Cook with Wasantha
Recommended by 99% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Galle, Sri Lanka
- 4 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Overview
Cooking with a local provides insights videos just can’t provide. Join your host and a small group for this Galle cooking class. Take a tuk-tuk to the Dutch Market, hear its history, and buy fresh vegetables, then visit the fish market for fresh fish. Next, learn about spices, how to cook rice, and how to make five different curries. Finally, eat a buffet lunch with your fingers, the local way.
- Learn to make coconut milk, get rice right, and cook five different curries
- Tour two markets and learn how to choose ingredients
- Numbers are capped at just 10 travelers for an intimate experience
- Feast on the fruits of your labor, served buffet style
Sample Menu
Main
Aubergine Moju
Deep fried aubergine chips coated in a caramelized onion sauce
Main
Rice and curry
rice with four different vegetables of your choice and fish or chicken curry
What's Included
- Lunch
- Private transportation
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Wasantha's Sri Lanka Cuisine180/a Yaddehimulla Rd, Unawatuna, Sri Lanka
we are located on the way to the jungle beach, just below villa thawthisa, if any confusions finding our place please contact the given number (Whatsapp) Sam's place unawatuna 0094772886761
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Operating hours.10:00 am
What To Expect
1
Dutch Market
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Debs_P
Wasantha and her family were delightful. Very knowledgeable sharing lots of cooking tips.
We visited the market and choose which veg/fruit we wanted to cook and then helped prepare and cook 5 very different delicious curry’s. The icing on the cake was eating the delicious food afterwards. Wasantha is very passionate about her cooking ensuring everyone in the group gets involved. If you can only choose 1 cooking class choose this one.. it’s fab you won’t be disappointed
Reviews
4.9
based on 267 reviews
Julia_T, Feb 2026
After a bumpy start with organisation regarding tuktuks we were delighted to find that we were the only clients that morning. We visited the fish market and vegetable market where Sasa explained all the different types of vegetables that could be used in cooking and their associated health benefits. We were asked to pick out four different vegetables to make curry with so we experimented with banana blossom, avocado, aubergine and green beans. Then onto the fish market where the variety was amazing and it was so cheap! Yellowfin tuna was selected as the main fish curry ingredient. Then back to Wasantha’s and a really interesting, hands-on cooking experience using all kinds of spices and methods of cooking. Then the two of us had the pleasure of eating the fruit of our labours which was a delight, very tasty but too much as we had four different vegetables curries and a tuna curry with rice. Sasa was an excellent host and teacher and her cooking skill was obvious. She also sent us her recipes via WhatsApp and I am looking forward to trying them at home. Overall, a really good experience. Thank you
Robbie_S, Feb 2026
We had an absolutely fantastic time at Wasantha’s cooking class yesterday. From the moment we arrived, we felt incredibly welcome by her family. Wasantha is warm, knowledgeable and clearly passionate about sharing traditional cooking techniques and local flavours.
When we arrived, we were informed there was a power outage, but that didn’t lessen the experience at all. Everything was handled calmly and professionally, and the class continued smoothly. If anything, it added to the authenticity and made the afternoon even more memorable.
The class was hands-on, well organised and very engaging. We learned so much about the ingredients, the spices and the cultural background behind each dish. Everything was explained clearly, and we were encouraged to get involved at every step, which made it both educational and fun.
The food was absolutely delicious — fresh, flavourful and far better than we could have imagined making ourselves. We left full, happy and inspired to try the recipes again at home.
Highly recommend this experience to anyone wanting a genuine, enjoyable and hands-on cooking class. Thank you, Wasantha and family, for such a memorable day!
Debs_P, Dec 2025
Wasantha and her family were delightful. Very knowledgeable sharing lots of cooking tips.
We visited the market and choose which veg/fruit we wanted to cook and then helped prepare and cook 5 very different delicious curry’s. The icing on the cake was eating the delicious food afterwards. Wasantha is very passionate about her cooking ensuring everyone in the group gets involved. If you can only choose 1 cooking class choose this one.. it’s fab you won’t be disappointed
Cecilia_D, Nov 2025
I’m so happy to choose the cooking class with Wasantha, I learn so much about local ingredients and spices, their local cooking techniques. Wasantha taught me a lot the tips and tricks to Cook everything and I like how we cooked a lot of vegetables with their local vegetables and fruit or the substitute with other vegetables. It doesn’t matter you know or you don’t know how to cook with her class in the end you will able to cook because she teaches how to measure the seasoning and we can create very very tasty foods. I love how they use fruits as ingredients for cooking as well
Courtney_L, Nov 2025
Cooking class with Wasantha and produce market with her husband Sam was 10/10.
Its the OG original in Unawatuna. Wasantha's curry recipes have been passed down through generations and you can taste it. Their family has survived and rebuilt through the Civil War, tsunami and hearing their stories...
Spend a few hours cooking with Wasantha and her family, enjoy a spread of multiple vegetarian, chicken/fish curries, you won't regret or forget it!
Theona_B, Jul 2025
I really enjoyed this cooking class/demonstration. I had two of my children, a friend and her daughter. The class is a family affair with Wasantha's mother, daughter and son in attendance. The authenticity and her love of cooking is palpable and she offered excellent advice throughout the class. The food she cooked was delicious and I felt like I left much better informed about rice and curry which we've loved on our trip. More importantly, she addressed the children and the vegetarians with a deep respect. I think this comes from her beautiful mother who sat quietly in the patio and giggled along with our 10 year olds.
Steven_N, Jan 2025
More of a cooking demonstration than a cooking class. Apart from cutting a few vegetables and different types of fruit participation was limited. It was interesting to visit two different markets in Galle to buy produce albeit commentary from host lacked energy and conviction. Also important to say that the demonstration was lead not by Wasantha but by her daughter who in our opinion has room for improvement.
Oliver_R, Jan 2025
If you're looking for a cooking course where its hands on then this isn't for you. Aside from some veg preparation it was more of a demonstration which was disappointing. From the beginning we weren't made to feel welcome and if I'm honest it felt like it was a chore for them us being there. We were taken to the local market and if i had not asked questions, the daughter who ran the course would not have spoken to my wife and I in the tuk tuk. Through the actual course the daughter wasn't overly friendly. The food tasted fantastic, but we left disappointed. Lastly although they shared the recipes these were photos of a hand written cook book which is hard to follow. All other courses we have been on we've either been given print outs or proper electronic versions.
Ade_P, Dec 2024
Went to market and chose dishes , bought fresh produce. We then helped prepare 5 curry dishes and rice.
Pineapple, dahl, aubergine & onion, pumpkin and tuna.
Learnt how to do rice properly (fluffy)
We then had the dishes for lunch. Yum yum yum.
We were also given 21 recipes.
Can't wait to try at home 😋
Olivia_B, Nov 2024
Walk to Wasantha’s restaurant in Unawatuna.
Tuk tuk to the market outside of Galle to collect ingredients. Tuk tuk back to Wasantha’s and cook five delicious curries.
All transport accounted for in price. We had Sasa (Wasantha’s daughter) lead our class who was great.
Natalie_H, Sep 2024
This is a review for 'Cook with Wasantha' cooking class booked through Viator. Had a wonderful time learning traditional Sri Lanka recipes with the lovely Wasantha and her family at their restaurant/home.
The tour started at 10am and we went to the local markets to source our vegetables (we each got to pick one) and then a stop at the fish market for a piece of tuna. The produce was super fresh and we were given a nice cool fruit drink.
We returned the restaurant and began prepping to make 4 vegetable dishes and one fish dish. Wasanth knows all her recipes by memory and she is so good at explaining her preparation.
We learned how to cook perfect rice (rinse, rinse rinse!) and we requested a deep fried eggplant dish we had tried elsewhere and she made that too. She got us all involved in the cooking. By almost 2pm we had cooked up a storm and were able to sit down and eat with our newly made student friends. Recipes were airdropped to us (handwritten ♥️).
My only recommendation is the knives could do with sharpening as they were quite blunt, but otherwise loved this authentic experience and cant wait to make the recipes at home. Also, Wasantha.. please sell bags of your secret spice blend!
Response from Host, Nov 2024
Dear sir/ madam,
Thank you so much for taking your time to write us this amazing review, it means a lot
We are so glad that you chose our cooking class among many others
We really hope that you will enjoy cooking the dishes that you learnt at Wasantha’s with love
Thank you.
Wasantha
John_W, Sep 2024
What a fantastic way to spend a day! Friendly, informative and fun (and great food!)
Highly recommended!!!
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Dear sir/ madam.
Thank you so much for taking a moment of your time to write us this amazing review, we are so glad to know that you enjoyed your time at Wasantha’s
We hope that you will have a good time recreating the recipes that you learnt at Wasantha’s.
Thank you.
Wasantha
Zuzana_G, Aug 2024
My time in Wasantha's kitchen far exceeded my expectations of a cooking class. It was a full-scale cultural experience with some of the kindest, most knowledgeable people we met on our trip.
Within 4 hours we visited fruit and vegetable market, a fish market, and cooked 5 vegetable curries and 1 fish curry. Wasantha even threw in her signature coconut sambol for good measure. We were taken to the market by her husband, Sam, who is a tour guide, so aside from information on the different types of fruit and veg, he shared useful tips on pretty much everything related to Sri Lankan travel.
After each of us chose 1 vegetable we wanted to cook - this was particularly appreciated, as we got a chance to try foods not available in our home countries - we returned to the kitchen.
Wasantha's patience, clarity of instruction and years of experience led to a pleasant and educational final stretch during which we prepared the meals. We ate the curries together, listening to Wasanta's stories. When my husband returned to pick me up with our daughter, they were both invited to join us for lunch.
All recipes - and many others - were later shared with us with an invitation to send in any questions we may have when recreating the meals at home.
Overall, this was a stellar experience, which I would highly recommend to anyone wanting to learn more about Sri Lankan cuisine.
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Dear sir/ madam.
Thank you so much for taking a moment of your time to write us this amazing review, we are so glad to know that you enjoyed your time at Wasantha’s
We hope that you will have a good time recreating the recipes that you learnt at Wasantha’s.
Thank you.
Wasantha
Helen_K, Aug 2024
Wasantha is such a joy to spend time learning from- a very amazing cook. Husband Sam was fantastic on the market tour - all the family contribute and you feel like have had a real home stay by the time you sit down with new friends and enjoy sharing what we have prepared together.
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Dear sir/ madam.
Thank you so much for taking a moment of your time to write us this amazing review, we are so glad to know that you enjoyed your time at Wasantha’s
We hope that you will have a good time recreating the recipes that you learnt at Wasantha’s.
Thank you.
Wasantha
Anna_H, Apr 2024
Such an amazing day, I can't recommend this highly enough!
We met at the restaurant then were taken to the market to select the vegetables for our dishes then onto the fish market to pick up some tuna. We returned to Wasantha where she made the magic happen! We learned so many great techniques and tips throughout the day. Every dish we made was so delicious! I couldn't eat dinner that night after such a big lunch. Definitely select this course, not one of the copy cat courses around! You won't be disappointed!
Sabrina_W, Apr 2024
Ist was the best cooking class we ever did. The trip to the market was amazing and Wasantha teached us real slow and good to understand. She is really kind and made it interesting. The Food was incredible delicious.
Jennifer_G, Apr 2024
Amazing day experiencing how to cook authentic Sri Lankan cuisine with Wasantha and her family. A definite highlight of my trip
Two_R, Mar 2024
Absolutely fantastic. From the markets through the cooking to the eating of the final products it was a brilliant experience. All members of the family are wonderful. We were so lucky to get the benefit of 35 years experience cooking. Fully recommend as 10/10
Angela_M, Mar 2024
A thoroughly enjoyable session indeed. The trips to fresh market and fish market were interesting exercises in themselves. The cooking explanations were clear, interesting and provided a good insight into how to make a range of curries. A lovely personality and good teacher as well
Rachel_G, Oct 2023
Excellent cooking class, Wasantha is very knowledgeable and adventurous with her cooking and recipes and has very good skills in the kitchen. I had a wonderful time with their Daughter Sasa who took me through the markets and explained the local fruit and veg. I made tuna ambitar and 4 different curries including their secret avocado curry. I love that they were able to adapt the recipes to my intolerances as well. Amazing effort!
Pauline_S, Apr 2023
we enjoyed interacting with Wasantha and watch her cook. she has loads of experience.
she added spices by only smelling and not measuring and she took our preferences into account.
i will encourage anyone interested in food to go and to do this. well worth the money
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