The cluster of local restaurants on and around Bakers Street, behind the main bus stand, represents the best value eating in Kandy. These are not tourist restaurants — they are lunch rooms aimed at workers, students, and locals going about their day. A rice and curry meal here costs a fraction of what the lakeside places charge and is often more authentically prepared.
The lunch rush (12pm to 2pm) is when you'll find the widest selection — dishes are prepared fresh that morning and displayed in large pots behind the counter. Point at what you want; string hoppers with dhal curry and coconut milk gravy is the breakfast staple; hoppers (bowl-shaped fermented rice crepes) appear at breakfast and dinner.