Hotal Colombo — Restaurant in Hong Kong Island

A Curious Case of Curry: Hotal Colombo - A Sri Lankan Detour

Nestled (somewhat precariously, as we'll discover) up a winding hill in Hong Kong, Hotal Colombo presents itself as a Sri Lankan eatery. It’s worth noting upfront that this is the sole outpost of this particular brand in Hong Kong, operating under the umbrella of a larger group with various franchise restaurants. While the name conjures images of bustling Colombo kitchens, the experience within leaves one questioning the authenticity of the journey. Our culinary exploration began with the Chicken Kari (HK$158). Sadly, this dish proved to be a significant disappointment. Lacking any discernible depth of flavour or the vibrant spice profile one expects from a Sri Lankan curry, it felt generic and underwhelming. There was nothing remotely distinctive to suggest its purported heritage.

Next came the Crab Kothu (HK$138). While the concept of stir-fried roti with crab is inherently appealing, this rendition lacked the vibrancy and freshness I’ve encountered in other versions. The flavours felt muted, and the overall impression was one of a dish that hadn't quite sprung to life.

The accompanying Coconut Rice (HK$58) offered little solace. The subtle sweetness and aromatic hints of coconut, usually a hallmark of this dish, were virtually absent. It was, in essence, plain rice with the faintest suggestion of its namesake – a truly uninspired offering.

Hoping for redemption in the glass, I opted for the Sri-Lankan Sling (HK$98). This, unfortunately, felt like a pale, diluted imitation of the iconic Singapore Sling. The complex interplay of gin, cherry brandy, and other ingredients was lost in a watery concoction. Save your Sling experience for the masterful rendition at its birthplace, the Raffles Hotel in Singapore.

On the service front, the initial impression was positive. Our server was attentive and friendly, readily available to answer questions and ensure our comfort. However, as the evening progressed, this attentiveness seemed to wane, leaving us feeling somewhat neglected towards the end of our meal.

If asking for a ‘Chilli Sauce’, expect to be greatly disappointed. This is just a water down version of ‘Maggi’s Masala Sauce’.

Beyond the food and drink, a few practicalities are worth noting. The toilet cubicles are remarkably compact, a minor inconvenience but something to be aware of. More significantly, the restaurant's hilltop location presents an accessibility challenge.

Reaching the entrance requires a climb that could prove difficult for individuals with mobility issues or leg problems.

Finally, a point of principle: the HK$78 charge for a bottle of water is frankly exorbitant. There is absolutely no justification for such a steep price. Diners would be far better served sticking to the complimentary "House Water" with ice, a much more reasonable and frankly expected offering.

In conclusion, while Hotal Colombo offers a glimpse into Sri Lankan cuisine in a city with limited options, the execution of the dishes we sampled fell considerably short of expectations. The lack of authentic flavours, coupled with the questionable pricing of basic necessities and the inconvenient location, leaves little reason to justify a return visit. Stick to the house water and perhaps explore other culinary avenues...

When they said the restaurant had no reservation system, my cousin and I were mentally prepared to wait for some time before getting a table for two on a Saturday night.

The decoration with real food was quite entertaining. We took quite some time to look at what type of food these cans contain, and were genuinely surprised! Also, the old-fashion TV on the top right hand corner is real and still functioning!

It took about 30 minutes of wait as there was a big group inside the restaurant. We wished to take the seats at the bar table where we could see the chef cook, however, we might need to wait for even longer for those seats, so we took the table for two near the entrance.

We were both newbie to Sri Lanka cuisine, as we haven’t visit the country nor try anything Sri Lankan yet, we were definitely stunned reading the menu, as we had no idea what “Kothu” and “Hoppers” mean, I only know about Dosa and Kari. But our worries were swiped clean by friendly staff, who explained the menu to us and gave us some of her favourite dishes as recommendations. We took her advice in getting one short eat, one kothu, one dosa, and one kari with a hopper side, which made a perfect portion for dinner.

This Masala Dosa with Sambhar and coconut chutney kicked start our awesome Sri Lanka dinner. It was similar to those Indian dosa, just that the sauce and dip made the dosa even more enjoyable with the hot potato inside.

This Chicken Kothu was definitely a nice surprise. We didn’t expect stir fried vegetables could taste so good!

Highlight of the meal is definitely this Bone Marrow Varuval with Pol Roti, which was strongly recommended by the waitress as her favourite dish. I am not a person that would normal opt for bone marrow nor internal organs of animals, but trust me, you got to try this, it was so so delicious that we were speechless! The meat on the bone was like slow cooked meat, very tender and flavoured, yet still very juicy. Best part was the white “marrow” stuff, which was like the fat of A5 wagyu beef, so rich with fatty aroma (if you know what I mean, I could hardly describe how delicious it is :P)! Dip it with the roti, or eat it on its own. Both ways are awesome. Just that you have to eat it hot, when it cools down, the white fatty thing will solidify again and is less enjoyable then its liquid form.

Lamb Kari with Hopper was another delight. Hooper is new to us, it is somewhat like Chinese white sugar cake in the middle, and is made into an inverted hat shape. It had a nice and rich sugary rich cake flavour, which wasn’t even masked when I dipped it in the curry!

The curry itself was fantastic too! The lamb was thoroughly cooked, it was meaty yet very tender. So so enjoyable indeed! We were too busy savoring the dish and hardly talked!

A complimentary drink was provided to help digestion after we settled the bill. We were so satisfied with this dining experience, friendly and helpful staff, vibrant dining environmental, delicious dishes with all the spices and coconut products. Best of all, the dishes are of really affordable price! How could we not love Hotal Colombo?

I sincerely wish that one day when I visit Sri Lanka, the local cuisine wouldn’t disappoint me after having such a fantastic meal at...

I visited Hotal Colombo with a group of friends over the weekend. It was my first time visiting the restaurant. Since Sri Lanka is close to South India, both regions share certain dishes so there are items served at Hotal Colombo that are also part of South Indian cuisine.

During my visit, it came to my surprise that the restaurant offered dosas as a daily special as I did not see it on the website. The daily specials, creatively displayed on a board, reveal an array of options not specified in the menu and on the website. On the day of my visit, the two specials were the Onion Dosa and Masala Dosa. I ordered the Onion Dosa, and to my surprise. It was not just the dosa itself, but also the he sambar, coconut chutney, and kara chutney that accompanied the dosa were all nothing short of perfection.

Having explored countless Indian restaurants in Hong Kong over the past 8 years, I can confidently attest that Hotal Colombo serves the best dosas in the city. Each bite resonated with the comforting familiarity of home, making it an unparalleled dining experience.

In addition to the dosa revelation, Hotal Colombo brings a unique dish to Hong Kong's culinary scene with its "hoppers." The description of the hopper sounded very familiar, so I asked them if it was what we call "appam", and to my surprise, they said yes! I have never seen any other restaurant serve it in Hong Kong. The appam served here is a rarity in the city as, making it a must-try for anyone seeking a true taste of Sri Lanka's diverse offerings.

Regarding the starters, I tried the chilli potato, chilli chicken fry & the vegetable samosas and all of them were amazing. From starters to mains such as dosas and appams that redefine excellence and a menu that surprises and delights, Hotal Colombo is undoubtedly a go-to destination for those in search of an authentic and unforgettable dining experience.

Lastly, the interior is so cute and I love how they placed Sri Lankan newsletters as table mats which is truly how it's done locally. The dosa was also served on a plate with banana leaf. Both the interior and the food here truly made me feel at home.

I am already planning my next visit to savour the unmatched flavours that Hotal Colombo has to offer, and I strongly recommend everyone to...