Food is very, very delicious. But for a restaurant built on recommendations from the owner, $35+…read moreper person is wild, surprised it's regarded as an "affordable gem" or one of the most affordable restaurants in the city.

Outstanding. Anthony Bourdain recommended this restaurant and I can see why. The owners welcomed us…read morelike family and prepared a lunch plate for us based on our dietary preferences (vegetarian, spice level, etc.). I had the vegetarian plate with rice, lentils, beans, beets (my favorite!), and jackfruit. Everything was so flavorful, I inhaled my food. My son had the egg roti with daal. The restaurant staff checked in with us regularly and kept offering us random food (try the eggplant, try this chicken). This food is so good and it's worth crossing the Verrazano Bridge to sample a taste of Sri Lankan food. You can absolutely tell when food is cooked with love and food cooked with love is plentiful at New Asha Sri Lanka Restaurant. This was our first time eating Sri Lankan food, but it certainly won't be the last!

This was a wonderful spot for Sri Lankan good. This spot is small (can fit parties of up to 4),…read moredidn't have a wait on a Sunday afternoon, and is cash only. I tried their crab curry and it was delicious. Their dishes can have spice levels customized. I have a moderate spice tolerance and got a 6/10 which was perfect for me in a curry where the broth was slightly sweet and briney. My friend ordered a Kotthu Roti which is dry and not very salty with an 8/10 spice level and it was extremely painful to eat. Be warned! Crab was tender, well seasoned, and served with lots of utensils to brake the shells and extract the flesh. This was definitely the star dish. I also tried the aappa which is similar to dosa but less tangy and cupped. It was a nice and light dipping bread. Will definitely come back and sample more of the menu. I think I will stick with the curries as they are more balanced. Service was quick at the start. Order time took ~20 minutes which wasn't surprising to me, especially since the crab can have a 30 min wait. Wish they filled waters as we went through our pitcher of water quite quickly. Overall a good experience and I will keep this spot on my restaurant rotation!

SERVICE - located in the east village on the second floor of…read morea grocery store - very small interior with seats at tables for 2-4 people - tables are not too challenging to get even on a weekend lunch - cash only - server is friendly though keep in mind it is a smaller business so there are not many people working which can make it take longer to get the check or water - food served relatively quickly - ambiance good for a semi casual meal MENU - authentic Sri Lankan dishes meant for sharing - vegan/vegetarian options available - average price FOOD - cashew curry (9/10): soaked cashews and peas in a spicy coconut curry sauce. This dish was unique to Sri Lankan cuisine and being someone who likes cashews I wanted to try it. The portion is good for one person or to share when combined with other entrees. It does not come with rice so you need to order a side dish to eat it with. The curry sauce is warming and spicy with strong punches of black pepper and turmeric, making it a comforting meal for a cold day. The cashews are soft, almost to the texture of steamed carrots. Highly recommend trying this. - indi appam (8/10): ten pieces of steamed rice noodles served with coconut curry sauce and pickled onions. This was one of the side dishes and the server recommended it to me as it paired well with the cashew curry. It feels very similar to South Indian idiyappam. The coconut curry sauce on the side looks similar to the cashew curry broth but has more spices and is slightly tangy. I would have liked a smaller portion of this to better match the portion size of the entree. WOULD I GO BACK? Yes! The food was very comforting and a great meal when you need something warming.

No frills. No elaborate menus. Just understated homey awesomeness. The owners are great at…read moreexplaining things. The food is delicious, just the proper amount of spicing. In the land of Sri Lankan restaurants, this one stands out for its takeout.

All I can is wow! I had never heard of the Seafood Nasi Goreng entree until I saw it on their menu…read more Now, I order it once a month. Their food is so flavorful. They give you enough food to have left overs. If you like good food, order from here.

Cuisine: 8 Service: 10…read moreDecor: 7 Value: 9 Overall: 9 This is a truly a family business that I really want to support. Everyone is always smiling, super friendly, down to their youngest daughter who helped serve our large group food a few weeks ago when they started their weekend AYCE brunch. The buffet was full of great items like their Curry Crab, Goat Soup, Eggplant, Okra, String Hopper, Black Pork Curry, and much more. Don't miss out on the station full of different types of condiments and sambol sauces. My entire group of 15 were all quite impressed with the food selection, as well as the service. Everyone left stuffed and satisfied. Can't wait to come back for a formal meal and try more of the regular menu.

What a hidden gem!! This place has the best Sri Lankan food I've tried in the states. The interior…read moreis clean and the staffs are friendly. I read their webpage on the story of the restaurant. It is own by a Sri Lankan couple - one Singhalese and one Tamil. Their love represents the union of the two groups of folks who had long lasting conflict and tension in the country. At this restaurant, you can experience the culinary fusion of the two distinct tradition. We ordered: - mutton roll 5/5 - calamari lamprais 6/5 AMAZING!! - deviled king fish 5/5 Their mutton roll is stuffed with filling - I love how thin the crust is, you really get a taste of the chunky juicy protein. The lamprais is infused with the aromantic banana leaf, along with the colorful and spiceful sides. They are so generous with their portions. It was my first time trying lamprais and I'm now addicted. I highly recommend getting this dish. One thing about Sri Lankan food is it tends to be on the spicer side (think Thai spicy). We were glad to see all items on the menu had a "mild" option. The lamprais is a safe option for those that can't eat spicy. The deviled king fish (mackerel) is a popular fish consumed in Sri Lanka. We got mild but it was still spicy. It was flavored so nicely so if you like spice and saucy dishes, this is the one for you! It was served with bell peppers and onions. We were so full we didn't get to try their desserts but they have many classic desserts options as well! We can't wait to be back to try their curry and other dishes. This place was such a nice hidden gem I really hope everyone will come give it a try!

Heavily recommended- Nandu Chaaru Good- Kothu (or Kottu)…read moreRoti I was at this tasty Sri Lankan restaurant a few days ago, with this being one of the very few Sri Lankan spots in the city outside of Sigiri and the various spots in Staten Island. This is easily the most expensive one, but the food overall was good quality, with my definite preference going towards my appetizer of the two dishes. I was here sans reservation, and they gave me a table in the closed garden area in the back, which I liked, as the lighting was better. The server I had was very friendly and gave good attention, even though he was also working with a bunch of other tables, which had folks with more questions as they weren't used to Sri Lankan/South Indian food. To drink, I thought of getting a cocktail, or more likely a chaas/spiced buttermilk, but I stuck with tap water, partially due to the prices. My appetizer was the outstanding $15 Nandu Chaaru, listed as cilantro flavored extract of Dungeness crab. The dish description might list it as an extract, but there was a whole crab inside, chopped up into tiny pieces. The broth was deliciously spicy with plenty of crab flavor along with the aforementioned cilantro and a large mix of warming spices. I guess the only complaint I can make is that it was difficult to eat the crab inside in any type of polite way, but they provided a second point. This was appreciated, as I removed some of the crab and ate it separately, along with putting some of the meat back into the soup. My main dish was the Kothu Roti, which ranges in price depending on what protein is used, from $25 to $30. Also known as Kottu Roti, this dish is listed as a Sri Lankan roadside specialty prepared from shredded paratha stir-fried with vegetables, onions, and egg. I went with the $30 lamb, as this is my general preference, and there was a pretty good amount of tender pieces. The dish had a mild kick to it, but wasn't as spicy or as flavored as the crab soup. I liked the egg mixed into it as well as when I added the well-flavored soup on the side. In terms of comparing it to other spots, I liked the version at Sigiri a tiny bit more, as it was cheaper and had a better kick, but it had less meat. My favorite version of this dish is the similar Kothu Parotta at Anjappar, which is much spicier. This is a good place serving elevated Sri Lankan food. They might plate things in a more fanciful way, but the flavors are well pronounced. I would go back and try some other dishes, or the banana leaf dishes/virundhu on the weekend.

Lungi was a bit of a letdown. The service felt chaotic--condiments were missed, upon multiple…read morerequests arrived when we were nearly done eating. Even the sequencing of dishes was a bit off, making the experience feel awkward. The food itself was a mixed bag. Rundown: - Spicy Mutton Pepper Fry (4.5/5): excellent flavor, but the semi-dry gravy would work best paired with bread or rice. Not as a dry appetizer, as it was served. - Deafman Shop Tawa Fry (4.5/5): Very solid, but definitely on the spicier side--be prepared. - Hoppers (5/5): Perfectly soft, lacy, and flavorful; cools down quickly, so timing matters. - Parotta (3/5): not flaky so just felt dense with the ghee/oil in between the supposed-layers. Not ideal to scoop the curries when it's of this consistency. - Cauliflower 65 (3/5): Slightly over-fried and lacking seasoning. - Paneer Ghee Roast (2/5): Disappointing. The paneer was extremely tough making it inedible, and the ghee roast flavor was muted. - Goat Curry (4/5): Nicely done overall, though the meat could have been more tender. - Kori Ghassi (3/5): Underwhelming. Gravy felt diluted and there were too few pieces of chicken to justify the price. - Wattalapam (5/5): Perfect ending- light, refreshing, and flavorful. Portion sizes lean small, with more gravy than protein across dishes. Combined with the cramped table space, it makes for a tight dining experience, especially if you're ordering multiple items. Try it out and decide for yourself.

We always love a good southern asian food! This restaurant is great for family gatherings and…read moredinner. Easy to find parking around the neighborhood. Restrooms for customers only. We ordered lamprie and couple of dishes. We enjoyed the food as well as the staff are nice.

The food is pretty good here. I was introduced to this restaurant by a family friend. I…read moreparticularly enjoy the chicken biriyani and it's my usual go to. I would recommend this restaurant dispute the person taking my order wasn't really friendly or welcoming but maybe it was an off day for him. I will give them another chance.

This is a fantastic mom and pop with great food and service. My only gripe is that I can ask for…read morefood as hot as they can serve, and they always still give me the same amount of heat as I would've received had I not made the request at all. But it's not a big gripe because the food is always well seasoned even if it isn't peppery. This is the only restaurant I can think of where I've taken many guests and every one of them said it was one of their favorites. I love this spot. They accept cards but appreciate cash.

Great service and friendly staff at this Sri Lankan restaurant…read more The manager/owner used to be a chef at the UN after traveling the world for various stints after leaving Sri Lanka at age 25. He will fill you with his wealth of knowledge of Sri Lankan food as well as how his food is pure and wholesome. Food was very good. I had Sri Lankan rice entree specialty dish. Except for the the shrimp tasting like dried shrimp - which I hate with a passion the rest of the dish was pretty good. No complaints from my other guests who enjoyed their meals. The dessert was great. They have both vegetarian (including goat, beef, pork, shrimp, squid, and chicken) and non-vegetarian options. It fell short of five stars for two reasons: 1. the dried shrimp or dried fish taste in the dish (shimp, calamari, and chicken); and 2. the moderately high prices (I can only compare to prices at Indian restaurants in the city, and what people are typically paying for the same portion size at casual sit down restaurants) Since we don't frequent this location often it is a treat to stop by every once in awhile and introduce my friends to it. If you are on a budget and consume large volumes of food to be full, this is most likely a one off or a place you may want to skip. Otherwise, enjoy it. On premise parking lot and seems ADA compliant. It looks like it is in a house, but inside it is comfortable and casual. It appears there is allot more local customers than visitors from out of town. The interior plays tourist information on Sri Lanka while the interior is also decorated in culturally appropriate ascents. We were there on a Saturday for dinner and the space was fairly empty - perhaps two other tables occupied. It is in sort of a remote area outside the main drag of Beacon most are familiar with (not within reasonable walking distance). It's worth a try, especially if you are interested in healthier forms of food (ingredients).

We stopped by for dinner and were not disappointed. The kathi rolls were delicious and prepared as…read moreper your ask. The staff is nice and warm. Plenty of parking available and you could eat in your or outside. The place has nice wall art and is kept clean. Food- 8/10 Ambiance -8/10 Service- 8/10 Value for money- 8/10 I shall return and you need to go check this spot out!

Great Shrilankan food, variety of dinner options!! Thanks a lot! Would visit Vegetable Rice and…read moreCurry recommended!