Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Food
Ethnic Eating Adventures: Lakruwana On Staten Island
By
Jamie Feldmar
Published Jun 6, 2011
Modified Jun 6, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jamie Feldmar
Published Jun 6, 2011
Modified Jun 6, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Welcome back to another installment of Ethnic Eating Adventures, in which we travel far and wide to discover the hidden culinary delights of New York City. Today, because it's finally warm enough to enjoy the ride, we're hopping the ferry to Staten Island to try Sri Lankan cuisine.
Though it's not as well-known as some of the other ethnic enclaves across the city, Stapleton, Staten Island, is home to a small Sri Lankan community that's definitely worth exploring. Sri Lankan cuisine is heavy on rice, coconut milk, spices and seafood, and bears only a passing resemblance to typical Indian foods. Lakruwana goes hard for the tropical aesthetic, with rock-and-wood walls and woven-rope seats—yes, it's slightly ridiculous, but you've already made it to Staten Island to eat Sri Lankan food so just go with it.
Start with a bowl of creamy coconut milk-lentil soup, shot through with cardamom, cinnamon and black pepper—it's simple but infinitely satisfying. Then get an order of hoppers, bowl-shaped crepes made of fermented rice flour, filled with everything from egg to goat curry. Move on to lamprais, a Dutch-influenced Sri Lankan dish of basmati rice, stewed vegetables and curried fish wrapped and steamed in a banana leaf, presented tableside in a gloriously messy, fragrant bundle. Wash it all down with a cold glass of faluda, a sweet dessert drink that layers milk, rose syrup, and fine vermicelli strands.
Or, ignore the aforementioned suggestions and stuff your pretty little face with whatever smells best: on Sundays, the restaurant runs an "all you can eat" buffet from 12-3 p.m. and 6-10 p.m., see here for more details.
Tagged
ethnic eating adventures
sri lanka
Stapleton
staten island
Jamie Feldmar
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE food
Where are the cheapest drinks in NYC? A new report details the city's average prices.
The median price of a cocktail in the city is now $16, and $9 for a draft beer.
By
Hannah Frishberg
Published Oct 19, 2026
North African restaurants are rare in NYC. These 10 are the best.
Egyptian, Moroccan, Algerian and Tunisian food is delicious but underrepresented in the city.
By
Robert Sietsema
Food
North African restaurants are rare in NYC. These 10 are the best.
Egyptian, Moroccan, Algerian and Tunisian food is delicious but underrepresented in the city.
By
Robert Sietsema
10 dishes that demonstrate the delicious diversity of curry in New York City
By
Robert Sietsema
Frozen yogurt is back in New York City. So are the super long lines.
By
Sonia Rao
5 NYC banana puddings as good as Magnolia's
By
Hannah Frishberg
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .