $30 price tag. Overall, everything was delicious and had an amazing amount of flavor. There was also an ATM downstairs in case you don't have enough cash on you.

It's the best Sri Lankan food. Period. It's one of those places that I have to visit when in town. There is nothing on the menu that you can go wrong with (I have tried them all .. well almost) but my favorite is the Crab Curry and Black Chicken.

It's a cozy place. It's BYOB, there is no beer or wine list. The food is delicious and spicy. When requesting "medium" spice, I found it difficult to finish a dish. Ordering "mild", there still is some noticeable heat.

This used to be one of my favorite places. Their food is spicy and delicious and they have a lot of seafood options. This review is with respect to an order I made on seamless. Maybe they went downhill after covid or maybe they're takeout are awful, I'm not sure but my order was purely awful. I ordered the deviled prawn curry and firstly having ordered it many times in the restaurant I know for a fact that what I got was not that. My prawn had shell and tail in it a d it felt like they threw random peppers and onions without cutting and added spices to it. It was purely disgusting. And the portions was so tiny and the price $20. Purely disappointed. 100% sure will never order take outs. Maybe their dine in is still good, have to go and find out

Sigiri has the advantage of being the sole Sri Lankan restaurant in Manhattan (6th Street & 1st Ave). The menu is abundant with island faves. Fish cutlets, fried rice, curries, devilled curries, hoppers, sting hoppers, pittu and kothu! For those folks who are not familiar with these delicious and spiced dishes, please visit Sigiri for a unique experience. Hostess Kaveesha greets one and all with a welcoming smile and once seated she will breakdown the menu as well as the spice levels and have a meaningful brief conversation about food. She manages the under 20 seat packed dining area with ease. Keep in mind, reservations are not needed. Yet earlier the better, especially Wednesday through Saturday dinner.

This was my first time trying Sri Lankan food and it instantly became one of my favorite cuisines. It may have just been the excellent service from our waitress at this low key restaurant. By the way, it's cash only but there is an ATM right next door. We walked in at around 6pm on a Thursday and there was just one other table seated. They dont take reservations, so we wanted to arrive a little early. This restaurant probably seats about 15-20 people. I'm so glad we arrived early because by the time we left the place was packed! Our waitress walked us through the whole entire menu with us! We told her our preferences and she told us what from the menu we would enjoy most. I let her know I was vegetarian and she gave me several options to choose from. This restaurant is also BYO, so no alcohol! It's perfect because you want to save room for the delicious food. We started with the vegetarian kotthu roti. It was shredded roti stacked and it was a great mild appetizer. I say mild because we ordered spicy for all other dishes and they don't joke around with their spice levels! I can usually handle spice but next time I'll probably get moderate spice. For the entree I got the deviled veggies, which tasted like an Asian fusion dish. I was worried it may just be veggies and no protein but there were beans in there! This dish was a huge burst of flavors. For this dish I recommend toning down the spice level to enjoy it more. I ordered the pol roti to eat it with. Highly recommend the deviled veggies if you're vegetarian! Can't wait to go back and try other dishes!

A specific Southern taste that is hard to find in the countless South Asian restaurants in New York. Staten Island is dotted with multiple Sri Lankan restaurants but Sigiri is Manhattan's own. And we're the richer for it. If you're here, you shouldn't leave without having some fish cutlets. They're a perfect start to the meal and foreshadow the potential heat to come. Not all the curries are made equal but the Sigiri special chicken curry hits the spot especially when paired with the Aappa or the Indi Aappa. The coconut sambal that comes with the Aappa is tangy and spicy and a perfect complement to the milder but still fermented Aappa flavors. The Kotthu Roti is like a flaky paratha chopped into a million pieces and stir fried with veggies. It's a large dish so chances are you'll be enjoying it for lunch the next day as well. This is a cash only joint and ambiance isn't their specialty but the service is perfectly pleasant and the price isn't bad for the uniqueness of the cuisine. Check it out!

After Kottu House closed I was back on the hunt for authentic Sri Lankan food. Found this little gem via Yelp and was really excited to give it a try. Came here on a freezing night when the city was supposed to get its first snow (still yet to happen...) with a friend who's also an adventurous eater with a high tolerance for spicy food. We almost missed it with our eyes kept on the street level when it was tucked away on the second floor. Not too big of a sit-down restaurant with a take-out service counter - definitely a casual vibe. That being said, service was fast, friendly, and attentive. We shared the following: 1. Appetizer Sampler - half fish and half vegetarian. The "spring rolls" actually reminded me more of croquettes. The batter was a bit too thick but the spices shone through. 2. Kotthu Roti - we had it with chicken and it was very good! Spicy and extremely flavorful, even more so than that of Kottu House, which was a pleasant surprise to me. 3. Pork Black Curry - very interesting and different. The pork was juicy and tender; the spices and herbs were heavy but not as vibrant nor flavorful as I'd like. Nevertheless, worth a try. CASH ONLY! Thank God they took Venmo and saved us a trip to the ATM in the freezing cold! I'll definitely be back to try something else and reorder the Kotthu Roti.

This was the first time I've had Sri Lankan food, but I will say that it will definitely not be the last. I was quite impressed with the server who was serving the entire restaurant alone, but for the most part managed to do it quite well. He was patient with us and helped explain some of the different dishes to us since everything was new to us. We ended up getting mild for all our dishes, which personally was a bit below what I would have preferred, but some of my friends still found it spicy. The black pork curry was very flavorful and may have been my favorite dish. Sadly they didn't have the crab curry by the time we went, but I plan to come back again sometime to try it. The yellow rice had such an interesting buttery flavor, but I really enjoyed it. Overall, coming here was a nice experience, but may not be the best place if you're in a hurry since the service can definitely be a bit slow.

Great little place and excellent food. Came here for dinner at about 9 and we were seated immediately. The space is relatively small and I think the largest table they have is for four to six people. i'm not sure if they take reservations but it's recommended that you do so if you come here. The wet stuff is really sweet and the owner has come from Sri Lanka. He was genuinely good with us and gave great recommendations of things to try. We got the kotthu roti with beef, but I recommend getting the vegetarian version of this dish, the tastes come together much better. My brother got the crab fried rice, and while I liked it, since it was a light and was a big portion, I didnt think the flavors came together that well. I also got the chicken lampreys and this was really good, its a dry dish to look at but the steamed rice holds its moisture in the banana leaf and it comes with roasted chicken with spices. I highly recommend this one. We tried the banana fritter dessert and the watalappam, i recommend the former. The wait staff can get a little pushed around rush hours since theres usually just one or 2 people for the whole space. But they are kind and courteous and make good recommendations. The space is small as well, I counted about 8 tables, which could fit about 35 people total. They dont take reservations or credit cards. I definitely recommend this place for authentic Sri Lankan food.

The kotthu roti was so flavorful! You definitely have to try the Sri Lankan food. They were out of lamprais when I visited but I'll definitely be coming back to try more dishes. This is a small restaurant so I'd recommend getting takeout or getting there early!

I've had Sri Lankan food before in Beacon and I must say the flavors blow me away. It's very similar to my cultures food (Malaysian) because of the Indian influence and a touch of other Asian influences. I felt that the food at this establishment overall was pretty good in flavor and presentation could be elevated and worked on. For those not familiar with it I would say it's like a mix of Chinese and Indian and make sure you say how spicy you can handle because they can adjust the heat. I can handle lots of heat but my partner is still new to experiencing heat so I was able to inform them to keep it mild. We had the roti, the Briyani rice (Indian staple) and the Devilled calamari (which is basically a stir fry dish that is prepared with chili, peppers and onions) along with white rice. Service was nice and friendly here.