Karuna s Cooking Class @ Sonja's Healthfood Restaurant

Karuna s Cooking Class @ Sonja's Healthfood Restaurant

Karuna s Cooking Class @ Sonja's Healthfood Restaurant
4.5
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  • Patrick M
    Melbourne, Australia70 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Karuna's Kitchen - Family, Food and Fun!
    Our group of 5 was looking forward to this experience at the end of our 3 weeks in this beautiful country and we were not disappointed. Karuna is a larger than life personality that makes everybody feel happy. From our visit to the local market to do our shopping and then back to prepare seven different amazing dishes under her knowledgeable guidance we all had an amazing day. This is an experience you should not miss. Even if you don't eat the delicious banquet, the fun and entertainment and love is worth the visit.
    Visited March 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 15 April 2024
  • Veronique F
    9 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Excellent Sri Lankan cooking course
    Karuna is smiling, funny and not miserly recipes The course started with the market then we cooked and finally had lunch from our kitchen. It was delicious, good-natured. She didn't try to sell us spices or anything. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND
    Visited July 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 2 July 2024
  • Allison G
    Pakenham, Australia3 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    An absolute must do in Sri Lanka
    We had the most amazing time shopping and cooking with Karuna. She is the most amazing lady and loves to have a laugh with you. The curries we cooked with her were delicious (I even ate food I don’t normally eat) I would highly recommend going to visit Karuna if you are travelling in the area and will definitely visit again if I’m back in Sri Lanka.
    Visited November 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 20 November 2024
  • Clara Norita
    New Zealand12 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Best local cooking class
    What a fantastic experience. We met Karuna at the local fish market. We chose the fish together then went to a spice market and vegetable market. Right from the start Karuna was WONDERFUL. She was friendly, kind and enthusiastic. She helped us create many authentic SriLankan foods and we made an absolute feast. Everyone in our family enjoyed. Highly recommend. Thank you Karuna from your new family:)
    Visited January 2025
    Travelled with family
    Written 10 January 2025
  • Evelyne S
    Geneva, Switzerland31 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    An unforgettable culinary experience!
    This Sri Lankan cooking course was a highlight of our trip. From the start, the experience was immersive: we started by choosing our fresh products at the market and fishmonger, which allowed us to better understand the local ingredients. Then make way for the kitchen! Under the expert guidance of Karuna, a teacher as funny as she is passionate, we prepared a variety of absolutely delicious curries: tuna, shrimp, vegetables and a perfect balance of spices. Every step was rewarding, and we leave with lots of tips to replicate these flavors at home. A huge thank you to Karuna for her generosity and expertise. If you’re looking for an authentic and gourmet experience, rush with your eyes closed!
    Visited February 2025
    Travelled with friends
    Written 5 February 2025
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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4.5
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Patrick
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
Karuna took us to the fish market, and then spice and vegetables. The tuna we bought was amazing, and the whole lesson was fantastically hosted and directed. Karuna is a lot of fun, all the curries delicious, and we've used the recipes many times since.
She even let me take a whole load of curry leaves back and we went for a hunt for pandanus around town. If you like to cook curry, you must do this!
Written 11 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Farrellyk
Dublin, Ireland4 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2021 • Family
Karuna has a passion for fresh cooked food. Great hands on cookery class with market visit first. She has the best laugh & an engaging teacher. Highly recommend this class & you will enjoy the fruits of your labour after.
Written 10 January 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mickael G
Lyon, France47 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2024 • Couples
A great morning to learn the basics of cooking in Sri Lanka.
We're going to do the market with Karuna and then we're off.
We concoct all kinds of curries, with fish, chicken, fruit, vegetables.
The advice is there.
And all this with laughter and good humor.
Finally, we taste our dishes on site.
Superb experience.
Google
Written 21 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

James C
3 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2018 • Couples
Karuna showed up 20 minutes late for the class we had booked 2 days earlier. She was unapologetic and for the 2 or so hours we spent with her she seemed mostly uninterested even bored, and spent most of the time playing with her phone rather than teaching. She has a certificate on the wall from Trip Advisor, but appears to be resting on her laurels, or has lost interest in teaching cooking, but continues because of the great money she makes from it. Questions we asked were answered with 1/2 words, usually over the top of the phone. She wasn’t interested in conversation at all, just gave minimal instructions as to how to cook the 6 dishes. In fact, apart from the dhal, the other 5 dishes were really just the same dish with a different base ingredient. Chop the veg, add the spices, add some cocnut milk, on the cooker for 10 minutes, and repeat with a different veg.
Given the money she’s making at 3000 a head for classes, we expected her to make more of an effort to teach something about the food, culture, etc.
Written 17 March 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Joshua C
Edithvale, Australia37 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Whilst Karuna was a great host and cooked amazing food, I thought the course was not amazing value.

The market tour was awesome and saw and smelt great stuff but as for the course itself, there were 12 of us and took it in turns doing bits and bobs but not that much. For the price, I wanted some more hands on cooking experience
Written 9 October 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

daveandsteph
derby7 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2011
We chose this as an activity after reading on trip advisor and in the lonely planet about it. There were 6 of us on the day we went and for 3000rps each i thought it was fantastic value. We first visited the galle market by tuc tuc buying spices, vege and fish. then karuna our very friendly and enthusiastic host showed us how to make around 8 dishes including pumpking curry, pineapple curry, rotti and devilled potatoes. We all got stuck in to the differnt parts and was a very hands on experience.
We ended the day sharing the dishes and it was very nice being able to write the recpies down in the note books provide by her during the day...to take home and practice.
A fantastic day, i shall try the recpies at home and it was a lovely taste of sri lanka home cooking...
Written 25 August 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

yannick332015
Kingston, Jamaica2 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2015 • Friends
I had cooking class in India and it was much more better. Here, you need to write everithing, she doesn't give you a recipe on a paper at the end of the class, so if you want to participate to cook and to record everything it's impossible, you will forget things to do for sure, so to cook back at your home, imposssible!!! In some recipes, she put curry powder where there is many kind of spicies but if you don't ask you will nener know what is it!!! On the sigh of the place, they say they will give you spicies at the end of the class to help you to cook back at home but it's wrong, nothing given. And the turn at the market, it was only 1 hour lost to buy few vegetables on one of the few little shops at this little market and buy fish along the noisy "galle road", nothing interristing. Almost the only good point, food was good, but sri lanka's recipes are really not like indian's one!!!!! For me spend 3000 rupia was too much...
Written 11 April 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Daniel B
Wollongong, Australia65 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2016 • Couples
This was more of a demonstration than a class. Karuna went to very little effort to involve the class in cooking or at the market... Or in the spice store she dumped us in for the hard sell.

The lack of involvement wasn't assisted by the fact she disappeared for a full 50 minutes before she came back and rushed through 5 recipes while we watched on before finishing half an hour earlier than was originally advertised despite the amount of time she disappeared for.

Also, not even water was supplied, we had to buy that from the shop down stairs.

Poor value for money, would recommend going to one of the other classes in Unawatuna.
Written 14 April 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

David A
Switzerland1 contribution
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2014 • Couples
Karuna told us that only 6 to 8 persons will be in the lesson. In the end we were 11, all paying the full amount of LKR 3000!
First you go to the market in Galle (too short and no explanation about vegetables and fruit). Then she is doing all the meals (curries). You might can cut some vegetables but not more. No water included.
Lonely Planet wrote you will get a booklet with all recipes but you have to write it yourself - it's easier - she said!
There is a much better option in Unawatuna - Happy Spice - friendly, warm and delicious.
Written 8 January 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Maria M
Sydney, Australia28 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2019 • Family
Do yourself a favour and book yourself in!
Karuna is the warmest and most loving person you will ever meet! Our cooking experience started with a trip to the fish market in a tuk tuk followed by spice and vegetable grocers then back to Karuna’s kitchen to cook up a storm of the freshest curries you have ever tasted; be assured that you too will be able to remake these once you get home! My older teenagers had so much fun learning and laughing with this incredible lady and the finished meal was enjoyed by all.
Written 15 February 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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KARUNA S COOKING CLASS @ SONJA'S HEALTHFOOD RESTAURANT (2025) All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

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