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.

An Indian skewed Sri Lankan experience (if it was meant to be) that was a little heavy on the salt for my liking, but generally a good experience and value for money. The appam was a little sweet, which I didn't expect. Very good rasam, prawns, fried bittergourd salad and dry mutton.

We ordered the pol roti, lamb kulaiyal, chicken varuval, paal appam, sweet appam, and lassi.Food was rich in flavour and felt very authentic—especially the lamb kulaiyal was my favourite of the day, came served in a banana leaf. The lamb was tender and beautifully spiced.We sat outside since it was packed inside, but the service remained attentive and fast. The appam was slightly thicker than we’d prefer, but still tasty and paired well with the curries. A solid spot if you’re craving hearty, flavourful Sri Lankan food!

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

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.