Great food and ambience. We all enjoyed the vegetarian food and drinks were also great. I would highly recommend it and we will be back. Thank you.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Cagla Bahadir
We came here to have dinner. Our server suggested that we have 3 appetizers for the table and 1 hopper, 1 dosa and 1 main PER PERSON, followed by dessert. This made us think that the plates were very small. We ordered 1 appetizer, 1 dosa and 2 mains and we had TONS of leftovers. We heard the same amount of food being suggested to other tables and people seemed surprised. Seems like a strategy to sell tons of food, and send people home with leftovers. We asked spicy level for chicken kothu and it was not spicy. For chicken curry we asked for medium spicy and it still wasn’t spicy at all. Dosa was okay but chutney was not flavorful. We won’t be coming back.
Stephen Robinson
Ahmed was great, and the food was delicious!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Prageeth Manoratne
TLDR: looking for a unique taste with variety of drinks and meals, this is the place to go! I stepped onto the bustling Upper East Side on a recent Thursday evening, just after 7 PM, specially to visit this Lungi after hearing all the buzz, a restaurant that stands out amidst a stretch of diverse eateries. It is a rare find in this vibrant culinary landscape as its focus on Sri Lankan cuisine, seamlessly interwoven with South Indian flavors. While there are subtle distinctions between the two, the common threads are far more numerous, and Lungi brilliantly offers the best of both worlds in a captivating fusion. The moment you walk in, Lungi exudes a welcoming atmosphere. A sleek bar lines one side, where true mixologists ply their craft, while a spacious dining area occupies the other. For those who enjoy an al fresco feel without the elements, an enclosed, yet distinctly outdoorsy, dining room is tucked away in the back. The drinks crafted by the bartenders were nothing short of unique and utterly delicious. The standout, without a doubt, was an exquisite orange and mango mixed cocktail – a vibrant, sun-kissed concoction that perfectly complemented the evening. When it came to the food, Lungi truly shone. We started with traditional appetizers like the fried sprats (handello), and both the shrimp and cuttlefish dishes are absolute must-tries. The depth of the spices used in every dish was remarkable; not overwhelmingly hot, but incredibly flavorful and nuanced. For the main course, I highly recommend the egg hoppers and the string hoppers biryani – both were phenomenal and showcased the kitchen's mastery. Beyond the exceptional food and drinks, the hospitality from the staff was simply amazing, and, without question, a 10/10 experience and a true culinary highlight on the Upper East Side.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Maya Majumdar
I have had Lungi on my list for over a year now. So the expectations were high. The place is somewhat decent …. not a typical Asian restaurant decor. The server had absolutely no idea how to serve a table and was very hard to understand. We ordered drink and three small plates. We asked how big are the portions and she told us they are very small. Out of the blue, one appetizer shows up with no drink in sight. Then another small plate shows up and still not drink. We ordered Hoppas which comes with two side condiments. We ordered 3 hoppas and only got one condiment. After repeatedly asking for the little sides, they eventually came with one more but still didn’t get us the three that came with the hoppas. The king fish tawa fry was fhe worst dish on the menu. So fishy and had zero taste other than being extra fishy. We ordered avial which was nothing but a big bowl of drumsticks….. the jackfruit was a disaster. So much gravy and the jackfruit was so mushy. The calamari was somewhat okay but nothing like that would say I would be back. My first time here and this place disappointed me in every front. There was also a guy who looked like he has no idea how to clean a table and kept leaving over us to pick up the dishes. We asked for boxes for to go and these were probably the cheapest to go containers I have ever seen. Then they handed me a plastic bag to put them in. They can’t even afford a bag for to go. It’s a matter of time before this place goes out of business. Getting fake Google reviews will not get you far. If you are not getting returning customers, you cannot survive for too long in NYC. Just my two cents Lungi 😡
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 1
Amila jeewantha Amila jeewantha
I’ve been hearing a lot about Lungi lately, and finally got the chance to check it out. Back when I used to be in the city, there weren’t really any Sri Lankan places around except for Sigiri, so this was exciting.
Everyone kept saying, ‘you have to try the mutton rolls’ and they were right. The food was absolutely amazing. A perfect blend of Sri Lankan and South Indian flavors, full of bold spices and real depth. Hats off to Chef Vasanth Kumar truly outstanding food. Definitely lived up to the hype.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Narendar Reddy
We tasted great food . The food is super and service is great. We ordered Kothu , Amber Biryani and plain and masala dosa. All are super good. Thank you for serving food with great quality and taste. Must try 👍
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ryan RANA
I like when Restaurant known as IMLI it was excellence food and good service. Now it’s different food im not impressed at all and when u order online they don’t add rice with meal which the biggest disappointment and I would never order again. I just spend $100 dollar buying food and food was terrible and taste was so bitter. I would not buy ever and wouldn’t bring my friends here for dinner which was my plan to have invites all friends for dinner but now I rather take somewhere else. So disappointed with food .
Food: 1
Sumi Panch
Excellent food! Ahmed was wonderful!! We will be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Neranjan Shanthilal de Silva
Super disappointed with our experience today. Food was anything but mediocre. Overpriced and just poor quality of food. They charge $10 for an egg hopper. While in Sri Lanka - an egg hopper can be purchased for less than $0.10 I think a $4-$5 range would be reasonable for something that costs pennies to make. Truly bad experience. Again overpriced and just poor quality of food.
The service was pretty good but wasn't good enough to offset the bad food.
Amazing food, ambiance and staff. The karis are really yummy, especially the kingfish and chicken.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Farida Husain
Good food specially go for the authentic sri lankan dishes. Had spicy Beef which was superb, mushroom was the best of all, Loved the hoppers too and shrimp was worth it. Definitely must try. Try the authentic drinks.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Abhi AA
Good food, ambience is okay, service can surely be better for the price.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Arun Kumar E R
Wow, I think I just found my new favorite South Indian/Sri Lankan restaurant in NYC—seriously, this place is a total game-changer! From the moment you walk in, you’re greeted by a super cozy, peaceful atmosphere. The seating is so comfy and well thought out, you’ll want to linger long after your meal is done.
Now, let’s talk about the food—because, honestly, it’s next-level. The menu feels like it was curated by someone who really knows their stuff. We went all out and tried the fish thali, meat thali, beef fry, and the legendary Ambur biriyani. Every bite was a flavor explosion, but the non-veg thali? Hands down the closest I’ve had to what you’d get in Kerala. Pure nostalgia!
And because NYC decided to turn up the heat to a blazing 98°F, we cooled off with some moru and nannari sarbath. Both drinks were super refreshing and just what we needed to beat the summer sun.
The service was fantastic—friendly, attentive, and genuinely welcoming. If you’re craving authentic South Indian or Sri Lankan food (or just want to escape the city’s chaos for a while), you’ve got to check this place out. I’m already planning my next visit. Highly, highly recommended!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Banana Leaf Special Meal, Kerala Beef, Goat, Ambur Biryani
Dolly
Absolutely loved this place! One of the best restaurants I have ever visited in USA. The food, the service, the ambience, everything was top-notch. Every dish was bursting with flavor- the crispy Poricha Kozhi, Fish Cutlet, perfectly spiced Pepper Yera Varuval (tiger shrimp), fragrant String Hopper Chicken Biryani, Sri Lankan Mutton Curry, rich Ceylon Dungeness Crab Roast and yummy Wattalapam (dessert)………. Simply unforgettable!!!!!!!!
Great food and ambience. We all enjoyed the vegetarian food and drinks were also great. I would highly recommend it and we will be back. Thank you.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We came here to have dinner. Our server suggested that we have 3 appetizers for the table and 1 hopper, 1 dosa and 1 main PER PERSON, followed by dessert. This made us think that the plates were very small. We ordered 1 appetizer, 1 dosa and 2 mains and we had TONS of leftovers. We heard the same amount of food being suggested to other tables and people seemed surprised. Seems like a strategy to sell tons of food, and send people home with leftovers. We asked spicy level for chicken kothu and it was not spicy. For chicken curry we asked for medium spicy and it still wasn’t spicy at all. Dosa was okay but chutney was not flavorful. We won’t be coming back.
Ahmed was great, and the food was delicious!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
TLDR: looking for a unique taste with variety of drinks and meals, this is the place to go!
I stepped onto the bustling Upper East Side on a recent Thursday evening, just after 7 PM, specially to visit this Lungi after hearing all the buzz, a restaurant that stands out amidst a stretch of diverse eateries. It is a rare find in this vibrant culinary landscape as its focus on Sri Lankan cuisine, seamlessly interwoven with South Indian flavors. While there are subtle distinctions between the two, the common threads are far more numerous, and Lungi brilliantly offers the best of both worlds in a captivating fusion.
The moment you walk in, Lungi exudes a welcoming atmosphere. A sleek bar lines one side, where true mixologists ply their craft, while a spacious dining area occupies the other. For those who enjoy an al fresco feel without the elements, an enclosed, yet distinctly outdoorsy, dining room is tucked away in the back.
The drinks crafted by the bartenders were nothing short of unique and utterly delicious. The standout, without a doubt, was an exquisite orange and mango mixed cocktail – a vibrant, sun-kissed concoction that perfectly complemented the evening.
When it came to the food, Lungi truly shone. We started with traditional appetizers like the fried sprats (handello), and both the shrimp and cuttlefish dishes are absolute must-tries. The depth of the spices used in every dish was remarkable; not overwhelmingly hot, but incredibly flavorful and nuanced. For the main course, I highly recommend the egg hoppers and the string hoppers biryani – both were phenomenal and showcased the kitchen's mastery.
Beyond the exceptional food and drinks, the hospitality from the staff was simply amazing, and, without question, a 10/10 experience and a true culinary highlight on the Upper East Side.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I have had Lungi on my list for over a year now. So the expectations were high. The place is somewhat decent …. not a typical Asian restaurant decor. The server had absolutely no idea how to serve a table and was very hard to understand. We ordered drink and three small plates. We asked how big are the portions and she told us they are very small. Out of the blue, one appetizer shows up with no drink in sight. Then another small plate shows up and still not drink. We ordered Hoppas which comes with two side condiments. We ordered 3 hoppas and only got one condiment. After repeatedly asking for the little sides, they eventually came with one more but still didn’t get us the three that came with the hoppas. The king fish tawa fry was fhe worst dish on the menu. So fishy and had zero taste other than being extra fishy. We ordered avial which was nothing but a big bowl of drumsticks….. the jackfruit was a disaster. So much gravy and the jackfruit was so mushy. The calamari was somewhat okay but nothing like that would say I would be back. My first time here and this place disappointed me in every front. There was also a guy who looked like he has no idea how to clean a table and kept leaving over us to pick up the dishes. We asked for boxes for to go and these were probably the cheapest to go containers I have ever seen. Then they handed me a plastic bag to put them in. They can’t even afford a bag for to go. It’s a matter of time before this place goes out of business. Getting fake Google reviews will not get you far. If you are not getting returning customers, you cannot survive for too long in NYC. Just my two cents Lungi 😡
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 1
I’ve been hearing a lot about Lungi lately, and finally got the chance to check it out. Back when I used to be in the city, there weren’t really any Sri Lankan places around except for Sigiri, so this was exciting.
Everyone kept saying, ‘you have to try the mutton rolls’ and they were right. The food was absolutely amazing. A perfect blend of Sri Lankan and South Indian flavors, full of bold spices and real depth. Hats off to Chef Vasanth Kumar truly outstanding food. Definitely lived up to the hype.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We tasted great food .
The food is super and service is great.
We ordered Kothu , Amber Biryani and plain and masala dosa. All are super good.
Thank you for serving food with great quality and taste.
Must try 👍
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I like when Restaurant known as IMLI it was excellence food and good service. Now it’s different food im not impressed at all and when u order online they don’t add rice with meal which the biggest disappointment and I would never order again. I just spend $100 dollar buying food and food was terrible and taste was so bitter. I would not buy ever and wouldn’t bring my friends here for dinner which was my plan to have invites all friends for dinner but now I rather take somewhere else. So disappointed with food .
Food: 1
Excellent food! Ahmed was wonderful!! We will be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Super disappointed with our experience today. Food was anything but mediocre. Overpriced and just poor quality of food. They charge $10 for an egg hopper. While in Sri Lanka - an egg hopper can be purchased for less than $0.10 I think a $4-$5 range would be reasonable for something that costs pennies to make. Truly bad experience. Again overpriced and just poor quality of food.
The service was pretty good but wasn't good enough to offset the bad food.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Amazing food, ambiance and staff. The karis are really yummy, especially the kingfish and chicken.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Good food specially go for the authentic sri lankan dishes. Had spicy Beef which was superb, mushroom was the best of all, Loved the hoppers too and shrimp was worth it. Definitely must try. Try the authentic drinks.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Good food, ambience is okay, service can surely be better for the price.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Wow, I think I just found my new favorite South Indian/Sri Lankan restaurant in NYC—seriously, this place is a total game-changer! From the moment you walk in, you’re greeted by a super cozy, peaceful atmosphere. The seating is so comfy and well thought out, you’ll want to linger long after your meal is done.
Now, let’s talk about the food—because, honestly, it’s next-level. The menu feels like it was curated by someone who really knows their stuff. We went all out and tried the fish thali, meat thali, beef fry, and the legendary Ambur biriyani. Every bite was a flavor explosion, but the non-veg thali? Hands down the closest I’ve had to what you’d get in Kerala. Pure nostalgia!
And because NYC decided to turn up the heat to a blazing 98°F, we cooled off with some moru and nannari sarbath. Both drinks were super refreshing and just what we needed to beat the summer sun.
The service was fantastic—friendly, attentive, and genuinely welcoming. If you’re craving authentic South Indian or Sri Lankan food (or just want to escape the city’s chaos for a while), you’ve got to check this place out. I’m already planning my next visit. Highly, highly recommended!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Banana Leaf Special Meal, Kerala Beef, Goat, Ambur Biryani
Absolutely loved this place! One of the best restaurants I have ever visited in USA. The food, the service, the ambience, everything was top-notch.
Every dish was bursting with flavor- the crispy Poricha Kozhi, Fish Cutlet, perfectly spiced Pepper Yera Varuval (tiger shrimp), fragrant String Hopper Chicken Biryani, Sri Lankan Mutton Curry, rich Ceylon Dungeness Crab Roast and yummy Wattalapam (dessert)……….
Simply unforgettable!!!!!!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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