IF you’re in the mood to enjoy street snacks with a twist, Jaffna is the place to be. Jaffna’s most distinctive aesthetic feature is its use of pink throughout its indoor and outdoor spaces. The wooden seating creates a warm environment. The chefs cook right in front of you in the indoor space while you eat, creating an immersive sensory experience.

At night, the space reminds you of a lively, neon-lit food market. This mini Sri Lanka in Nepal offers an authentic taste of Sri Lanka through its light, savoury dishes.

Jaffna began in November 2025 at Bijulibazaar. The story behind the space is rooted in love. A Nepali–Sri Lankan couple decided to open the restaurant after spotting a gap in Sri Lankan cuisine in Nepal.

“We are in the initial phases of market-testing whether Nepalis enjoy Sri Lankan food or not. After that, we will add more items for our customers,” says one of the owners, choosing to stay anonymous. Even so, the current menu items are well-suited to Nepali tastes.

The main curry powder used in most items is the ‘Jaffna curry powder’. Originating in the northern part of Sri Lanka, Jaffna powder is a blend of curry leaves, chillies, fenugreek seeds, cumin, and many other spices. Although you may not be able to taste each spice individually, this rich blend is what gives the food its strong flavours. Most of the ingredients used in the restaurant are locally sourced.

Before opening to customers, Jaffna was already a name on social media. Since October 2025, they have been marketing their claim to be the first Sri Lankan street food spot in Nepal and showing the process of starting a business from scratch.

When the Post visited Jaffna, the owners served four dishes and a drink.

The first item was chicken kottu roti. The owners say, “Kottu roti is Sri Lanka’s comfort meal, like momo is for Nepal.” One bite of the chicken kottu roti was enough to agree with them. This dish is a mix of shredded Sri Lankan roti, chicken, egg, carrots, cabbage and onions. On the outside, the food forms a curved, mountain-like shape combined with a spicy sauce and lemon. The portion of this dish is also fulfilling.

The flavour was a gradual release of different spices. The spice kicks in as you begin chewing the tender mix of roti and vegetables. With its lasting yet subtle flavour profile, Kottu roti is spicy and lightly tangy.

Published in Dawn, February 9th, 2026