At Ministry of Crab, in keeping with Japanese cooking principles we treat ingredients with the utmost respect. We only use the freshest local ingredients and adhere to a no-freezer policy. Sustainability is at the core of our ethos, and we do not serve crabs below 500g, even though there are no regulations against it. The Freshwater Prawns used at our restaurant are farm-hatched and released into reservoirs and lakes where they grow to be of great size, and where only local fishermen are permitted to fish, creating financial security in the local fishing communities.
Our devotion to ensuring that the Mud crab and Freshwater prawn are the stars on the plate. Freshness, locally sourced ingredients and delivering a memorable experience to our guests is of the utmost importance to us.
We are dedicated to showcasing the best of Sri Lanka’s produce, Ministry of Crab transformed Colombo’s dining scene, and placed the island on the global culinary map.
We serve export quality mud crab primarily procured from Sri Lanka's northern coastal lagoons in places like Puttalam, Chilaw, Mannar, Jaffna, and Batticaloa.
Our crabs are not farmed and are wild-caught, sustainably harvested from their natural habitat and their availability is influenced by seasonal factors like rainfall, strong winds, and ambient temperature. We apologize in advance if the specific crab size you desire is unavailable.
It is a privilege for Ministry of Crab to serve these crabs in Sri Lanka, their true home, and the heart of legendary Sri Lankan crab.
What distinguishes these crabs are their impressive size and wholeness with both claws intact. Some of the largest crabs served have weighed an impressive 3.2 kilograms, known for their rich and flavourful claw meat. Ministry of Crab maintains stringent standards, offering only the best catch – no small, meatless, or unevenly sized crabs.
The magnificent mud crab, ranging from ½ Kilo (500g) to the 2kg Crabzilla, is prepared one of five ways - Chilli, Pepper, Garlic Chilli, Butter Crab or Sri Lankan Curry Crab, to best suit your palate.
At Ministry of Crab, our prawn story begins with the extraordinary Freshwater Prawns of Sri Lanka, known as Lake Lobsters. These prawns are giants among their kind, a true rarity when it comes to their remarkable size. Sri Lanka stands as one of the select few nations blessed with this culinary gem. They are farm hatched and nurtured, before being released into the wild to thrive in the splendid lakes built by our Kings. Here, they grow to large sizes, with some reaching up to 500g per prawn.
Sourced from the pristine lakes and reservoirs spanning the North, North Central, and Southern Provinces of Sri Lanka, such as Polonnaruwa, Anuradhapura, Dambulla, and Vavuniya, these prawns are the heart of our seafood endeavour.
Also recognized by the name Giant Freshwater Prawn, our quality standard for these magnificent crustaceans remains standard - each prawn must weigh no less than 150g per piece. On a daily basis, we make use of an average of 150-200 of these exquisite prawns to craft our delectable dishes.
Our commitment to preserving the freshness of these prawns is unwavering. To ensure their impeccable condition, these prawns are sourced, chilled and NOT frozen. They are stored on crushed ice, placed on a perforated tray within the container in the chiller. In this manner, we maintain the integrity of these prawns from their origin to your plate, preserving their exquisite taste and texture for your dining pleasure at Ministry of Crab with a variety of sizes and cooking styles.