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Crab Curry in Colombo: Ministry of Crab vs the Pettah Market Bargain

4 min read · Colombo Food · Updated June 2026  |  Plan this trip with AI →

Whole crabs -- sometimes up to 2kg -- cooked in a rich, fiery Sri Lankan curry gravy. Colombo's prime coastal location makes this one of its great seafood specialties; order garlic bread on the side to soak up the gravy.

Ministry of Crab -- Globally Ranked, Reservations Essential

In the Old Dutch Hospital complex, this restaurant has appeared on Asia's 50 Best Restaurants list multiple times. Reservations are essential -- their own slogan, and they mean it.

Mayura Hotel -- The Pettah Market Bargain

A tiny hole-in-the-wall in Pettah market, despite the name not actually a hotel. Some of the best crab curry in Colombo at a fraction of Ministry of Crab's prices -- a genuine local-favorite alternative for a similar quality dish at far lower cost.

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