Best local restaurants inside Galle Fort — where do locals actually eat?

Born and raised in Galle. The honest local answer:

The Fort itself is almost entirely tourist-facing now — that's the economic reality of a UNESCO site. But here's where to eat well without paying tourist prices:

Inside the Fort:
- Pedlar's Inn Café — small, locally-run, rice and curry lunch around LKR 400–600. Get there by noon before it runs out.
- Muslim hotels near the mosque area — proper breakfast (roti, dhal, egg) for under LKR 200. Look for places with no English signage and plastic chairs.
- Morning Bakery (near the lighthouse) — string hoppers and coconut sambol in the morning, closing by 9 AM.

Just outside the Fort walls (5-minute walk):
- Galle Bus Stand area has excellent kottu and rice-and-curry shops for LKR 250–400
- Ask for "hotels" (local word for small eating places, not accommodation)

General rule: if the menu has photos, English descriptions, and no prices listed in LKR on a chalkboard outside, expect tourist prices. The best local food doesn't advertise.