Indonesian Restaurants in Amsterdam
My aim with this post is not to try and cover all Indonesian restaurants in all areas but to give a cross section from fancy dining to take away that I have tried a few times and think are great. With the restaurants I always try the ‘rice table’. This is a tasting menu, with, typically 12 small courses which include things like spicy beef, coconut beef, spicy chicken, coconut chicken, lamb with soy / tamarind, lamb and/or chicken satay, prawn or fish, steamed veg with peanut sauce, spicy bean salad, sour cucumber salad, white rice.
What follows are some restaurants and one take away. The food was good at all of them but here is a summary of what makes them stand out, besides the food: They are listed from the most expensive to the cheapest…
Blue Pepper – Fine dining experience
Restaurant Blauw – great variety for the price
Jun – Locals’ Favourite and subtle flavours
Cafe Kadijk – One-plate ricetable
Terang Boelan – excellent take away in the Jordaan
If you join one of my tours you will get a printed map with my top recommendations on it and I will also mark new finds and current favourites on the map. Joining the small group Amsterdam Walking Tour or booking one of my private tours is a great way to not only find your way in the city and get a bit of history and insight but also get up to date info about where to eat and drink in Amsterdam.
Blue Pepper
Blue Pepper is, as of October 2024, my favourite Indonesian restaurant. There’s an a la carte menu and there are a few rice table options. I went for their biggerst and best: “The Sultan and I”.
The “The Sultan and I” tasting menu comes in at 67 euros per person and is made up of four courses, with a number of small dishes per course. The first course did not to appeal to me as I don’t like strong fishy flavours but my fellow diners liked it very much. I was able to swap that course for another option from their “Beautiful People” tasting menu. The second course was a light and delicate seafood soup – no strong fishy flavours so fine for me! The main course, pictured above, for 2 people sharing was delcious and plentiful. The veggies were perfect and the 3 mains were excellent. The lightly spiced jumbo prawns could not have been better, the chicken breasts with a cashew nut sauce was something completely new to me and the Rendang, slow-cooked beef was fall apart tender and spicy, as the last course of such a food adventure should be. Everything was delicious. There was so much nuance and variety in the flavours. I clearly forgot to photograph the dessert course so I guess I need to go back soon! They have a signature refreshing sorbet with one electrifying fresh Szechuan peppercorn which creates a memorable and fun zing of flavour.
There is a vegetarian tastig menu option that looks super and rolls in at 51 euros per person.
It is not necessary for everyone to order the same menu here like it is in so many Indonesian restaurants so you can get an individual rice table. Each diner could order a different tasting menu. Also I am thrilled to say that Blue Pepper passed my tap water test. They happily served a carafe of tap water and didn’t insist that we bought a bottle. We got by with one bottle of wine and the cheapest was 45 euros for a bottle of white so you don’t go here to save money.
Blue Pepper also offer a private dinner cruise for parties of 8 people upwards, with the food cooked onboard. I’ve not tried, this, but if you want to splash out or money is no object, I am quite certain that this will be a wonderful experience.
Restaurant Blauw
I loved the rice table here. It was enough for 2 people and the quality was great, the flavours splendid. Restaurant Blauw is at the Southern end of the Vondel Park so not central but it is not crazy far away. The main rice table meal costs just under 50 euros per person (October 2024) so more than some other palces but I was happy with the price / value of it. It is open daily from 5pm.
Jun
I’ve been trying out Indonesian restaurants all over town, and this one a favourite. It was suggested to me by Patricia Jacobs, who gives so many good tips in her blog Amsterdam Bites to Die For and it really hit the spot. The flavors were superb and varied, subtle, spicy, rich, fresh, they spice their food to ‘medium’ level and you can ramp that up by adding more yourself. The ‘Pudding nanas’ was sublime, a fresh light pudding of pineapple, cream and orange juice, the perfect ending to a lovely meal.
The big rice table with everything costs €44.50 per person, they have a vegetarian one too at 33.50 per person. Like most places you need 2 people to order a rice table menu. I managed to get a table the day I phoned but do book as far ahead as possible, the place filled up with locals very quickly.
You can see their menu on their website
The location is in Amsterdam west, so not central and probably easist to cab or uber there.
You can e-mail them for reservations or call them on +31 20 785 9185
Cafe Kadijk
I tried the mini-rice table here was very pleased with it. €24.50 gets you a plate with 2 types of beef, chicken, salads, and rice. It was all fresh, tasty, tender and filling and the chicken was slightly spicy.
I also got a separate starter of eggs and prawns in a spicy sauce which was great but I could have done without as I was overfull by the time I finished the rice table.
Cafe Kadijk is in a quaint little square just outside the city center to the east, long a favorite spot of mine for a quiet drink and chat with friends.
Open for dinner only from 17h00 to 22h00. Tel – 0617 744 411
Terang Boelan – Take Away
Terang Boeland really is an old favourite of mine and I often grab a take away rice table from there when I have friends staying. The quality of the food is great and it is a fraction of the cost of going to a restaurant. Their rice table – enough for 2 people to share – costs 29 euros. The story I remember is that the owner had a very successful Indonesian restaurant decades ago and closed it as he wanted to spend more time with his family and found running a restaurant demanded too much of that time. So he closed it down and reopened as a take-away. I love that!
So be be aware, they have unusual opening times: Monday to Friday 15h30 to 21h00. Closed on the weekend.
So if you are staying in the Jordaan district or nearby and have an appartment then this is a super local option.
