While the Netherlands, and Amsterdam in particular, are feted for their abundance of Indonesian food, the Dutch capital has a much wider reach when it comes to the diversity of Asian cuisines it offers with impressive delicacy. Here’s a selection of our favorite Asian restaurants in Amsterdam, with contributions from across the varied continent. Some of the restaurants are concentrated in the so-called Chinatown of Amsterdam, which is actually a harmonious mix of pan-Asian and European restaurants and cultures.
Restaurante chino Nam Kee
The oysters in black bean sauce at Nam Kee may have inspired a novel of the same name and screen adaptation, but what stands out to me most at this Amsterdam Chinatown stalwart is its full selection of typical Chinese dishes calibrated for Dutch palates. However, the hybrid cuisine that Nam Kee produces borrows not only from Dutch tastes, but also from Indonesians, as many Chinese-Indonesians finally resettled in the Netherlands in the mid-20th century; For that reason, American visitors will find their favorite Chinese dishes under Indonesian names, such as nasi goreng for fried rice and bami goreng instead of lo mein .
Indonesian Restaurants in Amsterdam
No discussion of Asian food in Amsterdam would be complete without extensive mention of its Indonesian restaurants, and indeed the Indo-Dutch rijsttafel has become a tourist attraction in its own right. From the best sit-down restaurants to the tiny Toko on the wall, Amsterdam’s Indonesian restaurants reflect a diversity of atmospheres and price classes.
Indian restaurant Meghna
Indian food is hit or miss in Amsterdam, but several restaurants get top marks for value, hospitality, and great food. Meghna is one such restaurant, and their menu of North Indian dishes encompasses all the classics, from chicken tikka masala to simple lentil-based dal. While the atmosphere is fairly basic and the food contains few surprises, it is a reliable stop for Indian foodies in search of family favorites.
Dosa South Indian Restaurant
Diners who prefer the flavors of the southern subcontinent can visit Dosa, one of the few South Indian restaurants in Amsterdam; While North Indian curries still share much of the menu, it is one of the few places in the city where you can eat dosa , a lentil flour and rice pancake traditionally served with coconut chutney and sambar- based stew. tomato sauce, and popular variations like masala dosa , a dosa filled with a spiced potato mix.
Japanese pancake world
Today, sushi can be eaten in cities of almost any size, but some Japanese specialties have been slow to eat outside of their home country. Such is the case with okonomiyaki , the namesake dish from Japanese Pancake World, which, as the name implies, is a mountainous Japanese pancake from the comfort food capital of Osaka. Sample some of the best okonomiyaki outside of Japan in various varieties at this specialty restaurant, located on a cozy street in the heart of the charming Jordaan district.
Shabu Shabu
The city can be crammed with mediocre sushi buffets, especially just west of the Royal Palace, but those with an insatiable appetite for sushi would do better to go to Shabu Shabu in De Pijp. Despite the fact that its namesake dish is nowhere to be found on the actual menu, the restaurant offers other aspects, such as a good selection of sushi and, more uniquely, with casual Japanese favorites like curry rice and ramen.
Malaysian Restaurants in Amsterdam
Nyonya Malaysia Express’ Indonesian food may be over-represented in Amsterdam compared to the cuisine next door, but a couple of restaurants in Amsterdam’s Chinatown seek to remedy that. Nyonya Malaysia Express is a modest-sized restaurant just steps from Nieuwmarkt that serves Malaysian classics like nasi lemak , a pile of coconut-flavored rice surrounded by savory condiments, like delicious sambal ikan bile , a deep-fried anchovy sauce, and more. additions. Expect great value for hearty servings of delicious food.
Wau Malaysian Restaurant A more formal Malaysian meal can be enjoyed at Wau, named for the traditional kites that adorn the restaurant’s walls; While the prices are slightly higher than in Nyonya, the difference is reflected in the food, which is richer and rarer, with a large number of dishes that are difficult, if not impossible, to find in other countries of the United States. Netherlands; Sambal petai is one example, a dish of the famous bitter and stinky petai beans whose taste is curiously addictive.
Thai Restaurants in Amsterdam
Thai Bird Another stalwart Zeedijk bird, Thai Bird has overseen the transformation of Chinatown’s most trampled street for the past 20 years. With two locations right across the street from each other, the two incarnations of Thai Bird comprise a cheap, casual snack bar and a somewhat pricey but more varied seating restaurant. Both locations serve reasonably authentic versions of primarily central Thai dishes.
Rakang Thai Restaurant
This trendy Thai restaurant in the Jordaan is the solution for visitors to the left of the city center, and with extra cash to spare, as their Versace china isn’t cheap. But the quality and attention to detail this refined restaurant offers is well worth paying for, as even diners most indifferent to decor will notice when they experience the impeccable service and fantastic Thai flavors. Value-conscious diners will also be delighted with its prix fixe menus.
Restaurant Tibet
A loner on this list, the Tibet restaurant may be one of the few Tibetan / Nepalese restaurants in the city, but the only one worthy of a recommendation – and enthusiastic, by the way. Warm, colorful décor and hospitable staff create an intimate setting in which to enjoy lavish and creative Tibetan Chinese and Han dishes, described on the menu in prose that oozes with the chef’s quirky personality. I cannot attest to the authenticity of the restaurant, as I have never been to Tibet, but even if the dishes are the head chef’s fanciful interpretation, I am largely satisfied with the idiosyncrasies of his cuisine.
