A LI YAA – Kuala Lumpur

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Aliyaa and it was nothing short of extraordinary. From the moment I stepped in, the warm hospitality and aromatic spices transported me straight to the heart of Sri Lanka.The menu is a vibrant showcase of authentic Sri Lankan cuisine, and each dish bursts with bold, complex flavors. The lamprais—a fragrant banana leaf-wrapped parcel of rice, meat, and sambols—was a standout, packed with flavor and cooked to perfection.One dish that absolutely stole the show was the seafood kolaiyal. Perfectly cooked prawns and squid were dry-fried with roasted spices, curry leaves, and just the right amount of heat, creating a dish that was intensely flavorful, smoky, and addictive. The sothi—a light turmeric and coconut milk curry—offered a soothing contrast, while the beetroot curry added a sweet, earthy touch that brought harmony to the entire spread.The appam were a true highlight—crispy, lace-edged bowls with soft, fluffy centers that paired beautifully with creamy coconut milk and brown sugar.What sets this place apart is the attention to detail and authenticity. The chefs clearly know and love the food they create, and it shines through in every dish. This is not just a meal—it’s an experience.If you're looking to explore the true essence of Sri Lankan cuisine, Aliyaa is a must-visit. Extraordinary food, heartfelt service, and a cultural journey in every bite.

Had a great experience. Food was fantastic. Especially the bittergourd salad. Did not expect that to be one of our favourite.Portions are quite big though. Would have been good if they mentioned that to us.Overall. Really really good

I came by for an early dinner and had a good meal here. For starters, the drumstick leaf Rasam (RM16) really warms the stomach without the spicy punch that is typical of most rasams. Thanks to the staff for the explaining that drumstick leaf is actually moringa. The lankan crab cakes (RM24) had 3 small pieces encased in sesame seeds, but they were so flavourful when bitten into. It also came with a side of curry that made it moreish. Amma's eggplant salad (RM18) was an unexpected surprise, full of shallot fragrance, with thinly sliced eggplant that's almost crispy. The Kottu roti chicken (RM35) also had an unexpected surprise in the form of a live cooking in a hot stone bowl at the table. It was so good, especially when you have some slightly charred bits at the sides. The Kuliyal chicken (RM35) is quite a unique dish with rice and a bunch of ingredients wrapped in. Together with the kottu, it made for a very filling meal.

My partner and I had high expectations when dining at Aliyaa, especially after learning that they were featured in the Michelin Guide. While there were some highs, there were plenty of lows that left us feeling underwhelmed and quite disappointed.We were excited to experience Aliyaa, but when we were ready to order, we were informed that they were only serving the Christmas set menu. This should have been communicated earlier, ideally when we made our reservation. Nonetheless, we decided to proceed with the Christmas set menu.So, what stood out? High praise goes to the drinks, the shrimp and scallops with pappadum, and the grilled red snapper, which were definite highlights. For dessert, we tried the Sri Lankan love cake and the appam. The love cake was dense, sweet, and nutty, but unfortunately, the flavors felt somewhat confusing. The appam was good, but the way it was served puzzled us: we initially thought only one appam was provided, but then the second one arrived after we had finished the first. This staggered serving seemed unnecessary and a bit disorganized.Overall, the dinner was okay, but the service definitely needs improvement. It was especially disappointing because my partner had been wanting to visit this place for a long time, and it didn’t live up to our expectations.

We celebrated our first day of Chinese New Year 2025 lunch at Aliyaa, a restaurant specialized in authentic Sri Lankan cuisine. Having looked through the menu earlier, we quickly ordered what each of us wanted. For drinks, hubby and I had their masala tea. The sugar packs are at the side to put based on your own liking. Evelyn had the Ceylon Ginger Tea. We started with Fish Cutlets which were really delicious when paired with its sauce. Next came the Nandu rasam. Unlike normal rasam, it is made with blue swimmers crab and is slightly spicy. I love this. For mains, we ordered the Crab Meat cooked in Jaffna style (so yummy, and I can't have enough), and Mutton Paal Poriyal (tender mutton cooked with rich and creamy coconut milk sauce and aromatic spices). For veggies, we had the Amma's Eggplant Salad to go with the mains. We had these with string hoppers and roti. We ended our meal with dessert - sweet appam. We really enjoyed the food and the service rendered by the staff.