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Restaurant

Okra Sri Lankan Cuisine

174 Rathdowne St, Carlton VIC 3053, Australia

Recommended by 18 people

Updated

Find Okra Sri Lankan Cuisine

174 Rathdowne St, Carlton VIC 3053, Australia

Directions ↗
+61 3 8590 9661
HoursMonday: 11:00 AM – 2:30 PM, 5:00 – 8:30 PM Tuesday: 11:00 AM – 2:30 PM, 5:00 – 8:30 PM Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 2:30 PM, 5:00 – 8:30 PM Thursday: 11:00 AM – 2:30 PM, 5:00 – 8:30 PM Friday: 11:00 AM – 2:30 PM, 5:00 – 8:30 PM Saturday: 11:00 AM – 2:30 PM, 5:00 – 8:30 PM Sunday: 11:00 AM – 2:30 PM, 5:00 – 8:30 PM

*Opening hours may differ during holidays.

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About Okra Sri Lankan Cuisine

Carlton locals track down this Rathdowne Street staple for unpretentious, home-style Sri Lankan cooking packed with serious spice. The kitchen builds everything with genuine care—from fragrant curry buffets to freshly turned pol rotti. Sri Lankan diners make regular pilgrimages for the banana-leaf lamprais: a generous parcel bundled with spiced rice, meat, curries, and fried boiled egg. Friday nights draw the hungry crowds for all-you-can-eat hopper spreads, pairing thin, bowl-shaped crepes and sweet milk variations alongside rich goat curry.

  • Friday Hopper Nights: An all-you-can-eat Friday feast featuring unlimited plain, egg, cheese, and sweet milk hoppers paired with rich goat and vegetable curries.
  • Banana-Leaf Lamprais: Fragrant rice, rich meat curry, cashew curry, sambol, and a fried boiled egg bundled and baked inside a traditional banana leaf.
  • Home-Style Hospitality: Attentive, personal service where the team gladly tailors spice levels and whips up dishes from scratch to suit guests.
RestaurantSri LankanRestaurant

What's On at Okra Sri Lankan Cuisine

Upcoming events, special menus and other reasons to plan a visit.

No events or specials listed right now.

Why Diners Choose Okra

Why diners choose Okra for authentic Sri Lankan comfort, warm hospitality, and specialty feasts.

  • Authentic Banana-Leaf Lamprais

    Authentic banana leaf lamprais packed with spiced meats, multiple curries, sambol, and boiled egg offers complete home-style comfort.

    Hands down one of the best Lamprais I have had in Melbourne!! It has all the components and was cooked to perfection.

    Nimanthi Weliwita

  • Home-Style Sri Lankan Comfort

    Freshly made, generous portions deliver the traditional tastes and rich spices of authentic Sri Lankan home cooking.

    The food tasted incredibly authentic, full of rich spices and proper homemade flavour.

    Matthew Kenny

  • Welcoming Personal Hospitality

    Guests feel welcomed as guests in a home, treated to personal guidance and genuine warmth from the owner and staff.

    Lion who runs the place is super friendly and happy to chat, making sure you feel right at home.

    Matt Richards

  • Attentive Care & Customization

    The kitchen happily adapts dishes and prepares off-menu options to accommodate personal dietary requirements.

    The owner is very friendly and made special dishes for my daughter who does not eat chili.

    Yang Shelley

  • All-You-Can-Eat Hopper Nights

    Friday hopper nights offer unlimited plain, egg, cheese, and sweet milk hoppers alongside traditional curries in an all-you-can-eat format.

    They had a special hopper buffet night tonight, unlimited hoppers (plain egg cheese and s sweet milk dessert one) and range of curries.

    Sarah

  • Relaxed Communal Dining

    A welcoming and laid-back dining room pairs broad curry buffets with attentive tableside service for easy communal meals.

    The hospitality was amazing as was the food. I enjoyed the buffet option. Highly recommended if you're looking for authentic Sri Lankan cuisine in a friendly and relaxed environment.

    Sharon McKenzie

Customer favourites and authentic Sri Lankan specialties

  • Lamprais

    Hands down one of the best Lamprais I have had in Melbourne!! It has all the components and was cooked to perfection.

    Nimanthi Weliwita

  • Dinner Buffet

    they also had the dinner buffet for $25 which was rice and and a selection of curries.

    Randheer

  • Hopper Buffet

    They had a special hopper buffet night tonight, unlimited hoppers (plain egg cheese and s sweet milk dessert one) and range of curries.

    Sarah

  • Fish Rolls

    Fish rolls were excellent with subtle flavours and good spice level too.

    Sachinie Wanasinghe

Beyond the menu

Thoughtful gestures and hospitable touches that elevate the dining experience at Okra

  • Tailored Cooking & Custom Preparations

    The chef personally prepares custom dishes from scratch for diners with specific dietary needs, such as non-chili alternatives for children or fresh substitutes when standard items run out.

  • Owner Guidance & Dining Tips

    The chef and owner regularly come to the dining room to share insights on ingredient choices, explain health considerations, and offer tips on how best to eat traditional dishes.

  • After-Hours Warm Welcome

    Staff regularly keep the kitchen open past regular closing hours or after afternoon service to seat, prepare takeaway, and care for arriving guests.

  • Dog-Friendly Outdoor Dining

    Outdoor seating welcomes four-legged companions so guests can enjoy casual Sri Lankan dining with their dogs.

Before you head over

Practical pointers on portion sizes, spice customization, and buffet timing

  • Consider Sharing the Lamprais

    Portions of the baked banana-leaf lamprais are especially hearty; customers note a single parcel easily satisfies two people or travels well for takeout.

  • Ask for Chili-Free Accommodations

    If you are sensitive to spice, speak directly with the owner, who regularly recommends milder dishes or prepares customized plates for non-chili eaters.

  • Time Your Visit for Friday Hopper Night

    Drop by on Friday nights to catch the special hopper buffet, where you can sample unlimited plain, egg, cheese, and sweet milk dessert hoppers with curries.

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