Bazar Amsterdam is a north african restaurant in De Pijp, Amsterdam.
Bazar on Albert Cuypstraat is the cavernous, soaring Amsterdam North African-Middle Eastern room set in a converted church, all halal, all-day from breakfast.
Editorially verified June 2, 2026 by Lewis Vaughan, TableJourney editor. Source.
Signature dishes: Mezze platters, Tagine, Couscous royal
Must order: The full mezze platter with the chicken tagine to share.
Tip: Halal-certified. Big room, walk-in friendly. Pre-market breakfast is the value.
Address: Albert Cuypstraat 182, 1073 BL Amsterdam
Spang Makandra has been Amsterdam's reference Surinamese counter since 1978, rolling roti, ladling saoto soep, almost nothing on the menu costing over 15.
Signature: Roti kip, Bami goreng, Moksi meti
Order: Roti kip; ask for medium spice and the kouseband bean stew as a side.
Tip: Lunch only at the upstairs tables; takeaway counter for everything else.
Spang Makandra has been Amsterdam's reference Surinamese counter since 1978, rolling roti, ladling saoto soep, almost nothing on the menu costing over 15.
Signature: Roti kip, Bami goreng, Moksi meti
Order: Roti kip; ask for medium spice and the kouseband bean stew as a side.
Tip: Lunch only at the upstairs tables; takeaway counter for everything else.
Thai Snackbar Bird on Zeedijk has run an Amsterdam Chinatown Thai counter for over two decades, snug, no-frills, the city's most reliable bowl of pad krapow.
Signature: Pad krapow, Green curry, Tom yum noodle
Order: Pad krapow gai with a fried egg on top.
Tip: Walk-in only; turnover is fast, the booth seats clear quickly.
Roopram Roti on Eerste van Swindenstraat in Amsterdam Oost has wrapped roti since 2004, the Surinamese counter the Indo-Caribbean diaspora sends.
Signature: Roti kip, Bara, Pom
Order: Roti kip with bara on the side.
Tip: Takeaway-first counter, small dine-in area. Closed Mondays Walk-ins usually OK.
Restaurant Riaz on Bilderdijkstraat in Oud-West has been an Amsterdam Surinamese institution since 1981, a halal Surinamese-Indonesian-Indian counter.
Signature: Roti kip, Bami, Saoto soep
Order: Roti kip with extra masala and a side of bami.
Tip: Halal kitchen, open daily into the evening. Cash and card both accepted.
Salmuera on Rozengracht in the Jordaan is the Amsterdam Argentinian-Mexican grill, a long charcoal asado at the back and an over-70-bottle mezcal list.
Signature: Charcoal-grilled beef, Empanadas, Provoleta
Order: Bife de chorizo from the asador, provoleta and empanadas to start.
Tip: Book the bar to watch the grill. Mezcal flights are a notable detour from the wine pairing.
Café Loetje on Johannes Vermeerstraat in Oud-Zuid is the Amsterdam biefstuk room, founded as a billiard cafe in 1977 and now the reference tenderloin.
Signature: Biefstuk van de haas, Frites, Loetje's house gravy
Order: Biefstuk van de haas with the house gravy and a side of frites.
Tip: No bookings at the original Museumkwartier room. Expect a wait at peak; the terrace fills fast.
