I come from South India, where food is deeply rooted in everyday life. Growing up, dishes like dosa, idiyappam, and curries were not just meals but comfort. When my parents and sister visited the UK earlier this year for my graduation, one of our main goals was to explore London through its food before heading to Edinburgh.
My sister had everything perfectly planned. The group chat description said it all: “Just show up and have a good time.” One of the restaurants on that list was Hoppers Marylebone.
Hoppers is a well-known Sri Lankan restaurant in London, famous for its signature hoppers and bold flavours. Since my dad enjoys South Indian food, we thought this would be the perfect place for him to try something slightly different yet familiar.
We ordered the mutton rolls, Chettinad chicken chukka, Lankan chicken kari, string hoppers (VG), and dosa. In Tamil, string hoppers are called idiyappam, and I have always eaten them with sweet coconut milk. So in my mind, they were always a sweet dish. Breaking a habit of nearly 20 years, I tried them with chicken curry instead, and it completely exceeded my expectations.
The chicken curry was mildly spicy, rich in flavour, and the chicken was soft and perfectly cooked. The mutton rolls were crispy with a good level of spice, and surprisingly, the chilli ketchup paired really well with them. Seeing my dad genuinely enjoy the Sri Lankan flavours felt like a win in itself, especially since he is so used to traditional South Indian food.
The pricing felt very reasonable for London, especially considering the quality and portion sizes. The dishes were filling and satisfying without feeling overpriced.
The only drawback was how closely packed the restaurant was. It was extremely busy, which made it quite noisy and slightly difficult to have conversations. However, the service was excellent. Despite the rush, the food arrived quickly, which deserves real appreciation for the kitchen team.
If you are looking to try authentic Sri Lankan food in London, Hoppers Marylebone is definitely worth visiting. It is the kind of place where the food leaves you full, happy, and completely satisfied.
A meal so comforting, it makes you want to take a nap right after.
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