I visited a Sri Lankan restaurant called "Jayapiyasa," which used to operate near Yagawa Station on the Nanbu Line but has now moved near Kokuritsu Station on the Chuo Line. The restaurant had closed a few years ago but reopened near Minami-Hirai Station on the Keio Line. The colorful signboard was reminiscent of the one from the old location. I ordered the Village Plate lunch set with spicy chicken curry (also available with mackerel curry). A small cup of vegetable soup was served first, followed by the main dishes. The fish croquette was crispy on the outside and moist inside, and the boneless chicken curry was just the right amount of spicy. I enjoyed mixing it with rice, lentil curry, carrot sambol, okra, and spiced mackerel. I also had some papadam as a palate cleanser and finished with a mildly sweet milk tea. Although the presentation may not be as vibrant as the Sri Lankan curry I had in Yokohama, the flavors were excellent, and I left satisfied. I look forward to trying the curry set with rice flour noodles (string hoppers) next time. As a side note, I saw a Keio Line train painted in bright yellow-green colors with a design resembling Mount Takao while I was there.

I visited The Village in Nanpei for the first time after being inspired by a review from someone I follow. I called ahead to make a reservation as they only serve 25 special banana leaf plates per month. The small restaurant had two staff members - one for customer service and one for cooking, both were very polite. We ordered: - Special Banana Leaf Plate x2 for each of us - Ceylon Milk Tea (Iced) x2 We both had the special banana leaf plate, with Kiribath rice of course! And we ordered the Ceylon Milk Tea iced. "Here's a complimentary onion soup," they said as they brought out a small cup of soup. The sweetness of the onion and the punch of the pepper were delicious. The contents of the special banana leaf plate that day were: - Sinhala Atcharu (Mixed Pickle) - Miris Malu (Yellowfin Tuna Curry) - Batata Kirata (Sweet Potato Curry) - Kola Sambol (Three-leaf Salad) - Papadam (Lentil Cracker) - Ratukakulu (Kiribath Rice - Red Rice) We started with the red rice Kiribath, which was incredibly delicious on its own! The unique texture really shines when mixed with the other items. I understand why people love this so much! The Kola Sambol with plenty of three-leaf salad was a delight. The Sinhala Atcharu had a strong acidity from onions, carrots, and bell peppers. The yellowfin tuna was chunky and had a satisfying chew. The Batata Kirata with sweet potatoes was a fusion of sweetness and spices. The elongated shape of the sweet potatoes made me wonder if it was a different variety. After savoring each dish, we cracked open the thick papadum to finish. The Sinhala Atcharu with its strong acidity seemed a bit lacking at first, but mixing it with other items proved to be the right choice. Balance is key, after all. We ended the meal with iced Ceylon Milk Tea and left fully satisfied. Thank you for the delicious meal!

- Dosa (Thosai) Set (¥1,700) *Reservation required menu A set of Dosa made from beans and rice, served with Sambal (vegetable curry) and Mint Sambol (chutney). This is my second time trying it, and it's still delicious! The fluffy Dosa, Sambal, and Sambol create a perfect harmony - a Sambal trio! - Special Banana Leaf Plate (¥1,450) *Choose Kekul Rice A monthly limited menu! This time, the flavors seemed subtle overall, but the chewy Kekul Rice increased the chewing sensation, allowing the various side dishes' flavors to be gradually appreciated. Delicious! - Avocado Juice (¥650) Thick and refreshing with a balanced sweetness, this Avocado Juice is so good that it doesn't move even when you tilt the glass!

- Lankan Salad (¥650) Some menu items have been reduced in price starting this month, and I'm happy to see that my favorite Lankan Salad has been reduced from ¥900 to ¥650! - Karawala Terdala (¥1,300) Karawala (dried fish from Sri Lanka) stir-fried with vegetables. The rich flavor and strong saltiness of the Karawala make the rice disappear quickly. The sweetness of the vegetables, cooked until soft, also adds to the deliciousness! I felt that one plate of rice wasn't enough, so I ordered a rice trio (Kekulu rice, Japanese rice, Basmati rice) to go with it.

-Budget Buffet (¥1,200): Available only on Saturdays (18:00-20:30) and Sundays (11:00-14:30), this buffet allows you to fill your plate as much as you want. The dishes on the buffet table are similar to the ones on the Village Plate (with a few more options on the Village Plate), so it's quite a good deal if you think of it as an upgrade option. The variety of dishes on this day included mushroom, potato and dried fish, bean curry, and mackerel curry (which alternates with chicken curry weekly), and they were all very delicious! -Wada (Vada) Set (¥1,300): A reservation menu that I ordered over the phone the day before. It includes two types of Wada (Urdu Wada and Palip Wada) along with Mint Sambol (mint and coconut sauce). It took some time to be served as it seems to require some effort to prepare, but it was no problem as I snacked on the buffet dishes while waiting. The two types of Wada, each with a completely different texture, are fried so they can be a bit oily, but they paired well with the spicy and refreshing Mint Sambol, making it very tasty!

I was curious about a budget buffet that started on 8/26, so I went to check it out! (Even though I had just eaten at Pitto the day before) - Budget Buffet (¥1,200) * Saturdays (18:00-20:30) and Sundays (11:00-14:30) only In a small corner of the restaurant, there was a buffet table set up with rice and 2 vegetable side dishes (weekly menu), bean curry (fixed menu), and chili paste. The chicken curry (fixed menu) was brought to you by the staff. You can only get one plateful, so it's different from all-you-can-eat buffets in terms of how seriously you take your serving. The snake gourd curry (side dish) that I had enjoyed the day before was piled high, and I covered my favorite parippu (bean curry) generously. You can get seconds for each dish for an additional ¥150. With all-you-can-eat buffets, it's easy to overeat with multiple servings, but in this case, the extra ¥150 serves as the final answer to whether you can really eat more or not (I can eat!). It helps prevent unnecessary overeating. There are only 4 dishes and no dessert, so it's not suitable for those who want to eat a wide variety of dishes, but it was perfect for someone like me (who loves Village's rice & curry and has weak self-control). - Pitto Set (¥1,650) Two days in a row of Pitto. It may not be popular with everyone, but I love it!

I decided to eat at Pituu, and when I called to make a reservation the day before, they told me, "Tomorrow we have a buffet." What?! But I was determined to stick to my original plan of eating Pituu and the limited menu! - Special Banana Leaf Plate (¥1,450) This is a monthly limited menu served on a banana leaf! You can choose from 3 types of rice (Japanese rice, basmati rice, Sri Lankan red rice), so I chose red rice (Ratukaculu). The fluffy red rice went really well with the curry and side dishes and was delicious! - Pituu (¥1,650) *Reservation required This dish is made by steaming rice flour and coconut in a special cooking utensil. I saw how it was prepared, and even from a distance, the lovely scent of coconut wafted over! The Pituu was dry yet chewy, with a texture that was addictive! It tasted great with the refreshing coconut soup (Kirihodi) and the spicy Lunumiris! The new weekend buffet has a slightly different system, where you can help yourself to rice and side dishes only once, and the curry is brought to you by the staff. If you want more, you can add rice or curry for an additional ¥150. I tend to overeat at buffets where I can serve myself as much as I want, but with this restaurant's system, I feel like I can control my portions better and finish without overeating. I need to try this out!

- Cora Candanda (¥500) *Limited to Tuesdays A Sri Lankan green grass porridge. It has a very mild and gentle taste without any strong flavors (although personally, I would welcome stronger flavors). It's very soothing and comforting. I usually don't eat breakfast, but I think it would be perfect for breakfast. - Dosa & Sambol & Sambar Curry (¥1,700) This is a menu that requires a reservation, but if you contact them by 12:00 on the day, you can have it for dinner. The dosa here (the chef called it "Tosei") is not the thin and crispy paper dosa, but a thick pancake-like dosa. It takes quite some time to be served (because it takes time to cook), but the dosa is fluffy and delicious on its own! When you top it with the sambar, which is packed with vegetables, or the coconut chutney with a strong coconut flavor, it becomes even more delicious! I definitely want to eat this again! Another thing that impressed me that day was the water they served. They used water filtered through a Brita water purifier (which I didn't notice despite visiting the restaurant many times). Personally, I think this is a big plus point!

I went to my favorite restaurant again to enjoy their delicious appam (must be reserved in advance), and the other dishes I ordered were also tasty! - Lanka Salad (¥900): Thinly sliced onions and bitter gourd chips added a nice touch to this salad! The mayonnaise-based dressing was also very delicious. - Chicken and Vegetable Soup (¥750): The small cup of soup that comes with the lunch set was so tasty that I wished I could have more... and guess what, you can actually have a full serving of that delicious soup! - Hopper (Appam) Set (¥1,850): A set to enjoy plain appams, egg appams, and the flavor-changing Lunumiris appam! They even served curry sauce to go with the appams on that day. The restaurant used to operate from 11:00 to 17:00 (no dinner service), but now they have started dinner service on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays! Also, please note that the lunch hours have changed to 11:00 to 14:30 (until 15:30 on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays), so be mindful of this if you plan to visit!

It used to be located in Kokuritsu but closed down. It later reopened last year at a station called Minamihira on the Keio Line. This visit was my first since December 2022. Back then, I had tried the Village Plate, but personally felt that the seasoning was still a bit lacking, which was disappointing. As time had passed since its opening, I decided to visit again. This time, I chose the String Hopper & Double Curry, with curry made with mackerel and beans. The menu had changed since my last visit, and I felt that the flavors had matured and the balance was better. I started eating the String Hopper by hand, assuming it was meant to be eaten that way, but when combined with the curry, the Hopper became softer and easier to break apart, so I thought it was okay to use a spoon. Compared to before, although it was a holiday, the number of customers was moderate, and I hoped that the restaurant would continue to thrive. It seems that they also operate a kitchen car, so I hope that they will continue to spread this valuable Sri Lankan curry in the Tama region. Thank you for the meal.

- Hopper Set (¥1,850) It's rare to find a place that offers hoppers (appam), but at this restaurant, if you contact them in advance (I called the day before), you can have hoppers! The set includes 3 plain hoppers, 2 egg hoppers, and lunu miris. The rice flour batter has a hint of coconut flavor, crispy on the outside and soft in the middle - delicious! The egg hopper is best enjoyed by folding it in half and taking a bite. - Village Plate (¥1,450) I chose the mackerel curry on this day. As always, it was delicious!

- Village Plate (¥1,450) Sometimes (about every other day) I feel like eating Village Plate at Musho. It was delicious today too! I'm glad I listened to my inner voice and came to eat (^^) - Cutlet (¥800) Cutlet is also on top of the rice in the Village Plate, but I've been wanting to eat a little more cutlet for a while, so I also ordered it separately, listening to my inner voice. It came with a total of 5 cutlets, but I enjoyed them without getting tired of it! According to the staff, they will start dinner service on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays from July. However, they are not offering dinner service this month. Hmm, when we talked last time, they said they would have dinner service on Saturdays... So, if you plan to go for dinner, it might be a good idea to check with the restaurant just in case. ⭐️ Information on the whereabouts of the kitchen car On June 24 and 25, they will be at Shakujii Park, and on July 1 and 2, they will be at Kasai (I forgot to ask for the exact location!). (I'm going on a road trip again)

Currently, the Village restaurant is only open for a long lunchtime (11am to 5pm), with evening hours available on Saturdays. On weekends, they go on expeditions to various parks with a food truck. On 6/17 and 6/18, they will be at Komazawa Park, and on 6/24 and 6/25, they will be at Shakujii Park. The Village Plate (¥1,450) includes a choice of chicken curry, vegetable side dishes (cabbage and okra on this day), bean curry, sweet ketchup-like meatballs, crispy fried sardines, freshly fried croquettes, and spicy, sharp chicken curry. The plate offers a variety of flavors and is well-balanced. It's delicious! I want another plate!

It's a very delicious and beautifully refined restaurant inside. Currently, it seems that they are open until 5:00 pm due to employee working hours, but please make sure to visit!! Now, let me report on my recent visit. I visited around 11:20 for lunch. There were no other customers at that time. During my visit until around 12:30, one person came in for takeout. [Food] I ordered the Paratha (for myself) and the Village Plate (for my companion), along with ice cream. There are other menu options, so please refer to the photos. Before the food arrived, they served a soup as a complimentary starter. It was a delicious soup with a curry flavor containing carrots, potatoes, and chicken. The dishes I ordered were as follows: - Paratha Plate 850 yen: The Paratha was a bit lighter than before, with layers like a pie (I can't explain it well, you have to try it yourself!). It was really delicious. - A cute portion of rice. - Choice of curry chicken or mackerel; I chose mackerel. The generous amount of thin curry sauce contained canned mackerel. The curry seemed less mild than before, but it was still delicious with plenty of spices. - Salad with baby lettuce, cherry tomatoes, and a dressing that was easy to eat (Japanese style?). - Village Plate 1450 yen: You can choose between curry chicken and mackerel; I chose chicken. It was served separately, and the chunky chicken was quite large. - Freshly fried sardines - Plenty of rice - Cutlet, freshly fried and delicious - Stir-fried soy meat-like dish with onions - Okra curry? - Cabbage and coconut sambol? - Bean curry - Papadam (bean crackers), crispy and delicious! - Ice cream 400 yen: I ordered based on the menu displayed on the window. It's a double scoop with a choice of two flavors among vanilla, strawberry, chocolate, and mango. I chose vanilla and chocolate, and both were delicious. [Service] The floor staff, a man who is fluent in Japanese (has been in Japan for 6 years and studied at a Japanese vocational school), provided polite service. He opened the oshibori (wet towel) packet for us and engaged in conversation. The cleanliness of the restaurant was also impressive, and I had a very favorable impression. [Payment] They accept various electronic money payments such as ID and PayPay. [Interior] There are about 10 table seats, with chairs and sofas. There also seemed to be about 3 counter seats. I didn't ask if there were child seats, but it didn't seem like there were any. There was also no children's menu, but they might be flexible if you ask! The tables, chairs, and interior decorations were neatly arranged. The restroom also had a sense of luxury. There were devices for disinfection and running water sounds in the toilet (like a sound princess). There were sandals placed in front of the toilet, perhaps for cleaning purposes, which reminded me of the delicacy and thoughtfulness of Sri Lankan people. There were decorations and explanations about the colonial era and Sri Lanka throughout the restaurant, which made me feel nostalgic. [Other] It seems that they are currently open until 5:00 pm due to a former floor staff member leaving. There is no longer a staff member from the colonial era. However, the current floor staff member knew the former chef. They also operate a food truck, which frequents Yoyogi Park, Fuchu, and Tokorozawa. They mentioned not having been to Showa Kinen Park. There is an order menu available for takeout, which includes items like Hopper Set and Pitthu Luminis. Apart from this order menu, all items are available for takeout. There are dinner menu options besides the lunch menu, which include desserts and takeout items. I wish they had Kiribeni... [Final thoughts] I can confidently say that I loved the Village in the colonial era the most! I would be happy to see many customers coming here and thriving. I hope they open a second branch in the colonial era... or at least bring the food truck to the colonial area (*^^*)

Thevillage, which was located in the national capital, has moved to Nampyo. The Stringhopper Plate Curry allows you to choose two types, so adding the Pol Sambol separately to the sardines and chicken increases the slightly sour aroma and appetite. I chose sardines last time, but the taste of chicken is more carb-friendly. The chicken has a hint of spices but is mild in saltiness. The Yellow Rice Plate Curry allows you to choose one type for under 1000 yen, a simple dish. The Village Plate comes with a variety of dishes, soup, and a choice of curry, with sardines having a slightly rasam-like flavor. The soup is full of vegetables! The sardine curry was also plentiful. It would have been even better with some Pol Sambol. Mixing it all together makes it delicious. The Tandoori Chicken & Yellow Rice is a bit pricey, but I want to try other menu items as well.

At the end of last year, a Sri Lankan restaurant called "The Village" suddenly opened in Minami-Pin. It is an all-rounder restaurant where you can enjoy authentic local dishes cooked by a Sri Lankan chef during the day as a cafe and as a bar at night. Today, I focused on Godamba (roti) because the roti was exceptionally delicious last time. Today, I assembled the following dishes: - Egg Roti (with Saba curry) for 950 yen - Fish & Chicken Rolls for 800 yen - Meat Godamba for 400 yen The appetizer was a delicious bite-sized curry soup. The Egg Roti had a great texture with egg, salt, and pepper on stretched dough. The mild and lightly acidic Saba curry with coconut was also of high quality. The rolls were made with tuna and chicken, mashed potatoes with curry flavor, and wrapped in Godamba. The Meat Godamba was made with minced meat, diced potatoes, and a strong peppery filling wrapped in Godamba and baked. I also had Ceylon Milk Tea (hot) for 200 yen and Watalappam, a spiced coconut custard, for 650 yen. The Watalappam had a nostalgic and gentle sweetness, making it a delightful dessert. The restaurant was bustling with lunch customers, and it seemed like the people of Hino City were enjoying the flavors of The Village. As a fan, it made me happy to see the restaurant being appreciated by the locals.

After the national shop closed down, I had assumed that it would not reopen again, but to my surprise, it has made a comeback in Minami-Hirayama with a fresh new look! Special Banana Leaf Plate (¥1,450) is a limited menu available every Wednesday. The rice and various vegetable side dishes, lentil curry, papadum... Sri Lankan rice and curry have a great balance and taste delicious! The rice used is kekulu rice, which has a nice chewy texture that allows you to savor the dishes more. I was particularly impressed by the separate dish of dried fish curry. It has a strong salty flavor and umami from the salted dried fish. It may be a taste that divides opinions, but I personally loved it. String Hopper & Coconut Sambol (¥1,400) allows you to enjoy the delicious curry with string hoppers. The generous portion of coconut sambol and string hoppers alone taste delicious. Cashew Nut Curry (¥1,850) was something I had been curious about during the national shop days but never got around to ordering. I couldn't resist ordering it this time, and it turned out to have a light and refreshing taste instead of the heavy and thick flavor I had imagined. The refreshing taste combined with the nutty texture of the cashew nuts made for a delightful curry. Ceylon Tea (¥200 when ordered with a lunch set) is a must-have when it comes to Sri Lanka. The aroma is wonderful, and the slight bitterness is delicious. The Sri Lankan female chef on duty that day may not speak much Japanese, but there is a cute Japanese staff member who handles customer service, so communication is not a problem at all.

String Hopper Set ¥2,650 including tax This is a Sri Lankan restaurant located right near Nambu Station on the Keio Line. I heard that a restaurant that used to be in operation about 4-5 years ago, about a 10-minute walk from Kokuritsu Station, has reopened, so I came to visit. I only visited a few times back then, but I thought it was remarkably delicious compared to the restaurants on the west side of Tokyo, and considered it a hidden gem. I was disappointed when it closed, so I am quite happy this time. It's quite far from Shinjuku, located in a bedroom community in this area, but I made the effort to come. When I visited on a weekday evening, there were no other customers before or after me. It was empty. It would be nice if the locals could get to know it and become regulars quickly. As for the food, of course there is à la carte, but there were also some convenient set plates for lazy people like me who want to order quickly. This time, I had the String Hopper Set. [String Hopper Set] I don't particularly like it, but even though I have been to Sri Lankan restaurants quite a bit, this was my first time trying something called string hoppers. According to the staff, it's popular in Sri Lanka. However, it takes time to make, so not many restaurants may want to serve it, they said. So, string hoppers. What is it? It is a shape made of rice flour, similar to noodles, but not quite noodles, they said. To describe how it felt, it's even thinner and crunchier than cellophane noodles, and it's all clumped together. Since it's made of rice flour, it's similar to Vietnamese rice noodles, vermicelli. The one with a brownish color is made from Sri Lankan red rice, and the white one is made from rice flour. You can choose from three types of curry: saba (mackerel), chicken, and parippu (bean curry). All of them are on the watery side. The chicken curry had the most gravy and was full of umami. The saba didn't have any fishy smell and the coconut milk blended in well, making it light. The parippu was not as thick as I had imagined, but rather watery and light. Although none of the curries seemed spicy at first, the accumulated spiciness got to me later. Along with that, there was pol sambol (a Sri Lankan coconut-based condiment), sausage, and sautéed onions on the same plate for variety and balance. It was quite a luxurious plate. Plus, it came with a salad. It was delicious after all. It's a restaurant that I definitely want to visit again, even though it's a bit far from my workplace and I can't come often. Thank you for the meal.

Located far from the city center at Minami-Hira Station, a small town where you can enjoy traditional Sri Lankan cuisine at "The Village" has emerged. Originally, it was located in Kokuritsu, but it closed down, went through a food truck phase, and resumed activities in this town. They have a physical store but continue to operate a food truck. The outdoor sign reads Lankajapan Group, and upon searching, it appears to be a company that supports the lives and education of poor children in Sri Lanka. When I visited, the staff were very friendly and welcoming. The chef, who handmakes the roti skins, is a talented Sri Lankan woman. The menu includes familiar hot snacks as well as unique dishes like string hoppers, puttu, hoppers, and kiribath, which require reservations before noon but can be prepared in an authentic Sri Lankan style. The Village Plate costs 1450 yen and the Spicy Cheese Paratha costs 650 yen. The meal started with a small cup of chicken and vegetable curry soup, bursting with flavor. The Village Plate, a Sri Lankan one-plate dish, features a variety of colorful side dishes surrounding rice. The food is not too salty, following Ayurvedic principles, allowing for a smooth dining experience. The Sri Lankan paratha with cheese and black pepper was particularly delicious. For dessert, I had Jigari ice cream and Ceylon milk tea. The restaurant offers a milder, more gentle taste compared to other Sri Lankan restaurants in the area. Overall, it was a delightful dining experience, and I highly recommend visiting this place.