Hoppers

A welcoming cup of warm water infused lightly with cardamom arrives shortly after you sit down. Situated on the 1st floor of the KABUTO ONE complex in Nihombashi Kabutocho, HOPPERS presents Sri Lankan cooking guided by a delicate hand with spices. Beyond its substantial front door lies a sleek, contemporary dining room designed for understated calm, comfortably accommodating everything from a solo lunch to an evening dinner.

The signature midday option is the rice and curry plate. At the centre, whole dried sardine sits grilled and fragrant atop the rice, bordered by a colourful array of vegetable-focused side dishes such as beetroot, aubergine, stewed lentils, and cabbage theldux0101ra. Eating each element on its own first and then gradually folding them together with the rice and curry allows the layers of acidity, sweetness, and spiced depth to build naturally.

For the accompanying main curry, options include prawn in a coconut base perfumed with cinnamon and cardamom, as well as tomato-based lamb or fish. Ordering an extra curry is a pleasant way to compare differing gravies side by side.

To conclude the spiced meal, set options pair a small dessert, such as yoghurt mousse, with Sri Lankan tea. By night, the kitchen offers course-style dining alongside wines and other drinks, setting a relaxed pace that feels distinct from lunch.