Chef Ashantha of Smiling Islander brings the taste of Sri Lanka straight to your door

Are you craving the flavor of authentic Sri Lanka but looking to save on the plane fare? Let Chef Ashantha of Smiling Islander take your palate on a trip around the world without ever leaving your living room – and for a price that’s so affordable, you might be traveling weekly.

*This post is sponsored by Smiling Islander, but the opinions belong to EatDrinkLA – now I’m a customer for life.

Meet Chef Ashantha of Smiling Islander

Chef Ashantha Rubera was born in Sri Lanka and grew up in a culinary family. Although he always heard the siren song of the kitchen calling, seeing the long hours his Chef father had to endure encouraged Ashantha to explore other paths in hospitality. He relocated to Qatar to work as a flight attendant, but home was never far, as he found himself cooking for friends there and embracing his roots as someone who loved to share his fervor for food with others. He moved to the United States in 2013 after marrying the “love of his life,” but he was still fearful of donning a chef’s hat as a full-time career despite her encouragement. As with many stories in the culinary industry today, it took a pandemic to fuel the passion that has now become Smiling Islander.

What to Order

Chef Ashantha of Smiling Islander specializes in the island-style cooking of Sri Lanka. You’ll find a multitude of spices joining together to create a bowl of comfort that reminds you to relax and enjoy life. From the moment you pop the top of any of his preparations, you’ll find the aromas filling your home, just like the Chef was cooking exclusively for you.

The Rice and Curry Lunch Special is a must-have for both value and taste. It features a marinated chicken with two vegetable curries over basmati rice. The curries change weekly, so you can order this on rotation and never get bored ($12.99). Below you’ll find a Beetroot and Lentil Curry. My favorite so far has been the Pumpkin Curry, while the Chef is a huge fan of the Sri Lankan Crab Curry. These are also available à la carte by the pound ($11.99 +).

You are most likely familiar with the popular Chicken Nasi Goreng fried rice, and Smiling Islander does not shy away from the spicy kick. It feels truly authentic and is a perfect addition to any meal ($14.99). If you are looking for a little less spice, perhaps due to younger eaters, you can’t go wrong with Sri Lankan Yellow Rice or Egg Fried Rice ($10.99+). There’s also a String Hopper Pilaf which is a rice noodle, egg, and vegetable combination ($13.99). This is even good under curry, or you could use the String Hopper base on its own if you don’t want to mix the flavors ($9.99).

Lastly, try the Sri Lanka Chicken Kottu Roti if you’re looking for a more street-food-style deep dive into the pearl of the Indian ocean ($16.99). This dish is reminiscent of the Chef’s childhood, and he fondly remembers enjoying it from the local street vendors. Kottu means chopped, and here you’ll find a delicious mix of curry, meat, vegetables, and glutenous bits of pancake (roti). You can’t help but feel all warm inside.

If you’re looking to satisfy your sweet tooth, add on a Sri Lankan Iced Coffee ($3.99) or a dessert like the Sri Lankan Chocolate Biscuit or Island Style Bread Pudding ($14.99 for 16 ounces).

How to Order

The best part of a home-cooked meal is the freshness, and Chef Ashantha of Smiling Islander makes everything fresh to order with hand-selected ingredients, including a private spice collection. What that means for you is that you must allow a 24-hour leeway time before enjoying some of the best Sri Lankan food in Los Angeles.

You can order directly from Smiling Islander for pick-up and catering orders in Burbank, or take advantage of FREE DELIVERY and $20 OFF when you use Shef. The Shef platform is similar to DoorDash and Uber Eats but specializes in home chef operations. All shefs are vetted and certified in food safety, so you can fully trust the person making your meal. Shef also has low to no extra fees, unlike some of its competitors. The menu changes often, which allows for weekly or bi-weekly recurring orders at an even greater discount.

Keep up with Chef Ashantha of Smiling Islander even when you’re not eating by following his YouTube and Instagram pages for live cooking demos and inspirational posts. You’ll soon see why the Smiling Islander name perfectly matches the Chef – and the spirit of the food he makes.