Quick answer
Vegan and vegetarian cafes in Ella are easy to find, because Sri Lankan rice and curry is largely vegetable-based and most main street cafes offer plant-based dishes, smoothie bowls and dhal. Many vegetable curries are naturally vegan, made with coconut milk rather than dairy. The things to ask about are Maldive fish flakes, which are added to some sambols and curries, eggs in hoppers and roti, and ghee or butter in some dishes.
Key takeaways
- Sri Lankan rice and curry is largely vegetable-based, with dhal, jackfruit, beans, pumpkin and greens.
- Most vegetable curries are cooked with coconut milk, not dairy, so are often naturally vegan.
- Maldive fish flakes are added to some sambols and curries, so ask if you are strict.
- Hoppers and some roti may contain egg; ghee appears in some dishes.
- Many main street cafes in Ella mark vegan and vegetarian options on their menus.
Why Ella is easy for vegetarians and vegans
Ella is easy for vegetarians and vegans because Sri Lankan cooking is rooted in vegetables, pulses and coconut. A rice and curry lunch often includes four or five vegetable curries, such as dhal, green beans, pumpkin, jackfruit, beetroot and leafy greens, alongside a single meat or fish dish that can simply be left off.
Ella's cafe scene, built around travellers, adds smoothie bowls, salads, veggie burgers and plant-based versions of Western breakfasts. Many cafes mark vegan and vegetarian options on their menus, and staff are used to dietary questions.
Buddhist culture also means vegetarianism is familiar and respected, and many Sri Lankans eat meat-free on poya days.
- →Rice and curry: mostly vegetable dishes.
- →Cafe menus: smoothie bowls, salads, veggie options.
- →Culture: vegetarianism is familiar and respected.
Naturally plant-based Sri Lankan dishes
Many Sri Lankan dishes found in Ella are naturally vegan or vegetarian. Parippu, red lentil dhal cooked with coconut milk, is a staple at every meal. Polos, young jackfruit curry, has a meaty texture. Pumpkin curry, beetroot curry, green bean curry and gotu kola sambol, a fresh herb salad, are all common.
String hoppers and plain hoppers are made from rice flour and coconut milk, and coconut sambol, without fish flakes, is vegan. Vegetable kottu, chopped roti stir-fried with vegetables, is a popular evening dish, though it may contain egg.
Fruit is everywhere: papaya, pineapple, bananas and passion fruit, with mangosteen and rambutan in season.
- →Parippu (dhal) and polos (jackfruit curry).
- →Pumpkin, beetroot and green bean curries.
- →Gotu kola sambol and coconut sambol (ask about fish).
What to ask about
Vegetarians and vegans in Ella should ask about a few hidden ingredients. Maldive fish flakes, dried tuna, are added to some sambols, curries and seeni sambol, a sweet onion relish. Asking for dishes "without Maldive fish" is understood almost everywhere.
Eggs appear in egg hoppers, some roti and kottu, and in baked goods. Ghee and butter appear in some rice dishes and sweets. Milk appears in tea, which is usually served with sweetened milk unless you ask for it black.
Lankan Stays & Trails briefs guesthouses and drivers on guests' dietary needs, which makes meals on the road much simpler.
- →Maldive fish flakes in sambols and some curries.
- →Eggs in hoppers, roti, kottu and baking.
- →Ghee and milk in some rice dishes, sweets and tea.
Where vegetarians and vegans eat in Ella
Most main street cafes in Ella cater well for vegetarians and vegans, with clearly marked dishes and staff used to questions. Garden cafes and guesthouse kitchens are often even better, because the hosts cook to order and can adapt a rice and curry spread.
Local rice and curry shops are good value but may use fish flakes more freely, so ask before ordering. Bakeries offer vegetable buns, rolls and patties, though some contain egg.
Cafes in Ella change often, so check recent reviews for current vegan-friendly places, and ask your guesthouse for recommendations.
Cooking classes and home meals
A cooking class in Ella is one of the best ways for vegetarians and vegans to learn Sri Lankan dishes, because most classes focus on vegetable curries, dhal and sambols. Ask the host in advance to leave out fish flakes and eggs.
Home-cooked meals at family guesthouses are another highlight. Tell your host your needs on arrival, and you will often be served a feast of vegetable curries that matches anything in town.
Learning a few dishes also makes it easier to order confidently elsewhere in Sri Lanka.
- →Book a cooking class with a vegetable focus.
- →Tell guesthouse hosts your needs on arrival.
- →Learn dish names to order with confidence.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ella good for vegans?
Yes. Ella is one of the easiest places in Sri Lanka for vegans, because Sri Lankan rice and curry is largely vegetable-based and cooked with coconut milk, and many cafes mark vegan dishes. Ask about Maldive fish flakes in sambols and curries, and eggs in hoppers and roti.
What vegan Sri Lankan food can I eat in Ella?
Vegan Sri Lankan food in Ella includes parippu (lentil dhal), polos (young jackfruit curry), pumpkin, beetroot and green bean curries, gotu kola sambol, plain hoppers and string hoppers, and coconut sambol without fish flakes. Fresh fruit and smoothie bowls are widely available too.
Do Sri Lankan curries contain fish?
Some Sri Lankan curries and sambols contain Maldive fish flakes, dried tuna used for flavour, even when they look vegetarian. Asking for dishes without Maldive fish is understood almost everywhere in Ella. Many vegetable curries are made without it, but always ask if you are strict.
Are hoppers vegan?
Plain hoppers are usually vegan, made from fermented rice flour and coconut milk. Egg hoppers contain an egg cooked in the centre. Some cooks add a little milk or use other ingredients, so ask if you are strict. String hoppers are usually vegan too.
Is Sri Lankan tea vegan?
Sri Lankan tea itself is vegan, but it is usually served with sweetened milk unless you ask otherwise. Order it black, or ask whether plant milk is available; some cafes in Ella offer coconut or soy milk. Uva tea tastes excellent black.
Can I take a vegan cooking class in Ella?
Yes. Many cooking classes in Ella focus on vegetable curries, dhal and sambols, which suit vegans well. Tell the host in advance to leave out Maldive fish flakes and eggs, and ask about ghee. You will learn dishes you can cook at home.