Kent Young

A hidden gem! Tucked in the middle of the block is a gem for Kerala cuisine! Modern urban Indian vibe with friendly service and amazing food. I had Kerala beef, a hopper (a Sri Lankan bread that was new to me), a duck curry, great coffee and a fantastic dessert - Semiya Payasam. The flavors of Kerala shone through and are such a great change from the normal Indian restaurants. Definitely worth a trip to the upper east side for this place!

Nick Conti

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A Local Gem Worth Discovering! This was my first time dining here, and I was thoroughly impressed. The service was excellent — my server, Haley, was incredibly helpful, friendly, and professional throughout the meal. The food was absolutely full of flavor and beautifully presented. I’m honestly surprised this local gem has been off my radar for so long, especially since I live so close. I’ll definitely be coming back soon!

Ashok Prabhu

Excellent spot on the east side. Went here for my anniversary dinner a bit early 5:30pm. Place was totally empty, we had first crack at a table, chose by the window but beware at this time of the day the sun shines directly into the restaurant for the window seat. We moved one table over and it was no problem. The menu is well explained for those who aren't familiar with the dish names. The food itself was great, it's definitely a good way to introduce people to Kerala and Sri Lanka cuisine, chilly level was fine at "regular" next time we might go "spicy" instead. Definitely try the anchovy fish fry and the mutton liver pepper fry. The hoppers(appam) were nicely made, I just wish for the price of plain, it came with 2 hoppers. The meen manga Kari(mango fish curry) was excellent. The desserts were great but if you're not initiated to Indian sweets they might be toooooo sweet and even being raised on the sweet I found the desserts a bit too sweet.

Alok Tewari

I had a fantastic meal at Lungi on the Upper East Side, and it’s safe to say this is one of the best spots for Indian coastal flavors in the city. The restaurant has a cozy vibe with plenty of seating, making it a comfortable place whether you’re coming in for a casual meal or a longer sit-down dinner. The atmosphere feels welcoming without being too formal, which makes the food shine even more. The dishes were absolutely outstanding. The mutton stew was hearty and flavorful, with tender pieces of meat in a rich, aromatic broth. The tawa fish fry (listed as “Deafman Shop” style) was a true highlight — perfectly spiced, crisp on the outside, and moist on the inside. The Malabar parantha was soft, flaky, and the perfect companion to soak up the curries. I also loved the curry leaves raita, which added a refreshing, slightly tangy balance to the meal. To finish, the masala chai was excellent — warming, aromatic, and a perfect end to the experience. Service was friendly and attentive, and the staff clearly care about making guests feel comfortable. Overall, Lungi delivers authentic flavors with real attention to detail. If you enjoy South Indian coastal cuisine, this place is a must-visit in the Upper East Side.

James Mullin

Very tasty and rare Kerala cuisine in the USA. I would recommend. Warning: very spicy. FYI - They won a Bib Gourmand rating (Michelin’s rating system).

Ankita Sunilkumar

The food was to die for!! Loved everything about this place! They also had enough vegetarian options that it didn't feel like an inclusion to look diverse. The flavors and spices used are comforting and elegant. Glad to find a go-to spot!

+7

Omar S

If you haven’t had Sri Lankan food before, this is definitely the spot. I was unfamiliar with some of the menu items, but the waiter was kind enough to walk me through everything and really took the time to tend to us. The staff overall is very friendly and welcoming. The food itself is slightly different from traditional Indian cuisine, but it’s packed with spices and bold flavors. Highly recommend trying the hoppers, they’re perfect for dipping into curry dishes. I had the Kori Ghassi and it was phenomenal. For appetizers, the mutton roll is a great choice as well. All in all, a flavorful and memorable experience.

+1

MZA C

We got the seafood Thalis for lunch and also Kerala beef chukka & hopper. The beef & hopper were delicious! Next time will try the meat thali. It’s a beautiful space, especially the back area. And the service is great!

Poornima Prabhu

The place is very pretty on the outside and inside. The decorations are minimal but they give you a nice feeling while eating. The servers were attentive and quick to respond. As for the food. It was very tasty and I think its a good introduction to south Indian and Sri lankan food for those who are not accustomed to these tastes. The portions are a good size and you can share most things. I recommend the meen Manga Kari ( Kingfish mango curry). The hoppers were very tasty but the price of the plain hopper seemed a bit high. I also highly recommend the mutton liver pepper fry. Regular spice level was perfect for us. Desserts are available; we tried 3, the wattalapan was good but lacking color because no caramel was used. The payasam is incredibly sweet and very thick, it is very flavorful but too sweet. The bread halwa was interesting that was something I haven't had before. All in all i would go again to try other items on the menu like the biryanis, kottu, and dosas.

+1

Alex G

Had lunch here yesterday with coworkers and really enjoyed it. We ordered the lunch thali special, which was very delicious and filling — a great mix of flavors and variety on one plate. The service was on the slower side, but our server was friendly and welcoming, so we didn’t mind taking our time. The space has a relaxed atmosphere, and there’s a nice outdoor area towards the back that would be perfect for a sunny day. Definitely planning to come back to try more from the menu.

+6

Bhakti Dalvi

One of the few good spots in Manhattan for such type of cuisine I would say. The vibes are nice, spacious seating, good for small and large groups alike. Got the tawa fish fry and the crispy chicken appetizers. The chicken was fresh , just enough crunchy with lots of flavor. Fish was nice but could be more marinated. The shrimp curry tasted great with the hopper. Would recommend getting the hopper for a refreshing simple taste. Shrimp in curry in itself was average. There was a nice mango sorbet plus guava ice cream dessert. Too sweet for me but was good. Overall a great stop!

+6

Duna Degross Todd

We were very excited to eat at a Sri Lankan restaurant but the restaurant itself did not have any Sri Lankan or Indian vibes. Very disappointed to see that there were no Asian culture in there. The food was okay. Nothing too special.

+2

Joseph Warren

I made reservations and was really excited to go to this place. When we got there, they seated us close to the bar even tho there was space inside. The food was ok, some dishes were good. Others I would say are not up to my standards. It was quite expensive but I was turned off by the service. I don’t think i will go back again.

Fatima Abbas

This is a food review and I rate the food 3 but it was more a 3.8 so very close 4. The porrota bread and the fish main dish was amazing! The goat dish I ordered had too much cardamon in it - there was a spice that was too strong for me and I felt it was lacking the spicyness. The goat biryani was good …. it was too salty. Overall I did really enjoy the food ! The manager ashwant and our host Akhil were both very kind , friendly and inviting! I enjoyed the place a lot and my guest from Kerala is going back on Saturday!!!

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 😡

+6