Hopper Joint

Hoppers are the hero at this esteemed Sri Lankan diner. It’s by restaurateur Jason Jones and interior designer Brahman Perera, who also run Entrecote across the street.

Here, you’ll find snacks including paddu (a fermented rice batter dish with a prawn filling) and pan rolls. But the namesake hoppers are the main attraction. The team serves two types: a hollow, bowl-shaped pancake-like hopper, and string hoppers (idiyappam) – soft and pillowy discs shaped with thin strands of batter. The hopper sets come with sambals and curries – such as okra curry, market fish curry and spicy prawn curry. After dinner, there’s a version of Perera’s grandmother’s Sri Lankan dessert, mango fluff.

Perera has said the food here tastes better when eaten with your hands. So, he designed the space with a tap in the centre of the room – creating a communal and convivial atmosphere. The prolific interior designer (who designed Ursula’s in Sydney) also added low-lying fans and greenery. And his personal decor adds a homely touch, including a pot from a temple that Perera’s grandmother gave him, and his grandfather’s old walking stick.