London’s dining scene has welcomed a new destination for authentic Sri Lankan food in the UK, with award-winning restaurant Karapincha opening at Kitchen No.8 at BOXHALL on Monday 17 August.
Founded by twin sisters Vasanthini and Dharshini Perumal, Karapincha is built around family recipes, hand-ground spices and the vibrant culinary traditions of Sri Lanka. Its arrival at BOXHALL gives London diners another opportunity to experience the island’s diverse flavours in a lively, modern food hall setting.
The opening also represents an important moment for Sri Lankan culture in London. Through food, the Perumal sisters are sharing the recipes, ingredients and memories that connect their family history in Kandy and Colombo with a new generation of customers in the UK.
A family food tradition from Kandy to Colombo
Vasanthini and Dharshini Perumal were born in Kandy and raised in Colombo. Their approach to cooking was shaped by their mother’s spice-rich recipes and by a family restaurant tradition that was already well established in Sri Lanka.
The sisters’ family famously owned one of Colombo’s most popular vegetarian restaurants. That experience gave them a strong understanding of the importance of fresh ingredients, carefully balanced spices and generous hospitality.
Karapincha continues this family legacy in London. The restaurant’s menu is inspired by the home-cooked dishes the sisters grew up eating, while also reflecting the tastes and expectations of a modern UK audience.
The name Karapincha comes from the Sinhala word for curry leaf. Curry leaves are central to many Sri Lankan dishes, adding a distinctive fragrance and depth to curries, rice dishes, sambols and spice blends. At Karapincha, the ingredient also represents the restaurant’s wider connection to Sri Lankan culinary heritage.
The sisters use hand-ground spice blends, coconut milk, locally sourced meats and vegetables, and fiery chilli sambols to build the flavour of their dishes. Each element contributes to the balance of heat, aroma, richness and freshness associated with Sri Lankan cuisine.
AI-generated illustrative image showing ingredients associated with Sri Lankan cooking.
Signature dishes arrive at Kitchen No.8
Karapincha’s new BOXHALL menu features a selection of dishes designed to introduce diners to the variety of Sri Lankan food.
One of the highlights is Devilled Chicken, served with fragrant fried rice and pomegranate seeds. Devilled dishes are known for their bold combination of chilli, aromatics and savoury seasoning. The pomegranate adds colour and a touch of sweetness to the plate.
The menu also includes Kothu Roti, a popular Sri Lankan street-food dish made with shredded roti, vegetables, spices and other ingredients cooked together on a hot griddle. The preparation traditionally creates the distinctive rhythmic sound of metal blades chopping and mixing the roti.
For those looking for a lighter but equally flavourful option, the menu offers crispy lamb rolls, combining seasoned filling with a golden, crunchy exterior. Soft buttery paratha served with vegan curry provides a comforting plant-based choice, with the layered flatbread pairing naturally with rich coconut-based sauces.
These dishes reflect the accessibility of Sri Lankan food. They can be enjoyed by diners who already know the difference between kothu, curry and sambol, as well as by those trying Sri Lankan cuisine for the first time.
AI-generated illustrative image inspired by the dishes described in the menu.
The Perumal sisters share their enthusiasm
Speaking about the opening, Vasanthini and Dharshini Perumal said:
“We’re so excited to be joining BOXHALL and bringing a little taste of Sri Lanka to the community. Karapincha has always been about sharing the food we grew up with and the flavours we love, and it’s really special for us to have the opportunity to introduce even more people to Sri Lankan food. We’re looking forward to welcoming everyone to our new home at BOXHALL, meeting new customers, and hopefully making plenty of people fall in love with Sri Lankan food along the way.”
The statement highlights the purpose behind Karapincha: to make Sri Lankan food available to a wider audience while preserving the family connection at the heart of every dish.
For Sri Lankans living in London and across the UK, the restaurant provides a familiar taste of home. For other diners, it offers a welcoming introduction to the island’s cooking traditions, which include influences from its varied regions, communities and trading history.
Food is an important part of how Sri Lankan culture is shared overseas. Traditional recipes often carry family memories, regional identities and practical knowledge passed down through generations. Restaurants such as Karapincha help ensure that these flavours remain visible and accessible within Britain’s multicultural food scene.
Readers interested in more stories about Sri Lankan life, culture and community activity in the UK can also explore elanka’s UK community coverage, cultural content and useful links.
BOXHALL’s Kitchen No.8 platform
Karapincha is the latest trader to join Kitchen No.8, BOXHALL’s rotating residency platform for independent food businesses and emerging culinary concepts.
The platform is designed to give visitors the chance to discover new menus and different cooking styles within BOXHALL’s communal dining environment. Its changing line-up brings together food traders offering dishes from a range of backgrounds and culinary traditions.
Luther Dyer, General Manager at BOXHALL City, welcomed Karapincha’s arrival:
“We’re thrilled to welcome Karapincha to Kitchen No.8 at BOXHALL. Vasanthini and Dharshini’s passion for sharing the vibrant flavours and traditions of Sri Lankan cuisine makes them an exciting addition to our line-up of independent food traders. Their commitment to authentic family recipes, bold spices and exceptional ingredients perfectly reflects what Kitchen No.8 is all about – championing innovative concepts and introducing our guests to outstanding culinary talent.”
The partnership gives Karapincha a high-profile London platform while allowing BOXHALL visitors to experience a cuisine that is becoming increasingly recognised across the UK.
Sri Lankan restaurants and food businesses have made a significant contribution to London’s diverse hospitality sector. They have introduced diners to familiar staples such as rice and curry, hoppers, kottu and sambols, while also showcasing the differences between regional recipes and household cooking styles.
Karapincha’s presence at BOXHALL adds another chapter to that story. Its menu combines traditional inspiration with the convenience of a contemporary food hall, making the food suitable for lunch visits, casual dinners, group meals and first-time tastings.
AI-generated illustrative image showing the spice preparation central to Sri Lankan cooking.
A new meeting point for food and community
The opening is significant not only for Karapincha but also for the wider Sri Lankan community in Britain. London is home to Sri Lankan families, students, professionals, entrepreneurs and cultural organisations that continue to strengthen links between the UK and Sri Lanka.
Restaurants play a valuable role in that community network. They create spaces where people can enjoy familiar meals, introduce friends to Sri Lankan cuisine and celebrate the country’s hospitality. They also help independent founders present their heritage in a way that is open to the wider public.
For the Perumal sisters, Karapincha’s new home at BOXHALL provides an opportunity to continue their family’s food legacy in a new setting. Their mother’s recipes and their family’s restaurant history remain at the centre of the brand, while the Kitchen No.8 residency allows them to reach new customers.
The result is a restaurant concept that connects Sri Lankan culture with contemporary London life. Diners can enjoy traditional flavours in a social food hall, while the story behind the food remains rooted in family, memory and community.
Visit Karapincha at BOXHALL
Karapincha opened at Kitchen No.8, BOXHALL, London, on Monday 17 August. Visitors can try the restaurant’s Sri Lankan dishes, including Devilled Chicken with fried rice and pomegranate seeds, Kothu Roti, crispy lamb rolls, and paratha with vegan curry.
Those interested in exploring Sri Lankan food in the UK are invited to visit BOXHALL and discover the Perumal sisters’ family-inspired menu. The opening also offers London’s wider community a chance to enjoy authentic flavours while learning more about the food traditions at the heart of Sri Lankan culture.
For further Sri Lankan community news, cultural features and stories from the UK diaspora, visit elanka.
Original source: London Post – BOXHALL Welcomes Award-Winning Sri Lankan Restaurant Karapincha