Vegetarian at a Sinhala-only menu board — how do I translate without ending up with egg in everything?
Small town rice-and-curry place. Board is Sinhala only, staff English is thin, and every hopper or roti I have tried elsewhere arrived with egg. I want vegetable curries and plain rice, not a tourist-mild blank plate and not a secret omelette. What pointing or phone-translate tricks actually work so the kitchen hears vegetarian without egg?
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5 Answers from travellers
Photograph the board and use offline translate, then confirm out loud: vegetarian, no egg — many kitchens know those English words even when the board is Sinhala. Point at vegetable dishes on another table if needed and say same. Elavalu helps for vegetables; still repeat no egg for hoppers and roti. I will not invent a tourist menu fee. Smile, point, confirm twice on egg. You usually get a real plate once the cook hears the constraint clearly.
Photo plus translate plus no egg spoken twice. Got dhal and beans, no surprise omelette.
Elavalu and no egg — still watch hoppers. Pointing at a neighbor plate sealed it.
Pointed at a clear vegetarian spread and said same please. Fastest method of the trip.
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