Khayaban, a Pakistani cuisine restaurant brand in Sri Lanka, has opened its fifth location at Arcade Independence Square in Colombo, marking another milestone in its expansion since its establishment in 1998.

The new outlet, operating as a food truck, adds to the brand’s presence in Colombo’s dining sector, where it has introduced Pakistani cuisine through its traditional recipes, cooking techniques and hospitality.

Following its initial establishment in 1998, Khayaban returned to the market in 2022 with an outlet at One Galle Face Mall. Since then, the brand has expanded its presence through additional locations, including Express outlets at Cool Planet Kirulapone and Nugegoda.

The latest opening at Arcade Independence Square marks another step in the brand’s expansion, bringing its food offerings to one of Colombo’s recognised lifestyle destinations.

Khayaban is part of Food Studio, the food and beverage platform of Liberty Lands & Developments (LLD) Group, which manages a portfolio of food brands in Sri Lanka.

Khayaban Director Naufer Cassim said, “Since our beginnings in 1998, Khayaban has always been driven by a passion to bring the authentic flavours, traditions and hospitality of Pakistan to Sri Lanka. While the brand has grown and evolved alongside Colombo’s dining landscape, authenticity has remained at the heart of everything we do. Our Pakistani chefs bring their expertise, traditional cooking techniques and passion for flavour to every dish we create. From our signature biryanis and kebabs to our traditional curries and favourites, every plate reflects the richness and diversity of Pakistani cuisine. The opening of our fifth location at Arcade Independence Square is an important milestone for Khayaban, giving us the opportunity to share these flavours with an even wider audience while continuing to offer a warm and memorable dining experience that has always been part of the brand. As we grow, our focus remains on preserving the traditions, quality and true essence of Pakistani hospitality that have defined Khayaban from the very beginning.”

The expansion comes amid growing diversity in Colombo’s dining sector, with restaurants and food businesses introducing international cuisines and different dining formats to local consumers.

Food Studio Chief Executive Officer Nadeem said, “Khayaban has always been a brand that is particularly close to us at Food Studio. When Naveed and I first started building Food Studio and bringing together different cuisines under one roof, we found ourselves reminiscing about Khayaban and what it represented in Colombo in the 1990s. That nostalgia led us to reach out to Naufer and explore bringing the brand back after a long absence, and it has been incredibly rewarding to see how people have embraced it since its revival.

From our flagship at One Galle Face to our two Express locations at Cool Planet Kirulapone and Nugegoda, Khayaban has continued to grow and find new audiences. Opening our fifth location as a food truck at Independence Arcade is another exciting milestone for us. It gives the brand a presence in the heart of Colombo 7 in a format that is accessible, energetic and a little different from what we have done before.

For Food Studio, this is ultimately what building brands is about, taking something with a strong identity and story, nurturing it, and finding new ways to bring it closer to our customers. We are very proud of how far Khayaban has come, but we also feel that this journey is only just beginning. We hope to continue taking Khayaban into more neighborhoods and sharing a brand that carries both nostalgia and a very relevant place in Colombo’s food culture today.”