We started from scratch, with a small kitchen, a simple menu, and a lot of hard work. There was no big plan to become a destination. We simply wanted to make food that people would enjoy and come back for.
Slowly, the word spread.
Villagers began stopping by for their everyday meals. Families came for lunch. Regular customers brought their friends. And travellers passing through Lahugala began discovering us along the way.
What started small gradually became a familiar place for both the local community and those travelling through.
Today, Amma still cooks many of our lunch curries, working alongside a few village aunties who bring their experience and love for traditional Sri Lankan cooking. Thaththa is an important part of the restaurant too, helping behind the scenes and keeping everything moving.
We still believe in keeping things simple. Our spices are roasted in-house, coconut is scraped fresh each morning, and our dishes are prepared fresh every day. Our menu stays intentionally small so we can focus on doing a few things well.
Whether you're a regular from the village or a traveller discovering Lahugala for the first time, there's a place for you at our table.
Liya's Kitchen started small.
The people who came through our doors helped us grow.
And today, we're proud to have a table for everyone.