This winter, Glasgow’s vibrant West End will welcome KOCHCHI, the award-winning Sri Lankan street food brand, as it opens its first standalone restaurant in the former The Hanoi Bike Shop on Ruthven Lane.
The launch marks an exciting new chapter for the brand, which first captured Scotland’s attention at Bonnie & Wild in Edinburgh’s St James Quarter – the acclaimed Scottish food marketplace. Since opening there in 2022, KOCHCHI has become one of Bonnie & Wild’s most popular kitchens, celebrated for its bold, flame-cooked dishes and modern take on Sri Lanka’s rich culinary heritage.
The opening in Glasgow marks a major milestone for KOCHCHI as the brand evolves from its street food roots into a fully-fledged restaurant and bar concept. What began as a small kitchen serving bold, flame-fired dishes at Edinburgh’s Bonnie & Wild has grown into one of Scotland’s most celebrated Sri Lankan food brands.
With continued support from Bonnie & Wild, KOCHCHI’s evolution from a market kitchen to a full restaurant reflects Scotland’s growing appetite for diverse, independent dining. The collaboration has been instrumental in championing the brand’s creativity and 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 success with an expanded menu and dedicated bar. Guests can expect the same fiery spirit and vibrant flavours that defined KOCHCHI’s early days, now brought to life in a space designed for lingering — where the rhythm of Colombo meets the warmth of Glasgow’s West End.
Founded by friends Shehan Fernando and Suki Jayaratne, KOCHCHI was born from a shared love of the country’s diversity and the belief that food is its most powerful storyteller. Though they grew up in different parts of Sri Lanka, it was Colombo – the country’s bustling capital -that united their culinary vision.
KOCHCHI Co-founder Suki 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.”
KOCHCHI is their way of bringing that story to life. The new Glasgow restaurant will reflect the Colombo they 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.
Shehan Fernando, Co-founder of KOCHCHI, 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.”
The menu will showcase the dishes that have defined KOCHCHI’s reputation at Bonnie & Wild, alongside new creations exclusive to Glasgow. Expect regional curries, grilled seafood, street-style snacks, and flame-fired plates that celebrate Sri Lanka’s coastal and urban flavours.
KOCHCHI Glasgow will have a dining capacity of 80 covers spanning over two floors plus an external seating area. There will also be a dedicated bar area with a carefully curated drinks list — featuring Sri Lankan-inspired cocktails, craft beers, and tropical softs — these will complement the food’s energy and heat.
Designed as both a neighbourhood restaurant and a late-evening hangout, the venue will capture the rhythm of Sri Lanka and the sociable spirit of Glasgow’s West End when it opens this winter, creating 15 new jobs for the local economy.
You Might Also Like:
Visit www.kochchi.co.uk/glasgow to sign up for first access and to learn more about the brand.
Follow KOCHCHI Glasgow on Instagram; www.instagram.com/kochchi.uk
