Avoiding tourist prices for street food in Pettah market
6 Answers from travellers
The golden rule of Sri Lankan street food: Never ask "how much" first. Observe the locals ahead of you. If they hand over a 100 LKR note and get a samosa, you do the exact same thing. Point at the item, confidently hand them the 100 LKR note, and hold your hand out for the food. If they try to argue, just smile and shake your head. 99% of the time, they will accept the local price.
Also, stick to the carts that have printed prices on a small cardboard sign hanging from the roof.
Confidence is key. If you act like you live there, they treat you like it.
If they quote 1000 rupees for a king coconut, literally just laugh and walk away. They will drop it to 150 instantly.
What is a fair price for a paper cone of roasted chickpeas.
Usually 100 or 150 LKR maximum for a small paper cone.
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