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Ratings and reviews

Travellers' Choice2023
RATINGS
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere

Details

PRICE RANGE
£1 - £2
CUISINES
Seafood, Asian, Sri Lankan
Special Diets
Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options
View all details
meals, features
Reviews (484)
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303 results
Traveller rating
237
53
9
0
4
Traveller type
Time of year
LanguageEnglish
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Traveller rating
237
53
9
0
4
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All reviews curry rice fruit platter sandwiches prawns friendly lady sri lanka lovely family run restaurant delicious food super tasty train tracks set menu friendly service the owner spicy vegetarian surf
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Reviewed yesterday via mobile

Lovely little restaurant with such friendly waiting staff. They were so attentive and cheerful. The food was lovely especially the chicken fried noodles and the proves are amazing for the portions. Authenticity guaranteed if you’re want a typical Sri Lankan dining experience with the trains...rolling past on the line right outside the restaurant. Brilliant.More

Date of visit: March 2024
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 6 days ago via mobile

A fantastic family run restaurant, wonderful hospitality, great service and the owner explains the menu brilliantly. We went several times throughout our stay in Bentota , I would recommend the seafood absolutely outstanding. Look forward to returning in the future.

Date of visit: March 2024
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 6 days ago

This is a charming family run restaurant near to the Taj Bentota. We are here twice, once for lunch & once for dinner. Both meals were lovely. For dinner we had Sri Lankan Chicken Curry & Devilled Fish – both cooked to order. Huge portions!...I’m a big eater and I couldn’t finish. Lovely friendly & personable service from the Mother & Son team.More

Date of visit: March 2024
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Reviewed 1 week ago

Wonderful hospitality and quality of food. Would recommend grilled seafood and curry. Family run restaurant, staff very friendly and made us feel very welcome. We eat at Happy Garden on a number of occasions and would highly recommend.

Date of visit: February 2024
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 1 week ago via mobile

The food is excellent quality and the portion sizes are good. Asked how spicy you want certain dishes and this is spot on. We did have to wait a while but this is due to the food being freshly cooked. The staff are polite and...friendly. Don’t let the train track position put you off as the trains pass quite infrequently and it’s quite novel and entertaining when it does rush past. This is a cash only restaurant but definitely well worth a visit and we will be returning before we have to return home.More

Date of visit: March 2024
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 1 week ago via mobile

We dined here last night traditional Sri Lanka style food all homemade the lady owner was very helpful in choosing our food along with the friendliness of her staff we ordered Sri Lankan prawn curry served with fluffy rice chutney and popadom and also chicken...sriracha Lankan curry extra spicy it didn’t disappoint all beautifully cooked and tasty the prices very reasonable PLEASE NOTE THIS IS CASH ONLYMore

Date of visit: March 2024
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Reviewed 2 weeks ago

We come back here with every visit in Bentota, all the best to the lovely owner and her staff, we have seen you grow over the years. Greetings from Amsterdam!

Date of visit: February 2024
Helpful?1  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 2 weeks ago

A return visitor - came back after 4 years - food was still the same - Excellent - we opted for Sri lankan vegetable curry and had it a number of occasions during our stay- the offerings changed daily which was great. Food was inexpensive...by UK standards - £15 for us both inclusive of drinks. Meals cooked to order so expect a little wait for food - but its worth it. Oh and the wife had giant prawns- devine.More

Date of visit: February 2024
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Reviewed 2 weeks ago

Good was very very nice. They had everything. We was eat fish , rice, seafood and everything. It was perfect done. Lovely to came back to that restaurant. We hope to come again.

Date of visit: February 2024
Helpful?1  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 4 weeks ago via mobile

Visited on the last night of our holiday, and we saved the worst until last! Husband ordered a tuna steak with fries, and I ordered a Sri Lankan rice and curry, with a chicken curry. After 50 mins of waiting we were told the food...was on its way, it’s made fresh so that’s why it’s taken so long, fair enough. 15 minutes later, the food arrives, rice instead of chips with the tuna, and no chicken curry with the Sri Lankan curry. Chicken curry and fries are on their way apparently. After waiting 15 minutes, whilst our other food went cold, the chicken curry and fries arrive, at last ! Imagine my disappointment when I cut in to the chicken and it is raw in the middle! Call the waiter over, and tell him to take it away, do you want another, hell no! I’ve already waited an hour and 15 minutes for raw chicken, I’m not waiting any longer! Bill comes, no discount for unacceptable delays and raw food, and even had the audacity to add a service charge! Maybe don’t let so many people in if they don’t have the capacity to cope. Disappointing is not the word, gutted!More

Date of visit: February 2024
Helpful?1  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 4 weeks ago

I ate here my first night in town and then a second time after 2 disappointing meals at other nearby restaurants. I had curry dinner plates, preferred the chicken dish. Food was made spicy per my request. They give you a lot of food, I...couldn't finish the meals. Nice attentive staff.More

Date of visit: February 2024
Helpful?
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Reviewed 5 weeks ago

We booked a table for 2 & arrived on time. Ordered drinks & a chicken soup starter & said we would order our mains a little later. The soup took almost 45mins. for the soup to arrive & it had no flavour whatsoever. We sent...it back & decided to leave as it was getting late to order mains if they would take as long. Not a good experience & would not recommend.More

Date of visit: January 2024
Helpful?
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Reviewed 1 February 2024 via mobile

This restaurant is just beside the railway track and makes it unique. The food was delicious and the drinks too. The staff was very happy to serve you better and made sure to customize the dishes as per your personal taste&preference. Loved the live music....Definitely a must visit!More

Date of visit: January 2024
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Reviewed 28 January 2024

Went to Happy Garden for dinner based on TA reviews. Hadn’t thought to book and they were full, thankfully they found us a spare table and some chairs and fitted us in, very kind of them. The restaurant next door and many others in Bentota...were empty but no spaces in Happy Garden which tells you something! Make sure you book it gets busy here. Had really excellent food, good price and really friendly staff who were efficient. They serve alcohol too. Probably our favourite dinner in Bentota and we were there for 5 nights. Highly recommended.More

Date of visit: January 2024
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Reviewed 21 January 2024 via mobile

Lovely traditional Sri Lankan food in a small family run restaurant, very tasty made to your own heat preferences and very good value for money. Right next to the train track so don’t be alarmed when the train rushes by :)

Date of visit: January 2024
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Questions & Answers
Ask a question
Ken2720
10 January 2018|
Answer
Response from bazg2013 |
No, make sure you take cash- also, they didn’t have any alcohol on the menu...
-1
Votes
Ken2720
10 January 2018|
AnswerShow all 2 answers
Response from maria o | Reviewed this property |
I don't think they do, it's a small, family-run restaurant, nothing fancy... most places in Sri Lanka (except maybe in Colombo), especially the smaller ones (the good ones, I'd say! :D) are cash-only
2
Votes
Hilary H
31 March 2017|
AnswerShow all 2 answers
Response from juliamO5439MU | Reviewed this property |
I would think so, yes
0
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HAPPY GARDEN RESTAURANT, Bentota - Updated 2024 Restaurant Reviews, Photos & Phone Number - Tripadvisor

Frequently Asked Questions about Happy Garden Restaurant

Happy Garden Restaurant is rated accordingly in the following categories by Tripadvisor travellers:
  • Food: 4.5
  • Service: 4.5
  • Value: 4.5
  • Atmosphere: 4.5