Said to Be the World’s Cheapest, But I Miss Thai Crab Curry 🦀

Before coming to Colombo, I’d heard about this “world’s cheapest Michelin 3-star” and got a local friend to book a noon slot a day in advance. Dreaming of “affordable 3-star bragging rights,” I arrived at 11:30, only to wait till 12 for the restaurant to open—hardly any guests, and the vibe already felt off🇱🇰 By the end of the meal, wiping my greasy mouth, I realized: sometimes “cheap” hides invisible letdowns. 🕒 Reservation & Waiting: First Blow to Expectations My friend said “it’s hard to book,” so she made a reservation a day prior. But when we arrived, the place was empty—only two other tables. At 11:30, staff said “not open yet” and made us wait outside. Standing in the sun till noon, we were finally led in—no fancy Michelin greeting, just a casual seafood joint feel. No “reservation priority” vibe, a little disappointing. 🌡️ Ambiance Issues: No AC + Flies, Zero Elegance I’d expected at least “AC + quiet” for a 3-star, but: No air conditioning, just slow-spinning fans. Midday heat mixed with seafood made us sweat through the meal, foreheads damp; Worst of all, a fly kept hovering over our crab curry. We shooed it away, but it came back—constantly watching the plate killed the appetite; Decor was plain: seafood posters on walls, plastic tables and chairs. It felt like a street seafood shack, not a Michelin spot. Even taking photos required cropping out the background. 🦞 Food Experience: Greasy to the Point of Cloying, No Match for Street Stalls Tried three “must-try” dishes: Crab & avocado: Avocado purée base with crab meat, doused in lemon dressing. Crab was fresh, but too much sauce made it cloying—avocado’s freshness got lost; Butter lobster: Medium-sized, served with a glossy, oily shell. Butter aroma was overpowering. The meat was tender, but coated in thick butter—half a lobster left us choking, needing iced water to wash it down; Curry crab: Most anticipated, but the curry tasted like it had lard mixed in—thick and gluey, masking the crab’s sweetness. Dipping bread in it felt greasy. Compare to Bangkok’s Jay Fai curry crab—coconutty, slightly spicy, perfect with rice—this tasted like “oil-braised crab with curry powder.” By the end, all we could think was “so greasy.” Even my seafood-loving friend left half a crab uneaten. 💰 Price: $218 for Two, Worse Value Than Street Food The bill: $218 (≈¥1,500). Instantly, “cheap” felt like a lie. At Colombo’s Ceylon Curry Club, similar crab curry costs ¥100+ per person and satisfies. Even Ministry of Crab, at ¥300+ per person, delivers freshness and refinement. Here, we paid premium for “grease + flies + stuffiness”—abysmal value. Leaving, my friend said “maybe we ordered wrong,” but I thought: Michelin stars shouldn’t just depend on ingredient prices, but experience. This “cheapest 3-star” taught me: great seafood doesn’t need a “Michelin” label. Street stalls with (vibrancy), fresh flavors, and a comfy vibe are often better. If you want crab curry in Colombo, skip this star. Try local seafood shacks—you might be pleasantly surprised～ #ColomboFood #MichelinDisappointment #SriLankaEats