• Exploring the magic of South Indian cuisine in the heart of Colombo

While Indian cuisine has always been popular both in Sri Lanka and across the world, South Indian food often gets overshadowed despite its vibrant flavours and bold spices. 

In order to explore the vibrancy of South Indian cuisine, The Daily Morning Brunch visited Choccan; an authentic South Indian restaurant located in the bustling streets of Colombo. 

A feast for the senses

When we walked into the spacious restaurant, we were instantly serenaded by the sounds of South Indian music giving the restaurant an authentic yet comforting vibe. The music combined with the lively atmosphere made us instantly feel like we were transported to the hustle and bustle of a South Indian city.

As soon as we entered, we were greeted with smiles by the staff who served us a refreshing welcome drink that helped us recover from the scorching heat of Colombo. We were also impressed by the South Asian art on the walls, helping us have an immersive experience as we waited for our meal.

“We want to keep this experience as wholesome and as authentic as possible,” partner at Choccan, Tharmitha Tharmarajah said. “We hope to encourage many people both in Colombo and outside to come and experience the magic of South India and its vibrant flavours.” 

Food for the soul  

Food plays a part in every culture. South Indian cuisine is known for its unique blend of curries, spices and flavours that make our palette come alive. Choccan delivers this experience by offering both a limited vegetarian thaali and an unlimited vegetarian thali, along with several non-vegetarian dishes comprising seafood, chicken and the crowd favourite mutton. 

We were treated to the unlimited vegetarian thali which consists of a choice of unlimited red or white rice, chapati, and several vegetarian curries which included spicy okra, dhal and sambar. The bold blend of spices and textures immediately caught our attention, making us want to come back for more.

We were also offered several non-vegetarian curries including a spicy fried fish and two types of mutton dishes that got our attention. The mutton masala curry was rich and spicy, making it the perfect accompaniment to an already satisfying meal.

We were also refreshed by the fresh rasam that came with the meal. The unique, light flavour of the rasam paired with the rice and the curd was so simple yet brought back so many memories of simple meals from childhood.

While Choccan incorporates authentic recipes from the kitchens of South India and uses several South Indian spices, they also incorporate local spices such as cinnamon, giving the curries a familiar yet unforgettable flavour.

While South Indian food often has a great influence on Sri Lankan cuisine, with South Indian staples such as string hoppers and hoppers being staples inside both Sri Lankan and South Indian homes, the regional variations are hard to ignore.

An exciting end

While all good things come to an end, the end of our meal was nothing short of magnificent. Our unlimited thali came with a choice of either payasam or kesari as well as a banana. Our desserts were sweet, satisfying and a perfect end to a meal that took us from the busy streets of Colombo to a South Indian cuisine.

“While we are just a new restaurant, we see a lot of customers come to try our new menu,” Tharmarajah said. “It gives us a lot of happiness to see different communities in Sri Lanka come together to appreciate a culture that they have been exposed to through film, social media and literature.”

Tharmarajah said that while the restaurant focuses on authentic South Indian cuisine, they also focus on satisfying the taste buds of their younger consumers. Choccan also has a children’s menu consisting of snacks such as chicken nuggets which appeal to young children.

“We are also able to host events like children’s birthday parties and even meetings making this a place for everyone of all backgrounds to come and enjoy the beauty of South Indian food and drink,” she said. “We want everyone to feel welcome and we hope that everyone feels like they have a place here.”

As we left, we felt accepted into an environment filled with flavour, friendship and of course good food, making us think about our next visit.