Award-winning Sri Lankan street food brand Kochchi is to open its first fully fledged restaurant in the Glasgow west end site formerly occupied by The Hanoi Bike Shop.
The launch marks a major milestone for the brand, which first came to attention as a small kitchen in Edinburgh’s St James Quarter streetfood marketplace Bonnie & Wild.
Since opening there in 2022, Kochchi has become a favourite for its flame-cooked dishes and modern take on Sri Lanka’s culinary heritage.
Founded by friends Shehan Fernando and Suki Jayaratne, Kochchi was born from their shared love of the country’s diversity and food. Alhough they grew up in different parts of Sri Lanka, it was Colombo – the country’s bustling capital – that united their culinary vision.
Jayaratne said: “Shehan’s childhood was spent among his family’s hotels in Nuwara Eliya before discovering Colombo’s kitchens and streets, where food was rhythm and theatre.
“I grew up in Kandy’s gardens and coastal markets but found in Colombo the energy of a city where every influence collided — from black pork curry and seafood fried rice to lunch boxes filled with dosas, sambols, and biryani.”
The new Glasgow restaurant will reflect the Colombo the pair remember — “the wood, cane and brass of old hotels, the colour and bustle of its markets, and the spirit of food cooked fresh and fast”.
Fernando said: “When you sit at our table, you taste more than Sri Lanka — you taste Colombo, the city where the island comes together. At Kochchi Glasgow, we want to share that rhythm and warmth — a place for rich curries, street snacks, and seafood dishes that carry the flavours of home.
“The space will have the same character and soul that shaped us, brought to life with a Glasgow energy of its own.”
Kochchi is expanding with the continued support of Bonnie & Wild, as its collaboration is described as ‘instrumental’ in helping introduce authentic Sri Lankan flavours to a wider audience.
The half a million-pound investment into the Glasgow west end destination will build on that early success with an expanded menu and dedicated bar. Guests can expect the same fiery spirit, but brought to life in a space designed for lingering — “where the rhythm of Colombo meets the warmth of Glasgow’s West End”.
There will be regional curries, grilled seafood, street-style snacks, and flame-fired plates that celebrate Sri Lanka’s coastal and urban flavours, in a venue with dining capacity for 80 covers, over two floors plus an external seating area.
There will also be a dedicated bar area with a curated drinks list, featuring Sri Lankan-inspired cocktails, craft beers, and tropical softs.
Designed as both a neighbourhood restaurant and a late-evening hangout, the venue will create 15 new jobs when it opens later this winter.
