Awesome Sri Lankan cuisine in Farmer's Branch: Spicy Zest

A charming storefront in Farmers Branch, North Texas, is the region's premier spot to experience spicy, distinctive Sri Lankan cuisine. Since 2016, chef-owner Nimidu Senaratne has served up the island nation's unique flavors at his cozy restaurant, which features TVs, a bar, and a well-maintained patio adorned with hibiscus shrubs. Traditional staples like seafood curries with coconut milk and thick rotis with sambol (a spicy coconut relish) shine, as do the bowl-shaped, fermented-rice-flour crepes called hoppers. Our egg hopper, with a spongy, yolky center, crisp edges, and a smear of sambol, delighted us with its zesty simplicity. A richer, spicier main course, the lamb kottu, featured chopped godamba roti and scrambled eggs.

We enthusiastically recommend the fragrant yellow rice steamed with mustard seeds, cashews, and ginger, served with curried shrimp, dahl, and seeni sambol (a caramelized onion relish). Overall, the meal was a satisfying, aromatic, tear-jerking journey we'd happily embark on again. For those wanting to sample a variety of dishes, the Friday night and weekend brunch buffets, which include complimentary margaritas and mimosas, are a must.

During our first visit, we celebrated my stepbrother's college graduation, and I found it to be a great place with fantastic food. The buffet offers a variety of dishes, all tasting remarkably fresh! Even my picky kids enjoyed the food. The service was excellent, with our waiter going above and beyond to accommodate our group. Each of us received a complimentary mimosa, and the staff made me two Egg Hoppers to try. The family-friendly ambiance was enhanced by the owner, a very friendly guy who brought my cousin a complimentary dessert for her birthday and joined in singing for her. A wonderful place!

Since that first visit over seven years ago, we've been regulars. My best friend, a Sri Lankan living in Texas, deeply appreciates having authentic Sri Lankan food nearby. Watching this spot grow from a small restaurant to its current state has been delightful. Nimudu and Chamari are hard-working and welcoming, always happy to discuss the food. For those unfamiliar with Sri Lankan cuisine, the buffet is a great introduction. They offer a Friday night dinner and Saturday & Sunday brunch. The food is mild with a vast variety. Our favorites include Yellow Rice, Godhamba, deviled chicken or beef, and fried noodles. My husband, who is American, enjoys their Zesty bowl. Their crab curry is outstanding but needs to be ordered an hour in advance. Don't forget to enjoy a cup of Sri Lankan tea!

This warm Lankan joint offers a refreshing escape from the monotonous "Desi this" and "Desi that" restaurants prevalent in North Dallas. Unlike the soulless, over-spiced fare of many places, the team at Zest takes pride in their food. Though the black chicken curry at Sigiree in NYC is marginally better, the sambals and freshly made appams here are superior. The unexpected star of the menu is the eggplant moju, my absolute favorite preparation of this vegetable. Even the dal and bread, with a slightly imperfect tinge of turmeric, are heartwarming. I hope they stay true to their roots in a city of Indian restaurants that have largely given up. Until then, I will visit weekly with my family to enjoy the warm hospitality, where my kids get their special marshmallow-laden hot chocolate, and I try every combination on their menu.

On a recent lunch visit, my sister and I ordered the vegetable biryani and potato curry with roti. The potato curry was one of the best I've ever had—spicy, creamy, with a hint of coconut. Our biryani, made with a mild spice level of 3, was satisfying. Amid the plethora of American and Tex-Mex places in the DFW area, this restaurant stands out as a must-try for comforting and immensely flavorful food. We're already planning to get a tub of their potato curry on the first cold day in Dallas!

During my most recent dinner, I had the Lumprais, a unique dish featuring fried rice with cashews, mustard seeds, curry leaves, cinnamon, cloves, and garlic, wrapped in a banana leaf with eggplant, fried egg, plantain curry, and a protein of choice. I also enjoyed the Kottu and Yellow Rice, both equally tasty. As always, the restaurant was clean, the service friendly, and they even have a store in the back selling Sri Lankan items. The bar and weekend buffet are additional attractions. If I have any criticism, it's that I prefer more spice, but I am tough to please. Nonetheless, this is a place everyone will enjoy—a delicious and different culinary experience from the other side of the world, right here in Farmers Branch, Texas.

13920 Josey Ln suite 100, Farmers Branch, TX 75234

(469) 629-9191

www.spicyzest.com