Blog | 25 November, 2025

If you are craving home-style curry you are not alone. Indian food has become one of the loved cuisines in the country. Melbourne sits at the heart of that love affair. From rich butter chicken to fluffy naan this cuisine keeps winning fans every year.

There is more to explore. Next to classic Indian dishes Sri Lankan street food is quietly stealing hearts across the city. Think kottu roti, fragrant lamprais and comforting dhal. Together these two cuisines create one of the food scenes in Melbourne.

Why Indian Food in Melbourne Keeps Growing

cuisine is not a passing trend. Across Australia there are now over 1,600 restaurants and Victoria leads every other state for choice and variety. Surveys from Menulog and Roy Morgan both place food among the nations top four favourite cuisines.

Why the love? A few simple reasons:

• spices that actually taste like something
• Huge variety from mild to fiery hot
• Generous portions that feel like real value
• Options for vegetarians, vegans and meat lovers alike

Melbourne diners get to enjoy this variety daily often for less than the price of a regular takeaway meal.

Sri Lankan Street Food: The Flavour You Did Not Know You Needed

Ask any regular. They will tell you: Sri Lankan street food deserves just as much attention as Indian classics. It shares some spices with cooking but the flavours stand on their own.

A few dishes worth trying:

• Kottu roti – shredded flatbread stir-fried with egg, vegetables and your choice of meat
• Lamprais – rice cooked in stock served with meat curry and sambol
• Devilled chicken – crispy, spicy and slightly sweet
• Curry puffs – a quick bite while you shop or work

Pair any of these with a hot masala chai or a sweet mango lassi and lunch suddenly becomes the best part of your day.

How to Choose the Best Sri Lankan Food in Melbourne

Not every stall or restaurant delivers the same quality. Here is a simple method to find the ones.

1. Follow the queue: A steady line of regulars always means fresh food and fast turnover.
2. Check the spice range: Good kitchens offer mild, medium and hot with labels for allergies.
3. Look for variety on one menu: Curries, roti, kottu and dosa together show cooking skill.
4. Ask about the curry base: Fresh coconut milk, curry leaves and whole spices always beat sauce.
5. Read customer reviews: Comments about portion size and freshness tell you what to expect.

What Real Customers Are Saying

Nothing beats hearing it from people who have actually eaten the food. Here is what diners at Drums Street Food have shared in their words:

“Delicious platter with a great variety of flavours! The curries were rich the rice was well. The mango lassi was sweet and satisfying.” – Jenn

“Excellent and tender lamb with curry and yellow rice. Highly recommended.”. Peter Yeo

” delicious authentic food… Lots of options for vegetarians and vegans too.”. Ronald McCoy

“The goat curry and I’d strongly recommend the devilled chicken.”. SeriousT800

With a 4.9 out of 5 rating across dozens of reviews it is clear that fresh ingredients and honest cooking still win people over.

Must-Try Dishes for First-Time Visitors

If you are new to this style of cooking start simple:

• Butter chicken with garlic naan for a familiar and comforting start
• Chicken biryani, layered with rice and whole spices
• Vegetarian combo plate, packed with dhal, potato curry and salad
• Kottu roti for something different and satisfying

Each dish tells a story of tradition, family recipes and generations of home cooking.

Final Thoughts

Melbournes food scene keeps growing. Indian and Sri Lankan flavours hold a special place in it. Whether you want a lunch or a full feast there is a curry, a roti or a combo plate waiting for you.

Ready to taste it yourself? Explore the menu, at Drums Street Food and find your new favourite dish today.