Discovering the Flavors of Banana Leaf in Canberra
Nestled in the heart of the city at 2 Akuna St, Canberra ACT 2601, Banana Leaf stands as a welcoming destination for those seeking a genuine culinary experience. The restaurant has established itself as a local favorite, drawing in diners who appreciate the art of traditional cooking techniques combined with a warm, inviting atmosphere. Whether you are a long-time resident of Canberra or a visitor exploring the capital, the establishment offers a space where the focus remains squarely on the quality of ingredients and the harmony of flavors found in every dish served.
The philosophy behind Banana Leaf is rooted in the belief that dining should be a sensory journey. From the moment you step through the doors, the environment is designed to provide a respite from the bustling city streets. The interior reflects a commitment to comfort, making it an ideal setting for casual lunches, intimate dinners, or gatherings with friends and family. By prioritizing a balanced menu and a hospitable service style, the restaurant ensures that every guest feels a sense of connection to the culinary traditions being presented.
What Makes the Experience Unique
Authentic Culinary Approach: The kitchen team emphasizes the use of fresh, high-quality produce to craft dishes that honor traditional recipes. By focusing on the integrity of the ingredients, the restaurant delivers a consistent and satisfying flavor profile that resonates with those who value authentic cooking.
Prime Location in Canberra: Situated at 2 Akuna St, the restaurant is perfectly positioned for accessibility. Its central location makes it a convenient stop for professionals working in the city, shoppers exploring the local area, or tourists looking for a reliable dining spot after a day of sightseeing.
Welcoming Atmosphere: The ambiance at Banana Leaf is carefully curated to be both professional and relaxed. The staff is dedicated to providing attentive service, ensuring that the dining experience is smooth and enjoyable from start to finish. It is this balance of professional standards and a friendly, neighborhood feel that keeps patrons returning.
Commitment to Quality: Every aspect of the operation, from the preparation of the food to the presentation on the table, is handled with care. This dedication to excellence is evident in the way the menu is structured, offering a variety of options that cater to different preferences while maintaining a cohesive culinary identity.
The culinary landscape of Canberra is diverse and ever-evolving, yet Banana Leaf manages to carve out a distinct space by staying true to its core values. The restaurant does not rely on trends or gimmicks; instead, it relies on the strength of its recipes and the consistency of its execution. By fostering a culture of hospitality and respect for the craft of cooking, the establishment continues to be a meaningful part of the local dining scene. Guests can expect a thoughtful approach to every meal, where the goal is always to provide a memorable experience that highlights the richness of the flavors on offer.
As you plan your next outing in the city, consider the inviting environment of Banana Leaf. It is more than just a place to eat; it is a venue where the community comes together to share in the simple pleasure of a well-prepared meal. Whether you are stopping by for a quick bite or settling in for a longer evening, the team at 2 Akuna St is ready to welcome you with open arms and a menu that celebrates the essence of good food. We invite you to visit and discover why so many locals consider this restaurant a staple of their dining repertoire in the ACT region.
Amenities and More
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible car park
Wheelchair-accessible entrance
Wheelchair-accessible seating
Wheelchair-accessible toilet
Service options
Takeaway
Dine-in
Delivery
Highlights
Great wine list
Popular for
Dinner
Solo dining
Offerings
Alcohol
Beer
Coffee
Healthy options
Small plates
Spirits
Vegan options
Vegetarian options
Wine
Dining options
Dinner
Catering
Dessert
Seating
Table service
Amenities
Bar on site
Toilet
Atmosphere
Casual
Cozy
Romantic
Trendy
Crowd
Family friendly
Groups
Tourists
Planning
Reservations required
Dinner reservations recommended
Accepts reservations
Payments
Credit cards
Debit cards
NFC mobile payments
Children
High chairs
Parking
Paid multi-storey car park
Paid parking lot
Paid street parking
Menus
Curries Only
Devilled Chicken Or Prawn (8 Nos)$30.00
Mango Chutney Or Mustard Pickle$3.50
Fish Curry$28.75
Lentil Curry$23.00
Mixed Vegetable Curry$26.50
Chicken Curry$25.75
Sides
Homemade Shrimp Chilli Paste$3.50
Coconut Sambol$7.00
Plain Rice$5.75
Polenta Chips (2 Pieces)$7.00
Savoury Rice$7.00
Chicken Pan Roll (1 Piece)$7.00
Crispy Roti (3 Pieces)$9.20
Single Box Complete Meal Packages (Dinner Only)
Game Kaema 'Sri Lankan Village Set' (2 Persons)$115.00
Kalu Pol Pork With Truffle Mash$41.50
Curry Glazed Duck$42.50
Three Spiced Barramundi$43.75
Seeni Sambol Gnocchi$31.00
Desserts
Watalappan$10.00
Chocolate Mud Cake$12.00
Single Box Complete Meal Packages (All-day Meals)
Chicken & Egg Fried Rice$25.00
Roti & Lentil$17.25
Kottu Rotti$25.00
Traditional Lamprais$34.50
Rice & Curry$25.00
Sri Lankan Lamb Biryani$32.00
Biriyani$25.00
Sides
Homemade Shrimp Chilli Paste$3.50
Coconut Sambol$7.00
Polenta Chips (2 Pieces)$7.00
Crispy Roti (3 Pieces)$9.20
Chicken Pan Roll (1 Piece)$7.00
Savoury Rice$7.00
Plain Rice$5.75
Photos
Reviews Banana Leaf
Black Mamba535
30-05-2026
Absolutely fabulous food! Kottu Rotti and jackfruit taco were phenomenal! The staff was friendly and attentive as well. More
Rowena Huddleston
30-05-2026
Great vibe, lovely staff and the food is amazing. I wish I had room for dessert!
Price per person
$20–40
Food: 4
Service: 4
Atmosphere: 5
Rowena Huddleston
30-05-2026
Great vibe, lovely staff and the food is amazing. I wish I had room for dessert!
Price per person…
More
Wimukthi Senarathna
30-05-2026
We had a wonderful experience enjoying authentic Sri Lankan cuisine in Australia. The food was expertly prepared and served in generous portions, maintaining exceptional quality throughout. The staff was attentive from the moment we arrived … More
jan heisner
30-05-2026
This is a great restaurant! The food is delicious and a little bit different. It's presented beautifully! It caters for shows at the Canberra Theatre with early sittings. The staff are friendly and there for you. The decor is also a little bit different and interesting with a wall full of masks. It's
good all-round! 😊 … More
Chimi Ghesar
30-05-2026
Absolutely amazing overall. we had the chicken pan-roll as our entree and the traditional village set as our main, both were no less than perfection! Precisely what was there on the menu itself and the flavor were more appetizing than … More
Hanna Alejandro
30-05-2026
Had my birthday dinner at Banana Leaf in Canberra and everything was absolutely delicious — full of flavour and beautifully cooked. Definitely recommend this place if you’re in Canberra! More
YR
30-05-2026
I recently had my first experience with Sri Lankan food, and it was incredible! The flavors are so bold and unique, with a perfect balance of spices and textures. The curries were rich and fragrant, especially the coconut-based dishes, and … More
The Alpha
30-05-2026
It is very good for people who likes this cuisine. Service is adequate portions are good size . Can recommend these kind of cuisine lovers ! More
Alpesh Kumar
30-05-2026
Nice ambience and lovely smell of food, which didn't disappoint at all. Chicken pan roll had fine mince meat with delicious flavors, Lamparis had default taste of Shri Lankan cuisine, having tasted before and dessert coconut treacle was an acquired taste pleasure of ending the meal in high notes. More
Mutley Harris
30-05-2026
We came to Canberra to see the Pompeii exhibition and wanted somewhere to eat the night before. I am so glad so picked this restaurant. The food was some of the best I have ever eaten at a restaurant. It was absolutely delicious. The service was great too. More
Ninad Mokhariwale
30-05-2026
Authentic and outstanding Sri Lankan food.
For entree we had Colombo taco with jackfruit. Never knew jackfruit could taste … More
K M
30-05-2026
We went there for dinner, we had reserved the table but it was a quite evening.
Atmosphere
- very elegant and clean.
- interesting decor as soon as you enter the restaurant.
Service
- The staffs were great. They made sure we got everything we ordered and recommended the dishes as well.
- Staffs were working really hard to make sure, the place looked perfect.
Food
- I can’t deny the food is a bit on the pricey side.
- Food was great. I absolutely loved the barramundi, very unique texture.
- Guys, you have to try their Thali (i don’t remember the actual name for it), but its a massive plate with different dishes. You basically get to try everything and it was beautiful.
- Don’t know about other customers but it was big enough to feed us 4.
- The drinks were great as well.
We had a great evening.
Price per person
$40–60
Food: 4
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Group size
Suitable for all group sizes
Wait time
No wait
Rukshan Thilakaratne
30-05-2026
The best Sri Lankan restaurant I’ve ever been to in Australia. Banana Leaf in Canberra is a truly unique and elegant place. The flavors are authentic and the presentation is beautiful. You can tell they put a lot of heart into the food. If you’re in the city, this is a must-visit for anyone who loves real Sri Lankan cuisine!" More
Monty Singh
30-05-2026
We came here for dinner without expectations. We live in Melbourne and have a rich variety of Srilankan food at our doorstep and we found Banana Leaf to be super good and reasonably priced. … More
OTTERS FOOD DIARY OTG
30-05-2026
Good experience of Sri Lanka food 🥘
Service was good and the food was authentic and flavorful, price was on the high side but worth the try! … More
Charitha Epa
30-05-2026
This was our lunch stop while visiting Canberra. I have to say that this is the best Sri Lankan restaurant I’ve been to in Australia so far. Everything was pretty neat. I ordered a mango mojito, which was one of the most refreshing drinks … More
Fiona Fan
30-05-2026
We like the decoration of the restaurant. Good tasty food and beautiful displayed too.. however, mango mojito and mango lassi are bit too sweet for us.. thx.. More
Chathumi Pathirana
30-05-2026
We had an amazing Sri Lankan dining experience in Canberra at Banana leaf restaurant. The food was exceptional! We received a great service at the restaurant and we loved the atmosphere. Highly recommend! More
Chirag Bhatnagar
30-05-2026
Excellent food. Appropriate spice levels to taste authentic.
The staff was all smiles and courteous.
We had their desserts too, which were both pleasant to the eye as well as the taste buds. The coffee was great too. More
aarij
30-05-2026
The food was excellent, no complaints at all! A good spice level and very interesting flavours. This was my first time trying Sri Lankan food, and it was a very pleasant experience. … More
K M
30-05-2026
We went there for dinner, we had reserved the table but it was a quite evening.
Atmosphere … More
Reviews Banana Leaf