Restaurant
Ministry of Crab
Dharshan Munidasa's crab restaurant in the Old Dutch Hospital, co-founded with cricketers Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara and serving wild-caught Sri Lankan mud crab.
Nihonbashi
Dharshan Munidasa's Japanese restaurant, founded in 1995 and the first Sri Lankan restaurant on Asia's 50 Best list, now on Chaithya Road at Port City.
At a glance
- Type
- Japanese
- Area
- Port City, Colombo, Sri Lanka
- Price
- $$$$ · Luxury
- Official site
- nihonbashi.lk
Good to know
- Reservations
- Bar
Why we recommend it
Nihonbashi is where Dharshan Munidasa's career as Sri Lanka's best-known chef began. He founded the restaurant in 1995, and it went on to become the first restaurant from Sri Lanka to appear on the Asia's 50 Best Restaurants list, where it featured from 2013 to 2018. Munidasa's work with Japanese food has also been recognised by Japan itself: he has received the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays, and has been named a Japanese Cuisine Goodwill Ambassador.
The restaurant describes its cooking as a harmonious blend of traditional and modern Japanese cuisine. Separate food and drinks menus are published on its website, so it is worth looking through them before you go to decide between sushi and sashimi, cooked dishes and set options. It makes a good counterpoint to a meal at Ministry of Crab, Munidasa's crab restaurant in Fort.
Nihonbashi now trades from Chaithya Road at Port City Colombo, close to the Fort. It opens for lunch from noon to 2.30pm and for dinner from 6pm to 10.30pm. Reservations are recommended, especially in the evening, and can be made by phone or by email.
The same premises also host LIT, or Lost In Translation, a cocktail bar that shares its space with Nihonbashi. It opens from 5pm, serves cocktails with house-made syrups and Japanese elements, and offers bar snacks including the signature Nihonbashi burgers, so you can start with a drink at sunset and move on to dinner without changing venue. A 2024 review described its bar counter as built from giant stone boulders, with snacks such as okonomiyaki, sushi boxes and karapincha tempura, weekly jam sessions with local bands, DJ nights and themed events. The bar stays open until 11pm from Sunday to Thursday and until 1am on Friday and Saturday.
Port City is a short tuk-tuk ride from Galle Face Green and the Fort, and it combines well with an evening walk along the seafront. If you are building a food-focused trip, pairing Nihonbashi with Ministry of Crab gives a clear sense of why Munidasa has had such an influence on dining in Colombo.
Nihonbashi FAQs
When was Nihonbashi founded?
In 1995, by chef Dharshan Munidasa.
Where is Nihonbashi now?
At Plot 01, Port City, Shop 01-12, Chaithya Road, Colombo 1.
What are the opening hours?
Lunch from noon to 2.30pm and dinner from 6pm to 10.30pm.
What kind of food does it serve?
A blend of traditional and modern Japanese cuisine.
Has it won awards?
It was the first Sri Lankan restaurant on Asia's 50 Best Restaurants list, featuring from 2013 to 2018.
How do I book?
Call +94 77 936 0250 or email [email protected].
Is there a bar?
Yes. LIT, a cocktail bar, shares its space with Nihonbashi and opens from 5pm.
What else is nearby?
Galle Face Green and the Fort district are a short ride away.