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March 12, 2023 Sri Lankan, Soho, Soho, London

Hoppers

I have to start by talking about Hoppers, being a Sri Lankan in London, you can find our food, but it’s generally not very central. You can head to Tooting Broadway, you can head into Wembley, but if you live in Central London and need your fix there just isn’t a decent option. That is until Hoppers opened up back in 2015, a mix of Sri Lankan and South Indian cuisine. Fun fact, when the place originally opened my mum who was quite deft with technology had started following Hoppers on Instagram, they had posted a photo of a Hopper, and my mum being who she was, decided to make her own and DM them the results. To my surprise they responded and said that it looked great, my mum was properly chuffed with that result and would remind me of that fact for years. You’ll learn as we go, but my mum was a fantastic cook so I do compare a lot of what I eat to what she could prepare, she was talented in numerous cuisines which probably started my love affair of food.

Back to Hoppers! Their success has spawned a few more locations but the Soho spot is fast becoming an institution. Being Sri Lankan, you can’t talk about our food without mentioning mutton, and at Hoppers this is on the menu in spades. You must, and I mean must start your meal with a plate of mutton rolls. These come in a pair, perfectly fried rolls, breadcrumbed on the outside, soft spicy mutton on the inside, normally served with a chill ketchup. When it comes to mains, I love a Kothu Roti which comes with shredded vegetables, roti, and your choice of meat (again I would suggest mutton). You must also try a Hopper which is our version of a savoury pancake, don’t be shy and eat with your hands as it’s the best way to mix all the curries together. A final suggestion is the Black Pepper Pork Kari, the meat is super tender and has that nice mix of spice and sweetness that comes from the curry and tamarind. Wash it all down with a Toddy Ale and you’ll be in heaven. Like most South Asian places, the general rule is to share plates so definitely go with a few friends so you can try multiple dishes.

Price per head: £25-£50

Crap KothuCrap Kothu

Chettinad Chicken bitesChettinad Chicken bites

HopperHopper

Mutton RollsMutton Rolls

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