We dug into what Sri Lankans ordered on Uber Eats in 2025, and one thing stood out immediately – rice didn’t just show up, it dominated. ‘Rice and curry’ emerged as the number one searched term of the year. When it came to specialty rice dishes, Fried Rice clearly won the crown, beating Biriyani by a convincing margin.
Spice once again dominated delivery instructions, with the most popular request simply being: ‘Make it spicy.’ From main meals to snack-time favourites, Sri Lankans showed no signs of holding back on heat. Even achcharu orders packed a punch, with Mixed Achcharu and Spicy Wood Apple Achcharu leading flavour preferences – a clear sign that the nation’s love for daiyya 🌶️ is still going strong.
The Uber Eats Cravings Report 2025, a snapshot of the country’s favourite cravings and binge-worthy dishes, also reflected the platform’s growing footprint. In 2025, Uber Eats expanded to six new cities – Anuradhapura, Jaffna, Matale, Matara, Hikkaduwa and Puttalam – taking delivery deeper across the island. Colombo remained the country’s biggest hunger hub, followed by Kandy and Galle.
Sri Lanka’s long-standing love for Short Eats showed no signs of slowing down. The Chicken Chinese Roll took the top spot in 2025, narrowly edging out the Fish Chinese Roll and Chicken Samosa as snack-time favourites – proof that classics still rule snack time.
Chocolate stole the spotlight when it came to desserts. All five of the most-ordered desserts in 2025 were chocolate-based, led by Chocolate Lava Cake, followed by Chocolate Doughnuts, Eclairs, and Muffins – leaving little doubt about the country’s go-to comfort flavour.
When it came to beverages, in a country that is among the largest tea exporters in the world, coffee continued its winning streak. Iced Coffee ranked as the most-ordered drink on Uber Eats last year, beating out soft drink favourites as customers looked for their caffeine fixes – preferably served cold.
Grocery trends reflected everyday kitchen essentials, with milk, onions, bread, and coconut topping shopping carts on the app. True to Uber Eats’ Get Almost, Almost Anything promise, non-food items were also popular, with sanitary napkins leading the list, followed by tissues and household cleaning products.
Sri Lankans also showed their trademark generosity and politeness on the app. Nearly 42% of customers included the word ‘please’ in their delivery instructions, while customers tipped delivery partners a total of Rs. 55 million over the year.
The year also saw some standout ordering moments. One loyal Uber Eats user in Colombo ordered from the same restaurant an incredible 466 times, while another saved Rs. 200,000 in Uber Eats membership benefits in a single month. Group orders reached new highs too, with the largest single cart bringing together 128 participants, and pizza remaining the ultimate party favourite – peaking at 24 pizzas in one order.
Flower orders told an interesting story in 2025: for every two bouquets ordered for Mothers’ Day, three were sent on Valentine’s Day, showing that romance narrowly stole the spotlight.
Seven years in, Uber Eats continues to shape how Sri Lanka gets its favourite items delivered – whether it’s rice and curry with extra spice, chocolate-loaded desserts, or everyday essentials delivered on demand. Whatever Sri Lanka is craving, Uber Eats is ready to deliver it, just the way they like it.
The 2025 Food Menu Royalty:
- Fried Rice
- Kottu
- Rice & Curry
- Biryani
- Submarine
The 2025 Grocery Menu Royalty:
- Milk
- Onions
- Bread
- Coconut
- Banana
The 2025 ‘Get Almost, Almost Anything’ Winners
- Sanitary Napkins
- Paper Serviettes
- Tissues rolls and packs)
- Cleaning supplies: Dishwash and Detergent
- Pet Food
Most popular Short Eats
- Chicken Chinese Roll
- Fish Chinese Roll
- Chicken Samosa
- Fish Bun
- Chicken Bun
Most ordered beverages
- Iced Coffee
- Cola brands
- Lime Juice
- Chocolate Milkshake
- Avocado juice
Most ordered desserts
- Chocolate Lava Cake
- Chocolate Doughnut
- Chocolate Eclair
- Cashew Chocolate Bar
- Chocolate Muffin