Kottu House

This restaurant is relatively new and it was my first time having Sri Lankan street food or any Sri Lankan food at all. Didn’t know what to expect but had an idea since I’ve had South Asian food before.
The restaurant inside was quite small, cozy you might say. Maybe at most, 10 – 12 seats? Cool LED sign on the wall. Server/​cashier was super friendly and informative, I wished I could’ve remembered his name for this review.
Food was the bomb. I loved everything I ordered. I had the tofu blast kottu and the lentil patties. I noticed that they use a lot of coconut and spices, no complaints there! I also really liked the fact that I can choose the level of spice and size. (People love choices!!)
I will definitely be coming back to try the garden and the sneaky pineapple. (And for the lentil patties because they’re crack.)

Being a Sri Lankan, I was highly critical and hesitant to try the kottu here but I was pleasantly surprised. Toronto has very good kottu and my mom makes it well but this restaurant can definitely compete! It was fresh and had the perfect consistency. I also tried the beef rolls, and sweet hopper which were also must try’s! The wattalapam was divine and just like back home Can’t wait to try out the other kottus!

Came here yesterday and wasn’t sure what to expect because I’ve never had Sri Lankan food before! It’s a very cute little spot and has some room to dine-​in. Our server was always super friendly.
As for the food I tried the Crispy Shrimp, Classic Chicken, and the Beef Rolls. I absolutely LOVED all of them. The Crispy Shrimp was my favorite, it was so flavorful, and yummy. The Classic Chicken was really good too, but not as flavorful then the shrimp one in my opinion, still an amazing dish. The Beef Rolls were crispy and delightful! I also ordered the House Iced Coffee which was pretty good, had a hint of chai in it!
I’m so glad I came here with my friends or I don’t know when I would’ve ever discovered this place. Definitely will come again !!
Tip: The Kottu dishes come with different levels of spicy and this is not your normal spice levels. So be mindful of that when choosing your spice level!

I get cravings for this place regardless of what city or country I am in– that is how good it is. Quick as well so I’m a fan of dropping in coming home from work placing an order and having a beer (well selected rotating taps!) while its prepared. Also for those dining in — great folks work there and the atmosphere is inviting, casual and happy. Can’t say enough, portions, flavors and menu is just right. Hit it up already.

This place is Bomb! Got the lunch special with Chicken Kottu the lentil cakes and a soda for only $ 10. Very filling, full of flavor, and NOT greasy at all for fried street food.
A great change of pace from traditional Asian food! A must try!

Amazing spot.
1) I will recommend getting the chicken kottu and beef rolls.
2) Service was excellent.
3) The space is very nice with excellent ambiance.

I don’t know why it took me so long to try Kottu House after hearing so many of my friends rave about it, but boy am I glad I finally got my butt there. I’ve never ever had Sri Lankan food before so I wasn’t really sure what to expect, but that’s kind of the fun thing about trying new cuisines, isn’t it?
I decided to opt for a large order of the Classic Chicken Kottu because all my friends know how much I can eat and told me that there was no way in hell a small would fill me up. Thanks for looking out for my fat ass, guys! I also ordered both the Lentil Patties AND the Beef Rolls as per everyone’s recommendation because well I’m a fatass.
Once my order came (read: my Sri Lankan feast for one), I immediately devoured every single thing. Yes, I did in fact finish everything by myself and I enjoyed each bite right down to the last bit of Beef Roll.
The Classic Chicken Kottu was honestly amazing and like nothing I’ve ever had before. Jam packed with flavor in every forkful, the chicken was tender and delicious. If you’ve never had kottu before, it’s a street-​style Sri Lankan dish made with a combination of chopped up godamba roti, your choice of protein, curry, eggs and vegetables. It was fan-​freaking-​tastic.
The Lentil Patties and Beef Rolls were pretty damn good too. I was probably slightly partial to the Beef Rolls but that’s only because this girl loves her meat. The beef was already tasty on its own, but when stuffed in that crispy shell, it somehow became even better. And don’t even get me started on that spicy red sauce you get on the side with the beef rolls…
If you’ve never had Sri Lankan food before, definitely make your way to Kottu House ASAP. You won’t regret it. Promise.

Yes, I am a fan. The menu offers a diverse selection of dishes to try out. Their main dishes (kottus) come in both small and large sizes, which is great because it gives a little more control to the customer in deciding how their meal will be like. Me and my friend tried the classic chicken and sneaky pineapple dishes. From the short eats, we ordered Sri Lankan fish cutlets and South Asian fries. I do not recommend getting the short eats unless you’re rich, because as the name suggests, they take only half a minute to eat, leaving a very short-​lived good impression of the food. I thought that the sneaky pineapple was well made and reasonably portioned… although I don’t know how the pineapple is sneaky. Regardless, the setting looked very unique. It’s kind of small and dark, but it adds a nice vibe to it. Service was good. I’d recommend coming here. I’ll be back to try out some other dishes.

First let me say this place is incredibly small. There are three two person tables and around six seats at the bar so certainly not good for a group size above two.
The kottu was flavorful and not bad for around $ 10 but not better than any of the other Sri Lankan restaurants in the city. I would avoid the desserts. They were very small and overpriced. I don’t think many people order them so it took a long time as well.

If you want something unique, definitely give Kottu House a try. I’ve never had Sri Lankan food before, and it was delicious! I loved that they’re gluten-​free friendly. You can get any of the Kottus gluten-​free with mung bean noodles and gf soy sauce. They also clearly mark everything that is gluten-​free on their menu.
I tried the Tofu blast which was tofu sauteed with black curry and coconut milk. So yummy. I went with the small which was good for a snack, but I would definitely do a large if you are there for a meal.
Cute space and service is good. Go next door afterwards to Erin McKenna’s bakery for yummy gluten-​free vegan desserts!

Service 10 stars
Food 5 stars
I’ve had most of the things on the menu and have never been disappointed. Even when I’m stuffed, I’ll come here and eat knowing that I won’t regret it. The food here is super flavorful — definitely can pack a punch in the spice arena too (be careful!). The place/​avail seating is pretty small (~6 people at tables, ~6 people at bar-​like seating) but they’re super accommodating. One time I ordered a kottu and beef rolls (v good btw) and they semi-​forgot about my beef rolls (the group I was with was like 15 people!) and they didn’t charge me and were so so nice about everything — they even threw in free flan for everyone for being slow in getting everyone’s orders done.
Although none of their kottus have disappointed, my favorites are seawater fush and deviled beef. The fish is done pretty fish sauce-​y and I love it. Must order at least one kottu.
House iced coffee is like a legit vietnamese coffee with some chai flavors YUM
South Asian Fries are kinda like normal fries (I might be biased because I don’t like potatoes) but I’d opt for their beef rolls or lentil patties instead.
Fun tip for all you yo pro’s out there — you can pay with venmo

Kottu house is one of the few handful places which offers Srilankan cuisine. The place is super small with seating for only 6 people and most of the patrons take the food to go. Menu is pretty simple and short, different types of kottu and appetizers. We ordered the prawn based kottu with fish cake appetizers along with lunu sumbhal which is a spicy red chilli based chutney.
First few observations they use these cardboard size boxes for serving kottu and give out forks. It is very uncomfortable to eat kottu with forks (use spoons if possible), one should roll back the four sides of cardboard box otherwise it is very user unfriendly. Kottu by itself wasn’t what we were expecting to be, a lot of Chilli though otherwise no flavor with mix of roti, veggies and spices. 3 small prawn were put on top of kottu and they were almost burnt with the shell on. One would expect a good portion for $ 15 but the portion size was considerably very small. We were left hungry after our meal. Fish cakes don’t come with a side sauce, without the sauce they taste very dry.
Overall a nice concept but not very well executed.

Came here randomly and was expecting more of it to be honest. We tried different things, but both tasted really similar to us and the flavors of it was alright, just felt like a random mix of meats and vegetables and roti all thrown together. The spices used in them were really unique though and had a kick in each bite. I saved the rest for lunch at work tomorrow and it still tasted similar to when we first bought it which was nice.

Kottu u r the go to 4 my heart. You spice, you r nice, you tastey n u wow good did not expect. Sri Lanka mus be sad they dnt hav u any more n now u r n the big apple but no apple on the menu guess that’s o.k.
Wow good wow taste wow come again ok wow

Had a small Crispy Prawn Kottu and a lion stout to go. Nicely sized with a lot of prawn. Quite delicious with good chunks of roti. Quite spicy as well. I can see why so many people like this place. Good beer selection as well.
Will get some watalappam, next time.
I’d rate it a 4.5 but I cannot. High 4 in other words.

Saw this new spot on the way home the other day and decided to stop in. I’ve never had kottu before — in fact, I’ve only tried Sri Lankan food just once before (at Sigiri) but I did enjoy it.
Kottu House is a pretty small and cozy establishment with only a handful of tables so I wouldn’t bring a large party. The menu is pretty compact, highlighting kottus but they also have a handful of appetizers and two dessert options.
Kottu is apparently a super popular street food consisting of chopped roti stir fried with a protein of your choice, egg, veggies and a ton of spices. I decided on the seawater fish, to go.
My order took about 10 minutes to make and was packaged nicely. Love the cute wooden forks. I could smell the fragrant spices seeping out with every step I took on the way home and definitely quickened my pace.
The kottu was absolutely delicious and packed so much heat even though I only ordered mild. The flavor profile of all the spices definitely made my mouth water, eyes tear and stomach churn. So good though. The small was enough.
Definitely adding it to my dinner rotation.

«THE SPICE IS RIIIIIIGHT»…no, this isn’t a TV show Bollywood-​ified game show.
it’s one of many ways to describe the home/​street-​cooking of Kottu House’s Sri Lankan (or Singhalese) eats. ‘Sides Bollywood is an indicator of those Injun folks north of my familia’s homeland.
the main fare or entrée is Kottu – which is chopped roti fried in curry, spices, and some crunchy veggies. i would say this is probably comfort eating in my rents homeland – it’s not an everyday meal, so it’s amazing that Kottu House has taken this singular dish and broken it out in so many delicious ways.
the Kottu’s come in two sizes small and large.
Pro Tip #1: if you’re eating with a few folks, ordering several different «smalls» is a good call for variety’s sake and so you don’t OD on one version of the dish. the «large» is a healthy portion for one.
Pro Tip #2: the folks who work here will usually ask you for your spice tolerance in terms of American (non-​brown person) and Sri Lankan (brown person). i opt for medium Sri Lankan – which is still pretty spicy, but enjoyable for «hotheads» such as myself. #seewhatididthere. do not opt for the maximum spiciness unless you can actually enjoy the food. i never understand when people do because all they are doing is inhaling their food and gulping water while tasting nothing. don’t be those people – enjoy the journey of your meal unless you enjoy stinging reminders in the morning. ha.
you can opt to sit down if there are seats available. the space probably sits about 14 – 16 total via stools at the bar which is where you order and some seating options on the left and right of the restaurant. if you sit, they will bring the food to your table. there are some beer, wine, and non alcoholic options that they do table service for… and they carry the Sri Lankan brew LION! dooooo eeeeeet.
you can also order for takeout at the counter, call it for pickup or use SEAMLESS for pickup as well. there’s a seamless discount code for your first takeout order i believe. it will take about 15 – 20 minutes after you order, so bounce and come back. this place gets crowded as a mofo in the evening hours. late night or lunch works better – most times.
the space is very low-​lit with some décor items of Singhalese origins like a Buddha statue and some other accent pieces. otherwise the small space is not overly decorated and keeps the space fairly organized and yet homey/​comfy/​cozy. the left wall has a cool amount of photos which i assume are tied to the owners. and the right side is brickface. simple. not busy. aesthetically even and pleasing. fyi: the bathroom is downstairs.
Pro Tip #3: Kottu’s to order: Really like the classic chicken; the crispy prawn; and deviled beef. the other choices are pretty good but the first three really nail it especially with the bite of spicy hotness. they also serve a Tofu Kottu – and as i always say the best way to serve TOFU is to throw it in the garbage and order something else. LOL. #seewhatididthere. don’t order tofu. ugh. man up.
Pro Tip #4: you can add egg to the top of any Kottu. i like adding it to the chick’n. it seems unnecessary on other Kottus.
there are «short eats» aka appetizers. of those i’d recommend the salmon cutlets, beef rolls, calamari dusted with Sri Lankan spices/​chilis. i hear they have Sri Lankan inspired french fries… but i think that might be too much fry-​carb heaviness for me with the Kottu. to each his or her own as the fries do look interesting.
there are some coconut sambols and a onion/​chiles based sambol that are tasty side items to up and round out the hot spiciness with different flavor combos. i don’t typically associated sambols with kottus bc they are more a staple of eating with traditional rice and curry. however introducing the sambols via the comfiness of the kottus is a cool way of educating folks new to Sri Lankan edibles.
there are some dessert options, but i’ve never been a fan of Sri Lankan dessert as they venture towards the saccharine sweet boundaries of my tastebuds’ threshold.
the staff is friendly. it’s a tiny kitchen and orders in the restaurant and takeout seem to back up pretty quickly. the young lady working the counter had her back to customers for like 10 – 15 minutes while figuring out how to stack orders from in the restaurant and outside of the restaurant. it was weird. she was pleasant enough, but no staffer should ever have his/​her back to customers that long. the tiny restaurant’s popularity seems to be creating some stress-​ure and growing pains. look forward to seeing how they can get everything synched up in a less stitched-​and-​duct-​taped way, so things roll more smoothly. a bigger space with a bigger kitchen might be the answer. idk.
Kottu House is definitely a place you can call home for faraway eats from the tiny island nation of Sri Lanka. high hopes for this joint as its popularity continues to grow,
drops mic, so i can cut this insane spicy Kottu with some beer!
i out.
zzz

Kottu House was kind of perfect. The food is tasty and inexpensive, the space is cute and interesting. It hit all the marks for a place I would happily make a repeat visit to (admittedly rare).
They specialize in one thing: kottu, a Sri Lankan street food made of shredded roti, then given the fried rice treatment — i.e. stir-​fried with egg and a slew of other things.
«Small» portions start at a happy $ 7 and are enough for a small meal, because it’s all starch and heaviness. Even though we were eating in, our food was still served in waxed paper boxes with little wooden sporks. The black tofu kottu and black chicken kottu tasted similar, as expected: thoroughly satisfying, fresh but with the fury of spices that have been forced to mingle for awhile (not actually spicy, though). The spiced fries were very ordinary.
The only other Sri Lankan restaurant I remember ever visiting (Sigiri) was not nearly as interesting or approachable. Our waitress was very friendly and gracefully tolerated Karry L’s «brusque asshole» persona.
The cherry on top was that they have Rekorderlig strawberry and lime cider! O nostalgia!

This was my second taste of kottu roti, my first being at Sigiri in NJ. While I preferred Sigiri which I thought really punched me in the mouth flavor wise, I think the folks are kottu house are shooting for a broader appeal. That being said, it’s still quite good. I had the classic chicken and would return to try the salt fish version.
We also split the beef rolls, lentil cakes, and calimari. Of the three, I’d probably only get the calimari again.

Not all Kottus are equal.
This quote from Ligaya Mishan“s New York Times review is written in chalk on the blackboard outside the restaurant. Ligaya got that right (as she usually does, but for her errors of judgment regarding the West Bengal restaurant, Haldi in Curry Hill).
Kottu House does a phenomenal job at Kottu. Pictures can’t do the dish justice as it is not only difficult to photograph it in the restaurant (given the casual containers enclosing the dish) but also what visual Picasso can one expect from chopped roti, chopped meat and fried thinly sliced vegetables?
«It’s like fried rice without the rice», was how an adventurous Caucasian diner described the dish to her companion. Technically correct, but a comparably descriptive insult would be to hear a Chicago native describe New York pizza as thinner pizza with the cheese on top of the sauce… :)
Kothu might not be the national dish of Sri Lanka, but its popularity transcends geography and income demographics. It’s so popular that the Tamils in the north inspired a comparative interpretation in South India called Kothu Parotta.
The sound of metal on metal as the dish is cooked creates awareness that the dish is being prepared. Its sound similar to a rhythmic tabla on metal, but perhaps to comply with restaurant regulations, the sound inside the restaurant isn’t as loud as it normally is, particularly at roadside restaurants in Sri Lanka.
The version at the restaurant is as delightful as any exceptional execution: meaning it will tantalize your taste buds and the spice levels will gut your insides. You’d better finish the meal with the Sri Lankan flan: Wattalappam (made of Jaggery) so that you’re shouting Wattalappam the next morning ;)
A meal should set you back less than $ 25 with tip, and for spice hounds it is completely worth it. The key difference for me from my many meals at other Sri Lankan restaurants within the city is that they use fresher spices and don’t hold back on using both powdered spices as well as green peppers.
(Rounding up from 4.5 stars, that half star deduction driven by the fact that the beef has often been fried to a drier texture than normal, I wouldn’t have been critical till the chewy texture almost reminded me of Beef Jerky)