The beauty of Sri Lankan food is its multitude of influences, drawing on British, Dutch, Chinese and Indian spices while weaving in a whole lot of tropical-influenced flavour. Gara Yaka not only showcases these elements of Sri Lankan cuisine, but modernises them. An ever-changing menu showcases the likes of fried rice loaded with caramelised pineapple, veggies and cashews, Kottu Rotti (owner Ru calls it the ‘Sri Lankan version of a burrito bowl’), Devilled beef, pork and chicken (coated in mouth-watering sweet-and-spicy sauce), and coconut rotti with slow-cooked curry for dipping and house-made spiced onion jam. The restaurant is also BYO, which is perfect for bringing along your tipple of choice to accompany a feast shared with friends.

Gara Yaka’s fitout echoes its flavours, in that the clean, fresh and modern decor still draws on traditional accents as a reminder of its Sri Lankan roots. Exposed brickwork and pops of neon contrast with old-school prints of iconic Sri Lankan streetscapes and brightly coloured wooden masks lining the walls. Although Gara Yaka has been open for a little under two months, the restaurant is already gaining a cult following of locals and travellers alike, prompting the team to develop a ‘take home’ element of the cuisine that’s wowing patrons. If you can’t make time to dine in, Gara Yaka’s range of authentic Sri Lankan spices, curry pastes, tea and even coconut water will elevate your cooking into something special.