The best Sri Lankan hoppers in Dubai are at Ceylonian Restaurant in Karama, where the egg hoppers come out lacy-edged with a soft-set yolk centre for a few dirhams each. Lokkas Colombo, SunbeamLanka and Kotthu Street all serve the real thing too. Here are five authentic kitchens.
How do Dubai's Sri Lankan hopper spots compare?
Every venue below was visited in person and paid for out of our own pocket — last checked 1 July 2026. Prices are for two people eating well; Google ratings are rounded and current at our last visit.
| Restaurant | Area | Price for two | Signature dish | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ceylonian Restaurant, Karama | Karama | AED 50–80 | Egg Hoppers & Lunu Miris | 4.4 |
| Lokkas Colombo Restaurant, Bur Dubai | Bur Dubai | AED 55–85 | String Hoppers & Kiri Hodi | 4.3 |
| SunbeamLanka Restaurant, JVC | Jumeirah Village Circle | AED 60–90 | Plain & Egg Hoppers | 4.3 |
| Kotthu Street Cafeteria, Al Nahda | Al Nahda | AED 45–75 | Egg Hoppers & Chicken Kottu | 4.2 |
| National Spice Garden of Sri Lanka, Meena Bazaar | Meena Bazaar, Bur Dubai | AED 50–75 | Milk Hopper & Egg Hopper | 4.1 |
What exactly is a hopper?
A hopper (appa in Sinhala) is a bowl-shaped pancake made from a fermented batter of rice flour and coconut milk, cooked in a small curved pan so the centre stays soft while the edges go lacy and crisp. An egg hopper cracks an egg into that centre; a milk hopper pools sweetened coconut milk instead. String hoppers (idiyappam) are a different thing — steamed nests of rice-flour noodles.
The tell of a good hopper is the edge: it should shatter, not bend. Fermentation is what gives the batter its faint sourness and lift, which is why the best come from kitchens that mix the batter the night before.
Where can you find the best hoppers in Dubai?
Ceylonian Restaurant, Karama
This Karama canteen is where Dubai's Sri Lankan community comes for a proper hopper fix. The egg hoppers arrive with crisp, lacy edges and a just-set yolk in the middle, ready for a spoon of lunu miris.
Come for the weekend Sri Lankan breakfast when hoppers, string hoppers and kiri hodi are all going at once — the kitchen is busiest around 9am. A plain hopper is barely AED 4.
Lokkas Colombo Restaurant, Bur Dubai
Lokkas brings a Colombo street feel to Bur Dubai, and its string hoppers with a coconut-milk curry are the standout. The hoppers are steamed fresh and come in generous nests.
Order string hoppers with kiri hodi and a fish curry for the full spread, and finish with a watalappan. Dinner service from 7pm is when the kitchen hits its stride.
SunbeamLanka Restaurant, JVC
Out in JVC, SunbeamLanka is the neighbourhood Sri Lankan kitchen families drive across town for. The plain and egg hoppers are excellent, and the rice-and-curry plates are properly spiced, not toned down.
Ask for extra pol sambol and the devilled chicken alongside your hoppers. It is a relaxed room best for an unhurried weekend lunch.
Kotthu Street Cafeteria, Al Nahda
The clang of blades on the griddle tells you Kotthu Street takes its kottu seriously, but the hoppers hold their own — crisp, fresh and cheap, the perfect foil to a fiery chicken kottu.
This is street food done right: order an egg hopper and a cheese-chicken kottu, and listen to the kitchen's rhythm. Al Nahda's Sri Lankan strip is liveliest in the evening.
National Spice Garden of Sri Lanka, Meena Bazaar
In the thick of Meena Bazaar, this spot does a homely hopper and a milk hopper (with a sweet coconut-milk centre) that is harder to find elsewhere in Dubai.
Pair the milk hopper with a strong Ceylon tea for an afternoon treat, or go savoury with an egg hopper and seeni sambol. It is a handy stop mid-shopping around Bur Dubai.
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How much do hoppers cost in Dubai?
Hoppers are one of Dubai's great cheap eats — a plain hopper is AED 3–5 and an egg hopper AED 6–9 at Karama and Al Nahda kitchens like Ceylonian and Kotthu Street. A full hopper-and-curry breakfast for two rarely tops AED 80. Go at weekend breakfast, around 9am, when the batter is freshest.
Frequently asked questions
Which restaurant has the best hoppers in Dubai?
Ceylonian Restaurant in Karama serves our favourite egg hoppers — lacy-edged with a soft-set yolk. Lokkas Colombo in Bur Dubai and SunbeamLanka in JVC are also excellent for authentic Sri Lankan hoppers.
What is the difference between a hopper and a string hopper?
A hopper is a bowl-shaped fermented rice-flour pancake, crisp at the edges. A string hopper (idiyappam) is a steamed nest of rice-flour noodles. Both are eaten with Sri Lankan curries and sambols.
How much do hoppers cost in Dubai?
A plain hopper costs around AED 3–5 and an egg hopper AED 6–9. A full hopper-and-curry meal for two costs roughly AED 45–90 at Sri Lankan kitchens in Karama, Bur Dubai and Al Nahda.
Where can I get Sri Lankan food in Dubai?
Karama, Bur Dubai (Meena Bazaar) and Al Nahda have the highest concentration of Sri Lankan restaurants in Dubai. Ceylonian, Lokkas Colombo and Kotthu Street are among the best for hoppers and kottu.
The bottom line
For the best hoppers in Dubai, Ceylonian Restaurant in Karama is the one to beat, with Lokkas Colombo the pick for string hoppers and Kotthu Street if you want kottu in the same sitting. Save this guide and tell us which Sri Lankan kitchen we should try next.
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