ISSO - Prawn Crazy

If it wasn't already clear by the name, ISSO (meaning 'prawn in Sinhala) is passionate about prawns. Crazy, you might say. That passion, and a name that quite literally translates to 'Prawn Prawn Crazy', offers a subtle glimpse into the playfulness that entrepreneur Apinash Sivagumaaran hoped to bring to his original Colombo restaurant back in 2016. Today, the prawn restaurant group has five successful sites in Sri Lanka, and now it's made its international debut with a brand-new restaurant in Canary Wharf.

You can find ISSO inside a large, split-level building on Cabot Square. The space is bright and contemporary, with industrial piped ceilings, widely spaced tables and a wraparound glass frontage overlooking the water. We're seated towards the back, between those huge windows and a glass-enclosed kitchen where we watch chefs prepare ISSO's signature prawn dishes. It feels modern and accessible, made for relaxed weekday dinners and group celebrations, and underpinned by friendly and welcoming staff.

The menu hinges around a build-your-own concept where, naturally, prawns are the star of the show. We choose meaty Black Tiger prawns in a rich 'Negombo' coconut sauce flavoured deftly with cumin and coriander, then paired with buttery garlic rice and a toasted coconut sambal. Just as comforting is the classic shredded flatbread dish kottu roti, here flecked with spiced prawns, crisp vegetables and served with a biting tamarind sauce. Prawns get most of the air time, but not everything is crustacean based, with a line-up of bold street eats that includes heat-building devilled paneer flecked with red chilli and finished with a sweet and sour glaze.

There are two desserts worth ordering, and we recommend you get them both. Wattapalam, a popular Sri Lankan staple, sees cardamon-spiced coconut custard sweetened with jaggary and condensed milk, then topped with toasted cashew nuts. If that all sounds a little too sweet, then the delicate, crepe-like pancakes filled with treacle-infused grated coconut are also excellent.

ISSO has a very clear USP, but at its heart is a restaurant built on solid foundations: flavour-packed Sri Lankan food in a setting that remains accessible, unpretentious and fun.

Located in the heart of Canary Wharf, Isso brings authentic Sri Lankan cuisine to London, with prawns at the heart of its menu. Named after the Sinhala word for ‘prawn,’ the restaurant sources its prawns directly from Sri Lanka to ensure authenticity and quality. With five established locations across Sri Lanka, Isso's Canary Wharf restaurant marks the brand's first international outpost and the first time a Sri Lankan restaurant group has expanded to London.

The 90-seater restaurant is spacious and contemporary, featuring tall ceilings, intricate murals and views over the dock, while an outdoor terrace offers guests the chance to soak up the sun in the summer months. Situated in London’s business district, the restaurant is designed to cater to quick lunches, solo diners and small groups alike.

The menu’s unique format encourages guests to choose from four types of prawns, including wild black tiger prawns and giant freshwater prawns. Then, you can customise the flavour profile, with options spanning hot butter style and kithul infused with chilli and garlic. Finally, select a side dish from ghee rice, garlic fried rice or parotta.

Elsewhere on the menu, you’ll find starters like mutton rolls, cuttlefish fritto and vegetable pakora as well as signature dishes such as the ISSO Kottu Roti made with shredded flatbread, crisp vegetables and spiced prawn curry. To drink, you can enjoy a range of cocktails, beer, wine and soft drinks as well as Sri Lankan tea and chai.

Whether you’re a seafood lover, a fan of Sri Lankan cuisine, or simply searching for a spot of lunch in Canary Wharf, Isso offers an original dining experience in a glamorous setting. With roots in Sri Lanka, Isso is set to become a go-to spot in London for authentic, interesting Sri Lankan food.