Discover Authentic Sri Lankan Food at Apey Kade in Tarzana

Looking for something different to eat in the San Fernando Valley? If you enjoy bold spices, rich curries, crispy textures, and generous portions, Apey Kade in Tarzana offers a taste of authentic Sri Lankan home-style cooking.

Featured on Eat Live Love San Fernando Valley, this family-run restaurant brings traditional Sri Lankan dishes to Ventura Boulevard, introducing diners to flavors and specialties that can be difficult to find elsewhere in Los Angeles.

From crispy hoppers and comforting lamprais to savory kottu and flavorful appetizers, Apey Kade offers a delicious introduction to Sri Lankan cuisine.

A family restaurant with a welcoming story

Located on Ventura Boulevard near Corbin Avenue in Tarzana, Apey Kade is more than just a place to enjoy a meal. It is a family business with roots that go back to the owner’s childhood.

The name Apey Kade means “our store” in Sinhala, one of Sri Lanka’s languages. The idea behind the name reflects the restaurant’s welcoming atmosphere. It is meant to feel like a place for everyone, much like visiting family.

During the episode, the owner shared how the restaurant has been part of her family for years, including memories of spending time there as a child while her mother worked.

That family connection is reflected in the restaurant’s approach to food, with traditional recipes and home-style dishes at the center of the experience.

What makes Sri Lankan food unique?

Sri Lankan cuisine shares some similarities with Indian food, but it has its own distinct ingredients, flavors, and cooking traditions.

Coconut milk, chilies, curry leaves, and aromatic spices play an important role in many dishes. The result is a variety of meals that can be rich, savory, spicy, and layered with flavor.

For anyone trying Sri Lankan food for the first time, Apey Kade offers several traditional dishes that help showcase the cuisine.

Must-try Sri Lankan dishes at Apey Kade

Lamprais: A traditional meal wrapped in banana leaves

One of the restaurant’s signature dishes is lamprais, a traditional Sri Lankan meal served wrapped in a banana leaf.

The chicken version featured in the episode includes short-grain rice, boneless chicken curry, a fish cutlet, caramelized onions, green banana curry, coconut sambol, and eggplant.

Everything is packed together and steamed in the banana leaf, allowing the ingredients and aromas to come together.

Apey Kade also offers beef and vegetarian versions, as well as fish. Mutton is available by special order. The restaurant also ships its lamprais across the country, with the meals prepared so they can be frozen and reheated.

Kottu: A flavorful Sri Lankan street food

Kottu is another must-try dish, especially for anyone who enjoys hearty meals with plenty of texture.

Instead of noodles or rice, this traditional street food uses chopped roti. The restaurant’s beef kottu combines roti with onions, leeks, carrots, garlic, ginger, beef curry, and spices, all chopped and mixed together on the grill.

It is filling, savory, and packed with different flavors in every bite.

Hoppers: Crispy, thin, and perfect for dipping

Hoppers are one of the most recognizable Sri Lankan specialties featured in the episode.

These thin, bowl-shaped pancakes have crispy edges and a softer center. Apey Kade serves plain hoppers as well as egg hoppers, which have an egg cooked in the middle.

They are broken into pieces and dipped into curries and chutneys. During the tasting, the hoppers were served with shrimp curry and the restaurant’s house-made chili paste.

The chili paste brings a serious kick, so diners who prefer milder flavors may want to start with a small amount.

String hoppers with coconut curry

Unlike the crispy texture of regular hoppers, string hoppers are softer and chewier.

Apey Kade makes them with red rice flour, which is piped into small, circular patterns and steamed. They are served with yellow coconut curry, egg, and chicken curry.

The dish can be mixed together and enjoyed much like pasta, with the different curries and accompaniments creating a combination of sweet, savory, and spicy flavors.

Sri Lankan appetizers worth trying

Apey Kade also serves several appetizers that showcase the variety of Sri Lankan flavors.

Mutton Chinese Roll

This crispy roll has a potato-based filling with pieces of mutton, curry leaves, onions, and spices. It is served with a house-made chili sauce that starts slightly sweet before bringing a little heat.

Sri Lankan Scotch Egg

The restaurant’s version puts a twist on the traditional Scotch egg. Instead of ground meat, it uses a seasoned fish filling wrapped around a half-boiled egg.

The combination of the soft egg and flavorful fish filling makes it a standout dish from the tasting.

Fish Patty

Similar in shape to a small empanada, the fish patty has a crispy exterior and a warmly spiced fish filling. It is another example of how the restaurant uses spices to build flavor without making every dish overwhelmingly spicy.

Finish the meal with traditional Sri Lankan tea

After sampling the different dishes, the meal ended with Sri Lankan black tea.

It is stronger than the black tea many people may be used to, and Apey Kade sweetens it with condensed milk instead of regular sugar or another sweetener.

It makes a comforting finish after a meal filled with rich curries, spices, and different textures.

Experience Sri Lankan home-style cooking in Tarzana

Apey Kade offers something different for diners looking to explore cuisines beyond the usual choices in the San Fernando Valley.

With its family-run atmosphere, traditional recipes, generous portions, and variety of dishes, the restaurant gives guests an opportunity to experience Sri Lankan food in a welcoming setting.

Whether you are trying lamprais for the first time, ordering crispy hoppers with curry, or exploring the flavors of kottu and Sri Lankan appetizers, there is plenty to discover.

If you are in Tarzana and looking for an authentic Sri Lankan meal, add Apey Kade to your list.

Watch the video: Get a closer look inside Apey Kade, hear the family’s story, and see the dishes featured in this Eat Live Love San Fernando Valley episode.

Visit Apey Kade on Ventura Boulevard near Corbin Avenue in Tarzana, and discover the bold flavors of Sri Lankan home-style cooking.