Sri Lankan Eatery Dinithi Expands to STACK Newcastle 2026

Key Points

• Regional Area Three: The Tyneside restaurant, Dinithi, has made strides in extending its reach in the North East region after the recent launch of the third location at the STACK Newcastle entertainment and leisure destination.
• Culinary Specialties: This new food spot is endowed with a unique menu that has been developed specifically for STACK’s clients and intended to provide the unique taste of Sri Lankan cuisine to its urban customers.
• Flavouring Difference: The management pointed out the basic difference between Sri Lankan and Indian cuisine in relation to the unique spicing techniques used in both types of cuisine.
• Menu Specialties: The menu comprises unique specialty items including Koththu (chopped flatbread), Godamba rolls, paratha burgers, customized rice and noodle dishes and unique street items such as mutton rolls.
• Destination Strategy: The STACK executives have pointed out how this addition fits in their overall strategy of providing different global street foods under one roof.

Newcastle Upon Tyne (Newcastle Times) September 26, 2026 – Fast-growing Tyneside food operator Dinithi has expanded its culinary footprint across the North East after launching a brand-new outlet at the popular STACK Newcastle venue. The latest opening marks the third location for the independent Sri Lankan brand, introducing an exclusive food menu tailored specifically to the city-centre leisure and entertainment hub. The venue addition reinforces Newcastle’s evolving hospitality sector by further diversifying the international street food options available to local consumers and visitors alike.

As reported by Will Foxx of The Northern Echo, Dinithi’s expansion into STACK Newcastle follows the successful establishment of its initial branches on Osborne Road in Jesmond and within the historic Grainger Market. The decision to secure a retail footprint within STACK represents a targeted strategic push to capture high-density footfall within central Newcastle’s primary entertainment and nightlife districts.

What Dishes Are Featured on Dinithi’s Exclusive STACK Menu?

The newly introduced menu brings several traditional Sri Lankan specialities directly to the venue’s clientele. Among the flagship options featured is Koththu, a highly popular Sri Lankan street food dish made of chopped flatbread mixed with garlic, onions, fresh vegetables, scrambled eggs, and a selection of meats or vegetarian options.

Additionally, the menu presents Godamba wraps, which consist of flaky Sri Lankan flatbread packed with seasoned meat, onions, peppers, mayonnaise, and a homemade barbecue sauce. For diners seeking fusion variations, Dinithi has incorporated a paratha burger—a meat patty served inside a buttery paratha flatbread, accompanied by chips.

Visitors are also provided with a build-your-own-bowl concept using either rice or noodles as a foundation. These can be customized with toppings such as slow-cooked beef or pork stew, as well as devilled chicken, squid, or cauliflower. Traditional smaller street bites, including chicken or vegetable rotis and mutton rolls, round out the menu selection.

How Does Sri Lankan Cuisine Differ From Traditional Indian Food?

Addressing the distinction between South Asian culinary traditions, owner Dush Alawattegama clarified the unique characteristics of Sri Lankan cooking. As reported by Will Foxx of The Northern Echo, Alawattegama stated:

“We’ve created a new menu just for Stack and we’re hoping it will give people a real taste and understanding of Sri Lankan food. People sometimes think it’s the same as Indian food and it’s not, the spicing is very different. We are really looking forward to bringing something new to Stack and giving people the opportunity to become familiar with Sri Lankan cuisine.”

The emphasis on distinct spice blends, specialized flatbreads, and unique preparation methods underlines the vendor’s intent to educate North East consumers while serving rapid-service street food.

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What Does the Addition Mean for STACK Newcastle’s Street Food Strategy?

The arrival of Dinithi fits directly into the broader operational strategy of STACK Newcastle, which focuses on providing a wide variety of independent culinary operators within a shared venue environment.

As reported by Will Foxx of The Northern Echo, Gemma Dishman, Director of Strategy and Development at STACK, emphasized the value of bringing authentic regional dishes to the facility. Dishman stated:

“Dinithi brings a new flavour profile to Stack Newcastle and adds to the variety of cuisines our customers can explore in one place. Part of the fun of visiting Stack is trying something you might not normally choose. We hope Dinithi will introduce more people to Sri Lankan food, whether they’re stopping in for lunch or spending an evening with us.”

Dinithi takes its place alongside an established lineup of street food vendors at STACK Newcastle, including Acropolis, Breadwin, Dylan’s Philly Cheesesteak, Bao Down, Brack Burger, Pattersons, Zza Pizzeria, and YOLO.

Background of the Particular Development

The opening of Dinithi’s third outlet reflects a broader pattern of commercial growth for independent food vendors across the North East of England. Originating with a standalone restaurant presence on Osborne Road in Jesmond, Dinithi initially established its brand identity by offering authentic Sri Lankan cuisine in a sit-down dining environment. The operator subsequently secured a retail footprint within Newcastle’s historic Grainger Market, successfully tapping into the city centre’s daytime lunch trade and worker footfall.

The strategic move into STACK Newcastle represents a deliberate transition toward high-density entertainment and leisure spaces. STACK’s multi-vendor leisure model relies heavily on vendor rotation, culinary variety, and accessible street food formats. By tailoring an exclusive menu suited for fast-paced, social dining, Dinithi aligns its business operations with contemporary market demand for flexible, experiential food offerings within major urban leisure developments.

Prediction: How This Development Can Affect Local Consumers and Food Vendors

The integration of Dinithi into STACK Newcastle is positioned to influence both consumer dining habits and the local commercial landscape across Tyneside:

1. For Local Consumers: The presence of an exclusive Sri Lankan menu provides enhanced culinary variety within central Newcastle. Consumers seeking quick-service dining gain immediate access to niche international cuisines that were previously limited to standard sit-down restaurant environments or specific suburban dining corridors like Jesmond. This is likely to broaden consumer familiarity with South Asian culinary variations beyond mainstream choices.
2. For Independent Food Operators: Dinithi’s multi-site expansion—scaling from a suburban sit-down setting into central market stalls and high-footfall entertainment hubs—serves as a practical commercial model for independent vendors in the region. It demonstrates how local food brands can scale operations across Newcastle by adapting menu structures to suit specific venue demographics and dining speeds.
3. For the Regional Hospitality Sector: The continued diversification of vendors at venues like STACK reinforces Newcastle’s reputation as a growing regional hub for street food culture. This trend may encourage competing venue operators across the North East to integrate specialized regional vendors, boosting overall footfall and commercial resilience within city-centre leisure districts.