Next to Michelin, Under ¥150 Per Person to Eat Until Stuffed 🦀

Wandering Colombo, I was lured halfway down the street by "crab curry" — after all, the blue swimmer crabs raised in the equatorial Indian Ocean, just thinking about their rich roe made my mouth water. Many head straight for the Michelin-starred Ministry of Crab, but the price tag (over ¥800 per person) gave me pause. That is, until I found Ceylon Curry Club next door. It’s a "value for money king": locals gnawing on crab claws, Westerners shoveling rice mixed with curry sauce, three of us stuffed to the brim with leftovers, all for under ¥150 per person. It’s practically tailor-made for "foodie travelers" ✨ 🏮 Local Vibes in the Dutch Hospital Precinct: A Crab Haven Loved by Locals Tucked in the Dutch Hospital Shopping Precinct, the restaurant has red brick walls tangled with green vines and traditional Sri Lankan colorful lanterns at the door. Step inside, and you’re wrapped in the aroma of spices — no stiff formality like at Michelin spots, more like a "local canteen": wooden tables packed tight, local uncles joking with staff in Sinhalese, blonde aunties snapping photos of crab curry, the air buzzing with a "eat freely, no fuss" vibe. The best seats are by the window, overlooking cobblestones and vintage street lamps. When evening light glows, photos look dipped in honey. Even waiting for a table feels like a treat after a day of exploring 📸 🦀 Crab Curry Steals the Show: Indian Ocean Crabs, Roe Oozing Out of Shells "Curry Crab" is front and center on the menu, and the waiter grinned, "Locals never go wrong with this." We gasped when it arrived: a crab bigger than my face, nested in orange-red curry, its shell cracked open to reveal golden roe oozing into the sauce. The scent of coconut milk and spices hit instantly, cranking up cravings to max. Slip on gloves and crack a leg — the meat is tender as jelly, sliding right into your mouth with a sweet ocean tang. The claw meat is even better, plump enough to fill your mouth, dipped in curry sauce: coconut cream mutes the chili’s heat, with a hint of lemongrass freshness. We even licked the sauce off our fingers. A friend (gnawed) while saying, "This has more ‘homey warmth’ than the Michelin crab, like mom’s cooking!" Best of all, one crab feeds two. Three of us ordered one, plus sides, and left stuffed 😂 🍛 Other Dishes Hide Surprises: Local Favorites Eaten Clean Don’t fixate on crab — these are worth ordering: Coconut shrimp: Prawns coated in coconut shavings, fried crispy outside, tender inside. Dipped in spicy-sour sauce, it’s like a bite of sea breeze; Chicken curry: Traditional Sri Lankan style, chicken stewed tender, curry thick enough to coat rice. Mixed with local long-grain rice, it’s so good you’ll scrape the bowl; Banana flower salad: A shock for first-timers! Shredded banana flower tossed with chili and lime, spicy-tart and refreshing — perfect to cut grease. Locals mostly order "curry + rice + salad," with iced tea, sweating but grinning as they ask for seconds. This is how to eat in Sri Lanka～ 💰 Compared to Michelin: 1/8 the Price, Same Satisfaction Ministry of Crab has fame, but Ceylon Curry Club’s perks shine: Cost: ¥150+ vs ¥800+ — budget-friendly for students and backpackers; Vibe: No "must be fancy" pressure. Gnaw crab with gloves, soak bread in curry — no judgment; Taste: Less "fancy," more "homey comfort" — better for Chinese palates. Packing leftovers, a local uncle pointed at our crab shells: "Crabs here are as fresh as just caught. Why waste money?" Suddenly, travel food isn’t about 名气 — it’s the joy of "eating like a local." 📍 Practical Tips: Address: No. 2, Dutch Hospital Shopping Precinct, Colombo 00100（right next to Ministry of Crab, look for the red sign）; Best time: Avoid 12:00-14:00 local lunch rush. Go after 5pm for sunset photos and shorter waits; Hidden hack: Order "roti (Sri Lankan flatbread)" to dip in crab curry — mind-blowing; Transport: 10-minute walk from Colombo Fort Station, or taxi to "Dutch Hospital" (drivers know it). Leaving with leftover curry (planning to mix with noodles later), the evening breeze carried spices and sea air. Suddenly, I got why Colombo lingers in memory — it has Michelin glamour, but also lane-hidden warmth. Spots like Ceylon Curry Club are travel’s sweetest "happy accidents." Craving crab in Colombo? Trust me, this is the one! 🦀 #ColomboFood #SriLankaEats #CrabCurry #HiddenGemRestaurant #BudgetEats #FoodieTravel