Fat Panda is a relatively new restaurant situated in Sea Avenue that serves up fusion Asian fare with their own quirky in-house twists and flavours. 

Ambience

The interiors are very simple, with mismatched Asian elements popping up here and there.
A wallpaper featuring Emperor Qin Shi Huang's terracotta army adorned an entire wall in the upper floor space we dined in. There are no views per se as the floor to ceiling glass is frosted. This makes sense though because there are no vantage points from this building that allow for any glorious sea views. Nevertheless, diners are usually encouraged to dine in the upper level so that they won't be inconvenienced by those dropping by for take-aways.

 

The Drinks

 

We picked the Melon Cooler (Rs. 500) to start off. We were informed by Fat Panda’s Manager that the chefs at the restaurant spun their own take on “fusion” that wasn't inspired by the typical Asian fusion restaurants in town, instead, going by their own interpretation of the drinks and dishes on their menu. This is why we weren’t as surprised when our Melon Cooler actually included Cantaloupe (which is a smaller variety of Melon) and not the atypical Watermelon. We quite liked the drink, and the fact that the Cantaloupe and the mint flavours shared the spotlight instead of overwhelming the other was a definite plus.

 

The Food

For entrées we picked Tom Yung Goong (Rs. 1000) a spicy Thai prawn soup with lemongrass, mushroom and coriander and Crispy Shrimp Cakes (Rs 1000), Vietnamese style shrimp cakes with coriander, ginger and rice noodles. The soup was enough for 2 people - especially considering there’s only so much one can have of spicy soup - but what stood out was the delectable marriage of seafood, lemongrass and coriander flavours. Despite the name, we didn’t find the shrimp cakes crispy. It did contain large chunks of shrimp and the lemongrass flavour worked really well. Word of caution - the shrimp cakes were incredibly spicy and leave your tongue on fire. So if you can’t handle the spice, let them know.

 

 

We decided to opt for the Nasi goreng (Rs 1250), as well as the Hokkien Mee (Rs 1250), Singapore style egg noodles with prawns, chicken, vermicelli, bean sprouts and sambar chili for mains. The nasi goreng was texturally vibrant, and as with many of the dishes we tried here, we loved the flavours. The chicken and shrimp in the dish itself were all perfectly cooked. The cuttlefish especially deserves special mention for its perfection and for not being chewy. Our only gripe was that the chicken satay was a little dry. The peanut sauce certainly tasted like it was made from scratch and we loved that it wasn't too sweet.

 

 

The Hokkien Mee came in a comparatively larger portion and could be shared between two people, unless you have a king sized appetite. The distinction between this one and many of the other noodle dishes available on their menu is that the Hokkien Mee comprises two different types - egg noodles and vermicelli. The difference in texture doesn't add much to the allure of the meal, beside the realisation that there are two types of noodles in it. But once again, its taste trumps the minor complaints.

 

 

Dessert

While their entrées and mains were all very tasty, their desserts could be better. We had their Blueberry Panna Cotta (Rs 850) and Sago Pudding (Rs 850). The panna cotta was a little too firm in texture and we felt like it could have been a little sweeter so it would have complemented and balanced out the tart flavour of blueberries perfectly. The Sago Pudding came topped with vanilla ice cream, and certainly made for a more hearty dessert. 

 

 

Service
The manager and wait staff at Fat Panda are incredibly friendly, efficient and helpful. They were always around and were happy to explain the menu in detail and offer suggestions. They also made sure to point out if a dish would be too spicy to handle, which was great.
(We threw caution to the wind and went for it anyway, against our better judgement. But it was totally worth it).

Parking
Sea Avenue is a bit of a narrow road, but you can park your vehicles on Marine Drive.

Overall
Fat Panda is a great place with a not so great ambience, but more than makes up for it with their food. Service was great, and the best part is that taste-wise the flavours and combinations put together were quite unique.  This is because all sauces used at Fat Panda are made from scratch. They are also hoping to open a rooftop soon, which will be great for hanging out late evenings. Their prices may seem exorbitant at first glance, but they’re inclusive of all taxes and hidden charges. So if you’re looking for some place to grab Asian fusion food with family or friends, this is your spot.

 

Contact: 011 7 772772
Website: www.fatpanda.lk
Facebook: www.facebook.com/fatpandacolombo/
Hours of Operation: 11:00AM - 11:00PM                                                                           Address: 30A, Sea Avenue, Colombo 03

Pics Kushan Pathiraja