Kochchi share their story of serving Sri Lankan Food in Glasgow

And if you're in search of some authentic Sri Lankan street food? Head to a converted horsebox by the name of Kochchi. Of course.

Having moved from Sri Lanka to Glasgow at a young age, owners Shehan Fernando and Sandun Jayaratne, both 34, became came friends and later business partners as they bonded over their shared culture and love for food.

Pictured: Sandun and Shehan at the Big Feed Star Wars event

Shehan said: “My family ran a hotel in Sri Lanka so I grew up around the hospitality industry and I always knew that I wanted to go out and do something similar on my own.

“Sandun is one of my best friends and he is never out of the kitchen.

“Every time I went to his house he would insist on feeding me until one day we decided we should just open a restaurant.”

The duo's dreams of opening their own spot could easily have been dashed as the covid 19 pandemic created a tumultuous time for the entire hospitality industry.

But, when they spotted an old horsebox in need of some TLC in the winter of 2020, a new plan that would become an essential part of Kochchi’s identity began to form.

Sandun said: “The horsebox was a great way for us to try bringing a new cuisine to Scotland because it gave us that freedom to test the waters and understand our customers a little better.

“It seemed like less of a risk than taking the risk of opening a restaurant.

“So, we started converting the trailer in my driveway ourselves in freezing weather.”

Shehan added: “It wasn’t an easy task.

“Even when we were up and running we struggled for a while because with Sri Lankan cooking, everything has to be done from scratch which means you need space.

“We were essentially trying to turn this old horsebox into a moving restaurant.”

It might not have been easy but driven by their passion for introducing the people of Glasgow to authentic Sri Lankan food Shehan and Sandun soon hit their stride.

The Kochchi trailer now serves a small but perfectly curated menu full of fusion recipes inspired by the pair's childhood homes.

The undisputed star of the show is Kotthu, a dish made with flatbread soaked in chicken or vegetable curry which is then seared in a wok for extra texture.

As many happy diners have discovered, when it comes to flavour, team Kochchi doesn’t mess around.

Speaking of their menu Suki said: “The variety in Sri Lankan food is vast.

"People will quite often assume it’s all the same, or like Indian food, but it’s not.

“Quite often the hardest part is convincing people to try something new, but the reaction is always unbelievable.

Shehan added: “That’s always a really nice experience, it’s been a difficult journey for us but when you have that moment of seeing someone really enjoying your food it makes it all feel worth it.”

While their unique menu has rightfully earned Kochchi a reputation as breakout stars at festivals and events all over the city, Shehan and Sandun say that it’s the support from the Glasgow food scene that has inspired them to keep looking towards an exciting future.

Shehan said: “When we started in the trailer, we didn’t really know what we were doing.

“We applied for the Big Feed and they were so helpful to us. They really believed in us right from the start.

“It has given us such a great springboard.

Sandun said: "We’ve found that all the traders at events around Glasgow are really passionate about what they do and they’re all so friendly.

“It's like a family. You Get to know everyone and there’s so much support.”

 “Sri Lankan food has really started to take off down south and we’re hoping to get our own brick and mortar space by the end of the summer.

“Although, I don’t think we’ll ever give up the horsebox.”

Shehan agreed: “Absolutely, we’ve got to keep bringing that island vibe to people.”

For more information on Kochchi click here.