Chamara & KoKi’s Lunch Hunt Chronicle

🌆 Before COVID — The Golden Era

Lunch was ritual. We walked from Kollupitiya through Bambalapitiya, choosing a spot on feeling: Uwa Hotel for rice & curry, Gunasiri for dependable plates, Sidaran Fresh Juice for a cool reset. After eating, we circled Liberty Roundabout, drifted into Liberty Plaza, and only then returned to the office. Fast food was casual then—Pizza Hut, KFC, McDonald’s—affordable enough to be part of the rhythm. But the soul of our scroll lived in the local spots: kottu clangs, biriyani warmth, crab feasts, and banana‑leaf hospitality.

🦠 COVID Break

The office emptied; the walks stopped. Prices soared; some chains closed or felt out of reach. The ritual paused, but the memory lanes stayed bright—Liberty Circle, the tucked‑away hotels, the juice counter that felt like a holiday.

🌱 Revival Scroll

With school holidays and flexible work, we revived the wander. Some places had moved or gone, but the taste anchors remained. We walked again, ate again, and let the city hum beneath our footsteps—just like before.

Thai Rice at Chopsticks — Nawala

Grabbed after school drop-offs, Thai Rice from Chopsticks was comfort carried into the office.

Eatating Mix Grlll at home. Chopsticks, Nawala

Cheap Biriyani at New Galaxy Hotel

Cheap, flavorful biriyani that made every lunch feel rich without spending much.

Crab Omelet, Crabs & Chicken Fried Rice — Chango’s Park View

Crab omelet, crabs, and chicken fried rice — lunch turned celebration.

Seafood Chopsuey Rice — Shin Shio, Kohuwala

Seafood chopsuey rice worth the journey from Kollupitiya to Kohuwala.

Seafood Chopsuey Rice at Shin Shio, Kohuwala

Dinemore — Kollupitiya

Famous for chicken submarines, fried rice, and sizzling plates. Quick but filling, a fast-food hybrid shrine.

Dinemore Kollupitiya Chamara And Koki in 2016

Lakmali Hotel — Station Road, Kollupitiya (Closed)

A forgotten gem near the train station and bus stand. Tea‑time rituals with vegetable rotty and a soft drink, sometimes fruit juice, or just plain tea when nothing else was available. Breakfasts and office lunches carried from here kept the scroll alive in everyday routines. The hotel has been closed for years, but its memory remains part of the Chronicle.