Hoppers — the perfect breakfast
Hoppers (Appa/Appam) are Sri Lanka's most ingenious culinary invention: bowl-shaped pancakes made from fermented rice and coconut milk batter, baked in a curved pan—crispy on the edges, soft and spongy in the middle.
Variants
- Plain Hopper: Pure, as a bowl for curries and sambols
- Egg Hopper: With a fried egg in the middle—the perfect breakfast. 80–150 LKR.
- Milk Hopper: Sweeter, with coconut milk—as a dessert or snack
- String Hoppers (Idiyappam): Fine rice noodles steamed into a round nest—eaten with curry and dhal. A completely different dish despite the similar name.
💡 Tipp
The best Hoppers are not found in restaurants, but at small street stalls and simple eateries that open only in the morning. Ask at the hotel for the nearest "Hopper Shop"—it will be your best breakfast in Sri Lanka.
